Suffering And Evil In Early Christian Thought Holy Cross Studies In Patristic Theology And History

Distinguished Scholars Explore Early Christian Views on the Problem of Evil What did the early church teach about the problem of suffering and evil in the world? In this volume, distinguished historians and theologians explore a range of ancient Christian responses to this perennial problem. The ecumenical team of contributors includes John Behr, Gary Anderson, Brian Daley, and Bishop Kallistos Ware, among others. This is the fourth volume in Holy Cross Studies in Patristic Theology and History, a partnership between Baker Academic and the Pappas Patristic Institute of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology. The series is a deliberate outreach by the Orthodox community to Protestant and Catholic seminarians, pastors, and theologians.

This volume explores how early Christian understandings of apocalyptic writings and teachings are reflected in the theology, social practices, and institutions of the early church. It enables pastors and serious students of the Bible--particularly those interested in patristics and church history--to read the book of Revelation and related writings through ancient Christian eyes. This is the second volume in Holy Cross Studies in Patristic Theology and History, a partnership between Baker Academic and the Stephen and Catherine Pappas Patristic Institute of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology in Brookline, Massachusetts. The series is a deliberate outreach by the Orthodox community to Protestant and Catholic seminarians, pastors, and theologians. In these multiauthor books, contributors from all traditions focus on the patristic (especially Greek patristic) heritage.

Gluttony -- Lust -- Greed -- Anger -- Sloth -- Envy and sadness -- Vainglory and pride.

A portrait of history’s first complex Christian society as seen through the lens of Christian philanthropy and gift giving As the Roman Empire broke down in western Europe, its prosperity moved decisively eastward, to what is now known as the Byzantine Empire. Here was born history’s first truly affluent, multifaceted Christian society. One of the ideals used to unite the diverse millions of people living in this vast realm was the Christianized ideal of philanthrōpia. In this sweeping cultural and social history, Daniel Caner shows how philanthropy required living up to Jesus’s injunction to “Give to all who ask of you,” by offering mercy and/or material aid to every human being, regardless of their origin or status. Caner shows how Christian philanthropy became articulated through distinct religious ideals of giving that helped define proper social relations among the rich, the poor, and “the pure” (Christian holy people), resulting in new and enduring social expectations. In tracking the evolution of Christian giving over three centuries, he brings to the fore the concerns of the peoples of Early Byzantium, from the countryside to the lower levels of urban society to the imperial elites, as well as the hierarchical relationships that arose among them. The Rich and the Pure offers nothing less than a portrait of the whole of early Byzantine society.

Freedom and Necessity in Modern Trinitarian Theology examines the tension between God and the world through a constructive reading of the Trinitarian theologies and Christologies of Sergii Bulgakov (1871-1944), Karl Barth (1886-1968), and Hans Urs von Balthasar (1905-1988). It focuses on what is called "the problematic of divine freedom and necessity" and the response of the writers. "Problematic" refers to God being simultaneously radically free and utterly bound to creation. God did not need to create and redeem the world in Christ. It is a contingent free gift. Yet, on the other side of a dialectic, he also has eternally determined himself to be God as Jesus Christ. He must create and redeem the world to be God as he has so determined. In this way the world is given a certain "free necessity" by him because if there were no world then there would be no Christ. A spectrum of different concepts of freedom and necessity and a theological ideal of a balance between the same are outlined and then used to illumine the writers and to articulate a constructive response to the problematic. Brandon Gallaher shows that the classical Christian understanding of God having a non-necessary relationship to the world and divine freedom being a sheer assertion of God's will must be completely rethought. Gallaher proposes a Trinitarian, Christocentric, and cruciform vision of divine freedom. God is free as eternally self-giving, self-emptying and self-receiving love. The work concludes with a contemporary theology of divine freedom founded on divine election.

