I think you will enjoy hearing more about Bo Giertz and the new translation of his wonderful devotions for every day of the church year. Click here to listen to the interview on the KFUO Afternoon Show.
Here is a PDF flyer featuring a myriad of theological books and other resource that are presently on sale. Please take a look at these items, featuring remarkable value for the price, and note: those who quality for the professional church worker discount [all those on church’s body roster as a professional, full-time church worker] are able to take an additional 20% off the listed prices. Please do not miss this opportunity.
Download professional_book_sale.pdf
You might remember that a number of years ago I sent out a question to various e-mail lists asking if you would be willing, ready and able to purchase the English translation of the magnum opus by the famous Lutheran orthdox dogmatician, Johann Gerhard, his Loci Theologici. The response was very positive. I wanted to update you on the project and where things are. Two volumes have been released, the first On the Nature of Theology and Scripture and the second On the Nature of God and the Trinity. The third volume in the works now is On Christ.
I can not emphasize enough how significant this publication project is. It is the first time that this monumental work of Lutheran theology has ever been translated into English. Rev. Benjamin Mayes, the editor for the series has done simply an outstanding job on this translation, supplementing it with many useful resources. Here is how he describes his work:
We have carefully compared the English translation to the original Latin and added annotations, a glossary, indices, a list of the works cited, and other typographical improvements. In addition, Gerhard’s two dedicatory epistles, included in the first volume of Preuss’s edition of the Loci Theologici, have been translated by the Rev. Heath R. Curtis and included here.
With this message, I'm reminding you once again about this series and encouraging you to purchase these volumes, or, have the congrgation you serve purchase these books for you, as part of your continuing education. No, they are not inexpensive. They are priced at $54.99. Professional church workers receive a 20% discount from this price, roughly $11 or so off each volume. I believe it is a sound investment in your theological growth and education. Not light reading, to be sure, but a treasure-trove indeed, incomparable in its scope and depth.
Here are the volumes in production and in the works. We are releasing one a year and will be increasing that to two a year when this is possible. This is, and will be, the most thorough Lutheran dogmatics in the English language:
On the Nature of Theology and Scripture
On the Nature of God and on the Trinity
On Christ
On Creation, Predestination, and Sin
On the Law and the Gospel
On Justification
On Good Works and the Sacraments
On Holy Baptism
On the Holy Supper
On the Church
On the Ecclesiastical Ministry
On Political Magistracy
On Marriage and Celibacy
On Death
On the Resurrection and Judgment
On Eternal Death and Eternal Life
Let me conclude with the words of Dr. C.F.W. Walther as he describes the importance of Johann Gerhard's Loci Theologici:
Among the works that deal with dogmatics in detail, one can ask which one is first and foremost just as little as one can ask which star outshines all the others. Just as in the latter question one can only speak of the sun, so in the former question one can only speak of Johann Gerhard’s Theological Commonplaces. . . . The proofs from Scripture are everywhere clear and exhaustive. The refutation of opponents is pervaded and pulses just as much with the spirit of love toward them as with the love of the truth; it seeks out the opponents in all their hiding places and always robs them of their last supports, so that no further contradiction seems possible. The application of the whole as well as of the particular is simple, illuminating, clearly arranged. Free from destructive fragmentation—at times an error of the later dogmaticians—the entire development of the doctrine flows along briskly with its linguistic, historical, and antithetical excursus like one great stream that describes pleasant bends in the river. Everything is all of a piece. Ethics here are not yet separated from dogmatics; the former appear here like grapes growing from a ripe vine. Biblical isagogics, hermeneutics, exegesis, history of dogmas, patristics, and polemics are added here not like a merely worthwhile appendage, but are organically woven into the whole like necessary beams, like adornments in this architectural marvel. The expression and style are so certain and thereby so simple and brisk; the development of topics, even with its exhaustive precision, goes forward without burdensome repetition so swiftly; even the most dry and subtle subjects are discussed with such exceptional freshness and facility; everything is handled with such holy seriousness; and the words are soaked with such devout meaning that the reader, being taken away by the speech of this precious man, does not know whether he has before him a work for the promotion of Christian erudition or a devotional book. One does not tire of it as long as he reads it and notes how light and warmth go forth from this speech of noble simplicity and true depth of spirit. In sum, in our opinion this work of dogmatics is, in content and form, the most glorious, most complete work in this field that has ever been achieved within Christendom, and until the Last Day it will probably remain the model for all who labor in this field.
