origins of Lent
I am trying to determine the origins of Lent. It does not seem to be in the Bible but I am not sure. Does anyone know about this?
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If you are asking for a specific bible passage to say when Lent is, I would claim it does not exist. I would add from Col that it shouldn't.... But Christians across the ages have found that it is helpful to focus our lives with the events of Christ's life and to structure the year accordingly. A search on "Church Year" or "Liturgical Year" should yield some results about how this has been structured over the ages, including the time of preparation for Easter, sometimes patterned after the 40 days Jesus spent in the Wilderness often called Lent.
The Gospel is not ... a "new law," on the contrary, ... a "new life." - William Julius Mann
L8 Anglican, Lutheran and Orthodox Silver, Reformed Starter, Academic Essentials
L7 Lutheran Gold, Anglican Bronze
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Starting points in Logos include:
- Farley, Donna. Seasons of Grace: Reflections on the Orthodox Church Year. Chesterton, IN: Ancient Faith Publishing, 2002.
- Black, Vicki K. Welcome to the Church Year: An Introduction to the Seasons of the Episcopal Church. Harrisburg, PA; New York: Morehouse Publishing, 2004.
For background, look at days of preparation in the Jewish tradition.
Orthodox Bishop Alfeyev: "To be a theologian means to have experience of a personal encounter with God through prayer and worship."; Orthodox proverb: "We know where the Church is, we do not know where it is not."
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There is a public domain work (unfortunately not in Logos yet), titled Heortology: A History Of The Christian Festivals From Their Origin To The Present Day, by K. A. Kellner. Beginning on p. 88, Kellner begins discussing Lent. From his references, it looks like Lent becomes commonly mentioned by writers of the church during the 4th century.
As mentioned, Kellner's work is in the public domain and can easily be found online, including here.
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I am trying to determine the origins of Lent. It does not seem to be in the Bible but I am not sure. Does anyone know about this?
The Easter festival proper was preceded by a forty days’ season of repentance and fasting, called Quadragesima, at least as early as the year 325; for the council of Nice presupposes the existence of this season. This fast was an imitation of the forty days’ fasting of Jesus in the wilderness, which itself was put in typical connection with the forty days’ fasting of Moses and Elijah, and the forty years’ wandering of Israel through the desert. At first a free-will act, it gradually assumed the character of a fixed custom and ordinance of the church. Respecting the length of the season much difference prevailed, until Gregory I (590–604) fixed the Wednesday of the sixth week before Easter, Ash Wednesday as it is called, as the beginning of it.
Schaff, P., & Schaff, D. S. (1997). History of the Christian church. Oak Harbor, WA: Volume 3, Page 401: Logos Research Systems, Inc.0 -
Very good catch, John!
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Thanks everyone for the background info. I think I am dabbling into too much at one time. My churches I listen too have been on many fronts. Sorry for all the posting. Blessings in Christ to everyone.
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