Everett Ferguson > Quotes

“Could anything be more improbable than that a religion following a man born of an unwed mother among a widely despised people in an out-of-the-way part of the world—a man then crucified by the ruling authorities on a charge of treason—should become the official religion of the Roman world, the formative influence on Western civilization, and a significant influence in other parts of the world?”
― Everett Ferguson, Church History ,Volume One: From Christ to Pre-Reformation: The Rise and Growth of the Church in Its Cultural, Intellectual, and Political Context

“Baptism is a “putting to death” of the old person, a “putting off” of the old manner of life, a dying with Christ, a being buried with Christ. It is also a being “raised…to newness of life,” a “putting on,” a “being made alive” with him. We are united with Christ so that what happened to him historically happens to us spiritually and anticipates what will happen actually at his coming again.”
― Everett Ferguson, The New Testament Church

“The Christian sees Jesus as a fulfillment of all these pictures of the Messiah. He is son of David, God manifest in the flesh, the supernatural or heavenly man, and the ideal prophet, priest, and king.”
― Everett Ferguson, The New Testament Church

“The Christian life is both a gift and a task. God through his Spirit gives not only the demands but also the power of living the transformed life.”
― Everett Ferguson, The New Testament Church

“Remember that you are an actor in a drama of such sort as the author chooses — if short, then in a short one; if long, then in a long one. If it be his pleasure that you should enact a poor man, see that you act it well; or a cripple, or a ruler, or a private citizen. For this is your business — to act well the given part; but to choose it belongs to another.”
― Everett Ferguson, Backgrounds of Early Christianity

“One of the reactions to Jesus was the confession, first voiced by the leader of the Twelve, Peter, that “You are the Messiah” (Mark 8:29), the eagerly awaited “anointed of the Lord” who would bring deliverance to the Jewish people. It was a confession welcomed by many, doubted by others, and feared by still others in positions of power. Jesus’ popularity provoked jealousy and opposition from some Pharisees and a range of sentiments from uneasiness to profound disturbance among the political leaders.”
― Everett Ferguson, Church History, Volume One: From Christ to the Pre-Reformation: The Rise and Growth of the Church in Its Cultural, Intellectual, and Political Context

“[It] has been said that the difference between Greek and Israelite religion was that the Greeks worshiped the 'holiness of beauty' whereas the Jews worshiped 'the beauty of holiness.”
― Everett Ferguson

“This is the essence of the Christian’s life: to live out what has been given to him in his baptism.”
― Everett Ferguson, The New Testament Church