Calvinist, Reformed and Presbyterian Churches Books

Book SynopsisDo Evangelical Protestants and Roman Catholics share a common orthodoxy, as promoted by initiatives such as Evangelicals and Catholics Together? Or do the profound differences between Evangelical and Catholic theology and how they view the doctrines of Christ, the Church and salvation mean they actually hold to very different gospels? Same Words, Different Worlds explores whether Evangelicals and Catholics have the same gospel if they have core commitments that contradict. It lays out how the words used to understand the gospel are the same but differ drastically in their underlying theology. With keen insight, Leonardo de Chirico looks at various aspects of Roman Catholic theology – including Mary, the intercession of the saints, purgatory and papal infallibility – from an Evangelical perspective to argue that theological framework of Roman Catholicism is not faithful to the biblical gospel. Only by understanding the real differences can genuine dialogue flourish. Same Words, Different Worlds will deepen your understanding of the differences between Evangelical and Catholic theology, and how the Reformation is not over in the church today.Trade ReviewJust as Luther’s own debates with Rome clarified his theology, so this book helps evangelicals think more clearly about the gospel and so helps us be more truly evangelical... this book not only gives us wisdom: it takes us deep into the joy-giving world of the gospel. -- Michael Reeves, President and Professor of Theology, Union School of TheologyLeonardo De Chirico’s Same Words, Different Worlds is an authoritative, clear, and compelling account. He knows of what he speaks: fluffy-minded evangelicals confused about "contemporary" Roman Catholicism, read and learn. -- Dr. Josh Moody (Ph.D. University of Cambridge), Senior Pastor of College Church, President of God Centered Life MinistriesLaboring for the gospel in the shadow of the Vatican, Dr. De Chirico knows Roman Catholicism of the past and present, of its doctrine and practice, of its American and global identity. He then adds his deep knowledge of the historic orthodox Christian faith. And he then adds his winsome and gracious nature. The result is a book that with clarity and grace shows the profound difference between Roman Catholicism and Evangelicalism—and why that difference is of such ultimate, eternal significance. -- Stephen J. Nichols President of Reformation Bible College Chief Academic Officer of Ligonier Ministries Author of R. C. Sproul: A LifeHow can I stand next to my Roman Catholic friend and say the words, "We believe in the one holy catholic and apostolic faith" and mean something completely different by the words: "We", "believe", "in", "the one", "holy", Catholic", "Apostolic" and "faith"? De Chirico, an Italian National and church planter in Rome, is better placed than anyone to act as a bridge between evangelicals and Roman Catholics. This book provides the key to understanding these differences, avoiding pitfalls and communicating more effectively with Roman Catholics. De Chirico’s book is a powerful tool to help us talk about the Jesus whom we love with the people in our lives whom we love who live in a world influenced by Roman Catholicism. -- Rev Dr Mark Gilbert, Catholic Evangelist, Sydney, Australia.In current ecumenical dialogue the emphasis is on agreement, with disputed points either left to one side or treated as secondary. Dr De Chirico takes issue with this approach and argues that the questions that divided the Western Church in the sixteenth century have not gone away and must still be faced. Evangelicals and Catholics hold some things in common, but as this book shows, their differences are important and cannot be overlooked. -- Gerald Bray, Research Professor of Divinity at Beeson Divinity School, Alabama, USA, and Director of Research for the Latimer Trust.In this helpful book, my friend Leonardo De Chirico proves why he is one of the preeminent Protestant scholars of Roman Catholicism. He accomplishes just what he sets out to prove: that even though Protestants and Catholics may use similar words, they believe in very different gospels. As he accomplishes this, he displays his characteristic wisdom, charity, kindness, and expansive knowledge of both Protestant and Catholic doctrine. -- Tim Challies, www.challies.comThis book is easily the most profound analysis of the Roman Catholic ‘world’ available today. The fact that it is also the most lucid and accessible makes it remarkable. In a measured and eirenic way the author peels back the subtle deceptions through which, over the best part of two millennia, the Papacy has mis-represented the Chistian faith" -- Ranald Macaulay, Founder, Christian HeritageWhen Vatican II met at Rome 1962-1965, global Protestants were helped to assess the developments taking place there through ‘observers’, invited from various communions. In more recent times, this service has been admirably fulfilled by Leonardo De Chirico, who by his on-site residence and his digesting of fresh Papal pronouncements and activity today serves as the eyes and ears of evangelical Protestants globally. Now, in Same Words: Different Worlds, De Chirico offers us a fine distillation of his observations. -- Kenneth J. Stewart, Emeritus Professor of Theological Studies, Covenant CollegeThis is a challenging read which sets out the crucial doctrinal differences between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism, especially those hiding within some apparent verbal similarities. It is a provocative counter-point to the sometimes naive ecumenical thrust of much modern discussion on inter-church relations. -- Dr Lee Gatiss, Director of Church Society and author of Light after Darkness: How the Reformers Regained, Retold, and Relied On the Gospel of Grace.I am thrilled to see this new book by Leonardo De Chirico. I benefitted immensely from reading De Chirico's doctoral thesis several years ago on Roman Catholicism. As one who teaches theology, including a course on the church fathers and medieval theology, it is tempting to say that Rome and Protestantism simply agree on many things. But I have been persuaded by De Chirico's analysis that central tenets of Roman Catholicism put even seemingly common theological territory in a different light. If you want to understand the deep principles of Roman Catholic theology, I strongly encourage the reading of this book. -- Bradley G. Green, Professor of Theological Studies, Union University, Jackson (TN).

