One of the issues consistently plaguing New Testament scholars is the date of the Gospel of John. No consensus exists on this thorny dilemma. Looking at the world around the Bible, extrabiblical testimony often provides evidence for such questions. Insights drawn from Irenaeus are used by Lewis to help shed light on the topic. Noting the extent to which Irenaeus bears on the fourth Gospel, Lewis discusses the potential authors of John that could have been known by Irenaeus. Ending with modern conclusions to the issue, Lewis provides a useful summary of state of Irenaeus studies around the beginning of the twentieth century.

These are the letters of Adam of Perseigne, Spiritual director to kings and clerics, nuns and nobles and adviser to Richard the Lion-hearted; Adam also found favor at the witty court of the Countess of Champagne.

Generally considered the leading pre-Islamic dialect of Coptic, Sahidic is an important language for Orientalists. Perhaps because of its body of original, non-translated material, Sahidic is the Coptic dialect most commonly studied outside of ecclesiastical settings. Sahidic, however, is also used as a language of translation, as in this booklet containing the biblical book of Job in that dialect. Unparalleled as a source for beginners in Coptic, this small portion of the Bible presents a familiar starting point. Coptic scholars will also find this resource worth their time as an historical example of the language and its study. Known also as Thebaic, this form of Coptic was used for translating major portions of the Bible. Since it was used by the church as well, this tract will be of interest to biblical scholars as well.

Among the many issues that plague Christian sensibilities, perhaps none is as stressful as the virgin birth. Since the advent of higher criticism the concept itself the concept had grown increasing untenable to the point that an anonymous cleric decided to take action in this booklet. Scientific study of the Bible had revealed that what had appeared to have been predictions were often mistranslations, and many were shaken by such revelations. Succinct and irenic, this treatment will be appreciated by Christians who are still concerned over the implications that serious biblical study raises.

From one of Irelands most respected singers comes her story of a lifetimes joys and pains, the shaping of her relationship with God and the most personal thing to her: her voice. Woven into this narrative are beautiful, moving insights on living the spiritual life. In 2003, Nóir? ¡n completed a ground-breaking doctorate on a theology of listening for which she coined the word Theosony , from the Greek Theos (God) and the Latin sonas (sounding). Following the completion of this study, Nóir?¡n found that the story behind it was one that needed to be told and shared. This book is an attempt to answer the questions of what the history behind the text was and how she came to this awareness of Theosony, the Sound of God? Thus this book becomes a wedding of the I and the ear. Listen with the Ear of the Heart promises new perspectives on hearing and listening, as well as letting the reader into the personal and aural life of a beloved Irish singer.

This volume collects Mar Jacob of Sarug's (d. 521) sermons on the nativity. Always one of the highlights of the liturgical year, Jacob welcomes the Christmas season with gorgeous poetry that touches on all parts of God’s plan and the miracle of his Son being born among us. The volume constitutes a fascicle of The Metrical Homilies of Mar Jacob of Sarug, which, when complete, will contain the original Syriac text of Jacob's surviving sermons, fully vocalized, alongside an annotated English translation.

Syriac is particularly rich in poetry on Mary. Not only is some of this of great tenderness and beauty, but much is also highly imaginative. The present selection of translations includes lyric poems (several by St Ephrem), five lively dialogues, and a longer narrative poem on Mary and Joseph.

In the present article, Sebastian Euringer presents a German translation of three Ethiopic poetic texts, which he supplements with a bibliography, an introduction, and extensive critical notes including commentary.

Anton Baumstark discusses the various, complex problems inherent in any attempt to determine the influences from other translation traditions on the form of the Christian-Palestinian text of the Pentateuch.

Georg Graf publishes here an edited Arabic text and German translation of a “Treatise on the Eucharist” attributed to Abu l-Hasan al-Muhtar ibn Butlan. Graf supplements the text with an introduction and brief notes.

Anton Baumstark compares the text of a Gospel citation found in a Coptic Manichaean Kephalaia with other versions of the text in order to demonstrate that it was influenced by the Diatessaron tradition.

The caves that make up the coenobitic Monastery of St. Euthymios include several interesting and well-preserved wall paintings. In the present article, Andreas Mader presents a thorough description of these caves and paintings and includes several photographs for reference.

In the present article, Anton Baumstark describes the decorative illustrations found in an Arabic gospel text of the fourteenth century and concludes that they represent antique artistic features that were preserved only in the Oriental manuscript tradition.

In the twelfth and early thirteenth centuries, The Song of Songs was a favorite book of Cistercian monks. Bernard of Clairvaux, Gilbert of Hoyland, and John of Ford, as well as William of Saint Thierry, read it as a dialogue between Christ the Bridegroom and the human soul, the Bride. William of Saint Thierry began composing his commentary soon after entering the Cistercian abbey of Signy in 1135. Having left behind a busy life as a Benedictine abbot and author of theological treatises, he turned to writing meditations on Scripture as the means of listening to the voice of the Beloved.

Approximately eighty-five million meetings occur every day. It is clear from this figure that meetings are highly important - they shape our world. The Spirit works in every group, and Christian participants at meetings we must go beyond passivity and place ourselves at the service of the Spirit. In meetings, we can act as the Spirit's voice, becoming a still point, a prayerful and reflective presence. This book can be used to help promote and support a group environment of respect, listening and inner freedom.

Perhaps Bernard's most delightful tract, On Loving God posits that everything good in human persons is an expression of God's love and by love the person may participate in the being of the triune God. In a new analytic commentary, Stiegman examines Bernard's language, logic, and theology, demonstrating the vital importance of reading medieval authors on their own terms, without superimposing categories developed by later generations.