I discovered Bruce Gore while reading a comment referring to his work on Ryan Reeves church history channel. I haven’t stopped listening. The wealth of knowledge and his gift of teaching has been totally inspiring and encouraging.
Augustin failed by not acknowledging the angelic aspect of Gen. 6. He was too into rejecting his prior Manichaeism to rightly divide the Word in that case.
This is my second viewing of this excellent & inspiring teaching. The love of God is the ocean in which we all swim and the goodness of God is our sustenance. Jesus is the Water of life and Jesus is the Bread of life. "Take and read".
I am so blessed with this series.. full of knowledge I've never heard before, but easy to understand, the presentation is delivered with the soul. I do like it. thank you sir.
Thank you Pastor Gore for these lectures. I am an independent Baptist preacher. We have a small Bible College and this semester I will be teaching the History of Christianity (Part 1). I am reading several books and have made outlines, but your lectures have really helped me and given me some other details that have been very helpful. Thank you so much for these classes.
Thank you for the kind feedback, and blessings in your ministry as a pastor and teacher. My first teaching job was fifty years ago, fresh out of Whitworth University at a small Bible college that is likely quite similar to yours. One of my first assignments was to teach church history (about which I knew next to nothing!), and I've been in love with the subject ever since!
I am so grateful to find your series. As a Christian who studied political science, and was very interested in apologetics in the past, finding this type of scholarship is inspiring me to learn more. I think if more Christians knew their history, it would clarify their witness, and allow them to better define their beliefs. God bless you richly!
Bruce, you are breathe of fresh air and may our Lord Yeshua keep shining His Face Upon you.... Feel very blessed in learning about the early Church Fathers from you... Thank you!
Thank you Bruce. Quite excellent lecture. I’m Catholic (probably not germane). Found your chronological lecture on early Christianity quite excellent. 👍
Thank you! One of my closest friends in the faith is Catholic, and I regard it as quite germane that you find these offerings useful. There are times when I am not too kind to the Catholic Church, but then again, I've had a lot of critical remarks for us Protestants too! Thanks again.
Bruce as you tell these vivid stories from Church History, I am struck by how they mirror Jesus' method of teaching through parables. In the story, we identify with the characters, just as we identify with the prodigal son, or the good Samaritan. We put ourselves into the plot and the story carries us through the transformation which Jesus is asking of us, the awakening necessary to become Jesus' hands and voice in this world. So important to experience that change instead of just debating abstractions. Thank you
Sorry to leave so very many comments under this lecture. I am a combat specialist (was). Beirut, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Irak, and learned "why" God allows evil. The answer, "Because God gave us freewill." Man's freewill is a gift to God from God. Freewill give God the opportunity to see "good." Hope this statement makes common sense.
i started with seeing one of this chanel's vids on youtube somewhere.. now i'm downloading the whole church history content... what a great resource... the internet at its best.. thank you.. but i am not reformed... i'm a pentecostal anabaptist dispensationist universalist. but some reformed folks seem to be well versed on church history and doctrinal terms and i am thankful for that and the info helps us clarify our own specific convictions. Thank God for the body of Christ
Have notes on a lot of this as I pick and choose these "Sunday school lessons" of yours. Am all over the place as I try to make notations to upgrade the contents of these notes. Sheesh. have timelines of Imperial Rome, Bishops of Rome, Bishops of Alexandria, et cetera, Church Fathers (Latin and Greek) Am thankful this is recorded stuff. Sheesh. Must be building quite a group of knowledgeable people in your area. Edit: you mentioned Seattle. Am a photographer and am headed up to Vancouver area and Cascades to capture images. Am interested mostly in the salmon runs since Fukushima. Will be up there in a few years.
