In this thrilling exploration, Pitre shows how the suffering and death of Jesus was far more than a tragic Roman execution. Instead, the Passion of Christ was the fulfillment of ancient Jewish prophecies of a wedding, when the God of the universe would wed himself to humankind in an everlasting nuptial covenant. To be sure, most Christians are familiar with the apostle Paul’s teaching that Christ is the ‘Bridegroom’ and the Church is the ‘Bride’. But what does this really mean? And what would ever possess Paul to compare the death of Christ to the love of a husband for his wife? If you would have been at the Crucifixion, with Jesus hanging there dying, is that how you would have described it? How could a first-century Jew like Paul, who knew how brutal Roman crucifixions were, have ever compared the execution of Jesus to a wedding? And why does he refer to this as the “great mystery” (Ephesians 5:32)? As Pitre shows, the key to unlocking this mystery can be found by going back to Jewish Scripture and tradition and seeing the entire history of salvation, from Mount Sinai to Mount Calvary, as a divine love story between Creator and creature, between God and Israel, between Christ and his bride—a story that comes to its climax on the wood of a Roman cross. In the pages of Jesus the Bridegroom, dozens of familiar passages in the Bible—the Exodus, the Song of Songs, the Wedding at Cana, the Woman at the Well, the Last Supper, the Crucifixion, and even the Second Coming at the End of Time—are suddenly transformed before our eyes. Indeed, when seen in the light of Jewish Scripture and tradition, the life of Christ is nothing less than the greatest love story ever told.

    The Didache Bible also includes numerous apologetical inserts to assist the reader in understanding the Church's teachings on current issues. After publishing the books of The Didache Series, Midwest Theological Forum set out to fill a need for a Catholic edition of Sacred Scripture with explanatory and apologetical commentaries based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The publication of the Didache Bible, based on these principles, fulfills the desire of Pope St. John Paul II as expressed in his Apostolic Constitution Fidei Depositum: "The Catechism of the Catholic Church . . . is a statement of the Church's faith and of catholic doctrine, attested to or illumined by Sacred Scripture, the Apostolic Tradition and the Church's Magisterium. I declare it to be a sure norm for teaching the faith" (no. IV). The Didache Bible is a valuable resource for students and those participating in Scripture studies. Ideal for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the Catholic faith and intended to be accessible by all Catholics in its level of scriptural scholarship. Available in the Ignatius Bible Edition (Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition) Features 27 full-color biblical maps, including the journeys of Jesus Christ More than 100 apologetical explanations that help to answer common questions about the faith Includes a comprehensive, 43-page glossary and a topical index

    While a cursory reading of the text seems to relay a simple story of a righteous man whose love for God was tested through life's most difficult of challenges and rewarded for his faith through those trials, a closer reading of Job presents something far more complex and challenging. The majority of the text is a work of poetry that authors and artists through the centuries have recognized as being one of--if not the--greatest poem of the ancient world.In Re-reading Job: Understanding the Ancient World’s Greatest Poem, author Michael Austin shows how most readers have largely misunderstood this important work of scripture and provides insights that enable us to re-read Job in a drastically new way. In doing so, he shows that the story of Job is far more than that simple story of faith, trials, and blessings that we have all come to know, but is instead a subversive and complex work of scripture meant to inspire readers to rethink all that they thought they knew about God.

    When the Catholic Church calls us to a "New Evangelization," that's simply a reminder us of what has always been true. The good news is: you can do it - you can evangelize - and Scott Hahn shows you how.

