St. Augustine and Roman law are the two bridges from Athens and Jerusalem to the world of modern law. Augustine's almost eerily modern political realism was based upon his deep appreciation of human evil, arising from his insights into the human personality, the product of his reflections on his own life and the history of his times. These insights have traveled well through the ages and are mirrored in the pages of Aquinas, Luther and Calvin, Reinhold Niebuhr, and Hannah Arendt. The articles in this volume describe the life and world of Augustine and the ways in which he conceived both justice and law. They also discuss the little recognized Augustinian contributions to the field of modern hermeneutics - the discipline which informs the art of legal interpretation. Finally, they include Augustine's valuable discussion of church/state relations, the law of just wars, and proper role and limits of coercion, and the procreative dimensions of marriage. The volume also includes an extremely useful, definitive bibliography of Augustine and the law, and will leave readers with an increased appreciation of the contributions which Augustine has made to the history of jurisprudence. No one can read Augustine and these articles on his view of the law without taking away a new view of the law itself.

"... pre-Constantinian Christian intellect apparently found a richer thought environment in Africa than elsewhere. It discovered itself in the intellectual centers of Africa before Europe had produced such centers. Eventually it offered its rich wisdom to the cultures of the northern side of the Mediterranean ..." - Dr. Thomas C. Oden. This book surveys the rational, organized, thriving, Scripturally informed and Holy Spirit-inspired roots of indigenous Christianity in Africa from 33 A.D. through 537 A.D. The intent is to supplement existing Church history resources.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church reads "often the texts of Sacred Scripture are not quoted literally but merely indicated as a reference ('Cf.') in the footnotes. For a deeper understanding of those passages, the reader should go to the texts themselves. These Biblical references are a working tool for catechesis." This Companion to the Catechism of the Catholic Church Book of References contains all the passages of Sacred Scripture referred to in the Catechism arranged according to the paragraphs in which the references are made. But that is only a beginning. The Catechism also refers to conciliar texts, papal documents, writings of the Fathers and of the Saints. There are more than 3,600 of these references extending from the earliest credal formulations of the ancient Church to the documents of Vatican II and beyond to the magisterial teaching of Pope John Paul II. The Book of References includes all the texts referred to arranged, along with the Scripture passages, according to the paragraphs of the Catechism in which they are referred. This Book of References is a valuable instrument in teaching, understanding, and implementing the Catechism. It is a handy one-volume reference library for use with the Catechism. "... I ask the Church's pastors and the Christian faithful to receive this Catechism in a spirit of communion and to use it assiduously in fulfilling their mission of proclaiming the faith and calling people to the Gospel life." Pope John Paul II

The Book of Ruth, often perceived as a heartwarming love story, is much deeper than its brief 85 verses may suggest. Far from just a narrative of an impoverished outcast finding love through the guidance of her mother-in-law, it holds a weighty place in the biblical canon, universally acknowledged, and inspired by the Holy Spirit, for the enrichment of the Church. But could there be more to it? The true brilliance of Ruth lies in its core message. It masterfully illustrates the concept of redemption and how it unfolds through the Kinsman Redeemer. The historical context, with Ruth's pivotal role as a Moabite convert to true faith, further accentuates its significance. Her union with Boaz, a revered figure among his kin, led to the birth of Obed, the grandfather of King David. The narrative was crafted to affirm David's legitimate claim to the throne, emphasizing his divine lineage. Yet, the true essence of the book transcends earthly monarchies, pointing towards King Jesus, the Messiah, our Spiritual David, who emerges as the savior and the ultimate Kinsman. In "Practical Observations on the Book of Ruth", McMahon explores this biblical masterpiece, offering insightful verse-by-verse observations. He presents it as a reflection of Christ's Covenant of Grace, providing a comprehensive commentary on its relevance to the Christian faith and its practical implications for believers in their everyday lives.

Praying the Psalms takes on new meaning when we pray the psalms that Jesus himself prayed. Psalms II: Praying with Jesus takes a look at six psalms that played an important role in Jesus' life and helps readers apply those words to their lives and prayers today. A Guided Discovery of the Bible The Bible invites us to explore God s word and reflect on how we might respond to it. To do this, we need guidance and the right tools for discovery. The Six Weeks with the Bible series of Bible discussion guides offers both in a concise six-week format. Whether focusing on a specific biblical book or exploring a theme that runs throughout the Bible, these practical guides in this series provide meaningful insights that explain Scripture while helping readers make connections to their own lives. Each guide is faithful to Church teaching and is guided by sound biblical scholarship presents the insights of Church fathers and saints includes questions for discussion and reflection delivers information in a reader-friendly format gives suggestions for prayer that help readers respond to God s word appeals to beginners as well as to advanced students of the Bible By reading Scripture, reflecting on its deeper meanings, and incorporating it into our daily life, we can grow not only in our understanding of God s word, but also in our relationship with God."

This book explores the church-centric interpretation of ancient biblical exegete Tyconius in his hermeneutical treatise Liber regularum, highlighting how his underlying ecclesiology shaped his hermeneutical enterprise

This book studies the earliest biblical reading practices of Augustine of Hippo (354-430), the greatest of the Latin Church Fathers. It examines works from the first fifteen years of Augustine's Christian life in order to follow the course of his development. His reflections on the craft of hermeneutics advanced not only specifically theological reading practices but also the humane art of textual interpretation. Augustine's rationale for figurative reading in the tens of thousands of Scripture references that filled hundreds of sermons, letters, and treatises made him the most widely read commentator on the Christian Scriptures in the west for more than a thousand years.