The Justification Reader (Classic Christian Readers)

The Justification Reader sets out the classic Christian teaching of "salvation by grace through faith." Distinguished theologian Thomas C. Oden, well known for retrieving the riches of church tradition, here gathers together the early Christian sources on the theme of justification.

Ranging broadly through Christian history and across all branches of the church, Oden cites the writings of such major figures as Athanasius, Basil, Gregory Nazianzus, and John Chrysostom in the East and Ambrose, Jerome, Augustine, and Gregory the Great in the West. Although Oden presents all the relevant historical texts on justification, the book also includes his own insightful explication of the doctrine. His work shows that what these church fathers teach on justification was restated almost verbatim by the sixteenth-century Reformers and can still be confessed in good conscience by Christians from every communion. Thus this volume both provides a compendium of a central belief of the faith and demonstrates its ecumenical potential.

The first volume in a new series, this book will be an important sourcebook for readers from every tradition.

"The Justification Reader sets out the classic Christian teachingof "salvation by grace through faith." Distinguished theologianThomas C. Oden, well known for retrieving the riches of churchtradition, here gathers together the early Christian sources on thetheme of justification.

Ranging broadly through Christian history and across allbranches of the church, Oden cites the writings of such majorfigures as Athanasius, Basil, Gregory Nazianzus, and John Chrysostomin the East and Ambrose, Jerome, Augustine, and Gregory theGreat in the West. Although Oden presents all the relevant historicaltexts on justification, the book also includes his own insightfulexplication of the doctrine. His work shows that what these churchfathers teach on justification was restated almost verbatim by thesixteenth-century Reformers and can still be confessed in goodconscience by Christians from every communion. Thus this volumeboth provides a compendium of a central belief of the faith anddemonstrates its ecumenical potential.

The first volume in a new series, this book will be an importantsourcebook for readers from every tradition.