Catholic Library Builder (238 vols.)

The New American Bible, Revised Edition (NABRE) is the culmination of nearly 20 years of work by a group of nearly 100 scholars and theologians, including bishops, revisers, and editors. The NABRE includes a newly revised translation of the entire Old Testament (including the Book of Psalms) along with the 1986 edition of the New Testament.

The NABRE is a formal equivalent translation of Sacred Scripture, sponsored by the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, using the best manuscripts available. Work on most books of the Old Testament by forty revisers and a board of eight editors began in 1994 and was completed in 2001. The 1991 revision of the Psalter, the work of thirty revisers and six editors, was further revised by seven revisers and two editors between 2009 and 2010. Work on the New Testament, begun in 1978 and completed in 1986, was the work of thirteen revisers and five editors.

With the Logos Bible Software edition, the New American Bible, rev. ed. (NABRE) is fully integrated with the other resources in Logos, including maps, dictionaries, and numerous other Bible study tools. The Logos edition also allows you to perform powerful searches and word studies, as well as the ability to sync this translation with other English and original language translations in your library for comparison. This makes the New American Bible, rev. ed. (NABRE) more powerful and easier to access than ever before for reading, sermon preparation, research, and Bible study.

This edition of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible has been prepared for use by Catholics by a committee of the Catholic Biblical Association of Great Britain. It is an authorized revision of the American Standard Version, published in 1901.

The Nova Vulgata is the official Latin version of the Bible for the Catholic Church. It has its origins in the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965), which put forth the mandate for a revision of the Latin Psalter in order to bring it in line with modern text-critical research. Then in 1965, Pope Paul VI established a commission to expand the revision to cover the entire Bible. The revised Psalter was completed and published in 1969, followed by the New Testament in 1971, and the entire Vulgate was completed in 1979. A second edition was then published several years later in 1986.

The textual basis of the Nova Vulgata is the critical edition of Jerome's Vulgate, as edited by the monks of the Benedictine Abbey of St. Jerome in Rome and the critical edition of the Vulgate edited by Robert Weber (also available with a critical apparatus in the German Bible Society Bundle). The basis for Tobit and Judith are the Old Latin manuscripts that predate Jerome's translation. Together this collection of texts were revised according to modern critical editions of the Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, along with a number of places where the editors believed that Jerome had misunderstood the meaning of the original or had translated it obscurely.

The original goal of the Nova Vulgata was to provide an authoritative edition of Jerome's translation for the production of a reformed Latin liturgy, while also correcting the Vulgate in use and taking into account other important liturgical factors such as readability in public and singability for choirs..

Jerome's translation of the Greek and Hebrew Scriptures into the vulgar (common) tongue of his time: Latin. It was recognized as authoritative during the Council of Trent (1546) and became the official Bible of the Roman Catholic Church. The widespread use of the Vulgate is also recognizable in its influence in early modern Bible translations, such as the Authorized, or King James, Version. Since Jerome lived in the fourth century AD, the original text "developed" much as the Greek autographs did, with geographical variant readings, etc., and the modern edition is a critical text from these variant manuscripts, much as is the case with modern Greek texts. The Vulgate continues to be of scholarly use today in the study of the textual transmission of the Bible and in the historical study of Christian theology.

Commissioned by Pope Damasus I and prepared c. A.D. 383-405, Jerome's Vulgate rapidly became the standard version of the Bible in the West and remained so for centuries. The Clementine Vulgate is the official edition of the Latin Vulgate, corrected and standardized following the Council of Trent and promulgated in 1592 by Pope Clement VIII.

For five centuries, the Douay-Rheims Bible has remained one of the standard English Bible translations for Roman Catholics around the world. As the first and most enduring translation of the Latin Vulgate, the Douay-Rheims was translated at the end of the sixteenth century at the initiative of Gregory Martin. It quickly rose in popularity among English Catholics—becoming an essential part of Catholic identity during the English Counter-Reformation—and has been reprinted hundreds of times in the centuries that followed.

Logos is pleased to offer the version of the Douay-Rheims Bible revised by Richard Challoner, which eliminated archaic words and English Latinisms, and made the Bible more accessible to English-speaking Catholics. This revision, first published in America in 1790, has undergone numerous reprintings throughout the nineteenth and twentieth century, making it the most widely-used and bestselling English translation of the Vulgate.

Also known as the "Authorized Version," The King James Version of the Bible is still the most widely used text in the English language. The Logos KJV includes the Strong's Numbers which allow English readers to identify and search for underlying Greek and Hebrew words in the original text.

Includes the books of I & II Esdras, Tobit, Judith, Additions to Esther, Wisdom of Solomon, Sirach, Baruch, Letter of Jeremiah, Song of Three Youths, Susanna, Bel and the Dragon, Prayer of Manasseh, and I & II Maccabees.

The Holy Bible, New Living Translation provides a wonderful balance of readability and authority. It is easy to understand, poetically beautiful, powerful, and emotive. At the same time, due to the careful work of ninety leading Bible scholars, it is accurate to the original Greek and Hebrew text. The New Living Translation makes the Bible accessible, useful, and enjoyable for every situation. The easy-to-read, clear text is perfect for comparative study of difficult passages.

The Cambridge Paragraph Bible, edited by F.H.A. Scrivener, is a comprehensive and carefully edited revision of the King James Version text. Originally published in 1873, this version presents the text in paragraph form, poetry formatted in poetic line-division, and also includes the Apocrypha. Scrivener's revisions are thoroughly documented, including multiple appendices which include translation notes and instances of departure from the original KJV text.

The English Standard Version™ is founded on the conviction that the words of the Bible are the very words of God. And because the words themselves—not just the thoughts or ideas—are inspired by God, each word must be translated with the greatest precision and accuracy. As Jesus Himself stressed, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4).

This passion for God’s Word is the driving force behind the translation of the ESV™ Bible. The English Standard Version™ does not try to “improve” on the original in light of today’s culture or by using trendy language. Instead, the utmost care has been taken to express God’s Word in English that most closely captures the meaning of the original, with understandability, beauty, and impact.

The New King James Version is a total update of the 1611 King James Version, also known as the "Authorized Version." Every attempt has been made to maintain the beauty of the original version while updating the English grammar to contemporary style and usage. The result is much better "readability." It is noteworthy that the NKJV is one of the few modern translations still based on the "Western" or "Byzantine" manuscript tradition. This makes the New King James Version an invaluable aid to comparative English Bible study.

The original Revised Standard Version served as a standard for nearly forty years. The New Revised Standard Version with Apocrypha maintains the traditions of the older version with fresh new vocabulary and modern English construction.

In some ways the narratives of Jesus’ birth and infancy are the last frontiers to be crossed in the critical approach to the Gospels. For some, the stories of Jesus’ birth are given dubious historical value. For others, the popular character of these narratives—the exotic magi, birth star, angelic messengers, and so on—renders them as legends unworthy to be a vehicle of the pure Gospel message. Still others deem them simple Christian folklore devoid of any real theology—only written for romantics or the naïve. Yet each Christmas, Christian clergy and the people to whom they minister must continue to face them.

According to Raymond Brown, introductory materials on the New Testament in general and the Gospels in particular gives the infancy narratives short shrift, disproportionate to their role in Christian theology, art, and poetic imagination. Perhaps the most visible sign of this neglect is the absence of a major modern commentary which treats the two infancy narratives together.

It was from this felt need that efforts for a new commentary were undertaken. In The Birth of the Messiah, Raymond Brown is interested in the role the infancy narratives played in the early Christian understanding of Jesus. By treating the two narratives together in the same volume, Brown points out their common tendencies and emphases. By giving them two distinct treatments, however, he also shows how each fits within the theological framework of its respective Gospel, and thus offers us reasons for the differences between the infancy narratives.

In The Birth of the Messiah, Brown contends that the infancy narratives are, indeed, worthy vehicles of the Gospel messages. In fact, they contain the Gospel message in miniature. On a deeper level, this commentary reflects the instinct recognizing the infancy narratives as the essence of the Good News—namely, that God has made himself present to us in the life of the Messiah who walked the earth.

The Passion Narrative proceeds from arrest through trial to condemnation, execution, and burial. In each Gospel, it records the longest consecutive action of Jesus. It has captured the attention and imagination of dramatists and artists, and it has inspired the poetry and music of the church for two thousand years. Alongside “born of the Virgin Mary,” the other phrase that made its way into the creed, “suffered under Pontius Pilate,” has become a marker anchoring Christian belief about the Son of God to a Jesus who was a human figure of actual history.

Historically, Jesus’ death was the most public event of his life. Theologically, Christians have interpreted the death of Jesus on the cross as a key element of God’s plan for the justification, redemption, and salvation of all. Spiritually, the Jesus of the Passion has been the focus of Christian meditation for countless would-be disciples who take seriously the command of the Master to take up the cross and follow him. Pastorally, the passion is the centerpiece of Lent and Holy Week, and the most sacred time in the liturgical calendar. From every point of view, the Passion is the central narrative in the Christian story.

