Christianity: sacred texts and revered writings Books

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Book SynopsisThis book investigates the question of human flourishing in African New Pentecostalism in South Africa. In a context marked by deep economic inequality and high unemployment, many poor South Africans rely on African New Pentecostal prophets to bring spiritual meaning to their lives. Collectively, and using various theoretical frameworks and methods, the authors of this volume analyze and critique the concept of this pursuit, and ask what can be done to challenge African New Pentecostal prophets to respond effectively. The book will be of interest to academics, pastors, researchers and university students in Pentecostalism in Africa, Missiology and Science of Religion, Sociology and Psychology of Religion and the public role of religion in South Africa and beyond. "This volume provides a uniquely fresh perspective on African Pentecostalism by linking three important discursive fields: human flourishing, charismatic Pentecostalism, and decoloniality. The volume provides important insights into the normative notions brought forward by prophetic Pentecostalism on what constitutes a good life. It thereby substantially advances the debate on Pentecostalism and prosperity. Even though the book zooms in on South Africa, its chapters bear relevance far beyond. The volume is therefore a must-read for anyone wanting to engage with current trends in African Christianity." —Philipp Öhlmann, Associated Senior Researcher, Center for Rural Development, Humboldt University; Research Fellow, Department of Theology and Religious Studies, University of Botswana "This is an intellectually stimulating, original, and thought-provoking contribution to the field of African Pentecostal Studies. It has not failed to deliver and must be read to understand new creative interpretations of the movements by African Christian scholars." —Chammah Kaunda, Assistant Professor, Yonsei University, South Korea; Extraordinary Professor, University of the Western Cape, South Africa "This important book creatively explores human flourishing in the context of New Prophetic Pentecostalism in Africa. It should be read by all who are interested in the most recent developments of Southern African Pentecostalism and those concerned about genuine human flourishing in the church and wider society." —Dr. Simo Frestadius, Dean of Research, Regents Theological College; Executive Director, Institute for Pentecostal Theology; Chair, European Pentecostal Theological AssociationTrade ReviewThis volume provides a uniquely fresh perspective on African Pentecostalism by linking three important discursive fields: human flourishing, charismatic Pentecostalism, and decoloniality. The volume provides important insights into the normative notions brought forward by prophetic Pentecostalism on what constitutes a good life. It thereby substantially advances the debate on Pentecostalism and prosperity. Even though the book zooms in on South Africa, its chapters bear relevance far beyond. The volume is therefore a must-read for anyone wanting to engage with current trends in African Christianity. Philipp Öhlmann Associated Senior Researcher at the Center for Rural Development Humboldt University, Research Fellow, Department of Theology and Religious Studies, University of Botswana. This is an intellectually stimulating, original, and thought-provoking contribution to the field of African Pentecostal Studies. It has not failed to deliver and must be read to understand new creative interpretations of the movements by African Christian scholars. Chammah Kaunda Assistant Professor, Yonsei University, South Korea. Extraordinary Professor, University of the Western Cape, South Africa. This important book creatively explores human flourishing in the context of New Prophetic Pentecostalism in Africa. It should be read by all who are interested in the most recent developments of Southern African Pentecostalism and those concerned about genuine human flourishing in the church and wider society. Simo Frestadius Dr. Simo Frestadius, Dean of Research, Regents Theological College Executive Director, Institute for Pentecostal Theology Chair, European Pentecostal Theological AssociationTable of ContentsIntroduction – Collium Banda: Black Theology and Human Flourishing in South African Neo-Pentecostal Prophetism – Sello Jonas Thinane: Religion and Economy: The Nexus between the ECG Church Leader’s Lavish Lifestyle and His Congregants’ Human Flourishing – Bekithemba Dube: Human Unflourishing at Universal Church of the Kingdom of God: A Decoloniality Approach – Sphesihle Khanyile: From Christianity to Plentianity: Reading Discourses of Human Flourishing, Prosperity Gospel, and Black Emancipation in King HQ Nala’s Virtual Sermons – Sibusiso Masondo: Blessing Seekers or Bounty Hunters?: The Case of the Followers of Prosperity Preachers in South Africa – Kelebogile Resane: Human Flourishing in African Pentecostal Prophetism: Authentic or a Fallacy? – Abraham Modisa Mkhondo Mzondi: “Not yet Uhuru”: Looking at the Poor, Ubuntu, African Pentecostal Prophetism and Human Flourishing in the Post–1990 South African Context – Marius Nel: Prophetic Neo-Pentecostal Churches and the Theodicy Challenge – Mookgo S. Kgatle, Anthony Reddie, and Collium Banda: Epilogue – Notes on Contributors – Index.

