Through the Church Fathers

Through the Church Fathers

por C. Michael Patton

Historia Cristianismo

Temporada 2

Through the Church Fathers: July 29

Today’s readings move from the certainty of God to the hidden depths of the mind and the spiritual taste of wisdom. Tertullian continues Against Marcion by challenging the idea of a newly revealed and formerly unknown god, arguing that the true God could not have remained unknown, because the Creator has always borne witness to Himself through creation, conscience, and the soul’s natural knowledge of God. Augustine then reflects on truths that do not enter memory through the bodily senses, asking how realities like existence, definition, and quality are recognized by the mind as true when they seem to arise from deeper places within. Aquinas closes by joining wisdom and folly together: wisdom is the Spirit-given taste for divine things that flows from charity, while folly is the dullness that comes when the soul becomes too attached to earthly things. Together, these readings remind us that God is not a late discovery, truth is not merely sensory information, and the soul must be trained to taste what is divine rather than grow dull toward it. Today’s Readings: Tertullian — Against Marcion, Book 1, Chapters 9–10 Augustine — The Confessions, Book 10, Chapter 10 (Section 17) Thomas Aquinas — Summa Theologica, Part 2–2, Questions 45–46 (Wisdom and Folly Combined) Explore the Project: Through the Church Fathers – https://www.throughthechurchfathers.com Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/cmichaelpatton Credo Courses – https://www.credocourses.com Credo Ministries – https://www.credoministries.org #ChurchFathers #Tertullian #Augustine #Aquinas #Marcion #Memory #Wisdom #Theology #ThroughTheChurchFathers

Through the Church Fathers: July 28

Today’s readings expose false gods, examine memory, and warn against careless harm to the soul of another. Tertullian continues Against Marcion by arguing that Marcion cannot make his two gods either equal or unequal, because true deity admits no rival, no diminishment, and no novelty; a “new god” is, for Tertullian, already exposed as a false one. Augustine then distinguishes memory of sensible images from the deeper knowledge retained in the mind, showing that learning, reasoning, and the liberal sciences are held not merely as pictures, but as things understood. Aquinas closes by treating scandal as a sin against charity, since love does not place needless stumbling blocks before the spiritually weak, even while truth must never be abandoned merely because the proud take offense. Together, these readings call us to confess the one eternal God, marvel at the hidden powers of the soul, and guard our neighbor’s path with truth and charity. Today’s Readings: Tertullian — Against Marcion, Book 1, Chapters 6–8 Augustine — The Confessions, Book 10, Chapter 9 (Section 16) Thomas Aquinas — Summa Theologica, Part 2–2, Question 43 (Articles 1–8 Combined) Explore the Project: Through the Church Fathers – https://www.throughthechurchfathers.com Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/cmichaelpatton Credo Courses – https://www.credocourses.com Credo Ministries – https://www.credoministries.org #ChurchFathers #Tertullian #Augustine #Aquinas #Marcion #Memory #Charity #Scandal #Theology #ThroughTheChurchFathers

Through the Church Fathers: July 27

Today’s readings press into the unity of God, the wonder of memory, and the danger of division. Tertullian continues Against Marcion by arguing that God must be one because God is the supreme Being, and a second supreme would destroy the very meaning of supremacy; for him, Marcion’s two-god system collapses under its own logic. Augustine then marvels at the vast power of memory, that hidden chamber within the soul where mountains, seas, stars, past actions, and inward impressions are present without the eyes seeing them. Aquinas closes by treating schism as a sin against charity, because charity does not merely unite the soul to God but also binds Christians together in the peace and communion of Christ’s body. Together, these readings remind us that Christian truth depends on the one God, that the human soul is deeper than we can measure, and that love must guard the unity it has been given. Today’s Readings: Tertullian — Against Marcion, Book 1, Chapters 3–5 Augustine — The Confessions, Book 10, Chapter 8 (Section 15) Thomas Aquinas — Summa Theologica, Part 2–2, Question 39 (Articles 1–4 Combined) Explore the Project: Through the Church Fathers – https://www.throughthechurchfathers.com Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/cmichaelpatton Credo Courses – https://www.credocourses.com Credo Ministries – https://www.credoministries.org #ChurchFathers #Tertullian #Augustine #Aquinas #Marcion #Memory #Schism #Theology #ThroughTheChurchFathers