Thanks for your message. I believe an excellent place to start for a study of any part of church history is History of Christianity by Kenneth Scott LaTourette. His introductions are excellent and he provides very good additional bibliography for further study and research. www.amazon.com/History-Christianity-Vol-Beginnings-1500/dp/1565633288/ref=sr_1_1?crid=88AG3AOZGHZ2&dchild=1&keywords=kenneth+scott+latourette%2C+a+history+of+christianity&qid=1586955112&sprefix=kenneth+scott%2Caps%2C218&sr=8-1
I've wrestled with a question for many years: Did Augustine ever completely moved in from Neo Platonism as he did Manicheism? The reason I ask is because of his influence on John Calvin in particular. As one who has been so enriched by Reformation theology, I was wondering if Augustine's New Platonism had subtle effects on some of the Reformers? By the way Mr Gore, I look forward to meeting you in the New Jerusalem...Soli deo Gloria. Nigel Mohammed
Augustin used the language of his day, as all Christian thinkers must do, to communicate the message of the gospel. We look back, 1500 years later, and see some buzz-words used in Neo-Platonism, and think Augustin was still affected by that form of gnosticism. He was using a few words that were current, but filling them with very different meaning. Calvin appreciated Augustin because Augustin understood the biblical truth of God's sovereignty in salvation, as did Calvin. Neo-Platonism played no role in that appreciation.
Augustine of Hippo shows at church "with an attitude."? Am going to be researching a bit deeper and will keep this in mind. Edit: Just put it in my notes. It is good to translate into current idioms, IMO.
@@GoreBruce Thanks for your fast reply. So I analysed a PDF of Confessions. I word searched (Ctrl+F) the words Plotinus, Platonists, Plato and Ambrose and there is no indication of what you say, that Ambrose recommended for Augustin to read a philosopher. I believe it is a serious accusation so I did not believe it when you said this - I would only believe it when I see it. Anyway here is what I found with my word search in relation to reading the books of the platonists and Ambrose. Link - (www.ling.upenn.edu/courses/hum100/augustinconf.pdf). Book7 Ch20 [No mention of Ambrose] '' By having thus read the books of the Platonists, and having been taught by them to search for the incorporeal Truth, I saw how thy invisible things are understood through the things that are made'' Book7 Ch21 [Speaking of Christ, his works/passion] ''The books of the Platonists tell nothing of this. Their pages do not contain the expression of this kind of godliness'' Book8 Ch2 [He states he read the Platonists, but no indication it was from a recommendation from Ambrose] '' I went, therefore, to Simplicianus, the spiritual father of Ambrose (then a bishop), whom Ambrose truly loved as a father. I recounted to him all the mazes of my wanderings, but when I mentioned to him that I had read certain books of the Platonists'' Book9, Ch5 [The only book that Ambrose did recommend] ''And by letters I notified thy bishop, the holy man Ambrose, of my former errors and my present resolution. And I asked his advice as to which of thy books it was best for me to read so that I might be the more ready and fit for the reception of so great a grace. He recommended Isaiah the prophet;'' ========= Separately- What St. Ambrose did say about the Philosophers [I have other quotes but here is two] St. Ambrose, On the Christian Faith, 378-380: “41. Seeing, then,that the heretic says that Christ is unlike his Father and seeks to maintain this by force of subtle disputation, we must cite the Scripture: ‘Take heed that no man make spoil of you by philosophy and vain deceit, according to the tradition of men, and after the rudiments of this world, not according to Christ; for in him dwelleth all the fulness of Godhead in bodily shape.’ 42. For they store up all the strength of their poisons in dialectical disputation, which by the judgment of philosophers is defined as having no power to establish aught, and aiming only at destruction. But it was not by dialectic that it pleased God to save his people; ‘for the kingdom of God consisteth in simplicity of faith, not in wordy contention.’ ”319 St. Ambrose, On the Duties of the Clergy, 4th century: “121. ...In investigating the truth the philosophers have broken through their own rules. Moses, however, showed himself more wise than they... 123.Moses, learned as he was in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, did not approve of those things but thought that kind of wisdom both harmful and foolish. Turning away therefrom, he sought God with all the desire of his heart, and thus saw, questioned, heard him when he spoke. Who is more wise than he whom God taught, and who brought to nought all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and all the powers of their craft by the might of his works? He did not treat things unknown as well known, and so rashly accept them.”
