Theology Books

Book SynopsisThis book encourages and equips Bible teachers to answer the challenges and questions of skeptics, offering practical guidance and real-world examples related to engaging in apologetic conversations.

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Book SynopsisYoung focuses on the historical development and theological significance of parables in the Jewish and Christian traditions, examining parallels between the rabbinic and Gospel parables.

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Book SynopsisExamines God's Word to form a theology of forgiveness, helping readers move beyond the wounds of bitterness, disagreements, and broken relationships. A helpful resource for anyone who struggles to extend forgiveness.

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Book SynopsisAnselm of Canterbury (1033-1109) was the outstanding philosopher-theologian of the Latin West between Augustine and the thirteenth century. As a public figure, especially as Archbishop of Canterbury, he corresponded with kings and nobles, popes and bishops, in letters that reveal a fascinating personality and flesh out the practical dimensions of his theoretical philosophy. He wrote at a time when a renewed interest in logic encouraged careful and rigorous argumentation, but before the recovery of Aristotle filled the philosophical discourse with difficult technical jargon, making for writing that is unrivalled for its lucidity and accessibility. He offers the first clear account of what we now call a libertarian view of free will, according to which free choices cannot be determined by the agent''s internal states or by external influences. His famous ''ontological argument'' for the existence of God continues to generate discussion, debate, and puzzlement. His understanding of God isTrade ReviewThe appeal of an investigation performed by means of the confined domain of logica vetus is one of the most fascinating elements offered by Anselm's theological and philosophical works...The landscape of studies about Anselm of Aosta is now enriched by an easy introduction to Doctor Magnificus's life and works by Thomas Williams. The essay doesn't merely summarise Cantuariensis's main theses but provides the status quaestionis on the most recent interpretative approaches. * Matteo Parente, Department of Humanities, University of Salerno, Fisciano, Salerno, Italy, History of Philosophy & Logical Analysis *I appreciated very much the text on Anselm of Canterbury by Thomas Williams. It is well structured, clearly written and covers all the main issues about the work of Anselm. The references to some major texts are given, as well as an essential bibliography on each topic. * Christian Brouwer, The Metascience *Table of ContentsPreface List of Illustrations Chronology 1: Anselm's life, works, and contexts 2: Looking at God 3: Looking for God 4: How things got started 5: How things went wrong 6: The great restoration project 7: Living in the meantime Further Reading References

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Book Synopsis`For I do not seek to understand so that I may believe; but I believe so that I may understand. For I believe this also, that unless I believe, I shall not understand.'' Does God exist? Can we know anything about God''s nature? Have we any reason to think that the Christian religion is true? What is truth, anyway? Do human beings have freedom of choice? Can they have such freedom in a world created by God? These questions, and others, were ones which Anselm of Canterbury (c.1033-1109) took very seriously. He was utterly convinced of the truth of the Christian religion, but he was also determined to try to make sense of his Christian faith. Recognizing that the Christian God is incomprehensible, he also believed that Christianity is not simply something to be swallowed with mouth open and eyes shut. For Anselm, the doctrines of Christianity are an invitation to question, to think, and to learn. Anselm is studied today because his rigour of thought and clarity of writing place him among the greatest of theologians and philosophers. This translation provides readers with their first opportunity to read all of his most important works within the covers of a single volume. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World''s Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford''s commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.Table of ContentsINCLUDES: LETTER TO ARCHBISHOP LANFRANC; MONOLOGIAN; PROSLOGION; PRO INSIPIENTE ON BEHALF OF THE FOOL) BY GAUNILO OF MARMOUTIERS; REPLY TO GAUNILO; ON TRUTH; ON FREE WILL; ON THE FALL OF THE DEVIL; ON THE INCARNATION OF THE WORD; WHY GOD BECAME MAN; ON THE VIRGIN CONCEPTION AND ORIGINAL SIN; ON THE PROCESSION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT; DE CONCORDIA (THE COMPATIBILITY OF GOD'S FOREKNOWLEDGE, PREDESTINATION AND GRACE WITH HUMAN FREEDOM; DE GRAMMATICO; PHILOSOPHICAL FRAGMENTS; INDEX

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Book SynopsisThomas Aquinas, an Italian Catholic priest in the early thirteeth century, is considered to be one of the great Christian thinkers who had, and who still has, a profound influence on Western thought. He was a controversial figure who was exposed and engaged in conflict. This Very Short Introduction looks at Aquinas in a historical context, and explores the Church and culture into which Aquinas was born. It considers Aquinas as philosopher, and looks at the relationship between philosophy and religion in the thirteenth century. Fergus Kerr, in this engaging and informative introduction, will make The Summa Theologiae, Aquinas''s greatest single work, accessible to new readers. It will also reflect on the importance of Thomas Aquinas in modern debates and asks why Aquinas matters now.ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Table of Contents1. Life and formation ; 2. Works ; 3. Summa Theologiae: prima pars ; 4. Summa Theologiae: secunda pars ; 5. Summa Theologiae: tertila pars ; 6. Aftermath ; 7. Further reading

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Book SynopsisIn this work, Cioran touches on nearly all the themes that preoccupied him during his writing career.

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Book SynopsisA theological history of consequentialism and a fresh agenda for teleological ethics. Consequentialismthe notion that we can judge an action by its effects alonehas been among the most influential approaches to ethics and public policy in the Anglophone world for more than two centuries. In The Best Effect, Ryan Darr argues that consequentialist ethics is not as secular or as rational as it is often assumed to be. Instead, Darr describes the emergence of consequentialism in the seventeenth century as a theological and cosmological vision and traces its intellectual development and eventual secularization across several centuries. The Best Effect reveals how contemporary consequentialism continues to bear traces of its history and proposes in its place a more expansive vision for teleological ethics.Trade Review“Darr argues that contemporary secular consequentialism emerges out of the attempts of early modern moralists to make sense of God’s creative freedom, the existence of evil, and origins of human morality. This is a strikingly original thesis, defended by a close reading of the British moralists, informed by a keen sense of the philosophical and theological issues at stake. This book challenges our most fundamental assumptions about the history of moral thought and the reasonableness of the ‘greatest good’ as a moral standard.” -- Jean Porter, University of Notre Dame“Theologians and philosophers alike need more books like Darr’s rich account of the religious origins of consequentialist ideas. He brings to life texts most of us have forgotten but to which we owe more than we know. Darr argues that what we now consider a commonsense secular tradition had its origin in theological arguments about divine goodness. The clarity and originality of the story he tells offer a model of historical theology that I hope many will emulate." -- Jesse Couenhoven, Villanova University“Consequentialism is a dominant ethical framework among contemporary ethicists, economists, legal theorists, and policy makers, particularly in secular circles. Darr’s careful and convincing study reveals that key components of the consequentialist framework arose from theological debates in the early modern period—debates about what an omnipotent and perfectly good being would or should do.” -- Andrew Chignell, Princeton UniversityTable of ContentsIntroduction Part I: The Consequentialist Moral Cosmology Chapter 1: God and Morality in the Seventeenth Century Chapter 2: Virtue and the Divine Life: Henry More’s Moral Theology Chapter 3: Teleology Transformed: Richard Cumberland’s Perfectionist Natural Law Epilogue to Part I Part II: Evil and the Divine Consequentialist Chapter 4: Evil and the Consequentialist Moral Cosmology: Pierre Bayle and British Ethics Chapter 5: The Ethics of Archbishop William King’s De origine mali Chapter 6: Shaftesbury the Theologian: Virtue as Friendship with God Chapter 7: Theodicy and the Moral Affections in Francis Hutcheson Epilogue to Part II Part III: The Anglican Utilitarian Synthesis Chapter 8: John Gay’s “Preliminary Dissertation” Chapter 9: Edmund Law and the Anglican Utilitarian Tradition Epilogue to Part III Conclusion Acknowledgments Notes Index