Source for Walther quote:
C. F. W. Walther, “Lutherisch-theologische Pfarrers-Bibliothek,” Lehre und Wehre 1 (1855): 300–301. Translation by Benjamin Mayes.
I'm very happy to let you know about a new book that just hit the CPH warehouse and is ready for immediate purchase. It is Rev. Dr. Arthur J. Just's Heaven on Earth: The Gifts of Christ in the Divine Service. It's simply wonderful. It is deep, yet clear. For those who have wondered what Lutheran worship is all about, this is the book for them. For pastors who feel they have far too many people in the congregation who are ignorant of why Lutherans worship the way they do, this is the book they will want to use.
Many people have enjoyed Dr. Just's video presentation on these issues. Well, if you liked the movie, you are going to love this book. As you read the deeply moving history of the development, use and meaning of the Lutheran liturgy you will find a renewed sense of purpose, understanding and appreciation for why we do, what we do, in the Lutheran Divine Service. Dr. Just covers the following topics:
- Preface Introduction: The Historic Liturgy
- The Theology of Worship
- The Structure of the Historic Liturgy
- Jewish Origins of Christian Worship
- The Table Fellowship of Jesus
- The Historic Liturgy and the New Creation
- The Psalms in Worship
- The Christian Concept of Time
- Baptism: Entrance into the Divine Service
- The Historic Liturgy as Divine Service: Liturgy of the Word
- The Liturgy of the Lord's Supper
- Conclusion: Lutheran Liturgy in the Postmodern World
- Appendix: Seasonal Proper Prefaces from Lutheran Service Book.
The book includes extensive notes and a helpful glossary.
If you have been looking for one, single book to put into the hands of people to help them "get" what the liturgy is all about, this is it. It is paperback and is priced at $14.99. It comes with extensive charts, graphs and other helpful illustrations and photos. Rostered church workers receive a 20% discount from that price.
Coming soon to a certain publishing house, near you, Concordia: The Lutheran Confessions—The Digital Edition. We are not taking orders yet for it. We anticipate that we will have it in stock and ready for purchase in early April.
Last week I spent several hours giving the electronic edition of Concordia a shake-down cruise and— wow—is it nice! The folks at Logos have done a terrific job. Every single cross reference in the book, either to the Confessions or Scripture, is hyperlinked, the search functionality is awesome, and of course, if you add this to whatever existing Libronix system library you have installed on your computer, you can keyword link to your heart's delight.
Another great feature is that when you search on a word or phrase, or any sort of search at all, by displaying the search results in concordance mode you can easily distinguish between the text proper of the Confessions and the notes, introductions, annotations, etc. throughout the book.
On what computers will it work? All PC systems and any Mac that has an Intel processor with a Windows operating system running. On my Macs, I use Parallels and Windows XP. If you can't dedicate at least two gigs of memory to VISTA, I strongly discourage using VISTA on a Mac. On the other hand, Windows XP with one gig allocated to it really flies and the Logos system performs very quickly. In fact, I was talking to Logos on the phone and we were working on some things together and the tech on the other end of the phone line was amazed at how fast my MacBook Pro was booting into Windows and running. She said, "Yea, we've noticed here that all the Macs run Windows a lot faster than the PCs we have." Smile.
One more comment, apparently there are some people who think that the LOGOS software costs hundreds of dollars. No, in fact every LOGOS enabled product comes as a stand-alone item, which will install the software on your computer you need to search and use the book you've bought. So, in this case, you would pay around $29.99 for the electronic edition of Concordia and the LOGOS system is installed on your computer for you to use the Concordia edition.
Here are a few screen of the electronic edition to whet your appetite. Click on the image for a sharper image.
Continue reading "Concordia: The Electronic Edition—Sneak Preview" »
I don't much go for "tagging" people, but...well, every once in a while, there is a tag that seems interesting and fun. The reason I don't do this much is because you always are supposed to invite a select few others. I'm ignoring that and inviting everyone to have some fun and join along.
