Böcker utgivna av Augsburg Fortress Publishers

Isaiah in context and through the ages. Reading the book of Isaiah in its original context is the crucial prerequisite for understanding its citation and use in later interpretations, including the New Testament writings, argues Ben Witherington III. Here he offers pastors, teachers, and students an accessible commentary on Isaiah, as well as a reasoned consideration of how Isaiah was heard and read in early Christianity. By reading "forward and backward," Witherington advances the scholarly discussion of intertextuality and opens a new avenue for biblical theology. - Back cover.

"Theologian, pastor, and seasoned activist Rebecca M. M. Voelkel offers a theological vision of embodied love, informed by her own experience, research, and pastoral and organizing work with gay, lesbian, transgender, and genderqueer people. Voilkel lays out a theological vision interwoven with wisdom from social change "movement building," offering principles that will enable allies to work strategically in the coming "progressive wave.""--Page [4] of cover.

At moments in history, individuals have embodied the gospel message with creativity and passion. One such moment began when a returned veteran named Francis Bernardone found a whole new world in a desolate space just outside Assisi: a leper colony. Drawn to discover the incarnate God, and joined by a collaborator as able and determined as he, Francis, and Clare of Assisi's desire to live authentically in gospel simplicity ushered in a revolutionary sensitivity to the presence of God within the human community. Today, eight hundred years later, the first pope to take the name Francis invites us to engage the 'revolution of tenderness' to which we are 'summoned by the God who became flesh.' The example of Pope Francis gives us a new and vivid sense of just how compelling radical sincerity and reverent encounter with others can be. Capitalizing on the legacy of Francis and Clare and the energy of a visionary pope who raises critical questions about how to be faithful to the gospel, The Tenderness of God invites readers into a rich conversation across time and space about how to recapture our humanity and nurture our God-given capacity to live meaningfully and joyfully in communion with others.

Existing Before God introduces readers to one of the most important 19th century Christian thinkers, Soren Kierkegaard. In this volume, Paul R. Sponheim, unfolds Kierkegaards Sickness unto Death a key text outlining the problem of the human condition and the paradoxical heart of authentic Christian faith, the qualitative difference between God and creatures and its synthesis in the God-man. Sponheim also draws out the connections between this text and Kierkegaards larger theological and ethical vision, and the reception and significance of this text in the modern and contemporary theological tradition.

The wrenching situation in the Middle East, recent events have shown, is as complex as it is volatile. In this immensely learned and clarifying volume-here updated and issued in paper for the first time-the Ruethers trace the tortured and contested history of Israel/Palestine from biblical times through the Diaspora, the development of Zionism, the creation of the modern state of Israel, and the subsequent conflict with Arab and Palestinian nationalism. Magisterial in its grasp of the historical, political, economic, and religious roots of the conflict, The Wrath of Jonah also offers convincing analysis of the moral and political dilemmas facing Israelis and Palestinians today. Though they see possibilities for peace, the Ruethers are forthright about what they and others see as Israel''s betrayal of its own original mandate. Their purpose, state the Ruethers, "continues to be to make a modest contribution to truthful historical accountability that must underlie the quest for justice, without which there can be no ''peace.''"

Wilfred Cantwell Smith, maintained in this vastly important work that Westerners have misperceived religious life by making "religion" into one thing. He shows the inadequacy of "religion" to capture the living, endlessly variable ways and traditions in which religious faith presents itself in the world.

This latest work from leading liturgical theologian Gordon Lathrop explores the extent to which the central symbols and interactions of Christian liturgy yield, for their participants, a new proposal for their understanding and experience of the world. In the process, it considers various kinds of world-making, the diverse maps, and the differing senses of "cosmology" in which we all live. Finally, the book examines how certain liturgical reforms can contribute to a refreshed sense of ecological ethics-to a Christian sense of the holiness of the earth itself.

North America has rarely produced a theologian as creative and productive as Robert W. Jenson. A truly ecumenical thinker, Jenson consistently demonstrates the way that the churchs confession of the triune God of scripture restructures our thinking. Surveying Jensons work, this volume lays out the contours and key contributions of Jensons thought for modern Christology, theological interpretation of Scripture, the doctrine of the Trinity in light of the recent Trinitarian revival, and ecumenical theological relations. This volume gathers together essays by some of contemporary theologys most capable thinkers.

The main contention of this book is that Kierkegaards apophaticism is an ethical-religious difficulty, concerning itself with the whylessness of existence. This is a theme that Kierkegaard inherits from the philosophical and theological traditions stemming from Meister Eckhart. The book examines Kierkegaards apophaticism with reference to five themes: indirect communication, God, faith, hope, and love. Across these themes, the aim is to lend voice to the unruly energy of the unsayable and, in doing so, let Kierkegaards theological, spiritual, and philosophical provocation remain a living one for us today.

