Books by "J. Lanier Burns"
4 books found
The Fathers on the Future: A 2nd-Century Eschatology for the 21st-Century Church
by Michael J. Svigel
2024 · Hendrickson Publishers
Dive into the classic eschatology of Irenaeus of Lyons with The Fathers on the Future as you unpack key truths, untangle misunderstandings, and get a deeper understanding of this balanced and biblically-sound end times framework. Many today with an interest in the end times face a problem—they have forgotten the past. Knowing the history of eschatology is key to understanding its importance, how we interpret our faith, and our outlook on God and humanity. So why do so many overlook it and what can we do to correct this? The Fathers on the Future uses a thorough exegetical and theological analysis to defend the foundation and structure of the second-century premillennial, futurist eschatology of Irenaeus of Lyons, and other church fathers. It makes a case for a contemporary Irenaean premillennial eschatology, arguing that it is a reliable framework for a biblically defensible, theologically balanced, and historically informed eschatology. The Fathers on the Future includes these key features: Restores historical perspective: Recovers the forgotten roots of early Christian eschatology, emphasizing the teachings of Irenaeus of Lyons and other church fathers. Biblically grounded framework: Offers a well-supported case for a biblically defensible, premillennial eschatology, balancing theology and history. Clarifies and corrects: Clarifies complex aspects of early eschatology, strengthens key theological points, and corrects missteps. Fresh yet ancient approach: Presents an eschatological perspective that is new to modern readers but deeply rooted in ancient Christian traditions. The Fathers on the Future begins with the belief that Irenaeus and other early church fathers represented a widespread and well-developed eschatology inherited from those who were close associates of the apostles. It then explores some of features of that early eschatology, clarifying obscure points, strengthening some elements, and correcting a few missteps. By looking back to Irenaeus and the eschatological emphases of his age, this book provides a new approach to eschatology today―new to contemporary readers but ancient in its original perspective.
A Practical Primer on Theological Method
by Glenn R. Kreider, Michael J. Svigel
2019 · Zondervan Academic
A "how-to" manual for doing theology, and a handbook of etiquette for doctrinal discussions with other believers. Around a table sit men and women with distinct roles: The Interpreter, the Theologian, the Virtuous, the Philosopher, the Scientist, the Artist, the Minister, and the Historian. Each is ready to engage in a passionate discussion centered on God, his works, and his ways. Regardless of which role you play at the same table, you're invited. You simply need to pull up a chair and join the conversation. But how? What do you say when you take your seat? Where do you start? What are the "rules" of the dialogue? A Practical Primer on Theological Method will help you answer these questions. This primer is not only a "how-to" manual for doing theology, but a handbook of etiquette for doctrinal discussions with other believers. This popular-level introductory text presents the proper manner, mode, and means of engaging fruitfully in theology.
"God is with us." We say this in our sermons, prayers, and songs, but what does it really mean? For many Christians, the whole notion of God's presence remains vague and hard to define. Exploring both the Old and New Testaments, professor J. Ryan Lister seeks to recover the centrality of the presence of God in the whole storyline of Scripture—a theme that is too often neglected and therefore misunderstood. In a world that longs for—yet struggles to find—intimacy with the Almighty, this book will help you discover the truth about God's presence with his people and what his drawing near means for the Christian life.
"Hope expresses more than an area of concentration in Ellul's thought; it is the central idea that binds his disparate elements together. Ellul believed that at this moment of history, the world since 1945, hope must preoccupy our thinking and lives. "To understand hope we must first comprehend its absence. This entails discerning what causes the absence of hope, namely the world's embrace of technique and the abandonment of God. Ellul also rejected these as a positive affirmation. He wanted to make a firm distinction between reality and truth. He affirmed modern abandonment as a realistic fact, as an accurate analysis of the present condition, not as an affirmation of the truth. Hope is truth in Jesus Christ, but truth must be asserted against these harsh facts. He used facts to incite hope in believers, to shake their complacency and to realize their actual condition in the world . . . . The idea of hope in the thought of Jacques Ellul can only be properly understood in light of dialectic struggle between negatives, which amount to factual representations of the modern world, and positives, through which hope exerts itself in the face of these facts. From this tension will issue personal resolve. Technique has brought the world to great collective heights and achievements, but this has come at the expense of personal ends and meaning. Ellul attempted to bridge this gap by asserting individual meaning against the aggregated progress of technique without destroying the gains made by collective advance. This represents the central dilemma in Ellul's thought--how does one maintain meaning and personal aims in a world founded on corporate necessity?" --from the Introduction