Cosmic Reconciliation contains two other volumes: The All-Oneness of God and The Living Christ Consciousness. All three volumes are concerned with the reconciliation of all things through ones Christ Self unto the the God Self of the many within the one. If you can bear to hear now what many could not bear to hear two thousand years ago, you will not want to miss the good news of the reconciliation of all things unto God. To see the Christ as is, is to come to see God as God is, not what either might appear to be. The reconciliation of all things unto God is the reconciliation of an infinity of many unto the One, for the one and the many are realized to be two parts of the same thing. Now is the time to take responsibility for what you are in God, for now we can see how that an infinity of many share that responsibility with us. And in that sense, the burden is considered to be light (not heavy) burden.
The New Testament shouldn’t be complicated. So why are we often confused? Every Christian wants to love the Bible. But let’s face it: we sometimes get lost in all the names, places, and doctrines that we find in its pages. Who wrote this epistle? Which book is about justification? Joy? Jesus? Aren’t they all about him? The New Testament contains complex ideas and multiple genres. Keeping it straight can be hard to do. Wouldn’t it be nice if somebody who understands the big picture would put it together for us in one place? Biblical scholar and seminary professor Patrick Schreiner draws from his years of experience as a teacher to offer a simple and memorable way of understanding Scripture. And he doesn’t do it by throwing big words at you. The contours of the New Testament and its underlying structure are depicted in visual format along with Schreiner’s clear explanations. In The Visual Word, the Bible comes alive because you can see it pictured before your eyes. By taking a graphic approach, you’ll notice connections you’ve never seen before. Gain insights you’ve missed all these years. And discover an overall pattern that makes each separate piece fall perfectly into place. Don’t settle for mere summaries of the New Testament. Let Schreiner’s concise words and crisp images work together to help you encounter the Living Word in a fresh way.
This collection of essays edited by Colin Gunton provides a broad treatment of the theological doctrine of reconciliation. The latest addition to the King's College Systematic Theology Series. The papers are designed to constitute a broad treatment of the subject, including contributions on scripture, ethics and the church, as well as a bearing of other theological topics - Trinity, Christology - on the central question. There is an introduction by the editor, who also contributes a closing piece in which the central questions arising in the book are addressed. The contributors to this volume include leading theologians from Europe and America: Colin Gunton, Christoph Schwöbel, Douglas A. Campbell, Douglas Farrow, Murray Rae, John Webster, Sue Patterson, and Robert W. Jensen.
In the vast expanse of the cosmos, where stars ignite and galaxies collide, a grand tale unfolds—a mesmerizing science fiction space travel adventure that takes us on a journey beyond the limits of our imagination. It is a story of discovery, exploration, and the boundless potential that lies within the cosmos. In this epic narrative, we follow the starship Orion and its courageous crew as they navigate the cosmic currents, propelled by an insatiable thirst for knowledge and a relentless spirit of adventure. Their mission: to explore uncharted frontiers, encounter cosmic phenomena, and unravel the mysteries of the universe. Guided by their intrepid captain, Jonathan Ryder, the crew embarks on a series of breathtaking chapters, each one a standalone masterpiece that paints a vivid picture of the wonders that await them. From encounters with celestial anomalies to voyages into realms of cosmic consciousness, they traverse the depths of space, forever transformed by the revelations that unfold. As the story unfolds, we witness the crew's awe-inspiring experiences within the Celestial Nexus—a gateway to enlightenment, the Interstellar Tapestry—an intricate web of cosmic history, the Eternal Nexus—an exploration of time and destiny, and the Quantum Alchemy—a cosmic art of transformation. They traverse the Cosmic Nexus, where interconnectedness binds all things, and embrace the Stellar Symphony—a harmony of celestial bodies. Ultimately, they venture into the Infinite Horizon, a realm of infinite potential and uncharted territories. Throughout their journey, the crew discovers the interplay of cosmic forces, grapples with the ethical implications of their newfound powers, and wrestles with the fundamental questions of existence. They learn to embrace the unknown, to trust in the interconnectedness of all things, and to harness the limitless potential within themselves. As each chapter unfolds, our hearts race with anticipation, our minds expand with cosmic revelations, and our spirits soar with the crew's triumphs and tribulations. The story captures the essence of humanity's innate curiosity and unyielding desire to explore the cosmos, showcasing the beauty and mysteries that lie beyond our familiar blue planet. This award-winning science fiction space travel adventure transcends the boundaries of imagination, inviting us to embark on a cosmic odyssey filled with wonder, wisdom, and the timeless yearning to understand our place in the grand tapestry of the universe. So, dear reader, fasten your seatbelt, open your mind to the infinite possibilities that await, and join the crew of the starship Orion as they set sail into the unknown, forever driven by the relentless spirit of discovery.
