A theory of divine ideas was the standard Scholastic response to the question how does God know and produce the world? A theory was deemed to be successful only if it simultaneously upheld that God has perfect knowledge and that he is supremely simple and one. In articulating a theory of divine ideas, Carl Vater answers two sorts of questions. First, what is an idea? Does God have ideas? Are there many divine ideas? What sort of existence does an idea enjoy? Second, he answers questions about the scope of divine ideas: does God have ideas of individuals, species, genera, accidents, matter, evil, etc.? How many divine ideas are there? These questions cause the Scholastic authors to articulate clearly, among other things, their positions on the nature of knowledge, relation, exemplar causality, participation, infinity, and possibility. An author's theory of divine ideas, then, is the locus for him to test the coherence of his metaphysical, epistemological, and logical principles. Many of the debates over divine ideas have their roots in disagreements over whether a given theory adequately articulates one of the underlying positions or the overall coherence of those positions. Peter John Olivi, for example, argues that his predecessors' theories of knowledge and theories of relations are at odds, and this critique results in a major shift in theories of divine ideas. God's Knowledge of the World examines theories of divine ideas from approximately 1250?1325 AD (St. Bonaventure through Ockham). It will be the only work dedicated to categorizing and comparing the major theories of divine ideas in the Scholastic period.

A History of Western Philosophy and Theology is the fruit of John Frame's forty-five years of teaching philosophical subjects. No other survey of the history of Western thought offers the same invigorating blend of expositional clarity, critical insight, and biblical wisdom. The supplemental study questions, bibliographies, links to audio lectures, quotes from influential thinkers, twenty appendices, and indexed glossary make this an excellent main textbook choice for seminary- and college-level courses and for personal study. Book jacket.

Preliminary material /R. VAN DEN BROEK , T. BAARDA and J. MANSFELD -- IDENTIFICATION ANO SELF-IDENTIFICATION OF GODS IN CLASSICAL ANO HELLENISTIC TIMES /GERARD MUSSIES -- THE UNKNOWN GOD (ACTS 17:23) /PIETER WILLEM VAN DER HORST -- ZUR THEOLOGIE DES XENOKRATES /MATTHIAS BALTES -- NAMING AND KNOWING: THEMES IN PHILONIC THEOLOGY WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE DE MUTATIONE NOMINUM /DAVID T. RUNIA -- COMPATIBLE ALTERNATIVES: MIDDLE PLATONIST THEOLOGY AND THE XENOPHANES RECEPTION /JAAP MANSFELD -- LA CONNAISSANCE DE DIEU ET LA HIÉRARCHIE DIVINE CHEZ ALBINOS /PIERLUIGI DONINI -- THE WAY OF THE MOST HIGH AND THE INJUSTICE OF GOD IN 4 EZRA /MICHAEL EDWARD STONE -- MAN'S BEHA VIOUR AND GOD'S JUSTICE IN EARLY JEWISH TRADITION. SOME OBSERVATIONS /P.W. VAN BOXEL -- GÉNÉRATIONS ANTÉDILUVIENNES ET CHUTE DES ÉONS DANS L'HERMÉTISME ET DANS LA GNOSE /JEAN-PIERRE MAHÉ -- 'IF YOU DO NOT SABBATIZE ...': THE SABBATH THE SABBATH AS GOD OR WORLD IN GNOSTIC UNDERSTANDING (EV. THOM., LOG. 27) /T. BAARDA -- EUGNOSTUS AND ARISTIDES ON THE INEFFABLE GOD /ROELOF VAN DEN BROEK -- THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD IN ORIGEN /JOHN M. DILLON -- KNOWLEDGE OF GOD IN EUSEBIUS AND ATHANASIUS /CHRISTOPHER STEAD -- LES DIEUX ET LE DIVIN DANS LES MYSTÈRES DE MITHRA /ROBERT TURCAN -- LA CONCEPTION DE DIEU DANS LE MANICHÉISME /M. TARDlEU -- INDEX /R. VAN DEN BROEK , T. BAARDA and J. MANSFELD.

Is belief in God epistemically justified? That's the question at the heart of this volume in the Great Debates in Philosophy series, with Alvin Plantinga and Michael Tooley each addressing this fundamental question with distinctive arguments from opposing perspectives. The first half of the book contains each philosopher's explanation of his particular view; the second half allows them to directly respond to each other's arguments, in a lively and engaging conversation Offers the reader a one of a kind, interactive discussion Forms part of the acclaimed Great Debates in Philosophy series

God has provided a way for all people, not just scholars, to know that the Bible is the Word of God. John Piper has devoted his life to showing us that the glory of God is object of the soul’s happiness. Now, his burden in this book is to demonstrate that this same glory is the ground of the mind’s certainty. God’s peculiar glory shines through his Word. The Spirit of God enlightens the eyes of our hearts. And in one self-authenticating sight, our minds are sure and our hearts are satisfied. Justified certainty and solid joy meet in the peculiar glory of God.

Epic: The Story that Changed the World is a graphic novel style Bible storybook featuring 40 stories and life-application questions that are perfect for engaging older kids and preteen readers.

When He came to earth, Jesus Christ was rejected in every quarter in which He stepped. The Creator was rejected by His own creation. “He came to His own and His own received Him not,” said John. For this reason, Jesus Christ had “no where to lay His head.” There was one exception, however. A little village just outside of Jerusalem named Bethany. Bethany was the only place on earth where Jesus was completely received. God’s Favorite Place on Earth is a retelling of Jesus’ many visits to Bethany and a relaying of the message it holds for us today. Frank Viola presents a beautifully crafted narrative from the viewpoint of Lazarus, one of the people who lived in Bethany with his two sisters. This incomparable story not only brings the Gospel narratives to life, but it addresses the struggle against doubt, discouragement, fear, guilt, rejection, and spiritual apathy that challenges countless Christians today. In profoundly moving prose, God’s Favorite Place on Earth will captivate your heart with its beauty, charm, and depth. In this book you will discover how to live as a “Bethany” in our world today, being set free to love and follow Jesus like never before.