Wendy Mayer

Chrysostom's Devil

Theology

“In this well-written account, Miller fills an important gap in our understanding of John Chrysostom's theology: demons and personal responsibility. In a somewhat surprising conclusion, she argues persuasively that this early Eastern preacher speaks directly to the concerns of Western charismatic and evangelical Christians today. Delightful turns of phrase, such as '[The devil] will put [sin] in a tuxedo and make it dance so that it is enticing' and 'A monk who is content and has no sweet tooth will not be tempted, even if the dessert is a three-tiered chocolate cake,' illustrate the argument and make an otherwise dry topic accessible to the student and more general reader.”

Contextualization of the Gospel

Evangelism & Missions

“This book challenges us to restore the balance between Scripture, the wisdom and insights of the Church's early missionaries as Christianity grappled with other religions, and the more traditional tenets based on modern anthropology and practical theology.”

Harbor for the Poor

History & Biography

Foreword

“Eric Costanzo presents a significantly new analysis of John Chrysostom's teachings on and approach to almsgiving, an aspect central to his theology. While new research on John Chrysostom and poverty has appeared in recent years, this is the first study focused specifically on almsgiving to appear since the brief and somewhat peculiar study published by Otto Plassmann.”

John Chrysostom

History & Biography

“Miller unpacks John Chrysostom’s theology in a way that is deceptively simple and accessible, while introducing her readers to many of the latest developments in the field. Writing in a conversational style, with discussion questions at the end of each chapter, Miller gently brings to life the problematic sides of John as much as the ones she loves. A persuasive case for his relevance as a conversation partner for pastoral students and lay Christians today.”

Receiving 2 Thessalonians

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“Talbert brings the reception of biblical exegesis into the postmodern world in this thoughtful reading of three 'epochal' interpretations of 2 Thessalonians. Reading against more traditional approaches, he challenges us to recover the beauty in these interpretations with their focus on the holistic meaning of this text for the Christian life. His Jaussian theological-aesthetical reading is carefully negotiated and surprisingly persuasive.”