Personal narratives are powerful instruments for teaching, both for conveying information and for forming character. The martyrdom accounts preserved in the literature of early Christianity are especially intense and dramatic. However, these narratives are not readily available and are often written in intimidating prose, making them largely inaccessible for the average reader. This introductory work brings together key early Christian martyrdom stories in a single volume, offering new translations and expert commentary. An introduction and explanatory notes accompany each translation. The book not only provides a vivid window into the world of early Christianity but also offers spiritual encouragement and inspiration for Christian life today.
Studying the views and lifestyles of your forerunners in the faith can provide incredible guidance for how you live out your spiritual convictions today. In Wisdom from the Ancients, author and scholar Bryan Litfin paints a vivid portrait of the first five centuries of the Christian church, packed with fascinating history and applicable insights for modern believers.
As you encounter the wisdom of early Christians, you'll be challenged to revisit the building blocks of your faith in light of ancient beliefs and spiritual practices. This book will help you reframe common evangelical ideas, including questions Christians face today like
- when it makes sense to read the Bible literally and when God's truth shines through symbolism
- how the beliefs and practices of early believers should inform your worship
- whether the church should cooperate with political power or resist it
Wisdom from the Ancients reveals life-changing lessons from the early church that you can take to heart today. When you set aside your modern perspectives and approach ancient truths with an open mind, the beliefs of the early Christians will illuminate your faith in a brand-new way.
The year is AD 316. Imperial persecution has officially ended. For the first time in history, the Roman emperor supports the church. But the fledgling faith's future still hangs in the balance. Flavia, a Roman senator's daughter, is sent from her convent by Bishop Sylvester to seek Emperor Constantine's permission to determine the canon of scripture and build great churches where pagan temples once stood. But God's enemies are on the move, and the path to the bishop's goals is fraught with peril. Flavia's beloved protector, Germanic barbarian Brandulf Rex, has fought his way out of exile. He and Flavia will cross the empire by land and sea on this epic quest to free the Roman people from the tyranny of the ancient gods. Will the early Christians receive the Word of God? Will beautiful churches rise in Rome where pagan temples once stood? Or will the world's greatest empire keep refusing to bow the knee to its true and rightful Lord?
In books 1 and 2 of the Chiveis Trilogy, The Sword and The Gift, Teo and Ana find the Old and New Testaments, which had been lost for centuries. Their discoveries lead to new friendships and renewed faith within a small band of men and women working to spread the knowledge of the one true God. But now an ancient pact has united enemies of the Christian faith. Through the discovery of a powerful military technology, this dark alliance now threatens to consume the known world. Teo and Ana learn of the nefarious plot, and against overwhelming odds race to stay one step ahead of their enemies, traversing stormy seas, dangerous cities, and smoldering volcanoes. As armies begin to mass for a final battle, the odds seem to favor the forces of evil, and Teo and Ana will have to fight for faith when all hope has been lost. In the final book of the Chiveis Trilogy, Litfin takes readers on a journey filled with peril, faraway lands, and adventure. Men and women alike will enjoy the fast-paced narrative, imaginative plot, and vivid descriptions of this master storyteller.
This second book in the Chiveis Trilogy continues the search for the New Testament in a world where the Bible has been lost. The Chiveis Trilogy takes readers hundreds of years into the future. War and disease have destroyed civilization as we know it. Much technology has been discarded and history is largely forgotten. Slowly, the few survivors have begun to build new communities, and kingdoms now prosper in a kind of feudal order. But the Word of God has been lost for centuries. After the finding of an Old Testament in book one of the trilogy, The Gift picks up the story of Teo and Ana. Exiled from their homeland and trying to survive in unknown and dangerous lands, they search for any record of the missing Testament. Their journeys lead them into the region we know as Italy. An elite society welcomes Ana, who finds she must choose between her new life and her dream of returning to Chiveis. Will Teo and Ana's relationship withstand the circumstances and new enemies pulling them apart? And can Teo keep ahead of a powerful and mysterious force opposing his search for the New Testament? Litfin's imagination and fast-paced narrative style will capture the hearts and minds of all fiction readers.
This novel of page-turning action and adventure poses the question, "If a society had no knowledge of Christianity, and then a Bible were discovered, what would happen?" Four hundred years after a deadly virus and nuclear war destroyed the modern world, a new and noble civilization emerges. In this kingdom, called Chiveis, snow-capped mountains provide protection, and fields and livestock provide food. The people live medieval-style lives, with almost no knowledge of the "ancient" world. Safe in their natural stronghold, the Chiveisi have everything they need, even their own religion. Christianity has been forgotten--until a young army scout comes across a strange book. With that discovery, this work of speculative fiction takes readers on a journey that encompasses adventure, romance, and the revelation of the one true God. Through compelling narrative and powerful character development, The Sword speaks to God's goodness, his refusal to tolerate sin, man's need to bow before him, and the eternality and power of his Word. Fantasy and adventure readers will be hooked by this first book in a forthcoming trilogy.
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