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Book SynopsisGospel-Centered Theology for TodayEvangelical Theology, Second Edition helps today''s readers understand and practice the doctrines of the Christian faith by presenting a gospel-centered theology that is accessible, rigorous, and balanced. According author Michael Bird the gospel is the fulcrum of Christian doctrine; the gospel is where God meets us and where we introduce the world to God. And as such, an authentically evangelical theology is the working out of the gospel in the various doctrines of Christian theology.The text helps readers learn the essentials of Christian theology through several key features, including: A What to Take Home section at end of every part that gives readers a run-down on all the important things they need to know. Tables, sidebars, and questions for discussion to help reinforce key ideas and concepts A Comic Belief section, since reading theology can often be dry and cerebral, so thatTrade Review'Evangelical Theology is a gift to God's people. The revised edition offers the biblical foundations and extensive historical perspectives of its original publication, along with a more substantive incorporation of theologians from the global south. This robust theological exposition produces the intellectual, moral, and spiritual growth that fuels the personal and public witness of the church.' * WALTER R. STRICKLAND II, associate vice president for kingdom diversity initiatives and assistant professor of systematic and contextual theology, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary *'For years, I have frequently and enthusiastically recommended this book to students for its comprehensive and fair treatment of key issues in Christian doctrine and practice. Now with more diverse dialogue partners and even more robust treatments of key issues in the ever developing world of theology, I have even more reasons to do so. Bird simply keeps readers' attention on the gospel, as he exhaustively equips us to learn it well so we can live it well.' * AMY PEELER, associate professor of New Testament, Wheaton College *'I warmly welcome this second edition of Mike Bird's Evangelical Theology. The gospel both generates and governs Christian faith, but systematic theologies sometimes smother it under the weight of conceptual schemes, confessional traditions, or social agendas. Not on Bird's watch. The gospel is front and center in all eight parts of this thoroughly revised, wiser, wider, and wittier work. With its persistent focus on the meaning and significance of the gospel of Jesus Christ, this book may be the tonic we need to rescue the term evangelical from being either drained of meaning altogether or linked to something less than the cause of Jesus and his coming kingdom.' * KEVIN VANHOOZER, research professor of systematic theology, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School *'Michael Bird seeks to place evangelical theology on surer footing by engaging with the best in the Christian tradition, and he succeeds admirably. This new edition incorporates conversations with the global church. Its conversational style makes it highly readable and unique for a systematic theology. I will not hesitate to recommend it as a course textbook.' * SIMON CHAN, Trinity Theological College, Singapore *'Mike Bird's second edition of the already potent Evangelical Theology has gained impressive horsepower. With the first edition I had at last found a text that could engage and excite the theologically apathetic. I'm even more enthusiastic for students to dive into the second edition. The updated sources strengthen an already well-researched text in Bird's always engaging style. His treatment of theological method provides long-overdue correctives for evangelicals. As he then models that method, he demonstrates how a gospel-driven approach to theology unleashes the power of theology across the loci. This text will benefit thoughtful Christians in both congregation and classroom, anchoring theological novices while stretching those whose theology has become domesticated.' * DON J. PAYNE, associate professor of theology, Denver Seminary *'My friend Michael Bird is a gift to the evangelical church. His sheer brilliance and witty humor is breath of fresh air. Reading Evangelical Theology is an adventure. It's really, really good. I believe it is so because Bird-man writes, 'I unabashedly believe that the good news of Jesus Christ is the most important doctrine.' This book must be in your theological library. You will return to it again and again.' * DERWIN L. GRAY, founding and lead pastor of Transformation Church, author of The Good Life: What Jesus Teaches about Finding True Happiness *'Students of evangelical theology should welcome this second, revised-and-expanded version of Michael Bird's widely read text. In his inimitable style, with wide-ranging engagement with sources old and new, as well as impressive clarity and verve, Bird here offers a fetching and substantive account of Christian theology. Those looking to find their way through the thickets of contemporary evangelical teaching will be well-served by Bird's guidance.' * PHILIP G. ZIEGLER, professor of Christian dogmatics, University of Aberdeen *'This second edition is a timely, thorough, and accessible text for students and for all who desire to deepen their understanding of the Christian faith. Without losing theological rigor, Bird navigates a host of pressing contemporary questions with precision and care. This new edition engages a wide variety of conversation partners and offers opportunities for sustained conversation.' * JUSTIN MCLENDON, associate professor of theology, Grand Canyon University, managing editor, Journal of Biblical and Theological Studies *'You need this ecumenical systematic theology on your bookshelf--one that begins at, centers on, and ends with the gospel. This is the lens that both laypeople and academics need to bring into focus what God is revealing to us in his Word. Not only does Mike Bird give that, but he makes it both fun and challenging to read as he humbly interacts with theologians past and present on the content of our faith. He is the fun uncle that has crashed the stodgy family party, showing what is real and exciting about our heritage in Christ.' * AIMEE BYRD, author of Recovering from Biblical Manhood and Womanhood and Why Can’t We Be Friends? *

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Book SynopsisEncounter the multifaceted life of one of the most influential and creative pastors of the past half century with unforgettable stories of his lifelong devotion to his craft and love of language, the influences and experiences that shaped his unquenchable faith, the inspiration for his decision to translate The Message, and his success and struggles as a pastor, husband, and father. Author Winn Collier was given exclusive access to Eugene and his materials for the production of this landmark work. Drawing from his friendship and expansive view of Peterson’s life, Collier offers an intimate look into a rare, remarkable life that is at once artful, sacred, and earthy. For Eugene, the gifts of life were inexhaustible: the glint of fading light over the lake, a kiss from Jan, a good joke, a bowl of butter pecan ice cream. As you enter into his story, you’ll find yourself doing the same - noticing how the most ordinary things shimmer with a new and unexpected beauty. Content Benefits: Warm, fascinating, and uniquely inspirational, this authoritative and comprehensive story of Eugene Peterson will help you discover the man behind The Message. • Authorized biography of Eugene Peterson • Draws on exclusive access to private correspondence and hours of exclusive interviews with Eugene • Reveals Eugene’s rich theology, love of language and pastoral insights • Photo insert included • Perfect reading for anyone who loves The Message • Ideal for anyone who loves biographies