Thanks for your diligent search. I heard a church historian make the statement that I passed on, but have never chased it down myself, so I'll stand corrected. I suppose the reference may be in one of Augustin's letters, but again, I'm not prepared to say more on the topic.
@@GoreBruce I appreciate that you brought some light to this, admitting errors i'm sure you agree is key if one is dedicated to truth. Still, I would be very grateful if you could ask that historian where he got that from, again I do not believe it until I see it - I would be very surprised if it were true. ------ Now, seperatly, I am no historian and I am sure you have much more knowledge than me on church history, but i'm also sure you would agree that knowledge does not equate to wisdom(not to say that I am wise). I believe very strongly you are in grave error being a Presbyterian. I believe this message is critical for your soul. There are essential links for you at the bottom of this message too. ''Let no man deceive himself: if any man among you seem to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. '' 1Cor 3:19-20 Again, I commend you for correcting your error. ===== So I am a Catholic, a true Catholic that holds the sedevacantist position (5 years ago I was a new ager, then protestant, then a fake Catholic, and now a true Catholic - I focus on my errors in an effort to destroy them and have come to the actual truth about God that is hidden from most people). For anybody reading who do not know this term 'sedevacantist', it means I am a Catholic that believes the chair in Rome is empty. It is empty because the claimant to the papacy is a heretic/apostate/schismatic and is thus not Catholic. Only a Catholic can hold office in the church. There are many sedevacantist groups, the one I am with believes (with proof) that the last pope we had died in 1130ad. That we are living in the great apostasy, the root of the great apostasy is the Hellenisation of Christianity by the scholastics and the desecration of holy places (naked images, demons, idols and even pornography pederasty shown/advertised in a positive light in paintings and sculptures throughout Catholic places, thus desecrating them). That is a very brief overview, but what the reader needs to know is that there is only one church every other distorts Christ and scripture (and all will go to hell outside Christs church - for they love mans ways and not Gods). Christ tells us to listen to the church or be a heathen (Mat 18:15-17 - this verse alone teaches us there is one church that is consistent in moral dogma). St Paul and St John tell us to avoid and condemn those who bring a false gospel, that is teach against the true church (Gal 1:8, Rom 16:1, 2Thes 3:6, 2Thes 3:14, 1Tim 1:3, 1Tim 6:3-4, 2John 1:10) ''For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires.'' - 2Tim4:3 [Aka - Cafeteria 'Christianity' which the Presbyterian churches in all their forms and doctrines are guilty of] Lastly I have to highlight that Jesus clearly taught very few are saved (enter the narrow gate which few find and many go the wide path to destruction {Mat7:13-14}). And especially at end times, Jesus questions will he even find the faith (Luke 18:8), and that it would be like the days of Noah where only 8 survived the flood (Mat 24:37). Now square that up with what you said in one of your talks, paraphrasing ''you are all the temple of God, you are the light from God so go out and share that light''. It is absolutely reckless to say that to a group of people which I am sure hold different doctrines and even on a video for people to see on youtube. You should be testing the spirits (1John 4:1), diligent in expelling those with false doctrine, not teaching this mushy indifferent false Christ the protestants invented that we are all good with God, that is a sever lack of true charity for the soul. That alone should teach you that you're in a false church. Your soul is at grave risk, I say in true charity. Fear of God is the beginning of wisdom (Prov 9:10), and you should work out your faith in fear and trembling (Phi 2:12). Look, you have a great skill in public speaking, and your knowledge of historical things is very important (and the grace to fix our errors as you did), but it is all worth nothing