Calvinist, Reformed and Presbyterian Churches Books
Faithlife Corporation A Theological Introduction
Book Synopsis
£24.79
Authentic Media Jerome and His Modern Interpreters: Perspectives
Book SynopsisThis is the first full-length detailed survey and critique of modern Jerome scholarship, covering the crucial period 1880-2014. At one level, the author ably argues that, despite Jerome's faults, his work holds many important insights into the Early Church's formation of Christian identity and Christian orthodoxy. On another level, by examining aspects of Jerome's writing through the lens of modern scholarship, the study also illumines the changing directions and perspectives of Jerome studies. As such, it is a valuable and unique account of the scholarly representation of Jerome's oeuvre. Christopher Knight's work will continue to have a respected place amongst Jerome studies for years to come. Content 1. Introduction 2. Jerome and Biblical Interpretation in the Early Church 3. Early Modern Jerome Scholarship: 1880-1965 4. Later Modern Jerome Scholarship: 1966-2012 5. Present Jerome Scholarship: 2013-2015 6. The Future of Jerome Studies 7. Conclusion
£23.74
Christian Focus Publications Ltd John Knox: The Sharpened Sword
Book SynopsisJohn Knox spent his life with a sword in one hand and a Bible in the other and he wasn't afraid to use either.He began his theological life as a body guard to George Wishart - and it was when that young man was put to death by the religious authorities that John Knox was finally persuaded of the need to awaken his country from the death of injustice and spiritual poverty that afflicted it.He was never built for a quiet life and when he ran from one danger, he often found himself headed straight for another. Escaping from the authorities brought him straight into a castle siege and from there he ended up as a galley slave on a French frigate.No wonder he appreciated liberty when he had felt the grasp of slavery's chains and the cut of the enemy's whip.But his thirst for true freedom came from his longing for God's Word to be preached. John knew that true liberty only came from being in service to God and his Kingdom.Many stood against him and they still do today... but he gave much to his country and to his God and the church and Scotland owe John Knox - they owe him thanks as they owe the God he served thanks for calling such men to be his preachers.
£6.93
Boydell & Brewer Ltd The Clergy in Early Modern Scotland
Book SynopsisA nuanced approach to the role played by clerics at a turbulent time for religious affairs. From the early percolation of Protestant thought in the sixteenth century through to the controversies and upheaval of the civil wars in the seventeenth century, the clergy were at the heart of religious change in Scotland. By exploring their lived experiences, and drawing upon historical, theological, and literary approaches, the essays here paint a fresh and vibrant portrait of ministry during the kingdom's long Reformation. The contributors investigate how clergy, as well as their families and flocks, experienced and negotiated religious, social, and political change; through examination of both wider themes and individual case studies, the chapters emphasise the flexibility of local decision-making and how ministers and their families were enmeshed in parish dynamics, while also highlighting the importance of clerical networks beyond the parish. What emerges is a ministry that, despite the increasing professionalisation of the role, maintained a degree of local autonomy and agency. The volume thus re-focuses attention on the early modern European ministry, offering a multifaceted and historically attuned understanding of those who stood at the forefront of Protestant reform.Trade ReviewThese chapters harvest rich details of the everyday lives of the early modern clergy and their collaboration with their parishioners. [...] The introductory historiography, various approaches, and combined bibliography might make this collection serve as a vade mecum to such future studies of the early modern Scottish Church. -- SEVENTEENTH CENTURY NEWSThe book is a significant contribution to our understanding of early modern Scottish religious culture. * CHURCH HISTORY *This collection of essays provides a much-needed update to our understanding of the early modern men who answered the "calling of the ministrie" and the families who often supported them. * Scottish Historical Review *An outstanding and agenda-setting volume that puts the experience of Reformed ministers at the centre of the religious history of early modern Scotland. * New Books Network *This collection provides an invaluable contribution to the field of Scottish Reformation studies ... The contributors to both sections in this volume should be commended for their vast use of source material related to Scottish clergymen, especially those source collections previously ignored or underutilised. -- Journal of Ecclesiastical HistoryAs well as adding nuance and depth to our understanding of the Reformed church and its ministers, The Clergy in Early Modern Scotland is also a rallying cry for an increased focus on the human aspects to religion. * The Innes Review *Table of ContentsIntroduction Chris R. Langley, Catherine E. McMillan and Russell Newton Part I. Themes 1. Exhortations and Expectations: Preaching about the Ideal Minister in Post-Reformation Scotland Michelle D. Brock 2. Ministers and the Bible in Early Modern Scotland Russell Newton 3. The Protestant Clergy and Poor Relief, 1560-1660 John McCallum and Helen Gair 4. Scotland's 'Holy Households': Wives and Children of Reformed ministers Janay Nugent and L. Rae Stauffer 5. Anticlericalism in Early Modern Scotland? Chris R. Langley Part II. Case Studies 6. Pastors in Search of a Congregation: Clerical Calls for Reform Before 1546 Elizabeth Tapscott 7. 'Doctrein' or 'Filthie Speachis'? The St Andrews Ministers and the Politics of the 1590s Michael F. Graham 8. Clerical Culture and Island Logic in Early Modern Orkney Peter Marshall 9. 'Gryt Abuse is Found in this Toune': James Sharpe and Moral Reformation in South Leith, 1639-45 Claire McNulty 10. Pastoral Cares, Covenant, and Courtship in John Dury's Personal Correspondence, 1641-5 Felicity Lyn Maxwell 11. 'Wings of the Soul': Moderating Emotion in the Preaching of Hugh Binning (1627-53) Nathan C. J. Hood Afterword Jane Dawson Bibliography Index
£80.75
The Good Book Company Humble Calvinism: And if I Know the Five Points,
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£8.54
Liverpool University Press Isaac Nelson: Radical Abolitionist, Evangelical