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Book SynopsisIn To Will and To Do, twentieth-century French thinker Jacques Ellul presented his landmark theological contribution, yet the full text has never before been available in English. Incorporating recent insights on Ellul, and benefitting from the discovery of a lost manuscript, this new publication remedies this, combining a fresh translation of Volume One with a first English translation of Volume Two. Together, the two volumes constitute the first part of Ellul''s planned four-part treatment of Christian ethics. In Volume One, Ellul examines the origin of the problem of Good and Evil, surveys the contemporary morality of Western society, and provocatively sketches the paradox of an impossible and yet necessary Christian ethics. In Volume Two, he carries this discussion forward, outlining the characteristics and conditions of Christian ethics, and analysing the relationship between ethics, the legal texts of the Bible, and dogmatic theology. He concludes by reimagining the theological use of the ''analogy of faith'' for scriptural interpretation. Throughout, Ellul remains in dialogue with Karl Barth, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Paul Ricoeur and others, helping to cement To Will and To Do as a major intervention in twentieth-century theological ethics.Trade Review'This is a landmark publication. This would be true if only for the vast improvement on a fifty-year-old translation and new scholarly apparatus. But the real buzz is that this first volume will be followed by a previously unavailable second volume of the work that Ellul himself understood as his theological masterwork. Jake Rollison masterfully explains why this book offers Christians today a wholly new, and genuinely exciting, Jacques Ellul.' - Brian Brock, University of Aberdeen 'Jacob Marques Rollison's careful and fluid translation of these two volumes of Ellul's introduction to Christian ethics does an immense service to the French scholar's English-language readers, both new and old. The provision of such a splendid edition of this previously fractured, abridged, and neglected work will allow Ellul's singular vision of the nature and task of Christian ethics to be considered afresh. That Ellul's 'ethics of witness' is increasingly angular to leading trends in the field of theological ethics only heightens its provocation and makes it restatement in these new volumes all the more welcome.' - Philip G. Ziegler, University of AberdeenTable of ContentsAcknowledgments | vii Translator's Introduction: Rediscovering Ellul's Theological Ethics | 1 A Note on the Translation | 13 Part I: Origins | 17 1 Knowledge of the Good | 19 2 The Good | 34 3 Morality Is of the Order of the Fall | 49 4 Morality Is of the Order of Necessity | 67 5 The Double Morality | 79 Part II: Morality of the World | 113 1 Diversity of Moralities | 118 2 Theoretical Moralities | 126 3 Values | 137 4 Lived Moralities | 151 5 The Attitude of Man toward Morality: Moralism and Immoralism | 162 6 Technical Morality | 172 Part III: The Impossibility and Necessity of a Christian Ethic | 183 1 The Impossibility of a Christian Ethic | 185 2 Historical Creation of Christian Moralities | 208 3 The Necessity of a Christian Ethic | 224 Bibliography | 243 Name Index | 247 Scripture Index | 251

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Book SynopsisWhy chasing after expressive individualism, experiences, and desires always fails to deliver on its promise of happiness.Today we are told to be true to ourselves, look within for answers, and follow our hearts. But when we put our own happiness first, we experience record-breaking levels of aimlessness, loneliness, depression, and anxiety. Self-centeredness always fails to deliver the fulfillment we''re seeking.In Don''t Follow Your Heart, Thaddeus Williams debunks the ten commandments of self-worship, which include popular propaganda, like: #liveyourbestlife: Thou shalt always act in accord with your chief end—to glorify and enjoy yourself forever. #followyourheart: Thou shalt obey your emotions at all costs. #yolo: Thou shalt pursue the rush of boundary-free experience.  Williams builds a case that this type of self-worship is not authentic, satisfying, orTrade Review'Don't Follow Your Heart is a bold, timely, and enjoyable read. Williams takes the top ten common 'commandments' permeating our culture and systematically shows how they each lead (surprisingly) to misery and brokenness. This is a book I will be recommending wholeheartedly to the next generation.' * Sean McDowell, Ph.D. apologetics professor at Biola University, popular YouTuber, author of A Rebel’s Manifesto *'Don't Follow Your Heart is filled with truths that lay bare the theological, philosophical, and logical failures of today's self-worship religion. Williams writes with a wit and relatability that make this book a joy to read. If I could put it into the hands of every Christian high school student, I would!' * Natasha Crain, speaker, podcaster, and author of four books including Faithfully Different *'In Don't Follow Your Heart, Thaddeus Williams challenges us to break the self-worship commandments that promise freedom but deliver captivity. I appreciate the bold urgency of this call. Following the herd is leading our generation off a cliff. Maybe a little heresy can do us a lot of good.' * Collin Hansen, editor in chief of The Gospel Coalition, host of Gospelbound, and author of Timothy Keller: His Spiritual and Intellectual Formation *'Thaddeus Williams skillfully dismantles the ten commandments of self worship and shows us a better way. Don't Follow Your Heart is a wonderfully biblical guidebook for those who desire full, meaningful, and counter-cultural lives--lives with God at the very center.' * Uche Anizor, associate professor of theology, Talbot School of Theology, Biola University, author of the award-winning Overcoming Apathy *'The fear of missing out (#FOMO) and self-worship began in the garden. Instead of bearing God's image as witnesses of his majesty, we have become imposters who bear witness to our own kingdoms. Thaddeus Williams exposes the futility of self-worship with kingdom of God-aligned correctives that reflect God's glory and his commitment to redeem us. Read this book expectantly. You won't be disappointed.' * Joanne Jung, Ph.D., associate dean of online education and faculty development and professor of biblical and theological studies, Biola University *'Today's ascendent religion--a new orthodoxy--derives from malformed self-love and expressive individualism and includes a new ethical code: following your heart. Gratefully, Thaddeus Williams here provides a calm, careful, and cogent cure rooted, not in Self, but in Savior, the One who created and loved us, the One who made our hearts for Him, the One who truly has just authority and thereby does all things right. Following one's heart will cause us to flinch in fear, being forever trapped in dead end comparisons and endless strivings to both 'follow our hearts' but also 'be like Mike.' Christ liberates us so that under His gentle yoke we no longer flinch in fear but can flourish in faith. By NOT following our hearts, we gain the heart of God. Dr. Williams illustrates the way to do so in this key and needed volume. Don't follow your heart; instead, follow my advice and read this book - twice!' * Jeffery J. Ventrella, J.D., Ph.D., architect, The Blackstone Legal Fellowship *'With the publication of Confronting Injustice without Compromising Truth, Professor Williams established himself as a leading evangelical philosophical Theologian with a tender heart for Jesus and others. He also possesses a keen eye for the hot-button issues in culture that are undermining unbelievers and believers alike. Now comes Don't Follow Your Heart, a penetrating book if insights that get deep into the heart of the emotional and spiritual suffering ubiquitous in our society. Not content to identify the fundamental problems, Williams goes on to provide us with ways to spot a set of problems in our own lives and practical steps to set them aside and live a more flourish biblical life. The book is deep but quite accessible and fun to read. I strongly recommend this book.' * JP Moreland, distinguished professor of philosophy, Talbot School of Theology, Biola University and author of A Simple Guide to Experiencing Miracles *

