Sermons & Doctrinal Classes

The Word of the Lord and the Mind of Swedenborg Rev. Theodore Pitcairn

We read:”Without the Coming of the Lord into the world, no one could have been saved. It is similar at this day wherefore unless the Lord comes again into the world in the Divine True, which is the Word, neither can anyone be saved” (TCR 3). To anyone who has an open mind this is a clear statement that the Writings of Swedenborg are the Word of the Lord; for the Lord made His Second Coming in the Divine Truth, and, as stated above, this truth is the Word. If the Writings are the Word they must have the characteristics which make the Word to be the Word. There are four characteristics which make the Word to be the Word…

read | download

Doctrinal Views of the Various Bodies of the New Church Concerning the Theological Writings of Emanuel Swedenborg. Rev. Philip Odhner

The doctrinal view of each body of the New Church about the nature of the Writings of Swedenborg qualifies everything of its faith and life. It determines the interior direction of the Church. It determines the end to which the Church looks, for the attainment of which the Church must strive. It forms the idea of that to which the Lord looks in the New Church and of what He requires of the Church in love and faith. The idea of what the Writings of Swedenborg are in themselves concens the inmost things of the Church.

read | download

Talk to General Church ministers

This class consists of a Talk given by the Rt. Rev. Philip Odhner to Ministers of the General Church (Bryn Athyn, December 15th, 1988) and a Sermon on the Third Testament as the Word of the Lord (February 21st, 1988).

read | download

The Teachings of the Third Testament concering its Internal Sense Rev. Philip Odhner

The Third Testament is that in which the Lord has made His Second Coming. All the Good and True of His Divine Human is in that Testament. It is there in all its infinity, and in the indefinitely many goods and trues which can be received by the human race.

read | download

Conjugial Love and the relation of man and woman in the Church 1 Rev. Theodore Pitcairn

To begin with, we are not regenerated men and women, but are to be regenerated. We must see the order of the relation of man nad woman before regeneration, in order that we may be led, in an orderly way, into a marriage as it exists after regeneration.

read | download

Conjugial Love and the relation of man and woman in the Church 2 Rev. Theodore Pitcairn

If you ask any man if he wishes to be elevated into a more interior intelligence and wisdom, he would eagerly say yes. Or if you ask any woman whether she would wish to be elevated into superior love she would eagerly say yes. And yet when it is manifested what such elevation involves, few desire it from the heart; for such elevation involves letting die those things which are most dear, and close to the heart of the natural man and woman.

read | download

Conjugial Love and the relation of man and woman in the Church 3 Rev. Theodore Pitcairn

Conjugial love is not that innate love which a young man and young woman naturally feel for each other, no matter how ideal, and sublime such a love may appear. Such a love having its origin from human and animal nature is merely natural and if it is not regenerated remains such

read | download

Conjugial Love and the relation of man and woman in the Church 4 Rev. Theodore Pitcairn

The class will be put online soon.

read | download

Conjugial Love and the relation of man and woman in the Church 5 Rev. Theodore Pitcairn

This class will be put online soon

read | download

“Thou shalt not commit adultery.” Rev. Theodore Pitcairn

To understand this commandment, not to commit adultery, we must understand the origin of adultery, and in order to understand the origin of adultery we must understand the nature of the marriage between husband and wife.

read | download