By Faith Alone: The Medieval Church and Martin Luther

by Lev Shestov, Kevin Hart (Editor), Stephen P. Van Trees (Translator), Jeffrey Bloechl (Editor)

Overview

Lev Shestov's By Faith Alone confronts Eastern and Western European conceptions of faith through Russian literature, ancient and medieval philosophy, and Christian theology. Written from 1910-1914, this first English-language translation brings together important early writings on the medieval church and Martin Luther.

Shestov reconciles the Greek notion of rational truth with Biblical revelation by drawing on a wide range of ancient, medieval, philosophical and theological sources from Plato to Hegel, Tertullian to Saint Augustine , and Saint Bernard of Clairvaux to William of Ockam. He argues that rational truth has skewed Christian belief by determining knowledge and truth in ways that prize the mind over the world. This approach marks a turning point in the evolution of Shestov's existential thought. It establishes a basic division that became central to Shestov's later work, between Athens as reason and Jerusalem as faith. By Faith Alone provides a crucial piece of the puzzle in the genesis of Shestov's later and better-known writings on medieval philosophy.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781350362314
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	10/05/2023
Series:	Explorations in Philosophy and Theology
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.56(d)

About the Author

Kevin Hart is Edwin B. Kyle Professor of Christian Studies at the Department of Religious Studies, University of Virginia, USA. He also holds professorships in the Department of English and the Department of French. He has written a number of scholarly books, edited collections, and written several volumes of poetry.

Jeffrey Bloechl is Associate Professor of Philosophy at Boston College, USA.

Table of Contents

Translator's Introduction: By Faith Alone (Sola Fide)
YMCA Editor's Introduction
Part I. Greek and Medieval Philosophy
Part II. Luther and the Church
Notes
Bibliography
Index

Editorial Reviews

This important book by Lev Shestov (1866–1938) is now available in English translation. Coming from the East of Europe Lev Shestov engages with Western theology and especially with Martin Luther and develops a constructive approach to Western Christianity and Western culture. The book is a must to read for all who are interested in intellectual encounters of Eastern and Western European Christianity.” —Hans-Peter Grosshans, Professor for Systematic and Ecumenical Theology, University of Muenster, Germany

“Van Trees has produced a fine translation of SOLA FIDE, one of Shestov's most important works. This work adds to our understanding of the genesis of the religious ideas of this major philosopher.” —Boris Jakim, Distinguished translator of major 19th- and 20th-century Russian religious thought

From the Publisher