Rod Bennett Books

The theory goes like this: Just a few centuries after Christ's death, around the time the Roman Empire converted to Christianity, the true Faith suffered a catastrophic falling-away, so obscured by worldliness and pagan idolatry, kicking off the Dark Ages of Catholicism, that Christianity required a complete reboot. This theory is popular]] but it's also fiction. This idea of a "Great Apostasy" is one of the cornerstones of American Protestantism, along with Mormonism, the Jehovah's Witnesses, and even Islam. Countless millions today profess a faith built on the assumption that the early Church quickly became broken beyond repair, and needed restoration to the "pure" teaching of Jesus and the apostles. Amid imperial intrigue, military menace, and bitter theological debate, a hero arises in the form of a homely little monk named Athanasius, who stands against the world to prove that there could never be a Great Apostasybecause Jesus promised his Church would never be broken With the touch of a master storyteller, Rod Bennett narrates the drama of the early Church's fight to preserve Christian orthodoxy, while powerful forces try to smash it.

Exploring the early Church, this book reveals insights from four ancient Christian writers: Clement of Rome, Ignatius of Antioch, Justin Martyr, and Irenaeus of Lyons. Their extensive documentation offers a reliable glimpse into early Christianity, challenging common misconceptions. Presented with the engaging narrative style of a novel, the text invites modern believers on a journey to uncover profound truths through the lives and teachings of these influential saints.

The theory goes like this: Just a few centuries after Christ's death, around the time the Roman Empire converted to Christianity, the true Faith suffered a catastrophic falling-away, so obscured by worldliness and pagan idolatry, kicking off the Dark Ages of Catholicism, that Christianity required a complete reboot. This theory is popular]] but it's also fiction. This idea of a "Great Apostasy" is one of the cornerstones of American Protestantism, along with Mormonism, the Jehovah's Witnesses, and even Islam. Countless millions today profess a faith built on the assumption that the early Church quickly became broken beyond repair, and needed restoration to the "pure" teaching of Jesus and the apostles. Amid imperial intrigue, military menace, and bitter theological debate, a hero arises in the form of a homely little monk named Athanasius, who stands against the world to prove that there could never be a Great Apostasybecause Jesus promised his Church would never be broken With the touch of a master storyteller, Rod Bennett narrates the drama of the early Church's fight to preserve Christian orthodoxy, while powerful forces try to smash it.

The apostles weren’t random, interchangeable parts―mere pawns that Jesus exploited to accomplish his mission. No, these men were the mission. In this riveting re-examination of familiar Gospel events from the ground-floor perspective of Christ’s hand-picked heirs, author Rod Bennett takes you on a journey through the eyes of the apostles. Re-discover the true meaning of apostleship established by Jesus over 2000 years ago, and why it’s an essential mark of the one Church that Jesus founded to make the whole world his Chosen People.

Kniha amerického autora Roda Bennetta přibližuje příběh čtyř apoštolských Otců a vypráví o jejich životních osudech, přičemž je bohatě citována z jejich děl. Autor popisuje, jak při návštěvě místního křesťanského knihkupectví objevil reprint svazků z 19. století s titulem Přednicejští Otcové. Po nahlédnutí do těchto knih, které obsahovaly texty staré více než 1800 let, se ponořil do četby. Objevil čtyři významné postavy: Klementa Římského, jehož List Korinťanům byl napsán v době blízké Janovu evangeliu, Ignáce z Antiochie, raného pastýře církve, Justina Mučedníka, který popisuje rozšíření Církve v roce 150, a Irenea z Lyonu, vzpomínajícího na studium teologie u Polykarpa. Autor se věnoval intenzivnímu studiu a téměř celý rok četl pouze Bibli a díla těchto Otců. Postupně si uvědomoval, že se nejedná jen o studium, ale o hlubokou duchovní proměnu. Vnímal se jako archeolog objevující dávné poklady, přičemž se mu zdálo, že se mu zjevil král Šalamoun, plný života a moudrosti, připravený sdílet své poznání s každým, kdo má uši k slyšení.