Defenders of the Faith: Standing for truth when attacks come

by Matthew Knell

Overview

The church has been under attack from its inception, but certain struggles seemed to threaten its very existence. In this inspiring book, Dr Matthew Knell celebrates some of these key figures who have kept the church alive in the midst of great adversity, exploring three major periods of persecution from the early church to the present day. This fascinating journey begins with Irenaeus of Lyon, who battled courageously against the theological threat of Gnosticism, followed by Basil of Caesarea, who defended the church from attacks on its spirituality. The book concludes with the modern Chinese church, many members of which have been attacked and even martyred for their faith. Using the examples of these defenders and many others, Dr Knell inspires readers to stand firm in the face of adversity as the global church continues to experience persecution.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780857219091
Publisher:	Monarch Books
Publication date:	03/23/2018
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	160
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

Dr Matthew Knell is the lecturer in historical theology and church history at the London School of Theology, writing and teaching on the history of Christian thought from the Church Fathers to the modern day with a special focus on the medieval period. Prior to this he was a missionary for six years in Belarus and Austria, and also worked as an intercultural consultant.

Table of Contents

CONTENTS
Acknowledgments 8
Introduction 10
Chapter 1
Defence against Cultural Attack:
Irenaeus of Lyon 16
Chapter 2
Defence against Theological Attack:
Basil of Caesarea 46
Chapter 3a
Defence against Political Attack:
The Church in China 77
Chapter 3b
The Church in China:
Considerations from Within the Context 99
Conclusion 122
Epilogue 132
Further Reading 156
Picture Acknowledgments 158

Editorial Reviews

An inspiring exploration of key historical and contemporary figures who have defended the Christian faith.

The church has been under attack from its inception, but certain struggles seemed to threaten its very existence. In this inspiring book, Dr Matthew Knell celebrates some of these key figures who have kept the church alive in the midst of great adversity, exploring three major periods of persecution from the early church to the present day. This fascinating journey begins with Irenaeus of Lyon, who battled courageously against the theological threat of Gnosticism, followed by Basil of Caesarea, who defended the church from attacks on its spirituality. The book concludes with the modern Chinese church, many members of which have been attacked and even martyred for their faith. Using the examples of these defenders and many others, Dr Knell inspires readers to stand firm in the face of adversity as the global church continues to experience persecution.

From the Publisher