Comments on: Elijah the Prophet, Jesus the Lord http://whosoeverdesires.wordpress.com/2011/09/27/elijah-the-prophet-jesus-the-lord/ Sat, 27 Apr 2013 18:28:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Qualis Rex http://whosoeverdesires.wordpress.com/2011/09/27/elijah-the-prophet-jesus-the-lord/#comment-4719 Thu, 29 Sep 2011 22:03:42 +0000 http://whosoeverdesires.wordpress.com/?p=3728#comment-4719 Fascinating insight! Tertullian is one of my favorite among the African fathers, so thank you so much for bringing him up (don’t hear him mentioned much these days : )

God bless you now and always!

]]> By: Matthew Monnig, SJ http://whosoeverdesires.wordpress.com/2011/09/27/elijah-the-prophet-jesus-the-lord/#comment-4714 Thu, 29 Sep 2011 01:36:13 +0000 http://whosoeverdesires.wordpress.com/?p=3728#comment-4714 Thanks for your complimentary comments. You are right to note the Marcionite possibilities of this passage and its interpretation. In fact, Marcion himself used this passage to argue for an Old Testament God of wrath opposed to a New Testament Christ of mercy. Tertullian counters that both God in the OT and Christ in the New use justice and mercy as appropriate to diverse situations. The New Testament continues and develops the Old, it does not repudiate it. It’s not that Elijah was bad, but Jesus is something different. He’s something much greater.

]]> By: Qualis Rex http://whosoeverdesires.wordpress.com/2011/09/27/elijah-the-prophet-jesus-the-lord/#comment-4699 Tue, 27 Sep 2011 17:35:37 +0000 http://whosoeverdesires.wordpress.com/?p=3728#comment-4699 Hello Matthew (aka “new kid”)! A very insightful, spiritual and accademic view of the usage/juxtaposition of OT prophets in the NT. Our Lord had a tight-rope to walk; update the message while not coming out and saying “you got it wrong the first time” so as not to break continuity. While this was not very important to the Gentiles (i.e. Marcion) it certainly was crucial to the first converts, being faithful Jews.

Throughout the centuries AFTER the gospels, many church fathers (and the church in general) warns against and condemns Judaizers; those who would impose Jewish traditions over our Christian ones, specifically because of the dangers to the truths in our Christology. We see the same thing even today; witness the other thread on the two species. As you rightly point out, we cannot sacrifice our own theology to misguidedly simulate Jewish appearances, simply because they pre-date Christianity. In the same vein, this compare/contrast of the OT prophets with Our Lord show the clear dangers and traps that we modern Christians can fall into; i.e. the OT prophets did some extraordinary things, just like Jesus did…so, they’re all pretty much equal, right?

Once again, very wonderful post. Kudos and thanks.

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