Justo González García Bücher

"A meditation on the importance of the Lord's Prayer for contemporary Christian life, with insights drawn from the wisdom and experience of early Christians"--

A concise history of the Bible: its creation, use, and interpretation What is the Bible? To answer this question we must understand the Bible's origins in the early church. In this book, celebrated church historian Justo González introduces the reader to some important features of the earliest Bibles--for instance, the Bible's original languages, its division into chapters and verses, and even its physical appearance in its first forms. González also explores the use of the Bible in the early church (such as in worship or in private reading) and the interpretation of the Bible throughout the ensuing centuries, giving readers a holistic sense of the Bible's emergence as the keystone of Christian life, from its beginnings to present times.

This informative, interesting, and consistently readable narrative history brings alive the people, dramatic events and ideas that shaped the first fifteen centuries of the church's life and thought. Includes major events outside of Europe, such as the Spanish and Portuguese conquest of the New World. Historian Justo Gonzalez shows how various social, political, and economic movements affected Christianity's internal growth. Gonzalez skillfully weaves in relevant details from the lives of prominent figures from the apostles to John Wycliffe, tracing out core theological issues and developments as reflected in the lives and struggles of leading thinkers within the various traditions of the church. The history of the church, while showing all the characteristics of human history, is much more than the history of an institution or movement, Gonzalez stresses. It is a history of the deeds of the spirit in and through the men and women who have gone before in the faith. "The Story of Christianity" demonstrates at each point what new challenges and opportunities faced the church, and how Christians struggled with the various options open to them, thereby shaping the future direction of the church. This fascinating introduction to the panoramic history of Christianity is perfect for students and teachers of church history, pastors, and general readers

A revised edition of an accessible narrative history assesses crucial theological developments while offering insight into the social, political, and economic forces that influenced the Church's development, in a volume that includes coverage of such subjects as emerging Protestantism and the origins of modern movements.

“I do not hope to convince you so that you will believe. That is to be left to the Holy Spirit. I write to you because you share the faith by which I live. I write so that you may share my joy in seeking to understand better this truth that our hearts believe and love.”   In  Knowing Our Faith  Justo González introduces the Christian faith in direct, contemporary language that does not assume prior knowledge. While recognizing the existence of various denomi­nations and theological positions, González focuses on the core faith of the Christian church through the centuries.  Covering all the key topics—revelation, God, Jesus Christ, the Spirit, the church, Christian hope, and others— Knowing Our Faith  is an ideal resource for both individual reading and small group study, with questions for discussion included at the end of each short chapter.  This accessible resource will help readers understand the Christian faith better—and, more importantly, live it better.