The massive amount of material written on the Passion Narrative creates a need for a work that brings together the scattered views, proposals, and interpretations. In this 2-volume work, Raymond Brown sifts through the material to offer a full-scale commentary on the Passion Narratives of the Gospels.

The Death of the Messiah serves a variety of audiences: scholars, pastors, students of the religion and theology of the Bible, interested Christians, and those of any persuasion who seek knowledge about the passion and death of Jesus. Brown treats subjects in a readable way, even when it requires greater length or exposition.

Volume 1 covers the scenes of Jesus in Gethsemane, Jesus before the Jewish authorities, and Jesus before Pilate. This volume contains translation, commentary, and analysis of each passage.

Volume 2 continues Raymond Brown’s project of commentary and analysis of the Passion Narrative, covering the scenes of Jesus’ crucifixion and burial. This volume also contains nine appendices on non-canonical passion narratives, historicity, views of Judas Iscariot, Old Testament background, and Jesus’ predictions of his death. Volume 2 concludes with a detailed bibliography and a 25-page subject index.

When Raymond E. Brown died in 1998, less than a year after the publication of his masterpiece, An Introduction to the New Testament, he left behind a nearly completed revision of his acclaimed two-volume commentary on the Gospel of John in the Anchor Yale Bible. The manuscript, skillfully edited by Francis J. Moloney, displays the rare combination of meticulous scholarship and clear, engaging writing that made Father Brown’s books consistently outsell other works of biblical scholarship.

An Introduction to the Gospel of John represents the culmination of Brown’s long and intense examination of part of the New Testament. One of the most important aspects of this new book, particularly to the scholarly community, is how it differs from the original commentary in several important ways. It presents, for example, a new perspective on the historical development of the Gospels, and shows how Brown decided to open his work to literary readings of the text, rather than relying primarily on the historical, which informed the original volumes. In addition, there is an entire section devoted to Christology, absent in the original, as well as a magisterial new section on the representation of Jews in the Gospel of John.

From the experience of a lifetime of scholarship, preaching, teaching, and writing, Raymond E. Brown covers the entire scope of the New Testament with ease and clarity. He walks readers book by book through the basic content and issues of the New Testament. While a wealth of information is contained in these pages, the work’s most impressive features are the basic summaries of each book, a historical overview of the ancient Greco-Roman world, discussions of key theological issues, and the rich supplementary materials, such as illustrative tables, maps, bibliographies, and appendixes. Using this basic data, Brown answers questions raised by today’s readers, relates the New Testament to our modern world, and responds to controversial issues, such as those raised by the Jesus Seminar.

Every generation needs a comprehensive, reliable Introduction to the New Testament that opens the biblical text to the novice. Raymond E. Brown's An Introduction to the New Testament is the most trustworthy and authoritative guidebook for a generation seeking to understand the Christian Bible.

Universally acknowledged as the dean of New Testament scholarship, Father Brown is a master of his discipline at the pinnacle of his career. Who else could cover the entire scope of the New Testament with such ease and clarity? This gifted communicator conveys the heartfelt concern of a beloved teacher for his students, as he walks the reader through the basic content and issues of the New Testament. Those opening to the New Testament for the first time and those seeking deeper insights could not ask for more in a primer to the Christian Bible.

In this wide-ranging volume, Heiko A. Oberman traces threads of continuity flowing to and from the Reformation. Many of his most important studies appear here in English for the first time. Professor Oberman explores “experiential” mysticism; the tradition of humility; the “battle on two fronts” waged by the Wittenburg circle against Pierias and Eck; Luther’s medieval and apocalyptical conception of reformatio and its purpose; the pre-history of “confessionalization” in the Confession of Augsburg and its “Confutation” by Luther’s Roman opponents; Zwingli’s plans for a Godly alliance in the southern Germanic ecumene and the destructive tensions between Zwingli and Luther. In the final chapter he describes a model of three long-term “Reformations” that can also be seen as revolutions; the Conciliar Reformation, the City reformation and the Calvinist Reformation of the Refugees. The often denied and generally misunderstood “continuities” between theological directions of the later Middle Ages, the theological reformation of the early sixteenth century and subsequent developments are constantly illuminated through exacting detail and compelling insights.

Peter Matheson has written the first study in English of the Reformation as a literary phenomenon. This book traces the first emergence of a “public opinion” in European history. Using insights from social history, religion and literature, Professor Matheson explores the connection between the “communal Reformation” and the outpouring of pamphlets in the early 1520s. These pamphlets helped to create a dynamic and subversive network of communication where language and structure were of equal importance. He also examines the relative strengths of polemical and dialogical approaches in winning adherents, the motivations of the authors, and the expectations of audiences.

In recent years, much of the best historical work on the Reformation has been directed to Luther and his medieval background. It is B. A. Gerrish’s contention, however, that the significance of Protestant ideas cannot be appraised historically if Luther is made the sole point of reference or if the Reformation is treated as something other than a critical moment in a larger historical development to which liberal Protestantism also belongs. Nor, he maintains, can ideas and doctrines be understood in abstraction from the religious experience they express.

The Old Protestantism and the New, therefore, redresses the present imbalance in historical studies of Protestantism by raising questions about the intellectual heritage of the Reformers in the modern world. Gerrish’s approach is shaped by three dominant interests: Luther’s relation to other Reformers, especially Calvin; the relationship between classical and liberal Protestant thought; and the patterns of religious experience behind theological formulas. The originality of the individual chapters, which are written for historians as well as specialists in religious thought, is enhanced by the way in which the book as a whole brings together pivotal thinkers, including Erasmus, Schleiermacher and Barth.

The Venerable Bede’s The Ecclesiastical History of the English Nation has endured as one of the most important and engaging books of history ever written. Divided into five books, The Ecclesiastical History chronicles the Christian history of England, as well as its political history, from the time of Caesar’s invasion in 55 B.C. to the year it was completed, about 731.

The most important record we have from this time period, Bede’s exciting work recounts the rise of Christianity in Anglo-Saxon England through the vivid depictions of England’s formative years: epic battles, heroic soldiers, kings and queens, monks and bishops, saints and martyrs. A thrilling journey into history, filled with unforgettable characters and events, Bede’s The Ecclesiastical History of the English Nation is essential reading for understanding the spread of Christianity throughout England in the Middle Ages.

Contained in this volume are some of the Venerable Bede’s shorter works, including the biographies of various abbots, monks, and bishops that depict the fascinating daily life of monastic living. Also included are some of Bede’s original letters relating to his Ecclesiastical History and his thoughts on Church discipline, as well as his Chronicles of the Ages of the World. This fascinating collection of works is prefaced with a detailed biography of the renowned monk’s life and work.

Written about 710–716, Explanation of the Apocalypse is one of the earliest commentaries on the Book of Revelation ever written. Bede’s succinct but in-depth commentary, separated into three books, is unique in its division of Revelation into seven distinct sections. Included in this volume is a letter to Eusebius, where Bede explains his reasons for structuring his commentary the way he did, as well as an index of the passages of Scripture that he references.

The Dictionary of the Vulgate New Testament, by J. M. Harden, provides concise glosses of all the words in the 1911 Oxford critical edition of the Vulgate New Testament, excepting those words where the meaning is plain from the English cognate (such as corruptio) and certain common words that are best covered in the grammars. In addition, introductory materials explain differences between the Oxford edition and the Clementine edition of the Vulgate, and orthographical differences between the editions are noted in the front matter and in the articles themselves. The Dictionary also serves as a mini-concordance, as the articles contain many citations to the text of the New Testament itself.

We found this little gem in a used bookstore in London. Published in 1921, Dictionary of the Vulgate New Testament by J. M. Harden is a very concise "pocket-sized" dictionary for studying the Latin New Testament.

The "Latin Therapy Group" at University of Cambridge lists Harden's book in a bibliography of Latin language resources and observes of the title, "Contains very brief definitions and Scripture references, as well as noting matters such as hapax legomena."

This book is quite rare and hard to find outside a seminary library.

An Introduction to Ecclesiastical Latin was written to meet the needs of students who desire to study the Latin language in the form it assumed in the hands of the Fathers of the Western Church and of their successors.

The book contains a summary of syntactic rules necessary for understanding the works of these writers, with an explanation of the points in which Ecclesiastical Latin differs from Classical Latin, and a selection of passages taken from the works of some of the principal authors of the period.

This Latin grammar by H. P. V. Nunn was published by Cambridge University Press in 1922 and is a very helpful tool for working with the Latin Vulgate. It is a descriptive grammar, rather than a textbook grammar.

Whether you are learning Latin for the first time or wish to “brush up” what you have already learned, this resource is designed to give you easy access to both a dictionary and a grammar reference guide. Collins Latin Dictionary and Grammar offers comprehensive treatment of the vocabulary of texts read in school and the university. The grammar guide presents detailed verb tables covering 120 regular verbs and over 300 irregular verbs.

