Through the Church Fathers

• Through the Church Fathers: July 3

  Today’s Readings: Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies, Book 2, Chapter 28 Augustine of Hippo, Confessions, Book 10, Chapters 52–53 Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Part 1, Question 92, Article 2Today’s readings center on the limits of human knowledge, the humility that faith demands, and the mystery of God’s wisdom. Irenaeus reminds us that not all questions need answers, especially when speculation leads us away from the one true God. Augustine, in Confessions, Book 10, Chapters 52–53, describes the seduction of the eyes and his struggle to focus on the invisible light of God rather than the visible beauty of the world. And in Summa Theologica, Part 1, Question 92, Article 2, Aquinas explains why woman was formed from man—not as a sign of inferiority, but to show their unity and mutual origin in God's design. Together, these readings challenge us to submit to God’s wisdom, embrace mystery, and resist the urge to explain what God has not revealed.Explore the Project:Through the Church Fathers – https://www.throughthechurchfathers.comPatreon – https://www.patreon.com/cmichaelpattonCredo Courses – https://www.credocourses.comCredo Ministries – https://www.credoministries.org

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• Through the Church Fathers: July 2

  Today’s Readings: Irenaeus – Against Heresies, Book 1, Chapter 20 Augustine – Confessions, Book 7, Chapters 18–20Thomas Aquinas – Summa Theologica, Part I, Question 92, Article 1 Today’s readings take us deep into the mystery of creation, the tragedy of rebellion, and the hope of illumination. Thomas Aquinas asks whether woman should have been created from the beginning, and he answers carefully: yes, for the sake of human fellowship and the fulfillment of nature. He reflects not only on her origin from man but also on the wisdom of God in doing so. Irenaeus, meanwhile, continues dismantling the Gnostic mythologies, showing how their symbolic interpretations of Christ’s passion twist both Scripture and logic. His aim is to expose the incoherence of those who detach salvation from the real flesh and blood of Christ. And in a powerful moment from Confessions, Augustine recalls how he finally came to understand that evil is not a substance—but a corruption of good. The darkness began to lift. The Word was no longer a doctrine; it was a person—Christ Himself—drawing him out of pride and into truth.Explore the Project:Through the Church Fathers – https://www.throughthechurchfathers.comPatreon – https://www.patreon.com/cmichaelpattonCredo Courses – https://www.credocourses.comCredo Ministries – https://www.credoministries.org

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• Through the Church Fathers: July 1

  Readings: Irenaeus, Against Heresies, Book 2, Chapters 20–24 Augustine, The Confessions, Book 10, Chapter 50 Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Part 1, Question 91, Article 1Today’s readings take us deep into the clash between truth and illusion. Irenaeus dismantles the Gnostics’ obsession with symbolism and numerology, showing how they twist Scripture into nonsense to support their invented Æons—contrasting their confusion with the saving clarity of Christ’s suffering. Augustine wrestles with the beauty and danger of music in worship, admitting that while sacred song can stir the heart, it can also tempt the soul toward emotion over truth. He finds the balance in humility—rejoicing in God’s mercy while fearing distraction. Aquinas takes us back to the beginning, explaining why man’s body was made from the earth: to reflect both our mortality and our divine purpose. From Irenaeus’s confrontation with heresy, to Augustine’s inner struggle with devotion, to Aquinas’s theological grounding in creation, all three voices remind us that what appears small or lowly—dust, song, sorrow—can be the very thing God uses to display His glory (Genesis 2:7; Psalm 77:10; Matthew 10:42).Explore the Project:Through the Church Fathers – https://www.throughthechurchfathers.com Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/cmichaelpatton Credo Courses – https://www.credocourses.com Credo Ministries – https://www.credoministries.org#Irenaeus #ChurchFathers #Confessions #SummaTheologica #Creation #Gnosticism #Worship #HistoricalTheology

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• Through the Church Fathers: June 30

  Today’s readings tackle deep mysteries of origin and truth—from Irenaeus dismantling the illogical myths of the Valentinians, to Augustine’s prayerful exploration of memory, to Aquinas’s argument that the human soul is created together with the body, not before it. Each work confronts confusion with clarity, grounding divine truth in reason, Scripture, and humility (1 Corinthians 1:26–28; Matthew 12:36).Readings:Irenaeus, Against Heresies, Book 1, Chapters 18–19 Augustine, The Confessions, Book 10, Chapter 17 (Sections 26–28) Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Part 1, Question 89, Article 4Explore the Project:Through the Church Fathers – https://www.throughthechurchfathers.com Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/cmichaelpatton Credo Courses – https://www.credocourses.com Credo Ministries – https://www.credoministries.org#Irenaeus #ChurchFathers #Confessions #SummaTheologica #Gnosticism #Creation #TheologyOfTheBody #HistoricalTheology

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• Through the Church Fathers: June 29

  Readings: Irenaeus, Against Heresies, Book 2, Chapters 15–17 Augustine, The Confessions, Book 10, Chapter 31 (Section 47) Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Part 1, Question 90, Article 2The Church Fathers today pull us deep into the mystery of origin and identity. Irenaeus confronts the absurdity of Gnostic cosmology, showing that all supposed divine emanations collapse into contradiction unless we return to the simple truth: one God created all things directly, including the soul, with intention and wisdom. Augustine joins the battle within himself, confessing that even in his sanctified life, he still wrestles with appetites that cannot be abandoned but must be disciplined. And Aquinas grounds the dignity of the human person by teaching that the soul is not fashioned from matter or passed down, but created directly by God, as a spiritual substance uniquely infused into each person at the moment their body is ready. Together, these readings hold up one great truth: you are not an accident of cosmic process, but a created soul, held in grace, confessing weakness, and made for communion with God (Psalm 139:16; John 16:33; 1 Corinthians 12:22; Romans 8:34; Genesis 2:7).Explore the Project: Through the Church Fathers – https://www.throughthechurchfathers.com Patreon – https://www.patreon.com/cmichaelpatton Credo Courses – https://www.credocourses.com Credo Ministries – https://www.credoministries.org#Irenaeus #ChurchFathers #Confessions #SummaTheologica #Creation #Anthropology #SpiritualDiscipline #HistoricalTheology

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