if you are not in Christs church and not following all his commandments (John 14:15) and not in his church which is free from doctrinal error, infallible in her teachings otherwise you would make out that Jesus and the Holy Spirit to be liars and guide us to falsehood (He said follow his church or be a heathen, Mat 18:15-17 - 30,000 + denominations make a mockery of Jesus' commandment here). The last remnants of the Catholic faith, the true church Jesus set up, outside of which nobody is saved will be found at www.johnthebaptist.us - I recommend for you to read the books Richard Ibranyi made, mammoth books that separate the wheat from the chaff in church history (many you thought were saints were not, but heretics, that is the reality), you will not find this anywhere else, it is also fully referenced. ''The Hellenization of Christianity by the Anti-Church Fathers and Scholastics'' www.johnthebaptist.us/jbw_english/documents/books/rjmi/br76_hellenization_of_christianity.pdf And also ''The Desecration of Catholic Places'' www.johnthebaptist.us/jbw_english/documents/books/rjmi/br61_desecration_of_catholic_places.pdf I pray for your soul and conversion. If you want to email me so we can ask each other questions please feel free at nomoreupdates85@gmail.com
On the connection among Augustine, Ambrose, and Plotinus, see: projectaugustine.com/2015/05/18/plotinus-and-neo-platonisms-influence-on-augustine/ along with sources they rely on. If you believe that source has misrepresented the matter, you should take it up with them. Thanks again for your interest from a long-term, joyful, firmly Calvinistic Presbyterian.
Augustine's relationship with his concubine was "on the rocks"? Confessions implies that they parted unwillingly due to his new convictions and she never sought a new consort. Seems cold on Augustine's part and one of the harder parts for a modern to accept, but I think "on the rocks" is not the right characterization
Celibacy? Hmmm. I think that it is a dis-service to God to intentionally stay celibate, if a man finds love. Because that is also a big part of the Church. No kids... no church/worship.
Only if a man can keep it. If the man wants to, he is opening himself up to Christ's service, not being kept back by a wife. But if he wants to he can, he participates in God's original plan to man, also resembling Christ.
Watching this series because Redeemed Zoomer recommended it. No regrets, Bruce Gore is a gifted teacher
Same
I like redeem zoomer!
Thanks for an excellent history lesson and an excellent Sunday School lesson!
I discovered Bruce Gore while reading a comment referring to his work on Ryan Reeves church history channel. I haven’t stopped listening. The wealth of knowledge and his gift of teaching has been totally inspiring and encouraging.
You are very generous. Thank you!
I learned of him through RZ but he and Reeves are my go to for Church history lectures!
Ryan Reeves is excellent.
Ambrose and Augustine were chads and a shining example of historical reformed teaching ❤
Augustin failed by not acknowledging the angelic aspect of Gen. 6. He was too into rejecting his prior Manichaeism to rightly divide the Word in that case.
This is my second viewing of this excellent & inspiring teaching. The love of God is the ocean in which we all swim and the goodness of God is our sustenance. Jesus is the Water of life and Jesus is the Bread of life. "Take and read".
BEAUTIFUL - THANK YOU 💯✝️✝️✝️🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🕊🕊🕊💯
In Christ, I love you so much... I absolutely love the Jesus in you.
This is incredible. Thank you so much.
especially for that word at the end. Thank you.
Excellent closing message, it dug deep. Thank you for that.
I am so blessed with this series.. full of knowledge I've never heard before, but easy to understand, the presentation is delivered with the soul. I do like it. thank you sir.
Thank you!
Thank you Pastor Gore for these lectures. I am an independent Baptist preacher. We have a small Bible College and this semester I will be teaching the History of Christianity (Part 1). I am reading several books and have made outlines, but your lectures have really helped me and given me some other details that have been very helpful. Thank you so much for these classes.
