Free Kindle Know The Creeds And Councils (KNOW Series) ebooks Download
In every generation, the Christian church must interpret and restate its bedrock beliefs, answering the challenges and concerns of the day. This accessible overview walks readers through centuries of creeds, councils, catechisms, and confessions--not with a dry focus on dates and places, but with an emphasis on the living tradition of Christian belief and why it matters for our lives today.As a part of the KNOW series, Know the Creeds and Councils is designed for personal study or classroom use, but also for small groups and Sunday schools wanting to more deeply understand the foundations of the faith. Each chapter covers a key statement of faith and includes a discussion of its historical context, a simple explanation of the statement's content and key points, reflections on contemporary and ongoing relevance, and discussion questions.
Series: KNOW Series
Paperback: 192 pages
Publisher: Zondervan (April 29, 2014)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0310515092
ISBN-13: 978-0310515098
Product Dimensions: 5 x 0.6 x 7.2 inches
Shipping Weight: 5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (71 customer reviews)
Best Sellers Rank: #189,327 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #169 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > History > Historical Theology #266 in Books > Reference > Encyclopedias & Subject Guides > Religion #3728 in Books > Christian Books & Bibles > Theology
This small volume covers the ecumenical councils (synods of the church undivided, and accepted as foundational throughout the churches); important denominational councils,the significant creeds such as the Apostles’, Nicene and Athanasian; and the major catechisms. Holcomb acknowledges the political forces behind these documents, both secular and sacred, while steering carefully away from expressing support of any of the political views, historic or contemporary.A concise reference that is orthodox and even-handed has been needed for decades. While not entirely ecumenical, nor neutral, it is concisely factual. Holcomb refers to the scriptural basis of the orthodox choices made by councils and synods. I can detect a subtle bias in Holcomb’s viewpoint. He is an Episcopalian (the American version of Anglican, part of the world-wide Anglican Communion) and although he teaches at a seminary in the Reformed tradition, he does favour a high church Anglican interpretation. Anyone who mentions both Reginald Pole and John Henry Newman, with their peripheral involvement in councils and credal theology, must fall within the bailiwick of the nineteenth century Oxford Movement. Holcomb praises the wide inclusiveness of Anglican theology, a commendation with which I do not agree.At times I thought he strove to be generous in naming some points of Calvinist theology as orthodox. Much if Calvin’s strict predestinational theology fails to accommodate a generous God of grace.Generally, it is a useful book for anyone who needs a readable reference concerning the councils and creeds. It proceeds historically, which makes the subject more interesting, and demonstrates that theological thought builds on the past rather than appearing suddenly.
Other than the Apostle's Creed, are you familiar with other creeds? How about confessions? What are they? What's the difference between them? What about catechism? Why were they created? These and many other related questions would be answered by Holcomb in this book. Holcomb first defines the various terms used in this book, creeds, confessions and catechism.Following which these are then presented in a chronological order, allowing the readers to see how the creeds have developed, deepen and also modified in their wording to be more specific to the various challenges that arose at the different eras.In Creeds, whenever a creed/confession/catechism is presented, 3 sections would always be explored: the historical background, content and relevance.Holcomb is especially strong in giving the historical context of the creeds/confession/catechism, often highlighting the historical framework/situations where the creeds are contextualised, allowing you to see the importance of developing such creeds/confessions/catechism.What is interesting is that Holcomb not only includes Protestant creeds and confession, in this book you can also read about the Romans Catholic Creeds and Councils, and Holcomb does not skimp on the explanation about them. Lastly, under relevance, Holcomb is perceptive about the importance of creeds and confessions and the need for christians to be familiar with the them. Even when discussing about the Vatican II, Holcomb is still able to draw relevant application for christians and thus gives excellence support for the christian to be well versed in them.
I would definitely recommend Justin Holcomb's Know the Creeds and Councils. This isn't the first book I've read on the subject of church history, though I wish it had been! The book I read was thick, scholarly, and in my opinion, poorly organized. This one, on the other hand, was reader-friendly, well-organized, and written primarily to be UNDERSTOOD. In the introduction, he defines the four key terms used throughout the book: creeds, confessions, catechisms, and councils. He shares his purpose for writing the book: "to provide an accessible overview of the main creeds, confessions, catechisms, and councils of Christian history. It is an introduction to some of the most important theological declarations in the Christian tradition." He shares his method: "For each creed, confession, catechism, or council, I present historical background, a short summary of the content, and thoughts on contemporary relevance. At the end of each chapter are discussion questions and recommended reading for further study." The chapters are arranged chronologically, of course.The definitions he gives are straight forward. For example, this is how he defines the term catechism: "A catechism is a book or document giving a brief summary of the basic principles of Christianity in Q&A form. Catechisms represent the practical, “on-the-ground” application of the main teaching agreed upon at church councils and expressed through creeds and confessions."Chapter 1: The Apostles' Creed ca.
Know the Creeds and Councils (KNOW Series) The Church of the Ancient Councils: The Disciplinary Work of the First Four Ecumenical Councils Presbyterian Creeds: A Guide to the Book of Confessions Speaking As One: A Look at the Ecumenical Creeds Vatican I and Vatican II: Councils in the Living Tradition The Councils of the Church: A Short History Don't Know Much About History, Anniversary Edition: Everything You Need to Know About American History but Never Learned (Don't Know Much About Series) The Chicken Whisperer's Guide to Keeping Chickens: Everything You Need to Know . . . and Didn't Know You Needed to Know About Backyard and Urban Chickens Getting to Know ArcGIS Desktop: The Basics of ArcView, ArcEditor, and ArcInfo Updated for ArcGIS 9 (Getting to Know series) Error-Free Software: Know-How and Know-Why of Program Correctness (Wiley Series in Software Engineering Practice) 50 Physics Ideas You Really Need to Know (50 Ideas You Really Need to Know Series) by Baker, Joanne (2007) Know the Heretics (KNOW Series) Get to Know Your Gut: Everything You Wanted to Know about Burping, Bloating, Candida, Constipation, Food Allergies, Farting, and Poo but Were Afraid to Ask How To Buy And Sell Gold & Silver PRIVATELY: Must Know Strategies To Keep Your Portfolio Private, Stay In The IRS's Good Graces, Know Your Tax ... Avoice Other Forms Of Metals Like The Plague Everything You Need to Know About Snakes (Everything You Need Know) 13 Modern Artists Children Should Know (Children Should Know) Everything You Need To Know About Geography Homework (Evertything You Need To Know..) Wireless Security: Know It All (Newnes Know It All) 500 ACT Science Questions to Know by Test Day (Mcgraw Hill's 500 Questions to Know By Test Day) 500 ACT Math Questions to Know by Test Day (Mcgraw Hill's 500 Questions to Know By Test Day)
