Carl E. Braaten

This single volume of dogmatics is an introduction to the Christian faith as such, written from an intentionally ecumenical perspective. Although this book is written by a Lutheran, its aim is to draw from the deep wells of the Christian tradition, its creeds and confessions, common to all denominations. Denominational dogmatics tends to define and defend the teachings of the Christian faith from the perspective of a particular church, in distinction from others. Ecumenical dogmatics is a relatively new attempt to focus on the beliefs and teachings fundamental to all communities that call themselves Christian. Such a project aims to be more irenic than polemical, intent on seeking and serving reconciliation and unity in Christ. The trinitarian and christological confessions of the first five centuries are foundational for all Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Protestant Reformation churches and, despite all their subsequent differences and divisions, are quintessential in their journey toward reconciliation and reunion. These ancient creeds also suggest the appropriate outline for the organization of the contents of dogmatics even today, following the works of the triune God—creation, redemption, and sanctification.

Ecumenical Dogmatics

The Christian Faith

Robert W. Jenson

Since the Council of Ephesus (A.D. 431), orthodox Christianity has confessed Mary as "Theotokos, "Mother of God." Yet neither this title nor Mary's significance has fared well in Protestant Christianity. In the wake of new interest in Mary following Vatican II and recent ecumenical dialogues, this volume seeks to makes clear that Mariology is properly related to Christ and his church in ways that can and should be meaningful for all Christians. Written with insight and sensitivity by Orthodox, Catholic, and Protestant scholars, these seven studies inquire into Mary's place in the story of salvation, in personal devotion, and in public worship. Contributors: Carl E. Braaten Lawrence S. Cunningham Kyriaki Karidoyanes FitzGerald Beverly Roberts Gaventa Timothy George Robert W. Jenson Jaroslav Pelikan David S. Yeago

Mary, Mother of God

Volume 2 treats atonement, the Holy Spirit, ecclesiology, the sacraments, justification by faith, and eschatology.

Christian Dogmatics

This volume interprets the lost decade of theological research and reflection on the relation of Christian faith to history. The theological development of this period is depicted as a struggle to go beyond Barth and Bultmann in stressing the centrality of history for revelation and faith. Dr. Braaten deals with new hermeneutical approaches to achieve a theological synthesis of revelation and history. He describes the theology of Wolfhart Pannenberg, which calls for a more radical interpretation of revelation along historical lines, as a pivotal point in the present situation. He goes on to outline current thinking on revelation, the historical-critical method, the historical Jesus, resurrection, salvation, redemption, and eschatology.

History and Hermeneutics

Christopher R. Seitz

"I Am the Lord Your God" explores anew the place of the Ten Commandments in contemporary civil society, their relation to natural moral law, their relevance for Christian instruction, and their pertinence to ethical issues such as abortion, killing, homosexuality, lying, greed, and the like. Written by an outstanding group of ethicists, theologians, and Bible scholars from various church traditions -- Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, Lutheran, Methodist -- this timely work argues unequivocally for the divine authority and permanent validity of the Ten Commandments in both church and society. While including the Judge Roy Moore controversy in Alabama and other pertinent current issues in their discussion, the authors above all call the church to remain faithful to its heritage -- ultimately to the Lord God -- amid our postmodern culture at large. Contributors: Markus Bockmuehl Carl E. Braaten William T. Cavanaugh David Bentley Hart Reinhard Hutter Robert W. Jenson Gilbert Meilaender Thomas C. Oden Ephraim Radner R. R. Reno Christopher R. Seitz Philip Turner Bernd Wannenwetsch Robert Louis Wilken

Christian Reflections on the Ten Commandments

I Am the Lord Your God

New Testament scholars have long debated the historical identity of Jesus and the development of Christology within the church's history. In Who Is Jesus? Carl Braaten reviews the various historical Jesus quests, arguing that it is time for the current ("third") quest to admit failure. Against the implication that "the real Jesus has been lost and needs to be found," Braaten maintains that the only real Jesus is the One presented in the canonical Gospels and that "any other Jesus is irrelevant to Christian faith." He draws on a wealth of historical resources to address such contentious questions as these: What can we actually know about Jesus of Nazareth? Did Jesus really rise from the dead? Is Jesus unique -- the one and only way of salvation? Why did Jesus have to die on the cross? Was Jesus the founder of the Christian church? What does Jesus have to do with politics?

Disputed Questions and Answers

Who is Jesus?

A well-written theological autobiography exhibiting Braaten's signature accent --- "evangelical without being Protestant, catholic without being Roman, and orthodox without being Eastern" --- Because of Christ is an intellectual travelogue par excellence, an informed chronicle of the chief theological conflicts of the twentieth century that have put the integrity of the gospel to the test. --

Memoirs of a Lutheran Pastor-Theologian

Because of Christ

The authors of this collection hold that America is now a new mission field where the gospel is in a life-and-death struggle with a plurality of pagan options that have insinuated themselves into the culture.

The Gospel Or Neopaganism

Either/or

Volume 1 discusses dogmatics, the Trinity, the identity of God, creation, sin, and Christology.

Eight recognized Christian thinkers show that while the forms taken by these diabolical forces may have changed under the conditions of modern life, the underlying realities remain the same. Thus politics can become demonic, power can promote death, and sin can be disguised as virtue. Far from being pessimistic, however, the authors affirm God's victory over these enslaving powers through the proclamation of the gospel and the sacraments of the church."--BOOK JACKET.

