{"product_id":"engaging-the-doctrine-of-the-church-hardcover","title":"Engaging the Doctrine of the Church - Hardcover","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reportcopyrightinfringement.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReport copyright infringement\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eMatthew Levering\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eEngaging the Doctrine of the Church\u003c\/i\u003e is the seventh volume in Matthew Levering's acclaimed \"Engaging the Doctrine\" series. While Levering has examined the marks of the Church as \"one\" and \"holy\" elsewhere, this volume on the Church's nature and mission focuses on several biblical images--Bride, Family, Body, People, and Mother-- alongside an ecumenically engaged and Tradition-rich inquiry into the marks \"catholic\" and \"apostolic.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLevering begins with the Church as Bride, emphasizing the unfathomably intimate union between God and his people in Christ, joined to the ongoing need for repentance and purification. The image of the Church as God's Family leads him to a rich engagement with African theology regarding how to balance the pressing need for social and political development with the fact that the Church's primary end is the eschatological kingdom rather than an improved earthly politics.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor Levering, the Cross stands at the center of ecclesiology, as he emphasizes especially in discussing Christ's Body. Given the cruciform character of Christian discipleship, Levering calls attention to the ever-present threat of Constantinianism, which turns the Church into an instrument of power rather than of radical love. He examines the Church as Mother in light of the need for Christian receptivity, and he explores how the People of God can today be distorted through an \"inverse hierarchology\" that concentrates on power. The beauty of the Church is found in the radiation of the glory of the Spirit's love in Christ Jesus. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMatthew Levering holds the James N. Jr. and Mary D. Perry Chair of Theology at Mundelein Seminary, where he serves as the Director of the Center for Scriptural Exegesis, Philosophy, and Doctrine. He is the author of numerous books, most recently \u003ci\u003eEngaging the Doctrine of Jesus (and Mary)\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eReconfiguring Thomistic Christology\u003c\/i\u003e. With Word on Fire Academic, he has published \u003ci\u003eThe Theology of Robert Barron\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eNewman on Doctrinal Corruption\u003c\/i\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 494\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e November 06, 2025\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51966857707821,"sku":"9781685782221","price":35.19,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0938\/3185\/6429\/files\/rBQO-HyCdx9781685782221.webp?v=1775539383","url":"https:\/\/ishookbooks.com\/products\/engaging-the-doctrine-of-the-church-hardcover","provider":"iShook Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}