One God, One People : oneness and unity in early Christianity by
From ancient times to the present day, utopian social ideas have made the unity of humankind a central concern. In the face of the threats to civic peace and harmony caused by misrule, factions, inequality, and moral weakness, philosophical and religious traditons in antiquity gave considered attention to the attainment of oneness both as an idal and as an embodied practice. In this olume, scholars of ancient history, early Judaism, and biblical studies come together to show that ideas of unity and practices of oneness were grounded in larger conceptions of worldview, cosmic order, and power, with theological ideas such as the oneness of God laying an important foundation. In particular, contributors focus on how early Christians, with their inherited Jewish, Greek, and Roman traditions, reinterpreted oneness in light of their new identity as "members of Christ" and how they put it inot practice.
Compelling Lives : five Methodist abolitionists and the ideas that inspired them by
What motivates people to work for justice? Recent studies have moved away from an emphasis on specific principles and toward an understanding of social and cultural forces. But what about times in history when distinct ideas were critical for positive change?The pre-Civil War abolitionist movement represents one such time. During an era when race-based slavery was buttressed by the machinery of civil law, many people developed arguments for freedom and equity that were grounded in divine law. There were Methodist witnesses for justice who lived by this distinction between civil and godly authority. While Methodism, as an institution, betrayed its founding opposition to slavery, many within the movement expressed a prophetic vision. A vibrant counterculture borrowed from Scripture and modern philosophy to argue for a "higher law" of justice.The world-changing ideas that overcame slavery in America were not disembodied and ethereal. They were mediated through the lives of multidimensional individuals. Sojourner Truth, Luther Lee, Laura Haviland, Henry Bibb, and Gilbert Haven were very different from one another. Yet they were animated by similar ideas, grounded in faith, and shaped by a common commitment to human rights.
Missouri north : the history of Lutheran church - Canada by
Missouri North traces the history of Lutheran Church–Canada (LCC) from its beginnings in the mid-1800s down to the present day. What began as a small mission outpost of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) grew in time to be a federation within the larger LCMS during the mid-20th century before eventually becoming an autonomous church body in 1988. In the years since then, Lutheran Church–Canada has matured into an established leader among confessional Lutheran churches worldwide. Today, LCC continues to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ both at home in Canada as well as internationally alongside mission partners in places like Ukraine, Nicaragua, and Southeast Asia.
In the first half of Missouri North, noted Canadian Lutheran historian Norman J. Threinen charts the development of LCC from its origins until autonomy. The second half of the book sees LCC’s first three presidents, Edwin Lehman, Ralph Mayan, and Robert Bugbee, continue the story, recounting milestones in the history of Lutheran Church–Canada over the next three decades. David H. Somers provides an additional essay examining the unique story of LCC’s French-language ministry.
Decolonization and the Remaking of Christianity by
In the decades following the era of decolonization, global Christianity experienced a seismic shift. While Catholicism and Protestantism have declined in their historic European strongholds, they have sustained explosive growth in Asia, Latin America, and Africa. This demographic change has established Christians from the Global South as an increasingly dominant presence in modern Christian thought, culture, and politics. Decolonization and the Remaking of Christianity unearths the roots of this development, charting the metamorphosis of Christian practice and institutions across five continents throughout the pivotal years of decolonization. The essays in this collection illustrate the diverse new ideas, rituals, and organizations created in the wake of Western imperialism's formal collapse and investigate how religious leaders, politicians, theologians, and lay people debated and shaped a new Christianity for a postcolonial world. Contributors argue that the collapse of colonialism and broader cultural challenges to Western power fostered new organizations, theologies, and political engagements across the world, ultimately setting Christianity on its current trajectory away from its colonial heritage. These essays interrogate decolonization's varied and conflicting impacts on global Christianity, while also providing a novel framework for rethinking decolonization's modern legacies. Taken together, this book charts the relationship between decolonization and Christianity on a truly global scale. Contributors: Joel Cabrita, Darcie Fontaine, Elizabeth A. Foster, Udi Greenberg, David Kirkpatrick, Eric Morier-Genoud, Phi-Vân Nguyen, Justin Reynolds, Sarah Shortall, Lydia Walker, Charlotte Walker-Said, Albert Wu, Gene Zubovich.