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Book SynopsisThis fresh study from an internationally respected scholar of the Reformation and post-Reformation eras shows how the Reformers and their successors analyzed and reconciled the concepts of divine sovereignty and human freedom. Richard Muller argues that traditional Reformed theology supported a robust theory of an omnipotent divine will and human free choice and drew on a tradition of Western theological and philosophical discussion. The book provides historical perspective on a topic of current interest and debate and offers a corrective to recent discussions.Table of ContentsContentsPart I: Freedom and Necessity in Reformed Thought: The Contemporary Debate1. Introduction: The Present State of the Question2. Reformed Thought and Synchronic Contingency: Logical and Historical IssuesPart II: Philosophical and Theological Backgrounds: Aristotle, Aquinas, and Duns Scotus3. Aristotle and Aquinas on Necessity and Contingency4. Duns Scotus and Late Medieval Perspectives on FreedomPart III: Early Modern Reformed Perspectives: Contingency, Necessity, and Freedom in the Real Order of Being5. Necessity, Contingency, and Freedom: Reformed Understandings6. Scholastic Approaches to Necessity, Contingency, and Freedom: Early Modern Reformed Perspectives7. Divine Power, Possibility, and Actuality8. Divine Concurrence and Contingency9. Conclusions

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Book SynopsisIn Calvin's Company of Pastors, Scott Manetsch examines the pastoral theology and practical ministry activities of Geneva's reformed ministers from the time of Calvin's arrival in Geneva until the beginning of the seventeenth century.Trade Review[an] exceptional study ... Manetsch has delivered a compelling account of the clerical culture of Reformed Geneva in a work of substantial interest for early modern social and religious historians. * Graeme Murdock, European History Quarterly *This is a work of first class scholarship * David Gibson, Evangelicals Now *Full of fresh scholarship (including analysis of records never examined closely), Calvin's Company of Pastors is a fascinating read. * The Gospel Coalition *This is a quite superb book. It is not only outstanding as a well-written piece of original historical research. It is also most informative concerning the reasons why Reformed and Presbyterian churches came to think about the ministry in the ways they do. Buy it. * Reformation21 *A masterful work, this volume is rich in providing a comprehensive look at the work of ministry in the emerging Reformed church, and for chronicicling the commitment and care of pastors who sought to lead the church in living that was faithful to scripture. * Sixteenth Centuty Journal *In this rich and illuminating book, Scott Manetsch introduces readers to the fascinating cast of characters who served as Geneva's ministers from 1536-1609. By carefully combining social history with historical theology, Manetsch probes the connection between pastoral theology and concrete practice among these ministers, presenting a marvelous portrait of Genevan pastoral life in Calvin's day and afterward. Lucidly written, this book is a treasure for exploring pastoral identity in the Reformation context. * J. Todd Billings, Associate Professor of Reformed Theology, Western Theological Seminary *Calvin's Company of Pastors is an engaging and exhilarating synthesis of the prodigious research conducted in the Genevan archives for the past fifty years. Manetsch artfully describes everyday church life in the wake of the Reformation but does so through the eyes of three generations of pastors. We thereby learn through details both amusing and poignant just what it was like to accept a call to the pastorate, even as we discover ways in which Calvin did and did not shape the later course of the Genevan church. The book is a compelling introduction to Calvin and his memorable successors as well as a significant contribution to the history of pastoral theology. * John L. Thompson, author of Reading the Bible with the Dead: What You Can Learn from the History of Exegesis that You Can't Learn from Exegesis Alone *Scott Manetsch joins an innovative group in broadening our perspective on the Swiss Reformation, looking beyond Calvin to see how the Reformer's spiritual heirs and followers sustained and modified his legacy in Geneva and surrounding villages. All who are interested in Calvin and Reformed studies will want to absorb the riveting information gathered here concerning the Genevan ministers' class background, education, economic status, marital choices, weekly work assignments, living conditions, hardships, disciplinary fervor, and vulnerability. * Susan Karant-Nunn, Regents' Professor of History and Director of the Division for Late Medieval and Reformation Studies, University of Arizona *the best book of its kind ... contains a wealth of information * Robert McCollum, Reformed Theological Journal *Table of ContentsAcknowledgments ; Abbreviations ; Introduction ; Chapter One: Geneva and Her Reformation ; Chapter Two: The Company of Pastors ; Chapter Three: Vocation and Ordination ; Chapter Four: The Pastor's Household ; Chapter Five: Pastoral Rhythms ; Chapter Six: The Ministry of the Word ; Chapter Seven: The Ministry of Moral Oversight ; Chapter Eight: Pastors and their Books ; Chapter Nine: The Ministry of Pastoral Care ; Epilogue ; Notes ; Appendix ; Bibliography ; Index

