Medieval Hymns

"Did this literature encourage Christians to exercise political leadership?" Was the question my teacher asked us students. The answer to this question is simple. No. The emphasis of these hymns were on the timeless things. Heaven. Peace. Love. The emphasis was also on contrast. Things like good vs. evil. Heaven vs. Earth. Politics did not …

Augustine’s View of Christianity’s Role in History

Augustine was one of the most influential Christian writers and scholars worldwide. He argued that Christianity played a large role in history. More than that, he also believed that Christians would always be persecuted and that we Christians are to be obedient to God, fear Him, and not fear those who persecute us. Augustine also …

Ethical Teaching of Jesus Compared to the Ethical Behavior of Zeus

Jesus is God, came to earth, and lived and died to save us from our sins. During His earthly ministry, He preached and taught. His ethical teaching was straightforward and direct, not leaving any room for interpretation. He gave us two commandments and expanded on them: 1) Love the Lord your God with all of …

Adoption and Inheritance in the Bible

Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, wrote multiple letters, or Epistles, to different churches all around Europe and Asia Minor. One recurring theme was Adoption and Inheritance. Adoption and Inheritance are spiritual, and also physical, in a sense. You could say that "Adoption" and being "Born Again" are the same thing (see John 3:1-21). When …

Differences of Opinion Between Apostles and Sadducees

Sadducees held opinions and beliefs that did not stick with the popular public opinion, as compared with the Pharisees, who held more beliefs in common with the apostles than with the Sadducees. The Sadducees did not believe that God had a Son. They did not believe in the Holy Spirit. The Sadducees did not believe …

The Main Issue Dividing the Pharisees from Christ

Jesus was rejected by many of Israel's top leaders, such as the Pharisees and Sadducees. In order to understand why many of the Pharisees hated Jesus, there must be an understanding of who Jesus is. Jesus is the Son of God, who became a human sent as the sacrifice to pay the bail for us …

The Importance of Jesus’ Miracles in His Ministry

Mark, the first of four Gospels in the New Testament canon, holds important truths and tells us of Jesus' life and ministry. There were two main functions that Jesus fulfilled during His earthly ministry: healing and teaching/preaching. Healing sick and injured people was one of many examples of the miracles that Jesus performed. His preaching …

Cause and Effect of Ethics in Greek Writing

Works and Days was written by Hesiod. It was written as an ethical and a farming guide for his brother, Perses. He wrote it to persuade his brother to relinquish the inheritance that Hesiod felt Perses had stolen. There is much emphasis on the gods of Greek religion. The hierarchy is very linear as far …

Orestes, In Modern Times

Orestes is a character in an ancient Greecian play. This play was a trilogy written by Aeschylus, titled "The Orestia". Orestes became the main character in the second play, titled "Libation Bearers". it is here that Orestes learns the hard truth about what really transpired during the years of his exile... Agamemnon, Orestes' father, was …

Aeschylus and the Trojan War

Aeschylus was an ancient Greek playwright/poet. It is believed that he wrote around 70 works, but only 7 of his plays survive today. The most well-known, "The Orestia", is a tragic trilogy; the first of which is titled "Agamemnon". It is in this play that Aeschylus makes his stance on the Trojan War known. Aeschylus …