Biblion #10 (EN) by BIBLION

W W W . B I B L I O N . P T

D i g i t a l English Version

e d i t i o n a christian book magazine | #10

opinion: the art of spiritual warfare

caedmon davey dostoevsky ferguson

fun & games word search, crosswords and more!

kierkegaard malory sienkiewicz

B ib li on X celebrating the tenth issue with historical works

ISSUE #10

W E L COME

EDITORIAL The "X" Marks the Spot

COV ER :

X D ESIGN : DA N I E L G O MES

Revista de Livros, Livros em Revista

iSSUE X October / November / December 2018 COLlaborating in this issue: Daniel Gomes (Assistant Editor), Vitor Marini (Author Portraits), Samuel Ascenção (Production Support)

EDITORIAL OFFICE

email: mag@biblion.pt web: www.biblion.pt

PROPERTY OF: Unique Creations, Lda. HEADQUARTERS: Tv. Francisco dos Santos, 2-6ºD 2745-271 Queluz REGISTRY: Dep. Legal Nº 405423/16 NIPC nº 510951910 ISSN: 2183-7899

EDITING: BIBLION MEDIA by Unique Creations EDITOR AND DIRECTOR: Paulo Sérgio Gomes DESIGN AND GRAPHIC PROJECT: UC Design Studio

MISSION/PURPOSE: To promote and encourage reading habits of Christian themes, fostering the necessary conditions to allow everyone to access these works. Learn more about our drive and our principles at www.biblion.pt. CONTENTS: The content of the articles hereby presented is subject to their authors’ opinions. CONTENT USAGE: Given that the main goal is the promotion of works and authors, content sharing is allowed for non-commercial ends only, and requires the source of this content to be mentioned. PRICING & AVAILABILITY: Prices mentioned include IVA. Products are subject to stock availability at the time of the order.

In spite of it all we persevere, on behalf of readership! Our current issue is the tenth in Biblion's two-and-a-half year history. It's not bad, yet we wish we could have done even more since our inception. Nevertheless, we feel that we "got the job done" for the trailblazing way in which Biblion developed through the promotion of reading habits, books and authors. Don't believe me? Let's see: Despite the sparse diffusion of Christian literature, Biblion has already presented about 200 books, authors and publishers to our audience. Despite our limited resources and manpower, Biblion has made its contents available through the magazine, on its website and through the BiblionApp. Despite the size of our country, Biblion has expanded its scope by releasing an English version that has been read across more than 100 countries. Despite the dwindling state of Portuguese book production, Biblion was the only Portuguese publisher to celebrate the 500 years of Protestant Reformation by translating Martin Luther's "On the Freedom of a Christian." Despite all of this, and despite what may follow... we carry on, for the "cause" of healthy reading! PAU L O S É R G I O G O M E S

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index

28 editor's pick

In the year of our lord sinclair b. ferguson

historical fiction

quo vadis A brilliant depiction of love and insanity in Nero's Rome.

fantasy fiction

le morte d'arthur All you wanted to know about the mythical King Arthur in one marvelous compilation.

worship

caedmon's hymn The oldest poem in Old English comes to light in our tenth issue.

biography

the monk who shook the world Cyril Davey's biographic novella on the amazing life of Martin Luther.

philosophy

the grand inquisitor The shocking story of an improbable meeting between Christ and Clergy.

philosophy

fear and trembling A treatise on Abraham that defined an entire philosophical movement.

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MISC.

OPINION "The Art of Spiritual Warfare"

fun & games Word Search Connect the Dots Crosswords

the team

Paulo SĂŠrgio Gomes editor - in - chief

Paulo SĂŠrgio has developed his career within tourism business, where he achieved personal fullfilment and recognition. Along the way, he has devoted his skills and resources to a few philantropic projects, ranging from financial education, grassroots soccer and overseeing an in-church bookshop. Currently, he manages the project of a lifetime â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a little magazine called Biblion, striving to keep reading habits and book publishing alive in his home country.

Daniel T. Gomes assistant editor

copywriter

The younger half of Biblion's "father & son" duo, Daniel T. Gomes is a graphic designer and content creator from Lisbon, Portugal. He is responsible for much of the magazine's design, although his role also extends into proofreading and translating written content.

