Liturgy and Sacrament Mystagogy and Martyrdom: Essays in Theological Exegesis

For far too long the Bible has been studied as just one among many historical and cultural documents from ancient history. That it is a foundational text for Western civilization is clear. What is too often forgotten or ignored in academic discussions however is that the Bible has also inspired the lives of countless saints throughout history; men and women who sought to love God and love neighbor to the point of offering heroic sacrifices sometimes giving up their very lives. Much of biblical scholarship over the past two centuries however has reduced the Bible to a dead historical document with little-to-no relevance for today beyond intellectual curiosity. This in part lies at the root of the tragic separation of theology from biblical studies. That theology and biblical exegesis are at an impasse has become a commonplace in academic discourse. Liturgy and Sacrament Mystagogy and Martyrdom is an attempt to bridge the gap between theology and exegesis. It seeks to develop a theological interpretation of Scripture relying upon the best of traditional Christian exegesis and modern biblical scholarship so that the Bible can serve once again as the wellspring of Christian life.