How has the church understood the Bible across the centuries and why does that matter today?In this fully revised and updated edition of Biblical Interpretation, Gerald Bray traces the rich history of how Christians have read Scripture, from the early church to the modern era. Clear, accessible and deeply rooted in theology, this award-winning survey shows how doctrine and biblical interpretation have always gone hand in hand.Perfect for students, pastors a...

Renowned evangelical theologian Gerald Bray provides a clear and coherent account of the church in biblical, historical, and theological perspective. He tells the story of the church in its many manifestations through time, starting with its appearance in the New Testament, moving through centuries of persecution and triumph, and discussing how and why the ancient church broke up at the Reformation. Along the way, Bray looks at the four classic marks of the church--its oneness, holiness, c...

A journey through the tangled history of philosophy and theology· Trace the history of Western thought· Engage in modern theological debates· Grasp the influence of philosophy on theologyIs theology incomprehensible without philosophy? Is philosophy merely human folly? Most take a middle ground, believing that the two can be reconciled.In Athens and Jerusalem, Gerald Bray shows how history has been shaped by a myriad of attemp...

How 10 Church Fathers Interpreted, Taught, and Preached the Bible· Explore the lives and writings of those who shaped the practices of Christianity as we know it today· Discover a spiritual legacy that still resonates today· A unique look at shared vision and purpose amidst remarkable diversity of perspectiveBy AD 100, all the original disciples had died and a new generation of preachers, teachers, and scholars had taken on the responsibility t...

What is Anglicanism?There are many associations that come to mind. Whether it is the buildings, the unique history, the prayers, or church government, often we emphasize one aspect against others. Is the Anglican church a Protestant church with distinctive characteristics, or a Catholic Church no longer in communion with Rome?In Anglicanism: A Reformed Catholic Tradition, Gerald Bray argues that some theological trajectories are more faithful than others to the nat...

The Reformation was a time of tremendous upheaval, renewal, and vitality in the life of the church. The challenge to maintain and develop faithful Christian belief and practice in the midst of great disruption was reflected in the theology of thesixteenth century.In this volume, which serves as a companion to IVP Academic's Reformation Commentary on Scripture, theologian and church historian Gerald L. Bray immerses readers in the world of Reformation theology. He introduces the range of th...

"How the Church Fathers Read the Bible is an accessible introduction to help you read Scripture with the early church. With a clear and simple style, Gerald Bray explains the distinctives of early Christian interpretation and shows how the fathers interpreted key Bible passages from Genesis to Revelation. Their unique perspective is summed up in seven principles that can inspire our Bible reading today. With Bray as your guide, you can reclaim the rich insights of the fathers with reverenc...

The history of Britain and Ireland cannot be understood apart from the Christian faith that has shaped their identity. Introduced when these nations were still in their infancy, Christianity provided the framework for their moral, cultural, and social development from the very beginning.In this comprehensive and engaging overview, Gerald Bray traces the remarkable creativity and resilience of Christianity across the centuries. He shows how the faith has continually...

The Book of Common Prayer stands as one of the greatest achievements of the English Reformation. Although increasingly replaced by more modern forms, it remains the foundation of Anglican worship and a succinct expression of Anglican doctrine as received by its sixteenth and seventeenth-century authors. It is therefore a text to be treasured and used, both for its historical insight into the Church of England's theological origins, and for its continued value as an enriching liturgical res...

Learn from the early church's greatest preacher.John of Antioch, later called "chrysostomos" ("golden mouth"), preached over 600 extant sermons. He was one of the most prolific authors in the early Church, surpassed only by Augustine of Hippo. His example and work has inspired countless Christians through the ages.In Preaching the Word with Chrysostom, through a combination of storytelling and theology, Gerald Bray reflects upon 1,500 year-old past...

The two Books of Homilies, along with the Book of Common Prayer and the Ordinal, have long been basic documents of the Church of England, and are valuable in showing how Anglican doctrine shifted during the Reformation, as well as being of considerable historical importance.The first book, published in 1547, early in the reign of Edward VI, was partly, though not entirely, the work of Archbishop Thomas Cranmer, and the inspiration appears to have been his. This was intended to raise the st...

Compiled during the early years of the Reformation, Institution of a Christian Man lays out the principles of the nascent Church of England. In his definitive new edition, Gerald Bray charts the development of this text from the first version introduced by Archbishop Thomas Cranmer and his cohort of bishops, to the extensive edits made by Henry VIII himself, and finally to the version written by Bishop Edmund Bonner under the radically different circumstances of Mary I's reign. By combinin...