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Book SynopsisA comprehensive history of the Calvinist movement.Trade Review"[McNeill] has done a great service in presenting in one volume not only an account of the life and teaching of Calvin but a survey of Calvinism down to our own day....One of the best short accounts of Calvin available, based on a thorough knowledge both of his life and writings and of modern scholarship."--American Historical Review"Will surely remain the standard book on Calvinism for many years to come. It deserves wide currency and careful reading."--Albert C. Outler"McNeill has given us a very good and much needed volume on Reformed Christianity."--Leonard J. Tinterud, Theology Today"A book that will certainly be the historical reference volume on Calvin in the English language for years to come."--Hugh Thomson Kerr, Jr., The Christian Century"A masterful historical portrait of the whole movement of Calvinism."--Union Seminary Quarterly Review"An excellent coverage of Calvinistic thought, its development and its expansion."--Richard Cherok, Cincinnati Bible College and Seminary"Still the best available single volume on Calvin and Calvinism."--William Loyd Allen, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

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Book SynopsisProfessor Bouwsma studies the theologian John Calvin as a way to bring into focus the cultural, psychological, and intellectual problems of the sixteenth century. He argues that Calvin represents an historical moment of transition from traditional modes of philosophical and religious thought to modern ones. Beginning with a description of the traditional culture of Calvin''s time, and of the moralism which exerted such a powerful hold over medieval thought, he goes on to identify the crucial issue in this transition as the ability of a culture to manage the anxiety of existence. Medieval society, by creating simplified polarities such as Good and Evil, he argues, was conspicuously successful in performing this task. Finally Bouwsma provides a critical analysis of this medieval philosophy, and explains the significance of Calvin''s concept of a New Order in providing an ethical system which no longer relied upon these established views of the world.Trade Review`There is a surprising and in many ways unexpected Calvin in the pages of this absorbing biography and intellectual study...fine study...Bousma's supremely readable work...brings to Calvin aprofound intellectual understanding and avital human sympathy ^social history society-autumn 1989`a fascinating book ... perceptive in the complex, and indeed risky, quest for the secrets of the heart of so controlled and guarded a person as Calvin. It is also fearlessly frank ... the man behind these institutions has been portrayed here with a pen both sharp and subtle.' Times Literary Supplement` A genuinely new insight into the man and into the sixteenth century as a whole.' John M. Todd, The New York Times Book Review`Bouwsma's portrait proves most valuable. Because, finally, it's the portrait of an intellectual sleepwalker of a man who thought he was doing one thing, like upholding authority, and ended up doing quite the opposite, like inspiring revolution.' San Francisco Chronicle Review'There is a surprising and in many ways unexpected Calvin in the pages of this absorbing biography and intellectual study ... Bouwsma's supremely readable work ... brings to Calvin a profound intellectual understanding and a vital human sympathy.' Michael Mullett, University of Lancaster, Social History Society'he draws attention to themes in Calvin easily overlooked' Paul Helm, The Banner of Truth'This book breaks new ground for students of Calvin and Calvinism ... this portrait of Calvin is not only enriching in itself but will encourage students of his teaching to a new care in its interpretation' Journal of Theological Studies'the clarity of its organization and the vigour of its style offer a welcome contrast to the labyrinthine prose of so many studies that take their philosophical pretensions too seriously ... Bouwsma has mastered the rhetoric he praises.' Kenneth J.E. Graham, University of California, Berkeley. Renaissance Studies'a formidably learned book ... a remarkable intellectual portrait ... By listening to Calvin's language and his patterns of argument across the broad range of his writings, he has constructed a beautifully organised, majestic and exciting study of the first rank in Calvin scholarship.' M. Greengrass, University of Sheffield, Journal of Ecclesiastical History`There is much here to interest and challenge. It is an exciting and novel exploration of a person who did not always say the same thing, who was eclectic in the influences he absorbed...Bouwsma provides the reader with a stimulating and refreshing study'. Francis M. Higman, English Historical Review, Oct 1991.'Bouwsma's experience of the period makes him an impressive guide ... there is much here to interest and challenge ... It is an exciting and novel exploration of a person who did not always say the same thing ... Bouwsma provides the reader with a stimulating and refreshing study.' Francis M. Higman, Institut d'Histoire de le Réformation, Geneva, EHR Oct. 91

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Book SynopsisBorn in Connecticut, Lemuel Haynes was first an indentured servant, then a soldier in the Continental Army, and, in 1785, an ordained congregational minister. Haynes''s writings constitute the fullest record of a black man''s religion, social thought, and opposition to slavery in the late-18th and early-19th century. Drawing on both published and rare unpublished sourcess, John Saillant here offers the first comprehensive study of Haynes and his thought.Trade ReviewIn Haynes we have a significant but neglected figure whose life and writings link theology, republicanism, and abolitionism in ways that challenge prevailing notions of religion and republican ideology in the revolutionary and early national period. Haynes was a free man of color, minister, and author, steeped in Edwardsean Calvinism, who came of age to the shot heard round the world and the Declaration of Independence. He forged these seemingly diverse strands into a black critique of a slaveholding society that professed liberty and inalienable rights. Saillant has done a wonderful job of making Haynes' stance understandable and compelling. * Kenneth Minkema, Executive Editor, The Works of Jonathan Edwards *

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Book SynopsisA comprehensive study of Thomas Edwards's "Gangraena", probably the most important printed work of the English revolution. It provides an account of the printed polemic of the revolution and its place in the religious and political mobilization of the mid-1640s.Trade Review...a powerfully argued and wide-ranging study ... this volume represents a major scholarly achievement and will be essential reading * Philip Baker, Sharp News *...the level of detail in the book will undoubtedly provide historians with the resources for future scholarship * Nicholas MacDowell, Notes and Queries *Table of Contents1. Introductions ; 2. Gangraena as Heresiography ; 3. 'Like a universal leprosie over-spread this whole kingdom': City and Provinces in Gangreana ; 4. 'Books lately printed': Gangraena and the World of Print ; 5. Edwards, Gangreana, and Presbyterian Mobilisation ; 6. Conclusions ; Bibliography

