Though sometimes confused with the bishop of Tricca (in Thessaly), Oecumenius was a layman Greek writer who has left us commentaries on Acts, the NT epistles, and what is probably the first Greek commentary on the Book of the Revelation. He seems to have steered a middle course between the theologies of Nestorius and Eutyches in seeking to uphold the teaching of the Chalcedonian understanding of Christ given in A.D. 451. His understanding of free will seems to be close to that of Pelagius. But I thought I would post these two expressions by him of justification via sola fide.

Oecumenius (6th century), commenting on Romans 3:24-26: Wherefore all that believe in Christ are freely justified, bringing their faith only with them. For translation, see William Beveridge, Ecclesia Anglicana Ecclesia Catholica, 3rd edition (Oxford: University Press, 1847), p. 297.
Greek text: Διὸ πάντες πιστεύσαντες εἰς Χριστὸν δωρεὰν δικαιοῦνται, τὸ πιστεύειν μόνον συνεισάγοντες. Pauli Epistola Ad Romanos, Caput V, PG 118:383.

Oecumenius (6th century), commenting on James 2:23: Abraham is the image of someone who is justified by faith alone, since what he believed was credited to him as righteousness. But he is also approved because of his works, since he offered up his son Isaac on the altar. Of course he did not do this work by itself; in doing it, he remained firmly anchored in his faith, believing that through Isaac his seed would be multiplied until it was as numerous as the stars. Gerald Bray, ed., Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture: New Testament, Vol. XI, James, 1-2 Peter, 1-3 John, Jude (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2000), p. 33. See PG 119:481.
Greek text: Της μὲν ἐκ μόνης πίστεως δικαιώσεως εἰκὼν ἦν Ἀβραὰμ, ὅτε πιστεύσας ἐλογίσθη αὐτοῦ εἷς δικαιοσύνην, τῆς δὲ ἔξ ἔργων, ὅτε τὸν υἱον ἀνενέγκας ἐπὶ τὸ θυσιαστήριον. Καὶ γὰρ οὐ μόνον τὸ ἔργον ἐποίει, ἀλλὰ καὶ τῆς πίστεως οὐκ ἀπέστη, ὅτι ἐν Ἰσαὰκ μέλλει τὸ σπέρμα αὐτοῦ πληθύνειν ὡς τὰ ἄστρα. Jacobi Apostoli Epistola Catholica, Caput IV, PG 119:481.

One thing to bear in mind, especially if introducing such quotes to non-Protestants, is that Romanists will usually affirm, "Yes, of course, *initial* justification can be by faith alone in Christ alone," but since they are quick to affirm that justification is an on-going process, rather than an act of God's free grace, they're usually unshaken by such citations in their affirmation of continuing, meritorious works as necessary for justification that results in ultimate salvation.

DTK

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Sola Scriptura est norma normans non normata
D. T. King, pastor
Christ Presbyterian Church (OPC)
Elkton, Maryland
Augustine (354-430): Therefore what He [i.e., Christ] has deigned to speak to us, we ought to believe that He meant us to understand. But if we do not understand He, being asked, gives understanding, who gave His Word unasked. NPNF1: Vol. VII, Tractates on John, Tractate XXII, §1.

There should be a book about this.

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Gil Garcia
Rehoboth Reformed Church (RCUS)
La Habra, CA

"Ignorance of this distinction between Law and Gospel is one of the principal sources of the abuses which corrupted and still corrupt Christianity." - Calvin's successor


"By the words of the law man is admonished and taught, not what he can do, but what he ought to do. How is it that you theologians are twice as stupid as schoolboys, in that as soon as you get hold of a single imperative verb you infer an indicative meaning...?"
-Martin Luther, The Bondage of the Will

Hm... and FV people are so often aghast that orthodox Reformed folks see them as heading toward (or already closely parallel to) Rome!

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Todd K. Pedlar
member, First Congregational Church, (CCCC) Cresco, IA
http://inprincipiodeus.solideogloria.com
http://puritanwisdom.blogspot.com

"As God did not at first choose you because you were high, He will not now forsake you because you are low."
John Flavel in Keeping the Heart



Click to get: Board Rules -- Signature Requirements -- Suggestions?

A keen insight.

DTK