Through the Church Fathers: June 7

n this episode, we span the centuries to explore the intersection of historical truth, the internal struggle of the soul, and the philosophical nature of hope. We begin with Theophilus of Antioch, who robustly defends the antiquity of the Judeo-Christian tradition against the chronological errors of the Egyptian historian Manetho, proving that the prophets and the divine law long predate the celebrated lawgivers of Greece. We then move into the intimate psychological landscape of Augustine of Hippo, witnessing his agonizing "hesitation to die unto death" as he stands on the precipice of a life-altering conversion, held back by the weight of old habits even as the "severe mercy" of God presses upon him. Finally, we turn to the structured wisdom of Thomas Aquinas to define hope itself—not as a mere wish or simple desire, but as a powerful passion of the soul that moves us toward a difficult but attainable future good. Together, these readings remind us that our faith is grounded in history, tested in the heart, and sustained by the confident expectation of the good.Today’s Readings:Theophilus of Antioch — Theophilus to Autolycus, Book 3, Chapters 21–23 Augustine of Hippo — The Confessions, Book 8, Chapter 11 (Section 25) Thomas Aquinas — Summa Theologica, Part 1–2, Question 40 (Articles 1–4 Combined)Explore the Project:Through the Church Fathers – https://www.throughthechurchfathers.com Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/cmichaelpatton Credo Courses – https://www.credocourses.com Credo Ministries – https://www.credoministries.org#ChurchFathers #Augustine #Aquinas #Theology #History #Philosophy #Hope #Conversion