Pastor Weedon tagged me to do this one. I just noticed it.
Here is the challenge:
Pick up the nearest book of 123 pages or more. (No cheating!)
Find Page 123.
Find the first 5 sentences.
Post the next 3 sentences.
Tag 5 people.
He will be deeply suspicious that I'm cheating, but .... here is a photo to prove it.
If you look at the first book on the right of the books on the credenza, it jus so happens to be the Book of Concord. Next to it is my Bible, then Wather's "God Grant It" and then the Catechism, the Pastoral Care Companion, Visitation, and the Lutheran Service Book. Those are the books closest to me here in the office.
So...here's what I found.
"Through Him we have also obtained access to God" (Romans 5:2, not by works without Christ as Mediator. Therefore, when it is said in Matthew 19:17, "If you would enter life, kep the commandments," we must believe that without Christ the commandments are not kept and cannot please. So in the Decalogue itself, in the First Commandment, the most liberal promise of the Law is added, "But showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love Me and keep my commandments" (Exodus 20:6)."
Article V(III): Love and the Fulfilling of the Law
Apology to the Augsburg Confession
Concordia, p. 123
Tag: Everyone and anyone who reads this and wants to participate by way of a comment.
The introductory price of Lutheran Service Book is going to end in May. The price of the hymnal will be going to $23 from $18.50. If you recall, Concordia Publishing House extended the special introductory price longer than originally planned; so, if you or your congregation want to purchase the new hymnal at $18.50, make your plans now to do so before the price increases on May 12, 2008. To place your order call 800-325-3040 or place your order through our web site.
Here is the information just sent out by CPH:
Order Lutheran Service Book now to receive the lowest price!
The introductory prices for Lutheran Service Book and its companion editions are effective until May 12, 2008! On this date the pew edition will increase to $23.00 (now $18.50), and there will be a modest price increase on many of the companion editions.
Concordia Publishing House is pleased to announce that there will be no increase on the annual renewals for Lutheran Service Builder and the accompanying liturgy license. However, when Lutheran Service Builder 2.0 is released in November 2008, there will be a 15% increase on the initial purchase price. Existing subscribers will receive version 2.0 and all of its enhancements as part of their ongoing service. Only new customers will need to pay the increased rate.
Lutheran Service Book and Lutheran Service Builder continue to serve The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod in its worship life! Nearly 70% of our congregations have adopted these resources.
Visit lsb.cph.org to view all the latest resources, including Lutheran Service Book: Propers of the Day.
I have good news! The second volume of Johann Gerhard's Loci Theologici, which for the first time is being published in English translation, is now available. You may view an excerpt from the volume, and read more about it
on the CPH web site. Simply put there is no theological resource that lays out Lutheran doctrine this extensively in English. I'm pleased and proud to report that Concordia Publishing House has become the single best source for the works of Johann Gerhard. We carry nearly every English translation of his works available and with the publication of the Loci we are the best "one stop shop" on the Internet for the works of Gerhard. The same holds true for English translation of the works of Martin Chemnitz. Here is the information on the book from the CPH web site.
The Theological Commonplaces series presents the first-ever English translation of the 16-volume Loci Theologici of Johann Gerhard. Gerhard addresses the Christian faith doctrine by doctrine in an accessible style. Gerhard interacts with the writings of the Church fathers, Luther and his contemporaries, and the Catholic, Reformed, and Unitarian theologians of his day. This series remains a classic of Lutheran theology and offers contemporary church workers and researchers a wealth of material on the distinctives of Lutheran doctrine.
On the Nature of God and on the Trinity, translated by
Richard J. Dinda, addresses God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as
Gerhard explores the divine names, the natural knowledge of God, the
divine essence, and the mystery of the Trinity. As Gerhard makes the
argument for the Trinity, he turns repeatedly to Holy Scripture and
interacts with the writings of the ancient Church fathers as they
sought to formulate the doctrine of the Trinity. He specifically
addresses the arguments of the Socinians (Unitarians) concerning the
Trinity.
On the Nature of God and on the Trinity is the second volume in the Theological Commonplaces series.