Thank you for the kind feedback, and blessings in your ministry as a pastor and teacher. My first teaching job was fifty years ago, fresh out of Whitworth University at a small Bible college that is likely quite similar to yours. One of my first assignments was to teach church history (about which I knew next to nothing!), and I've been in love with the subject ever since!
I am so grateful to find your series. As a Christian who studied political science, and was very interested in apologetics in the past, finding this type of scholarship is inspiring me to learn more. I think if more Christians knew their history, it would clarify their witness, and allow them to better define their beliefs. God bless you richly!
Thank you for your encouragement! I fully agree with your assessment and hope my modest contribution will further that aim.
Bruce, you are breathe of fresh air and may our Lord Yeshua keep shining His Face Upon you....
Feel very blessed in learning about the early Church Fathers from you...
Thank you!
Me also 😊🇦🇺
Thank you Bruce. Quite excellent lecture. I’m Catholic (probably not germane). Found your chronological lecture on early Christianity quite excellent. 👍
Thank you! One of my closest friends in the faith is Catholic, and I regard it as quite germane that you find these offerings useful. There are times when I am not too kind to the Catholic Church, but then again, I've had a lot of critical remarks for us Protestants too! Thanks again.
My goodness...video after video Bruce never fails! These are all sooo good!
Always love hearing your ‘little nuggets of wisdom’ at the end of each teaching 🙏
Extraordinary! Thank you so much! ❤😊 Blessings in the Lord./ Kina from Sweden
Thank you!
Bruce as you tell these vivid stories from Church History, I am struck by how they mirror Jesus' method of teaching through parables. In the story, we identify with the characters, just as we identify with the prodigal son, or the good Samaritan. We put ourselves into the plot and the story carries us through the transformation which Jesus is asking of us, the awakening necessary to become Jesus' hands and voice in this world. So important to experience that change instead of just debating abstractions. Thank you
Hallelujah for you Pastor B. Tashakor a fravan
Thank you for teaching me💜✝️💜
Sorry to leave so very many comments under this lecture.
I am a combat specialist (was). Beirut, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Irak, and learned "why" God allows evil. The answer, "Because God gave us freewill." Man's freewill is a gift to God from God. Freewill give God the opportunity to see "good." Hope this statement makes common sense.
Thank you for letting me be part of
your (Sunday school?) class-!
Happy to have you aboard!
Watching from India, Hooked on. Praising God for your life and ministry
Thank you!
Without evil, good means nothing.
without folly wisdom means nothing /without lawlessness keeping the law means nothing
These videos are so helpful, thank you!
+Logan Ross Thank you!
Dave Bestul Certainly!
Bruce Gore, excellent. I was just curious. I loved your presentation. Great work. ✝️
Good job. You are my teacher from a far. I am a student of Theology in Italy. From Bolzano with all my love. Shalom
molto grazie!
May Father YAHweh bless your understanding and show you His Resurrected Son YAHwehShua. Praise Father YAHweh.
Thank you for these videos! They are great and you are a very good orator! God Bless You!
Thank you!
Another excellent lecture series is available free online through the masters seminary.
Thank you, very informative and helpful for the serious Bible student.
This is #4, l am trying to catchup with # 1. ??
This is #4 in a 51 lecture series on church history, available as a playlist at my channel on TH-cam. Thanks for your interest!
Thank you .. Learned a lot
You're welcome! ...and thank you!
great series
Mike Grosz Thank you!
i started with seeing one of this chanel's vids on youtube somewhere.. now i'm downloading the whole church history content... what a great resource... the internet at its best.. thank you.. but i am not reformed... i'm a pentecostal anabaptist dispensationist universalist. but some reformed folks seem to be well versed on church history and doctrinal terms and i am thankful for that and the info helps us clarify our own specific convictions. Thank God for the body of Christ
Thank you, and I'm especially grateful that you are willing to listen to a stodgy presbyterian like me! Blessings!
