Stephen Oliver highlights four texts that provide the necessary basics for those beginning the journey of discipleship: Jesus' Summary of the Law, the Lord's Prayer, the Apostles' Creed and the Beatitudes. The importance of these 'guiding stars' as a resource for individuals, for local churches and for chaplains serving many different communities has been highlighted by the recent dramatic rise in the number of courses introducing Christianity to a wider world. But these texts are not only helpful to the newly converted, for discipleship and is a process, not a single event. They continue to give shape content and direction to what we learn and how we grow. They help us to think carefully about what we believe and to pray deeply about the meaning and practice of the Christian faith. As such, these guiding stars are eternal and invaluable aids towards enriching our relationship with God.

It's not exactly how one would expect God to occupy himself. Lord of space and time, newly resurrected from the dead, and what is he doing? Sitting quietly by the lakeside, cooking up breakfast and waiting for the disciples to drop by. The Gospels are full of odd quirks that most people never notice because the stories are so familiar. But Conrad Gempf notices. He uses his knowledge of Jesus' life and times to light up the meditations in this book. The forty short encounters in this book focus on Jesus as a teacher, Jesus as a miracle worker, on Jesus' radical spirituality and on his death and resurrection. Seasoning its unique insights with humor, Mealtime Habits of the Messiah both satisfies the hungry soul and piques the reader's appetite for prayer. "Gempf's well-balanced approach ...will put fuel in the tanks of all our journeys toward wholeness and purpose." - Rob Lacey, from the foreword "Conrad's book is a delight. It's like its subject, Jesus: alive, fun, engaging, warm, and occasionally wonderfully dangerous." - Jeff Lucas "An Inspiring and startling portrait of Jesus which will nourish your spirit and feed your soul." - Steve Chalke

In this series of reflections on the mystery of Jesus and the questions that surround him, noted New Testament scholar Wayne Meeks redirects the course of the Jesus debates. Insisting that we cease focusing on who the historical Jesus was and ask instead, who is Christ? Meeks demonstrates with electric and lucid prose that Jesus is not a permanent artifact whose precise nature can be traced back through history but, rather, a figure whose identity continues to emerge as contemporary persons engage him in their daily lives.

How did Jesus, a much-loved and highly respected Jewish teacher, get sentenced to death as a criminal? The questions of students and scholars about the actual circumstances, legal situation, and subsequent development of the Passion Narratives are here answered in Sloyan's second edition of this reliable resource, first published by Fortress Press in 1973. This second edition includes additional text, updated bibliography and notes, and a new preface.

Should the dissimilarity between Jesus and early Christianity or between Jesus and Judaism be the central criteria for the historical Jesus? Gerd Theissen and Dagmar Winter argue that the criterion of dissimilarity does not do justice to the single most important result of more than two-hundred years of Jesus research: that the historical Jesus belongs to both Judaism and Christianity. The two authors propose a criterion of historical plausibility so that historical phenomenon under question can be considered authentic so long as it can be plausibly understood in its Jewish context and also facilitates a plausible explanation for its later effects in Christian history. This book is a cooperative project between Dagmar Winter and Gerd Theissen and represents the fruit of many years of their research on the historical Jesus.

These reflections on Jesus' final words from the cross open our ears to the language of the Bible while opening our hearts to a truer vision of God. Hauerwas touches in original and often surprising ways on fundamental themes, emphasising both the humanity of Jesus and the sheer 'differentness' of God. Ideal for personal devotion during Lent and throughout the year, Cross-Shattered Christ offers a transformative reading of Jesus' words that goes directly to the heart of the gospel. This short book is perhaps the most powerful and poignant ever written by the man described by Time magazine as our 'greatest theologian'.