Through the Church Fathers: July 26

Today’s readings begin Tertullian’s attack on Marcion and continue Augustine’s inward exploration of memory and Aquinas’s treatment of charity’s distortions. Tertullian opens Against Marcion with his characteristic fire, presenting Marcion as a dangerous innovator who divided God in two: the Creator whom he could not deny, and a supposedly higher god whom he could never prove. Augustine then turns to the vast inner chamber of memory, where past actions, places, feelings, future hopes, and imagined possibilities are gathered and recalled within the soul. Aquinas closes by treating envy as a sin opposed to charity, since charity rejoices in the neighbor’s good while envy grieves over it as though another’s blessing were one’s own loss. Together, these readings confront us with the need to guard the truth about God, understand the mystery of the soul, and resist the corruption of love into rivalry. Today’s Readings: Tertullian — Against Marcion, Book 1, Chapters 1–2 Augustine — The Confessions, Book 10, Chapter 8 (Section 14) Thomas Aquinas — Summa Theologica, Part 2–2, Question 36 (Articles 1–4 Combined) Explore the Project: Through the Church Fathers – https://www.throughthechurchfathers.com Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/cmichaelpatton Credo Courses – https://www.credocourses.com Credo Ministries – https://www.credoministries.org #ChurchFathers #Tertullian #Augustine #Aquinas #Marcion #Memory #Charity #Envy #Theology #ThroughTheChurchFathers

Introduction to Tertullian, Against Marcion and Against Heretics

Today we turn from Cyprian to Tertullian, one of the most fiery and forceful polemicists of the early Church. After working through Cyprian’s battles over the lapsed and heretical baptism, we now move into the larger landscape of early Christian heresies, beginning with Marcionism and the question of whether the God of the Old Testament is the same God revealed in Jesus Christ. In this new section, we will read an abridged version of Tertullian’s Against Marcion, Book 1, with selected supplemental passages, along with the whole of Prescription Against Heretics. Together, these works show the Church defending the unity of God, the unity of Scripture, and the apostolic rule of faith against teachings that threatened to cut Christianity loose from creation, Israel, prophecy, and the God of Abraham. Today’s Readings: Introduction — Tertullian, Against Marcion, Book 1, with Selected Supplemental Readings, and Prescription Against Heretics Explore the Project: Through the Church Fathers – https://www.throughthechurchfathers.com Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/cmichaelpatton Credo Courses – https://www.credocourses.com Credo Ministries – https://www.credoministries.org #ChurchFathers #Tertullian #Marcion #Marcionism #ChurchHistory #Theology #Heresy #Scripture #ThroughTheChurchFathers

Through the Church Fathers: July 25

Today’s readings move from the Church’s discipline to the soul’s inner struggle against spiritual weariness. Cyprian continues Epistle 73 by challenging Stephen’s position on heretical baptism, arguing that baptism cannot be separated from the Spirit, the Church, and the truth of Christ; for Cyprian, to recognize baptism outside the Church is to grant heresy what belongs only to Christ’s bride. Augustine then rises beyond the senses and enters the vast chambers of memory, where images, sounds, smells, tastes, and textures are stored and recalled, showing how deeply mysterious the human soul is even to itself. Aquinas closes by treating sloth as sorrow over spiritual good—not mere tiredness, but the heart’s heaviness toward God Himself, where prayer, holiness, and communion begin to feel like burdens instead of joy. Together, these readings call us to guard the truth, examine the soul honestly, and resist the quiet danger of treating God’s good gifts as weight rather than life. Today’s Readings: Cyprian — Epistle 73: To Pompeius, Against the Letter of Stephen Concerning the Baptism of Heretics, Sections 6–9 Augustine — The Confessions, Book 10, Chapter 7 (Section 11); Chapter 8 (Sections 12–13) Thomas Aquinas — Summa Theologica, Part 2–2, Question 35 (Articles 1–4 Combined) Explore the Project: Through the Church Fathers – https://www.throughthechurchfathers.com Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/cmichaelpatton Credo Courses – https://www.credocourses.com Credo Ministries – https://www.credoministries.org #ChurchFathers #Cyprian #Augustine #Aquinas #Theology #ChurchHistory #ChristianDoctrine #Baptism #Charity #ThroughTheChurchFathers

Through the Church Fathers: July 24

Today’s readings press us to distinguish truth from custom, creation from Creator, and love from hatred. Cyprian continues Epistle 73 by arguing that heresy cannot bear sons to God because the Church alone is the spouse of Christ, and he warns sharply that “custom without truth is the antiquity of error.” Augustine then asks creation itself about God, and heaven, earth, sea, air, sun, moon, and stars all answer that they are not God, but were made by Him; yet only the soul that judges rightly can hear their witness. Aquinas closes by treating hatred as the corruption of charity, showing that while evil and sin may rightly be hated, God and neighbor must never be hated as persons made for goodness and blessedness. Together, these readings remind us that truth must not yield to inherited error, creation must lead us beyond itself to the Maker, and charity must resist the temptation to turn righteous opposition into hatred. Today’s Readings: Cyprian — Epistle 73: To Pompeius, Against the Letter of Stephen Concerning the Baptism of Heretics, Sections 6–9 Augustine — The Confessions, Book 10, Chapter 6 (Sections 9–10) Thomas Aquinas — Summa Theologica, Part 2–2, Question 34 (Articles 1–6 Combined) Explore the Project: Through the Church Fathers – https://www.throughthechurchfathers.com Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/cmichaelpatton Credo Courses – https://www.credocourses.com Credo Ministries – https://www.credoministries.org #ChurchFathers #Cyprian #Augustine #Aquinas #Theology #ChurchHistory #ChristianDoctrine #Baptism #Charity #ThroughTheChurchFathers

