The Transfigured Kingdom


Book Description

In this richly comparative analysis of late Muscovite and early Imperial court culture, Ernest A. Zitser provides a corrective to the secular bias of the scholarly literature about the reforms of Peter the Great. Zitser demonstrates that the tsar's supposedly "secularizing" reforms rested on a fundamentally religious conception of his personal political mission. In particular, Zitser shows that the carnivalesque (and often obscene) activities of the so-called Most Comical All-Drunken Council served as a type of Baroque political sacrament—a monarchical rite of power that elevated the tsar's person above normal men, guaranteed his prerogative over church affairs, and bound the participants into a community of believers in his God-given authority ("charisma"). The author suggests that by implicating Peter's "royal priesthood" in taboo-breaking, libertine ceremonies, the organizers of such "sacred parodies" inducted select members of the Russian political elite into a new system of distinctions between nobility and baseness, sacrality and profanity, tradition and modernity. Tracing the ways in which the tsar and his courtiers appropriated aspects of Muscovite and European traditions to suit their needs and aspirations, The Transfigured Kingdom offers one of the first discussions of the gendered nature of political power at the court of Russia's self-proclaimed "Father of the Fatherland" and reveals the role of symbolism, myth, and ritual in shaping political order in early modern Europe.




Patristic Perspectives on Luke’s Transfiguration


Book Description

Peter Anthony explores how visionary elements in Luke's Gospel had a particular influence on early interpretation of the Transfiguration, by examining the rich hermeneutical traditions that emerged - particularly in the Latin West - as the Transfiguration was first depicted visually in art. Anthony begins by comparing the visual and visionary culture of antiquity with that of the present, and their differing interpretations of the Transfiguration. He then examines the Transfiguration texts in the synoptic gospels and their interpretation in modern scholarship, and the reception of the Transfiguration in 2 Peter, the Apocalypse of Peter and the Acts of Peter, Tertullian and Origen. Proceeding to look at interpretations found in the Greek East and the Latin West, Anthony finally discusses the earliest visual depictions of the Transfiguration from the sixth century onward, drawn from a wealth of different art forms. Anthony concludes that early commentators' and artists' understanding of how we see and visualise, and therefore, how the Transfiguration was apprehended, is closer to that of the writers of the New Testament than many modern interpreters' is.




Seven Ways of Looking at the Transfiguration


Book Description

Jesus metamorphosed. Celebrities from the past. Petrified disciples. Luminous cloud. An event as important as Christmas or Easter! Are you a preacher wondering what you can possibly say new and interesting on Transfiguration this year—to say nothing of all the Transfigurations that lie ahead of you? Are you an everyday believer curious to learn more about this holiday celebrated ievery year, yet somehow overlooked and ignored? Are you hooked on weird theological terms, intrigued by the fact that “transfiguration” is Latin for the Greek “metamorphosis” (as in butterflies and Kafka), and love to explore every wild and woolly corner of the Bible? Are you tired of Peter always getting bashed for his offer to build booths? If you answered yes to any or all of these questions, then Seven Ways of Looking at the Transfiguration needs to be at the top of your reading list! The seven ways: 1. Metamorphosis : Jesus 2. Eschaton : Elijah 3. Exodus : Moses 4. Tabernacles : Israel 5. Eyewitnesses : Peter, James, and John 6. Cloud : God the Father 7. Parousia : My Son, My Beloved Questions about the Transfiguration answered in the book: + What can it possibly mean for the eternal Lord to be transfigured, metamorphosed—changed? + Why does Luke delete the word “transfigured” from his version of the, um, well, Transfiguration? + Why does only Jesus’ clothing change in Mark’s Gospel, but his face, too, in Matthew and Luke? + Why was it Moses and Elijah, out of all possible Old Testament figures, who met with Jesus on the mountaintop? (Not because they represent “the law and the prophets”!) + Which mountain was it, anyway? + Why were Peter, James, and John the only disciples invited to see the Transfiguration? + Why was it so offensive for Peter to offer to build three booths for the three famous men? (Not because he was a babbling idiot!) + Why does God speak to Jesus at his Baptism and his Transfiguration, but not at his Resurrection? + Why doesn’t the Gospel of John have a Transfiguration story? (Or does it?) + Why doesn’t St. Paul talk about the Transfiguration? (Or does he?) + Why does Second Peter, of all oddball little epistles, talk about the Transfiguration? + Will we be transfigured someday, too? + What essential thing does the Transfiguration tell us about Jesus that his Resurrection does not?