From the bestselling author of Bloodline of the Holy Grail comes an explosive historical detective story. Essential reading for all fans of Dan Brown's novels, Gardner presents secret archives on the true identity of Mary Magdalene, the hidden lineage of Jesus and Mary, and the 2,000-year-old conspiracy that forms the basis of Christianity itself. Laurence Gardner's impeccable research takes us on an exciting detective trail to piece together the true, controversial significance of the Magdalene. / Mary Magdalene is described in the New Testament as Jesus' close companion and a woman that he loved. And yet, the Church teaches that she was a prostitute who, at some stage, became repentant. Why the discrepancy between scripture and dogma? / Why does Mary appeal so romantically to artists, who have painted her throughout the centuries as something much more significant than the Church traditionally portrays? / What is the secret of Mary Magdalene and how much do we really know about her relationship with Jesus? Were they married? Did they have children, and if so, who makes up the messianic lineage? The book includes exclusive insights into: -- the Da Vinci connection: The real meaning behind Leonardo da Vinci's paintings and why the Renaissance Church censored portrayals of the Magdalene - the sacred marriage of Jesus and Mary - the truth about the enigmatic Templar society called The Priory of Sion and the underground stream that protected the sacred heritage of the messianic descendants - the truth behind the Knights Templar -- who they were and what their role was - the hidden gospel of the Magdalene, excluded from the New Testament canon - Mary Magdalene -- goddess or prostitute? Her life and exile in France - the forbidden tomb: the secret resting place of Mary Magdalene.

The twelve essays in this volume explore, through various approaches, not only the biblical portraits of Mary but also both "the quest for the historical Mary" and the understandings of those portraits through the centuries. Valerie Abrahamsen, Jorunn Jacobsen Buckley, John Dominic Crossan, Mary F. Foskett, Beverly Roberts Gaventa, Deirdre Good, Jorunn Okland, Jane Schaberg, George H. Tavard, John van den Hengel, Pieter W. van der Horst, and George T. Zervos offer contributions that address such topics as the understandings of sexuality, the divine feminine, soteriology, first-century social history, christology, Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox hermeneutics, ecumenical and interfaith relations, and the meaning of "virginity."Volume 10 of the Feminist Companions to the Bible Series

The twelve essays in this volume explore, through various approaches, not only the biblical portraits of Mary but also both 'the quest for the historical Mary' and the understandings of those portraits through the centuries. The expert contributors address such topics as the understandings of sexuality, the divine feminine, soteriology, first-century social history, christology, Protestant, Catholic, and Orthodox hermeneutics, ecumenical and interfaith relations, and the meaning of 'virginity'. This is Volume 10 of the Feminist Companions to the New Testament & Early Christian Literature series.

RELIGION / CHRISTIAN STUDIESThe canonical gospels were written long after the events they describe. Indeed, some of them may have been written by authors who were not even eyewitnesses to these events and who slanted their writings to fit the needs of the new Church. As a result, a huge gulf exists between the Christ of the Christian church and the historical Jesus. In Jesus the Rabbi Prophet Jacques Baldet seeks to restore the historical context and true nature of the Jewish society in which Jesus lived--a context in which his actions take on an entirely different meaning. The research of modern historians has shed much new light on the historical circumstances at work in Judaea and the Roman provinces that Jesus knew. Looking at the life of Jesus in its broader historical setting gives us answers to questions that have long puzzled historians: When did Jesus actually live? What was the true nature of his family, convictions, and spiritual beliefs? From this vibrant and highly informed perspective, the deeper story of the man from Galilee emerges: Rabbi Jesus was both a Jew imbued with the monotheistic teaching of the Torah and a visionary who preached of the kingdom within. Viewed in their proper historical context, Christ's betrayal by Judas, the Stations of the Passion, and his death on Calvary take on a new light. Baldet shows that the true life and original message of Jesus were concealed beneath the literary creations that primarily reflected the agenda of the early Church. Jesus was not seeking to start a new religion. He was a Jewish teacher who sought to reform the faith of his fathers by restoring dignity to the unfortunate and ostracized members of his society. JACQUESBALDET is a writer, economist, and international consultant who completed graduate studies in economics at the Sorbonne. He has worked for the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank and as a consultant for the United Nations Development Program. For many years he has conducted research into the historical Jesus and the Jewish roots of Christianity. He lives in France.