Who is Johann Gehard? I'm glad you asked. Read the extended entry for a very well done mini-biography.
Continue reading "More Gerhard Goodness: On God and the Holy Trinity" »
I recently acquired a Kindle, from Amazon. Here is a pretty good summary article from Wikipedia. I've been having a lot of fun learning how to use it and loading books into it. I'm unsure yet what precisely it means, but I can not help shake the feeling that this portends the future of how we will receive, and use, digital information going forward into the future. Will books ever go away? No. After over 500 years, they are going as strongly as ever. They are the ultimate portable document device. Let's think of the advantages of books:
Supremely portable
Simple user interface
Ease of use
Can be used anywhere there is light
Require no power source
Never need recharging
Offer a satisfying tactile look and feel
Instantly on
Never need an upgrade
No risk of breakdown (unless mistreated)
What about a Kindle? It allows me to have with me, wherever I want to take it, a large collection of reading material. With a secure digital card I can carry around over eight gigabytes of intellectual property: music, photos, books, magazines, newspapers, blog sites, and the Kindle has its own functional browser, and offers you the ability to access Wikipedia at any time. Talk about your ultimate walking encyclopedia!
Ironically, one of the first books I downloaded, which I read about on the Kindle, was Isaac Asimov's Foundation, the premise of which is that a bunch of eggheads are determined to preserve their civilization's knowledge in the Galactic Encyclopedia.
The sensation of reading on the Kindle is very pleasing. There is no screen glare. It is truly like reading a paperback book. The massive infrastructure that Amazon has developed to support the Kindle is the most amazing feature of the Kindle. You can put any document you want on it. Just as long as you have it in one of several common formats, you can send it to Amazon, they convert it into Kindle's format and they will either e-mail it to you for you to download on to the Kindle yourself, or for ten cents, you receive it over the Kindle's wireless Internet connection; which, by the way, works much better than my WiFi at home from ATT and my Sprint cell phone; just now, for example, I uploaded a 6.6 megabyte collection of a German theologians letters to pastors (all of them), and within ten minutes it was sent back down to my Kindle and I can enjoy them there.
There is much to think about here and I'm enjoying both the thinking and Kindle reading! Does any reader of this blog have a Kindle? What do you think?
I'm pleased to announce the publication of Women Pastors? The Ordination of Women in Biblical Lutheran Perspective. It is a four hundred page book, paperback, 6x9. Price: $26.99. You may place an order on the Concordia Publishing House web site or call 800-325-3040.
As the ordination of women becomes more commonplace, it is increasingly important for all faithful Lutherans, clergy and laity alike, to be able to articulate why, because of the teachings of Holy Scripture, women should not be ordained as pastors. This book offers a rich variety of essays on this topic from Lutherans around the world as they have, in the past century up to the present time, responded to the practice of placing women in the church's pastoral ministry.
There are over twenty essays in this volume, representing Lutheran churches throughout the world. The essays are divided into four sections, including: Biblical studies, historical studies, doctrinal studies and practical studies.
Anders Nygren, a great theologian from the Church of Sweden, said prophetically after his church adopted the ordination of women as pastors, "This decision not only means a determination of the specific issue concerning female pastor, but, I am convinced, also means that our church has now shifted into a previously unknown path heading in the direction of Gnosticism and the Schwaermerei. . . I must declare my deep sorry regarding the decision and give notice of my reservation over the same."
"Years ago, C.S. Lewis said that should the Church opt to ordain women, it would very quickly find that it had brought about a whole new religion. . . . His words have an uncanny prescience to them. Perhaps it is time to step back, reexamine what we have done, and if honesty requires us to say that we have done wrong, begin the necessary correction of the course." from the essay in the book, How My Mind Has Changed, by Rev. Louis A. Smith, ELCA pastor
Editors:
Matthew C. Harrison is the Executive Director of LCMS World Relief and Human Care Ministries.
John T. Pless is Assistant Professor, Pastoral Ministry and Missions, and Director of Field Education, Concordia Theological Seminary in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
What Others Are Saying
"It is striking that in the ancient Near East, where female deities and priestesses were abundant, Israel was told to have only male priests. Similarly, in the Greco-Roman world, where female gods and priestesses flourished, the Church restricted the apostolic-pastoral office to men. This volume is to be commended for similarly resisting the prevailing cultural novelties by supporting in a scholarly and churchly manner the God-given order for the Church's ministry. Women as well as men are blessed when they hear and follow the living, healing voice of Jesus in the prophetic and apostolic Scriptures."