The twentieth century witnessed considerable debate over the question of the possibility of a Christian philosophy. Two major figures of that revival were tienne Gilson and Bernard Lonergan, both of whom read Aquinas in quite different ways on key questions. Nonetheless, this work brings these two authors into conversation. Debates continue in the twenty-first century, but the context has shifted, with Radical Orthodoxy and new atheism standing at opposite ends on the relationship between philosophy and theology. This work will demonstrate how the two thinkers, Gilson and Lonergan, may still contribute to a better understanding of this relationship and so shed light on contemporary issues.

This book argues that the church for Augustine is a mystery that is both visible and invisible. Far from discarding the visible community, Augustine places greater emphasis on the empirical church as his thought develops. To demonstrate this, the author traces Augustines ecclesiology from early writings to later works. Further, this study explores Augustines exegesis of biblical images of the church, such as body of Christ, bride of Christ, city of God, and sacrifice, in order to show how the visible community is intrinsic to the mystery of the church.

Martin Luther wrote the Small Catechism as a succinct explaination of the basics of Christian faith to be used in parishes and homes. Includes explanations of the Ten Commandments, the Creed, and the Lords Prayer, Luthers own preface to the 1531 edition, Sacrament of Baptism, Sacrament of the Altar, instructions to the head of the household, Household Chart of Bible Passages, Marriage Booklet, Baptismal Booklet, and woodcuts from the 1536 edition of the Small Catechism. This volume is excerpted from The Annotated Luther series, volume 4 (Pastoral Writings.)

Revision of author's thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Leeds, 2013.

In his counseling work, Harold Ivan Smith has heard all the questions - even the most obscure, personal, and difficult ones - that occur to grievers as they process their loss. Here he compiles more than 150 common questions, explores the emotions behind them, and provides clear and forthright responses. Whether readers find the answers they seek, new perspectives to ponder, or comfort from knowing that others ask similar questions, this valuable resource will guide individuals who are in the midst of grief and those who wish to provide comfort.

The loss of a baby is one of the most acute losses a person can experience. In this helpful book, Louis A. Gamino and Ann Taylor Cooney address both miscarriage and stillbirth and the grief implications of each. They offer comfort to mothers, fathers, and families who must find ways to recognize their bond with the child who died and then move forward with their lives.

The death of a spouse can create emotional, spiritual, and financial chaos for the one left behind. It is a journey through grief no one wishes to make. In this helpful volume, Mildred Tengbom addresses the emotions and difficulties widows and widowers face as they look ahead to life without their spouses. She offers comfort and hope for the days and weeks following the death of a spouse.

At the heart of each relationship, says McGinnis, is the friendship factor-the essential ingredient of warmth and caring. With captivating case histories and anecdotes about such famous people as George Burns, Howard Hughes, and C. S. Lewis, McGinnis shares the secret of how to love and be loved. The first edition of The Friendship Factor, published in 1979, has sold more than 350,000 copies.

This book is devoted both to the problem of Paul''s view of the law as a whole, and to his thought about and relation to his fellow Jews. Building upon his previous study, the critically acclaimed Paul and Palestinian Judaism, E.P. Sanders explores Paul''s Jewishness by concentrating on his overall relationship to Jewish tradition and thought. Sanders addresses such topics as Paul''s use of scripture, the degree to which he was a practicing Jew during his career as apostle to the Gentiles, and his thoughts about his "kin by race" who did not accept Jesus as the messiah. In short, Paul''s thoughts about the law and his own people are re-examined with new awareness and great care.Sanders addresses an important chapter in the history of the emergence of Christianity. Paul''s role in that development -- specially in light of Galatians and Romans -- is now re-evaluated in a major way. This book is in fact a significant contribution to the study of the emergent normative self-definition in Judaism and Christianity during the first centuries of the common era.

A concise commentary, highly useful as an accompaniment to the reading of the Augsburg Confession itself. All who are interested in the doctrinal traditions of the Lutheran Church can find here the means to increase their theological and historical understanding of the text.The theological perspective of the Augsburg Confession is made clear by comparisons with the writings of Luther and other Reformers, as well as with other main streams of the Christian tradition.Included for each article of the confession are the English translation of the text, notes on the text, and theological and historical commentary on the meaning of the article. Also included are an extensive introduction to the writing of the confession, footnotes, a selected bibliography, and an index.In its Danish, Swedish, and German editions this commentary has become a indispensable introduction to this classic confession of the Lutheran Reformation.Here is a source of fresh insight into the meaning of the Augsburg Confession -- and guidance into the meaning of the gospel for today.