Re: [asa] The tomb of Jesus?

Yes, one must know what one believes in. Though it has limited value, I think the scholastic analysis of faith into knowledge of what is to be believed, assent and trust is of some use. One must know what is to be believed, one must in fact believe that it's true, and one must put his or her trust & confidence in it. It is the latter that distinguishes saving faith from mere historical faith.

Of course it's also true that from an orthodox standpoint the "knowledge" that the gnostics claim to have (e.g., that the Father who sent Jesus into the world is not the God of the OT, that Jesus didn't really die on the cross) is false.

Shalom
George
http://web.raex.com/~gmurphy/
  ----- Original Message -----
  From: Alexanian, Moorad
  To: George Murphy ; ASA list
  Sent: Thursday, March 01, 2007 9:59 AM
  Subject: RE: [asa] The tomb of Jesus?

  This issue of salvation through knowledge can become rather ticklish. Surely, there is a minimal amount of knowledge one need to, say, accept Jesus the Christ as Lord and Savior. However, in so doing one is set up on the road that more knowledge of Jesus will lead to all possible knowledge--- "...true knowledge of God's mystery, that is, Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." Colossians 2:2-3. Therefore, in the order of things, one accepts Jesus as the Christ first and subsequently is in the proper state to acquire much more knowledge than it would be possible otherwise.

  Moorad

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

  From: asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu [mailto:asa-owner@lists.calvin.edu] On Behalf Of George Murphy
  Sent: Thursday, March 01, 2007 9:24 AM
  To: ASA list
  Subject: Re: [asa] The tomb of Jesus?

  I agree with a great deal of what David said but just want to utter a caution about the 1 bit below that I snipped, & especially the "existential" part. There are some similarities between classical gnosticism & existential theology a la Bultmann, especially in the latter's downplaying of the religious significance of the physical world. But let's remember that the key aspect of gnosticism which gives it its name is its emphasis on salvation through gnosis, knowledge. This contrasts strongly with the emphasis on faith as personal commitment in Bultmann.

  Shalom
  George
  http://web.raex.com/~gmurphy/

    ----- Original Message -----

    From: David Opderbeck

    To: philtill@aol.com

    Cc: asa@calvin.edu

    Sent: Thursday, March 01, 2007 9:11 AM

    Subject: Re: [asa] The tomb of Jesus?

    David, I want to ask you about this, because I don't understand how Ehrman can believe this.
     

    ...............

    IMHO, gnosticism resonates with a sort of mystical, existential approach to life that comports with a hyper-postmodern outlook.

    ....................

To unsubscribe, send a message to majordomo@calvin.edu with
"unsubscribe asa" (no quotes) as the body of the message.
Received on Thu Mar 1 10:09:24 2007