Book SynopsisThis book reconsiders the career of an important, controversial, but neglected figure in this history of Irish Presbyterianism. The Revd Isaac Nelson is mostly remembered for his opposition to the evangelical revival of 1859, but this book demonstrates that there was much more to Nelson’s career. Nelson started out as a protégé of Henry Cooke and as an exemplary young evangelical minister. Upon aligning himself with the Belfast Anti-Slavery Society and joining forces with American abolitionists such as Frederick Douglass and William Lloyd Garrison, Nelson emerged as a powerful voice against compromise with slaveholders. One of the central objectives of this book is to show that anti-slavery, especially his involvement with the ‘Send Back the Money’ controversy in the Free Church of Scotland and the debate over fellowship with slaveholders at the Evangelical Alliance, was crucially important to the development of Nelson into one of Irish Presbyterianism’s most controversial figures. His later opposition to the 1859 Revival has often been understood as being indicative of Nelson’s opposition to evangelicalism. This book argues that such a conclusion is mistaken and that Nelson opposed the Revival as a Presbyterian evangelical. His later involvement with the Land League and the Irish Home Rule movement, including his tenure as the Member of Parliament for County Mayo, could be easily dismissed as an entirely discreditable affair. While avoiding romantic nostalgia in relation to Nelson’s nationalism, this book argues that Nelson’s basis for advocating Home Rule was not as peculiar as it might first appear.Trade ReviewReviews ‘An interesting, probing, and thoroughly documented study of an importantly unconventional protagonist in several major religious and political debates, with reverberations far beyond Belfast or Ulster, which will make a considerable impact not merely on students of Ulster’s religious history, but on the broader field of Irish political history.' Professor David Fitzpatrick, Trinity College Dublin
£104.02
Verso Books The Dreadful History and Judgement of God on
Book Synopsis'The princes are nothing but tyrants who flay the people; they fritter away our blood and sweat on their pomp and whoring and knavery.' These were the words of Thomas Müntzer at the head of the massed ranks of a peasant army in the year 1525. Ranged against him were the might of the princes of the German Nation. How did Müntzer, the son of a coin maker from central Germany, rise in just a few short years to become one of the most feared revolutionaries in early modern Europe?In this brilliant work of historical excavation, Andrew Drummond charts the life and times of the man Martin Luther denounced as a 'Ravening Wolf' and 'False Prophet'. Drummond shows us Müntzer as a human being. Far from the bloodthirsty devil of legend, he was a man of considerable learning and principle, deeply sympathetic to the misery of the peasantry and the poor. In his short life - he was beheaded at thirty-five - Müntzer promised to fundamentally upend German society.Seeking to save Müntzer from the condescension of history, Drummond guides us through the religious and political disputes of the Reformation, placing his life and thought in the context of those turbulent years. The result is a portrait of an often contradictory but always radical figure, one who continues to inspire movements of the poor across the globe.Trade ReviewAt last - a new account for our times of Thomas Müntzer, theologian and revolutionary. Drummond brings Müntzer and his world vividly to life. He shows us just why Müntzer hated Luther, and how he came to take up arms. What did it mean to be a revolutionary in sixteenth-century Germany? - Drummond shows us. You will be gripped and inspired by this exciting story - I couldn't put it down. -- Lyndal Roper, Regius Professor of History at Oxford, and author of Martin Luther: Renegade and ProphetPosterity has endorsed not just Luther's victory but also his determined character assassination of his rival. Andrew Drummond's scholarly but eminently readable, thoughtful, thorough and at times witty biography of Müntzer redresses the balance for English-speaking audiences -- Professor Michael Russell, University of GlasgowAmong the famous figures associated with 16th century Germany, that of religious thinker and social revolutionary Thomas Müntzer deserves to be far better known. Andy Drummond's excellent, brilliantly written and entertaining, new biography delves deep into the archival material to draw out the history of a radical whose life is often obscured by propaganda and myth. As we approach the 500th anniversary of Müntzer's execution, this book is the definitive account of his life. -- Martin Empson, author of 'Kill all the Gentlemen': Class Struggle and Change in the English CountrysideA blisteringly good book about personal enmity, and the difference between revolution and reform. -- Daniel Brooks * Telegraph *Drummond's marvellous romp of a biography - part jolly Simon Winder-like deep dive into 16th-century Germania, part sagacious reflection on the Reformation in the manner of Diarmaid MacCulloch - aims to free Müntzer from his detractors. -- Stuart Jeffries * Spectator *Table of ContentsWettin Family Tree Map Acknowledgements Notes on the Text and Some Helpful Remarks1. A Most Useful Lesson An introduction2. The End of the World Historical and religious background to the German Reformation3. The Devil Sowed His Seed Müntzer's early years4. Murder and Riot and Bloodshed Preacher in Zwickau (1520-1521)5. He Ran Away like an Arch-Villain A visit to Prague (1521)6. Satan Wandered in the Wilderness Erfurt, Nordhausen and Halle (1522-1523)7. Satan Made Himself a Nest in Allstedt A fruitful year of activity in Allstedt (1523-1524)8. His Face Was as Yellow as a Corpse's Rebellion in Allstedt (1524)9. Using God's Name, He Spoke and Acted for the Devil Müntzer's theology 10. The Devil Never Let Him Rest Mühlhausen and Nürnberg (1524)11. His Poisonous Seed In south-west Germany at the time of the peasant uprising (1524-1525)12. The Time Was Come The Thuringian uprising (1525)13. Thomas Would Catch All the Bullets in His Sleeves The Battle of Frankenhausen (May 1525)14. How God Punishes Disobedience The aftermath of defeat at Frankenhausen15. Rebellious Violent Preachers The early Anabaptists16. The Devil in Person HistoriographyConclusion Chronology Bibliography Notes Index
£22.50
Christian Focus Publications Ltd The Erosion of Calvinist Orthodoxy: Drifting from
Book SynopsisThis revealing read will give you an opportunity to learn from history. How do strong confessional churches that seem to be doing all the right things drift inexorably from the truth?. What is clear from Ian Hamilton's fascinating study is that it doesn't happen over night but it is a gradual erosion of theological and doctrinal standards.Nineteenth century Scotland was seen as a Christian nation composed of church-going people. Among its churches, Presbyterianism was strongest, and within Presbyterianism there were several large denominations. The future looked bright and optimism marked many of the church leaders and congregations. Yet the sad fact is that most of them were blind to the presence of the warning signs that ultimately caused the decline and not the continued growth of the church in Scotland. To understand how this happened Ian Hamilton looks at the changes that took place within one of these large Presbyterian denominations - the United Presbyterian Church - and analyses the roots, developments and consequences of these changes, particularly the departure from the doctrines summarised in the Westminster Confession of Faith. It is a salutary lesson to observe that the movements for church unions and increased evangelism of the