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compendium

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our identity

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Who We Are - Biblion is a free, quarterly digital magazine that promotes healthy literature and reading habits. - Created in 2016, Biblion is an initiative undertaken by Portuguese publisher Unique Creations, and enjoys the support of both resident and guest collaborators. - Currently, the magazine is on its ninth issue, with Digital (Issuu) and Interactive (Joomag) versions available in Portuguese (EU) and English (US)

What We Do - Reviews concerning books deemed beneficial for the readerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s intellectual and/or spiritual edification; - Interviews of authors, pastors and personalities involved with the development and spreading of Christian literature; - Articles relative to ethical and religious subjects; - In-house content production; - Dissemination of both Christian and general literature; - Endorsement of reading habits for all ages.

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our identity

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Our Mission - Promoting Christian literature and its production in European Portuguese; - Stimulate the publication of works from Portuguese authors; - Encourage the practice of “fair pricing” and make literature available to everyone’s financial conditions; - Promote wholesome reading habits; - Host the healthy dialogue among different perspectives.

How You Can Help - Subscribe to Biblion on Issuu so you don’t miss our latest releases! - Support our work through Patreon or PayPal! - Follow us on Facebook and share our posts! - Subscribe to our Youtube channel! - Rate our articles on www.biblion.pt and leave us your feedback!

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historical fiction

quo vadis henryk sienkiewicz

by Daniel t. Gomes

You may have watched the motion picture, but have you even heard of the book? Quo Vadis, one of Henr yk Sienkiewicz’s most appraised novels, is a tour de force that will take you back to Nero’s Rome, in a magnificent story where love and faith triumph even over the Emperor’s madness. The Polish author and Nobel Prize laureate Henryk Sienkiewicz tells us the story of Vinicius, a Roman tribune, and Lygia, a Christian servant of Roman patricians. Upon returning to Rome, Vinicius meets 8

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Lygia and falls in love with her immediately, which leads to a perilous series of events that will put the tribune’s feelings to the test. In this series of events, Vinicius discovers the Christian faith and becomes a believer, and his bond with Lygia grows even stronger. Nevertheless, Nero has Rome set ablaze and blames the Christians for it, resulting in a chaotic and bloody persecution of Christians. It’s needless to say that the consequences are just as nefarious as the act itself. Vinicius is forced to use every bit of power

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historical fiction

and influence he has in order to save Lygia and himself, and even this carries its sacrifices. Quo Vadis is a remarkable example of Sienkiewicz’s skill as an historical novelist. Fiction and reality mesh together in such a way as to make it extremely difficult to tell which characters are fictional and which ones are historical. The author’s portrayal of characters like Nero and Gaius

Petronius is a deep, faithful one; they’re not merely plastered in the work in order to fulfill empty gaps. These are complex, human characters that feel true to their historical persons, depicted in accordance with the historical setting of the novel. Another proof of the author’s ability as a novelist is the progression of a given character’s arc. Although the characters may not

"Ictus": christian symbols in quo vadis The fish is a well-known symbol for Christians. You’ve probably seen it displayed in the trunk of cars; if that is the case, then you’ve probably asked yourself also, “Why a fish?” or “What is it supposed to mean?” Its meaning is interwoven with its roots, the fish having been used as a mark of Christianity for almost as long as Christianity itself. The word “fish” in Greek is ictus (or ichthys), adopted by Christians as an acronym: “Iesous Christos, Theou Uios, Soter,” or “Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior.” It was used by Christians due to its innocuous nature – the cross being a much more conspicuous sign of Christianity – and found great popularity in times of dire persecution. As such, the symbol features prominently in Quo Vadis, but it is not the only instance of Christian symbolism in the novel. After all, the title itself is a reference to the Acts of Peter, an apocryphal book where Peter, fleeing Rome, asks a returning Christ the famous question, “Quo vadis, Domine?” (“Where dost thou go, Lord?”), to which Christ replies that He goes to Rome to be crucified, this time in Peter’s place; upon hearing this, Peter goes back to Rome and meets his fate. This episode is featured at the end of Sienkiewicz’s novel – a novel that counts with the presence of not only Peter, but the Apostle Paul as well.