Have notes on a lot of this as I pick and choose these "Sunday school lessons" of yours. Am all over the place as I try to make notations to upgrade the contents of these notes. Sheesh. have timelines of Imperial Rome, Bishops of Rome, Bishops of Alexandria, et cetera, Church Fathers (Latin and Greek) Am thankful this is recorded stuff. Sheesh. Must be building quite a group of knowledgeable people in your area. Edit: you mentioned Seattle. Am a photographer and am headed up to Vancouver area and Cascades to capture images. Am interested mostly in the salmon runs since Fukushima. Will be up there in a few years.
+Lon W. Thanks! You are headed for one of the most beautiful places on planet earth!
Great
awesum 😊😊👌👌👍
Thanks!
Mr. Gore love your videos. What books would you recommend reading for general insight on the multiple council and the crusade??
Thanks for your message. I believe an excellent place to start for a study of any part of church history is History of Christianity by Kenneth Scott LaTourette. His introductions are excellent and he provides very good additional bibliography for further study and research. www.amazon.com/History-Christianity-Vol-Beginnings-1500/dp/1565633288/ref=sr_1_1?crid=88AG3AOZGHZ2&dchild=1&keywords=kenneth+scott+latourette%2C+a+history+of+christianity&qid=1586955112&sprefix=kenneth+scott%2Caps%2C218&sr=8-1
I've wrestled with a question for many years: Did Augustine ever completely moved in from Neo Platonism as he did Manicheism?
The reason I ask is because of his influence on John Calvin in particular. As one who has been so enriched by Reformation theology, I was wondering if Augustine's New Platonism had subtle effects on some of the Reformers? By the way Mr Gore, I look forward to meeting you in the New Jerusalem...Soli deo Gloria. Nigel Mohammed
Augustin used the language of his day, as all Christian thinkers must do, to communicate the message of the gospel. We look back, 1500 years later, and see some buzz-words used in Neo-Platonism, and think Augustin was still affected by that form of gnosticism. He was using a few words that were current, but filling them with very different meaning.
Calvin appreciated Augustin because Augustin understood the biblical truth of God's sovereignty in salvation, as did Calvin. Neo-Platonism played no role in that appreciation.
@@GoreBruce Thank you for taking the time to reply, very much appreciate it. You're doing such a great work Mr Gore. A brother in Christ.
Augustine of Hippo shows at church "with an attitude."? Am going to be researching a bit deeper and will keep this in mind. Edit: Just put it in my notes. It is good to translate into current idioms, IMO.
Hi, can you give me a reference to how Ambrose recommended Platonism to Augustine?
Augustin mentions the recommendation of Neo-platonist writings in his Confessions.
@@GoreBruce Thanks for your fast reply. So I analysed a PDF of Confessions. I word searched (Ctrl+F) the words Plotinus, Platonists, Plato and Ambrose and there is no indication of what you say, that Ambrose recommended for Augustin to read a philosopher. I believe it is a serious accusation so I did not believe it when you said this - I would only believe it when I see it. Anyway here is what I found with my word search in relation to reading the books of the platonists and Ambrose.
Link - (www.ling.upenn.edu/courses/hum100/augustinconf.pdf).