Herzog is writing an introduction for seminary and college students to the discussion about the historical Jesus. He reports on the findings of the Jesus Seminar and also traces other scholarly work in Jesus studies, but with an eye to the theological. He asks what difference the Historical Jesus makes in our understanding of the Gospels - and what difference this Jesus should make in our lives today. This volume takes the results of Herzog's two Jesus books and, in summary fashion, makes them available in an introductory textbook. Herzog integrates his study of the words of Jesus (parables) with that of Jesus' deeds (miracle stories) to present a holistic picture that will go toe to toe with Crossan, Borg and Wright for the intro market. This book offers very accessible and clear connection to what the Gospels are saying.

Nicholas Love's Mirror of the Blessed Life of Jesus Christ is an important work of late medieval English vernacular theology, and is made available here in a modern paperback "Reading Text" edition, complete with a short Introduction, explanatory notes and glossary, followed by a longer hardback: the "Full Critical Edition". The critical edition is not merely a revision of Michael Sargent's 1992 Garland best-text edition, now out of print, but a new and completely critical edition that uses the Garland volume only as its starting-point. Although based on the same manuscript, and containing much of the same introductory material, this edition includes the results of a complete collation of the 71 known surviving manuscripts and early prints. This collation demonstrates that the text exists in two separate authorial versions, of which the first, which incorporated a separate, independent translation of the Passion section, may not in the first instance have included the "Treatise on the Sacrament". The second version, on which the edition is based, is an authorial revision, undertaken, perhaps, after Love had met with Archbishop Arundel for approval of his text. The Introduction discusses the evidence for the process of composition of the text, and places Love's Mirror, properly, at the centre of current scholarly discussion of the development of vernacular theology in late medieval England and the consequences of Arundel's anti-Lollard Lambeth Constitutions.

Everyone knows about the famous images of Mary, from Michelangelo's Pieta to her appearances at Lourdes and Fatima. But the Holy Virgin has many lesser known images and titles, from her life as a young infant to her dormition. In this book, Ann Ball, a leading Catholic devotional writer, tells us the stories of these other faces of Mary--each one beautiful and unexpected, and all of them a tribute to the enduring power of the Mother of God around the world.

Dorothy Lee argues passionately for restoring the study of The Transfiguration to the centre of the theological stage, and she succeeds triumphantly. Whereas a theology of transfiguration has long been an essential part of the Eastern theologoical tradition, it has often seemed strange to our Western rational minds. The book argues that the transfiguration functions as an epiphany revealing Jesus' true identity and also an apocalyptic vision, depicting God's transforming future. A chapter is devoted to each of the four New Testament narratives of the transfiguration, setting the story within the wider literary and theological framework of the text. Traces of the transfiguration are examined in other parts of the New Testament, particularly in The Gospel of John, where the symbolism is close to that of the transfiguration. Finally, the author draws out the symbolism and theological implications of the transfiguration for an understanding of Christ, God's radical future and the transformation of all creation, drawing on the icons of Eastern Christianity and Western theologies of beauty. This book is a small masterpiece and a model of clarity and lucid exposition.

From the bestselling author of Bloodline of the Holy Grail and Lost Secrets of the Sacred Ark comes an explosive historical detective story, presenting secret archives on the mysterious life of Mary Magdalene, the hidden lineage of Jesus and Mary, and the real 2,000-year-old conspiracy involving the entire history of Christianity. Mary Magdalene is described in the New Testament as Jesus' close companion - a woman that he loved, and his financial sponsor. And yet, in contrast, the Church teaches that she was a prostitute who became repentant. Why the discrepancy between scripture and dogma? Why does Mary appeal so romantically to artists, who have painted her throughout the centuries as something much more significant than the Church traditionally portrays? What is the secret of Mary Magdalene and how much do we really know about her relationship with Jesus? Were they married? Did they have children, and if so, who makes up the messianic lineage? Laurence Gardner's takes us on a detective trail to piece together the true controversial significance of the Magdalene and its astonishing implications: - the allegorical portrayals of Leonardo da Vinci, including Mary's coded appearance in The Last Supper - the sacred marriage of Jesus and Mary - the enigmatic Templar society called The Priory of Sion apparently formed to protect the Jesus/Mary secret marital relationship and descendants - the truth behind the Knights Templar - who they were and what their role was - the hidden gospel of the Magdalene, excluded from the New Testament canon - Mary Magdalene - goddess or prostitute? Her life and exile in France - the forbidden tomb: the secret resting place of Mary Magdalene - the significance of the Magdalene to the history of Christianity