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Book SynopsisIn the first century, the Jewish Jesus, his followers, and the Pythagorean Apollonius journeyed widely, each to spread their good news. Spectral Lives by Luke and Philostratus: Journeying of Holy Men studies their biographers, Luke and Philostratus, and how they felt ethically compelled to tell their stories of good news to help their world. Post Enlightenment developments in historiography have expanded understanding of ancient texts with a “third dimension,” a transhuman habitat evident in ancient texts. In this book, Robert Lee Williams investigates how affect theory has sensitized interpreters to inner awareness of humans to their world, both beneficial and harmful, recorded in emotional responses. Survey of biographers from 500 BCE to 300 CE shows Luke and Philostratus particularly attuned to the journeying impelled by the deities and their spectral agents, forces active in their world ethically for good. Journeying from ghostly influences proves to be both more evident in texts than noticed since the Enlightenment and more indispensable for spreading the good and the right to our world, ethically and equitably. Table of ContentsList of MapsPrefaceAbbreviationsIntroductionChapter 1: Biographical Writings: 500 BCE to 300 CEPart I First Century Biographies: Jewish and ChristianChapter 2: Philo: Ancient Jewish LivesChapter 3: Luke: The GospelChapter 4: Luke: The Acts of the ApostlesPart II: Third Century Biographies: PythagoreanChapter 5: Philostratus: The Life of Apollonius of TyanaChapter 6: Iamblichus: On the Pythagorean Way of LifeConclusionBibliography

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Book SynopsisFlora & Fauna of the Bible is an engaging and informative study of all the most important plants and animals mentioned in the Bible, relating the references both to Bible times and to wildlife in the Holy Land now and, where appropriate, explaining the message or symbolism behind the texts. The Prologue sets the scene by giving a simple description of the topography and climate of Israel, so that readers - wherever they are - may get a sense of what the place is like. The following two sections of the book cover first the plants, then the animals mentioned in the Bible. A wide range of plant life, including wild and cultivated trees, shrubs and herbs is covered and all creatures, great and small, from whales to ants. Mention of the flora and fauna may be used as metaphors in Jesus' teaching or simply referred to as part of the everyday life of the time.

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Book SynopsisDie Klubprotokolle von Christlichsozialen und Großdeutschen erlauben einen Blick hinter die Kulissen der Politik in der Gründungsphase der Republik. Die bürgerlichen Parteien waren 1919 ganz eindeutig in der Defensive. Sie versuchten zu retten, was vom Zusammenbruch der alten Ordnung noch zu retten war. Erst mit der Niederlage der Räterepublik im Nachbarland Ungarn erwachte ihr Selbstbewusstsein wieder. Dabei waren es anfangs gerade die Wiener, die für Nachgiebigkeit gegenüber den Sozialdemokraten eintraten. Die westlichen Länder, die plädierten für eine härtere Linie. Bei den Christlichsozialen begann sich früh der Gegensatz zwischen den beiden Priester-Politikern Ignaz Seipel und Johan Nepomuk Hauser abzuzeichnen und die besondere Stellung des niederösterreichischen Bauernbundes. Die oppositionellen Großdeutschen wiederum waren hin- und hergerissen zwischen Antiklerikalismus im Gefolge Georg von Schönerers und bürgerlicher Solidarität.

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisPeter Lampe's work has covered a wide range of fields, the common denominator being his interest in contextualising belief systems. Mirroring his multifaced work, the authors pursue his interest from different interdisciplinary angles, addressing the interdependence between religious expressions and their situations or contexts. The application of theoretical models to texts examples flank the inspiring theoretical -- epistemological and methodological -- reflections. Studies in socio-economic and political history adjoin archaeological, epigraphic, papyrological and iconographic investigations. (Soci-)psychological interpretations of texts complement rhetorical analyses. The hermeneutical reception of biblical materials in, for example, the Koran and Christian Chinese or Orthodox contexts, as well as in religious education and homiletics, rounds off the volumes.

