Friendly Theology – Barclay’s Catechism Chapter 1 (Part 1)
CHAP. I.
Of GOD, and the true and Saving Knowledge of Him.
Q. Seeing it is a thing unquestioned by all sorts of Christians, that the height of Happiness consisteth in coming to know and enjoy Eternal Life, what is it in the Sense and Judgment of Christ?
A. This is Life Eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent [John 17:3].
Q. How doth God reveal this knowledge?
A. For God, who commanded the Light to shine out of Darkness, hath shined in our Hearts, to give the Light of the Knowledge of the Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ [2 Cor. 4:6].
Q. How many Gods are there?
A. One God [Eph. 4:6].
We know, that an Idol is nothing in the World, and that there is none other God but one. But to us there is but one God [1 Cor. 8:4,6].
Q. What is God?
A. God is a Spirit [John 4:24].
Q. Among all the Blessed, Glorious and Divine Excellencies of God, which are ascribed and given to him in the Scriptures; what is that which is most needful for us to take notice of, as being the Message which the Apostles recorded in special manner to declare of him now under the Gospel?
A. This then is the Message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is Light, and in him is no Darkness at all [1 John 1:5].
How is Barclay using the term “Happiness” in his first question? Is it pleasure, satisfaction and joy? Or is it some other meaning that I am missing? Is the height of Christian Happiness (pleasure, satisfaction, joy) coming to know and enjoy Eternal Life? Barclay says yes and then goes on to define this Eternal Life which is enjoyed as knowing Jesus Christ.
I would differ in the nuance of this question but not in the big picture. I would argue that the height of Christian Happiness is the relationship with Jesus Christ and the by-product is Eternal Life (rather than the other way around). I think we wind up in the same place; just with a slight difference on emphasis.
In the second question Barclay makes the fairly radical assertion that God reveals knowledge of Jesus Christ directly to the human heart. This idea that God speaks directly to the pre-regenerate heart is a major distinctive of Quaker theology and a prime bone of contention when engaging in dialogue with other Christian denominations. The idea that God speaks directly to our hearts, before we turn to God, is radical and wonderful.
In the fifth and final question Barclay states that the greatest and most defining attribute of God is that God is perfect light in whom there is no darkness. Barclay argues that the most important thing for us to realize about God is that God is the perfect beacon of light which illuminates all of creation and which we are called to turn toward.