The Ministry, Vol. 11, No. 01


Book Description

This issue of The Ministry contains a complete record of the twelve messages given during the 2006 winter training on the Crystallization-study of Mark, held December 25-30 in Anaheim, California. The crucial truth and the burden embodied in these twelve messages may be summarized in four statements: (1) When we live in the mingled spirit, we are learning Christ according to the reality in Jesus by the Spirit of reality so that His biography becomes our history to be the reality of the Body of Christ. (2) The kingdom of God is the Lord Jesus sown as a seed into the believers and developing into a realm over which God can rule in the divine life. (3) Christ's person with His all-inclusive death and His wonderful resurrection is our all-inclusive replacement for the producing of the one new man, so we must "hear Him" and see "Jesus only." (4) Let us go forth and preach Christ to all the creation, proclaiming the gospel, presenting the truth, and ministering life for the growth, development, and manifestation of the kingdom of God. These messages are being published immediately following the training in order that they may benefit the saints participating in the many video trainings that are held throughout the earth. The Announcements section includes a presentation of the present burden in the recovery concerning the Lord's move to Europe and the latest fellowship regarding the plan to build a ministry conference center in Anaheim, California. In the Announcements section we also include the 2007 calendar, giving the dates and locations of the seven Living Stream Ministry conferences and trainings--the seven annual feasts. One cannot measure the benefits derived from the Lord's rich speaking in His ministry and the mutual blending and building up of the saints and the churches in the Lord's recovery from every continent during these feasts.




The Holy Word for Morning Revival - Experiencing, Enjoying, and Expressing Christ (1), Vol. 1


Book Description

This book is intended as an aid to believers in developing a daily time of morning revival with the Lord in His word. At the same time, it provides a limited review of the semiannual training held July 1-6, 2024, in Anaheim, California, on “Experiencing, Enjoying, and Expressing Christ (1).” Through intimate contact with the Lord in His word, the believers can be constituted with life and truth and thereby equipped to prophesy in the meetings of the church unto the building up of the Body of Christ.




The Ministry of the Word, Vol. 28, No. 07: Experiencing, Enjoying, and Expressing Christ (1)


Book Description

This issue of The Ministry of the Word contains a complete record of the twelve messages given during the July 2024 semiannual training, held in Anaheim, California. The subject of the training was “Experiencing, Enjoying, and Expressing Christ (1),” indicating that this subject will likely be continued in one or more future trainings. The Key Statements on the following page embody and summarize the crucial truths and main burdens covered in these twelve messages.




The Holy Word for Morning Revival - Crystallization-study of 1 and 2 Kings, Vol. 01


Book Description

This book is intended as an aid to believers in developing a daily time of morning revival with the Lord in His word. At the same time, it provides a limited review of the semiannual training held July 4-9, 2022, in Anaheim, California, on the “Crystallization-study of 1 and 2 Kings.” Through intimate contact with the Lord in His word, the believers can be constituted with life and truth and thereby equipped to prophesy in the meetings of the church unto the building up of the Body of Christ.




The Expositor's Bible Commentary


Book Description

This is a revision of the Gold Medallion Award-winning commentary series. It is up to date in its discussion of theological and critical issues and thoroughly evangelical in its viewpoint.




Luke---Acts


Book Description

Continuing a Gold Medallion Award-winning legacy, the completely revised Expositor's Bible Commentary puts world-class biblical scholarship in your hands. A staple for students, teachers, and pastors worldwide, The Expositor's Bible Commentary (EBC) offers comprehensive yet succinct commentary from scholars committed to the authority of the Holy Scriptures. The EBC uses the New International Version of the Bible, but the contributors work from the original Hebrew and Greek languages and refer to other translations when useful. Each section of the commentary includes: An introduction: background information, a short bibliography, and an outline An overview of Scripture to illuminate the big picture The complete NIV text Extensive commentary Notes on textual questions, key words, and concepts Reflections to give expanded thoughts on important issues The series features 56 contributors, who: Believe in the divine inspiration, complete trustworthiness, and full authority of the Bible Have demonstrated proficiency in the biblical book that is their specialty Are committed to the church and the pastoral dimension of biblical interpretation Represent geographical and denominational diversity Use a balanced and respectful approach toward marked differences of opinion Write from an evangelical viewpoint For insightful exposition, thoughtful discussion, and ease of use—look no further than The Expositor's Bible Commentary.