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Book SynopsisDrawing on material from a range of genres, with extensive reference to manuscript collections, Richard Snoddy offers a detailed study of James Usshers applied soteriology. After locating Ussher in the ecclesiastical context of seventeenth-century Ireland and England, Snoddy examines his teaching on the doctrines of atonement, justification, sanctification, and assurance. He considers their interconnection in Usshers thought, particularly the manner in which a general atonement functions as the ground of justification and the extent to which it functions as the ground of assurance. The book documents Usshers change of mind on a number of important issues, especially how, from holding to a limited atonement and an assurance that is of the essence of faith, he moved to belief in a general atonement and an assurance obtained through experimental piety. Within the framework of one widely accepted scholarly paradigm he appears to move from one logically inconsistent position to another, butTrade ReviewSnoddy has made a major contribution to the field of historical theology with this work. His careful analysis of the thought of an eminent Reformed theologian will be indispensable to researchers at postgraduate level and beyond working in the fields of Reformed theology, Reformation-era preaching, polemic, and pastoral concern, and religious reform in the British Isles. * Dr Susan Royal, Reviews in History *Table of ContentsContents ; Abbreviations ; Conventions ; Introduction ; 1. Vae Mihi Si Non Evangelizavero - The Preaching Prelate ; 2. Lubricus Locus - The Nature and Extent of the Atonement ; 3. 'This Sweet Doctrine' - Justification by Faith ; 4. 'An Imperfect Kinde of Perfection' - The Sanctified Life and Its Reward ; 5. 'The Comfortable Assurance of Our Salvation' - A Search for Certainty ; Conclusion ; Bibliography ; Index

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Book SynopsisFor most of his sixty-year career, the Reverend Carl McIntire was at the center of controversy. The best known and most influential of the fundamentalist radio broadcasters and anticommunists of the Cold War era, his many enemies depicted him as a dangerous far rightist, a racist, or a McCarthyite opportunist engaged in red-baiting for personal profit. Despised and hounded by liberals, revered by fundamentalists, and distrusted by the center, he became a lightning rod in the early American culture wars. Markku Ruotsila''s Fighting Fundamentalist, the first scholarly biography of McIntire, peels off the accumulated layers of caricature and makes a case for restoring McIntire to his place as one of the most consequential religious leaders in the twentieth-century United States. The book traces McIntire''s life from his early twentieth-century childhood in Oklahoma to his death in 2002. From his discipleship under J. Gresham Machen during the fundamentalist-modernist controversy, through Trade Reviewthis is an important, well-constructed book. It adds a significant chapter to the rise of politicised Evangelicalism, and it establishes the importance of Carl McIntire. * Joel A. Carpenter, Calvin College, Journal of Ecclesiastical History *We have long needed serious studies of both figures. In each case the authors serve us well. * Justus D. Doenec, Anglican and Episcopal History *Table of ContentsAcknowledgements ; Introduction ; Chapter 1 Beginnings: The Making of a Fundamentalist ; Chapter 2 Come-Outer: The Twentieth Century Reformation Movement ; Chapter 3 Leading the Charge: The Making of Christian Libertarianism ; Chapter 4 Cold Warrior: The Worldwide Fight for Liberation ; Chapter 5 Exposing Red Clergy: McCarthyism in the Churches ; Chapter 6 Massive Resistance: Struggles for Civil Rights ; Chapter 7 Under Siege: The Radical Right Years ; Chapter 8 "Kill a Commie": Marching for Victory in Vietnam ; Chapter 9 Broadening the Agenda: Towards the New Christian Right ; Chapter 10 Prophet Forsaken: The Last Years ; Epilogue: Carl McIntire's Legacy ; Manuscript Collections Consulted ; Notes ; Index

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Book SynopsisThis text seeks to set the southern Ohio Welsh in the context of Welsh immigration as a whole from 1795 to 1850, and explores how these strict Calvinists responded to the moral dilemmas posed by leaving their native land and experiencing economic success in the United States.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Above the Fray is a major effort to analyze the development of a distinct humanitarian field animated by the religious worldview of the nineteenth Calvinist milieu of Geneva, which connects a network of philanthropists, pacific activists, and religious actors concerned with addressing human tragedies. In telling the story of the emergence of this institutional field, Dromi innovates by bringing meaning-making into Bourdieusian field analysis in a non-reductivist fashion. Thus, he makes a brilliant contribution to historical sociology, and offers a much-needed addition to the sociological theory of fields. His book will be a crucial point of reference for several fields of research in the years to come."--Michele Lamont, professor of sociology and African and African American studies, Harvard University "Humanitarianism is not just an ethical orientation, but a whole sector of social institutions and practical actions. Dromi's Above the Fray superbly illuminates both the history of this field since the founding of the Red Cross and its increasingly difficult challenges today."--Craig Calhoun, university professor of social sciences, Arizona State University

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Above the Fray is a major effort to analyze the development of a distinct humanitarian field animated by the religious worldview of the nineteenth Calvinist milieu of Geneva, which connects a network of philanthropists, pacific activists, and religious actors concerned with addressing human tragedies. In telling the story of the emergence of this institutional field, Dromi innovates by bringing meaning-making into Bourdieusian field analysis in a non-reductivist fashion. Thus, he makes a brilliant contribution to historical sociology, and offers a much-needed addition to the sociological theory of fields. His book will be a crucial point of reference for several fields of research in the years to come."--Michele Lamont, professor of sociology and African and African American studies, Harvard University "Humanitarianism is not just an ethical orientation, but a whole sector of social institutions and practical actions. Dromi's Above the Fray superbly illuminates both the history of this field since the founding of the Red Cross and its increasingly difficult challenges today."--Craig Calhoun, university professor of social sciences, Arizona State University

