Lucius Lactantius' (d. ca. 320) Divine Institutions
From LutheranWiki
Lactantius' work, addressing the Emperor Constantine in the early fourth century AD, is divided in seven books and a summarizing epitome. The first three books deal with idolatry, the reasons for it, and with the flawed wisdom of the pagan philosophers. The next book, built around the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Christ, outlines the true religion, Christianity. The next two books seem to be mainly about the virtues of the Christians in relation to God and fellow man. The final book is about the immortality of the soul and eschatology.
Lactantius first criticizes pagan polytheism by means of pagan philosophy, poets, and sybills (prophetesses) who speak of a single transcendent god (I:3-8). However, even philosophy is shown to be insufficient, especially because its proponents really do not know anything about the one true God. For in reality, true religion and true philosophy have to come together in perfect synthesis. Christianity is advertized as this synthesis (IV:3).
When it comes to describing the positive tenets of Christianity, it is remarkable how little resemblence they bear to the gospel, narrowly defined. Christ's cross is seen as example of endurance for the Christian; following Christ's teachings is what saves the Christian (IV:26). Sins can be countered by good works, especially by acts of charity, so that good works in the end might outweigh sins of thought, word, and deed (VI:13, 20).
Lactantius attempts to develop a Christian dogmatics with strong apologetic emphasis. He starts out where most of his contemporaries were: mired in idolatry. This certainly does resemble Paul's "method" of engaging the pagans, according to Acts 14; 17 (cf. also Rom. 1). But ultimately, he falls short of Paul's radical law-preaching and therefore of Paul's radical gospel-preaching. In the categories of Luther, Lactantius is a prime example of "worldly, civil theology" that does not know God as merciful Savior because it refuses to know man as corrupt by nature and that therefore seeks to appease God by man's own works. In this attempt to teach Christianity and to defend the faith against paganism and philosophy, the latter did carry the day. The wisdom of this world proved stronger than the evangelical "doctrine of spritual wisdom" Luther advocated. --Sonntag 20:05, 5 March 2007 (MST)
