The Bible was written within collectivist cultures, and it's easy for Westerners to misinterpret—or miss—important elements. Combining the expertise of a biblical scholar and a missionary practitioner, this essential guidebook explores the deep social structures of the ancient Mediterranean, stripping away individualist assumptions and helping us read the Bible better.

When Paul wrote that we are justified by faith apart from "works of the law" what did he mean? Matthew J. Thomas examines how Paul's second-century readers understood the conflicting interpretations, how their readings relate to "old" and "new" perspectives, and what their collective witness suggests about the apostle's own meaning.

Christians throughout the history of the church and even today have inherited aspects of the ancient Greek philosophy of Plato. To help us understand the influence of Platonic thought on the Christian faith, Louis Markos offers careful readings of some of Plato's best-known texts and then traces the ways that his work shaped some of Christianity's most beloved theologians.

In this RCS companion volume, Karin Maag takes readers inside the worshiping life of the church during the Reformation. Exploring several aspects of the church's worship, she considers what it was like to attend church, reforms in preaching, the function of prayer, how Christians experienced the sacraments, and the roles of both visual art and music in worship.

The success and survival of American democracy have never been guaranteed. Arguing that we must take an unflinching look at the nature of democracy—and therefore, ourselves—historian Robert Tracy McKenzie explores the ideas of human nature in the history of American democratic thought, from the nation's Founders through the Jacksonian Era and Alexis de Tocqueville.

The Book of Common Prayer (1662) is one of the most beloved liturgical texts in the Christian church. But the classic text presents several difficulties for contemporary users, especially those outside the Church of England. This new international edition gently updates the text for contemporary use, with obscure phrases revised and treasured prayers from later Anglican tradition appended.

When the Reformers turned to John's Gospel, they found a multitude of theological treasures: affirmation of the full divinity of Christ; insights into the relationships among the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; and guidance for the church in their time. In this RCS volume, Christopher Boyd Brown guides readers through early modern commentary on chapters 13–21 of the Gospel of John.

In this historical novel, David deSilva paints a vivid portrait of Ephesus and brings to life the compelling struggles faced by early Christians. Supplemented by historical images and explanatory sidebars, this imaginative novel digs into the early Christians' conflict with the religious cults of the day as well as the Roman empire.