John Chrysostom on Paul: praises and problem passages by
John Chrysostom (ca. 347-407 CE), archbishop of Constantinople, was one of the most famous ancient Christian preachers. In this new book Margaret M. Mitchell collects twenty-five of Chrysostom's lesser-known sermons on Pauline passages as well as some that focus on Paul himself. Mitchell presents the Greek text and an original translation of each of these fascinating sermons and evaluates how Chrysostom dealt with some of the ethical, theological, historical, political, and literary problems present in Paul's letters.
Amazing Grace : a cultural history of the beloved hymn by
A fascinating journey through the history of "Amazing Grace," one of the transatlantic world's most popular hymns and a powerful anthem for humanity. Sung in moments of personal isolation or on state occasions watched by millions, "Amazing Grace" has become an unparalleled anthem for humankind. How did a simple Christian hymn, written in a remote English vicarage in 1772, come to hold such sway over millions in all corners of the modern world? With this short, engaging cultural history, James Walvin offers an explanation. The greatest paradox is that the author of "Amazing Grace," John Newton, was a former Liverpool slave captain. Walvin follows the song across the Atlantic to track how it became part of the cause for abolition and galvanized decades of movements and trends in American history and popular culture. By the end of the twentieth century, "Amazing Grace" was performed in Soweto and Vanuatu, by political dissidents in China, and by Kikuyu women in Kenya. No other song has acquired such global resonance as "Amazing Grace," and its fascinating history is well worth knowing.
Die Lutherdenkmäler Zwischen 1817 Und 1917: Denkmalforschung, Lutherrezeption und protestantische Erinnerungskultur by
Die Lutherdenkmäler des gesamten 19. Jahrhunderts werden in dieser Arbeit erstmals historisch eingeordnet und gedeutet. Auf Basis eines umfangreichen Quellenmaterials wird herausgearbeitet, wie Luther zwischen dem 300. und 400. Reformationsjubiläum im Medium Denkmal erinnert wurde. Die Planung, Gestaltung und Einweihung der Standbilder geben Aufschluss darüber, wie politische, gesellschaftliche und kirchengeschichtliche Ereignisse die jeweilige Erinnerung an den Reformator beeinflussten. Die Lutherdenkmäler werden in vier, zeitlich aufeinanderfolgende Phasen eingeteilt, um Entwicklungslinien dieses Mediums bestimmen zu können. So war bis zur Entstehung des deutschen Nationalstaats die Diskussion bestimmt von der Etablierung eines bestimmten Lutherdenkmaltypus. Im Zuge des Lutherjubiläums 1883 kam es zu einem regelrechten Denkmalboom im öffentlichen, städtischen Raum. Es folgte eine dezidiert protestantische Profilierung des Standbilds um die Jahrhundertwende und durch die zunehmende Denkmalkritik und die Kriegsgeschehnisse ist um 1917 ein Neuansatz in der Denkmalkultur Luthers feststellbar. Die Studie leistet einen Beitrag zur Denkmalforschung, Lutherrezeption und protestantischen Erinnerungskultur des 19. Jahrhunderts.
The Holy Crown and the Hungarian Estates : constructing early modern identity in the Kingdom of Hungary by
This book is about one of the most important elements of the political narratives in the history of Hungary in past and present: the Holy Crown of Hungary. This object is one of the most widely used symbols of modern Hungarian nationalism in our times and has been in use for ages in political culture. Surprisingly less is known how the meaning of the crown has changed over the centuries and how this influenced the development of national identity in the early modern period. Starting point is that the medieval doctrine of the holy crown is a modern invention. Teszelszkys research concentrates on the relation between the change in the meaning of this crown and the construction of an early modern national identity between 1572 and 1665. Using a constructivist method of research the author shows how the Habsburg ruler and the Hungarian estates legitimised their political program through an image of the crown and the Hungarian political community. In a short period between the end of 1604 and 1613 during a rebellion in Hungary, a war with the Ottomans and a strive between Emperor Rudolf II and his brother Archduke Matthias, the medieval tradition of the holy crown was revived and redeveloped by Hungarian and foreign historiographers into an ideology which is still present today.