— Rev. Dr. Dean O. Wenthe,
President, Concordia Theological Seminary,
Fort Wayne, Indiana
"The apostolic ordained ministry of Word and Sacrament cannot be made androgynous or gender-neutral against the plain text of God's Word. Against the tides of postmodernism and the fallicies of ancient paganism, we as biblical Christians maintain that above all varying and changing human truths, there is God's divine and eternal truth revealed to us in His Word. Departing from His Word, the Bible, means separating from the living God. The essays in this book are from able hands of ministers who still want the Church to continue praying, "Thy will be done," not, "my will be done" nor the "will of my time." This book reveals the truth from the God who was, who is, and who is to come. It will help many who doubt the truth of Holy Scripture and will build and nurture those who confess God to be faithful and living according to His Word."
— Most Rev. Dr. Walter Obare Omwanza,
Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya
"Being liberated from colonization in the last century and already facing the globalization of culture at the beginning of this new millennium, the African Lutheran Churches confront the issue of women's ordination with pressure form within and without. This book comes at the right time as spiritual illumination, strengthening hands and providing leadership and a path for them and for those [churches] in the same situation in their war over against a modern neopagan understanding of the office of pastor."
— Dr. Randrianasolo Joseph
Professor of Theology, Malagasy Lutheran Church
Fianarantsoa, Madagascar
Contributors
Louis A. Brighton
Peter Brunner
David W. Bryce
Bertil Gärtner
Bo Giertz
Charles A. Gieschen
Henry P. Hamann
John W. Kleinig
Peter Kriewaldt
Gregory Lockwood
Geelong North
Hermann Sasse
David P. Scaer
Robert Schaibley
Fredrik Sidenvall
Reinhard Slenczka
Louis A. Smith
William Weinrich
Roland Ziegler
I did an interview yesterday with the world's best Lutheran talk radio show, Issues, etc., on the subject of children's books. If you would care to listen, here is the MP3 file of the interview.
Yes, you read that title correctly. Today, USA Today has posted an article about Christian children's books and much to my delight the reporter really "got it." The thrust of the article is how many Christian parents are now looking for books that do not treat the Bible as a collection of "rules" or Aesop Fables or Mother Goose stories. And if you read the article you'll notice a certain blogger whom you might know was interviewed for the story. He did not quite say things precisely as reported. He did not say a certain Lutheran publishing company was not interested in being innovative; rather, he said we are not interested in trying to make the Bible teach or say what it does not teach or say. But, well, overall I was very impressed by the piece and by the good job the reporter did. She told me (ok, yes, I was interviewed) that she loved the CPH Arch Book, "The Fall Into Sin." Why? "Because you guys really just tell it like it is!" She went on to say, "And I notice that no matter what Bible story you are telling you always end up coming back to talk about Jesus!" Yes!! I quoted to her what the Gospel of John says, which we understand to apply to the Bible, "These things are written, that you may believe, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name."
I'm pleased to report that Dr. Bjarne Teigen's magisterial work is now available as a free download. Please go to Logia: A Journal of Lutheran Theology's web site to download the book. It is a tremendously helpful book that will deepen your love for, and devotion to, the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar.
The best way to say "thank you" for this gift is to subscribe to Logia, and purchase a subscription for your pastor and your friends. It is truly one of the very best Lutheran journals available, and has been going strong for fifteen years.
My colleague, Rev. Robert Baker, has produced a magnificent book for children and their families to help them sort through the thorny issue that is ever increasing: a purposeful choice to ignore Christmas in our society. It is titled, What Happened to Merry Christmas. Please check out his blog site, and ... consider purchasing the book for your parish, children, grandchildren. It is a very interesting site with all kinds of news and information on issues related to Christmas. With a keen focus on the Gospel, the book is an encouraging word to help children recognize that in spite of our culture's increasing attempt to take Christ out of Christmas, the signs and symbols of Christmas remain all around. Here is a screen shot of Pastor Baker's blog.