Through the Church Fathers: July 23

Today’s readings bring together baptism, self-knowledge, and charity in action. Cyprian concludes Epistle 72 by arguing that past errors should not become permanent customs, and that those coming from heresy should be drawn into the Church through the clarity of truth rather than confirmed in what he sees as false baptism. Augustine then confesses that man does not fully know himself, since even the depths of the human spirit remain partly hidden from us but fully known to God. Aquinas closes by describing almsgiving as charity working through mercy, relieving both bodily and spiritual need according to wisdom, duty, and right order. Together, these readings remind us that truth must correct custom, self-knowledge depends on God’s light, and love must become visible in concrete acts of mercy. Today’s Readings: Cyprian — Epistle 72: To Jubaianus, Concerning the Baptism of Heretics, Sections 23–26 Augustine — The Confessions, Book 10, Chapter 5 (Section 7) Thomas Aquinas — Summa Theologica, Part 2–2, Question 32 (Articles 1–10 Combined) Explore the Project: Through the Church Fathers – https://www.throughthechurchfathers.com Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/cmichaelpatton Credo Courses – https://www.credocourses.com Credo Ministries – https://www.credoministries.org #ChurchFathers #Cyprian #Augustine #Aquinas #Theology #ChurchHistory #ChristianDoctrine #Baptism #Charity #Mercy #ThroughTheChurchFathers

Temporada 2

Through the Church Fathers: July 22

Today’s readings bring together baptism, self-knowledge, and charity in action. Cyprian concludes Epistle 72 by insisting that earlier mistakes do not justify continuing in error, and that those coming from heresy should not be kept from the Church by the demand for true baptism, but drawn toward the Church by the clarity of truth. Augustine then confesses that man does not fully know himself: even when we are more present to ourselves than to God, there are depths within us known only to the Lord who made us. Aquinas closes by describing almsgiving as an act of charity through mercy, relieving both bodily and spiritual need according to duty, ability, and right order. Together, these readings call us to correct error without stubbornness, confess our weakness before the God who knows us completely, and let charity become visible in practical mercy. Today’s Readings: Cyprian — Epistle 72: To Jubaianus, Concerning the Baptism of Heretics, Sections 23–26 Augustine — The Confessions, Book 10, Chapter 5 (Section 7) Thomas Aquinas — Summa Theologica, Part 2–2, Question 32 (Articles 1–10 Combined) Explore the Project: Through the Church Fathers – https://www.throughthechurchfathers.com Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/cmichaelpatton Credo Courses – https://www.credocourses.com Credo Ministries – https://www.credoministries.org #ChurchFathers #Cyprian #Augustine #Aquinas #Theology #ChurchHistory #ChristianDoctrine #Baptism #Charity #Mercy #ThroughTheChurchFathers

Through Theology in a Year: July 21

Today’s readings connect the truth of Christ to the visible life of love. Cyprian continues Epistle 72 by arguing that baptism cannot be separated from the true confession of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and that even the language of Christ’s name must not be used against the truth Christ Himself revealed. Augustine then explains why he confesses not only what he was, but what he now is, speaking before fellow pilgrims who share his joy, his mortality, and his need for grace. Aquinas closes by describing beneficence as charity in action: love does not remain only in affection, but moves outward to do good according to need, duty, and opportunity. Together, these readings remind us that truth must be confessed, weakness must be honestly brought before God and the Church, and charity must become visible in works of love. Today’s Readings: Cyprian — Epistle 72: To Jubaianus, Concerning the Baptism of Heretics, Sections 19–22 Augustine — The Confessions, Book 10, Chapter 4 (Section 6) Thomas Aquinas — Summa Theologica, Part 2–2, Question 31 (Articles 1–4 Combined) Explore the Project: Through the Church Fathers – https://www.throughthechurchfathers.com Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/cmichaelpatton Credo Courses – https://www.credocourses.com Credo Ministries – https://www.credoministries.org #ChurchFathers #Cyprian #Augustine #Aquinas #Theology #ChurchHistory #ChristianDoctrine #Baptism #Charity #ThroughTheChurchFathers

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