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always act reasonably (Nero being an obvious example), they do not betray themselves. Quo Vadis’ characters always behave according to their nature and status, making their development throughout the story seem all the more genuine. From small adaptations to life-changing transformations, a character’s arc never seems too unreasonable in this novel. A marvelous example of this would be Vinicius’ gradual conversion to Christianity: he believes and accepts Christ as his Lord and Savior, but being incipient in the Christian faith and its teachings, his mentality remains inured to his Roman education and military experience. Thus we witness a vicious internal struggle in Vinicius, whose natural impatience and pride often get the best of him, even as he seeks to embrace the Christian principles of humility and temperance. Despite the movie’s influence, Quo Vadis has the power to stand on its own as a riveting work of historical fiction – arguably one of the best we have addressed in this magazine. Its wit and charm will have you stuck

from the moment you pick up the book, and its twisting plot will have you hooked until you’re finished reading. It would have been remiss to dedicate our tenth issue to historical works and leave out such a laudable work from an equally meriting author. Read it for yourself; delve into this novel and allow it to consume your being – and you too will see that there is more to this love story than meets the eye.

If you're an independent author looking for a review of your work, contact us!

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f a n ta s y f i c t i o n

an epic account of an equally epic legend

le morte d'Arthur Sir thomas malory

by Daniel t. Gomes

he epic retelling of the Arthurian legend in the form of Le Morte d'Arthur has immortalized not only its author, but the very legend of Arthur and his valiant Knights of the Round Table as well. It contains everything a great fiction book ought to have â&#x20AC;&#x201C; adventure, love, chivalry, danger, betrayal and a sprinkle of magic â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and as such Biblion is proud to honor one of the first and finest works to be printed in Great Britain.

Let us go back to a land of kings and queens, of mighty battles and jolly feasts; of knights both valorous and cunning, of lovers both faithful and treacherous. Let us go back to

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Camelot. Let us go back to the time of King Arthur. Le Morte d'Arthur is an invaluable account of the adventures surrounding Arthur and his loyal knights,

written by a mysterious Thomas Malory and published posthumously by the renowned printer William Caxton circa 1485. With an exceptional amount of detail, Malory's masterpiece draws the reader to a mythical era, where fantasy and historicity blend seamlessly to produce a magnificent work of medieval fiction. In this lengthy compilation of adventures and tales, we see the rise and fall of Arthur and everything in between. Malory depicts numerous events that have made the Arthurian legend so iconic, including Arthur's retrieval of Excalibur, Guinevere's affair with Lancelot and the quest for the Sangreal (Holy Grail). While much of the book surrounds the mythical King of Camelot, Malory writes extensively on characters both great and small; this is true with several of Arthur's knights who play a more humble role in the king's court but are well developed nonetheless. Their adventures are pivotal to the plot's progress, which culminates in a great battle between Arthur and his “nephew,” the usurper Mordred.

Cause and Effect One of Malory's most persistent motifs in Le Morte d'Arthur is the characters' humanity. Although they are nobles called to uphold higher moral standards, the knights and ladies of the realm – including our most honorable King Arthur – are still human beings prone to act on their feelings and instincts. Yet these actions do not go unpunished, no matter who perpetrates them. Malory's masterpiece is shaped by consequences to wrongdoing, and even the most chivalrous and pure can't escape the rule. The affair between Guinevere and Lancelot creates a catastrophic rift between King Arthur and his beloved knight; Merlin's lust for the Lady of the Lake ends with him trapped under a rock. Perhaps the most determining example of this is Arthur's instance of accidental incest with his half-sister Morgause, which results in the birth of Mordred. Arthur tries to have Mordred killed right after his birth in Herodian style, but the baby survives and comes back several years later, infiltrating Arthur's court and eventually usurping his father's throne. Ultimately, Mordred is Arthur's undoing, as the two clash in an epic final battle where Arthur kills his son, but not before the latter can mortally wound his incestuous father. Cause and effect are the weavers of Malory's tapestry, and they prove themselves worthy time and again in this book.

Consider Supporting us! We are so grateful that you have picked up our magazine, but we have a favor to ask from you! We are an independent magazine. Our content is sincere and heartfelt, and does not favor one author or publisher above another. But our financial resources are very limited. Thus we turn to you, our reader, to help us keep our project running! With as little as $1, you can contribute to the upkeep and expansion of our literary venture!