    Hays maps the shocking ways the four Gospel writers interpreted Israel's Scripture to craft their literary witnesses to the Church's one Christ. The Gospels' scriptural imagination discovered inside the long tradition of a resilient Jewish monotheism a novel and revolutionary Christology.Modernity's incredulity toward the Christian faith partly rests upon the characterization of early Christian preaching as a tendentious misreading of the Hebrew Scriptures. Christianity, modernity claims, twisted the Bible they inherited to fit its message about a mythological divine Savior. The Gospels, for many modern critics, are thus more about Christian doctrine in the second and third century than they are about Jesus in the first.Such Christian misreadings are not late or politically motivated developments within Christian thought. As Hays demonstrates, the claim that the events of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection took place according to the Scriptures stands at the very heart of the New Testament's earliest message. All four canonical Gospels declare that the Torah and the Prophets and the Psalms mysteriously prefigure Jesus. The author of the Fourth Gospel puts the claim succinctly: If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me (John 5:46).Hays thus traces the reading strategies the Gospel writers employ to read backwards and to discover how the Old Testament figuratively discloses the astonishing paradoxical truth about Jesus' identity. Attention to Jewish and Old Testament roots of the Gospel narratives reveals that each of the four Evangelists, in their diverse portrayals, identify Jesus as the embodiment of the God of Israel. Hays also explores the hermeneutical challenges posed by attempting to follow the Evangelists as readers of Israel's Scripture--can the Evangelists teach us to read backwards along with them and to discern the same mystery they discovered in Israel's story?In Reading Backwards Hays demonstrates that it was Israel's Scripture itself that taught the Gospel writers how to understand Jesus as the embodied presence of God, that this conversion of imagination occurred early in the development of Christian theology, and that the Gospel writers' revisionary figural readings of their Bible stand at the very center of Christianity.--Joel B. Green, Dean of the School of Theology and Professor of New Testament Interpretation, Fuller Theological Seminary "First Things"

    The seventeen-volume CCSS series, which will cover the entire New Testament, relates Scripture to Christian life today, is faithfully Catholic, and is supplemented by features designed to help readers understand the Bible more deeply and use it more effectively in teaching, preaching, evangelization, and other forms of ministry. Drawn from the best of contemporary scholarship, series volumes are keyed to the liturgical year and include an index of pastoral subjects.

    . . Thoughts for personal and family devotions for every chapter Three dozen articles on how to live the Christian life Guidance on how to experience the truths of the Bible A Study Bible to Instruct Your Mind . . . Thousands of study notes with integrated cross-references Introductions to each section and every book of the Bible Classic Bible text with explanations of difficult words More than fifty articles on key Christian teachings Concordance, color maps, daily reading plan, and more! A Study Bible to Discover Your Roots . . . Overview of twenty centuries of church history Ancient creeds, confessions, and catechisms with introductions Endorsements “Every Christian agrees that there is no book in all the world like the Bible. Within its covers lies the knowledge of God and of eternal life. It is the place where Jesus is revealed to us and where we see ourselves. Like the fields of Boaz in the book of Ruth, it is full of heaven-sent bread, open to us to come, glean, and feed upon its riches. It is a home report of heaven and a guide for getting there. The Bible truly stands alone. But perhaps Christians do not agree on which edition of the Bible is the best in the world. Having looked over the following pages, I think I may have found it. This is a study Bible whose additional articles, notes, tables, and quotations have only one purpose: to place the text of Scripture in the highest possible prominence and to help us understand it in the clearest possible way. For serious followers of Christ, the Bible is indispensable; for serious students of the Bible this edition will soon become indispensable also. To God be the glory for His Word, and to the publishers our gratitude for this splendid edition.” – Iain D. Campbell, Point Free Church, Isle of Lewis, Scotland “This monumental production is surely destined to be of immense help to countless users for years to come. Its scope is extraordinary, its guiding principles are rock solid, and it is remarkably readable. I know of nothing like it, and I commend it warmly.” – John Blanchard, internationally-known author, evangelist and Christian apologist “The publication of the Reformation Heritage KJV Study Bible arrives on the scene as other translations seek to sweep the poetry and beauty of the English language aside. The KJV is a timeless translation of the most influential and life-changing book ever to be printed on the page. You hold in your hands a book that men of great faith have given their lives to see printed in the English language. Reformation Heritage Books has done a beautiful job in compiling excellent materials for this new study Bible. Specifically, this study Bible assembles key articles defining and explaining Reformed theology from the perspective of the Reformers and Puritans. An especially valuable feature is the notes included within each chapter that encourage personal and family devotions. Read the words of this Bible, praying that God will apply the truth to your heart and life.” - Steven J. Lawson, president, OnePassion Ministries, and professor of preaching at The Master’s Seminary