If you would like to help me promote the Book of Concord to John Q. Public, send me an e-mail message:
I'll let you know how.
Thanks!
Have you ever heard the charge that Martin Luther was not "mission-minded"
or did not have much of a theology of evangelism and outreach? Sadly, I've even heard so-called Lutheran "experts" on mission make this claim. A new book, now
available from Concordia Publishing House, titled Luther and World
Mission utterly destroys this myth. It is a magisterial work of
research and analysis by Luther Norwegian Luther scholar Ingemar Oberg showing
how deeply ingrained in Luther's writings are themes of mission and outreach
with the Gospel. It is a large,
detailed, well researched and thoroughly footnoted book. Dr. Robert Kolb of
Concordia Seminary has provided an excellent foreword for the book.See the
comments of Dr. Detlev Schulz, Concordia Theological Seminary, below. We have an excerpt for you to
review:
Product Description
This book provides a new interpretation of Luther and mission and serves to "rehabilitate" the reformer in modern missiological studies. Öberg argues that Luther fully embraced the missionary task to the world. Because Luther was foremost a teacher and pastor, his writings interact with Scripture and address current, local situations. Yet in Luther's Bible exposition, pamphlets, and treatises, a clear and passionate commitment to the Gospel and world mission emerges. Shaped by a critical attitude toward Luther, past scholars have misinterpreted the reformer. An honest portrait recognizes Luther's subtle but solid contribution to evangelical missiology. In Luther and World Mission, Luther emerges as a mission-minded servant of the Gospel who laid the foundation for a Lutheran theology of mission.
What Others Are
Saying
"The belief that Luther had nothing to do with mission is completely erased
upon reading Luther and World Mission. Oberg's careful research
uncovers the richness, beauty, and depth of Luther's insights on the topic as
expressed in his commentaries, lectures, and sermons. Not merely a theological
treatment, Luther and World Mission also offers practical insights from
Luther into the execution of mission. This superb study for theologians,
pastors, students, and church members will make an important contribution to
Lutheran theology and mission in North America. We are indebted to Dean Apel for
his enormous service in translating this book."
— Klaus Detlev
Schulz
Associate Professor and Chairman - Department of Pastoral
Ministry and Missions
Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne,
IN
The book, Misquoting Jesus, is, according to the September 11, 2006 issue of Publisher's Weekly, still in the top ten best selling hardback religion books. The publisher reports to PW that most of the messages are from "readers who once were fundamentalists and/or evangelicals, who have come to question their faith and now see the Bible as a very human book, who are fascinated by the circumstance that we don't have the original Bible, but only copies made centuries later, by very human scribes who sometimes changed the wording of the text." There are presently 240,000 copies of Ehrman's book in print.
Consider therefore this tragic irony. Harper-Collins owns Zondervan Publishing, which in turn is the publisher of the New International Version translation, a translation that remains the dominant translation of choice among many Evangelicals. Harper-Collins also publishes a book that "helps" former Evangelicals learn that the Bible is a hopeless mish-mash.
Do you have a personal literary advisor? I am perhaps one of the fortunate few to have one. And I have a very good one. A Lutheran one. His name is Gene Edward Veith. Dr. Veith has published about as many books as I have actually read, carefully. I can't help but giggle a bit when I hear about "published" authors in Lutheran circles. I just think of Dr. Veith and chuckle a bit. The man has published a lot of books, about a lot of things, from country music, to postmodernism, to American landscape painters. Therefore, when Dr. Veith recommends books, I listen. He recently sent me an e-mail that put it this way: "Stop whatever you are doing and order Lars Walkers' books." So, I did. I'm eighty pages into Mr. Walker's "Wolf Time." I am absolutely fascinated and mesmerized. And I'm not a "fantasy" fan. But, this book is amazing. It is at the same time a mystery, a fable, a morality play, and it is very much authentically Christian...and....Lutheran! It manages to advocate for the historic Christian faith while not coming across as "preachy" and contrived. So, if you want some great summer reading, check out Mr. Lars Walker. He has three books published: Wolf Time, The Year of the Warrior, and Blood and Judgement. I could hardly put it down to take the time to post this. I have to get back to the book to find out what happens next.
