Honest Faith for Our Time: Truth-telling about the Bible, the Creed, and the Church

by Jay Harold Ellens, John (Jack) R. Miles (Afterword), James M. Robinson (Afterword), F. Morgan Roberts (Afterword)

Overview

This volume is a biblical theological critique of the Apostles' Creed and a development of the role of the Holy Spirit in the church, the world, and the personal experience of Christian faith. It addresses the creed as a historic document, an artifact of early Christian theological development, and a long-standing guide for the form and content of that faith tradition. This book is an appreciation of the Apostles' Creed in terms of its persistent pastoral effect in the church. It is also a criticism of aspects of the creed that are unbiblical and crafted for political or extraneous theological reasons by the bishops of the ancient ecumenical councils.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781498272865
Publisher:	Pickwick Publications
Publication date:	09/13/2010
Series:	20100913
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	194
File size:	1 MB

About the Author

J. Harold Ellens is a retired university professor, Presbyterian theologian, and pastor. He has served as a United States Army chaplain (colonel) and has worked as a clinical psychotherapist. He is the Executive Director Emeritus of the Christian Association for Psychological Studies, and the Founding Editor and Editor-in-Chief emeritus of the Journal of Psychology and Christianity. His numerous books include Miracles (2008) and The Healing Power of Spirituality (2010). For more information, you may visit Dr. Ellens' website at www.JHaroldEllens.com.
J. Harold Ellens is a retired professor of philosophy and psychology, who spent the last decade and a half as Research Scholar at the University of Michigan. He is the author of Probing the Frontiers of Biblical Studies and Honest Faith in Our Time (both with Pickwick Publications). For more information, you may visit Dr. Ellens' website at www.JHaroldEllens.com.
James M. Robinson is Professor of Religion Emeritus at Claremont Graduate University. Among his many publications are Language, History, and Hermeneutic; The Gospel of Jesus; The Secrets of Judas; and The Sayings Gospel Q: Collected Essays. He is also the general editor of The Nag Hammadi Library in English and The Coptic Gnostic Library.
F. Morgan Roberts is Pastor Emeritus of the Shadyside Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh. A widely known preacher and pastor, he has served churches in Alabama, Kentucky, Michigan, New York, and Ohio. He is the author of several publications, including Are There Horses in Heaven?

Table of Contents

The Apostles' Creed ix

Preface xi

Part 1 The Creed and the Church

1 I Believe in God 3

2 Jesus Christ, Our Lord 9

3 Conceived of the Spirit, Born of a Virgin 16

4 Suffered, Died, Buried 22

5 He Descended into Hell 26

6 He Rose from the Dead 31

7 Ascended and Enthroned Judge 37

8 Holy Spirit: Universal Church, Saintly Communion, Fellowship of Forgiveness 44

9 Resurrection of the Body 51

10 Life Everlasting 56

Part 2 How the Divine Spirit Really Works in Our Daily Lives

11 Honest to God 63

12 Why I Believe in God 70

13 The Backside of God 76

Part 3 How the Divine Spirit Really Works in the Church

14 Healthy Faith Needs Good Theology 89

15 Wellbeing: God's Grace and Human Health 95

16 Responsible Religion, Honest Theology, Good Grace 105

17 The Chemistry of Forgiveness 115

Part 4 Summary and Conclusion

18 A Godly Way of Life 125

Part 5 Three Responses

19 Bible before Creed or Creed before Bible Jack Miles 137

20 From the Apostles' Creed to Jesus' Own Trust in God James M. Robinson 143

21 A Pastor's Response F. Morgan Roberts 154

About the Author and Respondents 171

Suggestions for Further Reading 174

Bibliography 177

Index 179