    We’ve heard and seen so many depictions of Him that we think we know Him better than we actually do. If we took the time to really look at Him, we might be surprised at what we’d find.In 52 Weeks with Jesus, author and pastor James Merritt leads you on a transformational journey as he shares what he’s learned over a lifetime of studying Jesus’ life and ministry. As you join Dr. Merritt on this journey, you will come to know and encounter Jesus in new and surprising ways and be inspired anew to embrace His invitation, “Come, follow Me.”Filled with practical applications and surprising truths, this book will help you more ably answer that ancient question that’s as timely today as when it was first posed: “Who do you say that I am?”

    In the first of three volumes spanning the entire Hebrew Bible, David Bokovoy dives into the Penateuch, showing how and why textual criticism has led biblical scholars today to understand the first five books of the Bible as an amalgamation of multiple texts into a single, though often complicated narrative; and he discusses what implications those have for Latter-day Saint understandings of the Bible and modern scripture.

    John of the Cross and St. Therese of Lisieux, shows you here how to enter into an intense, sustained communion with God. Bishop Martinez doesn’t offer new rules of prayer or demand that you abandon the forms of meditation that suit you. He simply reminds you that our God is a hidden God. To find Him, says Martinez, we have to seek Him, but through His ways, not ours. If we do that, the gaze of faith will always find Him right where He hides: in the spiritual desolation that led us wrongly to believe He was far away. Martinez shows you how to live in the obscurity of faith, detached both from consolations and desolations, and why this is best for your soul. The Christian who learns to do this leaves behind the perturbations of the world that shake the faith of those who don’t. In the obscurity of faith, the Divine Master will listen to you, speak to you, and instruct your soul, but without the noise of words. Says Martinez: “Once you know how to profit from faith and to live by faith, you will always find God. You will have solved your problem; you will have discovered the great secret of the interior life.”

    Each chapter focuses on a real life challenge to the faith as experienced by a fictional character and also includes statistical facts, discussion questions, links to Scripture and the Catechism, an activity, a prayer, and a concluding message with practical advice. Topics include: pornography, cyberbullying, modesty, family, materialism, dishonesty, body image, substance abuse, stress, and depression.

    Mature believers and new believers. Young and old. Those who have read the Bible for years and those just starting out. This book, How to Understand the Bible: A Simple Guide, will help you gain an overall perspective on the flow and meaning of Scripture. It addresses questions like: What is the Big Picture of the Bible? What About Bible Translations? How Should We Understand the Stories of the Old Testament? How Should We Interpret What the Prophets Had to Say? How Should We Understand the Teachings of Jesus? What Was Jesus Teaching in the Parables? How Can We Hear God’s Voice in Scripture? What are the Proper Ways to Apply Scripture to Life Today? … and much more Knowing the Bible better is about knowing God better. And then we are better able to handle the hard realities of life and to realize the love and truth of God.

