Chrysostom on the Strength to Suffer for Christ

For if to sailors the waves and the seas, to soldiers their slaughters and wounds, to husbandmen the winters and the frosts, to boxers the sharp blows, be light and tolerable things, all of them, for the hope of those rewards which are temporary and perishing; much more when heaven is set forth, and the unspeakable blessings, and the eternal rewards, will no one feel any of the present hardships.

Christian Individuality

'The church 'is made up of various personalities, no one of which can refuse to function without impoverishing the group and without depriving the eternal Christ of a part of his kingdom. Christ reigns by unfolding Himself in men. Every life of one of His members is a characteristic moment of His duration; every individual man and Christian is an instance, incommunicable, unique and therefore necessary, of the extension of the 'spiritual body'' (Sertillanges, The Intellectual Life).

Elisha as a Type of Christ

1. Elijah precedes Elijah - John, Jesus
2. The similarity of names - Elisha 'God saves'; Jesus 'Yahweh saves'
3. Elisha is greater than Elijah; Jesus is greater than John the Baptist
4. Both are miracle workers
5. Two parallel miracles: (1) multiplication of loaves; (2) raising of widow's son - identical location
6. Both disturb the politics of their day
7. The ministry of Elijah and John is a ministry of reform and revival; the ministry of Elijah and of Jesus is a ministry of power and presence - the kingdom of God is at hand
8. Both Elisha and Jesus are identified with the North of Israel - Jesus to Nazareth and Elisha as the prophet to the Northern kingdom

Jacques Ellul on Hearing the Voices of the Biblical Authors

'Each book of Scripture has its own particular sense, emphasis and perspective. Each reflects one aspect of God's total revelation. Each imparts a unique and singular truth. Yet they cannot be rigorously separated from one another. On the other hand, they are not to be confused with one another...Naturally everything is in everything. But it seems to me that the idea of finding everything in every text serves no useful purpose' (Politics of God and Politics of Man, 12).

Alain de Botton on Love

Alain de Botton remarks that 'money, fame, and influence' are valued as 'tokens of love rather than as ends in themselves'. He goes on to provide an unusual and provocative definition of love: 'a kind of respect, a sensitivity by one person to another's existence. To be shown love is to feel ourselves the object of concern. Our presence is noted, our name is registered, our views are listened to, our failings are treated with indulgence and our needs are ministered to.' How interesting - that the power-hungry and fame-addicted would be driven by an underlying need for love.