Books published by Athanasius Press

Peter Leithart shows in Theopolitan Reading that the whole Bible grows from seeds planted in the early chapters of Genesis. The events of Scripture take place in the three-story world created in Genesis 1. Adam is in the background of all the men of the Bible, and Eve in the background of all the women. The Scriptures are a story of Eden lost, regained, and glorified into a heavenly city.All the themes of Genesis come to their climax in Jesus, the Last Adam who delivers His new Eve, the church, so that together they can transform the wild waste of the world into an image of the new Jerusalem.Theopolitan Reading doesn''t lay out detailed rules for reading. Rules are of limited use. To be good readers, we need mentors who model good reading. Leithart serves as a mentor and invites readers to imitate him as he imitates Christ Jesus.The Theopolis Fundamentals Series introduces the Biblical Horizons / Theopolis outlook and agenda to a new generation. The early volumes of the series summarize our convictions about biblical interpretation, liturgical theology and practice, and the church''s cultural and political mission. The Fundamentals will be followed by a collection of Theopolis Explorations volumes that will examine Scripture, liturgy, and culture in more depth and detail.

In this study, James Jordan argues why the Persian kings named Darius, Ahasuerus, and Artaxerxes in the books of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther are one and the same. This is not a new understanding. Many recent commentators are so certain that Ahasuerus is the king the Greeks called Xerxes and that Artaxerxes is Artaxerxes Longimanus. James Jordan, however, demonstrates that the common identifications of these kings is problematic and that understanding their common identity sheds considerable light on our understanding of redemptive history.Excerpt from Darius, Artaxerxes, and Ahasuerus in the Bible:“If my thesis is correct, then several things emerge. First, it becomes clear that there was no ‘decree to rebuild Jerusalem’ issued by Artaxerxes Longimanus, because that later Artaxerxes is not the Artaxerxes (Darius) of Nehemiah. Thus, the ‘word’ spoken of in Daniel 9:25 must be the decree of Cyrus. Second, it becomes clear that, just as Cyrus was a new David, so Darius is a new Solomon. It is Darius who builds the Temple, Darius-Artaxerxes who builds Jerusalem, and Darius-Ahasuerus who marries a Jewish bride and protects the Jewish people, which creates a broad analogy between the books of Esther and Song of Solomon. Third, assuming for a moment that Chronicles-Ezra-Nehemiah were designed as one book with one story, then the plan of that large book becomes clear: the progression from David to Solomon to his wayward successors is rehearsed as a typological foundation for the new historical progression from Cyrus to Darius to their wayward successors in both empire and land.”

In the second volume of his commentary on the gospel of Matthew, Peter Leithart presents a close study of Matthew 13 through 28, underscoring Jesus' formation of a counter-kingdom that also retells the story of Israel. Jesus is the true Israel who takes on the roles of various Old Testament leaders: Moses the law-giver, Joshua the conqueror, Solomon the philosopher-king, Elisha the wonder-working prophet leading a company of prophets, as well as Jeremiah and Ezekiel warning of the temple's imminent destruction. Jesus' interactions with the leaders of Israel recapitulate Yahweh's tortured interactions with Israel in the Old Testament. In spite of Israel's repeated rejections, Yahweh never gave up on His beloved. His love is stronger than death, and He returns as the world-emperor to send His new Israel to disciple the nations.

With references to Old Testament gleaning laws and to the concept of the kinsman-redeemer, the small book of Ruth contains numerous hints critical to understanding how Yahweh brings rest to the women in the story and ultimately to His bride, the Church, through Jesus Christ, the Greater Boaz and kinsman-redeemer. In this commentary, Pastors Uri Brito and Rich Lusk tease out the nuances of Old and New Testament typology and show how the book of Ruth fits in Yahweh's redemption of His people, the land and the world. Whether discussing levirate law or the place of grace and good works in relation to Yahweh's covenant faithfulness, this commentary is sure to bring renewed interest in the study of Ruth for pastors and parishioners alike.

The real heart of catechesis is to form in our children a covenantal identity, a sense of belonging to God and to the church. Our children need to be taught who they are in Christ so they can live faithfully in the church, family, and world. We must train our children in such a way that their whole lives will be a grand Amen to their baptisms.This handy little book is a great resource for the home, Sunday School, or Christian School.Topics Included in the catechism:The Triune GodCreationProvidenceCreation of ManMan’s Fall into SinThe Old CovenantThe New CovenantThe GospelEschatologyThe ChurchRevelationLiturgySacramentsAssurance