**Writings by and about an early leader in Anabaptism show how the movement coalesced around questions of community, nonviolence, and religious liberty.Both admirers and critics** have called Michael Sattler the most significant of the first-generation leaders of Anabaptism. This collection of documents by and about Sattler, with introductions and extensive notes, makes selected primary source material available in English for the use of students, pastors, teachers, and interested ...

"Arguably the most distinctive feature of the early Christian literature," writes Bart Ehrman, "is the degree to which it was forged." The Homilies and Recognitions of Clement; Paul's letters to and from Seneca; Gospels by Peter, Thomas, and Philip; Jesus' correspondence with Abgar, letters by Peter and Paul in the New Testament--all forgeries. To cite just a few examples. Forgery and Counterforgery is the first comprehensive study of early Christian pseudepigrapha ever produced in English...

Paul the Apostle is one of the most important figures in early Christian history -- as well as one of the most controversial. In this in-depth volume of exegesis and analysis from American theologian John Gresham Machen, Paul's understanding of Christianity and his singular role in spreading the gospel are highlighted.

This book provides information from Church history concerning the recognition of the canonical status of the several books of the New Testament. Canonization was a long and gradual process of sifting among scores of gospels, epistles, and other books that enjoyed local and temporary authority - some of which have only recently come to light among the discoveries of Nag Hammadi. After discussing the external pressures that led to the fixing of the limits of the canon, the author gives susta...

This classic work, first published in 1675, inaugurated the movement in Germany called Pietism. In it a young pastor, born and raised during the devastating Thirty Years War, voiced a plea for reform of the church which made the author and his proposals famous. A lifelong friend of the philosopher Leibnitz, Spener was an important influence in the life of the next leader of German Pietism, August Herman Francke. He was also a sponsor at the baptism of Nicholas Zinzendorf, founder of the Mo...

The classic work of Reformed theology by renowned theologian Herman BavinckIn partnership with the Dutch Reformed Translation Society, Baker Academic is proud to offer the first volume of Herman Bavinck's complete Reformed Dogmatics in English for the very first time.Bavinck's approach throughout is meticulous. As he discusses the standard topics of dogmatic theology, he stands on the shoulders of giants such as Augustine, John Calvin, Francis Turretin, and...

It is plain from Paul’s writings that presentations of the Christian message other than his own were current during his apostolic career. This concise and scholarly study describes four of the non-Pauline movements in the early church, each of which can be identified with a particular leader: Peter, acknowledged leader of the apostles; Stephen and the Hellenists (Jews who spoke Greek culturally and linguistically); James and the Church of Jerusalem; and John and his circle, including his i...

This book is perhaps one of the most misunderstood works of Catholic theology of our time. Critics contend that von Balthasar espouses universalism, the idea that all men will certainly be saved. Yet, as von Balthasar insists, damnation is a real possibility for anyone. Indeed, he explores the nature of damnation with sobering clarity. At the same time, he contends that a deep understanding of God’s merciful love and human freedom, and a careful reading of the Catholic tradition, point to ...

Timothy J. Wengert skillfully provides a clear understanding of the historical context from which the treatise The Freedom of a Christian and his accompanying Letter to Pope Leo X arose. As controversy concerning his writings grew, Luther was instructed to write a reconciliation-minded letter to Pope Leo X (14751521). To this letter he appended a nonpolemical tract describing the heart of his beliefs, The Freedom of a Christian. Luthers La...

The Greek word apostasia in 2 Thessalonians has long been understood to be a reference to departure from the faith (apostasy) in the last days that comes to an explosive climax during the dark days of the antichrist.Recently, some prophecy teachers have popularized the idea that apostasia in this verse refers to the rapture, not apostasy. They base this on two claims. One, the semantic range of apostasia includes both physical and spiritual departure. Two...

**The complete works of one of the most significant theologians of the Reformation.This book contains the complete writings** of Balthasar Hubmaier, including his discussion of three marks of a true church: water baptism of adults, the Lord’s Supper, and fraternal admonition.This is the fifth volume in the Classics of the Radical Reformation, a series of Anabaptist and Free Church documents translated and annotated under the direction of the Institute of Me...

The classic work of Reformed theology by renowned theologian Herman BavinckIn partnership with the Dutch Reformed Translation Society, Baker Academic is proud to offer in English for the very first time the fourth and final volume of Herman Bavinck's complete Reformed Dogmatics, now also available as a four-volume set.This volume includes the combined indexes for all four volumes. In addition, editor John Bolt introduces each chapter and has enhanc...