nineteenth century were not signs of spiritual health; instead they were inadequate sticking plasters that hid dangerous spiritual disease. This book also includes discussion on the nature of subscription to the Confession at time of 1733 secession, the atonement controversy 1841-45, the Union controversy 1863-1873 and 1879 United Presbyterian Church Declaratory Act.Trade ReviewIn an era where the drive in some quarters to watering down confessional commitment precisely as a means of strengthening orthodoxy seems almost irresistible, Ian Hamilton's study of nineteenth century Scottish Presbyterianism is a timely reminder: revisions of confessions and terms of subscription have often proved to be anything but friendly towards a robust Christianity, a point made here with scholarly grace and theological acumen. It is good to see this book back in print and made available to a wider audience. -- Carl R. Trueman (Professor of Biblical and Religious Studies, Grove City College, Pennsylvania)The Erosion of Calvinist Orthodoxy is an invaluable historical case study of the fascinating and complex issues of Christian orthodoxy. In it Ian Hamilton carefully traces the arguments and positions which eventually fed into the theological liberalism of the 19th and 20th centuries that has left the church moribund.But perhaps the chief value of Ian Hamilton's work is the sobering message it carries for the contemporary church, where some views regarded as new and ground-breaking bear an uncanny resemblance to those that once led to the spiritual wasteland. Ignorance of the past often leads to the repetition of its mistakes. Ian Hamilton here provides an important historical antidote for such theological amnesia. -- Sinclair B. Ferguson (Chancellor’s Professor of Systematic Theology, Reformed Theological Seminary, Jackson, Mississippi)What strikes me most about this revised edition is its relevance to our situation today and Pastor Hamilton's careful research, scholarly precision, and warm style make the book very useful to the scholar and accessible to the ordinary reader. -- Joseph A. Pipa Jr. (President, Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Greenville, South Carolina)Ian Hamilton's The Erosion of Calvinist Orthodoxy is the seminal modern study of confessional subscription in the Scottish tradition. His recounting of the story, and his conclusions, are of direct relevance, not only to Presbyterians, but to all who are committed to confessional fidelity in the great evangelical Protestant tradition. Any further study of this important topic must reckon with Hamilton's account and findings. -- Ligon Duncan (Chancellor and CEO, Reformed Theological Seminary)
£11.39
Four Courts Press Ltd Ulster Presbyterians in the Atlantic World:
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£37.50
Christian Focus Publications Ltd An Exposition on the Shorter Catechism: What is
Book Synopsis Alexander Whyte (1836-1921) is best known for his books on Bible Characters. A leading Scottish Churchman of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries it is only to be expected that he turned his mind to the Shorter Catechism - that summary of Christian doctrine that was taught in schools and homes across Scotland and throughout the world. In a question and answer format the Shorter Catechism was written with uneducated layman in mind. Simple, direct and brief it was memorised by millions of people from all backgrounds. Its spiritual value has been proved again and again as it provides a base of solid Christian teaching that has stood the test of time.This exposition is a treasure, as it adds some background and some explanation to the brevity that is obviously necessary in a catechism. Quoting from a wide range of Reformed and Puritan authors, Whyte provides useful application and illustrations that help illuminate the answers and will help us apply them to our lives. Trade Review‘This is an unusual work in that its gifted author quotes from writers of opposing traditions to amplify his understandings of the text. His language is simple and direct, and the book is strongly bound and clearly printed. For good measure, the publishers have included the entire Westminster Confession and Larger Catechism.' -- Peace and Truth: 2005:2
£24.29
Christian Focus Publications Ltd Calvin and the Atonement
Book SynopsisJohn Calvin had a profound understanding of the atoning work of Christ. His writings are still one of the major sources scholars and others rely on to give insight into what was accomplished by Jesus on the cross.In this book Robert Peterson first examines what Calvin says regarding the love of God, the Incarnation, and Christ's offices of prophet, priest and king. He goes on to consider Calvin's comments on other aspects of Christ's work: he is the second Adam, the victor, the substitute, the sacrifice and the example.Trade Review"Rather than fall into the trap of insisting on one 'theory' of the atonement, John Calvin recognised that the biblical teaching presents us with a multi-faceted jewel. His brilliant exposition stressed the many-sidedness and the profundity of the work of Christ. The great strength of Dr Robert Peterson's work lies in his grasps of Calvin's biblical vision and the clarity and enthusiasm with which he expounds it. Sixteen years after its first publication this revised edition of Calvin and the Atonement will be welcomed by a new generation of readers." -- Sinclair B Ferguson (Chancellor’s Professor of Systematic Theology, Reformed Theological Seminary, Jackson, Mississippi)"This is a brilliant little book for preachers to read and re-read...Calvin's teaching on the atonement is rich and multi-faceted." -- Robert W. Oliver, The Banner of TruthCalvin and the Atonement will be of great value to those with an interest in reformation and theology or - not quite the same thing - with getting help on a thoroughgoing biblical spin on the work of Christ. -- Paul Helm, Themelios"Calvin dealt with Christ's saving ministry, as with all other biblical themes, in a different way.... Dr. Peterson's monograph lays out the elements of this synthesis in a way that Calvin himself would certainly have approved. The task has not been tackled in print before in so adequate a manner, and this essay is something of a milestone. I commend it heartily, both as a fine contribution to modern Calvin studies and as a worthy presentation of insights into a central theme of scripture from one of the greatest Bible expositors of all time." -- J. I. Packer, Regent College, Vancouver ((1926–2020), Board of Governors’ Professor of Theology, Regent College, Vancouver, Canada)
£16.61
Christian Focus Publications Ltd Constrained By His Love: A New Biography of
