Sin, Death, and the Devil - Paperback

by Carl E. Braaten (Editor), Robert W. Jenson (Editor)

Sin, death, and the devil, called the "unholy trinity" by Martin Luther, are the classic biblical tyrants, portrayed in Scripture as the enemies of God and the oppressors of humanity. This engaging book, which takes its cue from John Paul II's description of Western society as a "culture of death," unveils the many faces of sin, death, and the devil manifest in today's world. Eight recognized Christian thinkers show that while the forms taken by these diabolical forces may have changed under the conditions of modern life, the underlying realities remain the same. Thus politics can become demonic, power can promote death, and sin can be disguised as virtue. Far from being pessimistic, however, the authors affirm God's victory over these enslaving powers through the proclamation of the gospel and the sacraments of the church.

Contributors:
Gary A. Anderson
Carl E. Braaten
Vigen Guroian
Stanley Hauerwas
Robert W. Jenson
Gilbert Meilaender
Richard John Neuhaus
A. N. Williams

Author Biography

Carl E. Braaten (1929-2023) was an American Lutheran theologian. He earned his doctoral degree from Harvard Divinity School, where he studied under Paul Tillich. He served as professor of systematic theology at the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago for nearly thirty years. In addition to teaching, Braaten cofounded and edited the journal Dialog, cofounded the journal Pro Ecclesia, and cofounded the Center for Catholic and Evangelical Theology. His many publications include Principles of Lutheran Theology; Mother Church: Ecclesiology and Ecumenism; Sin, Death, and the Devil; and The Strange New Word of the Gospel.

Robert W. Jenson (1930-2017) was a leading Lutheran and ecumenical theologian. He served as codirector of the Institute for Theological Inquiry and was cofounder and longtime associate director of the Center for Catholic and Evangelical Theology. Among his many significant books are A Religion against Itself, The Triune Identity, and the two-volume Systematic Theology.