Rome, 1570. Michelangelo has just died. El Greco, a young, unknown Greek painter of 29, visits the Sistine Chapel and stops before The Last Judgment.
He openly criticizes the fresco. Too much nudity, not enough decorum for the Counter-Reformation Church. He proposes to destroy it and repaint it himself, on the same level but better.
All of Rome takes him for an arrogant madman. El Greco will never receive another major commission in Italy.
Thank you for your words, Deacon. I'm just a little concerned that some of the language regarding "debt" and "payment" skirts too close to penal substitution. God bless you and yours!
There is some shared jargon here between penal substitution and what I described above, which is mainly drawn from St. Anselm, if memory serves. In the one above, we have to take seriously God has a nature and He adheres to that nature - but nothing that makes it seem like one person of the Trinity is placed in contrast to another, as is common in penal substitution.
What a beautiful and meaningful explication. Struck by this line: "You think of things because they exist, but things exist because God thinks of them," as well as by the assertion that finite humanity could not pay the debt to Infinite Love. Really interesting perspective.
That shows us the deep, deep love of God, for his creation.
May we present it and represent it as such, so more and more people can see it, repent and believe, and turn to this awesome, God that we serve.
It really is incredible - the more you dig into it, the more beautiful and mysterious it becomes.
Yes, what a great essay.
Spot on.
Always good to hear the simplicity that is the gospel.
that will totally preach...
Simple but incredibly rich and beautiful.
Great summary of the 'why' Jesus had to die for us. That's not often dug into in this depth.
Thank you! There is a lot of beauty here to explore.
Rome, 1570. Michelangelo has just died. El Greco, a young, unknown Greek painter of 29, visits the Sistine Chapel and stops before The Last Judgment.
He openly criticizes the fresco. Too much nudity, not enough decorum for the Counter-Reformation Church. He proposes to destroy it and repaint it himself, on the same level but better.
All of Rome takes him for an arrogant madman. El Greco will never receive another major commission in Italy.
That is a cool story about art!
😃
Thank you for your words, Deacon. I'm just a little concerned that some of the language regarding "debt" and "payment" skirts too close to penal substitution. God bless you and yours!
There is some shared jargon here between penal substitution and what I described above, which is mainly drawn from St. Anselm, if memory serves. In the one above, we have to take seriously God has a nature and He adheres to that nature - but nothing that makes it seem like one person of the Trinity is placed in contrast to another, as is common in penal substitution.
What a beautiful and meaningful explication. Struck by this line: "You think of things because they exist, but things exist because God thinks of them," as well as by the assertion that finite humanity could not pay the debt to Infinite Love. Really interesting perspective.
Thank you! I appreciate the feedback.
beautifully explained, thank you for sharing!