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Book SynopsisIn the Enlightenments it was often argued that moral conduct, rather than adherence to theological doctrine, was the true measure of religious belief. The author argues that this enlightened emphasis on conduct in religion relied less on arguments from reason alone than has been believed.Trade Review“Thomas Ahnert’s cogently argued and highly original monograph amounts to a complete reversal of some of the most commonly accepted features of what the Enlightenment—and not only that in Scotland—was about.”—Knud Haakonssen, University of Erfurt and University of St. Andrews -- Knud Haakonssen“Ahnert’s polyglot grasp of Latin primary source materials and secondary scholarship in German, French, and Italian brings a depth and solidity to his scholarship on the Moderate theologians of eighteenth-century Scotland. His arresting revisionist case study brings back to life aspects of history which most scholars in this field can barely touch, far less revivify.”—Colin Kidd, author of Union and Unionisms: Political Thought in Scotland 1500–2000 -- Colin Kidd

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Book SynopsisPresents an analysis of Jonathan Edwards' theological position. This book includes a study of his life and the intellectual issues in the America of his time, and examines the problem of free will in connection with Leibniz, Locke, and Hume.

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Book SynopsisContains Edwards' most mature and persistent attempt to judge the validity of the religious development in eighteenth-century America known as the Great Awakening.Trade Review"Any modern empirical philosopher should welcome this sane, balanced, and acute study of the signs of a truly converted life. It is valuable to be reminded that not all the varieties of religious experience are experiences of true religion."—Journal of Theological Studies"This volume, like its predecessor, is magnificently produced and carefully edited. The editor . . . provides over eighty pages of an Introduction which shows a profound and erudite analysis of Edwards’s treatment of the question, How shall the presence of the divine Spirit be discerned against the background of the Great Awakening in New England?, and contrives to give it a contemporary relevance."—Theology"A splendid piece of interpretation, exegetical and contemporary."—Church History

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Book SynopsisDeals with the development of the concept of American identity. Centering upon the interaction of language, myth, and society, this title explores the Puritan achievement in its broadest cultural context.Trade Review“The issuing of The Puritan Origins of the American Self, with a fascinating new preface by Sacvan Bercovitch, is an occasion for celebration. A landmark contribution to American studies, the book is also a model, still vital and generative after many years, for any attempt to analyze the ideological dream-life upon which nations are founded. Bercovitch has an uncanny ability to be at once knowing and innocent, a sophisticated master of the textual archive and a wide-eyed stranger, like Kafka’s Max Rossmann, amazed by what he is witnessing on the shores of the New World. A major and enduring achievement.”—Stephen Greenblatt, Cogan University Professor of the Humanities, Harvard University -- Stephen Greenblatt“The Puritan Origins of the American Self is a classic text for American studies, and the splendid new preface makes it available for new generations. Known for its wide learning, clear and compelling prose, and above all for the strength of its twin arguments about the continuity of national culture and the flexible shape of American ideology, Bercovitch's book continues to be essential reading.”—Michael Warner, Seymour H. Knox Professor of English, Yale University -- Michael Warner“Now reissued with a powerful new preface by the author that extends the argument through the scholarly waves of the past three decades, this American Studies classic makes a compelling and provocative case for continuities in the rhetoric of America from Puritanism to our own times.”—Werner Sollors, Henry B. and Anne M. Cabot Professor of English Literature and Professor of African and African American Studies.Harvard University -- Werner Sollors“Sacvan Bercovitch’s insights about the formative power of the Puritan imagination remain as fresh and relevant in the post-9/11 world as they were in 1975, when he shaped a field of study. No one better understands than Bercovitch both the imaginative hold of the nation form and its intrinsic instability in a global network of allegiances and affiliations “—Priscilla Wald, Professor of English, Duke University -- Priscilla Wald“Now framed by a luminous new Preface, this book offers something still too rare: a brilliant and boldly erudite interpretation of America’s distinctiveness that is not exceptionalist but comparative.”—Jonathan Arac, Andrew W. Mellon Professor of English, University of Pittsburgh -- Jonathan Arac

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Trade ReviewWinner of the 2004 History Book Award given by the Saltire Society in recognition of an outstanding book on the topic of Scottish history

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Book SynopsisIn an eloquent defense of Calvinist theology, author and professor Michael Horton invites us to explore the teachings of Calvinism—also commonly known as Reformed theology—by showing how it is biblical and Christ-centered, leading us to live our lives for the glory of God. The system of theology known as Calvinism has been immensely influential for the past five hundred years, but it''s often encountered negatively as a fatalistic belief system that confines human freedom and renders human action and choice irrelevant.Taking us beyond the caricatures and typical reactions, For Calvinism: Explores the historical roots of Reformed thought. Delivers the essence of Calvinism, examining its distinctive characteristics, such as election, atonement, effectual calling, and perseverance. Encourages us to consider its rich resources for faith and practice in the present age. As a companion to Roger Olso