Book Synopsis Robert Murray McCheyne was born in 1813 and died in 1843. His life, was nothing short of extraordinary. Given the charge of St Peter's Church, Dundee at the age of 23, even his trial sermon was blessed, with two people being saved. The church saw astonishing growth, overflowing with 1,100 hearers.He stands today as one of the outstanding preachers in the history of Scotland. His spirituality, and focus on the work of Christ was immediately apparent - with hostile crowds melting as they realised the sincerity of the man and the power of his message. His life is a lesson to us all, that when we submit to our Sovereign Lord and his plan, he can and will use our bodies, no matter how weak, our gifts, no matter how limited and our lives, no matter how short. Trade Review"Finally - a definitive, contemporary biography on Robert Murray McCheyne abounding with historical detail, sterling illustrations, and spiritual warmth." -- Joel R. Beeke, President of Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary & Pastor of Heritage Reformed Congregation, Michigan (Chancellor, Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, Grand Rapids, Michigan)"He was an outstanding man of God, and his life story, here told in fullest detail and with fullest sympathy, should on no account be missed." -- "Dr J. I. Packer, Professor of Systematic and Historical Theology, Regent College, Vancouver ((1926–2020), Board of Governors’ Professor of Theology, Regent College, Vancouver, Canada)"He has much to teach us about how to reach the cities and the modern industrialised world for Jesus Christ. Read and learn." -- David Robertson, St Peter's Free Church of Scotland, Dundee (Well–known pastor and apologist)... the sheer strength of the subject matter carries the reader along and we are thankful to the author for reminding us that God made Robert M'Cheyne so wonderfully fruitful in his life, ministry and death. -- Evangelical Times... the result is a spiritual testimony which is beautiful , delightful and deeply impacting. -- Tom Lennie (Well respected author on Scottish revival)"This book should be required reading for every pastor, desired reading for every believer, and inspiring reading for all who hunger after the things of God. The clear print and attractive presentation are a credit to the publisher." -- A. Ridge, Peace & Truth
£21.78
Authors for Christ, Inc. God's Will, Man's Will and Free Will
£8.54
John Donald Publishers Ltd Bishops and Covenanters: The Church in Scotland,
Book SynopsisWhy did the young Protestant monarch William of Orange fail to make his mark on Scotland? How did a particularly hard-line 'Protester' branch of Presbyterianism (the last off-shoot of the Convenanting movement) become the established Church in Scotland? And how did it come about that Scotland suffered a kind of 'cultural revolution' after the Williamite revolution, nipping in the bud the proto-Enlightenment? This book reviews the political events that led to the abolition of episcopacy in 1689 and with it the concerted attack on the parish clergy. It explores for the first time the background and influences that led to the brutal 'rabbling of the curates' in south-west Scotland. It explores the mind-set of the notorious Covenanting tract Naphtali (1667), and of its author Sir James Stewart of Goodtrees, who was the author of the Act establishing hard-line Presbyterianism in 1690, and became Lord Advocate of Scotland in 1692. The purges of the universities after the 1690 Act led to a hardening of attitudes, and the on-going purging of the parishes led ultimately to the emptying of two-thirds of all the parishes of Scotland. The book suggests how these events contributed to the notion of 'King William's ill years'.Trade Review'Covenanting enthusiasts will appreciate the fresh insights, whilst those seeking a popular introduction to the subject will welcome its clarity' * Life & Work *
£20.90
Langham Publishing The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit in the Major Reformed Confessions and Catechisms of the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries
£19.79
The Book Guild Ltd The Legacy: A Memoir: One family's role in
Book SynopsisJean Barr opens the antique chest she inherited from her great-great-uncle Alexander and unravels the strands of his life as an evangelical Presbyterian minister in late nineteenth century Italy, unpacking the cover-ups in Britain’s history of Empire, and bringing to light the ingenious but ordinary ways in which a handful of families, even today, continue to shore up their wealth. She uncovers a series of marriages that placed Alexander within shouting distance of a network of powerful families stretching over generations, families whose staying power has been rooted in hoarding and passing on land and capital. This is the backdrop to Alexander’s extraordinary life. It enabled him to flourish in Italy and, in his final years, to become a cheerleader for a dictator. The Legacy: A Memoir is a telling of family history as world history.
£9.49
ATF Press A Year with Luther
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£31.49
ATF Press Calvin The Man and the Legacy: The Man & the
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£17.09
ATF Press Calvin The Man and the Legacy: The Man & the
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£22.79
ATF Press Of Good Comfort: Martin Luther's Letters to the
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£23.39
ATF Press Of Good Comfort: Martin Luther's Letters to the
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£29.74
ATF Press A Year with Luther
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£35.09
Solid Ground Christian Books Withhold Not Thine Hand: Evening Sermons
£21.84
Reformed Free Publishing Association Communion With God (Reformed Spirituality Book 2)
£27.39
Dordt College Press Los Patrones de la Mente Occidental: Una
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£13.00
Rowman & Littlefield Uncovering Calvin’s God: John Calvin on
Book SynopsisAlthough “God loves you” is a common paraphrase of Christian teaching and preaching, a close reading of the Bible and attention to the Christian tradition will reveal passages of Scripture and Christian doctrines‒‒ particularly John Calvin’s doctrine of predestination‒‒that seem to undermine confidence in God’s love for all people. For many theologians, not only in the Reformed tradition, the secret decree of Calvin’s God to save some and condemn others seems completely to undercut any assurance of salvation and the ability to trust in and worship God. However, pastor and scholar John Calvin confidently spoke of God as a loving Father throughout his teaching and preaching. In Uncovering Calvin’s God, Forrest H. Buckner unearths Calvin’s teaching about the God of love who reigns sovereign over predestination. Drawing upon sources from across Calvin’s corpus, Buckner examines Calvin’s teaching on the knowledge of God and the doctrine of predestination to provide a more robust and cohesive understanding of Calvin’s theology, which Buckner then confirms through an extensive examination of Calvin’s preaching in Geneva. He then offers a critical comparison of Calvin’s approach with the teaching of Luther, Zwingli, Bullinger, Arminius, and Barth. Using Calvin’s system as a starting point, this book helps readers perceive the essentials and trade-offs of any doctrine of predestination that takes seriously both the Bible and the loving God revealed in Jesus Christ.Table of ContentsChapter 1: One Disposition or Two? Framing the QuestionChapter 2: The Knowledge of God: God’s Revealed NatureChapter 3: God’s Disposition Toward Humanity in PredestinationChapter 4: Integration: One Disposition and a Two-Fold WillChapter 5: Calvin’s Preaching: Testing our FindingsChapter 6: Predestination and God’s Love in Recent Calvin ScholarshipChapter 7: Calvin in Dialogue: Placing the MysteryChapter 8: Predestination in the Key of Jesus Christ