Sensible and concise, witty and wise, Peter Kreeft and Ronald Tacelli have written the guidebook on apologetics. Their mini-encyclopedia will be a welcome resource for students of apologetics, pastors, small groups, and church members interested in evangelism, student ministry workers, and those exploring for themselves the validity of the Christian faith.

This volume identifies the key principles of Catholic biblical interpretation proposed in the Pontifical Biblical Commission’s document The Interpretation of the Bible in the Church. The meaning of each of these twenty principles is explained and their significance is explored in light of commentary on Scripture and contemporary scholarly discussion. Featuring a preface by Secretary of the Pontifical Biblical Commission Albert Vanhoye, the volume also includes a glossary and a bibliography of works about the Commission’s document and of works cited.

Catholic Principles for Interpreting Scripture is split into six parts. Part I considers the foundational principle, that Sacred Scripture is “The word of God expressed in human language.” Part II addresses the “human language” dimension and the use of “scientific” or scholarly means to interpret it. Part III presents principles which consider Scripture as “the word of God” and relates the interpretation of Scripture to Christian faith. Part IV treats the literal, spiritual, and fuller senses of Scripture. Part V discusses the methods and approaches used by exegesis and the ways in which their use is conditioned by the unique object of their study. Part VI treats the role of the exegete and the theoretical and practical principles that guide actualization, enculturation, and the use of the Bible in the life of the Church. The study concludes with an evaluation of the Biblical Commission’s achievement, an agenda for further discussion, and remarks on the challenge ahead for Catholic exegesis.

The interpretation of Sacred Scripture is of paramount importance for Christian life. Every age of the Church has found it necessary to develop a way of interpreting the Bible that corresponds to the needs and mentality of the time while remaining faithful to the Word of God. As stated in The Interpretation of the Bible in the Church, "The Scriptures belong to the entire Church… and all of the members of the Church have a role in the interpretation of Scripture." Regardless of your denomination, Catholic Principles for Interpreting Scripture will help you take on that role competently and responsibly.

An Introductory Bibliography for the Study of Scripture presents an annotated list of scholarly works, perfect for the student beginning a study in one of the many Scripture-related disciplines. Fitzmyer has gathered together the greatest titles in Biblical literature and briefly describes each work. He presents only those resources which will be best suited to each particular field of study.

Each title is organized into convenient categories. These categories, each one comprising a their own chapter, include Grammars, Concordances, Commentaries, Geography, History, Hermeneutics, and many others. Every basic discipline related to Scriptural studies is here represented. The titles are ordered alphabetically in each categoy subdivision. The more important ones are listed with an asterisk, and the most important with two asterisks.

Becoming orientied in the vast array of materials available for the study of Scripture can be a daunting task. The student can easily find themselves at a loss trying to decide where to discover the standard, reputable titles and authors in their chosen discipline. With An Introductory Bibliography for the Study of Scripture, readers now have access to the best primary and secondary titles available.

This book grapples with the greatest puzzle of modern religious scholarship: Who was Jesus? To answer the question, author John P. Meier imagines the following scenario: "Suppose that a Catholic, a Protestant, a Jew, and an agnostic—all honest historians cognizant of first-century religious movements—were locked up in the bowels of the Harvard Divinity School library, and not allowed to emerge until they had hammered out a consensus on who Jesus of Nazareth was and what he intended. . ." A Marginal Jew is what Meier thinks that document would reveal.

A Marginal Jew represents the first time an American Catholic biblical scholar has attempted a full-scale, rigorously scientific treatment of the "historical Jesus." By the "historical Jesus," Meier means the Jesus whom we can recover and reconstruct by using the tools of modern historical research. Granted the fragmentary state of the sources and the indirect nature of the arguments, the resulting portrait is incomplete and at times speculative. Still, Meier argues, something precious is gained. The "consensus statement" that emerges is open to probing and debate by all interested parties—Catholics, Protestants, Jews, believers, and agnostics alike. It can serve as common ground for ecumenical dialogue and further research. Among the difficult questions Meier confronts: Was Jesus virginally conceived? Did he have brothers and sisters? Was he married or single? Was he illiterate? Did he know Hebrew and Greek as well as Aramaic?

Here is the celebrated second volume in John P. Meier's series on the life of Jesus, in which he continues his quest for the answer to the greatest puzzle of modern scholarship: Who was Jesus? Volume 1 concluded with Jesus approaching adulthood. In this second volume, the author grapples with the words and deeds of Jesus during his public ministry. A vivid portrait of Jesus emerges through Meier's careful examination of Jesus' mentor, his message, and his miracles.

Volume 2 definitely resolves the long-standing debate about the relationship between Jesus and his mentor, John the Baptist. Meier concludes that John was the person who had the greatest single influence on Jesus; "in a sense, Jesus never was without John." John's prophetic ministry, message of repentance, warning of a coming judgment, and ritual of baptism flowed into the ministry of Jesus. The Baptist's fiery announcement of the end of time strongly shaped Jesus' conviction that God was coming to save his people. Meier's insightful analysis of the Gospels reveals that Jesus' proclamation of the "kingdom of God" moved beyond the threat of judgment to the promise that God's saving, healing kingdom was at hand. Consciously imitating the prophet Elijah, Jesus showed the crowds the present reality of God's kingly power by performing many might deeds—miracles.

The author confounds modern skeptics by arguing convincingly that measured by historical criteria, the miracle tradition was not invented by the early church. Instead, the stories about Jesus performing miracles go back to the historical Jesus himself. "If the miracle tradition from Jesus' public ministry were to be rejected in toto as unhistorical, so should every other Gospel tradition about him." Contradicting scholars like the controversial J. D. Crossan, the book demonstrates that Jesus was a miracle worker, not a "magician," because he did not try to coerce God by secret spells. Meier shows that Jesus' miracles aimed "at bringing people to faith, repentance, and discipleship." As we proceed step-by-step through Jesus' practices of exorcism, healing, and other miracles, we grasp the relationship between his message and his miracles. "Thus, in both word and deed," Meier claims, "Jesus made God's future kingdom a present reality."

In this volume, Jesus of Nazareth comes to life as he seldom has on the printed page—as charismatic prophet, herald of God's kingdom, miracle worker.

Companions and Competitors is the third volume of John Meier's monumental series, A Marginal Jew: Rethinking the Historical Jesus. A detailed and critical treatment of all the main questions surrounding the historical Jesus, A Marginal Jew serves as a healthy antidote to the many superficial and trendy treatments of Jesus that have flooded the market.

Volume 1 laid out the method to be used in pursuing a critical quest for the historical Jesus and sketched his cultural, political, and familial background. Volume 2 focused on John the Baptist; Jesus' message of the kingdom of God; and his startling deeds, believed by himself and his followers to be miracles. Volume 3 widens the spotlight from Jesus himself to the various groups around him, including his followers (the crowds, disciples, the circle of the Twelve) and his competitors (the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the Essenes and Qumranites, the Samaritans, the scribes, the Herodians, and the Zealots).

In the process, important insights into how Jesus contoured his ministry emerge. Contrary to the popular idea that he was some egalitarian Cynic philosopher with no concern for structures, Jesus clearly provided his movement with shape and structure. His followers roughly comprised three concentric circles. In the outer circle were the curious crowds who came and went. In the middle circle were disciples whom Jesus himself chose to share his journeys. The innermost circle was made up of the Twelve, i.e. twelve disciples whom Jesus selected to symbolize and begin the great regathering of the twelve tribes of Israel in the end time. Jesus made sure that the disciples in his movement were marked off by distinctive behavior and prayer. His movement was anything but an amorphous egalitarian mob. One reason why Jesus was so intent on creating structures and identity badges was that he was consciously competing against rival religious and political movements, all vying for influence. Jesus presented one vision of what it meant to be Israel. The Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, etc., all offered sharply contrasting visions for Israel to preserve its identity and fulfill its destiny.

Perhaps the greatest mistake of some recent portraits of the historical Jesus, notably that of the Jesus Seminar, has been to downplay the Jewish nature of Jesus in favor of a vaguer and sometimes dubious setting in Greco-Roman culture. In the face of such distortions this volume hammers home the oft-mentioned but rarely fathomed slogan "Jesus the Jew."

John Meier’s previous volumes in the acclaimed series, A Marginal Jew are founded upon the notion that while solid historical information about Jesus is quite limited, people of different faiths can nevertheless arrive at a consensus on fundamental historical facts of his life. In this eagerly anticipated fourth volume in the series, Meier approaches a fresh topic—the teachings of the historical Jesus concerning Mosaic Law and morality—with the same rigor, thoroughness, accuracy, and insightfulness on display in his earlier works.

