Greystone Texts & Studies
translations | short studies | marginalia
Greystone Texts & Studies publishes a wide variety of theological, biblical, historical, ethical, and ecclesiastical texts and brief studies, including translations of never before translated works. This is a resource created exclusively for Greystone Members to encourage the confessional and catholic endeavor of reading well and widely within the Church throughout all time.
Each Texts & Studies is $5 for non-members at Greystone Connect
Current
Amandus Polanus von Polansdorf, Oration on the Incarnation (Oratio de Incarnatione Filii Dei) (1592)
Amandus Polanus' "Oration on the Incarnation of the Son of God", published December 28, 1592, is a richly devotional yet theologically rigorous meditation on the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ, for the celebration of his birth. His introduction is promising for the recovery of an evangelical liturgical calendar:
“Nobles and distinguished gentlemen, illustrious lords, revered and excellent men, most noble and eminent guests, and all you gracious listeners, I believe none of you are unfamiliar with the longstanding tradition of celebrating the birthdays of illustrious men, especially of kings and princes. Historians and poets, occupied with this endeavor, attest to it in their abundant works. How much more, then, should we, with utmost reverence and joy, adorn the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ?”
We are pleased to release this translation on the last day of Christmas.
Completed
Hermann of Wied, On Sacred Holidays & Feast Days (1545)
We’ve translated this selection from Nostra Hermanni, “On Sacred Holidays and Feast Days,” to provide to the Church a short introduction on the question of evangelical feast days from a pivotal period of reform and transition. It should spark engaging conversations within our community and among friends of magisterial protestantism.
Amandus Polanus von Polansdorf, Theological Theses on the Parts of the Lord’s Supper (De Coenae Domini Partibus Theses Theologica) (1596)
Polanus stands between the earliest periods of Reformed Orthodoxy and the events that brought about its most intense confessionalizations. As a key synthesizer of the tradition, he demonstrates for us the whole, the parts, and the possibilities. Polanus’ De Coenae Domini Partibus Theses Theologica was a publication of 121 theses on the Lord’s Supper covering the elements of bread and wine, the presence of Christ, the benefits of the Supper, the proper observance of the Supper, and much more.
Prologue & Assertion I of Cyril of Alexandria, Thesaurus of the Holy & Consubstantial Trinity (Thesaurus de sancta et consubstantiali trinitate) (412)
Assertions II-IV of Cyril of Alexandria, Thesaurus of the Holy & Consubstantial Trinity (Thesaurus de sancta et consubstantiali trinitate) (412)
Cyril of Alexandria is famous for his work during the Christological controversy over Nestorianism in the 5th century. But early in his bishopric he wrote three dogmatic treaties on the Trinity: Commentary on the Gospel of John, Dialogues on the Trinity, and the Thesaurus. In the Thesaurus, Cyril utilizes, in systematic and exegetical fashion, the Scriptures, the creedal tradition, and Aristotelian logic to counter the prevailing Arian and Eonomian theses. Following in the steps of the great Athanasius, Cyril’s Thesaurus is a masterpiece of trinitarian dogmatics that is quite possibly more needed and relevant today than ever before.
Amandus Polanus von Polansdorf, Some Chapters on Councils (De conciliis capita quaedam) (1592)
Polanus stands between the earliest periods of Reformed Orthodoxy and the events that brought about its most intense confessionalizations. As a key synthesizer of the tradition, he demonstrates for us the whole, the parts, and the possibilities. Polanus’ De conciliis was a publication on the nature, function, and purpose of Church councils for settling disputes. In roughly 3,000 words, Polanus describes what a council is, by whom it should be summoned, rules for order and argument, conciliar goals, the presence of Christ in the council, the authority of the council, and much more.