Through the Church Fathers: Jun 16

Today we meet the tangled roots of heresy as Irenaeus catalogs Cerinthus, the Ebionites, and Marcion—each denying in different ways either the nature of Christ or the Creator Himself. These early errors become a springboard for reflecting on the human search for happiness. Augustine, in Confessions 10.20, wrestles with how we seek a happy life that we somehow already recognize, even if dimly. He asks: if we didn’t already know it, how could we desire it so deeply? Finally, Aquinas in Question 83, Article 2 explains that free will is not merely a one-time act or decision, but a power—a capacity rooted in our ability to choose rationally. Animals act by instinct; humans act by reflection. That power of rational self-direction is what Aquinas calls free will.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#Irenaeus #Confessions #SummaTheologica #Christology #FreeWill #Heresy #HumanDesire