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Wednesday, October 06, 2004
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Newman's Essay, Part IV: Instances Cursorily Noticed
Now, let us look at a few doctrines, and see whether dogmas which were defined only in later centuries were preceded or suggested by the teaching of the early Church. This is certainly the case with the canon of the New Testament, the doctrine of original sin, the practices of infant baptism and of communion in one kind, and the dogma of the homoousion. None of these were taught or practiced explicitly or literally by the early Church. But emerging suppositions, however imperfect, gradually increasing in weight of proof, eventually presented such a weighty testimony that the later Church had no choice but to define them explicitly and formally.
The cult of Mary and the saints, for example, are an example of an organic development, emerging naturally, as they do, from the doctrine of our Lords consubstantiality with the Father. When Augustine taught that the Old Testament theophanies were made by angels, and not the Son (which would imply subordinationism), this teaching legitimized the veneration of created beings (since the patriarchs had clearly venerated these beings). And in defining the homoousion against the Arians, the Council of Nicea recognized the incredible chasm between God and creation, insisting that to be a glorified created being was not the same as to be God. This left room for others to be considered glorified human beings, which would not for that reason make them God. Also, the Nestorian controversy showed it necessary to define Mary as the Mother of God, to protect the divinity of Christ.
Also, the emergence of the dogma of papal supremacy in the fourth century was hindered - in the early Church - by external constraints, such as the turbulence and persecution which this Church underwent. Also, such a formal, institutional authority was not necessary then, since governance was a local matter and voluntary charity was sufficient to maintain unity. But the substantial growth of the Church necessitated a concentration of her authority, especially as local and universal disturbances due to doctrinal debats created the need for a centralized authority to resolve them. And, as with other matters, it holds true that 'no doctrine is defined till it is violated.' Also, the clear teachings on this doctrine in the fourth century can serve to illuminate and reinforce the dim outlines traced in the earlier centuries.
# posted by Jamie : 2:10 PM
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