    He was the bishop of Hippo Regius (modern-day Annaba, Algeria), located in Numidia (Roman province of Africa). He is viewed as one of the most important Church Fathers in Western Christianity for his writings in the Patristic Era. Among his most important works are The City of God and Confessions. According to his contemporary, Jerome, Augustine "established anew the ancient Faith." In his early years, he was heavily influenced by Manichaeism and afterward by the neo-Platonism of Plotinus. After his baptism and conversion to Christianity in 387, Augustine developed his own approach to philosophy and theology, accommodating a variety of methods and perspectives. Believing that the grace of Christ was indispensable to human freedom, he helped formulate the doctrine of original sin and made seminal contributions to the development of just war theory. —BOOKS— A TREATISE AGAINST TWO LETTERS OF THE PELAGIANS A TREATISE CONCERNING MAN’S PERFECTION IN RIGHTEOUSNESS A TREATISE ON FAITH AND THE CREED A TREATISE ON GRACE AND FREE WILL A TREATISE ON THE GIFT OF PERSEVERANCE A TREATISE ON THE GRACE OF CHRIST, AND ON ORIGINAL SIN A TREATISE ON THE MERITS AND FORGIVENESS OF SINS, AND ON THE BAPTISM OF INFANTS A TREATISE ON THE PREDESTINATION OF THE SAINTS A TREATISE ON THE SOUL AND ITS ORIGIN A TREATISE ON THE SPIRIT AND THE LETTER A TREATISE ON NATURE AND GRACE A TREATISE ON REBUKE AND GRACE A WORK ON THE PROCEEDINGS OF PELAGIUS ACTS OR DISPUTATION AGAINST FORTUNATUS THE MANICHAEAN AGAINST LYING AGAINST THE EPISTLE OF MANICHAEUS, CALLED FUNDAMENTAL ANSWER TO THE LETTERS OF PETILIAN, THE DONATIST CONCERNING FAITH OF THINGS NOT SEEN CONCERNING THE NATURE OF GOOD, AGAINST THE MANICHAEANS EXPOSITIONS ON THE BOOK OF PSALMS LECTURES OR TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. JOHN LETTERS OF ST. AUGUSTIN OF HOLY VIRGINITY OF THE WORK OF MONKS ON BAPTISM, AGAINST THE DONATISTS ON CARE TO BE HAD FOR THE DEAD ON CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE ON CONTINENCE ON LYING ON MARRIAGE AND CONCUPISCENCE ON PATIENCE ON THE CATECHISING OF THE UNINSTRUCTED ON THE CREED ON THE GOOD OF WIDOWHOOD ON THE GOOD OF MARRIAGE ON THE MORALS OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH ON THE MORALS OF THE MANICHAEANS ON THE PROFIT OF BELIEVING ON THE TRINITY ON TWO SOULS, AGAINST THE MANICHAEANS OUR LORD’S SERMON ON THE MOUNT REPLY TO FAUSTUS THE MANICHAEAN SERMONS ON SELECTED LESSONS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT TEN HOMILIES ON THE FIRST EPISTLE OF JOHN TO THE PARTHIANS THE CITY OF GOD THE CONFESSIONS OF SAINT AUGUSTINE THE CORRECTION OF THE DONATISTS THE ENCHIRIDION THE HARMONY OF THE GOSPELS TWO BOOKS OF SOLILOQUIES PUBLISHER: AETERNA PRESS

    Florian Racine offers us a beautiful formation guide on Eucharistic adoration that will help us to practice it in all its depth, and with a missionary perspective. God has made himself particularly close to mankind in Jesus his Son. The redemptive Incarnation of his Son is how God reconciles mankind with himself. The memorial of the Passover of Christ is therefore at the heart of our relationship with God. In the Blessed Sacrament, the resurrected Jesus is really present and acting; he draws all mankind into his filial relationship with the Father, through the power of the Holy Spirit. Thus, following the plan of God, Catholics put the Eucharist at the heart of their lives, and take time to adore Jesus in the Holy Sacrament. The adorer wants to abide within the dynamic life of the Eucharist, just as he desires that the Eucharist transform his whole life. Adoration and Eucharistic life transform believers into the image of Christ. The author invites us on an itinerary, a journey of faith, in fifty-two stages—as many as the weeks in a year. He starts by showing how the Word of God is made present in the Eucharist, and then he invites us to mature in faith and to be transformed by a greater communion with Christ.

    David VanDrunen draws on both his Reformed theological heritage and the broader Christian natural law tradition to develop a constructive theology of natural law through a thorough study of Scripture.The biblical covenants organize VanDrunen's study. Part 1 addresses the covenant of creation and the covenant with Noah, exploring how these covenants provide a foundation for understanding God's governance of the whole world under the natural law. Part 2 treats the redemptive covenants that God established with Abraham, Israel, and the New Testament church and explores the obligations of God's people to natural law within these covenant relationships.In the concluding chapter of Divine Covenants and Moral Order VanDrunen reflects on the need for a solid theology of natural law and the importance of natural law for the Christian's life in the public square.]>