In this small gem of theological reflection, North America's foremost "theologian of the cross" offers a profound and compelling contemplation on the relevance of the church's most fundamental confession. Hall ponders what confessing Jesus as crucified means in today's context, one that is postmodern, pluralistic, multicultural, and in some respects post-Christian. A digest of his monumental trilogy, this book lays out in brief compass the heart of Hall's theology of the cross, contrasting it sharply with the theology of established Christianity, showing how it reframes classical Christology and soteriology, and drawing the implications for what it means to be human, for Christian ethics, and for the church.

In the last few years, 9/11, a tsunami, Hurricane Katrina, and many other tragedies have shown us that the vision of God in today's churches in relation to evil and suffering is often frivolous. Against the overwhelming weight and seriousness of the Bible, many Christians are choosing to become more shallow, more entertainment-oriented, and therefore irrelevant in the face of massive suffering. In Suffering and the Sovereignty of God, contributors John Piper, Joni Eareckson Tada, Steve Saint, Carl Ellis, David Powlison, Dustin Shramek, and Mark Talbot explore the many categories of God's sovereignty as evidenced in his Word. They urge readers to look to Christ, even in suffering, to find the greatest confidence, deepest comfort, and sweetest fellowship they have ever known.

A systematic presentation of the gospel, similar to a biblical theology, but arranged thematically to communicate the timeline of redemptive history. Beginning in Genesis and concluding in Revelation, it outlines the worldview of Jewish apocalypticism and holistically integrates a theology of the cross and martyrdom.

What is the connection between Christian doctrine and concrete social action? This question marks the often unarticulated divide between systematic theology and liberation theology, each often emphasizing one primarily or formally over the other. Examining the work of Karl Barth, T. F. Torrance, and Jon Sobrino, here Nathan Hieb contests this bifurcation, specifically around the nodal points of the crucifixion, or the doctrine of atonement, and the context of suffering. This book is an innovative study that bridges the boundaries of method, doctrine, and praxis, creating a strong theological and action-oriented relationship between systematic and liberation theology.

Through the passion of Christ, a psychologist and theologian struggles to understand and respond to the ongoing practice of torture.

What is the connection between Christian doctrine and concrete social action? This question marks the often unarticulated divide between systematic theology and liberation theology, each often emphasizing one primarily or formally over the other. Examining the work of Karl Barth, T. F. Torrance, and Jon Sobrino, here Nathan Hieb contests this bifurcation, specifically around the nodal points of the crucifixion, or the doctrine of atonement, and the context of suffering. This book is an innovative study that bridges the boundaries of method, doctrine, and praxis, creating a strong theological and action-oriented relationship between systematic and liberation theology.

What is the meaning of the cross today for the suffering millions - victims of hunger, war, and racism - and for Christians who seek to understand their faith? For the last four years, members of the Institute for Ecumenical Research in Strasbourg have explored the theology of the cross, working with theologians from various countries and confessional backgrounds. Their study was ecumenical and included traditional Western interpretations as well as those from so-called third world countries and traditionally underrepresented groups. In The Scandal of a Crucified World editor Yacob Tesfai (Eritrea) first provides an overview of how theology comes to terms with the cross of Jesus throughout the world. Jean-Marc Ela (Cameroon) reflects on Christ's life and passion, while Simon Maimela outlines Martin Luther's theology of the cross and its relevance for present-day struggles in South Africa. James H. Cone reflects passionately on the suffering that characterizes African-American life in the United States. From Asia, Andreas A. Yewangoe (Indonesia) provides an overview on attitudes toward suffering in the variety of Asian religions. C. S. Song (Taiwan) reviews the role of the cross in the history of Christian missions, struggling with the image of the cross as means of conquest. From Latin America, Walter Altmann (Brazil) highlights the images of Jesus Christ that accompanied the domination of indigenous peoples. Winston D. Persaud (Guyana) explores the place of the cross in the lives of individual Christians as well as in the life of the church. From Europe Elisabeth Moltmann-Wendel (Germany) lifts up feminist images of the cross as solidarity in suffering and as struggle againststructural sin. Theo Sundermeier (Germany) uses Martin Luther's theology of the cross to explore non-Western thought on the meaning of the cross.