Books in the Oxford Theological Monographs series

The past 20 years have seen a revival of interest in the epistemic status of religious belief, largely led by Basil Mitchell and Richard Swinburne. This book is a comparison of the styles of these two philosophers, and the ways in which they attempt to justify religious belief.

The Hidden God The Hiding of the Face of God in the Old Testament

An analysis of the most important features of Robert Spaemann's philosophy. Holger Zaborowski demonstrates the importance of Spaemann's contribution to a number of contemporary debates in philosophy and theology and explains the unity of his thought.

Rory Fox challenges the traditional understanding that Thomas Aquinas believed that God exists totally outside of time. His study investigates the work of several mid-thirteenth-century writers, and thus provides access to a wealth of material on medieval concepts of time and eternity.

Discrediting 'mystical' or 'psychical' interpretations of out-of-body and near-death experiences, Michael Marsh demonstrates how these phenomena are explicable in terms of brain neurophysiology and its neuropathological disturbances, and discusses the theological and philosophical implications of his hypotheses.

A close biblical study that re-examines the Hebrew text of the Song of Songs and considers its mystical meaning. Kingsmill seeks to demonstrate that a careful network of intertextual allusions has been deliberately used by the writer of the Song to refer metaphorically to the love of God for his people.

Verbal aspect is a significant element in the study of a number of New Testament texts. This book offers an up-to-date analysis of aspect and how it functions in New Testament Greek.

Sharon Moughtin-Mumby explores metaphor as a tool of persuasion in the prophetic books of the Hebrew Bible. She emphasises the importance of context and challenges previous scholarship which has read such language in terms of the concept of 'the marriage metaphor' and the hypothetical background of cultic prostitution.

Isaiah is a composite book whose formation took place over a long period of time, incorporating the work of many different hands. Jacob Stromberg provides new analysis to show how the author of its last eleven chapters read and edited the earlier material, projecting the old work into a post-exile context.

Gregory Graybill charts the progression of Phillipp Melanchthon's position on free will and divine predestination as he shifts from agreement to an important innovation upon Martin Luther's thought and demonstrates how he came to believe that the human will does play a key role in the origins of a saving faith in Jesus Christ.

The Macarian writings are one of the principal fountainheads of the Christian ascetic and mystical tradition. This book re-evaluates many of the factors which have hindered a due appreciation of the nature of their theological and spiritual legacy.

The first, modern scholarly edition, complete with translation, introduction, and commentary, of the poetic writings of Gregory of Nazianzus, one of the great fathers of the early Christian Church. The poems are important both for the insights they give on Gregory's theology and for their close link to classical literature and philosophy.

This unique study of the Church of England between the 1660s and 1720s addresses the neglected research area of the Reformed school of thought and its powerful influence on the later eighteenth century church and evangelical revival. Hampton also explores consequences for understanding Anglican identity today.

A new and ground-breaking study of the nature and origins of the earliest material in the book of Proverbs in the Bible, drawing on evidence from Israel and neighbouring countries. The conclusions have important implications for the future study of this material, and for our understanding of ancient Israel's society and history.

Human actions can be identified by species, such as murder, theft, or almsgiving. But how does one determine to which kind an action belongs? Joseph Pilsner explores Thomas Aquinas's answer to this philosophical question.

A study of the dynasty of Jehu within the narrative of 2 Kings, together with the broader context of the dynasties of Israel and Judah in the books of Kings and Samuel. David T. Lamb discusses religious aspects of kingship (such as anointing, divine election, and prayer) in both the Old Testament and in the literature of the ancient Near East.

A new analysis of the theological concept of divine mediation, which was central to the Arian controversy of the early fourth century. Jon M. Robertson illustrates the variety of perspectives within the debate, as well as showing the theological backdrop of Athanasius' insight on Christ as mediator.

A historical and theological re-evaluation of the polemical writings of Athanasius of Alexandria (bishop 328-73), who would become known to later Christian generations as a saint and a champion of orthodoxy, and as the defender of the original Nicene Creed of 325 against the `Arian heresy'.

Richard Hooker (1554-1600) is one of the greatest theologians of the Church of England. In the light of fierce recent debate, this book argues vigorously against the new orthodoxy that Hooker was a Reformed or Calvinist theologian. In so doing it considers such central religious questions as human freedom, original sin, whether people can deserve salvation, and the nature of religious authority.

Christian Moral Realism offers an exciting contemporary vision of Christian ethics. This book draws leading Christian ethicists into conversation to produce an ethic in which Christian narratives and moral deliberation help people to find what it means to flourish as a fully human person in community with others and with God.

This is the first study of an important group in early Methodism. It was quite separate from Wesley's followers, with its own preachers, chapels, training college, and statement of belief. The book shows how the Connexion operated at the grass roots - including how congregations formed, how chapels came to be built, and how the Connexion related to other religious groups.

An inquiry into the intellectual origins of the Reformed branch of Protestantism in the OXFORD THEORETICAL MONOGRAPHS series. The text focuses on Vermigli's soteriological doctrine of double predestination, illustrating an important aspect of continuity between late medieval and reformation thought.

Investigates the direction of religious epistemology under a chief architect of the Calvinistic tradition (1519-1605). The author contends that Theodore Beza defended and consolidated his tradition by balancing the subjective and objective aspects of faith and knowledge. He aims to clarify the thought of an often misunderstood individual.

Who was Saint Hippolytus? The answer has eluded historians for centuries. This is the first in-depth analysis of the 'Hippolytus question' in English for over a hundred years. It suggests that this writer, so influential on Western liturgical practice in the twentieth century, is best viewed as a writer of the East.

The period of the Babylonian captivity (c.587-539 BCE) was of seminal importance for the formation of the Hebrew Bible as well as for the religious development of Judaism. Jill Middlemas examines the theological thought of the community that remained behind in Judah after the Babylonian army destroyed the Jerusalem Temple and deported the king and most of the leadership.

Christian interpretations of the "Song of Songs" have long depended upon the allegorical reading developed by Origen of Alexandria (c185-c254). This study aims to show that Origen's Commentary and two Homilies on the "Song of Songs" portray the "Song of Songs" as the biblical book that reveals the 'spirit' of Scripture with greater intensity.

Green offers a historical study of the development of the thought of Leo the Great, showing the influence of Augustine and his own role in the promotion of the papacy in Rome and in the wider world. Includes a fresh reading of Leo's Tome and discussion of his participation in the great theological controversies of the age.

This study examines, within a chronological framework, the major themes and personalities which influenced the outbreak of a number of Evangelical clerical and lay secessions from the Church of England and Ireland during the first half of the 19th century.

A helpful guide to the writings of perhaps the greatest Catholic theologian of the twentieth century. Healy shows how for Balthasar the ultimate form of 'the end' is given in Christ's eucharistic and pneumatic gift of himself - a gift that simultaneously lays bare the mystery of God's trinitarian life and enables Christ to return to the Father in communion with the whole of creation.

In seventeenth-century England the poet George Herbert became known as `Divine Herbert', his poetry a model for those aspiring to the status of inspired Christian poet. This book explores the relationship between the poetry of George Herbert and the concept of divine inspiration rooted in devotional texts of the time.