Here are some excellent new theology books * that will be released in February 2026 :
* broadly interpreted, including ethics, church history, biblical studies, and other areas that intersect with theology
*** Love Theology Books?
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The Way of the Desert Elders: How the Wisdom of Ancient Christians Sustains Us Today
Lisa Colón DeLay
(Broadleaf Books)
A spiritual expedition into the stories and wisdom of ancient, desert-dwelling Christians, who show us how to forge faith at the edges of empire.
For all that bewilders and bedevils us, the desert mothers and fathers can help us face our circumstances and ourselves. In The Way of the Desert Elders, Lisa Colón DeLay asks: What if desert elders from more than a millennium ago could walk beside us and nourish our spirits now?
Starting in the fourth century, half a million Christians fled the villages and cities of the Roman Empire. Leaving behind comforts, they battled what Evagrius called “afflicting thoughts,” which still unsettle us today. Yet they discovered a spirituality durable enough to endure harsh conditions and self-denial, sturdy enough to flourish in abandoned places.
In wise and vivid prose, DeLay introduces us to a cast of characters who were both devoted and flawed. Like us, the desert abbas and ammas wrestled with gluttony, lust, greed, wrath, acedia, despondency, vainglory, envy, and pride. We meet the abba who’d been a crime boss, the amma who once traded sexual favors for a chance to travel, and the archbishop who fled his post because of a scandalous love affair. We learn about the stylite hermits, who lived atop pillars and drew tourists, and about the weaver who prayed so intensely while he worked that he wove a basket larger than himself. DeLay brings the timeless sagacity of these spiritual companions to bear on our own barren times, offering reflection questions, prayers, and suggestions for crafting a rule of life.
Desert spirituality doesn’t mean going it alone; it means finding companions to walk with us. With their ordinary longings and extraordinary commitments, the desert elders can lead us toward peace, spiritual growth, and intimacy with God.
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Emotion in Early Christianity
Andrew Crislip
( Eerdmans )
A fascinating study of the inner lives of early Christians
In this groundbreaking book, Andrew Crislip explores the emotional landscape of early Christianity, illuminating how emotion shaped Christian identity, community practices, and theological understanding. Crislip investigates five emotions in detail―joy, sadness, anger, disgust, and envy―revealing how they were understood, experienced, and expressed in the formative years of the Christian tradition.
Through close examination of early Christian teachings, sermons, and philosophical debates, Crislip demonstrates how emotions were considered essential for fostering communal bonds, reinforcing moral norms, and differentiating believers from outsiders. He also shows how emotional concepts, norms, and experiences changed over time and differed among communities. By exploring diverse figures from the first to the fifth centuries, Crislip highlights how emotions like joy and love were central to Christian self-identity, while negative emotions such as anger and envy were seen as threats to spiritual well-being. The book also addresses the emotional complexity of Christian suffering, where sadness and grief were transformed into expressions of hope and spiritual endurance.
Combining insights from cognitive science, psychology, and historical analysis, Crislip presents a nuanced view of how emotional concepts evolved within early Christian thought. He emphasizes that emotions were not merely spontaneous feelings but intentional practices that reflected and shaped religious identity. Readers will come away with a deeper understanding of how emotion functioned as a powerful force in the early church, connecting individuals to their faith, community, and the divine. Comprehensive yet accessible, Emotion in Early Christianity is a brilliant introduction to an important topic in New Testament studies and the history of Christianity.
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