Despite its many years, Le Morte d'Arthur remains an influential work as one of the foremost sources of Arthurian lore. It has shaped our perception of the legendary adventures surrounding the Knights of the Round Table and their king, and to a lesser yet still significant extent, it has had an impact on fantasy/historical fiction, the likes of which cannot be replicated. It is true the book has not aged all too well â&#x20AC;&#x201C; its cadence and Middle English roots working together to make it feel detached from the contemporary reader â&#x20AC;&#x201C; but with the right mindset, one can learn to enjoy Malory's legacy and to see it as the classic of medieval literature it really is.

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ageing like a fine wine... right? One thing becomes evident as soon as one starts reading Le Morte d'Arthur: it sounds a bit stiff. Sentences just don't seem to flow when the vast majority of them begins with “So,” “Then,” “And,” or a combination of these. It seems at times that Malory is more interested in laying out facts than in telling a story. These are all valuable points, and the following excerpt can certainly attest to those complaints:

“Then within two years King Uther fell sick of a great malady. And in the meanwhile his enemies usurped upon him, and did a great battle upon his men, and slew many of his people. Sir, said Merlin, ye may not lie so as ye do, for ye must to the field though ye ride on an horse-litter: for ye shall never have the better of your enemies but if your person be there, and then shall ye have the victory. So it was done as Merlin had devised, and they carried the king forth in an horse-litter with a great host towards his enemies. And at St. Albans there met with the king a great host of the North. And that day Sir Ulfius and Sir Brastias did great deeds of arms, and King Uther’s men overcame the Northern battle and slew many people, and put the remnant to flight. And then the king returned unto London, and made great joy of his victory. And then he fell passing sore sick, so that three days and three nights he was speechless...” Yet the modern reader can work around these points with a bit of imagination on his part. Let's first address how Malory construes sentences. He does repeat a lot of the same conjunctions to provide a sense of continuity, and this could be held against him – but I would not do so, especially if there is a way to work around that. Something that worked for me was to imagine the actual narrator telling the story, as a grandparent tells stories to his grandchildren, or as friends tell stories to one another at a tavern (if we want to get medieval about it). Try reading the excerpt again with this in mind and see if it works for you too! As to the view that Malory is laying out “facts,” it is actually quite the fair point. But perhaps that was Malory's purpose: to make it look like these Arthurian myths are historically accurate. If you apply the narrator concept I just suggested to the idea that these tales are meant to sound real, the experience becomes even richer. You're no longer reading some chopped retelling of legends and myths; you're witnessing a marvelous account of historical events surrounding Great Britain, as if Malory – or someone of your own choosing, for that matter – was sitting next to you, telling you all about how the king went to battle while still sick and stretched on a litter! See the difference?

Le Morte d'Arthur really has not aged too well, but it's still proper for consumption – so long as we know how to stomach it.

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worship

A relic of christian poetry

caedmon's hymn

aedmonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hymn is the oldest poem to be recorded in Old English, the language of the Anglo-Saxon settlers of Great Britain. Its author, Caedmon, was supposedly an illiterate cow-herder who nonetheless could compose lyrics in praise of God. The Hymn is his only known work, surviving to this day and age mainly through the Venerable Bedeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ex libris, the Ecclesiastical History of the English People, first written in 731 AD.

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techyng; for whi it is in the nexte to fynde it. Se ye with youre iyen, that Y trauelide a litil, and Y foond myche reste to me. Take ye techyng in myche noumbre of siluere, and welde ye plenteuouse gold ther ynne. Youre soule be glad in the merci of hym; and ye schulen not be schent in the preysing of hym. Worche ye youre werk bifore the tyme; and he schal yyue to you youre meede in his tyme.

Caedmon's Hymn â&#x20AC;&#x153;Now we must honor the Guardian of Heaven, The might of the Architect, and His purpose, The work of the Father of glory As he, the eternal Lord, established the beginning of wonders; He first created for the children of men Heaven as a roof, the holy creator Then the guardian of mankind, The eternal lord, afterwards appointed the middle earth, The lands for men, the Lord Almighty.â&#x20AC;? What tarien ye yit? and what seien ye in these thingis? youre soules thristen greetli. Y openyde my mouth, and Y spak, Bie ye wisdom to you with out siluer, and make youre necke suget to the yok therof, and youre soule resseyue techyng; for whi it is in the nexte to fynde it.

biography

The monk who shook the world Cyril Davey novas de alegria by daniel t. Gomes

yril Davey perpetuates the great legacy left by the Father of the Protestant Reformation in The Monk Who Shook the World, a short fiction work based on Martin Luther's life.