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Book SynopsisWhat can man know about God? This question became one of the main problems during the 4th-century Trinitarian controversy, which is the focus of this book. Especially during the second phase of the conflict, the claims of Anomean Eunomius caused an emphatic response of Orthodox writers, mainly Basil of Caesarea and Gregory of Nyssa. Eunomius formulated two ways of theology to show that we can know both the substance (ousia) and activities (energeiai) of God. The Orthodox Fathers demonstrated that we can know only the external activities of God, while the essence is entirely incomprehensible. Therefore the 4th-century discussion on whether the Father and the Son are of the same substance was the turning point in the development of negative theology and shaping the Christian conception of God.Table of ContentsChristian negative theology – Incomprehensibility of God – Trinitarian controversy of the 4th century – Substance (ousia) of God – Activity (energeia) of God – Arius – Aetius – Eunomius – Athanasius – Marius Victorinus – Basil the Great – Gregory of Nyssa – Gregory of Nazianzus – John Chrysostom

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Book SynopsisThe presence in the Bible of texts (i.e. Exo 21; Num 25; Deu 7) about violence and pointing to God as its direct agent raises many doubts in the contemporary reader. These texts understood literally can be read as an encouragement to aggression and hatred. A closer study of this type of texts based on modern research methods (i.e. historical criticism) allows a deeper understanding of their meaning and loosens their relation to God. The study of texts points that the Bible or any part of it cannot be a pretext for any kind of aggression or hatred.Table of ContentsViolence in the Yahvistic Faith – Ḥērem: the Curse of God – Contradiction between the laws "Thou shalt not avenge" and "An eye for an eye" – Jesus and the law of talion – Blessed violence in the Divine Comedy – God’s violence in the Bible in the light of the approach through belles-lettres

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Book SynopsisDoes Jesus remain concealed by the very traditions intended to portray him? History and theology define Jesus to be a 1st-century Galilean or the son of God, a man limited by his time and place or exalted as the Messiah and Christ. He has been recognized as a Jewish rabbi or the prophet of a coming apocalypse. The quest for the historical Jesus and theology’s Christ of faith may both be essential and undeniable in the history of scholarship. Secular historians and the Christian church have made their claims. Jesus’ self-conception, however, has been neglected, his consciousness largely ignored. A new interpretation of the gospels presents Jesus as a unprecedented human being who will "utter things which have been kept secret from the foundation of the world" (Matt. 13:35) and make their meanings significant for the here and now. Jesus’ life from the virgin birth to the resurrection can neither be reduced to history’s scepticism nor theology’s affirmation. Is it possible to re-imagine the life and words of Jesus? He reveals himself to be a "first-born" who makes possible the second act of creation for every individual no less than for the social world.Table of ContentsIntroduction Hermeneutics of the Gospels - 1 The Virgin Birth - 2 Children - 3 Families - 4 The Son of Man - 5 Nature - 6 History - 7 Death - 8 The Resurrection

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Book SynopsisThis monograph demonstrates that the book of Deuteronomy is a result of highly creative, hypertextual reworking of the book of Ezekiel. Likewise, it shows that the books of Joshua–Judges, taken together, are a result of one, highly creative, hypertextual reworking of the book of Deuteronomy. In both cases, the detailed reworking consists of almost 700 strictly sequentially organized conceptual, and at times also linguistic correspondences. The strictly sequential, hypertextual dependence on the earlier works explains numerous surprising features of Deuteronomy and Joshua–Judges. This critical analysis of Deuteronomy and Joshua–Judges sheds entirely new light on the question of the origin of the Pentateuch and the whole Israelite Heptateuch Genesis–Judges.Table of ContentsSequential hypertextuality – Deuteronomy and Ezekiel – Joshua–Judges and Deuteronomy – Date and place of composition – Deuteronomy as a reworking of the book of Ezekiel – Joshua as a reworking of Deut 1:1–32:50 – Judges as a reworking of Deut 32:51–34:12

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Book SynopsisThis monograph demonstrates that the book of Genesis is a result of highly creative, hypertextual reworking of the book of Deuteronomy. This detailed reworking consists of around 1,000 strictly sequentially organized conceptual, and at times also linguistic correspondences between Genesis and Deuteronomy. The strictly sequential, hypertextual dependence on Deuteronomy explains numerous surprising features of Genesis. The critical analysis of Genesis as a coherently composed hypertextual work disproves hypotheses of the existence in this writing of Priestly and non-Priestly materials or multiple literary layers.Table of ContentsSequential hypertextuality – Genesis and Deuteronomy – Date and place of composition – Gen 1–3 as a reworking of Deut 1:1–2:1 – Gen 4–11 as a reworking of Deut 2:2–5:33 – Gen 12:1–22:19 as a reworking of Deut 6–13 – Gen 22:20–36:43 as a reworking of Deut 14:1–23:9 – Gen 37–50 as a reworking of Deut 23:10–34:12

