John de Gruchy is one of the greatest and most respected South African theologians of the past five decades. His work has left an indelible mark on both the South African and international theological landscapes. In this book he describes his theological journey, revisiting core themes, periods and sources. This is an enriching read, as De Gruchy engages with some of the greatest theologians in the history of the church ? notably John Calvin, Karl Barth, Karl Rahner, Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Reinhold Niebuhr ? as well as with a wide selection of his fellow South African theologians.ÿ?ÿCas Wepener

Faithless clergyman Simeon Cole is spirited into the psyche of a comatose, dying criminal. His task is to awaken the criminal and combat the legions of demonic forces holding sway in the Inner World. Simeon must pass through many challenges and tribulations with all the Powers of the Inner World bent on his destruction. Accompanied by several companions -- fragments of the criminal’s own mind, Simeon journeys through the bizarre science-fiction and fantasy world made and controlled by the demonic Powers. If he succeeds, he can escape the Inner World; failure means his own life. But success also means losing the only real and meaningful friendships he has ever known. It is a fearsome task for a clergyman with no faith and no stomach for adventures. In any case, Simeon must conquer his own flaws and come to terms with his God to emerge as something more.

An international bestseller being published in more than 20 countries, "Theo's Odyssey" is an extraordinary journey through the world's religions that does for spirituality what "Sophie's World" did for philosophy.

In the Odyssey of Grace series, Cy Mersereau invites you to join him as he travels through the twenty-seven books of the New Testament. In this series, each book of the New Testament is summarized, with special consideration given to topics of common, and sometimes controversial, interest. The journey begins with the coming of Christ in the four Gospels, then threads its way through the epistles and ends with Revelation, where time dissolves into the eternal state. Along the way, the reader will encounter adventure, history, theology, advice for practical Christian living, and become acquainted with some of the more fascinating personalities of the early church. The author of each book has his own style, his own emphasis, and his own story that is part of the larger story of Jesus Christ and the redemption he purchased for us on Calvary two thousand years ago. Some of the topics covered here include: Prophetical insights from believers of various backgrounds on the book of Revelation. The hotly contested miracle of Jesus turning water into wine. Judas, his betrayal of Christ, and how and when he died A discussion of the book of Philemon to address the question of whether the Bible promotes slavery A comprehensive look into why the Gospel of Mark has so many endings and which is the right one. Join in on the conversation as Cy discusses these questions, and so many more!

If God is all powerful and entirely good and loving, why is there so much evil in the world? Based on a close canonical reading of Scripture, this book offers a new approach to the challenge of reconciling the Christian confession of a loving God with the realities of suffering and evil. John Peckham offers a constructive proposal for a theodicy of love that upholds both the sovereignty of God and human freedom, showing that Scripture points toward a framework for thinking about God's love in relation to the world.

Editors and authors James Estep and Jonathan Kim have pulled together something often talked about but seldom seen, namely, a thoroughgoing attempt to integrate theology and science, in this case, social science. Their organization, interpretation, and evaluation of mountains of information from both sides has resulted in an expert, yet easily understandable guide to Christian spiritual formation and development. Both academics and practitioners will find help in this volume, one that is certain to be a standard work for years to come.

Guides readers through Homer's The Odyssey and highlights the universal theme of longing for redemption as displayed in this epic tale of a man trying to find his way home. Part of the Christian Guides to the Classics series.

In this groundbreaking book, Dennis R. MacDonald offers an entirely new view of the New Testament gospel of Mark. The author of the earliest gospel was not writing history, nor was he merely recording tradition, MacDonald argues. Close reading and careful analysis show that Mark borrowed extensively from the Odyssey and the Iliad and that he wanted his readers to recognise the Homeric antecedents in Mark's story of Jesus. Mark was composing a prose anti-epic, MacDonald says, presenting Jesus as a suffering hero modeled after but far superior to traditional Greek heroes. Much like Odysseus, Mark's Jesus sails the seas with uncomprehending companions, encounters preternatural opponents, and suffers many things before confronting rivals who have made his house a den of thieves. In his death and burial, Jesus emulates Hector, although unlike Hector Jesus leaves his tomb empty. Mark's minor characters, too, recall Homeric predecessors: Bartimaeus emulates Tiresias; Joseph of Arimathea, Priam; and the women at the tomb, Helen, Hecuba, and Andromache. And, entire episodes in Mark mirror Homeric episodes, including stilling the sea, walking on water, feeding the multitudes, the Triumphal E