Author: Esdras Garcia

“God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,  has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds …” Hebrews 1:1-2

Historiography refers to the meta-study of history. It is the methodologies and governing principles by which historians examine the past, its peoples, and the events shaped by them. When we apply Christian presuppositions to historiography, we are faced with a wide variety of perspectives. Everyone wants to inject a bit of their own secular historiographical views. While these views can be helpful, they often muddy the waters of what history should really be about. I believe that keeping three elemental principles in mind at the forefront of the study of history will convey to Christians life-impacting lessons from the history that God has been weaving since Eden for His people.

Principle I: History is Linear and Purposeful

Key Texts: Genesis 1-3, Hebrews 1, Ephesians 1, and John 1

For our first principle, let’s start with an exercise of simplification. If you were to ask a Marxist how history moves forward, they would say class struggles are the means. Similarly, if you were to ask a Buddhist or a Hindu what they believed about history, you would see that their perspective lies in a cyclical and eternal process. A process based on the principles of creation and destruction. What would you say if asked how Christians believe history moves forward?

The simple answer is that it is all about Christ. In Ephesians 1, Paul goes into depth proclaiming the supremacy of the Son over the whole of Creation (Eph. 1:20-23). In Hebrews 1, we also see that the supremacy of the Son is not just over the Earth and physical matter. It extends over the angels, powers, and principalities of this universe. We see, therefore, that the Son of God is the preeminent figure in all of history. This is especially true when we consider the purposeful fall of humanity from grace and the saving plan of the incarnation. In his wonderful treatise “On the Incarnation”, Saint Athanasius says the following: “For it was His part both to bring again the corruptible to incorruption, and to maintain for the Father His consistency of character with all. For being Word of the Father and above all, He therefore naturally was alone both able to re-create everything, and worthy to suffer on behalf of all, and to be ambassador for all with the Father.” Christ serves as the linchpin of all creation. As such, he serves as humanity’s linchpin for all history. So as history moves forward, it does so in expectation of the day incorruption will be made manifest upon the whole of Creation.

Principle II: Choose Now Whom You Will Serve

Key Texts: Romans 1-2, Acts 17, Joshua 24

When God gave Eden to Adam and Eve, He provided them with a simple rule: “Do not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil” (Genesis 2:16). Mankind had a simple rule to live by, and we chose to break it. As a consequence, the whole universe suffers under the penalty of entropy, suffering, and death. Moreover, humanity is now incapable of not sinning. And if it wasn’t for Christ’s death and resurrection, we would all be heading for the same place. It is interesting to consider God’s mercy for the nations in more ways than Christ. In Romans 1-2, Paul tells us that all of humanity is without excuse since God’s attributes and nature have been clearly seen and understood. This then begs the question, “What was the point of making Himself seen and understood in the world, if judgment without Christ was inevitable?” The answer is rather simple. God, in his mercy, allows nations and individuals to pursue righteousness for righteousness’ sake.

Let’s take a look at a simple comparison. Consider the Romans and the Aztecs. We are going to overlook aspects of both cultures and use broad generalizations to see where they exactly differ. First, both the Romans and the Aztecs were deeply interested in the created world. They also were able, as Romans 1 makes clear, to see God’s attributes and revelation in the created world. Where they differ is in their conclusions. On the side of the Aztecs, they chose to violate the elemental principles of God’s revelation. This led them to debase themselves to some of the most cruel and ignominious acts of human sacrifice. When it comes to the Romans, we (again, generally) see a society motivated by general laws of virtue. Some Romans seek to exemplify measurement and justice. Nevertheless, Romans had a plethora of mistakes to account for (e.g., gladiatorial games, slavery, and often brutal war tactics). They showcase that no one is righteous enough to earn salvation by their own merit.

Now, this simple comparison is not to say that pagan Romans were perfect, far from it. But rather, to illustrate that morally superior societies existed outside the revelation of Christ and his Word due to God’s own revelation in the created world. When studying history, one should pay close attention to these societies and seek to understand which aspects of God’s revelation they got right and where they inevitably went wrong.

Principle III: Christians Must Live History

Key Passages: Leviticus 11:44-45, Romans 12, 1 Thessalonians 4

We then understand history as being a purposefully woven tapestry of God’s plan for redeeming a people for himself. Furthermore, history is a tool that helps us see how his natural revelation has been understood or ignored by people throughout all of human history. Then we must see history as more than a simple assortment of events and dates to be written about. History is ultimately one of God’s tools for our sanctification. In 1 Thessalonians, we read that the will of God for his children is “their sanctification.” Take any random event or period in history. Looking at it, the Christian might be tempted to feel overly negative or positive about it. Often, they might even make it a part of their identity. I would urge Christians to think in broader terms.

The closer one gets to Christ, the more they resemble Christ. Lovers of history ought to behave in a similar way. The more they reach into history, the more they use history to draw out Christ from his redemptive plan. In other words, to be immersed in history in the search for Christ will lead the Christian to a Christ-centered, redemption-oriented mindset. In an academic world so far removed from Christ and so oriented towards godless materialism, let Christ be revealed to all of mankind by daily seeking after him wherever you may find him.

Conclusion:

Let me finish with the words of C.S. Lewis in simple, yet still impactful Mere Christianity.

What Satan put into the heads of our remote ancestors was the idea that they could ‘be like gods’—could set up on their own as if they had created themselves—be their own masters—invent some sort of happiness for themselves outside God, apart from God. And out of that hopeless attempt has come nearly all that we call human
history—money, poverty, ambition, war, prostitution, classes, empires, slavery—the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make
him happy” – C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity (New York: Macmillan, 1952), pp 53-54.

So, as you set your heart to study history, make sure you don’t miss God and his redeeming love for us.

Recently, I have been reading and re-reading the Church Fathers. More specifically, I have been reading the writings of the Apostolic Fathers, the early followers of the twelve apostles.

One aspect I’ve always found fascinating appears in the first epistle of St. Clement to the Corinthians. There, Clement responds to the issues plaguing—unsurprisingly—the Corinthian Church. The response to their problems is both fascinating and quite compelling, but what warrants our attention today is found at the very beginning.

You see, 1 Clement was most likely written after the deaths of Paul and Peter at the hands of the mad emperor Nero. In light of this, Clement does not start the letter whining or complaining, but rather begins with pure humility, asking for understanding from the Corinthian Church. Asking them to understand why it has taken so long for him to answer them.

Though he had just lost two of the Church’s most influential leaders—Peter and Paul—to Nero’s persecution, and though he now carried crushing new responsibilities amid ongoing trauma and danger, Clement still took time to address the Corinthians’ problems—problems many of us would have considered someone else’s responsibility.

We probably have not been in perils such as the ones Clement found himself in. However, we all know what it’s like to be asked more when we are already in a hole. Clement could have opted out, focused only on his own flock, and let the Corinthians figure it out for themselves. Instead, he followed the example of the Apostle Paul and set aside the desire for comfort, following in the example of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 11:16-33).

When we are faced with uncertainty, we have wonderful examples of endurance and sacrifice to draw from. What these examples actually say is that in the midst of uncertainty, we can clearly see the example of Christ, who endured the pain of death to bring us life.

As our final encouragement today, let us follow in the path of Christ, Paul, and Clement, and together face the days of our lives in holiness, sacrificial love, and a passion for the saints. See you all in the upcoming posts!

“Let us fix our eyes on the blood of Christ and understand how
precious it is unto His Father, because being shed for our salvation, it
won for the whole world the grace of repentance.” – 1 Clement 7:4