After correcting misconceptions about Mosaic Law in Jesus’ time, this volume addresses the teachings of Jesus on major legal topics like divorce, oaths, the Sabbath, purity rules, and the various love commandments in the Gospels. What emerges from Meier’s research is a profile of a complicated first-century Palestinian Jew who, far from seeking to abolish the Law, was deeply engaged in debates about its observance. Only by embracing this portrait of the historical Jesus grappling with questions of the Torah do we avoid the common mistake of constructing Christian moral theology under the guise of studying “Jesus and the Law,” the author concludes.

While the canonical scriptures were produced over many centuries and represent a diverse library of texts, they are unified by stories of divine covenants and their implications for God’s people. In this deeply researched and thoughtful book, Scott Hahn shows how covenant, as an overarching theme, makes possible a coherent reading of the diverse traditions found within the canonical scriptures.

Biblical covenants, though varied in form and content, all serve the purpose of extending sacred bonds of kinship, Hahn explains. Specifically, divine covenants form and shape a father-son bond between God and the chosen people. Biblical narratives turn on that fact, and biblical theology depends upon it. With meticulous attention to detail, the author demonstrates how divine sonship represents a covenant relationship with God that has been consistent throughout salvation history. A canonical reading of this divine plan reveals an illuminating pattern of promise and fulfillment in both the Old and New Testaments. God’s saving mercies are based upon his sworn commitments, which he keeps even when his people break the covenant.

A comprehensive historical survey of patristic exegesis. Simonetti examines the changing understanding of the word of God in the early Church, and describes the individual authors and "schools" which were active in this development. First there is a study of the role of Scripture in the infant Church. Simonetti describes the use of Scripture in orthodox circles, drawing comparisons from the Gnostic world. There follows an examination of Eastern exegesis in the 4th and 5th centuries (Eusebius, the Antiochian School, the Cappadocians, and later developments in Alexandria), and an examination of Western exegesis in the same period (including detailed discussions of Jerome and Augustine). Simonetti concludes with a study of developments in the Eastern and Western Church in the later 5th and 6th centuries. A final section provides a theological perspective through a study of the theological interpretation of Scripture in the patristic era.

The Eusebian Canons is one of the first Gospel harmonies and the most widely used. It divides the Gospels into sections to show where they agree with one another. This harmony was in wide use from the fifth century onward, and still serves an important purpose for understanding ow the Gospels tell an important story, and how that story has been understood and interpreted throughout the church's history.

This is considered the best and most complete one-volume edition of the classic translation by William Whiston. The works of Josephus—the first century Jewish historian—are indispensable to a proper understanding of Jewish thought, background, and history up to and around the time of Christ. This complete work includes the full text and notes of the original four-volume set.

Since the beginnings of Christianity and the formation of the Christian church, there have been hundreds of General, Patriarchal, National, and Primatial Councils, where Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglican church leaders and theologians met to discuss their church doctrines and disciplines. These councils are crucial for addressing church dogmatics, ecclesiastical canons, and official church positions. Edward H. Landon's A Manual of Councils of the Holy Catholic Church (2 vols.) is a compendium of these councils, arranged alphabetically by council location. With over eight-hundred packed pages, A Manual of Councils of the Holy Catholic Church (2 vols.) is an invaluable reference collection that spans centuries of church council history!

Since the beginnings of Christianity and the formation of the Christian church, there have been hundreds of General, Patriarchal, National, and Primatial Councils, where Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglican church leaders and theologians met to discuss their church doctrines and disciplines. These councils are crucial for addressing church dogmatics, ecclesiastical canons, and official church positions. Edward H. Landon's A Manual of Councils of the Holy Catholic Church (2 vols.) is a compendium of these councils, arranged alphabetically by council location. With over eight-hundred packed pages, A Manual of Councils of the Holy Catholic Church (2 vols.) is an invaluable reference collection that spans centuries of church council history!

With this poem and commentary, the pre-eminent Catholic spiritualist, St. John of the Cross, maps his long and often dark spiritual journey. The contemplations of this Carmelite monk have encouraged generations of Christians to pursue Jesus Christ regardless of the immediate spiritual experience.

St. John of the Cross portrays Mount Carmel as the mystical height of Christian spirituality and union with God. In Ascent of Mount Carmel, St. John of the Cross dissects each phase of Christian spiritual growth—both triumphs and defeats—in order to produce a manual for Christian asceticism. The spiritual considerations of St. John of the Cross have encouraged the spiritual growth of Christians for over four centuries—including the academic and spiritual development of Pope John Paul II.

What does it mean to be a Christian? According to Thomas à Kempis, the Christian must completely imitate the life and example of Jesus Christ. In this classic treasure of Christian instruction, Thomas à Kempis challenges the believer to look intently upon the life of Christ and live in the pattern He established. This spiritual manual begins with the proper outward expressions of faith, moving quickly to the instruction of the reader's spiritual formation. All the while insisting that true imitation of Christ can only occur when the heart and mind are united to Christ.

Saint Francis of Assisi has remained a beloved saint among all the great Christian traditions. His example of simple devotion and humble service has provided a timeless example of genuine Christian faith. Through his poverty he proved the richness of the Gospel and embodied the reality of Jesus Christ among men. This collection of writings shares some of Saint Francis’ classic contemplations on the devout life, the disciplines of asceticism and glories of God’s creation.

This classic series of letters penned by the seventeenth century Carmelite monk, Brother Lawrence, describes the challenge of daily walking in the presence of God. Brother Lawrence shares his own spiritual struggles with the recipient and encourages the reader with practical ways to draw closer to God and remain in his presence regardless of surrounding distractions or the busyness of life. The Practice of the Presence of God is a challenge to daily walk in communion with God, step by step and moment by moment.

St. Francis began Introduction to the Devout Life as a correspondence with a married women looking to increase her spiritual devotion in the midst of a busy life; the result was a layman’s guide to the spiritual life. Each chapter is a short meditation designed to challenge and refocus the believer towards an authentic Christian life. At nearly 120 chapters, Introduction to the Devout Life is the perfect companion for jump starting a devotional routine or continuing a life-long journey of spiritual maturity.

A true masterpiece of spiritual reflection, Interior Castle contains the autobiographical journey of St. Teresa of Ávila. She describes the spiritual life as a castle with many levels. Each individual begins in the lowest level of the castle steeped in the awareness of sin and a passion for spiritual maturity. As her metaphor unfolds, St. Teresa devotes a considerable amount of time to the contemplative life and the soul’s union with God. St. Teresa was plagued by constant illness and pain, making her spiritual meditations a vivid and tangible expression of devotion to Jesus Christ.

Story of a Soul is the spiritual autobiography of St. Thèrése of Liseaux. Beginning with her childhood longing for the ascetic life, St. Thèrése documents the life circumstances that led her to the Carmelite tradition and her subsequent spiritual journey. Much like St. John of the Cross, St. Thèrése describes a period of prolonged darkness over her soul. Her story is one of victory and nearness to Jesus, but her spiritual journey through life was far from easy. Be encouraged by the story of this young saint and learn from her example of simple devotion to Jesus.

St. Bernard’s On Consideration reminds the pastor that love for God and a rich life of prayer must precede any action in the temporal sphere—regardless of the distractions and temptations of his office. Originally written for his friend and former disciple, Pope Eugenius III, On Consideration remains a favorite of popes even to this day and was highly praised by John Calvin. St. Bernard’s meditations are an enduring source of inspiration for all pastors.

On the Love of God addresses the reasons we ought to love God and the manner and different degrees of this love. St. Bernard teaches that God Himself is the motive of our love for him and that nothing is more reasonable and nothing more profitable than loving him. He then lays out the degrees whereby the soul proceeds from loving God for its own sake to loving the self only for God.

The Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola is a short spiritual journey designed to direct the participant towards the discernment of God’s will and a renewed vigor to faithfully pursue him. St. Ignatius originally intended the manual to be used over the course of one month and under the supervision of a spiritual advisor. His meditations demand contemplation and the willingness to confront sin and dedicate oneself to a spiritual life.

St. Benedict is hailed as the father of the monastic tradition in Western Christianity. His Rule has remained the foundation and structure of Western monasticism for nearly fifteen centuries. Benedict’s Rule contains seventy-three guidelines for living in an ascetic community. The themes cover include: the monk’s involvement with the outside world, the appropriate treatment of guests, and the nature of authority with the community.

The classical autobiographical work of a great saint. His theocentric testimonial of his conversion experience and his growing understanding of God. A moving depiction of the life and experiences of a believer from a different age. A must have for those who wish to move into a deeper relationship with God.

The Lives of the Saints, by Alban Butler (12 vols.) from Logos Bible Software contains the unabridged text of Alban Butler’s classic work, The Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and Other Principal Saints. Originally published between 1756 and 1759, Butler’s magnum opus is an unparalleled English source for the study of the Christian saints. Often appearing on best-seller lists alongside the Bible, the Missal, and Thomas à Kempis’ The Imitation of Christ, Butler’s Lives of the Saints is an enduring classic and has been through numerous reprints and editions in its 250 year history.

