One Lord Two Hands

"This collection of essays serves as a sourcebook of significant writings on the reception and use of the theology of the two kingdoms. The Lutheran teaching of the two kingdoms, in one way or another, touches on every article of faith from creation to eschatology. It is critical to vocation, as the Christian navigates life as a citizen of this world while simultaneously a citizen of the heavenly kingdom through faith in Christ Jesus. Without the distinction between the two kingdoms, faith is misplaced, and the neighbor is deprived of the love owed him or her. Pastors, church leaders, teachers, and theology students will find in these essays a respect for Luther's confession of God's two kingdoms and a desire to see it fruitfully utilized in addressing the issues we now encounter in the world"--

"This collection of essays serves as a sourcebook of significant writings on the reception and use of the theology of the two kingdoms. The Lutheran teaching of the two kingdoms, in one way or another, touches on every article of faith from creation to eschatology. It is critical to vocation, as the Christian navigates life as a citizen of this world while simultaneously a citizen of the heavenly kingdom through faith in Christ Jesus. Without the distinction between the two kingdoms, faith is misplaced, and the neighbor is deprived of the love owed him or her. Pastors, church leaders, teachers, and theology students will find in these essays a respect for Luther's confession of God's two kingdoms and a desire to see it fruitfully utilized in addressing the issues we now encounter in the world"--

It comes as a surprise to many Christians that for many decades the dominant concern of the ancient church was the Trinity. Recent years have seen a revival of interest in this idea, but almost nobody has seen that in his approach to humanity, God has provided a pattern for his people to emulate. We should act in a way patterned on what he did in sending his Son and Spirit, "God's two hands". Then the Trinity also provides an ideal pattern for humanity to aim at. The book discusses the theoretical background for this approach, and gives several examples of how this works out in practice, such as the marriage relationship and the problems of poverty and the environment. An appendix outlines the reasons for belief in the Trinity, and sketches the development of the doctrine in Christian history.

Monsignor Johnson, a former Anglican minister and Catholic convert through reading and encountering the life and powerful witness of St. Therese of Lisieux (Author, Spiritual Childhood: The Spirituality of St. Therese of Lisieux), presents a systematic, clear and convincing treatment based on solid Scriptural evidence for the case that there is only one Lord, one faith and one baptism. An inspiring and lucid work of apologetics.

Distinguished scholar Matthew Levering examines the doctrine of creation and its contemporary theological implications, critically engaging with classical and modern views in dialogue with Orthodox and Reformed interlocutors, among others. Moving from the Trinity to Christology, Levering takes up a number of themes pertaining to the doctrine of creation and focuses on how creation impacts our understandings of both the immanent and the economic Trinity. He also engages newer trends such as ecological theology.

Philip Schaff’s classic work colloquially known as Early Church Fathers, is an invaluable resource filled with the primary documents, and early theological building blocks for the Christian Church. Comprised of 38 volumes it is broken into three parts, the Ante-Nicene Fathers, and Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First and Second Series.