Books in the New Century Edition series

The four main short works in this volume by Swedish theologian Emanuel Swedenborg (1688-1772) form the basic foundation of his thought. They have commonly been published together in other editions under the collective title "The Four Doctrines." The Lord discusses the nature of the man known as Jesus Christ, his divine nature, and the meaning of his crucifixion. Sacred Scripture is about the Word, by which Swedenborg means the parts of the Bible that he feels reflect a deep spiritual teaching. Life discusses how we ought to live a religious life. Faith talks about faith as an acknowledgment of inner truth and the necessity of expressing such faith through good actions rather than simply holding beliefs. In addition to these short works, the volume includes a fifth work, which consists of two supplements to previous works by Swedenborg: a brief addition to Last Judgment and a longer addition to Heaven and Hell.

These four short works by Swedish scientist and spiritual teacher Emanuel Swedenborg (1688-1772) cover different areas of his early theology. New Jerusalem is a summation of the ideas laid out in Swedenborg's first major theological work, Secrets of Heaven, making it an excellent reference for those who want an overview of the work; Last Judgment presents the startling claim that the Last Judgment has already happened in the spiritual world and that it heralded the dawn of a new spiritual age for humanity; White Horse is a commentary on Chapter 19 of the book of Revelation, focusing on the symbolism of the white horse described in that chapter; and Other Planets describes Swedenborg's encounters with spirits from other inhabited worlds.

Throughout his writings, the eighteenth-century scientist-turned-seer Emanuel Swedenborg uses the term "Lord" to mean Jesus Christ as the embodiment of God. In this short work, he emphasizes that the trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are not three coexisting divine Persons but are three aspects within one divine Person--Jesus in his resurrection. The Lord also touches on key themes in Swedenborg's theology--why the Lord came to earth, the meaning of his human death and resurrection, and how the Old Testament foretold his coming--with extensive biblical references to support his arguments. He concludes by describing the New Jerusalem as both the city foretold in Revelation and the new spiritual age now unfolding. This new translation of The Lord (traditionally titled The Doctrine of the Lord), as part of the New Century Edition of the Works of Emanuel Swedenborg, incorporates the latest scholarship and translation standards for a more accurate and accessible rendering of Swedenborg's work.