This clear and concise text helps readers grasp the basic doctrines of the Christian faith from the earliest days of Christianity. Ronald Heine, an internationally known expert on early Christian theology, developed this book after many years of teaching Christian doctrine.

The Evangelical Ressourcement series is grounded in the belief that there is a wealth of theological, exegetical, and spiritual resources from the patristic era that is relevant for the Christian church today and into the future. Amid the current resurgence of interest in the early church, this series aims to help church thinkers and leaders reappropriate these ancient understandings of Christian belief and practice and apply them to ministry in the twenty-first century.

The late second and early third century was a turbulent time in the Roman Empire and in the relationship between the empire and the church. Origen was the son of a Christian martyr and was himself imprisoned and tortured in his late life in a persecution that targeted leaders of the church. Deeply pious and a gifted scholar, Origen stands as one of the most influential Christian teachers in church history, and also one of the most controversial. This introduction to Origen begins by looking at some of the circumstances that were formative influences on his life. It then turns to some key elements in his thought. The approach here differs from that taken by most earlier studies by working from the central position that Scripture had for Origen. Heine argues that Origen’s thought, in his later life especially, reflects his continual interaction with the Bible.

Get a varied and diverse survey of the first four centuries of Christianity. Drawing mostly from Church Fathers and patristic texts, this collection provides an introduction to various orthodox and heretical writings and addresses their theologies, their impact on the early church’s development, their contemporary relevance, and common misconceptions on them among Christians today. The collection also illustrates how Montanism and Stoicism shaped early Christianity and analyzes the early church’s baptismal rites, views on social justice and ethics, and interpretation of the Genesis 1–3 narrative.

As today’s Christians struggle to relate to concepts such as the Jewish law and the prophets, pastors and students benefit from looking through the lenses of these thoughtful pioneers. This volume helps the Old Covenant to come alive.

The cross and empty tomb form the center of the Christian faith. The church celebrates these two events in what is traditionally referred to as the Lord's Supper. It is the custom in some Christian traditions to have a brief meditation related to the Lord's Supper immediately prior to participation. These may be given by the pastor or by a layperson who presides over the ceremony. This book is a series of meditations delivered prior to the celebration of the Lord's Supper. It is our hope that…

This far reaching collection includes many of the premiere resources available for biblical study, theology, ministry, history, and more. These resources from Baker Publishing Group feature stand alone volumes as well as dedicated series, with contributions from leading scholars such as Douglas Moo, D.A. Carson, Darrell Bock, Peter Leithart, Thomas Schreiner, and many more. With these resources from trusted guides you will discover new and challenging insights as you dig even deeper in your studies.