Dis-Ordered: A Christian Journey Through the Problem of Evil & Suffering is a foundational introduction to the common questions and responses Christians have given to the problem of evil throughout time. Paul Anleitner (Master in Christian Thought, Bethel Seminary) leads readers through the challenges of making sense of the Bible on the problem of evil and helps them compare two-thousand years of Christian thought on God, evil, and suffering from arguably the most influential Christian minds in history. From the book of Job to the Gospels, from ancient Church Fathers such as Augustine to modern Open Theists like Greg Boyd (and over a dozen other perspectives including Origen, Thomas Aquinas, Martin Luther, John Calvin, and more!) Anleitner thoughtfully compares some of the most important perspectives on the problem of evil in a way that is not only accessible but also profoundly meaningful to those who are hungry for deeper answers that go beyond common Christian clichés. In the final chapters, he moves from impartial "tour guide" surveying the historical options to humbly offering his own unique synthesis of past perspectives in a way that is intellectually compelling, emotionally moving, and deeply resonant with the Christian Scriptures. What others are saying: "This book models what it looks like to grapple with deep and complex matters with both clarity and charity. Even those who disagree strongly with the author's conclusions will find themselves strengthened by exploring various positions with neither caricature nor jargon." --Dr. Russell Moore, Editor-in-Chief, Christianity Today "Dis-Ordered is an accessible and enlightening introduction to how major Christian thinkers have engaged the problem of evil. Anleitner's writing tackles head-on the hardest questions we face in life about tragedy and suffering, and his synthesis and proposals powerfully attest to the Christian hope that can bring redemption out of what seems like our darkest places." -- Dr. Matthew J. Thomas (University of Oxford), Catholic Theologian, Dominic School of Philosophy and Theology "One of evil's most frequent lies is that we are alone: that God is not with us and no one else has suffered like we do. Paul Anleitner's thorough and readable survey of the history of Christian theology around evil, its explanation, and its ultimate defeat is a vital corrective to that falsehood. Dis-Ordered is a thoughtful and thought-provoking read and would be an excellent choice for small group study." -- Bonnie Kristian (Master in Christian Thought, Bethel Seminary), Author of Untrustworthy: The Knowledge Crisis Breaking Our Brains, Polluting Our Politics, and Corrupting Christian Community (Brazos Press) "If you wrestle with the problem of evil and the goodness of God, Paul is a fellow combatant in the arena, reflecting on & experiencing the questions deep in the heart, as he always does. This book does not offer the easy or unearned answer. Most importantly, given the vast incoherent arena of human suffering, these pages offer the wisdom that emerges from silence." -- Fr. Kenneth Tanner, Author of Vulnerable God (Baker Books), Pastor in the Charismatic Episcopal Church

In this volume, a noted theologian brings together an ecumenical roster of leading scholars to explore trinitarian faith as it is concretely experienced in the life of the church. Drawing upon and fostering renewed interest in trinitarian theology, the contributors--including Brian E. Daley, John Behr, and Kathleen McVey--clarify the centrality of trinitarian doctrine in salvation, worship, and life. This is the third volume in Holy Cross Studies in Patristic Theology and History, a partnership between Baker Academic and the Pappas Patristic Institute of Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology. The series is a deliberate outreach by the Orthodox community to Protestant and Catholic seminarians, pastors, and theologians.

A world renowned author and scholar grapples with the problem of evil in a world supposedly ruled by a God who is all-loving and all-powerful.

Over a career spanning more than fifty years, Hans Schwarz has grappled with nearly all of Christianity's major theological questions. In this latest volume, Schwarz tackles the perennial problem of evil. How is it possible to reconcile the manifest evil and pain in the world with the biblical promise of hope and redemption? Are we, in fact, "lonely wanderers in the immensity of the universe about whom nobody cares," or is there something above and beyond us in which we can trust? To this perennial question Schwarz brings his signature blend of pastoral sensitivity and scholarly acumen. Informed by decades in the classroom, Schwarz offers a sweeping survey of views of the problem of evil, beginning with the world's major religious traditions before focusing on the major views across the broad span of Christian history. The book aims to help readers interested in the problem of evil understand the broad sweep of human thought about the problem, and make informed assessments of the issue for themselves.