The desire for the unity of the Christian church played a significant role in the first four centuries. As a plethora of theological interpretations, rituals and Christology’s flowed from a variety of different influences and cultures that surrounded the Christian world, it was important for the Christian church to respond, through its structures, practices and doctrine. The Christian discourse of defining orthodoxy and heresy produced what is now known as Gnosticism. In this essay I am going to assess the importance of Gnosticism for the development of the Christian church and its doctrine through three different responses to it.1 I will firstly look at the response of affirming apostolic succession, then the canonization of the scriptures where the church deliberated on what was scripture and what was not, and then finally, the adoption of faith and creedal statements that would directly address beliefs such as the divinity and nature of Christ. The Affirmation of Apostolic Successi

I've kept diaries for years. There is something ethereal and releasing about writing down on paper what is on your mind. If you ever read one of my diaries, it's likely you would find it something of a jig-saw. Lots of snippets and pieces of thoughts, that require too much knowledge to really seal together. They are a collection of memories, and thoughts, and not just thoughts, but thought-processes, that i go through on a daily basis. And then spend the night reflecting on, pen in hand (a Parker 51 obviously), and enabling my whole self to pour out. A blog online, like this one, is not going to be such a thing. I don't think anyone wants to read my innermost diatribe of delapidated diarnals. So instead, this blog will be used for sharing snippets of preparation, words of wisdom, and theological reflections, as i put together a sermon. Bear in mind though, as you read. If God wants something changed of a Sunday Morning, I have to take Fathers lead and not my own. So welcome to my desk.