End of the world by fire

[John Bundstein]

I have started reading Saint Theophan the Recluse’s The Path to Salvation. I was struck by the image he uses of the fire of the zeal for pleasing God. In reading the section the first thing that entered my mind was that this was the fire that many, many years ago my Presbyterian Sunday School teachers said was promised by God when He told Noah that He would never destroy the world again with water. Now I know that Our Lord said that He had come to bring fire to cleanse the world. The image is also used in the Psalms and the Catholic Epistles. But it isn’t in the covenant the God made with Noah. Is it some midrash on Gen 7-10 or what or does anyone know?

But anyway is this likely the idea that he is working with? Either way it is a wonderful image!

In ignorance
John

[Olympiada]

I would ask, how relevant is this to your salvation?

[M.C. Steenberg]

Dear John, thank you for the interesting question. I'm not certain whether St Theophan was thinking of something along these lines. Can you perhaps type up and post here one or two selections from the text that you find relevant, and we could look at them together.

INXC, Dcn Matthew

[Paul Cowan]

I would ask, how relevant is this to your salvation?


Phillippians 2:12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.


Note the word "own" above. Best to keep our eyes on our "own" plate.