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Book SynopsisA hopeless individual is more vulnerable and is threatened with indifference, meaninglessness, apathy, anxiety, stress, and despair. Are there symptoms of this in the West? Is it an individual phenomenon or has it been historically-culturally transmitted? This book analyzes, from an interdisciplinary perspective (psychology, sociology, neuroscience, philosophy, theology), how hope contributes to forming a mentally healthy and mature identity. But what hope? Is this just for moments of despair? Can hope free imagination, enlarge desires and rehabilitate the zest for life? Is there a phenomenology of hope?Table of Contents Status Quaestionis: On Identity, Modernity, and Postmodernity The Role of Hope in Metz and Lynch’s Theological Anthropology Rethinking Identity in Hope Epilogue: Images of Hope

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Book SynopsisAnimal liberation contends that humans and animals are of equal value and that standard views of human uniqueness are an anthropocentric prejudice called "speciesism." It advocates ending human use of animals in recognition of animal rights. Animal liberation theology attempts to ground similar views in the Bible. It typically envisions an original creation free of predation to be restored free of meat-eating and animal use. It views animal sacrifice as murder and speaks of a "deep incarnation" by which God in Christ takes on "all flesh" for the salvation of all creatures in a "cosmic redemption." This is the first full-fledged critique of animal liberation in general and so-called speciesism in particular from a biblical and theological standpoint, with accompanying scientific and philosophical analysis. After it introduces the major thinkers, the book demonstrates the incoherence of animal liberation with human evolution, the use of animals in the domestic and religious life of Israel, and the New Testament assertion that God the Son was uniquely incarnated in the human Jesus for human salvation. This book reasserts historic Christian faith as sufficient to the scientific, philosophical and ethical challenges posed by animal studies, and concludes with an appraisal of key ethical concerns regarding animal use and foundational issues within the animal liberation movement. Table of Contents Animal studies and cognitive ethology present ongoing challenges to human uniqueness and Christian theology. A predation-less original creation is to be restored free of meat-eating. Questions surround the value of sacrifice in the Old Testament. "Deep incarnation" and kenotic theology see God taking on "all flesh" or materiality instead of a rational human nature in Christ. A "cosmic redemption" sees all things redeemed.

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Book Synopsis Gospel Characters: Jesus and His Contemporaries contributes to an understanding of Jesus in the New Testament that is persons-centred. It highlights how different biblical characters help shape the stories that have come down to us. This book provokes thoughts for further research on other biblical figures and themes. It is an invaluable resource for catechists, pastoral workers, evangelizers and for instructions in Houses of Formation, particularly in furthering the ministry of the Word Made Flesh, who dwells among us.Table of ContentsAbbreviations – Literary Genre of the Gospels – Jesus and his Parents –Jesus and John the Baptist –Jesus and the Jewish Leaders – Jesus and the Gentiles – Jesus and His Disciples – Bibliography

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Book SynopsisHow it is possible that the story about Elisha’s succession in 2 Kings 2:1-18 is now remembered as the story about Elijah’s ascent? The intertextual answer is provided by the contrast between the number of references about the human heavenly ascension in the Hebrew Bible, and the popularity of this theme in the Ancient Near East. However, in this dissertation we focus on the more direct intratextual approach. We analyze the construction of the narrative in order to discern the features of style, structure, and symbolism which emphasize Elijah’s ascent, rather than Elisha’s succession. As a result, we can identify the proto-symbol of the narrative (Gilgal) which is interpreted by three elements (whirlwind, chariotry, and rolled mantle) referring to Elijah’s ascent.Table of Contentsstyle, structure, and symbolism in 2 Kings 2:1-18 – Elisha’s succession vs. Elijah’s heavenly ascent traditions – Hebrew Bible etiology referring to Gilgal – whirlwind, chariotry, and rolled mantle as tradition elements – intratextuality vs. intertextuality of the Ancient Near East literature

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Book SynopsisIn this monograph, the author demonstrates that the Acts of the Apostles is a highly creative hypertextual reworking of the Letter to the Galatians, with over 500 strictly sequentially organized conceptual and linguistic correspondences between Acts and Galatians. This hypertextual dependence on Galatians explains numerous surprising features of Acts. Critical explanations of these features, which are offered in this monograph, ensure the reliability of the new solution to the problem of the relationship between Acts and the Pauline and post-Pauline letters.Table of ContentsThe church in Jerusalem (Acts 1– 5; cf. Gal 1:1– 10) - The Hellenists (Acts 6– 8; cf. Gal 1:11– 15) - The early Paul (Acts 9– 12; cf. Gal 1:16– 23b) - The first missionary journey (Acts 13– 14; cf. Gal 1:23c– 2:1) - The second missionary journey (Acts 15:1–18:23a; cf. Gal 2:2– 5:7) - The third missionary journey (Acts 18:23b–21:38; cf. Gal 5:8– 6:12) - The final apology of Paul (Acts 21:39– 28:31; cf. Gal 6:13– 18)