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Book SynopsisThe Christian doctrine of God has traditionally been presented in two parts: an account of the existence and attributes of God on the one hand, and an account of God's triunity on the other. This study offers an analysis of Karl Barth's doctrine of the divine attributes (or 'perfections'), as it appears in his "Church Dogmatics II/1".Trade ReviewLiterate, articulate, a model of expositional clarity and care, this fine essay sets before us Barth's doctrine of the divine perfections in all its complexity, resonance, and power. It is an important contribution to a growing literature on a central dogmatic theme-and a welcome reminder of the abiding importance of the practice of theological commentary on the formative texts of the tradition. In the contested world of contemporary Barth scholarship, we can never be recalled too often to close reading of the sources themselves; it is the great merit of this exemplary study of Church Dogmatics II/1 to do just that. -- Donald Wood, University of Aberdeen, UK.Price has given us a great gift: a careful and charitable guided tour through one of the most complex sections of Barth's Church Dogmatics. His close exposition of Barth's text unveils the inner logic of Barth's argument by highlighting important connections and insights that often go unnoticed. Chapter by chapter, he opens up new vistas from which we can view the contours of Barth's entire theology more clearly, and the result is a better grasp of Barth's ongoing relevance for contemporary thought. This book stands in the best tradition of theological commentary, and it will be valuable to any theologian engaged in a serious study of Barth's theology or the doctrine of God. -- Keith L. Johnson, Assistant Professor of Theology, Wheaton College, IL, USA..It is elegantly written, demonstrates broad knowledge and sharp analysis of the secondary literature, a keen eye for exegetical detail, and fidelity to ‘the pastoral warmth and kerygmatic urgency,’ which characterizes Barth’s own writing …it offers not only instruction in Barth’s thought, but also a compelling model for theological engagement…Letters of the Divine Word has caused this reader to want to pick-up Barth’s doctrine once again and, in light of new insights and vantage points, to read from the beginning, ‘to marvel with him at the beauty’ of God’s glory and live gratefully before the One who 'gives pleasure, creates desire, and rewards with enjoyment.' * The Center for Barth Studies *Table of ContentsChapter 1 locates Barth's doctrine of the divine perfections within the unfolding logic of the Church Dogmatics and then surveys the state of Barth scholarship on this doctrine.; Chapter 2 provides historical and systematic context for Barth's doctrine, tracing significant threads of development in this doctrine within the Christian theological tradition and describing the theological function of the doctrine of the divine perfections.; Chapter 3 through 6 provide focused analysis each of the four sections of Barth's doctrine of the perfections, pausing at various points to address relevant debates within broader Barth scholarship.; Chapter 7 identifies some of the key theological decisions which shape Barth's account of God's perfections.; Chapter 8 argues that Barth's doctrine of the divine perfections represents his mature thought on this aspect of the doctrine of God - an aspect that is refined, but not dispensed with, in Church Dogmatics IV.

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Book SynopsisScott R. Swain is Associate Professor of Systematic Theology, Reformed Theological Seminary, FL, USA.Trade ReviewClear and persuasive in argument, deeply read in classical and modern divinity, doctrinally and spiritually astute, this is a splendid theological presentation of the nature and interpretation of Scripture. -- John Webster, King's College, University of Aberdeen, UKSimultaneously traditional and creative, this impressive volume offers a welcome introduction to Reformed dogmatics. -- Matthew Levering, Professor of Theology, University of Dayton, OH, USATrinity, Revelation, and Reading becomes in Swain's hands a three-stranded cord for the theological interpretation of Scripture that is not easily bettered. Swain derives his key interpretive categories from the Bible's own storyline. He also locates biblical interpretation, and Scripture itself, in the triune economy of covenantal communication for the sake of communion, thereby putting feet on the idea that Scripture is its own best interpreter. This is a fresh yet sound and richly satisfying account of why and how the church is to think about and read the Bible "as what it really is, the word of God" (1 Thess. 2:13). -- Kevin J. Vanhoozer, Blanchard Professor of Theology, Wheaton College and Graduate School, IL, USASummarized. * New Testament Abstracts *Directly informed and bibliographically rich -- Christoph Bultmann * Theologische Literaturzeitung, vol 139 (Bloomsbury translation) *Table of ContentsChapter 1: The Trinity, the Kingdom, and the Progress of the Word; Chapter 2: The Role of Holy Scripture in Kingdom and Covenant; Chapter 3: The Inspiration and Perfection of Holy Scripture; Chapter 4: Reading in Covenant; Conclusion.

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Book SynopsisR. Michael Allen is Assistant Professor of Systematic Theology at Knox Theological Seminary at Fort Lauderdale, USA.Trade ReviewThis excellent collection brings together some fine examples of theological interpretation at work on particular biblical texts, along with some sympathetic assessments of the prospects for reading Scripture theologically. Each of the essays demonstrates exegetical finesse, theological alertness, and sensitivity to the spiritual dimensions of study of Scripture; taken together, they deserve a wide and attentive readership. -- Professor John Webster DD FRSE, King's College, University of Aberdeen, UKThe twofold task skilfully undertaken in this volume should inspire all Christians: first, to practice reading Scripture unabashedly as God's self-revelation with Christ Jesus at its center, while benefiting from historical-critical research; second, to do so from within the (ecclesial) act of faith and thus from a dogmatic perspective - in this case, by and large, Reformed dogmatics. Michael Allen is to be commended for his vision of theological renewal. -- Matthew Levering, University of Dayton, USATable of ContentsEditorial Introduction What is theological commentary?; Kevin Vanhoozer Jeremiah 31; A. T. B. McGowan Colossians 3:1-4; Daniel Treier Philippians 2:1-11; Scott Swain Mark 12:35-37; Michael Allen Exodus 3; Geoffrey M. Ziegler John 8:31-38; Ryan Peterson Genesis 1:26-31; We have asked Barry Webb to contribute a chapter. Kelly Kapic is strongly inclined to participate. We also intend to ask others to participate once we are under contract; thus, we hope that Stephen Holmes, R. W. L. Moberly, D. A. Carson, and Bruce McCormack will agree to contribute chapters.