A natural sequel to The Historical Jesus Quest, The Historical Jesus Question offers commentary on the work and significance of the classic writers presented in the earlier volume--Spinoza, Strauss, Schweitzer, Troeltsch, Bultmann, Kasemann--and some additional comment on the work of Pannenberg. Not merely a summary discussion of these important writers, this book goes beyond to follow the implications for theology of the ongoing challenge history presents to biblical authority.

In his latest book, Sean Freyne draws on his detailed knowledge of Galilean society in the Roman period, based on both literary and archaeological sources, to give a fresh and provocative reading of the Jesus story within its Galilean setting. Jesus, a Jewish Galilean focuses on the religious as well as the social and political environment and examines the ways in which the Jewish religious experience had expressed itself in Galilee. It considers the ways in which the Jewish tradition in both the Pentateuch and the Prophets had constructed notions of an ideal Galilee. These provided the raw material for Jesus' own response to the issues of the day, from which he fashioned his own distinctive views of Israel's restoration and his own role in that project. Although Freyne is in touch with all recent scholarship about the historical Jesus, he brings his own distinctive take on the issues both with regard to Galilean society and Jesus' grounding in his own religious tradition. His Jesus is both Jewish and yet distinctive in his concerns and the ways in which he responds to the ecological, social and religious issues of his own time and place. Freyne seeks to retrieve the theological importance of Jesus' own message, something that has been lost sight of in the trend to present him primarily as a social reformer, while acknowledging the dangers of modernizing Jesus.

What are the facts about the life of Jesus, as opposed to the myths, or unprovable tenets of faith surrounding the miracles, death, and resurrection? How and when did Christianity become a separate religion from the Judaism into which Jesus was born? To what extent was his power over contemporaries political rather than religious? A. N. Wilson's answers to these questions will fascinate readers of every shade of faith or skepticism.

Jonathan Knight provides a useful overview and guide to the main issues in current research into the historical Jesus, making a major contribution to this topic of international debate. Whereas some scholars think that Jesus' journey to Jerusalem was a funeral march to victory, Knight argues that Jesus travelled there inspired by eschatological hope. On his arrival, Jesus performed symbolic acts such as the Triumphal Entry, the Cleansing of the Temple and the Last Supper as part of the eschatological process which he thought would herald the arrival of the Son of Man and thus yield dramatic change. While the mindset of Jesus remains obscure to us (not least because of the nature of the sources), this book represents a new and creative attempt to set Jesus in the context of apocalyptic Judaism and to restore eschatological hope to the centre of his message.

Freed's highly accessible introduction, directed at students and interested non-specialists as well as scholars, explains and examines these well-known stories from a critical perspective. "Critical" is taken in the sense of judging among alternative answers to problems that arise from such study and arguing for the preferred solution. The aim of this book is to draw the reader to the gospel accounts for the purpose of evoking critical thought rather than to persuade of a particular interpretation. In pursuit of this goal, the author shows how many diverse factors, including earlier traditions, literary styles, and the theological convictions of each gospel writer, have contributed to the composition of the narratives.

