Here’s a little something for your Continuing Orthodox Education program, FK! :)
I am always a bit humbled when I consider that Philip Schaff, translator and compiler of these classics, was a 19th century clergyman of the German Reformed Church, one of the antecedants to the present day United Church of Christ (UCC).
Philip Schaff and his colleauge John Williamson Nevin were the team known as the “Mercersburg Theologians” whose high Calvanism, ecclesiology, and sacramentology set them at odds with most of North American protestantism and with the General Synod of the Lutherans in particular. Nevin was very hard on Samuel Simon Schmucker, first President of the Gettysburg Lutheran Seminary for the latter’s embrace of altar calls and other trappings of American revivalism.
Thanks!
[On John 6:58] And continually He reminds them of the manna, showing the difference, (between it and His bread,) and guiding them to the faith; for if He was able to support their life for forty years without harvest, or corn, or other things in course; much more now will He be able to do so, as having come for greater ends.
Some of this isn't bad at all. :) For the most part this had all the feel of the other Patristic writings I have liked. While I can technically agree with much as it is presented word for word, I know that there are greater differences underneath. And that's no knock on the authors. I know they weren't writing to distinguish among Apostolics and Reformers. :) It is interesting, though, how the whole field of interpretation applies (or can apply) just as much, it seems, to the Fathers' writings as to the Bible.
Or at least it's interesting to me as an outsider. I'm sure there might be virtual or total unity within the Church as to the interpretation of the Fathers. Just saying ... :)