£81.00
Rowman & Littlefield Uncovering Calvin’s God: John Calvin on
Book SynopsisAlthough “God loves you” is a common summary of the central message of Christian teaching and preaching, a close reading of the Bible and attention to the Christian tradition will reveal passages of Scripture and Christian doctrines‒‒particularly John Calvin’s doctrine of predestination‒‒that seem to undermine confidence in God’s love for all people. For numerous theologians, including many within the Reformed tradition, the secret decree of Calvin’s God to save some and condemn others seems to undercut completely one’s assurance of salvation along with one’s ability to trust in and worship God. However, pastor and scholar John Calvin confidently spoke of God as a loving Father throughout his teaching and preaching. In Uncovering Calvin’s God, Forrest H. Buckner unearths Calvin’s teaching about the God of love who reigns sovereign over predestination. Drawing upon sources from across Calvin’s corpus, Buckner examines Calvin’s teaching on the knowledge of God and the doctrine of predestination to provide a more robust and cohesive understanding of Calvin’s theology, which Buckner then confirms through an extensive examination of Calvin’s preaching in Geneva. He then offers a critical comparison of Calvin’s approach with the teaching of Luther, Zwingli, Bullinger, Arminius, and Barth. Using Calvin’s system as a starting point, this book helps readers perceive the essentials and trade-offs of any doctrine of predestination that takes seriously both the Bible and the loving God revealed in Jesus Christ. Trade ReviewCalvin's doctrine of predestination has long received much attention and just as much misinterpretation. Forrest H. Buckner proves that close reading of Calvin's texts and careful listening to his sermons brings new perspectives on this topic and helps to better understand the reformer. This book is an important contribution to Calvin research and to theology that wants to be relevant for the church. -- Herman J. Selderhuis, author of John Calvin: A Pilgrim's LifeThis is a carefully researched and instructive study on a topic of central importance in Calvin’s thought. In clear and engaging prose, Buckner reliably guides readers into the heart of Calvin’s teaching about predestination, the love of God, and God’s disposition toward humanity, and he does so with admirable scholarly fairness and pastoral sensitivity. -- Adam A. Neder, Whitworth UniversityBuckner’s published dissertation is readable, well-documented, and pastoral in tone. The reader will find in the author a sympathetic listener who is willing to work through the hard questions and provide twenty-first-century guidance based upon the teachings of an earlier pastor. * Calvin Theological Journal *Table of ContentsChapter 1: One Disposition or Two? Framing the QuestionChapter 2: The Knowledge of God: God’s Revealed NatureChapter 3: God’s Disposition Toward Humanity in PredestinationChapter 4: Integration: One Disposition and a Two-Fold WillChapter 5: Calvin’s Preaching: Testing our FindingsChapter 6: Predestination and God’s Love in Recent Calvin ScholarshipChapter 7: Calvin in Dialogue: Placing the MysteryChapter 8: Predestination in the Key of Jesus Christ
£28.50
Rowman & Littlefield The Trauma of Doctrine: New Calvinism, Religious
Book SynopsisNew Calvinism and the Victim endeavors into the overlapping areas of psychological trauma and systematic theology by investigating the dynamic interplay between the psychology of holding maximalist theological beliefs and recovery from abuse trauma. Maxwell examines the effect that the Calvinist belief can have upon the traumatized Christian who negatively internalizes its superlative doctrines of divine control and human moral corruption. The project seeks to understand these intersecting realities by investigating a triptych of inquiries: From a theological perspective, can a Christian lose his faith because of a traumatic experience? Moreover, what are the consequences of such a loss? And, how could Reformed theology exacerbate this religious detachment? Ultimately, the research suggests that there are experiential harmonies between the belief in Reformed theology and the experience of trauma, which are neither existentially necessary nor therapeutically negligible—rather, they are conceptually likely based on both philosophical analysis and psychological research.Table of ContentsPart 1: Reformed TheologyChapter 1: Maximalist Conceptions of Divine Control and Human Corruption Chapter 2: The Unique Obstacle of Reformed Theodicy Part 2: Traumatized FaithChapter 3: The Imagination and Its Operations Chapter 4: Faith and the Imagination Chapter 5: How Trauma Works Chapter 6: Trauma in The Religious Imagination Part 3: Pistic ResilienceChapter 7: Perseverence And Resilience: Introducing Pistic ResilienceChapter 8: Passive Pistic Resilience: Divine Patience with Distrupted FaithChapter 9: Active Pistic Resilience: Spiritual Fortitude Within Disrupted Faith Part 4: Pistic RecoveryChapter 10: The Traumatized Christian and the Reformed Community Chapter 11: Recovering a Sanctified Notion of Personal Autonomy Chapter 12: Autonomy in Community
£91.80
Rowman & Littlefield The Trauma of Doctrine: New Calvinism, Religious
Book SynopsisThe Trauma of Doctrine is a theological investigation into the effects of abuse trauma upon the experience of Christian faith, the psychological mechanics of these effects, their resonances with Christian Scripture, and neglected research-informed strategies for cultivating post-traumatic resilience. Paul Maxwell examines the effect that the Calvinist belief can have upon the traumatized Christian who negatively internalizes its superlative doctrines of divine control and human moral corruption, and charts a way toward meaningful spiritual recovery. Trade ReviewPaul Maxwell has brought the topics of trauma and doctrine together in a masterful fashion. Here we encounter a deep understanding of the meaning and function of trauma along with an engagement with the ways Christian beliefs can either thwart or facilitate a path to wholeness. This book is truly unique, informative, and helpful. The insights and the constructive proposal for the church is not merely interesting but sorely needed. The deep dive is well worth it. -- Vincent Bacote, Wheaton CollegePaul Maxwell has contributed an interesting and weighty study to our growing literature on trauma and religion. His discussion concerns the wounding, debilitating damage that can be done by church doctrine that is syllogistically reductionist. His particular target is the ‘New Calvinism,’ a highly scholastic form of theology, and the toxic force of syllogistic doctrinal claims that are inherently abusive intellectually and emotionally. His study can as well apply, mutatis mutandis, to other forms of intellectual reductionism. (This book might have profited by a glance at healthier forms of contemporary Calvinism.) Maxwell