The first part of the present book casts a new light on the Genesis vs. science issue, the second part points out that salvation history is repeating itself through cycles of four typical phases and, based on this, the third part shows that Marian apparitions are predicted by Scriptures.

The Reformation transformed Europe, and left an indelible mark on the modern world. It began as an argument about what Christians needed to do to be saved, but rapidly engulfed society in a series of fundamental changes. This Very Short Introduction provides a lively and up-to-date guide to the process. It explains doctrinal debates in a clear and non-technical way, but is equally concerned to demonstrate the effects the Reformation had on politics, society, art, and minorities. Peter Marshall argues that the Reformation was not a solely European phenomenon, but that varieties of faith exported from Europe transformed Christianity into a truly world religion. The complex legacy of the Reformation is also assessed; its religious fervour produced remarkable stories of sanctity and heroism, and some extraordinary artistic achievements, but violence, holy war, and martyrdom were equally its products. A paradox of the Reformation - that it intensified intolerance while establishing pluralism - is one we still wrestle with today. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

John Bergsma’s popular Bible Basics for Catholics, which has sold more than 60,000 copies, offers readers an accessible vision of salvation history as it unfolds in the Bible, showing readers how the Bible points us to the saving life and work of Jesus. This new edition includes an additional chapter on covenant fulfillment in the Book of Revelation. Bergsma brings to his theology a combination of academic expertise, pastoral wisdom, and unique playfulness. Bible Basics for Catholics is based on Bergsma’s popular Introduction to Theology course at Steubenville. As a teacher, Bergsma has an uncanny ability to make complex ideas understandable and faith-inspiring while staying true to both Catholic teaching and biblical scholarship. Readers will begin to see the Christian understanding of salvation by walking through the Old Testament, going through the great stories of Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Moses, the great kings and prophets of Israel, and culminating in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

The term 'salvation history' is here used in a non-technical manner. It simply means, 'History from beginning to end. Events chronicled as they happened, all being understood, in the ultimate, to refer to God's purpose of salvation for man and His universe.' In other words, anyone reading the Scriptures from beginning to end - especially if he were to read them many times, and with increasing knowledge - would understand that history, as the Bible tells it, is simply the acts of God, and these are all with a view to fulfilling God's purposes of salvation. Much of history, of course, does not seem immediately or directly related to salvation. That is only because we take a specialised or particularistic view of salvation. As we shall see, God's intention, before the foundation of the world, was that it should climax just as He wished, and so nothing happens in a careless, loose or haphazard fashion, although, of course it often appears to be this way. The term 'Salvation History' is used by some scholars in a technical manner. They mean by this term either, (a) The history of salvation takes place in a supra-historical sphere, which cannot be researched after a secular manner. (In fact, it is accessible only to faith. It is the opposite to objective historicity.) Or, (b) God's salvation is connected with real historical events which have been witnessed, and which can be interpreted, once given the key that history relates to revelation and salvation. Faith is still needed to understand and interpret the events which stretch from before creation to the ultimate new creation, when history as we know it will have been sealed off. That history has a beginning and an end, is of course indicated Biblically, but is only acceptable to faith.