The book presents the Ascension as public truth, examining questions such as when did Jesus ascend - and how, where did he go, with what kind of body and into what kind of space? It discusses the nature of Jesus' victory, how it has been challenged, how it has been understood at different times in history, and how it relates to his second coming. The author examines the relevance of the doctrine for personal spiritual life: our union with Christ, Jesus praying for us, worship, and our own prayers. He goes on to consider living in God's kingdom, the tension between waiting for the kingdom and working for it now, suffering, humanisation, and the church and the world today. The book approaches the Ascension thematically, making it a useful teaching tool. Its themes arise from the categories in which the Church Fathers employed the doctrine. Gerrit Dawson shows the Ascension to be a vital key to understanding in a fresh way the person and work of Christ, union with Christ, the mission of the church in the world, Christian identity and spiritual theology. A unique feature of the book is the way Dawson combines a full presentation of Nicene trinitarian Christology with its application to the practicalities of Christian life today. Praise for Jesus Ascended: 'Gerrit Dawson harkens back to an older vision of ministry, that of the pastor-theologian. This vision is remarkably illustrated in this beautifully written book that can properly lay claim to being practical theology. Very highly recommended for both pastors and theologians who want to have a faith grounded in the continuing reality of the incarnation in the ascension of Jesus.' Andrew Purves, Princeton Theological Seminary 'This is a truly outstanding book for students, pastors and thinking Christians alike. I could not recommend it more enthusiastically!' Alan Torrance, St Andrew's University, UK 'A yawning gulf often appears between the interests of preacher and scholar, of pastor and theologian. Serious attempts to bridge that gulf are too few. This book is one of them. It brings to life the voice of the Fathers on the subject of the ascension of Jesus, and calls the church back to the roots of its faith.' Douglas Farrow, McGill University, Canada

C. David McKirachan offers eighteen first-person narratives told in the voices of characters from the life of Jesus, ranging from the Christmas story through the crucifixion and resurrection. In each story we are invited into the Gospel text. We inhabit the stories, and through the voice of each teller, we are drawn closer to the wonder experienced by the first witnesses of Jesus.

Devotion to the Five Wounds of Jesus has long been one of the most popular forms of Catholic spirituality. David Williams traces the roots of this devotion in Holy Scripture: the words of the prophets foretell the suffering Christ, while the New Testament witnesses to the victorious scars borne by the risen Lord. The Sacred Wounds of Jesus remained a persistent theme in the writings of the Desert Fathers and Doctors of the Church, a theme that was to be more fully developed in the devotional practice of the mediaeval period and on into modern times. Detailing the several forms devotion to the Five Wounds has taken (both mediaeval and modern) - in art, liturgy and poetry - David Williams recalls those holy people favoured by visons of the suffering Lord, as well as those who themselves came to bear the stigmata of Christ. He outlines the history of devotion to the specific wound in the Side - later seen as the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and describes the 'gift of tears' given to some from their reflection upon the Passion of their Master. David Williams is the author of The Cistercians on the Early Middle Ages and The Welsh Cistercians, both published by Gracewing.

This is a study of the historical Jesus that pays close attention to the role of space and place, from household to kingdom, for understanding Jesus' identity. Moxnes employs a sociological and anthropological approach that promises to give greater depth to our perceptions of Jesus. household. He explores the significance of Jesus leaving his own house and calling his disciples. He asks whether Jesus and the disciples' leaving their households have had an effect on their masculinity. Finally he discusses Jesus' creation of a new place, the kingdom of God, over against the established political powers in Galilee.

From "The Greatest Story Ever Told" to "Jesus of Montreal" to "Shane", the figure of Jesus has made repeated - and varied - appearances in American cinema. In this book Richard Walsh brings "Jesus-films", the canonical gospels, and American culture into conversation. The discourse begins in the theatre with the lights down low and the Jesus-films on the big screen. Walsh's commentary starts with the films themselves and the American Jesus(es) portrayed therein. Ironically, while we do not expect Jesus-films to "get Jesus or the gospels right," they do cast light on interesting literary and mythical features of the gospels - and on American culture. For example, Arcand's "Jesus of Montreal" offers fresh understanding of the apocalyptic discourse in Mark 13, and "Shane" and "Pale Rider" demonstrate that Americans desperately want a conquering hero who is not a capitalist or an imperialist to deal with their frustrations.