Excerpt from the 1st Apology
Chapter XLIII.—Responsibility asserted.
But lest some suppose, from what has been said by us, that we say that whatever happens, happens by a fatal necessity, because it is foretold as known beforehand, this too we explain. We have learned from the prophets, and we hold it to be true, that punishments, and chastisements, and good rewards, are rendered according to the merit of each man’s actions. Since if it be not so, but all things happen by fate, neither is anything at all in our own power. For if it be fated that this man, e.g., be good, and this other evil, neither is the former meritorious nor the latter to be blamed. And again, unless the human race have the power of avoiding evil and choosing good by free choice, they are not accountable for their actions, of whatever kind they be. But that it is by free choice they both walk uprightly and stumble, we thus demonstrate. We see the same man making a transition to opposite things. Now, if it had been fated that he were to be either good or bad, he could never have been capable of both the opposites, nor of so many transitions. But not even would some be good and others bad, since we thus make fate the cause of evil, and exhibit her as acting in opposition to herself; or that which has been already stated would seem to be true, that neither virtue nor vice is anything, but that things are only reckoned good or evil by opinion; which, as the true word shows, is the greatest impiety and wickedness. But this we assert is inevitable fate, that they who choose the good have worthy rewards, and they who choose the opposite have their merited awards. For not like other things, as trees and quadrupeds, which cannot act by choice, did God make man: for neither would he be worthy of reward or praise did he not of himself choose the good, but were created for this end; nor, if he were evil, would he be worthy of punishment, not being evil of himself, but being able to be nothing else than what he was made.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
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33 comments:
Not exactly a hotbed of activity here, eh Xtian Apol.?
Haven't posted since Oct., and you had all of what... 4 readers?
So, what happened here? Probably was due to a lack of belief in yourself. Or did jesus not see fit to make your 3000word religious rants a big hit with your brethren? It was "god's will" that your blog is a bust, right?
No, don't answer, it's ok. It was a rhetorical question.
It could just be that I dont make blogging a big priority.
That's interesting, seeing as how you make posting idiotic comments to MY blog a priority. LOL!!!
No worries Hump. I am done posting on your blog. You have shown that you are incapable of hearing any point of view other than your own. I will let you get back to patting each other on the back affirming how smart you all are.
That's good. You single handedly lower the average IQ of my blog comments by 15 points every time you post there.
Do yourself a favor read more, secular stuff. History, Jefferson's writings, real science books, comparative religion, biblical crtiticism by scholars.
It will help you with your reasoning ability which is
dreadfully lacking.
I now leave you to your defunct blog and your superstitions.
人生有些波折,才能有些成長,所以不論順逆,凡是成長、成功的助緣,都應該心存感激。 ..................................................
時時關心,時時感動。 ..................................................
希望是風雨之夜所現之曉霞 ..................................................
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人不可以求其備,必捨其所短,取其所長 ............................................................
死亡是悲哀的,但活得不快樂更悲哀。.........................
世間是非,要如水泥地般水過則乾。..................................................................
欣賞是一種美德~回應是最大的支持^^....................................................................
Pen and ink is wits plough. ....................................................................
成熟,就是有能力適應生活中的模糊。.................................................................
人有兩眼一舌,是為了觀察倍於說話的緣故。............................................................
thx rfor you sharing~~learn it by heart..................................................................
你的部落格不錯哦,我來享受一下~~..................................................
有夢最美啦~~加油!元氣滿點!............................................................
如果成為一支火柴,也要點亮一個短暫的宇宙;如果是一隻烏鴉,也要叫疼閉塞的耳膜。..................................................................
拒絕冒險和成長的人,終將被生命的潮流陶汰。..................................................
不論做什麼事,相信自己,別讓別人的一句話,把你擊倒。..................................................
真正仁慈的人,會忘記他們做過的善行,他們全心投入現在的工作,過去的事已被遺忘。..................................................
真正仁慈的人,會忘記他們做過的善行,他們全心投入現在的工作,過去的事已被遺忘。..................................................
這不過是滑一跤,並不是死掉而爬不起來了。..................................................
一棵樹除非在春天開了花,否則難望在秋天結果。............................................................
我對自己的信心已超越別人對我的評價................................................
生、死、窮、達,不易其操。......................................... ........................
Pen and ink is wits plough...................................................................
人生有些波折,才能有些成長,所以不論順逆,凡是成長、成功的助緣,都應該心存感激。.................................................
人應該做自己認為對的事,而不是一味跟著群眾的建議走。..................................................
友誼能增進快樂,減少痛苦......................................................................
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