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Book SynopsisA new commentary for today''s world, The Story of God Bible Commentary explains and illuminates each passage of Scripture in light of the Bible''s grand story. The first commentary series to do so, SGBC offers a clear and compelling exposition of biblical texts, guiding everyday readers in how to creatively and faithfully live out the Bible in their own contexts. Its story-centric approach is ideal for pastors, students, Sunday school teachers, and laypeople alike.Three easy-to-use sections designed to help readers live out God''s story: LISTEN to the Story: Includes complete NIV text with references to other texts at work in each passage, encouraging the reader to hear it within the Bible''s grand story EXPLAIN the Story: Explores and illuminates each text as embedded in its canonical and historical setting LIVE the Story: Reflects on how each text can be lived today and includes contemporary stories and illustrations to aid preachers, teachers, an

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Book SynopsisBalanced in approach and focused not on arguments but on cultural contexts, the attitude of the apologist, and sound answers to difficult questions, Joshua D. Chatraw and Mark D. Allen's Apologetics at the Cross provides a thorough and accessible introduction to the renewed Christian discipline of apologetics.Trade Review“Apologetics at the Cross offers a compelling Christ-centered vision for what a Christian apologetic ought to be---rooted in the humility of the cross and born out of the endurance of a suffering church. Joshua Chatraw and Mark Allen have a gift for making complex ideas clear and ancient ideas accessible as they situate contemporary apologetic approaches in the light of their biblical and historical antecedents. They demonstrate the rich and diverse tradition of apologetics we have to draw from and how relevant that tradition remains today. With a balanced and insightful treatment of apologetic methodologies and much practical wisdom for treating those who are skeptical as persons rather than projects, Apologetics at the Cross is an ideal resource for anyone seeking to winsomely and compassionately engage today’s culture with the gospel of Jesus Christ.” * JO VITALE, dean of studies, Zacharias Institute, and apologist, RZIM *“Drawing on key biblical themes and the best of the Christian tradition, Josh Chatraw and Mark Allen have provided readers with a much-needed work for those looking to think more deeply about the Christian faith and the importance of Christian apologetics for our post-Christian world. This creatively written volume offers an unapologetic commitment to the gospel message, skillful analysis of a wide-ranging survey of the field of apologetics, and a helpful introduction to contextualization through the lens of the cross. Apologetics at the Cross not only informs and educates, but also points toward authentic witness and faithful living. Students, pastors, and church leaders will be strengthened by this outstanding resource, which serves as a trusted compass that people will not only read, but to which they will likely turn again and again for guidance. Highly recommended!” * DAVID S. DOCKERY, president, Trinity International University/Trinity Evangelical Divinity School *“For many Christians, if we’re going to be honest, to picture ourselves “defending the faith” is almost like imagining perpetrating an act of mental abuse on the unsuspecting. But more often than not, we feel this way because we’ve inherited outdated, culturally insensitive models for apologetics. I love this book by Joshua Chatraw and Mark Allen, not because it says, “This is exactly how you do apologetics,” but, much more helpfully, because it provides a map for applying key principles within a culturally sensitive framework. If this is an area you struggle with, read it---and learn!” * NICHOLAS PERRIN, chair of biblical studies, Wheaton Graduate School *“Imagine a book on apologetics that not only deals with content, but discusses tone and heart, is gentle and wise, and overviews method and approach with care and balance. That is Apologetics at the Cross. Not only does it walk through the common questions; it orients one to the different ways people think and relate to those issues. Here is a book that does apologetics with depth, not just of the mind, but of the soul.” * DARRELL BOCK, executive director for cultural engagement, Center for Christian Leadership and Cultural Engagement, Dallas Theological Seminary *“In our culture, the practice of apologetics has moved from being a “boutique” topic for specialists to being a requirement for even having a conversation with one’s neighbor. Joshua Chatraw and Mark Allen have produced the most comprehensive, accessible, and up-to-date manual on Christian apologetics that I know of. Despite how full its treatment of the subject, it is eminently readable. The authors present all the various approaches to apologetics respectfully, proposing their own pathway that incorporates a large range of insights from many disciplines and thinkers. Highly recommended.” * TIM KELLER, pastor emeritus, the Redeemer Presbyterian Churches of New York City *“Just when you think this book is the comprehensive apologetics textbook you’ve been looking for---covering Scripture, history, philosophy, and culture---you realize it’s also something more: a creative, original proposal for an “inside-out” apologetic that is precisely what we need in our secular age. If you're skittish about “apologetics,” like I am, this book will show you another way.” * JAMES K. A. SMITH, professor of philosophy, Calvin College, and author of You Are What You Love and How (Not) to Be Secular *“One of the best books about apologetics I’ve read. It offers a compelling vision for the place of apologetics in the life of individual believers and the church, drawing on the rich wisdom of the Christian past and the best recent approaches to the apologetic task. This book will both enrich the lives of Christians and help them defend and commend their faith in today’s complex world.” * ALISTER E. MCGRATH, professor of science and religion, University of Oxford, and director, Ian Ramsey Centre for Science and Religion *“This book lives up to its title and then delivers even more. It shows us in a general way what cross-shaped way of defending the faith looks like and then gets specific with relevant and engaging cultural analysis to help us understand the moment in which we are called to be faithful. This is a book with wisdom to ponder and suggestions to practice, one to return to again and again for insight and clarity.” * TREVIN WAX, Bible and reference publisher, Broadman and Holman, and author of Eschatological Discipleship and This Is Our Time *“This is a welcome addition to the library of books on apologetics. It is also a rare book: most defenses of the faith do not make the gospel their lodestar and template. This one breaks new ground in letting the reason for the Christian hope---Jesus crucified and risen---guide and govern the forms and methods of faith’s defense. Apologetics at the Cross incorporates biblical materials, the history of apologetics, and theology to make a cumulative case for the church as a socially embodied cruciform argument whose members are alert to how different people may need to be shown various different paths (i.e., kinds of arguments) that lead to, and into, the reality of the gospel. This is a book brim full of apologetic wisdom---most notably, the wisdom of the cross.” * KEVIN J. VANHOOZER, research professor of systematic theology, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School *Table of ContentsPart 1---Introduction Chapter 1---An Invitation to the Practice of Apologetics Chapter 2---An Apologetics of Glory Versus an Apologetics of the Cross Chapter 3---The Pastor as an Apologist: The Need to Recover the Past Chapter 4---The Need for Apologetics: A Lesson from the Trenches Part 2---Approaches: Historical, Contemporary, and Biblical Chapter 5---Where to Begin? A Survey of the Various Approaches Chapter 6---A Way Forward Chapter 7---Getting on with the Task: A Lesson from the Trenches Part 3---Knowing Your Context Chapter 8---The Western World Chapter 9---The Rest of the World Chapter 10---Why Knowing Your Context is Vital: A Lesson from the Trenches Part 4---Apologetics as Loving Your Neighbor: Issues of the Heart and Mind Chapter 11---The Importance of Tone: Loving our Neighbor or Winning an Argument? Chapter 12---Dealing with Defeat Chapter 13---Building a Case Chapter 14---Loving Others Through Apologetics: A Lesson from the Trenches Part 5---More Lesson from the Trenches Chapter 15---A Survey of How to Answers the Most Commonly Asked Questions Chapter 16---Summary and Conclusion

