Friday, January 3, 2014

A Voice from the Past - Irenaeus

The man, however, who would undertake their conversion, must possess an accurate knowledge of the systems or schemes of doctrine. For it is impossible for any one to heal the sick, if he has no knowledge of the disease of the patients.

Ireneaus, 125-202 AD, Against Heresies, Book IV, Preface, 2 (The Apostolic Fathers with Justin Martyr and Ireneaus, Philip Schaff, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2001, p. 667)

Do we need to understand where other people are coming from  to tell them about Christ? Does this apply to all circumstances?

2 comments:

  1. Not sure Mike. Yet I am reminded of the old saying that people do not care about how much unless they know how much you care.

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    1. I tend to think this is both/and. We need to care but we also need to understand.

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