Who was Luther? Why did he stand against the Catholic Church? How did he come under the protection of Saxony's prince-elector, Frederick the Wise? The answers to these questions lie in Cyril Davey's book, The Monk Who Shook the World, 18 ISSUE #10

a romanticized take on Martin Luther's life and accomplishments. From Luther's childhood in Saxony to his marriage with Katharina von Bora, the book explores the German monk's life, addressing the most significant events in Luther's life and

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the reasons behind them. Davey is particularly effective at depicting this, presenting a compelling setting to Luther's journey from Catholicism to Reformation. By revealing to the reader a fragmented Germany struggling to cope with Rome's edicts, the author provides a solid background to the rise of Luther's Protestantism, one that recognizes the Reformation's political motivations as well as its religious ones. Davey also shows great skill at employing dialogue in his work. Conversations among characters seem well-founded and coherent with the story's setting and plot, enriching an already powerful blend of reality with fiction. The author was able to attribute these characters their proper mien, which reveals

itself most faithfully through their verbal interactions. Together with the credible dialogue, Davey's thoughtful descriptions and smooth transitioning make the short novella a diamond in the rough. While one ought to be careful about the extent of poetic license exercised by the author, The Monk Who Shook the World stands as a curious and gripping account of Luther's life. Its impressive mixture of historical facts with elements of fiction makes for a work that is as interesting as it is enlightening. Despite having been largely ignored, this book ought to be read both as a biographical work and as an example of effective writing by all who seek to know Martin Luther as deeply as possible.

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philosophy

an epic account of an equally epic legend

the grand inquisitor fyodor dostoevsky

by Daniel t. Gomes

ew novels have chapters so rich and impacting they can stand apart from the rest of the book, yet this is precisely what has happened with the story of “The Grand Inquisitor,” from Fyodor Dostoevsky’s final novel, The Brothers Karamazov. In a shocking, unapologetic tale, Dostoevsky expounds on one of the most baffling questions ever put forth: “What would happen if Christ came back to earth?” The last book of famous Russian author Fyodor Dostoevsky, The Brothers Karamazov, was able to both fascinate and influence some of the greatest minds of modern

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history, from Einstein to Freud and to Camus. Its thought-provoking plot surrounding a dysfunctional family’s reunion and its consequences, together with the philosophical themes

philosophy

present in the story, continues to amaze readers to this day. Yet there is in this novel one chapter – or rather, part of one chapter – that has earned more than enough popularity to stand on its own feet and earn a name for itself. This is the story of “The Grand Inquisitor.” The story comes up as two of the novel’s main characters, brothers Ivan and Alyosha Karamazov, get to truly know each other over dinner after several years of separation. Ivan, a nihilist, confronts Alyosha, a devout Christian and a novice at the local monastery, about the latter’s yearning to find out whether the former believes in God or not. Ivan explains his struggle with the problem of evil and suffering in the world, concluding that he cannot bring himself to align with a deity that would allow His creation to endure so much pain and injustice. In response, Alyosha reminds his brother of Christ’s sacrifice, who painfully and unjustly died for mankind’s sins. Ivan, however, is not surprised with the answer, and thus presents his “poem” in order to prove his point. 22 ISSUE #10

Ivan begins the story with Christ coming to earth in human form once more at the height of the Spanish Inquisition, eventually arriving to Seville. Common people recognize the Christ as He makes His way to the cathedral. Christ begins to perform miracles much like he did in the Gospels, including raising the dead; the Grand Inquisitor witnesses this and, rather than openly acknowledge Christ as Lord, he has Him arrested by his guards. Later that night, the Grand Inquisitor appears to the incarcerated Christ. What follows is a long, vicious tirade from the Inquisitor on Christ’s failure to make men truly happy by giving them freedom – a failure that the Inquisitor believes to have been finally corrected by the Church through the works of the Inquisition. The old Inquisitor goes on to explain how Satan’s temptations in the wilderness were actually opportunities for Jesus to establish His Kingdom on earth, and how by granting freedom in faith Christ imposed a burden far too heavy on mankind. The Inquisitor also claims he and others like him have taken upon