Book7 Ch20 [No mention of Ambrose]
'' By having thus read the books of the Platonists, and having been taught by them to search for the incorporeal Truth, I saw how thy invisible things are understood through the things that are made''
Book7 Ch21 [Speaking of Christ, his works/passion]
''The books of the Platonists tell nothing of this. Their pages do not contain the expression of this kind of godliness''
Book8 Ch2 [He states he read the Platonists, but no indication it was from a recommendation from Ambrose]
'' I went, therefore, to Simplicianus, the spiritual father of Ambrose (then a bishop), whom Ambrose truly loved as a father. I recounted to him all the mazes of my wanderings, but when I mentioned to him that I had read certain books of the Platonists''
Book9, Ch5 [The only book that Ambrose did recommend]
''And by letters I notified thy bishop, the holy man Ambrose, of my former errors and my present resolution. And I asked his advice as to which of thy books it was best for me to read so that I might be the more ready and fit for the reception of so great a grace. He recommended Isaiah the prophet;''
=========
Separately- What St. Ambrose did say about the Philosophers
[I have other quotes but here is two]
St. Ambrose, On the Christian Faith, 378-380: “41. Seeing, then,that the heretic says that Christ is unlike his Father and seeks to maintain this by force of subtle disputation, we must cite the Scripture: ‘Take heed that no man make spoil of you by philosophy and vain deceit, according to the tradition of men, and after the rudiments of this world, not according to Christ; for in him dwelleth all the fulness of Godhead in bodily shape.’ 42. For they store up all the strength of their poisons in dialectical disputation, which by the judgment of philosophers is defined as having no power to establish aught, and aiming only at destruction. But it was not by dialectic that it pleased God to save his people; ‘for the kingdom of God consisteth in simplicity of faith, not in wordy contention.’ ”319
St. Ambrose, On the Duties of the Clergy, 4th century: “121. ...In investigating the truth the philosophers have broken through their own rules. Moses, however, showed himself more wise than they... 123.Moses, learned as he was in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, did not approve of those things but thought that kind of wisdom both harmful and foolish. Turning away therefrom, he sought God with all the desire of his heart, and thus saw, questioned, heard him when he spoke. Who is more wise than he whom God taught, and who brought to nought all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and all the powers of their craft by the might of his works? He did not treat things unknown as well known, and so rashly accept them.”
Thanks for your diligent search. I heard a church historian make the statement that I passed on, but have never chased it down myself, so I'll stand corrected. I suppose the reference may be in one of Augustin's letters, but again, I'm not prepared to say more on the topic.
@@GoreBruce I appreciate that you brought some light to this, admitting errors i'm sure you agree is key if one is dedicated to truth. Still, I would be very grateful if you could ask that historian where he got that from, again I do not believe it until I see it - I would be very surprised if it were true. ------ Now, seperatly, I am no historian and I am sure you have much more knowledge than me on church history, but i'm also sure you would agree that knowledge does not equate to wisdom(not to say that I am wise). I believe very strongly you are in grave error being a Presbyterian.
I believe this message is critical for your soul. There are essential links for you at the bottom of this message too.
''Let no man deceive himself: if any man among you seem to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. '' 1Cor 3:19-20
Again, I commend you for correcting your error.
=====
So I am a Catholic, a true Catholic that holds the sedevacantist position (5 years ago I was a new ager, then protestant, then a fake Catholic, and now a true Catholic - I focus on my errors in an effort to destroy them and have come to the actual truth about God that is hidden from most people). For anybody reading who do not know this term 'sedevacantist', it means I am a Catholic that believes the chair in Rome is empty. It is empty because the claimant to the papacy is a heretic/apostate/schismatic and is thus not Catholic. Only a Catholic can hold office in the church. There are many sedevacantist groups, the one I am with believes (with proof) that the last pope we had died in 1130ad. That we are living in the great apostasy, the root of the great apostasy is the Hellenisation of Christianity by the scholastics and the desecration of holy places (naked images, demons, idols and even pornography pederasty shown/advertised in a positive light in paintings and sculptures throughout Catholic places, thus desecrating them).
