Patrick J. Hartin – författare

Within each of the four gospels there is a foundational spirit, a spirituality of the gospels. That is to say, each gospel contains rich images and values central to the Vision of the person of Jesus' and to the path toward spiritual transformation in his image. In this volume Patrick Hartin first looks at each gospel and asks such questions as Who is Jesus? and What transformation does this encounter with Jesus invite? Hartin then follows with examples of people who have appropriated the transformative power of these particular spiritualties from Saint Antony and Dorothy Day to Saint Augustine and Archbishop Romero. Hartin's twofold approach gives us a deeper appreciation for the spiritual dimension of the gospels and helps us to be transformed in Christ by their message and Vision.

Who would not relish the opportunity to read two-thousand-year-old letters? These four of the seven catholic letters" are addressed not to any specific church, as are Paul's epistles, but to the church in general. Giving us valuable insights into early Christianity, they insist on the need to join good works with faith, present Jesus' sufferings as the model for enduring persecution and warn against intruders intent on undermining traditional faith and morals. 

Far from being mere exercises in nostalgia for the "good ol' days," the letters offer principles that have not lost their value for the Church of the third millennium.

Patrick Hartin's clarity and conciseness update the Church's earliest struggles to remain faithful to the spirit of Jesus Christ. These are letters for us today, too.

Fr. Patrick J. Hartin, PhD, is professor of New Testament at Gonzaga University, Spokane, Washington, and the author of the Sacra Pagina commentary on James and A Spirituality of Perfection: Faith in Action in the Letter of James, published by Liturgical Press.

Within each of the four gospels there is a foundational spirit, a rich spirituality based on each gospel’s unique understanding of Jesus and what it means to be his disciple. In this study, Fr. Patrick Hartin looks at each gospel and asks such questions as Who is Jesus? and What transformation does this encounter with Jesus invite? Hartin thoroughly unpacks these questions, and then follows with examples of people who embody the transformative power of these spiritualities, from Saint Francis and Dorothy Day to Saint Augustine and Archbishop Romero. Hartin's twofold approach gives us a deeper appreciation for the spiritual dimension of the gospels and helps us to be transformed in Christ by their message and vision. Commentary, study and reflection questions, prayers, and access to online lectures are included. 6 lessons.  

In his commentary on the letter of James, Hartin offers a unique approach toward understanding a much-neglected writing. Refusing to read the letter of James through the lens of Paul, Hartin approaches the letter in its own right. He takes seriously the address to the twelve tribes in the Dispersion" (1:1) as directed to Jews who had embraced the message of Jesus and were living outside their homeland, Israel. At the same time, Hartin shows how this letter remains true to Jesus' heritage. Using recent studies on rhetorical culture, Hartin illustrates how James takes Jesus ' sayings and performs them again in his own way to speak to the hearers/readers of his own world. 

Hartin examines the text, passage by passage, while providing essential notes and an extensive explanation of the theological meaning of each passage. The value of this commentary lies in its breadth of scholarship and its empathic approach to this writing. The reader will discover new and refreshing insights into the world of early Christianity as well as a teaching that is of perennial significance.

Patrick J. Hartin was born and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa. He studied at the Gregorian University in Rome and is an ordained priest of the Diocese of Spokane, Washington. He holds two doctorates in Theology: in Ethics and in the New Testament, both from the University of South Africa. Presently he teaches courses in the New Testament and in Classical Civilizations at Gonzaga University. He is the author of eleven books, including: Apollos (Paul's Social Network series), James of Jerusalem (Interfaces series), and James, First Peter, Jude, Second Peter (New Collegeville Bible Commentary series), all published by Liturgical Press.