Handwritten Bible scripted in Wales returns to ancient tradition
By Martin Revis
London, 21 April (ENI)--One of the foremost Western calligraphers
is producing a complete handwritten, illuminated Bible for the
first time since the invention of the printing press in Europe in
the 15th century from his studio in Wales.
Donald Jackson, scribe to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth's Crown
Office at the House of Lords, is five years through the
seven-year US$3.4 million project commissioned by the Benedictine
Saint John's Abbey and the Saint John's University in the US
state of Minnesota.
From his scriptorium in Wales, Jackson oversees scribes, artists,
and craftsmen who work with him on the handwriting and
illumination of the seven-volume, 1150-page Bible.
"I usually start by taking a large brush and putting it in ink
and begin," he explained. "From these marks will grow a feeling
for the mood of the piece and the elemental theme. From this I
weave in the detail."
He receives instructions on the passages chosen for illustration
by goose quill on vellum, from a committee of scholars,
historians, and artists. Inks derived from hand-ground silver,
copper gold and other precious minerals are employed.
For the first time since the start of the project, pages from the
St John's Bible went on display outside the United States, at
London's Victoria and Albert Museum. The exhibition runs until 1
May and features selections from "Prophets", the fourth volume of
the Bible.
The completed work, bound in Welsh oak, will be housed in
Collegeville, Minnesota at the Museum and Manuscript Library of
Saint John's University. When open, it will measure two feet in
height (60 centimetres) and three feet (90 centimetres) in
width.
The hand-drawn illuminations depict scripture from an ancient and
modern perspective, including concepts of science, space and
technology.
"Illuminated manuscripts have always marked the time and place in
which they were created, and The Saint John's Bible will reflect
our world at the beginning of the twenty-first century for future
generations," said Brother Dietrich Reinhart, president of Saint
John's University. [342 words]
All articles (c) Ecumenical News International
Reproduction permitted only by media subscribers and
provided ENI is acknowledged as the source.
Ecumenical News International
Daily News Service
21 April 2006
Ecumenical News International
PO Box 2100
CH - 1211 Geneva 2
Switzerland
Tel: (41-22) 791 6088/6111
Fax: (41-22) 788 7244
Email: eni@eni.ch
A new site in the blogosphere offering reviews and comments on books of interest to Lutherans. Check it out.
St. Augustine was decidedly not a "Medieval philosopher"...but....interesting thoughts nonetheless about Tolkien's vision of reality influenced by St. Augustine.
The Temptation of the Earthly City: Tolkien's Augustinian Vision | Dr. Jose Yulo | February 1, 2006.
However, there exists in The Lord of the Rings a subtle yet quite detectable call to the thought of the medieval philosopher St. Augustine. This call is particularly resonant today, an age where there appears to prevail an unquenchable thirst for knowledge. Augustine, as a student of the ancients (in particular of Plato), knew well that knowledge was not synonymous with wisdom. Often, the quest for the former entailed the preclusion of the latter.
Oh, boy....now they've gone and really done it! The "Essential Paintings" list was interesting. The "Essential Philosophers" was equally so....but....now they dare venture into the treacherous waters of trying to nail down an essential reading list of spiritual and devotional writings for theologians, the brave souls! What do you think of their list?
Link: Faith and Theology: Essential spiritual and devotional writings for theologians.
Here's my take on it. I like their goal of linking theology with spirituality. We classical Lutherans would think instantly of the necessary understanding that theology is a "habitus" ... an inward inclination of the heart, a "habit" formed in us by the Holy Spirit who instills and preserves true faith. I like this emphasis in their list.
They probably don't know about Johann Gerhard, but he really must be on their list as the finest example of writers of "Protestant" spirituality from the Lutheran confessional tradition. And since, well, how to say these, we were the first out of the chute when it came to the Reformation, John Gerhard's Meditations on Divine Mercy really needs to be here, along with his Sacred Meditations.
What would you put on their list? Or remove from their list?
An impressive and encouraging start to a wonderful project: to place original works of Lutheran theology from the age of Lutheran Orthodoxy on line. Please check this out!
Link: Lutheran Legacy.
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