Catherine Gunsalus González

While many histories of Christian worship exist, this project undertakes a task both more focused and more urgent. Rather than survey the whole history of the Christian church, it focuses on the formative period between the first and fifth centuries CE, when so many of the understandings and patterns of Christian worship came to be. And rather than include such developments as the monastic hours of prayer and the history of ordination, the authors deal primarily with those aspects of worship that recur on a weekly or regular basis: preaching, Eucharist, and baptism. The book divides its subject into three period. It begins with the emerging worship of the New Testament era. It moves to the second and third centuries, when the church’s main tasks of establishing its identity in relation to its Jewish roots and making its way in a hostile Roman environment showed up in its theology and practice of worship. And it concludes with the fourth and fifth centuries, when introducing the increasing numbers of converts after Constantine to Christian faith became one of the highest priorities of the church’s worship. This resource will serve as a valuable guide to the historical developments that brought about Christian worship as we know it today.

La primera palabra de todo el libro es "Apocalipsis", que quer a decir "revelaci n". Esta palabra ha venido a ser, no solamente el t tulo de este libro en particular, sino tambi n, el nombre que se le da a todo un g nero de literatura que result com n en los c rculos jud os unos pocos siglos antes del advenimiento de la fe cristiana. Los cristianos adoptaron este g nero para su propia literatura. El primer caso, y el que le dio nombre a todo el g nero apocal ptico, fue el Apocalipsis de Juan. En general, la literatura apocal ptica se enfrenta a la cuesti n del sufrimiento de los justos en manos de los injustos, y lo hace empleando un lenguaje altamente simb lico que combina un frecuente uso de la met fora con n meros que reciben significados misteriosos. Este libro de Justo L. Gonz lez y Catherine Gunsalus Gonz lez explica con gran claridad todo el contexto hist rico y tambi n la ex gesis del libro del Apocalipsis; con gran erudici n, pero de forma muy clara y pedag gica, conectando, tambi n, nuestras circunstancias semejantes a las del siglo primero. La injusticia y la idolatr a todav a se pasean en nuestra sociedad y sobre la faz de la tierra. Por esas razones, resulta ser una gran bendici n el que el Apocalipsis, con sus advertencias aterradoras para quienes prefieren la comodidad y el xito antes que la fidelidad, sea parte de nuestro Nuevo Testamento. Aqu , dos de los historiadores m s importantes, ofrecen a los lectores un comentario altamente accesible, perfecto para los l deres de estudios b blicos o el propio estudio personal. Un estudio del libro del Apocalipsis de Juan, como gu a para la fe y la pr ctica cristiana. Se explica el libro b blico y explora su significado para vivir con fidelidad hoy. How to Read RevelationJusto L Gonz lez and Catherine Gunsalus Gonz lez explain with great clarity the whole historical context ex gesis the book of Revelation, with great erudition, clearly, and pedagogically. Christians adopted this genre for some of their own literature. The first case, and the one that named the entire apocalyptic genre, was the Apocalypse of John. In general, apocalyptic literature addresses the issue of the suffering of the righteous at the hands of the unjust, using highly symbolic language that combines frequent use of metaphor with numbers that receive mysterious meanings. This book by Justo L Gonz lez and Catherine Gunsalus Gonz lez explains with great clarity the entire historical context and also the exegesis of the book of Revelation, with great erudition but in a very clear and pedagogical way. Connecting also our circumstances similar to those of the first century. Injustice and idolatry are still rampant in our society and on the face of the earth. For these reasons, it is a great blessing that Revelation, with its terrifying warnings for those who prefer comfort and success over faithfulness, is part of our New Testament. Here, two of the most important historians offer readers a highly accessible commentary, perfect for Bible study leaders or personal study. A study of the book of John's Revelation as a guide to Christian faith and practice. It explains the biblical book and explores its meaning for today's faithful life.

There is much that the church today can learn from the worship of the early church, particularly in the second century. This was a time when increasing numbers of gentiles were coming to the church with little or no previous knowledge of the Judeo-Christian tradition. How did the church train and instruct those who wished to join it? How did its worship, particularly in baptism and in communion, respond to the challenge of shaping and nurturing believers who would have to live their faith in a hostile environment? Today the church begins to face similar conditions. Growing numbers around us have little or no idea what our faith is all about. As such people seek membership in the church, and as we all seek ways to be faithful in the present environment, we have much to learn from the church in those earlier times, and particularly from its worship. La iglesia de hoy tiene mucho que aprender del culto de la iglesia antigua, particularmente de la iglesia durante el siglo segundo. En aquel tiempo cada vez eran mas los gentiles se acercaban a la iglesia sin saber mucho de la tradicion judeo-cristiana. Como era que la iglesia instruia y adiestraba a quienes deseaban unirse a ella? En que modos el culto de la iglesia respondia al reto de formar y nutrir a aquellos creyentes que tendrian que vivir en un ambiente hostil? Hoy la iglesia se enfrenta a retos semejantes. Cada vez son mas nuestros contemporaneos que saben bien poco acerca de la fe cristiana. Cuando tales personas piden unirse a la iglesia, y cuando nosotros mismos buscamos como ser fieles en el ambiente de hoy, la iglesia de aquellos tiempos tiene mucho que ensenarnos, particularmente en lo que se refiere al culto.

Historical- critical approaches to Scripture rule out some readings and commend others, but they rarely offer much help to either theological reflection or the preaching of the Word. They do not point the church forward in the life of discipleship. These commentaries have learned from tradition, but they are most importantly commentaries for today. The authors share the conviction that their work will be more contemporary, more faithful, and more radical, to the extent that it is more biblical, honestly wrestling with the texts of the Scriptures.--from the series introductionThe volumes in Belief: A Theological Commentary on the Bible from Westminster John Knox Press offer a fresh and invigorating approach to all the books of the Bible. Building on a wide range of sources from biblical studies, the history of theology, the church's liturgical and musical traditions, contemporary culture, and the Christian tradition, noted scholars focus less on traditional historical and literary angles in favor of a theologically focused commentary that considers the contemporary relevance of the texts. This series is an invaluable resource for those who want to probe beyond the backgrounds and words of biblical texts to their deep theological and ethical meanings for the church today.

In this unique Armchair volume, noted church historians Justo and Catherine Gonzalez introduce readers to important early church figures whose teachings were denounced by the church as heresies. Instructional for what they taught and for revealing what the church wished to safeguard and uphold, these "heretics," including Marcion, Arius, Nestorius, and Pelagius, are engagingly presented in their contexts through a clear and accessible text that is highlighted by the humorous illustrations of Ron Hill. Heretics for Armchair Theologians is an enjoyable way to learn about the church's early life and beliefs. Written by experts but designed for the novice, the Armchair series provides accurate, concise, and witty overviews of some of the most profound moments and theologians in Christian history. These books are essential supplements for first-time encounters with primary texts, lucid refreshers for scholars and clergy, and enjoyable reads for the theologically curious.

Originally written to be read aloud in church and to offer comfort and hope to those struggling to be faithful in troubling times, Revelation sparks great interest with its mysterious symbols of numbers and beasts. Here, two foremost historians offer readers a highly accessible commentary perfect for Bible study leaders. Books in the Westminster Bible Companion series assist laity in their study of the Bible as a guide to Christian faith and practice. Each volume explains the biblical book in its original historical context and explores its significance for faithful living today. These books are ideal for individual study and for Bible study classes and groups.