Theological Significance of Christmas in Christian Tradition

Sources

1. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Hope — One of the three main elements of Christian character (1 Cor. 13:13). It is joined to faith and love, and is opposed to seeing or possessing (Rom. 8:24; 1 John 3:2). "Hope is an essential and fundamental element of Christian life, so essential indeed, that, like faith and love, it can itself designate the essence of Christianity (1 Pet. 3:15; Heb. 10:23). In it the whole glory of the Christian vocation is centred (Eph. 1:18; 4:4)." Unbelievers are without this hope (Eph. 2:12; 1 Thess. 4:13). Christ is the actual object of the believer's hope, because it is in”
2. Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (Anglican) “Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (Anglican, 1571), Andrew the Apostle: Andrew the Apostle Barnabas the Apostle Bartholomew the Apostle Dedication Festival George, Martyr, Patron of England Holy Cross Day James the Apostle John, Apostle and Evangelist Joseph of Nazareth Luke the Evangelist Mark the Evangelist Mary Magdalene Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist Matthias the Apostle Michael and All Angels Peter and Paul, Apostles Philip and James, Apostles Simon and Jude, Apostles Stephen, Deacon, First Martyr The Annunciation of Our Lord (Principal Feast) The Birth of John the Baptist The Blessed Vir”
3. Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (Anglican) “Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (Anglican, 1571), The First Sunday in Advent (part 1): The First Sunday in Advent The Second Sunday in Advent The Third Sunday in Advent The Fourth Sunday in Advent Christmas Day Saint Stephen's Day Saint John The Evangelist's Day The Innocents' Day The Sunday after Christmas Day The Circumcision of Christ The Epiphany The First Sunday after the Epiphany The Second Sunday after the Epiphany The Third Sunday after the Epiphany The Fourth Sunday after The Epiphany The Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany The Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany The Sunday called Septuagesi”
4. CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 90: CHAPTER IV. THE CONCOMITANTS OF THE SECOND ADVENT. THE events which according to the common doctrine of the Church are to attend the second coming of Christ, are first, the general resurrection of the dead; second, the final judgment; third, “the end of the world;” and fourth, the consummation of the kingdom of Christ.”
5. theology (Catholic (Scholastic)) “Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Third Part (Tertia Pars), Of the Rite of This Sacrament, Art. 5: Article: Whether the actions performed in celebrating this sacrament are becoming? I answer that, As was said above (Question [60], Article [6]), there is a twofold manner of signification in the sacraments, by words, and by actions, in order that the signification may thus be more perfect. Now, in the celebration of this sacrament words are used to signify things pertaining to Christ's Passion, which is represented in this sacrament; or again, pertaining to Christ's mystical body, which is signified th”
6. CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 2, section 132: § 1. Resurrection of Christ. The resurrection of Christ is not only asserted in the Scriptures, but it is also declared to be the fundamental truth of the gospel. “If Christ be not risen,” says the Apostle, “then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain” ( 1 Cor. xv. 14 ). “If Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins” ( verse 17 ). It may be safely asserted that the resurrection of Christ is at once the most important, and the best authenticated fact in the history of the world. (1.) It was predicted in”
7. CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 1, section 37: of God; of the personality and divinity of the Holy Spirit; of the apostasy and sinfulness of the human race; the doctrines of the expiation of sin through the death of Christ and of salvation through his merits; of regeneration and sanctification by the Holy Ghost; of the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and of the life everlasting, have always entered into the faith of every recognized, historical church on the face of the earth, and cannot now be legitimately called into question by any pretending to be Christians. So”
8. Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (Anglican) “Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (Anglican, 1571), Structure: Structure Notes Psalm Tables for Psalm 119 and Psalms 121–131, 133 (the Psalms of Ascent) Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Advent Christmas Season Epiphany Season Lent Passiontide Easter Season From Ascension Day until the Day of Pentecost From All Saints’ Day until the day before the First Sunday of Advent Morning and Evening Prayer”
9. CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 98: be carefully distinguished: 1. the spiritual reality which is signified (what Calvin calls “the thing”) 2. the external sacrament itself (what Calvin calls “the sign”) 3. our understanding of the spiritual significance of the sacrament (as mediated to us by the Word and Spirit). Calvin has called our attention to the very important fact that a particular time order of these aspects is not crucial to the proper use of the sacraments. He asserts that the spiritual reality itself (e.g., regeneration) may either precede or follow the e”
10. CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 95: whither. Is it not better to abide by the plain doctrinal teaching of the Bible, rather than to trust to the uncertain expositions of unfulfilled prophecies? What almost all Christians believe is: (1.) That all nations shall be converted unto God. Jesus shall reign from the rising to the setting of the sun. (2.) That the Jews shall be reingrafted into their own olive-tree and acknowledge our Lord to be their God and Saviour. (3.) That all Antichristian powers shall be destroyed. (4.) That Christ shall come again in person and with great g”
11. Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (Anglican) “Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion (Anglican, 1571), Absolutions: Absolutions Absolutions Acclamation Acclamations Additional Prayers for use at Christmastide Affirmation of Faith An Outline for a Christingle Service An Outline for a Crib Service Before a Bible Reading Bidding Prayers and Introductions Blessings and Ending Blessings and Endings Blessings Blessings of the Crib Carol Services in the Christmas Season Christingle Services and Crib Services Collects Confession Eucharist of Christmas Night or Morning Extended Preface Gospel Acclamation Gospel Acclamation Greeting/Introduction/Acclamat”
12. Catechism of the Catholic Church (Catholic) “Catechism of the Catholic Church, 3. the written Gospels. "The sacred authors, in writing the four Gospels, (part 1): 3. the written Gospels. "The sacred authors, in writing the four Gospels, selected certain of the many elements which had been handed on, either orally or already in written form; others they synthesized or explained with an eye to the situation of the churches, the while sustaining the form of preaching, but always in such a fashion that they have told us the honest truth about Jesus."101 127 The fourfold Gospel holds a unique place in the Church, as is evident both in the ven”