Benjamin B. Warfield

This classic answers the question, "What does the Bible teach concerning the person of Christ and his work as Redeemer?"

Notable in the Presbyterian tradition, Benjamin B. Warfield's sermons on the history and significance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour are as lively, informed and embracing today as ever. Delivered in the closing years of the 19th century, these lectures are unflinching in their accuracy and frankness: not a man to mince words or bluster, Warfield tells us who Jesus was and what He meant for the faithful of the world. The undoubted accomplishments of Christ, and his sacrifice for the sake of mankind, are detailed with the authoritative quotation of scripture. Warfield was a conservative even in his time: revivalism, which the author felt to be a distraction from the core teachings of Christ, has no presence in this work. For readers seeking a classic perspective on the life of Christ, this book is one which confronts the topics at hand with boldness. For years, Warfield ran the Princeton Theological Seminary, an institution which to this day is influential in educating those who will become Presbyterian ministers. The preacher's forthright tone of captivation is prevalent throughout, supported by scriptural citations and the emphatic manner in which Warfield - a famously assertive scholar - delivers truths about Jesus.

St. Augustine's role in the Pelagian controversy, wherein a popular theologian issued beliefs contrary to those of the Catholic order, is explained here. Pelagius was a popular figure in Rome and wider Christendom; thought to have hailed from the British Isles, his multilingualism, learned stature and obvious ascetic leanings made him a well-recognized and appreciated Christian. Years of preaching in Rome in the 4th and 5th centuries affected Pelagius' views; in particular, he felt that those who pled their very humanity was the reason for their sins and wrongdoing were abominable. In his writings, little of which survive to the modern day, Pelagius offers an alternative theology based on readings of the New Testament. The Augustinian notion of original sin - that sin is inherited to all humanity since the fall of Adam and Eve - is rejected by Pelagius, who felt that individual humans have the capacity to shape their own spiritual destiny through both piety and moral living. Augustine issued a spirited defence of his own beliefs - indeed, his writings are the primary source on the character and actions of Pelagius. This reaction is chronicled in Benjamin Warfield's essays, with other sources on the controversy also consulted to inform the reader.