themselves to guide the “thousands of millions” to earthly happiness, even if that may end in eternal death and destruction, and that he would not allow Christ to interfere with his work. All throughout this extensive lecture, Jesus remains silent. His only response to the Inquisitor is a kiss that catches the old man off-guard; the Inquisitor then frees Him, telling Him to never come back. Despite its ambiguous conclusion, "The Grand Inquisitor" remains one of the most emphatic and relevant tracts of Dostoevsky’s novel. It forces its readers to envision a peculiar version of the second coming of Christ, to step into the mind of this old clergyman and to carefully consider his rationale. Embracing themes such as free will, the fallen nature of man and suffering, the “poem” is celebrated by religious and secular readers alike to this day. Its poignant appeal and remarkable deliberations serve to make this story an essential part of our tenth issue, especially dedicated to historical works.

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philosophy

dive into the anguish and suffering of god's faithful servant

fear and

trembling soren kierkegaard

by Daniel t. Gomes

braham is for Christians an example of faith, with an incredible story of hope in the midst of adversity. Kierkegaard, however, goes beyond just that. In what many consider to be his magnum opus, the Danish philosopher expresses his tremendous admiration for the man he calls a “knight of faith.” Fear and Trembling could not be a more accurate title to this powerful work by Søren Kierkegaard, dedicated to the most decisive episode of Abraham’s life: Isaac’s sacrifice. Kierkegaard addresses the impressive way of how Abraham deals with the 24 ISSUE #10

trial imposed on him: for more than three days, Abraham travels with his son Isaac – the son God had promised Abraham at a very late point in his life, through whom the nation of Israel would be born – with the mission of sacrificing him. Without

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telling anyone of this trial that God has given him, Abraham must face alone the terrifying anguish of having to kill his very own son. Even at the mountain top, as he takes care of all the necessary preparations to sacrifice his son, Abraham does not stop loving Isaac, nor does he stop believing the promises that God will accomplish through Isaac – and yet Abraham is at all times ready to perform his duty unswervingly. It is this contradiction, this uncanny and almost inexplicable paradox that captivates the author’s curiosity. Kierkegaard compares Abraham’s example with that of Agamemnon and Faust, exalting the biblical character above all others for his faith and for the particular nature of his trial. For the

Danish philosopher, Abraham is an exceptionally rare case; attempting to emulate his character in its plenitude – the character of a “knight of faith” – won’t achieve the same result. Nevertheless, Abraham is also a case worthy of appreciation, from which one may apprehend great life lessons applicable to any individual. The scholastic language so frequently employed by the philosopher and the complexity of his thoughts make the reading of this work an herculean task, yet it is undoubtedly a valuable one too. This really is an incomparable study of the example of faith Abraham is to millions and millions of believers, an example that also deeply influenced the life of one of the nineteenth century’s greatest philosophers.

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enchir

the han

coming

ridion

ndbook

g soon

editor's pick

classical arguments, yet the most fascinating to philosophers nonetheless. In the following century, with the development of universities and the creation of the Inquisition, another figure full of charisma emerged within Christianity – Bernard of Clairvaux (already introduced to our readers on Biblion #6), who founded his monastery in 1115, renowned by his phenomenal knowledge of Scripture, his influence in the ecclesiastical sphere, and the enthusiasm with which he defended the Crusades. Foreboding the arrival of the Protestant Reformation, Sinclair Ferguson addresses the impact several figures had in setting in motion such events as those starred by Martin Luther, from John Wycliffe, one of the most powerful precursors of the Reform, to Jan Hus, who saw his books being burned at the Cathedral of Constance, having he been

executed while reciting Psalms; or Girolamo Savonarola, who ended up being excommunicated and executed, after having inspired the people of Florence with the eloquence of his preaching. In this highly recommended publication there is room for other individualities such as William Wilberforce, Charles H. Spurgeon and Dietrich Bonhoeffer, among many others. Ferguson challenges us to choose the “Book of the Twentieth Century,” reflecting on the twenty centuries of Christian faith. The author’s pick falls on Knowing God, which is an absolutely deserving work. In conclusion, Jesus continues to build His Church with His people two thousand years later, and will do so until the end of times. This is the yet-to-be-fulfilled story of In the Year of Our Lord.

