“Bold, taut, and masterfully told.”—James Rollins, New York Times bestselling author of The Doomsday Key A new thriller from the award-winning authors of The Grail Conspiracy Magazine journalist Seneca Hunt is reporting on the opening of Montezuma’s tomb in Mexico City when the dig team, led by her fiancé Daniel Bernal, learns that the remains of the Aztec emperor are missing. Within moments of the discovery, an apparent terrorist attack kills everyone at the site—including Daniel. Seneca barely escapes the carnage. Determined to get answers, Seneca starts investigating. She finds out that someone is stealing the remains of the most infamous mass murderers in history—and plotting to slaughter millions in the name of an ancient cult. Seneca teams up with bestselling novelist Matt Everhart to prove the threat really exists while trying to stay one step ahead of those who want her dead. With time running out, she must follow a deadly 2,000-year-old trail that leads back to the death of Jesus Christ. Praise for The Phoenix Apostles “What do you get when you cross Indiana Jones with The Da Vinci Code? The Phoenix Apostles, a rollicking thrill ride with so many twists and turns that you won’t have time to catch your breath!” —Tess Gerritsen, New York Times bestselling author of Ice Cold “Sholes and Moore have created a knockout apocalyptic thriller, an epic tale of gold, archaeology, mass murder, ancient prophecy and terrorism.” —Douglas Preston, New York Times bestselling author of Impact “A fascinating, compelling page-turner.” —Carla Neggers, New York Times bestselling author of Cold Dawn

Between the late seventh and the mid-ninth centuries, a debate about sacred images – conventionally addressed as ‘Byzantine iconoclasm’ – engaged monks, emperors, and popes in the Mediterranean area and on the European continent. The importance of this debate cannot be overstated; it challenged the relation between image, text, and belief. A series of popes staunchly in favour of sacred images acted consistently during this period in displaying a remarkable iconophilia or ‘love for images’. Their multifaceted reaction involved not only council resolutions and diplomatic exchanges, but also public religious festivals, liturgy, preaching, and visual arts – the mass-media of the time. Embracing these tools, the popes especially promoted themes related to the Incarnation of God – which justified the production and veneration of sacred images – and extolled the role and the figure of the Virgin Mary. Despite their profound influence over Byzantine and western cultures of later centuries, the political, theological, and artistic interactions between the East and the West during this period have not yet been investigated in studies combining textual and material evidence. By drawing evidence from texts and material culture – some of which have yet to be discussed against the background of the iconoclastic controversy – and by considering the role of oral exchange, Iconophilia assesses the impact of the debate on sacred images and of coeval theological controversies in Rome and central Italy. By looking at intersecting textual, liturgical, and pictorial images which had at their core the Incarnate God and his human mother Mary, the book demonstrates that between c.680–880, by unremittingly maintaining the importance of the visual for nurturing beliefs and mediating personal and communal salvation, the popes ensured that the status of sacred images would remain unchallenged, at least until the Protestant Reformation in the sixteenth century.

The Blackwell Companion to Paul presents a distinctive dual focus approach that encompasses both the historical Paul and the history of Paul's influence. In doing so, expert contributors successfully address the interests of students of early Christianity and those of Christian theology. Offers a complete overview of the life, writings and legacy of one of the key figures of Christianity The essays compass the major themes of Paul's life and work, as well as his impact through the centuries on theology, Church teaching, social beliefs, art, literature, and contemporary intellectual thought Edited by one of the leading figures in the field of Pauline Studies The contributors include a range of world-renowned academics

It devastated the earth thousands of years ago. Its remnants are scattered across the human genome waiting to be reassembled into a deadly viral killer. Now a new generation of suicide bombers will use the virus to kill with something as innocent as a cough. Everyone is a target. No one can survive. Only one person can stop the heinous plot and its mastermind. Cotten Stone. From the Amazon rainforest to the remote hills of West Virginia, to a secret passage beneath a medieval castle, to the darkest place on earth-North Korea-Cotten Stone must prevent the greatest threat to mankind since the Black Plague. In doing so, she uncovers Unit 731, the long-buried atrocity of WWII, exposes one of the most disturbing secrets in America’s history, and pays the ultimate price-selling her soul to the Forces of Darkness.