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Book SynopsisImaginative Apologetics draws on much that is most vibrant in contemporary theology to develop Christian apologetics for the present day. The contributors are leaders in their fields. They represent a confident approach to theology, grounded in a deep respect for the theological tradition of the Church. They display a perceptive interest in philosophy, and unlike many works of apologetics their interest is in the philosophy of the present day, not only that of previous centuries. Drawing on the theology of the imagination they show the centrality of the imagination to apologetics; from the significant of virtue in Christian ethics they show that Christian ethics is part of the Good News; from developments in the theology of knowledge they show that apologetics must be communal and must learn to tell stories. Dealing with history, the arts and the nature of atheism, with the natural sciences and social theory, Imaginative Apologetics presents a theological account of apologetics for theTrade Review'This is a stunning book. In simple and vibrant prose, the authors explain our failing attempts to communicate God through colourless, proof style arguments that are all but emptied of mystery and the language of desire. They call, instead, for a healthy tension between clarity and estrangement, logic and wonder. They invite us towards socially and culturally sensitive presentations of the Gospel, rooted in Church tradition and embodied in our own lives. Imaginative Apologetics delivers a prophetic and uplifting message for all Christians.'Alan Ramsey, St Aldates, Oxford 'Rowan Williams memorably said, as he took up office, that the Church needed to recapture the imagination of the nationA". Many theologians have responded to the challenge: we continue to see in the Church of England a confident and intelligent engagement with contemporary culture and a firm critique of the ways in which secular humanism and New Atheism diminish what it means to be a human person. This book is a tremendous collection of essays that explore how the Christian faith is both reasonable and imaginative: it should be read by all who wonder what culture loses when Christianity is eclipsed.'Frances Ward, Dean of St Edmundsbury Cathedral. 'This attractive volume of essays encourages us to invite others into Christ's way of seeing the world and to step into the life of a community where his new way of living and loving can be found. It is an original and inspiring contribution to the apologetic task of the Church.'Christopher Cocksworth, Bishop of Coventry.

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Book SynopsisJürgen Moltmann's The Crucified God is one of the most influential theological books of the twentieth century and a classic to be found on every reading list on Christian doctrine.Arguably the most powerful of Moltmann''s books. The Crucified God is a seminal work on the crucifixion and its significance. The book takes death, despair and dreadfulness, the dark side of the human condition, with total seriousness and relates these to a liberating hope of redemption through divine agony and suffering. Influential for many years, especially with political and liberation theologians, but also much more widely, the book represents a concentrated blast of hard-edged doctrinal reflection and will continue to inspire upcoming generations who take seriously the life-changing notion that ''God was in Christ.'' Reissued with a new foreword by the author himself.

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Book SynopsisDo you believe in Angels? The world-renowned preacher Billy Graham, who recently died, only a few short months before his own 100th birthday, described this book as ''one of the most fascinating studies of my life''. In it, he explores the biblical basis of what angels are, and the crucial role they play in our lives.Today''s interest in the supernatural often seems to put the emphasis on demons, ghosts and other evil powers. But what about the forces of good? Angels are thought by some to be purely the province of song lyrics, fairy tales and popular mythology, yet they are mentioned nearly three hundred times in the Bible and are in fact a very real source of comfort and strength for many people today.

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Book SynopsisBook five of Eugene Peterson''s landmark SPIRITUAL THEOLOGY series: foundational reading for the twenty-first-century church. Continuing Peterson''s evaluation of contemporary Christian spirituality, PRACTISE RESURRECTION is a study of the book of Ephesians. It is often thought to be Paul''s most difficult letter, but has been for over thirty years Peterson''s text for his identity as a pastor. Peterson points out that although Christians emphasise the importance of new birth, growth is equally important. This book is a conversation on spiritual formation and what it means to become a mature Christian. As with the first four books in this series, PRACTISE RESURRECTION is written for both lay and academic audiences. Challenging but deeply rewarding, it combines scholarship with the human experience and lightness of touch for which Peterson is known.Also available in the Spiritual Theology series: Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places, Eat This Book, TheTrade Review'A tour de force in spiritual theology, combining incisive cultural analysis and biblical exposition with a sweeping and engaging vision of the Christian life' (for CHRIST PLAYS IN TEN THOUSAND PLACES) * Christianity Today *'Deep, stirring, luminous, even profound - if you are going to read one book about reading Scripture, it should be this one.' (for EAT THIS BOOK) * Lauren Winner *

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Book SynopsisJudith A. Merkle is Professor of Religious Studies at Niagara University, USA.Trade ReviewJudith Merkle has written a nuanced and thought-provoking book about the future of Christian faith and practice in a secular age. ... Taylor is undoubtedly a brilliant and nuanced interpreter of the complex contours of modernity. * Studies in Christian Ethics *In this signal volume, Judith A. Merkle invites us to consider the features of a renewed Christianity not in flight from the earthly city, the saeculum or secular world, but through an engagement that meets the best of human aspirations, pointing humanity and all of creation to their proper end. Merkle identifies the issues that Christians must grapple with if the church is to renew its mission in a changing world and avoid the useless resuscitation of obsolete forms of religiosity. A must-read. * Catherine E. Clifford, Saint Paul University, Canada *Combining erudite scholarship with lucid prose, Judith A. Merkle provides an elegant account of the search for the transcendent in the modern world. Her interdisciplinary analyses illuminate the function of faith and spirituality in a climate of contingency. In this ambitious book, Merkle deftly choreographs a new asceticism for our day. * Kristin E. Heyer, Boston College, USA *Merkle’s analysis of secularity deepens our appreciation of its profound influence on religious and nonreligious people alike. She explores how our secular context requires reconsideration of our understanding of church and salvation, and the development of new spiritual and religious practices. This clearly written, creative book is theologically insightful and a rich resource for pastoral practice and reflection on one’s own life of discipleship. * Christopher P. Vogt, St. John’s University, USA *Table of ContentsList of Abbreviations and Documents Cited Introduction Part I Foundations 1. Silent Music and the Dance: A New Moment in Christian Spirituality 2. The Human Partner: the Steps of Modernity 3. The Step of Faith: Searching for the Face of God in Modern Life 4. The Dance of Religion: Do We Need It? Part II. Dancing to the Music: Discipleship 5. The Way of Jesus and Human Flourishing: Salvation and Atonement 6. The Eclipse of Desire and the Freedom to Dance 7. The Desire to Dance: Toward a New Asceticism 8. Being Music Makers: Church and Community in a New Era 9. The Scaffoldings of the Future Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisAt the beginning of his gospel, John refers to Jesus Christ as the Logos--the "Word." Ronning makes a case that the Jewish Targums--interpretive translations of the Old Testament into Aramaic that were read in synagogues--hold the key to understanding John's Logos title.

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Book SynopsisChristian universalism is an umbrella of different theological interpretations of the idea that all people will be saved. This book provides a concise guide to four distinct versions of Christian universal salvation.Table of ContentsIntroduction by David W. Congdon1. Patristic UniversalismMorwenna Ludlow2. Evangelical UniversalismRobin A. Parry3. Post-Barthian UniversalismTom Greggs4. Existential UniversalismDavid W. CongdonIndexes

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Book SynopsisHow can sinful humans approach a holy God? In the book of Hebrews, Jesus Christ is celebrated as the great high priest who represents his people before the Father. Jesus'' roles as priest and mediator are central to his identity and bring to completion themes woven throughout Scripture.In this fifth ESBT volume, T. Desmond Alexander considers the often-neglected themes of priesthood and mediation and how Christ fulfills these roles. He explores how these concepts illuminate what Christ has already accomplished for us through his self-sacrifice, as well as what he is presently achieving on our behalf, seated at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. Through this study we gain a richer understanding of concepts such as holiness, sacrifice, covenant, reconciliation, and God''s dwelling place.Essential Studies in Biblical Theology (ESBT), edited by Benjamin L. Gladd, explore the central or essential themes of the Bible''s grand storyline. Taking cues from Genesis 1?3, authors trace the presence of these themes throughout the entire sweep of redemptive history. Written for students, church leaders, and laypeople, the ESBT offers an introduction to biblical theology.