With biographical accounts of over sixteen hundred saints arranged according to the saints' feast days, Butler’s Lives of the Saints remains the authoritative hagiography (study of saints) in the English language. Butler’s work is a priceless companion for research into the historical figures of Christianity or for simply connecting with the faithful who have gone before. These volumes function perfectly as an evening meditation but are versatile enough to use for term projects, home school assignments, or real-life sermon illustrations.

This Logos edition is built to function within the Devotions section of your HomePage within Logos Bible Software. Once you have selected it as a preferred devotional, you will be encouraged by the devotion and example of hundreds of the most influential saints in Christian history. Each day, when you start your Logos program, you will be greeted with the story of a new exemplar of upstanding Christian character. Lives of the Saints, by Alban Butler (12 vols.) also contains the same keylink and search functionality as any other valuable resource in your digital library.

Nearly a century after the First Vatican Council, the Second Vatican Council, commonly known as Vatican II, was held between 1962–1965. This assembly, invoked by Pope John XXIII, met to discuss matters of faith and Church discipline. Over 2,000 Patriarchs, Cardinals, residing Bishops, Abbots, male heads of religious orders, and other nominated persons participated each autumn in the four year event. From this assembly four Constitutions, three Declarations, and nine Decrees were produced, creating major changes for Catholic life and worship worldwide. The Vatican II Documents are essential for understanding the spirited, and sometimes contentious, conversations within Catholicism for the last fifty years.

The Logos Bible Software edition of the Vatican II Documents is the English translation published by Libreria Editrice Vaticana. With the extensively linked Vatican II Documents, resources such as the Early Church Fathers Special Catholic Edition, the Summa Theologica of St. Thomas Aquinas, and the Catholic Theology and Dogma Collection become even more powerful as you explore them together.

With the Logos edition all Scripture passages in the Vatican II Documents are tagged and appear on mouse-over. What’s more, Scripture references are linked to the wealth of language resources in your digital library. This makes these texts more powerful and easier to access than ever before for scholarly work or personal Bible study. With the advanced search features of Logos Bible Software, you can perform powerful searches by topic or Scripture reference—finding, for example, every mention of “Divine Revelation,” or “Liturgy.”

For nearly one thousand years, theologians, philosophers, and Christian apologists have felt the effects of Anselm of Canterbury. Anselm’s theological method was rigorous, and represented a seismic shift in medieval thought. He is widely considered the founder scholastic theology, and he has been called the church’s “second Augustine.” His treatise on the atonement, Cur Deus Homo was the first to systematically articulate the penal substitution theory of the atonement, which was later developed by John Calvin and widely embraced by Reformed and evangelical churches. He was also the first to construct and systematize the ontological argument for the existence of God. The Major Works of Anselm of Canterbury contains Anselm’s important theological and philosophical writings: the Proslogium, the Monologium, Cur Deus Homo, and Reply to Guanilon.

Thomas Aquinas stands among the most important thinkers in the history of Christianity, and his famous Summa Theologica represents the pinnacle of medieval theology and perhaps the most influential theological work in the history of Western Christianity. In the volumes of his writings we find the forerunners of every intellectual development in the eight centuries that followed, and the depth of his understanding of the nature and being of God has left a lasting mark on the enterprise of Christian theological reflection ever since.

Logos is pleased to offer the English translation of the Summa Theologica by the Fathers of the English Dominican Province—the standard translation for Aquinas studies. This translation underlies the 22-volume edition published by Burns, Oates & Washbourne between 1912 and 1936, and has been widely reprinted throughout the twentieth century.

For those who wish to work with the Latin text, Logos offers this combined English and Latin edition of the Summa Theologica. The English and Latin edition of the Summa Theologica includes everything in the Fathers of the English Dominican Province translation, along with Aquinas’s original Latin writings. What’s more, the Logos edition of the Summa Theologica combines the 8-volume Latin text and the 22-volume English text into two individual electronic books, which means you can utilize the power of your digital library to read the Latin and English side-by-side! That makes the Latin and English edition of the Summa Theologica from Logos the preeminent academic standard.

In this massive tome, Aquinas outlines the reasons and meaning of all of Christian theology. As a theologian, Aquinas articulates the goals, purpose, and enterprise of theology, and gives theology a prominent place in scholarship, calling theology “the queen of sciences.” As a scholastic, Aquinas sought to understand Christian theology in light of the rediscovery of Aristotle’s works in the twelfth century, and redefined the relationship between revelation and reason, science and theology, and faith and philosophy for the next eight centuries. As a philosopher, Aquinas developed principles of just war and natural law, and outlined an argument for God’s existence from contingency—the intellectual forerunner to the modern Argument from Design. As an aesthetic, Aquinas articulated a vision of God’s beauty, and his aesthetic influence can be felt in the writings of literary figures as diverse as Dante Alighieri, James Joyce, and Umberto Eco.

With the Logos edition of the Summa Theologica, references to the Church Fathers and other early and medieval texts are also linked, allowing you to click your way through the history of the church and across the theological spectrum. Your digital library also allows you to perform powerful searches and word studies, and Scripture passages are linked to your Hebrew and Greek texts, along with your English translations. That makes the Logos edition of the Summa Theologica a vital tool for research on Aquinas and the preeminent academic standard for both Latin scholarship and English-only studies!

This famous commentary from St. Thomas Aquinas is now more accessible than ever! The Catena Aurea (or, Golden Chain) is a compilation of Patristic commentary on the Gospels and contains passages from over eighty Church Fathers. In this masterpiece, Aquinas seamlessly weaves together extracts from various Fathers to provide a complete commentary on all four Gospels.

It was Pope Urban IV who commissioned St. Thomas Aquinas to bring together the Catena Aurea in a bid to make readily available to the academic public an orthodox patristic commentary on the Gospels. His work manifests an intimate acquaintance with the Fathers of the church and provides an excellent complement to the modern attempts to understand how the fathers read scripture. Corresponding to each of the four Gospel writers, the Catena begins by putting forth the verses to be analyzed and then takes each verse phrase-by-phrase and provides the early Fathers' insights into the passage.

This volume is the second of three with commentary on Matthew by the Early Church Fathers.

This volume is the last of three with commentary on Matthew by the Early Church Fathers.

This commentary includes notes on Mark by the Early Church Fathers.

This volume is the first of two with commentary on the Gospel of Luke by the Early Church Fathers.

This volume is the second of two with commentary on the Gospel of Luke by the Early Church Fathers.

This volume is the first of two with commentary on the Gospel of John by the Early Church Fathers.

This volume is the second of two with commentary on the Gospel of John by the Early Church Fathers.

As the most influential apologetic work of the Western Church, the Summa Contra Gentiles has shaped and defined theological and philosophical enquiry for hundreds of years. This vast work aims to establish the truth of the Christian religion by laying out a defense of the Christian faith from the perspective of both faith and reason. In doing so, Thomas Aquinas engages intelligent non-Christian thinkers in the clearest manner, and helps establish the method, purpose, and grounding for both theology and philosophy.

The Summa Contra Gentiles is divided into four books. In the first three books, Aquinas is concerned the lay out a defense of the Christian faith from the perspective of natural theology—the common ground between “Christians and infidels.” These books contain arguments for the existence of God, discussions of ethics and morality, and other statements about God and the world which can be derived from the faculties of reason. Each section describes and defends God’s knowledge, God’s actions in creation, and the purpose and fulfillment—the telos—of all things in God. The fourth and final book of Summa Contra Gentiles delineates the knowledge received through divine revelation, such as the Incarnation, the Trinity, and the Resurrection.

Logos is pleased to offer the English translation of the Summa Contra Gentiles by the Fathers of the English Dominican Province—the first unabridged English translation. This translation was first published during the 1920s by Burns Oates & Washbourne and has been reprinted numerous times throughout the twentieth century.

With the Logos edition of the Summa Contra Gentiles, references to the Church Fathers and other early and medieval texts are linked, allowing you to click your way to primary and secondary literature instantly. All Scripture references are directly linked to the Bibles in your library, and your digital library also allows you to perform powerful searches by topic, subject, or passage. What’s more, with Logos, every word is essentially a link: double-clicking on any word automatically searches your lexicons for a match, which makes Greek and Latin terminology instantly accessible at the click of a button! That makes the Logos edition of the Summa Contra Gentiles the preeminent academic standard for the study of Aquinas!

Previously called the Roman Catechism, The Catechism of the Council of Trent is considered by many to be the most important Catholic catechism. Although originally designed as a resource for parish priests to provide instruction, it is now used extensively by laypeople as a source of core Catholic theology. It contains the basic tenets of the Catholic faith, providing clear explanations of what is necessary for salvation. It also includes material on the Ten Commandments, the Apostles Creed, the Sacraments, and more.