Sin, Death, and the Devil

While Christians and Jews have always been aware of their religious connections -- historical continuity, overlapping theology, shared scriptures -- that awareness has traditionally been infected by centuries of mutual suspicion and hostility. As this important volume shows, however, theologians and scholars of Judaism and Christianity alike are now radically rethinking the relation between their two covenant communities. "Jews and Christians" presents the best of this work, introducing readers to current attempts to construct a coherent Jewish theology of Christianity and a Christian theology of Judaism. Here are leading Christian and Jewish thinkers who have engaged in extensive conversation, who take each other's work seriously, and who avoid the pitfall common to Jewish-Christian dialogue -- watering down distinctive beliefs to accommodate both partners. Indeed, these pages show how the new theological exchange goes to the roots of that olive tree of which both Judaism and Christianity are branches, and the book as a whole represents post-Holocaust Jewish-Christian dialogue at the highest theological level. In addition to eight major chapters, "Jews and Christians" includes a moving testimony by Reidar Dittmann on his experience of the Holocaust and reprints the 2000 manifesto "Dabru Emet: A Jewish Statement on Christians and Christianity," followed by incisive Christian and Jewish responses. Contributors: Carl E. Braaten David B. Burrell Barry Cytron Reidar Dittmann David Bentley Hart Robert W. Jenson Jon D. Levenson George Lindbeck Richard John Neuhaus David Novak Peter Ochs Wolfhart Pannenberg R. Kendall Soulen Marvin R. Wilson

People of God

Jews and Christians

In today's postmodern culture many people are turning to religion, but they are not necessarily finding their way back to the church. Most unbelievers in America and other Western countries are post-Christians. Though baptized and brought up in a church, they no longer believe and practice the Christian faith. In such a time, the great challenge facing the church is "re-evangelization. This volume provides serious theological reflection on Christian missions within postmodern, post-Christian culture. Written by respected scholars representing the Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox traditions, these chapters point out elements of the gospel that will help the church speak effectively to contemporary society, particularly in the United States. John Milbank examines the origins of postmodernity and suggests that belief in the incarnation will be accepted only when the church fully embraces (hetero)sexuality. Robert W. Jenson insists that the church must boldly uphold its distinctive beliefs in an otherwise pluralistic and relativistic age. David L. Schindler argues that our reductionist view of nature must be replaced with one that again sees God's presence in the world. R. R. Reno compares postmodernism's negation of truth claims to the weightless humanism of the Roman writer Petronius. Philip Turner maintains that Christians can effectively persuade others today only through their actions. Anthony Ugolnik believes that the gospel must now be de-familiarized in order to make it fresh once more. Todd E. Johnson traces the history of evangelism in America and locates a valid model for our time. Frank C. Sennquestions the rise of the seeker service, defending instead a traditional liturgy that emphasizes the Trinity. Carl E. Braaten works to recover the full power of the church's missionary calling. Suggesting startling approaches to Christian proclamation, this volume shows how the strange new word of the gospel can reawaken faith in the postmodern world.

Re-evangelizing in the Postmodern World

The Strange New Word of the Gospel

Church Unity and the Papal Office provides the first theological and ecumenical response to Pope John Paul II's encyclical Ut Unum Sint ("That All May Be One"). Scholars representing Anglican, Orthodox, Lutheran, Methodist, and Evangelical churches offer fresh perspectives on this pivotal document calling for a "patient and fraternal dialogue" concerning the ministry of the papal office in the service of church unity. Contributors: Carl E. Braaten Edward Idris Cardinal Cassidy Brian E. Daley, S.J. Joseph-Augustine DiNoia, O.P. Robert W. Jenson Richard J. Mouw Stephen W. Sykes Geoffrey Wainwright George Weigel David S. Yeago

An Ecumenical Dialogue on John Paul II's Encyclical Ut Unum Sint (That All May be One)

Church Unity and the Papal Office

Karl P. Donfried -- Smith College "A penetrating analysis of western Christianity in crisis as well as an incisive and compelling guide for course correction. Written with clarity, insight, and conviction, That All May Believe is Braaten at his very best. A must-read for Christians in the northern hemisphere." Gabriel Fackre -- author of The Church "Who else but Carl Braaten could show us an ecumenical vision of theology as evangelical but not simply Protestant, catholic but not just Roman, orthodox but not only Eastern? Here is a needed call to share our ecclesial gifts with mutual affirmation on classical convictions and mutual admonition regarding teachable differences. Yet all this is done with a well-known Braaten 'edge' -- indictment of conventional Christianity and a drifting academic theology. We are in the author's debt for charting the right course toward visible unity and full communion for a church solid in its centralities and passionate about its mission." Frank C. Senn -- Immanuel Lutheran Church, Evanston, Illinois "Employing his gift for incisive analysis of theological movements and trends according to the criterion of the saving gospel of Jesus Christ, Braaten affirms the catholic tradition with its canon of Scripture and historic dogmas as the indispensable bearer of the gospel. With evangelical passion for the missionary enterprise, he shows how the church must move toward ecumenical unity in order to bring the world to belief. He does not ignore the reality of the powers of evil that strive against the mission of the gospel. Nor does he shrink from saying that dialogue with the religions must not blunt the apostolic imperative to proclaim the gospel and bring converts into the community of faith in the crucified and risen Christ. This timely book, confessionally anchored and ecumenically hopeful, will engage theological readers from beginning to end."

Carl E. Braaten

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