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisNonnus of Panopolis in Upper-Egypt is the author of the 48 books of the last large scale mythological epic in antiquity, the Dionysiaca. The same author also wrote an epic poem on the life and times of Jesus Christ according to St John’s Gospel. Nonnus has an outstanding position in ancient literature being at the same time a pagan and a Christian author, living in a time when Christianity was common in the Roman empire, while pagan culture and traditional world views were still maintained. The volume is designed to cover literary, cultural and religious aspects of Nonnus’ poetry as well as to highlight the social and educational background of both the Dionysiaca and the Paraphrasis of the Gospel of St. John.Trade Review"This collection, completed by a robust bibliography and indices, represents another step forward for Nonnian studies and makes a strong case for continuing the Nonnus of Panopolis in Context conference series, demonstrating the vivacity and relevance of a poet who may have once been consigned to obscurity, but surely will be claiming scholars’ attention for quite some time to come." - Guy Walker, in: Bryn Mawr Classical Review 2018.08.30 "Front matter includes (...) a particularly fine resumé of the history of Nonnian scholarship since the 1930s by the dedicatee of the volume Professeur Émérite Pierre Chuvin (...) This essay is a delight to read, adding as it does snippets of personality to names with which we are all familiar (...) I cannot recommend this essay highly enough as an introduction to Nonnus, his oeuvre and how it has been studied and understood to date. (...) The series of conferences continues apace, with Nonnus of Panopolis in Context III and IV having already in Warsaw, September 2015 and Ghent, April 2018 respectively. We await they collected volumes with great enthousiasm." - Paul McKenna, in: Classical Journal online, 2019.06.06 "In conclusione, questi atti di convegno appaiono come il perfetto completamento del recente Brill's Companion to Nonnus of Panopolis (Leiden- Boston 2016): mentre nel Companion hanno trovato spazio saggi di carattere più generale, in questo volume sono sviluppati temi e argomenti più specifici legati all!opera del Panopolita; d'altra parte, non mancano i contatti tra le due raccolte, sia per il fatto che molti studiosi hanno contribuito ad entrambe, sia per le tematiche trattate (ad es. il contributo di E. Magnelli The Nonnian Hexameter e quello di C. De Stefani nel presente volume, o i due saggi di J. L. Lightfoot sulle profezie in Nonno)." - Gianmario Cattaneo, in: Medioevo greco 19 (2019)

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Book SynopsisThis work offers an overview of trauma theory’s relations to biblical studies. In addition to summarizing the theoretical landscape(s), it provides exegetical forays into Ezekiel and, in part, Exodus and the Eucharist. The analysis will engage these materials’ traumatic ethoi, including their connections to trauma informed eating and queerings, so as to offer entryways into the wider critical conversation. While these exegetical foci may seem arbitrary, that is in part the point. As readers will see, trauma defies sense-making. Akin to postmodernist poststructuralist intertextualities, trauma cannot be flattened into neat narration. Trauma is capricious, leaving survivors to carry with them multivalent and even paradoxical connections to their experiences. This project thus attempts to perform trauma’s plurisignification as much as it tries to explain it, using a set of traditionally unexamined pairings to do so. While not an exhaustive survey on trauma theory and the Bible - such work could fill the space of multiple publications - the following work provides a representation of both the theory of trauma and its applications within the biblical field.Table of ContentsTrauma Theory, Trauma Story A Narration of Biblical Studies and the World of Trauma  Sarah Emanuel  Abstract  Keywords  1 Introduction  2 Brain, Body, Trauma  3 Trauma and the Biblical Field  4 Life after Death: Trauma, Biblical Afterlives, and Us  5 Option Three and Other Concluding Thoughts  Acknowledgment  Bibliography

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Book SynopsisIn recent years, many branches of science have been revolutionized. Completely new disciplines now occupy a central place in modern scientific thought, and Aviezer contributes to the discourse of biblical interpretation by utilizing knowledge obtained from them. This book aims to demonstrate the profound implication of combining the scientific understanding of modern science with Biblical passages. Writing for any curious reader, even those without scientific background, Aviezer explains complicated scientific topics in a simple manner, allowing nearly anyone to examine how quantum theory, the butterfly effect, string theory and others can possibly enrich the interpretation of scriptural passages.

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