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Book SynopsisFirst published in in 1976, Hermann Levin Goldschmidt's Contradiction Set Free, (Freiheit für den Widerspruch), reflects the push to explore new forms of critical thinking that gained momentum in the decade between Theodor Adorno's Negative Dialectics of 1966 and Paul Feyerabend's Against Method in 1975.The book articulates Goldschmidt's reclamation of an epistemologically critical position that acknowledges the deep underlying link between the modes of production of knowledge and the social and political life they produce. In signalling a breakout from the academic rut and its repressive hold, Goldschmidt pointed beyond the ossified methods of a philosophical discourse whose oppressive consequences could no longer be ignored.Contradiction Set Free makes available for the first time in English a pivotal work by one of the great critical thinkers of the 20th century.Trade Review[Goldschmidt's] writing evinces the clear and straightforward development and exposition of a thought ... [An] impressive work. * Continental Philosophy Review *What if, instead of trying compulsively to avoid contradiction, we embrace it as an opportunity? This work discusses in an entirely original and highly lucid way some of the consequences this change of attitude might have for our views about such phenomena as meaning, freedom, guilt, politics and technology. * Raymond Geuss, Professor of Philosophy Emeritus, University of Cambridge, UK *Contradiction Set Free is one of Herman Levin Goldschmidt's most important books and it has lost none of its power since its publication forty years ago.This meticulous translation, together with Willi Goetschel's extremely helpful introduction, should go a long way to seeing that he is finally given his rightful due in the English-speaking world. * Robert Bernasconi, Edwin Erle Sparks Professor of Philosophy and African American Studies, Penn State University, USA. *Table of ContentsI. The Discovery of Contradiction 1. Contradiction From the Beginning 2. Contradiction in Thought 3. Contradiction in Faith 4. Plato’s Dialectic II. The Forgotten and Overblown Contradiction 1. The Unity of the Middle Ages 2. The All of the Middle Ages 3. The Anxiety of the Middle Ages 4. The End of the Middle Ages III. The Repression of Contradiction 1. From Opposition to Contradiction 2. From Hegel to Marx and Kierkegaard 3. Mao Zedong’s Contradiction Set Free 4. The Weakness of Every Dialectic IV. Attempted Displacement 1. Freedom of Technology 2. Freedom Through Technology 3. Technology Contra Freedom 4. Freedom Contra Technology V. Attempted Oppression 1. The Completeness of the Modern World 2. The Totalitarian Arrogation of Totality 3. The Fascist Arrogation of Force 4. The Right to Contradiction as the Right to Resistance VI. Attempted Eradication 1. Attempted Sabotage 2. Attempted Postponement 3. Attempted Dissipation 4. Attempted Annihilation VII. The Challenge of Contradiction 1. Outraged Freedom 2. Freedom Contra the State 3. Freedom through Challenge 4. Freedom contra Freedom VIII. The Contradictions of Freedom 1. Freedom instead of Subjugation 2. Freedom despite Liberation 3. Freedom despite Freedom 4. Limits of Freedom—in Freedom IX. The Unavoidable Contradiction 1. The Old Meaning 2. The Lost Meaning 3. The Enduring Meaning 4. The Reclaimed Meaning X. The Unacceptable Contradiction 1. Guilt and Exculpation 2. Guilt and Turning 3. The Good of Turning 4. In the End only Good! XI. Set Contradiction Free! 1. Dialogic instead of Dialectic 2. Dialogic without Dialogism 3. Set Contradiction Free! 4. Instead of Aufhebung — Aufgeräumtheit XII. In Contradiction to the World 1. The Challenged Environment 2. Challenging Maturity 3. Costs Claimed 4. Required: Humans! Notes

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Book SynopsisConfidence in a faith is a subtle quality and lack of it shows in many ways, some contradictory. Dr Sacks has that confidence and the quiet charisma to communicate it.Sacks argues that faiths must remain open to criticism, keep alive their separate communities and still contribute far more to national debates on moral issues. They must also learn to get along better. His thesis is that we still live under a Biblical canopy and that a cohesive morality needs the uniting bonds of faith.The subject of this book - religions and ethics - is good ground for him to build on: The Jewish contribution to ethics is distinctly rational and has a long and illustrious tradition. Moral philosophy is after all a Jewish preoccupation.In recent years, he writes, religion has taken us unawares. The rise of the Moral Majority in the USA, the Islamic Revolution, the growth of religious parties in Israel, the power of Catholicism in Poland and the African continent a

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Book SynopsisA husband and wife team--both biblical scholars--set forth a robust biblical theology of gender, examining key texts, employing sound hermeneutical principles, and considering important historical influences related to the Bible's teaching on manhood and womanhood.

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Book SynopsisA specialist on the doctrine of the Trinity explains how the gospel is inherently Trinitarian. Now updated with an accessible study guide to make it more user friendly for pastors, theologians, and laypeople alike.

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisFormer Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams writes frankly on belief, Christianity and the place of religion today.Apart from being a scholar and theologian, Rowan Williams has also demonstrated a rare gift for writing plainly and clearly about essentials of the Christian faith. In Holy Living, he writes with profound perception about the life of holiness to which we are called. The range of Williams' frame of reference is astonishing--he brings poets and theologians to his aid, he writes about the Rule of St Benedict, the Bible, Icons, contemplation, St Teresa of Avila and even R. D. Laing. He concludes with two chapters on the injunction Know Thyself in a Christian context. Throughout, Williams points out that holiness is a state of being--it is he writes completely undemonstrative and lacking any system of expertise. It can never be dissected and analysed.Trade ReviewRead, taste, and grow in wisdom and grace -- Richard Rohr OFMThose who study [...] Rowan Williams’ theology and those who collect his many books will be delighted with this new work. It comprises a series of discrete but thematic essays or lecture texts originally written between 1977 and 2016, though most are recent … This book will deepen each reader’s spiritual awareness and promote Christian maturity. It is an ideal companion for a retreat or a quiet day. * The Reader *A collection of thought-provoking essays ... Drawing from the deep wells of Christian tradition (from early church writers to contemporary theologians, preachers to professors), each essay reflects upon Christian disciplines in contemporary Christianity. * Theology Forum *Table of ContentsIntroduction PART ONE: THE WAY IN 1 To Give and Not to Count the Cost 2 Health and Healing 3 The Bible Today: Reading and Hearing PART TWO: SHAPING HOLY LIVES 4 God's Workshop 5 Urban Spirituality 6 Forbidden Fruit: Sexuality and Spirituality in Perspective PART THREE: PRAYER AND CONTEMPLATION 7 Contemplation and Mission 8 Icons and the Practice of Prayer PART FOUR: THE GENIUS OF TERESA OF AVILA 9 What St Teresa Means to Me 10 Teresa and the Scriptures 11 Teresa and the Eucharist PART FIVE: WAYS OF KNOWING 12 Julian of Norwich's Way 13 'Know Thyself': What Kind of Injunction? Notes Acknowledgements

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Book SynopsisJ. I. Packer maintains that anyone who wants to know God will want to know as much as they can of what is in the Bible. For through it God reveals himself and his purpose to us; and in it we discover his fellowship and grace. Packer presents the case for reliability of the Bible and urges us to return with open hearts to reading God''s word, and to discovering its overwhelming power in our lives.This challenging sequel to Knowing God is a great resource for the Christian journey.Trade ReviewOthers may have followed with books about desiring, living, serving or seeking God, but Dr Packer's volume says it simply, says it best. * Joni Eareckson Tada *His love for the Bible and concern that Christians listen to it makes this a passionate book. * Baptist Times *

