Alex’s Reviews > Of Patience > Status Update

The last chapter sounds quite good, but didn't he say above that patience can only come from God? But then heathens cannot be patient, or not patient in a bad way. Either their patience is good, or it isn't really patience. I wouldn't call that chapter bad, only a bit problematic.

I am a bit surprised he treats of Job, as I heard Tertullian very rarely quoted the OT, but it's a good chapter.

"Revenge, in the estimation of error, seems a solace of pain; in the estimation of truth, on the contrary, it is convicted of malignity. For what difference is there between provoker and provoked, except that the former is detected as prior in evil-doing, but the latter as posterior?"
Not happ with chapter 10, on revenge. Also, did the Lord not permit Samson his righteous retribution?

If Thessalonians 4:13 does only apply to believers, and if there is no hope for those who are currently in hell, then what will Tertullian tell the relatives and friends of these departed? There would be no aspect of impatience to their lamentations, to be sure.

That's more of a general problem I have with theologians who don't affirm universal reconciliation.

Continued:
"And so, if, when suffering from a loss, we feel impatiently, grieving for what is lost from what is not our own, we shall be detected as bordering on covetousness: we seek what is another's when we ill brook losing what is another's."
Very problematic passage. Zacchaeus? Didn't Christ also bless this rich man? Wasn't Salomon rich? And isn't it supporting covetousness if we let the greedy partake of ours?

"Let us not interpret that covetousness as consisting merely in the concupiscence of what is another's: for even what seems ours is another's; for nothing is ours, since all things are God's, whose are we also ourselves."

One problem I have is that he seems to overdraw impatience somewhat. I had a similar problem with his book on Idolatry, where he said that behind every crime, there lies idolatry. Now he says that every crime is an instance of impatience. But what about the devils first sin? He couldn't have achieved his goals at all, no matter the waiting, so I don't see the impatience in his rebellion.

First chapter starts very well, I only don't like the slightly negative view of humans that he exhibits.