Through the Church Fathers: March 19

In today’s readings, Justin Martyr challenges Greek philosophical assumptions about the soul, arguing that it is not naturally immortal but rather sustained by God's will. He contends that only God is truly unbegotten and incorruptible, while all created things—including human souls—depend on Him for their existence. His dialogue with Trypho highlights the contrast between Christian and Platonic views of the soul’s nature and destiny.Augustine, in Confessions, wrestles with doubt, struggling between his longing for certainty and his fear of being deceived. As he listens to Ambrose’s teaching, he begins to see Scripture in a new light, realizing that his previous objections were based on misunderstandings. Though still hesitant, he recognizes that faith is not an enemy but the remedy his heart has been resisting all along.Finally, Thomas Aquinas, in Summa Theologica, explains that the distinctions between the persons of the Trinity arise from their eternal relationships rather than from any difference in divine essence. The Father begets the Son, and the Holy Spirit proceeds from both, but all remain fully and equally God. These relationships, known as notional acts, clarify the doctrine of the Trinity without dividing God’s unity.Explore the Project:Through the Church Fathers – https://www.throughthechurchfathers.comPatreon – https://www.patreon.com/cmichaelpattonCredo Courses – https://www.credocourses.comCredo Ministries – https://www.credoministries.org