Romans Notes

I have a rough draft of a paper due for Steven Rowe in 1983. I should collect these things and try to write. For the law was given through Moses; Grace and truth came through Jesus

In the gospel of John, from John the Baptist:For the law was given through Moses; Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." John 1:17.

Law and Sin, the Adamic man and grace: how does the Pauline account fit with the Greek account of the soul? The cav'ed man, one could say, is man in Adam and under law. Paul did not read Plato or Aristotle.

I don't get the central focus on "justification." Nous is the light that enlightens men. Republic 493- begotten. Neither is it opinion or belief done as an act of law that saves us! But the child begotten in the soul through baptism is able to fulfill the law. "If your eye is sound, your whole body will be full of light."

Because how to fit together Athens and Jerusalem- these are the common terms. Is there not only one nature of man? The law-formed man is artificial- but at least upright. Law is a trellis.

IF the Christ were true, the nature of man would be this way, to be found in Athens and even Egypt in a way- what would we expect? So Athens and Jerusalem are mutually confirming, at their peak.

As in Jung, it goes with persona and shadow- law in the soul casts a shadow. We say then what if we make a law of the light? One might get twentieth century totalitarianism! Jesus is not a legislator, but savior.

Law is a trellis, and so the man in grace fulfills and does not violate the law, though he is not under law. So law is not to make us righteous, or justified, but to guide penance. In temperance, the soul desires what is right, so there is no division.

That he is not under law- as the Greeks too teach regarding the king or best souls, this may mean that rights are higher than duties.

The imago Dei sleeps in man, and is born or awakened- the veil is removed from the law (2 Cor. 3).

The Christ in us would be what each most is.

So law-formed righteousness or justice would correspond to "vulgar "virtue.

The original nature un-transformed remains under the law, unconscious as it were, symbolized as an ape- this is sacrificed within in baptism, so that grace might enter. The law-formed soul is dissolved.

The knowledge of these things is in the soul of each- or would be in the soul of each. I'd tell Irv, we think philosophy and faith are as the upper lines of a triangle- closer together the higher one goes.

Although this in man is in conflict with the "city" and political convention, they also go together or agree, the law in polities and the truth in grace- if one is a murderer, he will be both damned and imprisoned or executed, thieves arrested and in Purgatory, etc.

In the best regime, the lawformed character is turned over to nature for completion- as music matters end in love matters that concern ta kalon- the noble and beautiful. This is different from the grace that Paul says completes the highest human natures and from the completion of the philosopher's education.

II. "Works" and grace or "faith," "justification," What WE CAN DO is turn, turn toward God, and pray that the Spirit intercede, since we do not know how to pray. The Angel of Peace at Fatima teaches a prayer:

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"My God, I believe, I adore, I hope, and I love Thee! I beg pardon for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope and do not love Thee". Everything Catholic +2. And is the Orthodox Eucharist NOT done in remembrance of Him? No good?

No other teacher teaches "Love one another-" "love your enemies," if you would be perfect. Some Greeks taught that love is a god- John teaches that God is Love. So if the Hindu loves his neighbor, where is the Christ? If the Christian persecutes the Muslim?

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The truth of the teachings of Jesus is the evidence that he is who he says he is. The metaphysics we cannot apprehend, but seek lifelong in wonder and marvel. What if the Shroud of Turin is real? NO ONE can say how it COULD have been forged!