Happy Easter!
The Orthodox Study Bible, New Testament and Psalms, (1993) Saint Athanasius Orthodox Academy, Thomas Nelson Publishers, Nashville, Tennessee.
From this Bible's Glossary and Reverend John W. Morris, Ph.D.
Easter
Cited
'The Feast of the Resurrection of Christ, also known as Pascha (from the Hebrew word for Passover). Christ proclaimed Himself as the true Passover and offered Himself as a sacrifice. Orthodox Christians celebrate Easter according to the decree of the Council of Nicea in A.D. 325: the first Sunday following the first full moon following the spring equinox following the Jewish Passover. Thus, Orthodox Easter is often one, four or five weeks after the western Easter.' (797).
W.R.F Browning explains that Easter became the early celebration of the Christian Church. (108). By the third century, 'it was preceded by a night vigil.' (108). At dawn, converts were baptized and all present in the Church received communion. (108). Browning writes that there was no 'Good Friday' celebration until the fourth century. (108).
Historian, Earle E. Cairns explains that the 'Easter Controversy' arose in the middle of the second century over the question of what the proper date to celebrate Easter was. (103). The Church in the East (Orthodoxy as discussed in this article, my add) held that Easter should be celebrated on the fourteenth day of Nisan, which is the date of Passover according to the Jewish calendar. (103).
Quote:
'The Eastern and Western segments of the church could not arrive at any agreement until the Council of Nicea in 325, when the viewpoint of the Western Church was adopted.' (103).
Opinion
Within my Reformed tradition, I am far less concerned with historical dates for Easter, from Church history and the history and traditions of churches; and more concerned with the historicity of the New Testament in regards to the atoning and resurrection of Jesus Christ, for his chosen persons (Ephesians 1, Romans 8-9), leading to the eventual resurrection of those who believe in him (1 Corinthians 15, Revelation 20-22).
Edited from
2010 Theodicy and Practical Theology: PhD thesis, the University of Wales, Trinity Saint David, Lampeter
Jesus Christ the person is held in extremely high regard as is his ministry, atoning work and resurrection, and his person and work cannot be separated in importance. Franke (2005: 72). The New Testament not only demonstrates the witness of the redeeming act of God in Christ but is also the summation of the man that is the word of God. Hughes (1990: 38). Erickson writes that Scripture teaches the resurrection of those who believe in Christ. Erickson (1994: 1194). He also reasons it is likely that unbelievers too will be raised, Erickson (1994: 1194), although this concept is not as clearly explained as is the idea of the raising of those who trust in Christ. Erickson (1994: 1200).
(See Mounce and his Revelation commentary cited)
Sunday, October 11, 2009: The final battles of Revelation
Thiessen bases the traditional Christian belief in physical resurrection in the texts from both Testaments and describes the resurrection bodies as both physical and spiritual in nature. Thiessen (1956: 491). Whale writes that the resurrection is not to be considered an addition to the Christian faith, but is the Christian faith. Whale (1958: 69).
The resurrection can be denied outright by critics. Darrow (1928)(1973: 266-267). Phillips provides a negative atheistic critique of eschatological Christian concepts in his Chapter, ‘Last things.’ Phillips (2005: 247-275). Phillips reasons that there is not actual hope for persons after death in another realm. Phillips (2005: 248).
This would appear empirically true in one sense as resurrections typically are non-existent, but if the Biblical resurrection is true, there is hope for those in Christ. The resurrected Christ was empirically viewed within documented Scripture.
However, if one does not believe in the resurrection of Christ, God’s key witness through historical documented Scripture to the world that he wishes to save it from the problem of evil is gone. The remedy to sin and death would be non-existent and therefore concepts of a perfected world far-fetched.
Edited from:
2003 The Problem of Evil: Anglican and Baptist Perspectives: MPhil thesis, Bangor University
Church Father Irenaeus stated concerning Christ’s work defeating death: For it behoved Him who was to destroy sin, and redeem man under the power of death, that He should Himself be made that very same thing which He was, that is, man; who had been drawn by sin into bondage, but was held by death so that sin should be destroyed by man, and man should go forth from death. Irenaeus. (ca. 130-200 AD) Book III, Chapter 18, Section 7. (Note: There does not seem to be a historical date to indicate when Irenaeus wrote this work. It is estimated that he wrote the work near the end of the second century.)
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| Easter Island: Pixabay |
BROWNING, W.R.F. (1997)
Oxford Dictionary of the Bible, Oxford, Oxford University Press.
CAIRNS, EARLE E. (1981)
Christianity Through The Centuries, Grand Rapids, Zondervan Publishing House.
DARROW, CLARENCE (1928)(1973) ‘The Myth of the Soul’, in
The Forum, October, in Paul Edwards and Arthur Pap (eds.),
A Modern Introduction To Philosophy, New York, The Free Press.
DARROW, CLARENCE (1932)(1973) ‘The Delusion of Design and Purpose’, in
The Story of My Life, October, in Paul Edwards and Arthur Pap (eds.), A Modern Introduction To Philosophy, New York, The Free Press.
ERICKSON, MILLARD (1994)
Christian Theology, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House.
ERICKSON, MILLARD (2003)
What Does God Know and When Does He Know It?, Grand Rapids, Zondervan.
FRANKE, JOHN R. (2005)
The Character of Theology, Baker Academic, Grand Rapids.
IRENAEUS. (c 175-185)(1998) ‘Against Heresies’, in
The Catholic Encyclopedia, Denver, The Catholic Encyclopedia.
IRENAEUS. (c 175-185)(2005) Against Heresies, in
The Catholic Encyclopedia, Denver, The Catholic Encyclopedia.
IRENAEUS (c 185)(2005)
Proof of Apostolic Preaching, Translated by J. Armitage Robinson, London, The Macmillan CO.
PHILLIPS, D.Z. (1981)
Encountering Evil, Stephen T. Davis (ed.), Atlanta, John Knox Press.
MOUNCE, ROBERT H. (1990)
The Book of Revelation, Grand Rapids, William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
PHILLIPS, D.Z. (2005)
The Problem of Evil and the Problem of God, Fortress Press, Minneapolis.
THIESSEN, HENRY C. (1956) Introductory Lectures in Systematic Theology, Grand Rapids, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.
WHALE, J.S. (1958)
Christian Doctrine, Glasgow, Fontana Books.
