Bringing Jesus to the Desert: Uncover the Ancient Culture, Discover Hidden Meanings

by Bradley Nassif

Publisher:

Zondervan

, 2011

Through the third to sixth centuries, great Christian men and women colonized the deserts of Palestine, Syria and Egypt, shaping the church through their examples of faith and devotion. History now knows them as the Desert Fathers and Mothers and their lives display an unswerving commitment to the love of Christ sorely needed in today’s world. Bradley Nassif tells the story of how the deserts of the Holy Land forged a holy people and a lasting legacy of faith. As part of the Ancient Context, Ancient Faith series, Middle Eastern lands, culture and history directly undergird this exploration of ancient spirituality. Surveying the lives of Anthony of Egypt, Pachomius, Melania and others, Nassif demonstrates how the wilderness experiences chronicled in Scripture guided the practice of Christian faith in biblical lands. Bringing Jesus to the Desert can help pastors, Bible students and lay learners trace God’s work in the past and draw on the power of God in the desert places of their own lives.

Contents

Top Highlights

“Among the many endowments of the European Enlightenment, individualism reigns supreme; Christian faith is a personal, private endeavor. We prefer to say, ‘I have accepted Christ as my Savior,’ rather than define ourselves through a community that follows Christ.” (Page 9)

“Repentance was a lifestyle for them, not a single event.” (Page 31)

“His long periods of silence were often followed by a return to community life, where he healed and counseled others. Anthony’s desert experience teaches us that ministering to others requires that we spend time in solitary prayer, nurturing our hearts and minds before God. We learn that solitude is deeply connected to our ability to love God and others well. Solitude should not lead to isolation but is the womb that gives birth to love.” (Page 51)

“To meditate on the wrongs of others is to create a major obstacle to prayer. Prayer should become the primary and constant activity of all that we do in life.” (Page 65)

“God became humanized so that humans might become divinized” (Page 49)

Product Details

• Title: Bringing Jesus to the Desert: Uncover the Ancient Culture, Discover Hidden Meanings
• Author: Bradley Nassif
• Series: Ancient Context, Ancient Faith
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Print Publication Date: 2011
• Logos Release Date: 2015
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subject: Desert Fathers
• ISBNs: 9780310526841, 9780310318309, 0310526841, 0310318300
• Resource ID: LLS:BRNGNGJSSDSRT
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-29T22:20:35Z

About Bradley Nassif

Bradley Nassif is professor of biblical and theological studies at North Park University.