Vatican II: a Very Short Introduction by
Very Short Introductions:Brilliant, Sharp, Inspiring The Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), or Vatican II, is arguably the most significant event in the life of the Catholic Church since the Reformation. The Council initiated, intentionally or not, profound changes not simply within Catholic theology, but in the religious, social, and moral lives of the world's billion Catholics. It also reconfigured, intellectually and practically, the Church's engagements with those outside of it - most obviously with regard to other religions. The sixteen documents formally issued by Vatican II constitute some of the most influential writings of the whole twentieth century. Debates over their correct interpretation and authority are constant, but they remain an indispensable point-of-reference for all areas of Catholic life, from liturgy and sacraments, to the Church's vast network of charitable and educational endeavours the world over. In this Very Short Introduction, Shaun Blanchard and Stephen Bullivant present the backstory to this event. Vatican II is explored in light of the wider history of the Catholic Church and placed in the tumultuous context of the 1960s. It distils the research on Vatican II, employing the first-hand accounts of participants and observers, and the official proceedings of the Council to paint a rich picture of one of the most important events of the last century. 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.
The Huguenot-Anglican Refuge in Virginia: empire, land, and religion in the Rappahannock region by
The Huguenot-Anglican Refuge in Virginia is the history of a Huguenot emigrant community established in eight counties along the Rappahannock River of Virginia in 1687, with the arrival of an Anglican-ordained Huguenot minister from Cozes, France named John Bertrand. This Huguenot community, effectively hidden to researchers for more than 300 years, comes to life through the examination of county court records cross-referenced with French Protestant records in England and France. The 261 households and fifty-three indentured servants documented in this study, including a significant group from Bertrand's hometown of Cozes, comprise a large Huguenot migration to English America and the only one to fully embrace Anglicanism from its inception. In July 1687 a French exile named Durand de Dauphiné published a tract at The Hague outlining the pattern and geography of this migration. The tract included a short list of inducements Virginia officials were offering to attract Huguenot settlers to Rappahannock County. These included access to French preaching by a Huguenot minister who would also serve an established Anglican parish, and the availability of inexpensive land. John Bertrand was the first of five French exile ministers performing this dual track ministry in the Rappahannock region between 1687 and 1767. ty. These included access to French preaching by a Huguenot minister who would also serve an established Anglican parish, and the availability of inexpensive land. John Bertrand was the first of five French exile ministers performing this dual track ministry in the Rappahannock region between 1687 and 1767.ty. These included access to French preaching by a Huguenot minister who would also serve an established Anglican parish, and the availability of inexpensive land. John Bertrand was the first of five French exile ministers performing this dual track ministry in the Rappahannock region between 1687 and 1767.ty. These included access to French preaching by a Huguenot minister who would also serve an established Anglican parish, and the availability of inexpensive land. John Bertrand was the first of five French exile ministers performing this dual track ministry in the Rappahannock region between 1687 and 1767.
Prayer Books and Piety in Late Medieval and Early Modern Europe / Gebetbucher und Frommigkeit in Spatmittelalter und Fruher Neuzeit by
This collected volume is dedicated to the role of prayer books in lay piety in medieval and early modern contexts. Instead of focusing on individual examples, it places them within the broader genre of devotional literature and considers them in connection with prevailing cultural, religious and artistic developments, taking into account the Reformation, the printing press and growing interest in lay piety, in the context of increasing individualism, developing literacy, privatization and/or personalization of religion. Contextualising devotional literature, the volume refines understandings of religious practice fostered by traditional Catholicism and early modern Protestantism and its relationship with the written word, locating the use of books within a devotional 'diet' that included oral recitation of prayers as well as contemplation of images. Stressing continuities, often against the grain of existing literature, this volume highlights differences between regional cultures of prayer in contrast to norms set by the universal Church and emphasizes the tension between public/communal and private/individual devotion.