offers a compelling riff on ‘imagination’ in religion and ends with a bid for restoration and reconciliation. This book reflects wide reading and sustained critical thought and is worth the effort. -- Walter Brueggemann, Columbia Theological SeminaryProbing, unfeigned, and meticulously researched, Maxwell’s book is a model of cross-disciplinary engagement. It ought to be studied and imbibed, not only as an exemplar of modern theology, but because of the profound benefit of its fruit. -- Constantine R. Campbell, Senior Vice President of Global Content at Our Daily Bread ministriesPastors and theologians need to read Paul Maxwell’s book, for the ranks of the traumatized are growing, and all too often neither the church or our theology provide a hospitable place for understanding their experience. … [H]e takes the road less traveled towards spiritual recovery, retrieving properly Reformed resources to deal with a problem generated by Reformed theology itself. As I say, Maxwell has written... a reflection like no other on the awful, sovereign grace of God. -- Kevin J. Vanhoozer, Trinity Evangelical Divinity SchoolPaul Maxwell's work speaks powerfully to the fact that theology is always historically, culturally, and personally situated. Reformed theology is no different. Calvin's answers to the questions of his day, as compelling as they are to some, are not necessarily helpful to others, particularly the traumatized - at least when stated in maximalist abstract terms. But Maxwell offers more than a critique. He suggests theological pathways to resilient faith. Theologians, scholars, Christian therapists, and pastors will find his work penetrating and helpful, especially those who hope to minister to sufferers. -- Winston T. Smith, author of Untangling EmotionsPaul Maxwell has written a theological masterpiece. This book represents the best of theology as a cross-disciplinary science. Contemporary American Reformed evangelicalism is more often than not a painfully traumatic experience, especially for minorities and women. This insightful book provides a pathway for healing, hope, and restoration for souls wounded by the culture of conservative Calvinism. The Trauma of Doctrine is a brilliant model for the intersection of theology and psychology and provides religious leaders a proper understanding, and methodological framework, to aid the church for decades to come. What a gift to the Christian tradition! -- Anthony B. Bradley, The King's CollegeIn The Trauma of Doctrine, Paul C. Maxwell has woven a rich tapestry using theology, philosophy, and trauma theory. Focusing on the intersection of faith and trauma, he interrogates some standard claims of Reformed theology, and finds them wanting. With a nose for creedal inconsistency, theological dissonance, and shallow anthropology, Maxwell addresses the traumatized and spiritually frightened who are, nonetheless, starved for the embrace of an affectable God willing to “help my unbelief.” I found his exploration of the “wounded imagination” and the role of liturgy in healing to be rather refreshing. Serious students of these disciplines cannot afford to ignore this mature study. -- Andrew J. Schmutzer, Moody Bible InstituteWe might think challenging spiritual abuse is a recent phenomenon in the church were it not the practice of Christianity’s founder before his death. So this underdeveloped topic warrants much more investigation. Maxwell’s contribution to a theology of trauma in a religious context is disturbing and profound, demonstrating a radical fidelity to Christian orthodoxy and a ruthlessly honest engagement with the Bible, the Reformed tradition, and elements of contemporary neo-Calvinism. Its autobiographical pathos should enable readers to overlook those places where they disagree in order to receive its remarkable insights, sensing they were forged through immense suffering. And may this book help those of us in the Reformed tradition to better serve the traumatized by identifying and removing those elements that are among the stumbling blocks to faith of which Christ spoke (Mt 18:6-10). -- Eric L. Johnson, Houston Baptist UniversityTable of ContentsPart 1: Reformed TheologyChapter 1: Maximalist Conceptions of Divine Control and Human Corruption Chapter 2: The Unique Obstacle of Reformed Theodicy Part 2: Traumatized FaithChapter 3: The Imagination and Its Operations Chapter 4: Faith and the Imagination Chapter 5: How Trauma Works Chapter 6: Trauma in The Religious Imagination Part 3: Pistic ResilienceChapter 7: Perseverence And Resilience: Introducing Pistic ResilienceChapter 8: Passive Pistic Resilience: Divine Patience with Distrupted FaithChapter 9: Active Pistic Resilience: Spiritual Fortitude Within Disrupted Faith Part 4: Pistic RecoveryChapter 10: The Traumatized Christian and the Reformed Community Chapter 11: Recovering a Sanctified Notion of Personal Autonomy Chapter 12: Autonomy in Community
£31.50
Classiques Garnier Calvin En Polemique: Une Maieutique Du Verbe
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£95.95
Peter Lang AG Traces of Liberality: Collected Essays
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£62.73
Verlag Peter Lang Church in China: Faith, Ethics, Structure: The
Book SynopsisThe Protestant Church in China is growing very fast. However, the role of the Church in society is still fragile and marginal. The Church needs a strong ethical and structural development. This study analyses the theological, ethical and ecclesiological heritage of the Reformation and it shows how this can build the foundation for the future of the Church in China. Four models serve as orientation: the Reformers Luther and Calvin and the theologians Bonhoeffer and Barth in the 20th century, with their vision of Christian faith and a humane society. The critical analysis of the missionary heritage since the 19th century shows its contribution for the acceptance of the tradition of the Reformation for the growing Church in China. The author combines this theological and ethical perspective with the inculturation in the strong ethical tradition of the Chinese culture. He proposes the encounter between the spirituality of the Western culture and that of the traditional culture of China through the relationship with Confucianism. The book also offers elements for the dialogue around modern values such as human rights and civil society. In this dialogue, Chinese Protestantism can play more and more an important role.Trade Review«This significant work of scholarship will be of interest to all who are concerned for church development in China and the possible contribution of European theology to that process.» (Philip L. Wickeri, International Bulletin of Missionary Research)Table of ContentsContents: The meaning of the Reformation for the future of the Church in China – Theory of Max Weber’s Ideal Types as methodological basis for an ecclesial ethics in China – The Ideal Type I is about the theological principles of Martin Luther, the Ideal Type II about the institutional church of John Calvin, the Ideal Type III about the teachings of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Karl Barth, and the Ideal Type IV is about the ethical model of Confucianism.
