Here the early Church presses us to discern the difference between what truly endures and what merely changes with time. Barnabas insists that Christ’s suffering and the new covenant were not accidents of history but the long-announced work of God, foreshadowed in prophets, sacrifices, and types meant to train the eyes of faith. Augustine then reflects on how divine righteousness never shifts, even while customs, laws, and commands differ across ages, exposing our tendency to mistake habit for holiness. Aquinas brings these strands into sharp focus by asking how we can speak truthfully about God at all, arguing that our words are real but limited, drawn from God’s works rather than His essence. Together, these readings teach us how to read Scripture, history, and language itself with reverence—learning to obey God without confusing Him with our customs, and to name Him truly without pretending to comprehend Him fully.

Readings:

The Epistle of Barnabas Chapters 6–7

Augustine of Hippo The Confessions Book 3, Chapter 8 (Section 15)

Thomas Aquinas Summa Theologica Part 1, Question 13, Article 1

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