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Book SynopsisExam board: OCRLevel: A-levelSubject: Religious StudiesFirst teaching: September 2016First exams: Summer 2018 Strengthen and refine the understanding and skills that your students require to excel in OCR A Level Religious Studies.Written by subject specialists with examining experience, this time-saving Workbook can be used flexibly for classwork or homework, throughout the course or for revision and exam practice.- Review knowledge with content summaries that will provide a concise overview of what students need to know for the exam- Develop exam skills with practice questions that check understanding and highlight common pitfalls- Build exam confidence as students work through the exam-style questions provided, giving them the chance to practise and perfect their technique- Save marking time and help students understand how to improve their responses by consulting the online answers supplied for all questions

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Book SynopsisThe forgotten legacy of religious Jewish anarchism, and the adventures and ideas of its key figures, finally comes to light in this book. Set in the decades surrounding both world wars, No masters but God identifies a loosely connected group of rabbis and traditionalist thinkers who explicitly appealed to anarchist ideas in articulating the meaning of the Torah, traditional practice, Jewish life and the mission of modern Jewry. Full of archival discoveries and first translations from Yiddish and Hebrew, it explores anarcho-Judaism in its variety through the works of Yaakov Meir Zalkind, Yitshak Nahman Steinberg, Yehudah Leyb Don-Yahiya, Avraham Yehudah Heyn, Natan Hofshi, Shmuel Alexandrov, Yehudah Ashlag and Aaron Shmuel Tamaret. With this ground-breaking account, Hayyim Rothman traces a complicated story about the modern entanglement of religion and anarchism, pacifism and Zionism, prophetic anti-authoritarianism and mystical antinomianism.Trade Review'The panoramic view of these thinkers over the course of the book’s ten chapters is an especially important contribution for the English reader since it fills a noticeable gap in scholarship by offering first-ever English translations of Hebrew and Yiddish texts and lays the foundation for future research.'Lehrhaus'A pioneering, thoroughly researched, and comprehensive portrait of [...] 8 advocates of religious Jewish anarchism.'Lilian Türk, Religion, State and Society, Volume 50 (2022) -- .Table of Contents1 An anarchist minyan2 Historical and theological context Part I: The activists3 Yaakov Meir Zalkind (1875–1938)4 Yitshak Nahman Steinberg (1888–1957) Part II: The mystics5 Shmuel Alexandrov (1865–1941)6 Yehuda Ashlag (1885–1954) Part III: The pacifists7 Yehuda-Leyb Don-Yahiya (1869–1941)8 Avraham Yehudah Heyn (1880–1957)9 Natan Hofshi (1890–1980)10 Aaron-Shmuel Tamaret (1869–1931)Conclusion: Contemporary relevanceIndex

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Book SynopsisThe question of whether God can be loving and send people to hell is one people have been asking for a long time. Surely a God who sends people to hell cannot love them? Starting with a look at who God is and how we relate to Him, Benjamin Skaug looks at the difficult topic of hell, and what the Bible says about it.Trade ReviewYou can tell a lot about a church based upon what is preached from the pulpit—and what isn’t. Thus, to survey the landscape of contemporary evangelicalism, it would be easy to conclude that few, if any, churches believe in a literal hell. Of course, the Scriptures as a whole, and our Lord Jesus Christ in particular, present an altogether different picture. Thankfully, Ben Skaug presents a compelling and biblical case for a literal hell and how it is rooted in the character of God. As believers in Christ, we don’t fear an eternity in hell, but the reality of it should motivate us to greater evangelistic witness. How Could a Loving God Send Anyone to Hell? provides just such motivation for the reader. -- Jason K. Allen (President, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary)With a pastor’s heart and theologian’s precision, Ben Skaug takes on challenging questions about life after death in this insightful book. His answers are biblical, forthright, and sobering. As you read, expect to be challenged intellectually. More importantly, prepare to be moved emotionally by the plight of unbelievers who have yet to receive the gospel. This book is a more than a theoretical treatise; it’s a call to action. -- Jeff Iorg (President, Gateway Seminary, Ontario, California)… a timely resource for both reminding believers of the role of hell in God’s purposes and warning unbelievers of their need to repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Ben Skaug combines robust biblical–theological arguments with apologetic skill and pastoral sensitivity, and his Appendix is worth the price of the book. Highly recommended. -- Nathan A. Finn (Dean of the School of Theology and Missions and Professor of Christian Thought and Tradition, Union University, Jackson, Tennessee)The historic Christian doctrine of hell raises eyebrows, scorn, and sometimes tempers. It is usually avoided or marginalized, since it might feel too embarrassing to believe in hell in such a tolerant society. For downright honest people, though, hell raises questions. … Those genuinely seeking answers will find help here. -- Christopher Morgan (Dean of the School of Christian Ministries and Professor of Theology, California Baptist University, Riverside, California)Hell is often misunderstood or rejected outright today. Ben Skaug helps us see that the doctrine of hell fits with what the Bible teaches about who God is, with the teaching of Jesus, and with the nature of human beings. Indeed, the message of the gospel doesn’t make sense without the doctrine of hell. Here is a book on hell that needs to be read, digested, believed, and acted upon. -- Thomas R. Schreiner (James Buchanan Harrison Professor of New Testament Interpretation and Associate Dean, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky)… Skaug has written a very clear and convincing argument for the certainty of Hell in general and more specifically answers the question How Could a Loving God Send Anyone to Hell? … This book provides thoroughly biblical answers to this extremely relevant issue and would be excellent resource for those trying to work through this topic or have friends that are struggling with it. -- Paul D. Wegner (Distinguished Professor of Old Testament, Gateway Seminary, Ontario, California)

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Book SynopsisEve Tibbs offers a comprehensive yet accessible introduction to the beliefs and practices of the Eastern Orthodox Church for Western readers. Tibbs has devoted her career to translating the Orthodox faith to an evangelical audience and has over twenty years of experience teaching this material to students. Assuming no prior knowledge of Orthodox theology, this survey covers the basic ideas of Eastern Orthodox Christianity from its origins at Pentecost to the present day.Table of ContentsContentsForeword by His All Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch BartholomewPrefaceThe Origins of This BookThe Intended Audience for This BookHow This Book Should Be ReadIntroductionAssumptions and TerminologyThe ApproachChange?1. The Orthodox Christian Worldview"Returning" to the Unknown Ancient Church?The Orthodox Church in the Christian WorldEast Is East and West Is WestThe Primacy of WorshipCome and See!"Doing Theology" in Orthodox Christianity2. The ChurchJoined Together in the ChurchWhat Is the Church? Where Is the Church?The Orthodox Church TodayWhat Is "This Rock"?One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic3. Communion and RevelationWhat Holds the Orthodox Church Together?Communion and ConciliarityHoly TraditionThe EikōnHoly ScriptureHoly Icons4. Ministry and LeadershipThe Royal Vocation of All PeopleFirst among EqualsThree Orders of ClergyOrdination of WomenApostolic Succession5. ChristologyThe Word of God Is a PersonWho Is Jesus?Early Challenges to ChristologyThe Rule of TruthError and HeresyChristology and the Ecumenical CouncilsSinging Theology6. Who Are We? What Are We to Do?Created for CommunionTragedy in the GardenBeing SavedTheosisAll Creation RejoicesHumanity, We Have a ProblemThe Cross and Resurrection7. The Holy TrinityThe Revealed TrinityTrinitarian TaxisThe Cappadocian "Settlement"The Holy SpiritThe Church as an Icon of the Trinity8. Orthodox WorshipLiturgyAn Earthly HeavenRelevant and AncientThe Holy MysteriesSin, Confession, and ReconciliationEpilogueAppendix: Excerpts from Selected Apostolic and Patristic WritingsExcerpts from the Epistle of St. Ignatius to the PhiladelphiansExcerpts from the Epistle of St. Ignatius to the SmyrnaeansExcerpts from Against Heresies 3.3 by St. Irenaeus, Bishop of LyonsFull Text of The Didache: The Lord's Teaching through the Twelve Apostles to the NationsGlossary of Orthodox TermsIndex

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Book SynopsisIn Supernatural: What the Bible Teaches About the Unseen World--and Why it Matters, Michael S. Heiser uses his expertise and fifteen years of research to tackle questions about what the Bible really says about the unseen world.Ronn Johnson's Supernatural: A Study Guide will help you further explore the ancient worldview of the Bible. Johnson walks through main themes and big picture ideas from Supernatural, while connecting each with practical applications. Reflection questions at the end of each chapter are designed for individual study or discussion with a small group.