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Book SynopsisDavid Andrew Gilland teaches at Leuphana University, Lüneberg, Germany. He received a MTS from Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, DC and a PhD in Systematic Theology from the University of Aberdeen, UK.Trade ReviewContemporary theology has often focused upon the work of Barth to the exclusion of Brunner. This volume offers a well-researched healthy counterbalance to that trend. -- Timothy Shaun Price, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, US * Theological Book Review *[A] notable entry into this growing literature ... [R]igorous and densely packed … [and] quite successful. * Journal of Theological Studies *The level of depth explored by Gilland is marvelous. Certainly, this is a careful approach to Brunner and dialectic theology as relates to law and gospel. It is truly within the study of law and gospel that Gilland hits his highest note. Any student of Brunner or law and gospel will find this to be a book that deserves a thorough reading. -- Roger Fears * Wartburg Theological Seminary *Table of ContentsIntroduction\1. Critically Idealistic Dialectical Theology?\2. Law and Revelation\3. Theology's Two Tasks\4. Nature and Grace\5. Conclusion\Bibliography\Index

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Book SynopsisJamie Pitts is Professor of Anabaptist Studies at Anabaptist Mennonite Seminary, USA. He is also Director of the Institute of Mennonite Studies, and Editor of Anabaptist Witness.

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Book SynopsisWritten in the 16th century, this title states the Christian beliefs and principles at the heart of the Reformation. It is suitable for those interested in the Reformation or in Scottish history as a whole.

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewStreams of scholarship flow together in Campagna-Pinto’s insightful and well-argued book: the reach of American philosophy beyond the classic pragmatists, and the significance of American religious traditions for shaping trunk lines of American thought and culture. For this enterprise, the author has well-chosen examples in Jonathan Edwards and William James, two prime intellectual engines of the American “quest or experiment,” as Campagna-Pinto puts it. Edwards and James shared an enriched empiricism, “stereoscopic” in its attention to the worlds of the heart and mind. And this book is comprehensive: it can appeal to students of religious studies, philosophy, and intellectual history; moreover, its careful reading of disparate topics, including rhetoric, suicide, art, the elusiveness of intimacy, and democracy suggests its ability to contribute to a variety of fields -- Paul Croce, Stetson University, former President of the William James SocietyIn The Workshop of Being, Campagna-Pinto brings together the two biggest intellectuals in American history—the Calvinist Christian Jonathan Edwards and the post-Christian liberal William James—and gets them singing in harmony. Campagna-Pinto's penetrating readings of both thinkers moves beyond the labels that divide their legacies and into a realm of 'heart religion,' where earnest examination of personal experience and social relations brings Edwards and James together in the pursuit of 'strenuous democracy.' -- Amy Kittelstrom, Sonoma State UniversityWorkshop of Being provides a searching, deeply conceived, and entirely compelling examination of the religious thought of Edwards and James, one that also sheds important new light on the origins and development of the tradition of American pragmatism. Through a series of penetratingly exact readings, Campagna-Pinto elucidates an abiding concern shared by these two thinkers with the affective ground of speculative thought, while at the same time showcasing the manifest complexity and originality of each body of work. In doing so, he shows how the apparently disparate intellectual projects of these two major American thinkers converge in counseling theologians and philosophers alike to think with the "heart" not only the head. -- Alan Hodder, Hapshire CollegeTable of ContentsList of Abbreviations Acknowledgments Chapter 1: The Sacred Trace Chapter 2: A New Reach of Freedom Chapter 3: Heart Religion and the Pragmatist Imagination Chapter 4: The Art of Expansiveness Chapter 5: Strenuous Democracy and the Workshop of Being Notes Bibliography About the Author

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Book SynopsisSet against the background of post-revolution Scottish ecclesiastical politics, this book addresses the hitherto largely neglected religious dimension to the debates on Anglo-Scottish Union. Focusing predominantly on the period between April 1706 and January 1707, the book examines the attitudes and reactions of Presbyterians to the treaty and challenges many of the widely held assumptions about the role of the church and other groups during the debate. The focal point of the Kirk''s response was the Commission of the General Assembly. Through the extensive use of church records and other primary sources the work of the commission in pursuit of church security through its debates, committees and addresses, is discussed at length. The book also examines the church and groups like the Cameronians and Hebronites in relation to the parliamentary debate, the pursuit of alternatives to incorporation, popular protest, addressing and armed resistance.Trade ReviewFocussing primarily on the period between April 1706 and January 1707, the author has meticulously researched the attitudes of the Church of the time ... Historians with a particular interest in the role of the Church will undoubtedly appreciate the insight offered by this work. Life and Work A particular strength of Dr Stephen's book is the way he has untangled the several strands of opinion on union amongst the presbyterian community... it is an important piece of research, which challenges old assumptions and confirms and supplements other recent revisionist work on the union. -- Christopher Whatley, University of Dundee Parliamentary History Focussing primarily on the period between April 1706 and January 1707, the author has meticulously researched the attitudes of the Church of the time ... Historians with a particular interest in the role of the Church will undoubtedly appreciate the insight offered by this work. A particular strength of Dr Stephen's book is the way he has untangled the several strands of opinion on union amongst the presbyterian community... it is an important piece of research, which challenges old assumptions and confirms and supplements other recent revisionist work on the union.Table of ContentsContents.; 1. Union; The Religious and Political Background 1689-1706.; 2. And the Gates of Hell Shall Not Prevail Against It: Securing the; Church in the event of a Union.; 3. 'Upon the Watchtower of This Church': The Commission of the; General Assembly.; 4. Presbyteries and Parishes: Addressing Against Union.; 5. The Church and Popular Protest.; 6. Incorporating Union; the Search for an Alternative.; 7. 'That God may Mercifully Bring Good out of the Union.'; Appendix.; Bibliography.

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