Leith, John H., John Calvin's Doctrine Of The Christian Life

John Calvin's Doctrine of the Christian Life

Outler, Albert Cook

Leith, John H.

Religion & Spirituality

John Knox Pr

A concise and readable study for laypersons and clergy alike, this book is indispensable for all informed people in many different confessional communities. With the passion of one who not only observes but believes, John Leith touches on all aspects of Reformed history, theology, polity, liturgy, and Christian culture with a balance of enthusiasm and critical judgment that always rings true.

An introduction to the reformed tradition: A way of being the Christian community

John Knox Press

Creeds of the churches;: A reader in Christian doctrine, from the Bible to the present

Assembly at Westminster: Reformed Theology in the Making

Westminster John Knox Pr

In the story of the church's continuing theological dialogue, the Westminster Confession stands as a towering accomplishment. Persons in the Reformed tradition, especially English-speaking Calvinists, have been shaped by the Westminster Confession as by no other Christian creed. Even in rebellion against it, men and women continue to be formed by it. John Leith focuses on the background and character of the assembly that wrote this document. After placing the Confession in its historical, political, cultural, and theological contexts, Dr. Leith examines its major themes--the Bible, the lordship and sovereignty of God, the covenant, and the Christian life. Finally, he looks at the question of the Westminster Confession as normative, authoritative theology. The Westminster Confession should be neither idolized nor rejected, says Dr. Leith. "It should be accepted for what it is, a remarkable theological achievement of the Reformed community in the seventh century, and received with gratitude for the guidance that it may give for the theological task today."

History

World

Wipf and Stock

In this thorough investigation of Calvinist doctrine, John Leith defines the Reformer's teaching on Christian life in the context of his theology. He begins with a discussion of what it means to say that the purpose of Christian life is the glory of God. He then discusses Christian life in relation to four aspects of Calvinist thought: justification by faith alone; providence and predestination; history and the transhistorical; church and society. Leith's concluding statement summarizes the importance of this book. ""Calvin's doctrine of the Christian life represents a magnificent effort to give expression to what it means to have to do with the living God every moment of one's life. No interpretation of the sola gloria Dei [""only God's glory""] has been more vivid and dynamic than Calvin's. For this reason he speaks to the needs of this generation, which, at least until recently, has been more frequently concerned about the glory of humankind than that of God and which has fallen victim to many false gods and vicious ideologies. Yet if Calvinism is to render its full service to our day, it must be interpreted in the context of the shared faith of the total Christian community. On the basis of Calvin's own principles, no human statement of Christian faith can ever be final and must be continually reformed by the Christian community's apprehension of the word of God as revealed in Jesus Christ."" ""In this extensive study of Calvin's theology and ethic in their inseparable relationship, John H. Leith demonstrates the continuing relevance of Calvin's thought for the faith and life of the church in our time. He proves himself a good Calvinist by evaluating Calvin's thought in light of the Reformer's insistence that the work of all theologians, including Calvin himself, is to be criticized and corrected by the self-revelation of God in Jesus Christ as scripture bears witness to him. Leith's book thus expresses deep appreciation of Calvin and at the same time calls us to fulfill Calvin's intentions more consistently than Calvin himself was able to do."" -- Shirley C. Guthrie, Jr. John H. Leith (1919-2002) also authored Introduction to the Reformed Tradition and edited Creeds of the Churches. He was Pemberton Professor of Theology at Union Theological Seminary in Virginia, an alumnus of Columbia Theological Seminary, Vanderbilt University, and received a PhD from Yale University. He served on numerous committees of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the United States.

Christian Books & Bibles

The responsibility to bear witness to the gracious presence of God in Jesus Christ "in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth" has been the perennial task of the Christian community from the beginning. But the style and form of evangelism has varied according to time and place. There is no one way of evangelism, as the history of Christians witnessing and confessing their faith makes very clear. The life of the Christian community has been and is enriched by a variety of evangelistic styles and by multiple theological confessions.There is, however, a limit to possible Christian theologies, and the preeminent theological task of the church is to test its proclamation by the word of God in Jesus Christ, as attested in scripture, to see that it is within the boundary. There is also a limit to the legitimate styles of evangelism. Some styles of evangelism corrupt and others strengthen the witness, but more significantly, style always betrays the real content. "There is an intimate but seldom seen connection between a person's thought and his style, which Alfred North Whitehead defined precisely as the 'ultimate morality of mind.'"The purpose of this paper is to relate Reformed theology to the form and style of evangelism. The paper presupposes that evangelism as shaped by Reformed theology is a valid and effective form of evangelism, but it does not presuppose that such form of evangelism is the only form that has validity or effectiveness. It is hoped that the proposal will be the occasion for self-criticism in the work of evangelism and for renewal of theological and ecclesiastical life in the Reformed tradition.

Reformed Theology and the Style of Evangelism

John H. Leith's classic examination of what it means to become a member of the church. This study was designed for junior high communicant classes, but is also an excellent resource for church officer training and new member classes--for adults and young people alike. Leith confronts the choices and questions that arise for young people, or anyone for that matter, trying to understand their place in the priesthood of all believers. He enlightens readers to the meaning of the church while he explores the vows taken by those entering the communing fellowship of the church, the nature and faith of the church, and the worship and work of the church.

The Church: A Believing Fellowship

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Books by Leith, John H.

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Leith, John H.. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

John Calvin's Doctrine of the Christian Life

An introduction to the reformed tradition: A way of being the Christian community

Creeds of the churches;: A reader in Christian doctrine, from the Bible to the present

Assembly at Westminster: Reformed Theology in the Making

Assembly at Westminster: Reformed Theology in the Making

John Calvin's Doctrine of the Christian Life

Reformed Theology and the Style of Evangelism

The Church: A Believing Fellowship