£64.17
Theologischer Verlag Das Reformierte Pfarrhaus: Auslauf- Oder
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£17.00
Brill Schoningh Bonhoeffers Widerstand Im Gedächtnis Der Nachwelt
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£80.10
Brill U Schoningh Calvin's and Neo-Calvinist Legal Theory in
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£81.75
Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht GmbH & Co KG Petrus van Mastricht (1630-1706): Text, Context,
Book SynopsisThis volume presents collected essays from scholars around the world on various aspects of Petrus van Mastricht (1630-1706) theology, philosophy, and reception in the context of the challenges of orthodoxy in his day. This book, then, locates Mastrichts ideas in the context of the theological and philosophical currents of his day. The pre-Revolutionary status of theology and philosophy in the wake of the Enlightenment had many of the same problems we see in theology today as relating to the use and appropriation of classical theology in a 21st-century context. Ideas about the necessity of classical primary sources of Christianity in sustaining Reformed theology are once again becoming important, and Mastricht has many insights in this area. The last thirty years have witnessed a remarkable revolution in the study of Reformed Orthodoxy, that broad movement of theological consolidation which took place in the two centuries between the early breakthroughs of the Reformation and the reorganization of intellectual disciplines within the university world heralded by the arrival of the various intellectual and cultural developments known collectively as the Enlightenment. The old models which tended to prioritize one or two figures in the Reformation. In place of this older scholarship, we now have a growing number of studies which seek to place Reformed thinkers of the period in a much wider context. One of the results of this is that serious scholarly attention is now being directed at figures who were previously neglected, such as Petrus van Mastricht, a German-Dutch theologian, who has emerged as significant voices in shaping the Christianity of his day. He was the author of a major system of divinity. This work is in the process of being translated into English (two volumes are available at the time of writing). Mastricht is also the subject of a growing body of literature in English, of which this volume is a fine example. The essays contained in book work represent precisely the range of scholarly interests that the new approach to Reformed Orthodoxy has come to embody. Dealing specifically with the areas of theology, philosophy, and reception, this book points toward three critical areas of study.
£127.29
Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht GmbH & Co KG The Heart of Dogmatics: Christology and
Book SynopsisThe christocentric character of Herman Bavinck's thought has long been acknowledged, but an analysis of Bavinck's christocentrism has not been forthcoming. The Heart of Dogmatics redresses this situation, offering a comprehensive study of Bavinck's concept of a christocentric theological system. Building on the more recent secondary literature, Pass draws attention to many unexplored avenues in Bavinck's writings. In particular, Pass sheds light on the intimate connection between Bavinck's christocentrism and his organicism. Delving deeply into Bavinck's appropriation of Reformed Orthodoxy and German Idealism, Pass presents a compelling account of this thinker's attempt to establish Neo-Calvinism as a modern orthodoxy. By way of conclusion, pertinent ways in which Bavinck's christocentrism may prove a useful resource for contemporary projects of theological retrieval are explored in a comparison of Bavinck and John Webster.
£142.99
Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht GmbH & Co KG Calvin and Luther: The Continuing Relationship
Book SynopsisThe reforms begun by Luther and Calvin became two of the largest and most influential movements to arise in the sixteenth century, but frequently, these two movements are seen and defined as polar opposites ones theology is Reformed or Lutheran, one is a member of a Reformed or Lutheran congregation. Historically, these were two very separate movements but more remains to be understood that can best be analyzed in the context of the other.Just as surely as the historical question of the boundaries between Calvin and Luther, or Lutheranism and Calvinism must be answered with a resounding yes, the ongoing doctrinal questions offer a different picture. In the more systematic doctrinal articles, an argument is forwarded that the broad confessional continuity between Luther and Calvin on the soteriological theme of union with Christ offers still-unexplored avenues to both deeper understandings of soteriology. Through such articles, we begin to see the possibility of a rapprochement between Calvin and Luther as sources, though not as historical figures. But that insight allows the conversation to extend, and bear far greater fruit. Contributors are, J.T. Billings, Ch. Helmer , H.P. Jürgens, S.C. Karant-Nunn, R. Kolb, Th.F. Latini, G.S. Pak, J. Watt, T.J. Wengert, P. Westermeyer, and D.M. Whitford.
£94.49
Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht GmbH & Co KG James Durham (1622-1658): And the Gospel Offer in
Book SynopsisThe free offer of the gospel has been a matter of significant debate within Reformed theology. However, despite this controversy, Reformed theologians such as James Durham preached a gospel offer which was a sincere and free invitation from God to all, to embrace Jesus Christ as Saviour. This gospel offer expressed God's grace and goodness to all. Donald MacLean argues that Durham's doctrinal position is representative of the Westminster Standards and embraced by his contemporaries and evidenced by the later disputes concerning the meaning of the teaching of the Westminster Confession of Faith.
£86.44
Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht GmbH & Co KG Calvin and the Book: The Evolution of the Printed
Book SynopsisThe Protestant Reformation has long had the reputation as being a movement of the Book, led by reformers like John Calvin who were men of the Book. The essays in this volume reveal many of the underlying complexities of these terms. Building on research and scholarly discussions of recent decades, these authors delve into a variety of topics related to John Calvin and the printed word, ranging from the physical changes in printed texts in the first decades of the Reformation to Calvins thinking about the relationship of two books the Bible and his own Institutes to Christian doctrine. Calvin remains a towering figure in the Protestant Reformation, whose theology and religious views are still often cast as rigid and unchanging. These essays emphasize, in contrast, the evolutions and transitions that were fundamental to Calvins own participation in the Reformation and to the ways that his leadership influenced developments in Reformed Christianity in the following centuries. The contributors, international experts on the history of Calvin and Reformed Protestantantism and on Calvins theology, bring a wide variety of historical and theological approaches to bear on the question of Calvins relationship to the printed word. Taken all together, these essays will push specialists and general readers to rethink standard assumptions about Calvins influence on Reformed Christianity and, in particular, about the interplay among theology, Reformed discipline, religious education efforts, and the printed word in early modern Europe.