"The Sacred Writings Of ..." provides you with the essential works among the Early Christian writings. The volumes cover the beginning of Christianity until before the promulgation of the Nicene Creed at the First Council of Nicaea. Every single volume is accurately annotated, including * an extensive biography of the author and his life * working interactive footnotes * an interactive table-of-contents * perfect formatting for electronic reading devices This edition includes the following writings: The Lord's Teaching Through the Twelve Apostles to the Nations. Chapter I.-The Two Ways; The First Commandment. Chapter II. -The Second Commandment: Gross Sin Forbidden. Chapter III. -Other Sins Forbidden. Chapter IV. -Various Precepts. Chapter V. -The Way of Death. Chapter VI. -Against False Teachers, and Food Offered to Idols. Chapter VII.-Concerning Baptism. Chapter VIII. -Concerning Fasting and Prayer (the Lord's Prayer). Chapter X. -Prayer After Communion. Chapter XI. -Concerning Teachers, Apostles, and Prophets. Chapter XII. -Reception of Christians. Chapter XIII. -Support of Prophets. Chapter XIV. -Christian Assembly on the Lord's Day. Chapter XV. -Bishops and Deacons; Christian Reproof. Chapter XVI. -Watchfulness; The Coming of the Lord. Elucidations Constitutions of the Holy Apostles Book I. Sec. I.-General Commandments. Sec. II.-Commandments to Men. Concerning the Adornment of Ourselves, and the Sin Which Arises from Thence. Sec. III.-Commandments to Women. Concerning the Subjection of a Wife to Her Husband, and that She Must Be Loving and Modest. Book II. Sec. I.-On Examining Candidates for the Episcopal Office. That a Bishop Must Be Well Instructed and Experienced in the Word. Sec. II.-On the Character and Teaching of the Bishop. Sec. III.-How the Bishop is to Treat the Innocent, the Guilty, and the Penitent. Sec. IV.-On the Management of the Resources Collected for the Support of the Clergy, and the Relief of the Poor. Sec. V.-On Accusations, and the Treatment of Accusers. Sec. VI.-The Disputes of the Faithful to Be Settled by the Decisions of the Bishop, and the Faithful to Be Reconciled. Sec. VII.-On Assembling in the Church. Sec. VIII.-On the Duty of Working for a Livelihood. Elucidation Book III. Sec. I.-Concerning Widows. Sec. II.-On Deacons and Deaconesses, the Rest of the Clergy, and on Baptism. Book IV. Sec. I.-On Helping the Poor. Sec. II.-On Domestic and Social Life. Book V. Sec. I.-Concerning the Martyrs. Sec. II.-All Association with Idols is to Be Avoided. Sec. III.-On Feast Days and Fast Days. A Constitution Concerning the Great Passover Week. Book VI. Sec. I.-On Heresies. Sec. II.-History and Doctrines of Heresies. Sec. III.-The Heresies Attacked by the Apostles. Sec. IV.-Of the Law. Sec. V.-The Teaching of the Apostles in Opposition to Jewish and Gentile Superstitions, Especially in Regard to Marriage and Funerals. Sec. VI.-Conclusion of the Work. Book VII. Sec. I.-On the Two Ways, -The Way of Life and the Way of Death. Sec. II.-On the Formation of the Character of Believers, and on Giving of Thanks to God. Sec. III.-On the Instruction of Catechumens, and Their Initiation into Baptism. Sec. IV.-Enumeration Ordained by Apostles. Sec. V.-Daily Prayers. General Note. Book VIII. Sec. I.-On the Diversity of Spiritual Gifts. Sec. II.-Election and Ordination of Bishops: Form of Service on Sundays. Sec. III.-Ordination and Duties of the Clergy. Sec. IV.-Certain Prayers and Laws. Sec. V.-All the Apostles Urge the Observance of the Order of the Church. The Ecclesiastical Canons of the Same Holy Apostles.

As Protestantism expanded across the Atlantic world in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, most evangelists were not white Anglo-Americans, as scholars have long assumed, but members of the same groups that missionaries were trying to convert. Native Apostles offers one of the most significant untold stories in the history of early modern religious encounters, marshalling wide-ranging research to shed light on the crucial role of Native Americans, Africans, and black slaves in Protestant missionary work. The result is a pioneering view of religion’s spread through the colonial world. From New England to the Caribbean, the Carolinas to Africa, Iroquoia to India, Protestant missions relied on long-forgotten native evangelists, who often outnumbered their white counterparts. Their ability to tap into existing networks of kinship and translate between white missionaries and potential converts made them invaluable assets and potent middlemen. Though often poor and ostracized by both whites and their own people, these diverse evangelists worked to redefine Christianity and address the challenges of slavery, dispossession, and European settlement. Far from being advocates for empire, their position as cultural intermediaries gave native apostles unique opportunities to challenge colonialism, situate indigenous peoples within a longer history of Christian brotherhood, and harness scripture to secure a place for themselves and their followers. Native Apostles shows that John Eliot, Eleazar Wheelock, and other well-known Anglo-American missionaries must now share the historical stage with the black and Indian evangelists named Hiacoomes, Good Peter, Philip Quaque, John Quamine, and many more.