That is a very brief overview, but what the reader needs to know is that there is only one church every other distorts Christ and scripture (and all will go to hell outside Christs church - for they love mans ways and not Gods). Christ tells us to listen to the church or be a heathen (Mat 18:15-17 - this verse alone teaches us there is one church that is consistent in moral dogma). St Paul and St John tell us to avoid and condemn those who bring a false gospel, that is teach against the true church (Gal 1:8, Rom 16:1, 2Thes 3:6, 2Thes 3:14, 1Tim 1:3, 1Tim 6:3-4, 2John 1:10)
''For the time will come when men will not tolerate sound doctrine, but with itching ears they will gather around themselves teachers to suit their own desires.'' - 2Tim4:3 [Aka - Cafeteria 'Christianity' which the Presbyterian churches in all their forms and doctrines are guilty of]
Lastly I have to highlight that Jesus clearly taught very few are saved (enter the narrow gate which few find and many go the wide path to destruction {Mat7:13-14}). And especially at end times, Jesus questions will he even find the faith (Luke 18:8), and that it would be like the days of Noah where only 8 survived the flood (Mat 24:37). Now square that up with what you said in one of your talks, paraphrasing ''you are all the temple of God, you are the light from God so go out and share that light''. It is absolutely reckless to say that to a group of people which I am sure hold different doctrines and even on a video for people to see on youtube. You should be testing the spirits (1John 4:1), diligent in expelling those with false doctrine, not teaching this mushy indifferent false Christ the protestants invented that we are all good with God, that is a sever lack of true charity for the soul. That alone should teach you that you're in a false church. Your soul is at grave risk, I say in true charity. Fear of God is the beginning of wisdom (Prov 9:10), and you should work out your faith in fear and trembling (Phi 2:12). Look, you have a great skill in public speaking, and your knowledge of historical things is very important (and the grace to fix our errors as you did), but it is all worth nothing if you are not in Christs church and not following all his commandments (John 14:15) and not in his church which is free from doctrinal error, infallible in her teachings otherwise you would make out that Jesus and the Holy Spirit to be liars and guide us to falsehood (He said follow his church or be a heathen, Mat 18:15-17 - 30,000 + denominations make a mockery of Jesus' commandment here).
The last remnants of the Catholic faith, the true church Jesus set up, outside of which nobody is saved will be found at www.johnthebaptist.us - I recommend for you to read the books Richard Ibranyi made, mammoth books that separate the wheat from the chaff in church history (many you thought were saints were not, but heretics, that is the reality), you will not find this anywhere else, it is also fully referenced.
''The Hellenization of Christianity by the Anti-Church Fathers and Scholastics'' www.johnthebaptist.us/jbw_english/documents/books/rjmi/br76_hellenization_of_christianity.pdf
And also ''The Desecration of Catholic Places'' www.johnthebaptist.us/jbw_english/documents/books/rjmi/br61_desecration_of_catholic_places.pdf
I pray for your soul and conversion. If you want to email me so we can ask each other questions please feel free at nomoreupdates85@gmail.com
On the connection among Augustine, Ambrose, and Plotinus, see: projectaugustine.com/2015/05/18/plotinus-and-neo-platonisms-influence-on-augustine/
along with sources they rely on. If you believe that source has misrepresented the matter, you should take it up with them. Thanks again for your interest from a long-term, joyful, firmly Calvinistic Presbyterian.
As long as human beings do not abuse their procreation function...
Fabulous 🙏
Monica's Pastor? That would be Monica's Priest, as they didn't call them Pastors in those days.
Augustine's relationship with his concubine was "on the rocks"? Confessions implies that they parted unwillingly due to his new convictions and she never sought a new consort. Seems cold on Augustine's part and one of the harder parts for a modern to accept, but I think "on the rocks" is not the right characterization
Micah Neely I agree. I'm afraid I over stated that point. Thanks for the clarification.
Bruce Gore and thank you very much for your videos. Sorry it's too easy to sound ungrateful in YT comments
I've never been so annoyed by a plastic bag in my life
Celibacy? Hmmm. I think that it is a dis-service to God to intentionally stay celibate, if a man finds love. Because that is also a big part of the Church. No kids... no church/worship.
Only if a man can keep it. If the man wants to, he is opening himself up to Christ's service, not being kept back by a wife. But if he wants to he can, he participates in God's original plan to man, also resembling Christ.
Thank you so much, Mr Gore. I love your videos. God bless you.