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Book SynopsisA fine example of the best scholarship that lies at the intersection of philosophy, religion, and history. Dynamic Repetition proposes a new understanding of modern Jewish theories of messianism across the disciplines of history, theology, and philosophy. The book explores how ideals of repetition, return, and the cyclical occasioned a new messianic impulse across an important swath of late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century German Jewish thought. To grasp the complexities of Jewish messianism in modernity, the book focuses on diverse notions of “dynamic repetition” in the works of Franz Rosenzweig, Walter Benjamin, Franz Kafka, and Sigmund Freud, and their interrelations with basic trajectories of twentieth-century philosophy and critical thought. Trade Review“The slightest gap separates the repetition of the same and repetition with a difference, but through that opening messianic redemption may somehow find its way. Or so suggested four of the most powerful Jewish thinkers of the 20th century, Rosenzweig, Kafka, Benjamin, and Freud, according to Gilad Sharvit’s arresting new reading of their legacy. Analytically rigorous, boldly imaginative, and lucidly written, Dynamic Repetition demonstrates how that most improbable of hopes is itself a revenant that refuses to die.” -- Martin Jay, author of Genesis and Validity: The Theory and Practice of Intellectual History“Many have pondered the peculiar form of messianism characteristic of early 20th century German Jewish thought, but Sharvit’s elegant hypothesis is a winner. According to Sharvit, the messianic drive of Rosenzweig, Kafka, Benjamin, and Freud is neither the Hegelian progressive thrust, which strives towards the completion of history, nor the apocalyptic death-wish, which hopes for the abrupt end of the world: it is based on a dynamic repetition, conceived not as a compulsion to repeat and stabilize, but rather as an impulse to reach forward into the future and innovate. Pace the popular opinion which perceives Weimar Jewish messianism as radical and uncompromising, Sharvit proposes a more moderate view which may be summed up by the talmudic equivalent of Søren Kierkegaard, Rabbi Tarphon: ‘You are not required to complete the work, but neither you are free to desist from it.’” -- Agata Bielik-Robson, University of NottinghamTable of ContentsAbbreviationsIntroduction: Scenarios of RepetitionI. Preliminaries, 1. From Eternal Return to Modern Repetition2. Tradition and Repetition in German Jewish ModernityII. Repetition and Its Others3. “Weltliche Unlebendigkeit”: Eternity and Repetition in Rosenzweig4. Repetition and Alterity: Rosenzweig’s Translations of Yehuda Halevi, Intermezzo: Abrahamic Variations in Kafka and KierkegaardIII. The Breaking History5. To Know No History: Benjamin’s Eternal Return6. Revelatory Discovery: On Benjamin’s “Repetition of Opposites”7. Freud on Moses: The Return of the Repressed and the End of EssenceBibliography

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Book SynopsisSome people boldly claim, “Christianity is fine for some, but it isn’t for me”. Others feel it is just outdated and irrelevant. For better or worse, everyone in the Western world has come into contact with Christianity: we all have some opinion on it. James Anderson, with a clear, humorous logic, explores what Christianity really claims, and shows the underlying reason and consistency behind these claims. By the end of Why Should I Believe Christianity?, while you may not agree with the Christian worldview, it is impossible to be left sitting on the fence.Trade ReviewThis is a book I wish I had had in the mid-1970s when involved in student evangelism. The author is clear and straightforward, moving through why it is important to believe what is true and consistent with reality. I would happily give it to an unbeliever I had been having serious discussions with, which is, I think, the intended audience. Believers who struggle to find what to say to unbelievers would do well to read this. As well as improving their knowledge and understanding of basic gospel truths, it will give them more confidence when seeking to evangelise. -- Evangelical TimesJames Anderson does a masterful job ... This book will be a necessary tool for anyone interested in addressing arguments against Christian truth. -- K. Scott Oliphint (Professor of Apologetics and Systematic Theology, Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)James Anderson is one of the best writers in contemporary Reformed theology and apologetics ... This is one of the finest resources available for presenting the rationale of the Christian faith to an unbelieving reader. -- John M. Frame (Professor of Systematic Theology and Philosophy, Reformed Theological Seminary, Orlando, Florida)James Anderson in this very readable book offers clear biblical answers to the basic questions about God's existence, the Bible as divine revelation and Jesus' identity as God and man, the only God-given Saviour. He does so from what would be termed a 'presuppositional' approach - showing that only on the basis of the truthfulness of Christianity can sense be made of any aspect of the world. Christian truth claims 'fit' the way the world is made. He does so, however, in an attractive way that is mercifully free of the jargon and technicalities that too often obscure sound apologetic arguments. He covers the fundamentals well and provides a clear challenge to readers to trust in Christ. It is a book that can be given to interested enquirers with confidence and which will also help to equip Christians for evangelism. -- The Covenanter Witness (Magazine of the Reformed Presbyterian Churches of Scotland and Ireland)... writes with the mind of a scholar but the clarity and tone of a letter to a dear friend. His brief and engaging book covers a wide array of topics, from discussions on worldviews and evidence to philosophical arguments to inferences from the biblical record-all in the simplest terms possible. -- Brian Morley (Professor of Philosophy and Apologetics, The Masters College, Santa Clarita, California)... The Christian ministry, taken as a whole, must be understood as an apologetic calling. This is why books like Why Should I Believe Christianity? deserve careful reading by pastors and laypeople alike. In this book, believers will find a compelling defense of the Christian worldview and the resources necessary to stand firm in a faithless age. -- R. Albert Mohler (President, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky)

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Book SynopsisIn 1908, Rudolf Steiner gave a series of lectures about the Book of Revelation. He showed that the messages to the seven churches and the unsealing of the seven seals should be understood as references to initiation. In this light, the great images of the Apocalypse take on new meaning.As well as being a Steiner-Waldorf class teacher, Charles Kovacs was much in demand as an experienced and insightful lecturer for adults. In this book, he helps us make sense of the apocalyptic imagery, including the four beasts, the four riders, the woman clothed with the sun, and the New Jerusalem.The book is illustrated with Kovacs' own colour paintings.

