Miscellaneous Christian Quotes

Miscellaneous Christian quotes indexed by subject.

Death of a Dream

It seems that God often gives a dream, kills it, then gives it real life.

Patrick Beard, Slowly by Slowly, 2009

Preaching to the Dead (1 Pet. 4:6)

It was for this reason, too, that the Lord descended into the regions beneath the earth, preaching his advent there also and the remission of sins received by those who believe in him.

Irenaeus, Against Heresies IV:27:2, c. A.D. 185

Samuel the Prophet Raised by a Medium?

[Some gnostics] undertake to bring up from Hades the souls of the prophets themselves. I suppose that they can do so under cover of a lying wonder. For, indeed, it was no less than this that was permitted in ancient times to the pythonic [ventriloquist] spirit. It was allowed to represent the soul of Samuel when Saul consulted the dead after [leaving] God. God forbid, however, that we should suppose that the soul of any saint, much less of a prophet, can be dragged out of [Hades] by a demon.
   We know that "Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light"; how much easier a man of light! … [Satan] hardly hesitated on the before-mentioned occasion to affirm himself to be a prophet of God, especially to Saul, in whom he was then actually dwelling.
   You must not imagine that he who produced the phantom was one, and he who consulted it was another. It was one and the same spirit both in the sorceress and in the apostate. It easily pretended an appearance of that which it had already prepared them to believe as real.

Tertullian, A Treatise on the Soul 57, A.D. 200 - 220

Spiritual Fervor

Some readily and very zealously engage in a good work, such as praying, reading, fasting, giving, serving, disciplining the body. But after two or three attempts they become indolent and fail to accomplish the undertaking. Their ardor subsides with the gratification of their curiosity. … The fervor that does not persevere in spiritual matters is carnal. Spiritual fervor increases with undertaking and effort. It is the nature of spirit not to know weariness.

Martin Luther, Complete Sermons of Martin Luther, vol. IV, p. 39; "Second Sunday After Epiphany" (emphasis mine), c. 1525