Monasticism and the City in Late Antiquity and the Early Middle Ages by
This Element will reevaluate the relationship between monasticism and the city in late antiquity and the early Middle Ages in the period 400 to 700 in both post-Roman West and the eastern Mediterranean, putting both of those areas in conversation. Building on recent scholarship on the nature of late antique urbanism, the authors can observe that the links between late antique Christian thought and the late and post-Roman urban space were far more relevant to the everyday practice of monasticism than previously thought. By comparing Latin, Greek and Syriac sources from a broad geographical area, the authors gain a birds' eye view on the enduring importance of urbanism in a late and post-Roman monastic world.
Three Powers in Heaven : the emergence of theology and the parting of the ways by
A fresh look at how Christianity and Judaism became two distinct religions through the parting of their intellectual traditions How, when, and why did Christianity and Judaism become separate religions? This book reinterprets the parting of the ways between Jews and Christians in late antiquity as a split between two intellectual traditions, a split that took place in the context of Christian theological debates. By demonstrating that the constitution of communal borders coincided with the elaboration of different ways of producing religious knowledge, Emanuel Fiano shows that Christian theological controversies, often thought to teach us nothing beyond the history of dogma, can cast light on the broader religious landscape of late antiquity. Fiano marks not only a historical but also a methodological intervention in the study of the parting of the ways and in the study of late ancient religion more broadly. In his thought-provoking book we observe Christianity fall away from Judaism through the constitution of its own intellectual tradition, sustained by new practices for religious inquiry.
Augustine, Martyrdom, and Classical Rhetoric by
Early Christian martyr accounts were less about recounting history than about constructing theology. As such, many historians of late antique Christianity call them "rhetorical." But what does this mean for early Christian theology of martyrdom? And what rhetorical techniques are actually being used for such theological construction? To answer these questions, Adam Ployd looks to Augustine of Hippo. He places Augustine's martyr theology within its classical rhetorical context, drawing upon the theoretical foundations of Cicero, Quintilian, and others. Ployd investigates all of Augustine's major controversies as well as his work as a bishop and preacher cultivating a particular vision of the Christian life. Ployd uncovers the rich rhetorical roots of Augustine's martyr theology, roots that delve beyond ornamentation and into the depths of inventio and the techniques of rhetorical argumentation. What emerges from this investigation is a vision of Augustine's martyr discourse that is connected to his larger theological projects, including the promotion of Christian virtue pursued in the context of God's mysterious, providential work in human history.
Bonhoeffer and Christology: revisiting Chalcedon by
The key question this volume addresses is 'how does Bonhoeffer's thought help to re(dis)cover the doctrine of Christ's two natures and one person and understand and renew it in its significance for a modern post-metaphysical and secular world?' The volume takes a fresh look at Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Christology and brings it into a fruitful dialogue with current Christological debates. In a multi-perspectival, pluralistic world, Bonhoeffer's thinking offers a productive basis for conceptually incorporating the openness required for this task into academic theology. Bonhoeffer's theology offers a starting point for the recovery of a productive Christology that reflects the plurality of the globalized world, as Bonhoeffer's Christology begins precisely with this integration into worldly reality, whereby the world is understood in its plurality and polyphony. In this way, he characterizes his enterprise as follows: "What keeps gnawing at me is the question, what is Christianity, or who is Christ actually for us today" (DBWE 8, 362). Accordingly, it opens itself up not only to inner-Christian discussion but also to non-Christian worldviews, from which a basic ethical demand follows.
