Gateway Books

Early Theologians & Biblical Theology:
Eastern Churches describe the fourth evangelist as John the Theologian, his gospel was the base of Alexandrine incarnational and sotereological theology.
Many contemporary theologians regard Tertullian as the first Western Christian to write theology, defending Christians against the hostility of the Roman State, as well as arguing against Marcion, Praxeas and theosophical fantasy. Meanwhile, the first great systematic theologian, is reckoned by most as Origen of Alexandria, who invented the word theologia, even if he constructs on the foundations of Clement, in late second century Alexandria, who wrote a substantial trilogy of which Paedagogus an ethical guide, and Stromateis which he wrote to provide biblical themes in the language of Greek philosophers, paved the way of his grand scheme. (p. 166)

Introducing Theology:
Charles Lowry novel account of New Testament theological trilogy, needed his enlightening exposition, an acclimatizing introduction in the first three chapters. He starts by outlining the historical, cultural, and faith issues that forced the church of 'a dying and rising God who had actually lived among men,' out of the synagogue whose TaNaKh was 'often more a problem than an asset,' to the Graeco-Gentiles that then dominated the new Testament faithful.

Early Theological Resources:
Here, as eight years later, in his synonym book (Eerdmans, 94) was Princeton President Gillespie influenced by Harnack's 'Didache,' Lowry expresses his fear of being influenced by the same great dogmatic. He postulates three fundamental theological questions that faced second century Church, ought to be answered;
What was the faith of the Church? What was the character of the good News of the Gospel of Christ? What was the nature and extent of Christian salvation?
The author succinct answer was put under two heads; the church had the Christology of the NT, and the theology of OT.

New Testament Theology:
Dr. Lowry starts his case in a historical account of the NT books in chapter 4. He starts with the earliest letters of Paul, discusses the synoptic Gospels, and culminates with John's. His compelling theological creativity comes when he proves how original was letter 'To the Hebrews', and how the brilliant was its theology of the redeeming priesthood of Christ Jesus. For the Alexandrines, this epistle was second only to the gospel of John. Adopting Luther's preferred writer fits very tightly Apollos records in the Acts and Paul's letters.

Three NT Theologians:
The inspiring theologos represents his case of the early three Theologians, in his presumed order, since he made the case that John wrote the ultimate inspired theological book of the New testament, which Origen calls 'The eternal gospel,' in his commentary on john.
Paul, The Rabbi
Apollos The (Alexandrian Neo-) Platonist
John The Incarnationist
He concludes his theological essay with the Paschal mystery, as he names it;
The Crucified God

Conclusion:
"I believe we can say objectively that john is at the apex of the New Testament and of early Christianity. He is the end of the line, the omega of this book. but he is not the alpha, either chronologically or theologically. On this I am compelled to differ with Bishop Robinson." Charles W. Lowry

I didn't think I would like this book at first, but once it moved into the alternate world I was drawn into the story. When I got to the end I wanted to read more. There's an opening for a sequel there, if there's one working gateway, there are others, here and there. So who picks up the quest? I'd like to know. I'd also like to see the next tale have more sex -- not porn, no nothing like that but there was all kinds of opportunities and most of them were left unexplored! I would suggest this book to my friends who like fantasy fiction and medieval yarns.

Daniel Quinn mentions this book in his "Providence." Speaking about his life as a Trappist in KY he says, "Merton lent me a copy of Max Picard's The World of Silence, a wonderful book, a whole book on silence, and nothing I could say in praise of silence could begin to equal it."

This book is the best one of 'em all...

The book includes a good selection of Italian songs. The accompanying CD's are a great help in practicing the pieces.

I have family connections to early Red River County and I did my graduate history thesis many years ago on the demographic development of the county, so I always pay attention when a new book is published on the subject. The author is a Claiborne by birth, a descendant of one of the early settler families, and she has apparently never strayed far from her roots. Her style is clear, though not scholarly, and she's careful to footnote all statements and conclusions, so you can easily trace her sources. While I didn't find much here I wasn't already aware of, it's nice to have so much information all in one place, especially since she quotes and extracts many unpublished sources at length. A very useful volume.

The late Ms Schein's book, though repetitive more often than it should be, is an admirable synopsis of the fluctuating imagery of Jerusalem in the Latin West's collective zeitgeist. From being an irrelevant distraction to the true Heavenly Jerusalem to come prior to the Crusader triumph of 1099 to a glorified repository of Christ's footsteps and life afterwards, the author describes how political forces shaped the perception of the city. Interestingly, monks showed hostility to the idea of the tonsured finding redemption in Jerusalem, while looking askance or with indifference to the layman's quest for absolution in their pilgrimage to the Holy Land. After Saladin's re-conquest in 1187, an event that traumatized the West, the earthly city gradually receded in escatological and soteriological importance, with its heavenly successor once again assuming the dominant role in European salvation culture. The story of the Crusader focus on the Temple Mount and the redemption of the Jews upon Christ's Second Coming makes interesting reading in light of the Christian fundamentalist movement in Israel today. This is a must read for anyone interested in medieval theology, the Crusading movement or the Holy Land.

Fargo came into the national consciousness a few years back when the Coen brothers' Fargo film became a popular classic. Carroll Engelhardt's Gateway to the Northern Plains, providing a history of Fargo ND, and its sister city, Moorhead MN, will not breach the national consciousness. But the book does offer what deserves to be regarded as a classic history of an urban area's formative years. Engelhardt's work is a labor of love but a pleasant read. The author does a superb job of telling the complex story of the rise of sister cities on the northern Plains, made possible by the arrival of the railways and realized by a 'cast' of intriguing people. Englehardt's story telling is supported by a fine selection of photos, by extensive notes (in the back of the book), and an extensive index. The book is arguably a classic of its kind even if it'll never hit the national consciousness.

Through the collaboration of two authors, Paul N. Fulks and Dr. Williard F. Daniels, Jr., these men have put together a most comprehensiive history of the beginning of Westmoreland, a community on the western side of Huntington, West Virginia. Growing westward from the City of Huntington, West Virginia, this community, through some trying times, which included two devestating floods and being located in another county from the city government made it difficult to advance too rapidedly. But through the leadership of James Hughes, Sam Vinson and Mary Vinson Clark the community 'grabbed the bull' by the horns and proceeded to forge a viable assest to the city of Huntington as a whole. If you like local history this is a must read and "look." 508 Pages and 300 plus pictures.

This book examines the haunted history of the Muskingum Valley in east central ohio. There are many good ghost stories and unearthly tales in this this volume. From the haunted "S" bridge to the most haunted house in Muskingum County, Prospect Place. Gary Felumlee guides you through the mystical world of an area of Ohio that has some of the most ghastly ghost tales of all. Gary is a local historian and sits on the board of many local non-profit organizations. A good read and well worth the time.