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Book SynopsisPart 1 addresses three foundational matters: a theology of the word of God; an overview of NT Greek terms related to preaching; the scope and character of NT word ministries. Part 2 concentrates on exegetical studies of sections of NT teaching that relate especially to the post-apostolic context. Part 3 summarizes the exegetical findings, sets them within the context of biblical theology, and addresses some broader theological implications.Trade ReviewHere is a careful, balanced, scholarly study of an important subject. The author is a New Testament scholar; but he is also a pastor with a warm heart for the health of the local church. Those who preach and those who train and equip preachers will be helped by working carefully through the lucid exegetical work presented here, and following it through to its theological and pastoral conclusions. I commend very warmly this perceptive contribution to the debates surrounding the subject. * Christopher Ash. Pastor, author, and former Director of the Proclamation Trust's Cornhill Training Course *This is a really valuable biblical and theological study of ‘preaching’. In an age when we rightly re-think our style of ministry because we want to serve our contemporary church and contemporary world, we need to know what are the essentials of gospel ministry, what should be discarded, and what should be adopted. To resolve these questions, we must turn to the Bible. Jonathan Griffiths has served us well in this book, which helps us to clarify what the Bible teaches and requires, the exegetical and theological support for ‘preaching’, and also its key significance in God’s plan of salvation. * Peter Adam. Vicar-Emeritus of St Jude’s Carlton and retired Principal of Ridley College, Melbourne, Australia *In contrast to a tendency in some circles to minimize preaching or the sermon for the life of the church, Jonathan Griffiths shows that dynamic, powerful preaching of the Word by those set apart for this ministry is vital for the flourishing of the people of God. He argues clearly and cogently from the text itself, providing a readable treatment of a neglected theme in biblical theology. * Douglas J. Moo. Wessner Chair of Biblical Studies, Wheaton College; Chair, Committee on Bible Translation *I warmly welcome this fine exegetical study of the key biblical texts relating to preaching in the post apostolic age. Jonathan Griffiths argues, to my mind convincingly, that within the wider word ministry of the whole people of God, the New Testament assumes a unique and vital role for preaching and the preacher. * Vaughan Roberts. Rector of St. Ebbe’s Oxford and President of the Proclamation Trust *This volume … addresses the need for a biblical theology of preaching by focusing on some foundational matters … before closely studying a handful of passages in Paul and in Hebrews. Considering how much preaching is done week by week around the world, it is good to have a study that requires us to reflect on what we are doing. * D. A. Carson *Utterly biblical, thought-provoking . . . and very clearly and logically structured. Any preacher . . . can benefit from reading it. * London Seminary *

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Book SynopsisThe story of Joseph is one of the most well known in the Bible, yet is rarely mentioned in Scripture outside the Book of Genesis. How then do we understand Joseph’s significance in redemptive history? Is Joseph, as has often been suggested, a type of the Messiah? From Prisoner to Prince offers a comprehensive commentary on the Joseph narrative, exploring both its function within the overall narrative of Genesis as well as how it is used by later Biblical authors. Samuel Emadi considers the literary and theological context in which Joseph’s story was first written, as well the intra-canonical development of the story via inner-biblical allusion and how it is referenced and alluded to within the New Testament. Thorough, cogent and detailed, Emadi’s study contains the methodological rigour that has often been missing from messianic interpretations of Joseph. Carefully unpacking Joseph’s role throughout the Bible, he demonstrates that this story is both the resolution to Genesis’s narrative and typologically influences the later narration of redemptive history. The culmination is the New Testament’s portrayal of Jesus as an antitypical, new and final Joseph. Insightful and accessible, From Prisoner to Prince is a valuable new addition to the New Studies in Biblical Theology series. Full of stimulating insight, it is ideal for students studying the Joseph story, pastors preaching from Genesis and anyone looking for a study of the life and impact of Joseph that digs deeply into its theological echoes in the wider Bible.. From Prisoner to Prince will leave you with a greater understanding of the story of Joseph both as part of the Book of Genesis, and as part of the whole of Scripture that points ultimately towards Jesus Christ.Trade ReviewThis book by Dr Sam Emadi meets a great need. Immensely readable despite its voluminous notes, Emadi's study carefully works through the role of Joseph within Genesis, then his role within the Old Testament canon, before exploring the subtle but undeniable appeal to the Joseph narrative taken up by several New Testament writers. Dr Emadi's case is cautious, understated, but interlocking and cumulative, and, finally, convincing. This book is destined to generate both scholarly discussion and better biblical-theological sermons. * D. A. Carson, Research Professor of New Testament, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, USA *

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Book SynopsisExplore Answers to Life's Most Important Theological Questions. Over 175,000 Copies Sold! How do we know the Bible is God's Word? What is sin and where did it come from? How is Jesus fully God and fully man? What are spiritual gifts? When and how will Christ return? If you've asked questions like these, then systematic theology is no abstract term. It's an approach to finding answers every Christian needs to know. The second edition of Bible Doctrine by respected theologian Wayne Grudem takes a widely used upper-level textbook on systematic theology and makes it accessible. Abridged from the second edition of Wayne Grudem's award-winning Systematic Theology, Bible Doctrine covers the same essentials of the faith, giving you a firm grasp on seven key topics: The Doctrine of the Word of God The Doctrine of God The Doctrine of Man The Doctrine of Christ The Doctrine of the Application of Redemption The Doctrine of the Church The Doctrine of the Future. You don't need to have had several years of Bible college or seminary training to reap the benefits of Bible Doctrine. It's easy to understand and packed with biblical answers to your most pressing theological questions. This new edition now includes: New, thoughtful critiques of open theism, the new perspective on Paul, Molinism (or "middle knowledge"), "Free Grace" theology, and the preterist view of Christ's second coming Completely revised, stronger chapter on the clarity of Scripture Completely revised, stronger chapter on creation and evolution. New discussion of how biblical inerrancy applies to some specific "problem verses" in the Gospels Additional material respectfully explaining evangelical Protestant differences with Roman Catholicism (with extensive interaction with the Catechism of the Roman Catholic Church), Protestant liberalism, and Mormonism Completely updated bibliographies All Scripture quotations updated from RSV to ESV An explanation of why monogenes in John 3:16 and elsewhere should be translated as "only begotten" rather than merely "only" An extensive discussion on the eternal submission of the Son to the Father A discussion of recent criticisms of the penal substitutionary view of the atonement Numerous other updates and corrections that have be prompted by letters and emails from people around the world and by interaction with the students Wayne has taught over the last 26 years both at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and at Phoenix Seminary

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Book SynopsisThe Jesus Puzzle: Challenging intellectual uncertainty about Jesus shares the question of knowledge of the historical Jesus, in order to refute sceptics who consider that we can know very little about Him - and to encourage Christians to have more confidence in relating to what is said about Jesus in the gospels.

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Book SynopsisThen I saw a new heaven and a new earth ... And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem ... And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man."' (Revelation 21:1-3, ESV). In this comprehensive study, Gregory Beale argues that the Old Testament tabernacle and temples were symbolically designed to point to the end-time reality that God's presence, formerly limited to the Holy of Holies, was to be extended throughout the whole cosmos. Hence, John's vision in Revelation 21 is best understood as picturing the new heavens and earth as the eschatological temple. Professor Beale's stimulating exposition traces the theme of the tabernacle and temple along the Bible's story-line, also illuminating many texts and closely related themes. He shows how the significance and symbolism of the temple can be better understood in the light of contrasts to and similarities with Ancient Near Eastern assumptions, and offers new insights into the meaning of the temple in both Old and New Testaments.Trade Review"The importance of this book therefore lies not only in the competent handling of its chosen theme, but in three other things: its evocative unpacking of the theme of the temple and its relations to broader structures of thought, including the kingdom of God; its modelling of the way biblical theology is to be done; and its capacity to cause readers to perceive fresh and wonderful things in the Scriptures, and to bow in worship and gratitude." -- D. A. Carson

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Book SynopsisWhat kind of a world was St Patrick born into? Why were his visions and dreams considered so dangerous by the early church? How much do we really know about Ireland's foremost Saint? In this beautiful little book, Irish painter Hector McDonnell tells the amazing story of the Romano-British youth enslaved by Irish raiders who escaped only to return and Christianise Ireland. With fascinating new theories, exquisite old plates and occasional drawings by the author.

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