Marinella F. Boltron
GE10 BB Attendance
November 21, 2023

Matthew 22:37
“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.”

-A Reflection on Silliman University Logo-

The Silliman University logo has the following significant parts:

1901: It is the year when the Silliman Institute (Silliman University today) was established. Moreover, it marks the beginning of Christian, holistic education’s pursuit to create individuals who are competent, faithful, and independent lifelong learners.

The Bible: It is the symbol of Christian education associated with the Word of God as the Truth. The Bible is not merely a piece of book as its power goes beyond the boundaries of physical reality. It is where the teachings of God and Jesus Christ can be found, which guide students in their academic journey.

The Circle: For me, the circle signifies continuity—a never-ending exploration of life and learning. I believe that our existence here on Earth is just like a cycle. We experience things, we make mistakes, we learn from it, and we encounter another set of experiences again.

The Two Stars: These stars symbolize two countries that became united through the foundation of Silliman University—America and Philippines.

The Vine: It symbolizes the gift of life from God. The Vine as a plant is just like humans. Similar to a plant, we also need to be nurtured and taken care of in order to grow and achieve our highest potential.

Via, Veritas, Vita: This Latin motto of Silliman University means “The Way, the Truth, and the Life.” It is based from John 14:6, wherein all these three aspects are believed to be found in Jesus Christ.

The Lighted Lamp: It symbolizes the light of learning and the light of Christian faith. It also represents Jesus Christ as “the Way”. This is based on Psalm 119:105 which states “Your Word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.” This means that the lamp gives us guidance in every endeavor that we face in life, by grace through faith.

-Via, Veritas, Vita: A Reflection on the Silliman University Motto-

Silliman University has been famous for its Latin motto “Via, Veritas, Vita” which means “the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” This motto reflects the Christian nature of Silliman education as its words personally came from the mouth of Jesus Christ when he uttered “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” (John 14:6). The institution wants its constituents to understand and value the meaning of this motto towards the improvement of their quality of life.

Jesus as the Way signifies that his plans and will rule over us. We are guided in a path where we strive to achieve the holistic meaning and purpose of our existence. Through God’s love, we are bestowed with grace of salvation and guidance to break free from the path towards sin and evil. Silliman University seeks to nurture individuals who are leading their career and character with humility and competence.

Jesus as the Truth means that his words are powerful. Everything he says is for the good of all things. Propaganda and lies were never in Jesus’ vocabulary. This truth allows us to have a genuine social consciousness in order to take action on the issues that need to be addressed. In the light of his truth, we are blessed with confidence to stand for what we know is right.

Jesus as the Life is associated with his death as a means to redeem humanity from sins. When he died, we were given a renewed life to come back to God’s embrace and providence. Anyone who believes in him will have eternal life as the Scriptures states (John 3:16). Each of us is gifted by God with a chance to see the beauty of the world and experience the things that mold our being. Thus, everyone lives before Him.

In conclusion, Silliman University, together with its motto, aspires to produce people who have found their Way to God, who accepted the Truth of God, and who live a Life with God.

GE10 BB
Marinella F. Boltron
October 27, 2023 Attendance

Romans 12:2
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

A Reflection on Paul’s Letter to the Romans (Chapters 4-6)

-Chapter 4: Abraham Justified by Faith-

Romans Chapter 4 tells us about the relationship between faith and righteousness. The central lesson revolves around the idea that being credited by God as righteous is not earned through works and strict adherence to the law, but through our faith in Him. Abraham became the father of many nations, blessed by a promise from God, because of his unwavering faith in Him. Even before he was circumcised, he was already righteous in the eyes of God, and the circumcision became the symbol of his intimate connection with the Divine. Moreover, this chapter highlights the transformative power that faith brings, which aligns us with God’s eternal grace. It also encourages us to trust in Him with all our hearts, recognizing that nothing is impossible with Him. 

-Chapter 5: Peace and Hope; Death Through Adam, Life Through Christ-

When the justification of man is brought by having faith in God as we learned in Chapter 4, Chapter 5, on the other hand, tells us that through that justification, we are reconciled with God in peace. This chapter also emphasizes the glory and joy we can find in the midst of adversities. That is because sufferings allow us to develop perseverance, character, and hope—a hope that is rooted in God’s unconditional love for us. Then, the chapter transitioned towards Jesus Christ’s redemptive work. Paul highlights the differences between the sin brought by Adam, even before the law was established, and the salvation that Christ provided the sinful humanity which gave them the renewed kind of life. Death became possible because of sin through one man, while the justification of man took place due to the greatest form of sacrifice. From that, we can assert that God’s grace and compassion to His people exceed the reality and gravity of sins. No matter how huge a sin may be, His grace is a lot more abundant in nature. Thus, if several deaths occurred because of one man’s transgression, imagine how much more God’s grace overflowed to many because of one man’s sacrifice?   

-Chapter 6: Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ; Slaves to Righteousness-

Romans Chapter 6 teaches us to reject the notion about sinning continuously in order to receive more grace. This is not what God wants us to do. Paul emphasizes that the death of Jesus Christ represents how we were also buried with him because of our sins. Meanwhile, his resurrection symbolizes our rebirth through God’s glory and grace. So the relationship between sin and grace is not something that is repeatedly done, but it is about having the opportunity to live a new life, free from the dominion of sin. This chapter then indicates that deviating from the law and being under the rule of God’s grace, humanity must choose to become slaves of righteousness. Aiming to live in a way that reflects their new identity in Christ, believers are encouraged to present themselves as agents of righteousness as the reign of sin has been destroyed. This chapter ultimately tells us that being justified by faith does not give license to live in sin, but rather compels us to live in holiness. It promotes living a life of submission to God, motivated by our gratitude for the grace extended to us through the life of Jesus Christ.