The Collected Works of Witness Lee, Letters and Gleanings, Volume 3


Book Description

The Collected Works of Witness Lee, Letters and Gleanings, volume 3, contains messages given by Brother Witness Lee from 1972 through 1996. The contents of this volume are divided into twenty-four sections, as follows: 1. Six messages given in various locations in 1972. These messages are included in this volume under the title Miscellaneous Gleanings, 1972. 2. Seven messages given in Toronto, Canada, on June 16 through 21, 1972. These messages are included in this volume under the title The Kingdom as the Growth of Christ within Us for the Building Up of the Church. 3. A message given in San Jose, California, on an unknown date. This message is included in this volume under the title Christ--God, the Redeemer, the Life-giving Spirit, and the Body of Christ. 4. Three messages given in Taipei, Taiwan, between January 24 and February 18, 1972. These messages are included in this volume under the title Growth in Life in the Book of Ephesians. The three messages were combined into one chapter. 5. Six messages given in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on November 30 through December 3, 1972. These messages are included in this volume under the title Enjoying the Riches of Christ to Produce the Fullness of Christ. 6. A message given in the Magnolia House in Los Angeles, California, in August 1973. This message is included in this volume under the title Fellowship with Saints Migrating to New York City. 7. A message given in an unknown location in 1973. This message is included in this volume under the title The Indwelling Christ. 8. A message given in an unknown location in 1974. This message is included in this volume under the title Our Commission from the Lord. 9. Three messages given in an unknown location in 1974. These messages are included in this volume under the title Building the Church as the House of God with the Seven Spirits. 10. Six messages given in Taiwan in 1975. These messages are included in this volume under the title Miscellaneous Gleanings, 1975. 11. Two messages given in Anaheim, California, on June 27 and 28, 1978. These messages are included in this volume under the title Additional Messages for The Testimony and Way of Life in the Lord's Recovery. The four messages under the title The Testimony and Way of Life in the Lord's Recovery are included in The Collected Works of Witness Lee, 1978, volume 2. 12. Two messages given in San Jose and San Francisco, California, respectively, on January 12, 1979. These messages are included in this volume under the title Messages Given in San Jose and San Francisco. 13. A message given in Anaheim, California, on February 8, 1979. This message is included in this volume under the title Fellowship concerning Training and the Two Aspects of Spiritual Experience. 14. Two messages given in San Francisco, California, on February 17, 1980. These messages are included in this volume under the title Gleanings on Galatians. 15. Three messages given in Berkeley, California, on July 18 and 19, 1981. These messages are included in this volume under the title Christ as Revealed in 1 Corinthians. 16. A message given in Irving, Texas, on December 6, 1983. This message is included in this volume under the title Our Consideration, Attitude, and Ways to Contact Christians. 17. A message given in Anaheim, California, on May 19, 1984. This message is included in this volume under the title A Married Life in Spirit. 18. A series of fellowships given in Anaheim, California, from November 1991 through July 1993 to the co-workers serving in Russia. This series is included in this volume under the title Practical Fellowship concerning the Lord's Move in Russia. 19. A fellowship given by telephone in Anaheim, California, to a group of responsible brothers in Toledo, Ohio, on January 19, 1992. This fellowship is included in this volume under the title Seeing the Body of Christ, Caring for the Oneness of the Body, and Carrying Out the God-ordained Way. 20. Two messages given in Anaheim, California, on March 16 and 17, 1993. These messages are included in this volume under the title Building Up the Vital Groups to Gain the Increase. 21. A message given in Anaheim, California, in 1996. This message is included in this volume under the title Crystals in the Book of Romans and Christ's Threefold Ministry. 22. A message given in Anaheim, California, on July 11, 1996. This message is included in this volume under the title Entering into a New Age to Work Together with the Lord. 23. Five messages given in various unspecified locations and on unknown dates. These messages are included in this volume under the title Miscellaneous Gleanings, Unknown Dates. 24. Two messages given in unspecified locations and on unknown dates. These messages are included in this volume under the title Questions and Answers concerning the Ground of the Church. 25. Two messages given in an unspecified location and on unknown dates. These messages are included in this volume under the title A Brief History of the Lord's Recovery in China and the United States.