Enjoy the latest articles by Luther Sem's own Faculty, from Word & World, most recent issues in 2022 & 2023, accessed via Luther Library's subscription to ATLA -Religion Database. Here's a few samples:
Looking back to imagine going forward, by Jennie Wojciechowski
Also found in the ATLA Database is the Lutheran Quarterly--- Here are a few examples from their most recent issues: Current Perspectives on Luther’s Biblical Interpretation by Robert Kolb (Lutheran Q); Bonhoeffer's Luther Bible, by Shetler (see PDF below); What womanist theology taught me about God, by Lauren Reliford in Sojourners Magazine, Mar.23, 2023
A Burning House: redeeming American evangelicalism by examining its history, mission, and message by
American Evangelicalism is ablaze. This is an inevitable result of divisions along ethnic and cultural lines, which have long tarnished the movement's witness. Doctrinal identity unites black and white evangelicals, but rifts afflict the camp, so the movement is waning. In A Burning House, Brandon Washington contends that deliberate and sacrificial integration is the sole solution to bolster evangelicalism's foundation. In the 1950s and '60s, with desegregation on the horizon, Martin Luther King Jr. said, "I've come to believe that we are integrating into a burning house." As with the country, if we hope to move toward integrating the American Evangelical church, we must do so as firefighters. Washington is not calling American Evangelicalism to become something new. Rather, he challenges the movement to realize what it has always been in Christ. The selfless integration of Evangelicalism will result in a holy witness to humanity and a greater understanding of Shalom--peace, justice, wholeness--in the world. These are the inevitable fruits of espousing and preaching a comprehensive gospel message.
Patriarch Dioscorus of Alexandria: the last pharaoh and ecclesiastical politics in the later Roman empire by
Patriarch Dioscorus of Alexandria: The Last Pharaoh of Alexandria and Ecclesiastical Politics in the Later Roman Empire offers a thorough revision of the historical role of Dioscorus as patriarch of Alexandria between 444 and 451 CE. One of the major protagonists of the Christological controversy, Dioscorus was hailed a saint in Eastern Church traditions which opposed the Council of Chalcedon in 451. Yet Western Church traditions remember him as a heretic and violent villain, and much scholarship maintains this image of Dioscorus as 'ruthless and ambitious', a 'tyrant-bishop' feared by his opponents-the 'Attila of the Eastern Church'. This book breaks with these negative stereotypes and offers the first serious historical analysis of Dioscorus as ecclesiastical politician and reformer. It discusses the discrepancy that theologically Dioscorus was a loyal follower of his famous predecessor Cyril of Alexandria (412-444) while politically he was the leading figure of the anti-Cyrillian party in Alexandria. Analysing Dioscorus' role as president of the Second Council of Ephesus in 449 and his downfall and deposition at the Council of Chalcedon in 451, Menze also offers a much-needed new reading of the acts of these two general councils. Reappraising the life and role of Dioscorus ultimately shows how the Christological controversy of the fifth century can only be fully understood against the background of imperial politics-and its mechanisms for implementing 'Orthodoxy'-in the Later Roman Empire.