The Council of Trent commissioned the first Church-wide catechism, finished in 1564. The Council dealt with the growing concern in the Church over the Protestant Reformation, and recognized the need for a document to teach the basics of the Catholic faith. The first English translation of the catechism was completed in 1839.

The Council of Trent convened in response to the teaching and rapid spread of the Protestant Reformation. In fact, its primary intent was to condemn and refute every Reformed doctrine. The Council issued numerous decrees and formal statements of Catholic doctrine on topics of salvation, the sacraments, and the canon. This council met for twenty five sessions from 1545 to 1563. The decrees issued at Trent have never been overturned and many were reaffirmed again at the Second Vatican Council during the 1960s.

Heralded as a must-read for priests, students, and laypersons of the Catholic faith, Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma covers the various teachings and doctrines of the Catholic Church. This book provides Scriptural and historical support for Church dogma. Ott’s single-volume encyclopedia is written clearly and directly, providing an overview of Catholic dogma in an efficient and explicit manner.

Denzinger’s collection of articles of faith and morality for the Catholic Church is widely used as a comprehensive reference book. Presented in a practical and accessible manner, it includes dogmatic definitions, creeds of the faith, and decrees of Church leadership. Since its first printing a century and a half ago, this book has received accolades and wide appeal among Catholic scholarly works. First published in 1854 as Enchiridion Symbolorum et Definitionum, Denzinger’s Sources of Catholic Dogma is among the most important works of dogmatic theology in print today.

The First Vatican Council was the twentieth ecumenical council of the Roman Catholic Church, which met three hundred years after the Council of Trent. It was convened in order to refute modern theological differences and to define Catholic doctrine in response to the rise of modernism. The First Vatican Council approved two constitutions: one on the Dogmatic Constitution of the Catholic Faith, and the other—famously—on papal infallibility. The council also clarified the role of the pope in the Roman Catholic Church.

Sylvester Joseph Hunter’s famous 3-volume Outlines of Dogmatic Theology presents a complete course in dogmatic theology. First written to train priests for ministry—yet written in a manner accessible to the laity—this volume offers an accessible, readable, and informative introduction to Catholic dogma. Hunter ties together the various traditions and streams of theological discourse to provide a framework for understanding the church’s theology and dogma.

The first volume of Hunter’s Outlines of Dogmatic Theology defines and defends Christian revelation as a legitimate source of knowledge—as it is found both in the words of Scripture and in the tradition of the Church. This volume also contains lengthy expositions on the meanings of faith, the Church, and the pope.

In the second volume of his Outlines of Dogmatic Theology, Hunter includes treatises on the knowledge and existence of God—including the philosophical proofs of God’s existence. He also writes at length on the Trinity.

The second half of this volume contains lengthy treatises on creation and angels, in which Hunter discusses the distinction between the material and spiritual world, drawing heavily from both Scripture and the tradition of the Church. He also writes on Christ’s incarnation and redemptive work, outlining the key moments in Christ’s life—baptism, transfiguration, and resurrection—and their theological and historical implications.

In the final volume of Outlines of Dogmatic Theology, Hunter covers the nature and necessity of grace, and the interplay between grace and free will. This volume also includes a treatise on the doctrine of justification—one of the most important and divisive doctrines of the Protestant Reformation. He compares justification as it is understood from various theological viewpoints, including Catholic, Lutheran, and Calvinist. This volume concludes with treatises on the sacraments—including detailed exposition of each Roman Catholic sacrament—and a treatise on eschatology.

Guarino argues in this volume that the doctrinal form of the Christian faith, in its essential characteristics, calls for certain theoretical exigencies. This is to say that the proportion and beauty of the form is not served or illuminated by simply any presuppositions. Rather, a determinate understanding of first philosophy, of the nature of truth, of hermeneutical theory, of the predication of language and mutual correlation is required if Christian faith and doctrine are to maintain a recognizable and suitably meditative form. Failing to adduce specific principles will lead either to a simple assertion of Christian truth, in which case the form of Christianity becomes less intelligible and attractive—or one will substitute a radically changed form, which is itself inappropriate for displaying the fundamental revelatory narrative of faith.

The house of Christian faith possesses a certain proportion of structure; the form will sag badly if one removes an undergirding item, or if one beam is replaced with another of variable shape or size. The form’s beauty will either be obscured, no longer clearly visible, or the form will become something quite different, no longer architectonically related to what was originally the case. The intention of this volume is to discuss those doctrinal characteristics considered fundamental to the Christian faith, as protective of its revelatory form and, concomitantly, to examine the theoretical principles required if such form is to remain both intelligible and beautiful.

There is no book in English that treats the whole of Cyril’s theological thought. In the past scholars have normally focused on Cyril’s Christology and left largely unexamined the remainder of his theological thought. Thus the English-speaking scholarly community has never fully appreciated the breadth, the depth and the immense significance of Cyril’s theology.

This volume is therefore unique. The editors have brought together many of the foremost experts on Cyril. This international team examines all the major facets of his theology, and here for the first time reveals the theology of Cyril of Alexandria as a magisterial whole.

This book provides a critical study of the main Christian doctrines as understood and explained by Thomas Aquinas. The whole Thomistic revival of the last century focused almost exclusively on Aquinas as the Christian philosopher. Thus books and articles developed his understanding of being, his epistemology, natural theology, etc. However little has been done, even to this day, by way of examining Aquinas’ teaching on the major Christian doctrines.

This book argues that the liturgical reforms initiated by the second Vatican Council may have seriously undermined contemporary Roman Catholic worship. Drawing on important works by Durkheim, Bauman, Foucault, Turner, Duffy, Flanagan and Pickstock, David Torevell focuses on the most crucial element of Catholic worship - the experience of the sacred - and examines how it has been eroded since pre-modern times, largely due to the marginalization of ritual expression, and its consequences. A devastating critique of the loss of the sacred in worship, this striking interdisciplinary study is a call for revitalization of Roman Catholic liturgy through a “reform of the reform” and the reclamation of the importance of the body in ritual expression.

Bernard of Clairvaux: Between Cult and History summarizes Bredero's lifelong study of Bernard, the Cistercian monk who was arguably the most influential ecclesiastical figure of the twelfth century and who remains one of the church's most venerated saints.

Adriaan H. Bredero first began reading Bernard of Clairvaux in 1944 as a young university student forced into hiding by the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. Over the past sixty years, Bredero's academic interest in Bernard has branched out to cover topics as diverse as the historical value of the vita prima, Bernard's part in the conflict between Cîteaux and Cluny, and the image of St. Bernard as it has been developed by hagiographers and scholars through the ages.

Orthodoxy is Chesterton’s most well-known work. First published 100 years ago and reprinted ever since, Orthodoxy is a classic work that is part memoir, part apologetic. It exhibits Chesterton at his finest—a combination of literary wit, theological acumen, and pointed cultural critic.

Orthodoxy has become a classic, taking its place on the shelves of thinking Christians beside Augustine’s Confession and C.S. Lewis’s Mere Christianity. His goals for Orthodoxy are simple: “I have attempted in a vague and personal way, in a set of mental pictures rather than in a series of deductions, to state the philosophy in which I have come to believe. I will not call it my philosophy; for I did not make it. God and humanity made it; and it made me.” He sharply criticizes the prevailing secular understanding of truth while documenting the genesis of his own spiritual journey. Throughout, Chesterton comments on the intellectual giants of his day—H.G. Wells, Walt Whitman, Arthur Schopenhauer, and George Bernard Shaw.

Heretics exposes the heresy of modern intellectual trends and discredits their proponents. Chesterton confronts relativism, individualism, neo-paganism, and the other ailments contributing to the decline of Western thought in the modern era. He pays special attention to artists and the literati, and writes in detail about current events which are shaped by the social consciousness of his time. Heretics begins and ends with chapters on orthodoxy, anticipating the themes Chesterton later develops on his famous volume by the same name.

With the publication of What I Saw in America, Chesterton joins the ranks of Alexis de Tocqueville, Charles Dickens, and Abraham Kuyper and other prominent European literary and political figures to tour American and write about it. This volume contains dozens of reflections on American hospitality, business, politics; it concludes with three prescient essays on the spirit of America, the spirit of England, and the future of democracy.

Although Chesterton called this book “an uncomfortably large notebook,” it exhibits travel writing at its finest. This volume documents Chesterton’s travels in the Middle East. It contains vivid reflections on the history, religion, and geography of Palestine. He writes on cities, culture, and social concerns, and reflects on important social and historical topics, such as Zionism and the Crusades.

Chesterton was an accomplished and noted essayist. All Things Considered is one of Chesterton’s earliest collections of essays, and deals perhaps more than any other with religious and theological topics. This volume contains thirty-five essays on spiritualism, humanitarianism, science and religion, morality, and more.