Among the array of christologies embodied within New Testament literature, the so-called "hymn" of Colossians 1: 15-20 offers a unique and invaluable contribution to contemporary theological and inter-religious discourse. This is because it conveys what is arguably the highest christological affirmation within the canon. Pizzuto contends that the hymn is a creative and faith-filled composition by the same deutero-Pauline author of the Colossians epistle itself and demonstrates that there is an inextricable relationship between the chiastic structure of Col 1: 15-20 and a proper understanding of its provenance, authorship and theology. Although the hymn echoes theological motifs consistent with Second Temple Judaism and loosely reflects a number of syncretistic influences, it is fundamentally the novelty of the "Christ-event," - the historical impact of Jesus of Nazareth - that has been most influential in determining the christological categories of Col 1: 15-20 and its larger epistolary framework. Pizzuto thus defends the overall integrity of the hymn against those who would assert that it reflects a pre-Christian or pre-Colossians origin. He concludes that Col 1: 15-20 represents something of a "leap" beyond Pauline christology into a new and unequivocal conviction of the cosmic implications of the Cross.
Martin isolates a single theme of Paul's theology, reconciliation, and suggests that this one term is sufficiently broad as an ÒumbrellaÓ idea to accommodate the leading aspects of Paul's main thinking.
Whether born in the Mideast, Africa, Asia, or brought home to the streets of America, violent hatreds often threaten to swamp the minimal cooperation needed to foster life and health. Does Christianity have anything besides warmed-over pieties to offer a world torn by estrangement, alienation, and violently opposed worldviews? In this signal contribution to public theology, John de Gruchy, an internationally esteemed political theologian, emphatically affirms the possibility and necessity of reconciliation. For Christians, he says, reconciliation is the center and perennial test of their faith. De Gruchy expands reconciliation's relevance beyond personal piety and ecclesial harmony to encompass group relations, politics, and even the environment. In all cases, he argues, it involves the restoration of justice. Forged in the recent experience of South Africa, his work delineates the political and ecclesial significance of reconciliation and shows its importance for interreligious relations, addressing victimization, and international peace. Reconciliation will be welcomed by all whose faith leads them to help alleviate the world's mounting agonies.
Michael Bird's commentary on Colossians and Philemon in the New Covenant Commentary Series pays close attention to the socio-historical context, the flow and dynamics of the text, their argumentative strategy, theological message, and the meaning of Colossians and Philemon for the contemporary church today. Bird situates Colossians in the context of Paul's Ephesian ministry and describes how Paul attempts to persuade a congregation in the Lycus Valley to remain firm in the gospel and to grasp the cosmic majesty of Jesus Christ over and against the views of certain Jewish mystics who have thrown the Colossians into confusion. He shows how, in the letter to Philemon, Paul intercedes for a slave estranged from his master through a carefully crafted feat of pastoral persuasion from a missionary friend of Philemon. The commentary combines exegetical insight, rhetorical analysis, theological exposition, and practical application all in one short volume. Bird shows Paul at work as a theologian, pastor, and missionary in his letters to the Colossians and Philemon.
Leading scholars reflect critically on the kinds of appeal to the Bible that have been made in environmental ethics and ecotheoloogy and engage with biblical texts with a view towards exploring their contribution to an ecological ethics. The essays explore the kind of hermeneutic necessary for such engagement to be fruitful for contemporary theology and ethics. Crucial to such broad reflection is the bringing together of a range of perspectives: biblical studies, historical theology, hermeneutics, and theological ethics. The thematic coherence of the book is provided by the running focus on the ways in which biblical texts have been, or might be, read. This volume is not about ecotheology, but is instead about ecological hermeneutics. Indeed, some essays show where biblical texts, or particular approaches in the history of interpretation, represent anthropocentric or even anti-ecological moves. One of the overall aims of the book is to suggest how, and why, an ecological hermeneutic might be developed, and the kinds of intepretive choices that are required in such a development.
