RobertPGH1981
Puritan Board Sophomore
Hello All,
I have to write a medieval history paper and wanted to write something on Bernard of Clairvaux. To reduce the scope on the subject, I am going to attempt to trace justification by faith alone through his writing, sermons, and letters. Here is a clip I found in one of his works below. Does anybody have recommended books that highlight this, or that highlight why the Reformers like Calvin and Luther liked him so much?
"And I am not afraid of being rejected by the Father of lights when I have been rescued in this way from the power of darkness and justified through His grace by the blood of His Son: It is God that justifieth, who is he that condemneth? He who had mercy on the sinner will not condemn the righteous; I mean that I am righteous, but it is in His righteousness, for Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth (Rom. 10:4). In short, He was made our righteousness by God the Father (1 Cor. 1:30). Is not that righteousness mine which was made for me? If my guilt was inherited, why should not my righteousness be accorded to me? And, truly, what is given to me is safer than what was born in me. For this, indeed, has whereof to glory, but not before God; but that, since it is effectual to my salvation, has nothing whereof to glory save in the Lord. For if I be righteous, says Job, yet will I not lift up my head (Job 10:15), lest I receive the answer: What hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory as if thou hadst not received it? (1 Cor. 4:7)."
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, Life, and Works of Saint Bernard, ed. John Mabillon, trans. Samuel J. Eales, Second Edition., vol. 2 pg 582–583.
Thanks,
Rob
I have to write a medieval history paper and wanted to write something on Bernard of Clairvaux. To reduce the scope on the subject, I am going to attempt to trace justification by faith alone through his writing, sermons, and letters. Here is a clip I found in one of his works below. Does anybody have recommended books that highlight this, or that highlight why the Reformers like Calvin and Luther liked him so much?
"And I am not afraid of being rejected by the Father of lights when I have been rescued in this way from the power of darkness and justified through His grace by the blood of His Son: It is God that justifieth, who is he that condemneth? He who had mercy on the sinner will not condemn the righteous; I mean that I am righteous, but it is in His righteousness, for Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth (Rom. 10:4). In short, He was made our righteousness by God the Father (1 Cor. 1:30). Is not that righteousness mine which was made for me? If my guilt was inherited, why should not my righteousness be accorded to me? And, truly, what is given to me is safer than what was born in me. For this, indeed, has whereof to glory, but not before God; but that, since it is effectual to my salvation, has nothing whereof to glory save in the Lord. For if I be righteous, says Job, yet will I not lift up my head (Job 10:15), lest I receive the answer: What hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory as if thou hadst not received it? (1 Cor. 4:7)."
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, Life, and Works of Saint Bernard, ed. John Mabillon, trans. Samuel J. Eales, Second Edition., vol. 2 pg 582–583.
Thanks,
Rob