Taken as a whole, What’s Wrong with the World attempts to advance a conservative social view of twentieth century British affairs. Individually, these essays offer sage advice on political and cultural issues for today. This collection contains essays on feminism, education, imperialism, and more, and together amount to a pointed critique of the prevailing sociological method. The problems with the world run deep—in this volume, Chesterton assails hypocrisy and mediocrity characteristic of the modern era.

A Miscellany of Men contains essays on the most controversial topics of Chesterton’s day. It was written, says Chesterton, at “a time in which the liberal tradition, as I hold it, was not only dying but committing suicide.” His commentary is structured by analyzing the ranks and positions of individuals in the various strata of society. A Miscellany of Men also includes Chesterton’s oft-cited preface on the nature of human equality.

Chesterton’s first essay against divorce first appeared in Nash’s Magazine, and was reprinted as a stand-alone volume at the request of his readers. Divorce versus Democracy makes a case against divorce by appealing to both patriotism and to history. Chesterton argues for a Christian understanding marriage, and implores the church to stem the erosion of morality in modern Europe. This book also exhibits Chesterton’s views on the relationship between the church and state relating to issues of marriage and family life.

Utopia of Usurers contains Chesterton’s collected writings on modern culture. It includes essays on science, eugenics, Puritanism, socialism, and church and state relations. This provocative and penetrating commentary contains a sharp critique and sage advice on the social ills of Chesterton’s time and ours.

This compact volume provides a basic and readable introduction to the philosophy of marriage and the purpose of the family. In it, Chesterton expands and develops his arguments in Divorce vs. Democracy, showing that divorce does not solve the problems of individuals; rather, it corrupts society as a whole.

Chesterton wrote during the height of the eugenics movements in the early twentieth century. This volume counters the intellectual nihilism of Nietzsche, while simultaneously rebuking Western notions of progress—biological or otherwise. Chesterton expands his criticism of eugenics into what he calls “a more general criticism of the modern craze for scientific officialism and strict social organization.”

One of theology’s central tasks lies in answering the question: “Who is God, and how can human beings know God?”

This volume introduces readers to the doctrine of God and the process of discerning God’s nature and essence. Joseph Pohle searches Scripture and tradition to discern the nature and being of God, and our ability to know God. He describes God’s attributes—including absoluteness, immutability, eternality, and omnipresence—along with his unity and simplicity. God: His Knowability, Essence, and Attributes also contains chapters on God’s will possibility for individuals to discern it.

In this volume, Pohle traces references to the doctrine of the Trinity in the Old and New Testaments, and shows how the Trinity is foreshadowed in God’s covenant with Israel and in the fulfillment of the covenant in Christ. He then outlines a detailed doctrine of the Trinity, drawing from the entire Bible, the liturgies of the Early Church, and the subsequent development of doctrine. A discussion of various heresies in the church’s history also figures prominently.

The second half of this volume deals with the relationships between each person within the Trinity, along with the ways in which the Trinity is revealed—through reason, revelation, and the acceptance of mystery. Pohle asserts that evidence for the Trinity exists in both reason and revelation, but famously states: “Christians must first believe, then inquire.”

The first two volumes of Pohle’s Dogmatic Theology treat the doctrine of God as he is in himself. This volume, however, treats God in relationship to his creation.

Pohle defines creation as the most fundamental thing in theology. From a robust doctrine of creation, we discern the natural order, the incarnation, and the means of grace. In this volume, Pohle examines Scripture to uncover and explain God’s creative power, the relationship between the creation and the Trinity, as well as God’s continual act of creation. Pohle also devotes a section of this volume to theological anthropology, and discusses at length the immortality of the soul, the body/soul dichotomy, and God’s intention for human beings in relation to the rest of creation.

It has been said that all theology is Christology, and in this volume, Pohle affirms that adage.

Volume four of Dogmatic Theology defends the historicity of Christ’s existence at the height of historical criticism’s influence. He proves the humanity and divinity of Christ, and writes against recurring heresies in the church, such as Nestorianism and the monophysites. He also devotes a lengthy chapter to hypostatic union, perichoresis, and the communication of attributes.

How, exactly, are we saved? In attempting to answer this question, Pohle joins a long line of thoughtful Christians who have reflected theologically on forgiveness and redemption. He writes on the purpose of studying Christ’s redemption, along with the necessity of redemption. He also defends the doctrine of predestination, and writes a lengthy chapter on the atonement—both of which merit reading in order to understand the contemporary controversy surrounding these doctrines. Pohle concludes with reflections on the offices of Christ—prophet, priest, and king.

Although Mariology has been a flashpoint of contention between Catholics and Protestants, Mary plays an important role in doctrine, and should be studied for no other reason than she is the mother of Jesus.

In this short volume, Pohle exhibits a historical and theological mastery of the issue in his explanation of the immaculate conception, the complex relationship between Mary and original sin, and the perpetual virginity. He also draws from Scripture and tradition to relate the eternal person of Christ to the temporal nature of his conception and birth—thereby thrusting Mary into the theological spotlight. Protestants will find Pohle’s theological discourse especially useful for understanding an important, yet controversial dogma. This volume concludes with a lengthy appendix on the veneration of saints, relics, and images.

Pohle’s volume on grace explores the centrality of grace in Christian belief and practice. He writes at length on the relationship between unbelief and grace, as well as God’s will to save. A significant portion of this volume is devoted to free will, including the understanding of free will in the writings of Luther and Calvin, along with the Council of Trent. Pohle also deals with justification and sanctification—arguably the central and most controversial doctrines of the Reformation.

Salvation is not merely an internal transformation, but is manifested in the visible signs in the sacraments, which have their origin in the life of Christ—“outward and visible signs of an inward spiritual grace,” as Augustine famously defined them. The first of Pohle’s four volumes on the sacraments introduces readers, in detail, to sacramental theology. He uses Scripture to define the sacraments, their effects, and the ways they should be administered. The second half of this volume explains the sacraments of baptism and confirmation.

Pohle’s second volume on the sacraments explores the Eucharist. Pohle examines both Scripture and tradition to determine Christ’s presence in the sacrament, as well as the matter and form of the Eucharist. He also defends the necessity of the Eucharist and its position in the Mass. Of particular interest to Protestants, Pohle defines and explains transubstantiation.

Volume 3 of Pohle’s work on the sacraments explores the role of the church in the forgiveness of sins, and the relationship between forgiveness and the sacrament of penance. Pohle defends the necessity of confession, and examines the history of the church to defend penance as a sacrament. He argues that penance constitutes a small part of the larger process of being reconciled to God. Although not all theologians agree on the sacrament of penance, all will agree that the church plays a vital role in conveying the assurance of salvation—thus making this work useful for theologians from all traditions.

Pohle’s final volume on the sacraments covers extreme unction, holy orders, matrimony. He defends the necessity of each sacrament, defines the role of ministers, and shows how these sacraments—like all sacraments—perform a vital role in administering grace.

The end times have captivated the imaginations of Christians throughout the centuries. Significant portions of Scripture are devoted to Christ’s return, and countless theological works have been written on death, heaven and hell, the apocalypse, and other eschatological topics. This volume adds an important voice to the volumes of literature already written on the subject. Pohle writes lengthy chapters on death, heaven, hell, purgatory, along with the resurrection and the last judgment.

In 1845, Henry Beveridge’s translation of the Institutes appeared, issued by the Calvin Translation Society, founded only three years earlier. Both the Allen and Beveridge translations made Calvin’s Institutes widely accessible in America, and were the standard editions during the formative period of Reformed theology in America. These were the editions used by Hodge, Warfield, Louis Berkhof, and other bulwarks of Reformed theology in America.

Nailed to the door of the Wittenberg Church in October, 1517 to provoke a discussion concerning papal indulgences, this is one of the most significant documents in Christian history. Luther simply wanted to debate the practice of granting indulgences (allowing people to pay money to receive forgiveness for their sins instead of doing penance), but his list of 95 topics of debate was soon published and distributed across Europe. The debate in Wittenberg never took place, but these 95 Theses have surely made their impact on Christianity as many believe this particular document to be the spark that gave birth to the Protestant Reformation. The Logos edition provides the text of the 95 Theses in parallel English and Latin translations.

This commentary was assembled by Rev. George Leo Haydock (1774-1849) and published as notes to the Douay-Rheims translation of the Bible in numerous editions between 1811 and 1859. The 1859 edition has remained in print until the present, an indication of the work’s continuing importance. It is primarily an assemblage of sayings of the fathers and of medieval exegetes and theologians, but includes more modern interpretations. Haydock’s commentary is widely considered a Catholic classic which directly and accurately expresses the Church’s traditional interpretation of biblical passages.

This commentary was assembled by Rev. George Leo Haydock (1774-1849) and published as notes to the Douay-Rheims translation of the Bible in numerous editions between 1811 and 1859. The 1859 edition has remained in print until the present, an indication of the work’s continuing importance. It is primarily an assemblage of sayings of the fathers and of medieval exegetes and theologians, but includes more modern interpretations. Haydock’s commentary is widely considered a Catholic classic which directly and accurately expresses the Church’s traditional interpretation of biblical passages.