I Am Joseph! : Luther's last lectures on the last chapters of Genesis by
This book focuses on Luther's very last lectures, which interpret the Joseph story in the final chapters of Genesis. Scholars have frequently neglected the later Luther and the Genesis Lectures, making this an important new contribution to the field. Luther's lectures are not a modern scientific commentary, but enarrations, as Kenneth Hagen calls them, filled with public proclamation, expanded narrative, and a performative sense of language. The author furthers Oswald Bayer's performative interpretation of Luther's theology with a more sophisticated linguistic philosophy, while continuing Bayer's theological direction. The book is an important new contribution to Luther studies and will be of interest to seminarians as well as to students of hermeneutics, homiletics, the relevance of the performative in proclamation, and philosophy of language. "Peter D. S. Krey offers a theologically expansive and polyvalent reading of Luther's lectures on the last chapters of Genesis, the story of Joseph and his family in Egypt. Composed at the end of his days, the lectures were fully informed not only by Luther's mature theology, but also by his own lifelong struggles with hopelessness and fear. Krey's writing is lively, at times moving, his scholarship capacious. His book calls renewed attention to this most important work just when our own deeply troubled world needs it most." --Christine Helmer, Peter B. Ritzma Chair of Humanities, Professor of German and Religious Studies, Northwestern University "Dr. Peter Krey takes the reader on an energetic ride, as he examines Luther's reading of the Joseph Story through a variety of intriguing interpretive lenses. With his unique and empathetic approach, Krey has accumulated an original examination of a key section of Luther's Genesis lectures. Luther is alive on these pages that lay out the complexity of his theological language in ways that resonate with both mind and heart." --Rev. Dr. Brooks Schramm and Rev. Dr. Kirsi Stjerna, Editors/Authors of Martin Luther, the Bible, and the Jewish People
The Church's Unholy War : Russia's invasion of Ukraine and orthodoxy by
How did religion contribute to Russia's invasion of Ukraine? Heated disputes and alienation among Orthodox Christians in Ukraine and Russia contributed to Russian aggression in Crimea and Donbas in 2014, and the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. This book examines attempts from the early twentieth century to the present day to liberate the Ukrainian Orthodox Church from Russian control. It explores the causes of bitter alienation, Russia's use of soft power to maintain control, the development of hate speech used to discriminate against independent-minded Ukrainians, and the transition from soft to hard power from 2014 to the present.
Pseudo Basilii Epistula consolatoria : De Consolatione in Aduersis by
El De consolatione in aduersis (CPL 999) es un texto tradicionalmente impreso entre las obras latinas del Padre de la Iglesia Griega Basilio Magno. Se trata de una adaptacion cristiana de la consolatio antigua que adopta la forma de una carta dirigida a un generico frater para ofrecerle consuelo ante la adversidad -en particular, ante la enfermedad y, especificamente, la peste- y concienciarlo de que la adversidad es el castigo divino del pecador y un estimulo para el justo. El interes de una nueva edicion es triple. Por un lado, en el aspecto textual, se ha empleado por primera vez el codice 275 de la Biblioteca municipal de Angers, que constituye el mejor testimonio de la tradicion manuscrita. Su lectura permite, en segundo lugar, un examen detallado de la lengua de la obra, que presenta las particularidades propias del latin merovingio. Por ultimo, las abundantes citas biblicas pertenecen todavia en su mayoria a la Vetus Latina e incluyen versiones y pasajes de gran valor. El estudio de fuentes, lengua y tradicion manuscrita permite deducir que no se trata de una traduccion del griego, sino de una obra genuinamente latina, compuesta en epoca tardoantigua (s. V-VI) probablemente en la Galia.
Women and the Christian Story: a global history by
"This is a story about Christian women. It is a story of martyrs, mystics, missionaries, leaders, preachers, theologians, saints, and prophets." For most of its two-thousand-year history, Christianity has told its stories from the perspective of men, mostly powerful men, and almost always men in control of the "official" narrative. These masculine narratives tell only part of the story because they obscure the rich and essential contributions, large and small, of Christian women throughout time. If the stories of women have been overlooked generally, stories of women from outside the Western tradition have been even more seriously overlooked. In this exciting, readable, and fresh new history of Christianity, Jennifer Hornyak Wojciechowski foregrounds the story of Christian women for a new era. Be they powerful or nameless, saintly or flawed, women across two millennia and six continents are lifted up and allowed to speak fully to their part in the spread of the faith. Wojciechowski's book works perfectly as a classroom text while welcoming general readers of all backgrounds and interest levels.
Autobiography of St. Teresa of Avila** by 
Everyday religiosity and the politics of belonging in Ukraine by 
Sacred rivals : Catholic missions and the making of Islam in nineteenth-century France and Algeria by 
Gods, spirits, and worship in the Greco-Roman world and early Christianity by 
Found Christianities : remaking the world of the second century CE by 
The Oxford handbook of religion and Europe by