Common Places In Christian Theology

Common Places in Christian Theology invites readers to discover the rich and complex world of Christian theology. Sponsored by the journal Lutheran Quarterly and written by some of the finest contemporary Lutheran theologians, this collection of essays helps Christian teachers understand and explain the grammar and inner logic of faith. Exploring everything from scriptural authority to salvation and justification and the last things, these writers provide a unique and compelling introduction to Lutheran theology. As you receive the essentials of each topic, you will also consider contemporary concerns, whether in theology, or from the natural sciences, social sciences, political theories, or hermeneutics. Whether you are a seasoned preacher looking to sharpen your understanding of faith or a curious Christian seeking to better articulate your relationship with God, Common Places in Christian Theology will challenge and inspire you to think through your faith and share it with others.

The place in which we stand is often taken for granted and ignored in our increasingly mobile society. Differentiating between place and space, this book argues that place has very much more influence upon human experience than is generally recognised and that this lack of recognition, and all that results from it, are dehumanising. John Inge presents a rediscovery of the importance of place, drawing on the resources of the Bible and the Christian tradition to demonstrate how Christian theology should take place seriously. A renewed understanding of the importance of place from a theological perspective has much to offer in working against the dehumanising effects of the loss of place. Community and places each build the identity of the other; this book offers important insights in a world in which the effects of globalisation continue to erode people's rootedness and experience of place.

About This Volume In On the Church, Gerhard presents a robust ecclesiology centered on the doctrine of the visible and invisible church. Brick and mortar communities represent the visible church, which includes both faithful and faithless members. Gerhard calls the true church "invisible" because the faith of its members isn't outwardly discernable. As marks of the church, Gerhard simply proposes the pure preaching of the Word of God and the proper administration of the sacraments. He also extensively refutes the "exclusive" marks of the church proposed by his Roman Jesuit opponent Robert Bellarmine. The discussed marks include the name "catholic", antiquity, long duration, historical consensus, unity, holiness of confession, efficacy of conversion, holiness of life, miracles, prophesy, death of enemies, temporal felicity, and the acknowledgment of the church's truths by her enemies. About This Series The Theological Commonplaces series is the first-ever English translation of Gerhard's monumental Loci Theologici. Gerhard was the premier Lutheran theologian of the early seventeenth century. Combining his profound understanding of evangelical Lutheran theology with a broad interest in ethics and culture, he produced significant works on biblical, doctrinal, pastoral, and devotional theology. Gerhard interacts with the writings of the church fathers, Luther and his contemporaries, and the Catholic and Calvinist theologians of his day. His 17-volume Loci is regarded as the standard compendium of Lutheran orthodoxy, with topics ranging from the proper understanding and interpretation of Scripture to eschatology. Useful for research on Lutheran doctrine, Gerhard's accessible style makes this a must-have on the bookshelf of pastors and professional church workers. Each embossed hardback volume includes the translation of Gerhard's Loci (originally published from 1610 to 1625) - a glossary of key theological, rhetorical, and philosophical terms - a name index - a Scripture index - a carefully researched works cited list that presents guidance for deciphering the numerous abbreviations of the other titles from which Gerhard quotes.

About This Volume On Justification through Faith defines faith as a God given gift that knowledge, trust, and assent that apprehends Christ. In this way, faith is the instrumental cause of justification, where Christ is the meritorious and material cause of the same. This faith is a judicial term, apprehending Christ and receiving a change of status before God from villainy to sonship. Gerhard also argues that true, justifying faith cannot be separated from love and other virtues. In other words, faith alone justifies, but true faith is never alone. Gerhard expands on the role of virtue and action in the Christian life in his paired volume On Works. About This Series The Theological Commonplaces series is the first-ever English translation of Gerhard's monumental Loci Theologici. Gerhard was the premier Lutheran theologian of the early seventeenth century. Combining his profound understanding of evangelical Lutheran theology with a broad interest in ethics and culture, he produced significant works on biblical, doctrinal, pastoral, and devotional theology. Gerhard interacts with the writings of the church fathers, Luther and his contemporaries, and the Catholic and Calvinist theologians of his day. His 17-volume Loci is regarded as the standard compendium of Lutheran orthodoxy, with topics ranging from the proper understanding and interpretation of Scripture to eschatology. Useful for research on Lutheran doctrine, Gerhard's accessible style makes this a must-have on the bookshelf of pastors and professional church workers. Each embossed hardback volume includes the translation of Gerhard's Loci (originally published from 1610 to 1625) - a glossary of key theological, rhetorical, and philosophical terms - a name index - a Scripture index - a carefully researched works cited list that presents guidance for deciphering the numerous abbreviations of the other titles from which Gerhard quotes.

There are some new voices emerging in Christian theological conversation these days. They do not speak with American or Western European accents, but reflect their settings in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Since they come from many places, the theological questions they ask are not ones we are used to in the West. They are as likely to speak of ancestor worship or political oppression as they are of church growth or evangelism. One thing is clear: we cannot listen to their cries of hope (or despair) without being deeply moved. This book gives an opportunity to listen in to important conversations going on in different parts of the world. These Christian theologians do not respond to a common set of questions, but are setting their own agendas of theological discussion. With some general introductory comments, these pieces are meant to stimulate an appetite for further exploration. There seems little doubt that the major voices in theology in the next generation will share these non-western accents.

Volumes 2-3 edited with annotations by Benjamin T.G. Mayes.