This work is widely recognized as a classic of ecclesiastical history. Based directly on the primary sources, Charles Joseph von Hefele reconstructs the most significant Church gatherings from the council of Jerusalem, depicted in The Acts of the Apostles, to the Second Council of Nicaea in 787. This was the period of the undivided Church, when East and West were united and governed primarily through periodic gatherings, the most famous being the seven ecumenical councils held in 325, 381, 431, 451, 553, 680, and 787. This history clearly and thoroughly explains the major issues dealt with at each council, including clear descriptions of the numerous heretical movements of the early Church. It also describes with great detail the politics surrounding the calling and conclusion of the councils.

John Henry Newman was on the translation team for the collected works of Athanasius that appear in volume four of Philip Schaff's Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers. Newman's familiarity with the writings of Athanasius gave him great insight into the historical context of the Arian Controversies. Newman's survey of Arianism during the fourth century begins with a systematic overview of each major Christian center or school of thought in regards to their treatment of major Arian doctrines. Newman addresses key evidence for an accepted Trinitarian theology prior to 300 A.D. and argues for a normalized Apostolic doctrine of the Trinity prior to the Council of Nicea.

In these two essays—On Scripture Miracles and On Ecclesiastical Miracles—John Henry Newman argues in favor of the many miraculous acts of God throughout history. Newman begins his argument by providing a proper definition for a miracle and necessary evidence required to substantiate the claim of a miracle. Then Newman discusses several specific miracles and gives well reasoned arguments for the reliability of the historical claim.

What determines real Christian doctrine? How have the primary tenets of Christian theology come out of biblical texts that do not explicitly provide for such conclusions? John Henry Newman wrestled with these questions for much of his adult life. In his Essay, Newman provides seven tests by which the development of an idea may be legitimized. Through this process he concludes that there has never been any innovation in Christian theology, only development and clarification to accommodate the needs of a specific era.

This collection of essays was written early in Newman's career from 1828–1842. Newman's topics vary from literary criticism and the Greek poets to the catholicity of the Anglican church and the concept of Antichrist. These two volumes capture the academic breadth of Newman's career as a Fellow at Oriel College. All of these articles were written during Newman's Anglican period and do not always reflect his later thoughts toward the Catholic church.

This collection of essays was written early in Newman's career from 1828–1842. Newman's topics vary from literary criticism and the Greek poets to the catholicity of the Anglican church and the concept of Antichrist. These two volumes capture the academic breadth of Newman's career as a Fellow at Oriel College. All of these articles were written during Newman's Anglican period and do not always reflect his later thoughts toward the Catholic church.

Can we trust theological conclusions, even if we do not fully comprehend them? Can we believe in God, though no evidence can be substantially provided for His existence? Every Christian struggles with these basic questions of belief. The modern world continues to shut out what cannot be proven as fact and faith is increasingly an unwanted and unmerited partner in a scientific world. During the height of English empiricism, John Henry Newman fought for the legitimacy and necessity of faith as a major component to the human intellect. Often called Newman's seminal work, Grammar of Assent was written over the course of twenty years as Newman, himself, grappled with the these foundational questions of Christian apologetics.

Early in his career John Henry Newman held the view that the Anglican Church of England provided a sort of “middle way” between the perceived errors of the Roman Catholic church on the one hand, and those perceived errors manifested in many Protestant churches on the other hand. This two volume work outlines Newman‘s argument in support of this view and his recommendations for enacting further reform within the Anglican church.

Early in his career John Henry Newman held the view that the Anglican Church of England provided a sort of “middle way” between the perceived errors of the Roman Catholic church on the one hand, and those perceived errors manifested in many Protestant churches on the other hand. This two volume work outlines Newman‘s argument in support of this view and his recommendations for enacting further reform within the Anglican church.

Apologia is a detailed autobiography in defense of Newman’s theological and ecclesiastical conclusions. Newman wrote this volume as a formal rebuttal to many negative claims and questions concerning his theology and conversion to Catholicism. By the Fall of 1863, these allegations came to a head with the publication of some negative comments about Newman in the periodical Macmillan's Magazine. In the article, Mr. Charles Kingsley accused (then) Father Newman of possessing a weakened understanding of the source and necessity of truth and subsequently defamed many central tenets of Catholicism. Newman and Kingsley maintained brief correspondence resulting in a formal retraction from Kingsley—all of which appear as the Foreword to the present publication. After the failed attempt at corresponding with Kingsley directly, Newman published this volume and was hailed as the defender of Catholic doctrine in England. Apologia, and the included correspondence, is an essential step to understanding the theology of John Henry Newman and the nineteenth century Catholic Church.

Stray Essays on Various Controversial Points includes three essays written later in Newman’s life. The first essay, “Inspiration in its Relation to Revelation”, is an attempt to account for the biblical foundation for Catholic teachings. The second, “Further Illustrations” is a continuation of the first essay and was written in reaction to some criticism he received from the Catholic community regarding certain statements made in “Inspiration in its Relation to Revelation”. The final essay, “Revelation in its Relation to Faith”, outlines Newman's mature response to the the place of faith and religion within the reasoned human experience.

John Henry Newman delivered these lectures in the early 1830's during his career as a professor of Anglican theology. Lectures on Justification uncovers the scriptural and historical understanding of justification within a sacramental tradition. Throughout these lectures, Newman defends justification as a free gift of God received through the sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice. The lecture series closes with special attention given to the role of the sacramental rites in the faith of the believer, and the importance of preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ as presented in scripture.

Few people in history can so accurately outline the reservations of Anglicans toward the Catholic Church as John Henry Newman. Newman was given opportunity to share these lectures—after his conversion to Catholicism—before a Catholic audience. He reflects upon his role in the Oxford (Tractarian) Movement of 1833. During this crucial period in Anglican history, high Anglican churches were caught between the imposing English government and the strict rule of Rome. Throughout this series of lectures, Newman clearly articulates the opposition of Anglicans to certain Catholic institutions like the Catholic priesthood and Marion doctrines.

Nineteenth century England was notoriously intolerant of the Catholic Church within its borders. Newman delivered these addresses to a fraternal group of Catholic priests and professors advising them how to remain faithful to their vows within an established Protestant culture. Newman's intention is to point out the logical fallacies undergirding the Protestant prejudices of Rome. He carefully dissects the Protestant misunderstanding of key tenets of Catholicism and then suggests ways for Catholics to faithfully handle these misinformed viewpoints.

What is the role of theology in higher education? Can a university remain faithful to pursuits of knowledge and faith at the same time? In this collection of nineteen addresses, Newman casts his vision for maintaining an effective religious liberal arts university to the founding faculty of the University College, Dublin. Newman defends faith and religion as essential components to human knowledge and the expansion of Western civilization. In his own time, Newman redefined the role of religious education within the university producing an academic model that has proven the test of time. In an era when religion and education are moving farther apart, Newman's philosophy of education can prescribe a tested path for religious educators.

These three volumes are comprised of lengthy lectures and articles written for encyclopedic publications. John Henry Newman was among the greatest historians of his day and few can escape his influence on the study of Christian history. Volume 1 addresses the following:

• Lectures on the History of the Turks, in their Relation to Europe
• Personal and Literary Character of Cicero
• Apollonius of Tyana
• Primitive Christianity

These three volumes are comprised of lengthy lectures and articles written for encyclopedic publications. John Henry Newman was among the greatest historians of his day and few can escape his influence on the study of Christian history. Volume 2 addresses the following:

• The Church of the Fathers
• The Last Years of St. Chrysostom
• Trials of Theodoret
• The Mission of St. Benedict
• The Benedictine Schools

These three volumes are comprised of lengthy lectures and articles written for encyclopedic publications. John Henry Newman was among the greatest historians of his day and few can escape his influence on the study of Christian history. Volume 3 addresses the following:

• Rise and Progress of Universities
• The Northmen and Normans in England and Ireland
• Medieval Oxford
• The Convocation of the Province Canterbury

This volume contains several short essays delivered between 1835 and 1859. All theological and historical in topic, these essays cover the range of Early Church heresiology to a historical account of the Rheims-Douay English version of the Bible. The essays included are:

• Dissertatiunculae Quatuor Critico-Theologiae
• Causes of the Rise and Successes of Arianism
• The Heresy of Apollonaris
• At. Cyril’s Formula
• The Ordo de Tempore in the Breviary
• History of the Text of the Douay Version of Scripture

Newman wrote The Dream of Gerontius later in his life as he was beginning to contemplate his final end. This magnificent poem follows Gerontius from his earthly end to his introduction before the heavenly host. The poem was first performed in 1900 by the English composer, Edward Elgar. Newman's masterpiece continues to be performed to this day.