£90.99
Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht Renaissance Und Bibelhumanismus
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£78.74
Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht GmbH & Co KG Reformed Evangelicalism and the Search for a
Book SynopsisThe question of how theology shapes a Christian historians reading of the past has been debated thoroughly in various academic periodicals. Should historians recognise the role of providence in their accounts of past events? Should they sympathise with their subjects theology? Can objectivity be lost due to theological bias? And, last but not least, is there a compromise of faith if one writes natural instead of supernatural history? Such questions are important for understanding the historians profession. Arnold Dallimore, who trained and specialised in pastoral ministry in Canada, wrote an influential biography of the revivalist George Whitefield, as well as others on Charles and Susanna Wesley, Edward Irving, and Charles Spurgeon. How did his Reformed theological perspective impact his historiography? How does his work fit into larger historiographical debates concerning the nature of Christian history? While other books look at Christian historiography using abstract and methodological approaches, this book examines the subject precisely by looking at the life and work of an individual historian. It does so by placing Dallimore in the context of being a minister in twentieth-century Canada as well as his role in the development of Reformed Theology in the Anglosphere. It also examines the quality of his various biographies focusing on key issues such as the nature of religious revival, the problem of Christianity and slavery, and the question of charismatic religious experience. His study concludes by examining the relationship between the discipline and profession of church history and asking what is required for one to be considered a church historian.
£117.79
Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht GmbH & Co KG God's Twofold Love: The Theology of Jacob
Book SynopsisEven though it has always been widely debated, the theology of Jacob Arminius (1559-1609) has not received the scholarly attention one would expect. Given also its remarkable influence, it is surprising how little research has been devoted to it. Only since the 1980s has the world of scholarship seen some movement on this front. The present study by William den Boer offers a new contribution to the understanding of Arminius's theology by focusing on the theological motive that lay at its very foundation. Arminius has been characterized as a theologian of free will, of creation, or of freedom, and lately also as a theologian of the assurance of faith. The question as to Arminius's central concern in his theology has been answered in different ways, with each author focusing on aspects of differing degrees of importance. William den Boer defends the thesis that another characterization needs to be added, and designates Arminius as a theologian of the justice of God, or more precisely, as a theologian of the twofold love of God. He goes on to illustrate how these two characterizations are valid at one and the same time, and why they do not exclude but include all other characterizations that have been offered by placing them in their proper perspective. In Part 1 the author posits that the leading motif of Arminius's theology lay in a careful defense of the justice of God. Part 2 considers the reception of his theology in the discussions between Remonstrants and Counter-Remonstrants during the Hague Conference - Haagsche or Schriftelicke Conferentie - of 1611. Finally, Arminius's theology is placed within the context of sixteenth-century debates on the cause of sin and God's relationship to evil.
£117.79
Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht GmbH & Co KG Children of God: The Imago Dei in John Calvin and
Book SynopsisJohn Calvin had a keen interest in what the Scriptures teach about the nature and faculties, as well as the role and responsibilities, of human beings. For him, the proper way were created: in the image and likeness of God.Jason Van Vliet examines Calvins's explanation of the imago Dei within the times and ecclesiastical circumstances in which he lived. He aims at giving a satisfactory answer to the question of whether Calvins's teaching on the imago Dei can be considered one of the stronger or weaker points of his reformatory work.
£127.29
Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht GmbH & Co KG Religion, Theologie und Naturwissenschaft /
Book SynopsisDer bekannte Genfer Naturforscher Jean André Deluc wirkte als Physiker, Meteorologe, Geologe und Literat in maÃgeblichen Zentren europäischer Gelehrsamkeit des ausgehenden 18. Jahrhunderts. Aufgrund seiner politischen Rolle als AnfÃ"hrer der demokratischen Unruhen im Genf Rousseaus und Voltaires und seiner Leistung zur Standardisierung von Barometer und Thermometer und ihrer Anwendung in der Höhenmessung wurde er europaweit berÃ"hmt. In Delucs Forschung spiegeln sich genuin protestantische Werte ebenso wie politische Gegensätze im revolutionären Europa. Im Zentrum eines Netzwerks von Naturforschern, Theologen und Literaten profilierte sich Deluc als Verfechter innerchristlicher Toleranz und zunehmend als Gegner der Aufklärung. Marita HÃ"bner zeichnet das Profil eines Calvinisten, der Modernisierungen kritisch gegenÃ"berstand und doch bis ins hohe Alter fÃ"hrend an der Entwicklung von Technologie und Naturforschung beteiligt war.
£135.84
Peter Lang AG Middle Knowledge and Biblical Interpretation:
Book SynopsisIf God knows human actions in advance, do humans really have freedom of choice? Throughout the centuries various solutions have been offered as to how to retain or reconcile both the concepts of divine omniscience and human freedom. One solution focuses on the idea of middle knowledge. This theory originates with the Spanish Jesuit Luis de Molina, was contested by Reformed theologians such as Herman Bavinck, and makes a remarkable comeback among present-day analytical philosophers such as William Lane Craig. Apart from a wealth of philosophical considerations, the appeal to biblical texts also plays an important role in the work on middle knowledge by each of these thinkers. The book examines their writings and investigates how contemporary biblical scholars interpret the biblical texts used by them. The author elaborates a creative proposal as to how these gained insights apply to the theory of middle knowledge and what this means for our overall evaluation of this theory.Table of ContentsContents: Divine Foreknowledge and Human Freedom/Free Will – The Theory of Middle Knowledge – Middle Knowledge in the 16th–17th Centuries: Luis de Molina – Middle Knowledge and Reformed Theology: Herman Bavinck – Middle Knowledge in Recent Studies: William Lane Craig – A Possible Theological Appropriation of the Bible.
£48.82
Schwabe Verlagsgruppe Franzosen in Berlin: Uber Religion Und Aufklarung
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£81.70
Neukirchener Verlagsgesellschaft mbH Supplementa Calviniana: Chapitres 30-41
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£248.89