wherever, whenever

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The xi'an-fu: Christianity in China (635-845) In the eighth chapter, we are presented with an excerpt of what was sculpted in a stone slab, erected in 781 – the Xi’an-Fu, or Si-ngan-fú (also known as the Nestorian Stele), discovered in northwestern China in 1625, and brought by Portuguese Jesuits Álvaro Semedo and Manuel Dias Júnior. In it were recorded facts concerning the Luminous Religion, transmitted by Syrian monk Alopen, who arrived there in the year 635. The missionary took with him the holy books and, once at the Chang-an border, he was received by the Chinese Prime Minister, Fang Huang Ling, who accompanied him to Emperor Tai-Tsong. Impressed by the truth and righteousness of the monk’s religion, the Emperor promoted Alopen to Great Spiritual Leader, Protector of the Empire, and ordered the translation and distribution of sacred writings throughout the whole realm. Unfortunately, in the century following the stele’s crafting (845), Emperor Wu Zong, of the Tang dynasty, abolished all foreign religions, bringing the gospel testimony and the worship of Christ’s name in China to a definitive end. There is a reference to this stone in the Diocese of Macau.

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opinion

the art of spiritual warfare by daniel t. gomes

“All warfare is based upon deception.” — Sun Tzu, The Art of War

Conflict is an unavoidable part of living. Everyone has experienced it in some form or another, and everyone has gained or lost something in an attempt to resolve it. From the pettiest dispute to the most devastating war, the human being is familiarized with conflict and often seeks the most advantageous way of dealing with it. While some are bound by varying degrees to moral codes of conduct 32 ISSUE #10

even in warfare, others believe that in war, as in love, there are no rules. Those who dare to do anything are likely to succeed where those who would refrain from a course of action cannot, and the most brilliant and victorious individuals in history often belong to the former group. Sun Tzu was one such individual. The Chinese expert studied and mastered warfare to the point of making

B I B L I O N - A C H R I S T I A N B OO K M AG A Z I N E

it an “art”: he identified common notions and systematic principles vital to the success of any military enterprise, and his treatise remains one of the most popular books on the subject twenty-five centuries after it was first written. Even though the work carries a martial emphasis, many of its broader concepts can be applied to just about any type of clash of interests – arguments, legal battles, sports, and so on. Perhaps the most iconic principle to be laid out by Sun Tzu was the employment of deception in war. To him, deception was a fundamental tool in any general’s arsenal, as it allows one to subvert the enemy’s perception – a decisive leverage when properly manipulated. When duly applied, this principle impairs an opponent’s ability to act according to his best interests: he may be left unsure of what to do, or he may be led to believe he is acting appropriately when in fact he’s not. Sun Tzu argued that the use of subterfuge and dissimulation was inherent to warfare and could effectively turn the tide of battles and wars. So far, history has proven Sun Tzu to stand

correct, at least when it comes to the more earthly kinds of engagement. Spiritual warfare, however, allows no room for deception. More specifically, the Christian spiritual warfare cannot make use of this principle in any form or shape, since deception itself is the enemy. Satan, the “Accuser,” is the personification of pride unchecked, and has mastered every known instrument – deception especially – to sway humankind away from its appropriate course of action, i.e. to be united with God in perfect harmony. The Devil has sown discord and destruction since the beginning of times, in the vain hopes of winning a war lost from the start; still, he continues to work diligently, if not on winning, then on causing as many losses to the other side as he possibly can. To this end he has led many people astray, his deception having pervaded anything and everything that ought to be holy and pure. Because of this, deception must be beneath the Christian. He cannot lie when he swears allegiance to an omniscient God that prizes righteousness and justice. He cannot lie to the www.biblion.pt 33

opinion

cunning Adversary, lest he ends up as the one being tricked. He can only lie to himself and others; but to do so is to disregard the precepts of Christian faith. There are some religions in this world that allow its practitioners to conceal and even deny their faith to their opponents under certain conditions, but the Christian knows better. Perjury and hypocrisy are the ways of Satan, not of the Christ; if Peter felt shame after denying Him in public, shouldn’t all Christians feel the same when they do so in their own hearts, let alone in public?

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Deception is therefore incompatible with the Christian faith – and yet it thrives in Christian circles just as well as in secular ones. At the end of the day, man will be man, which in Christianity translates into an incredibly incongruent creature, one made in the image of God but tainted by sin. As such, it comes as no surprise that a Christian’s spiritual warfare knows no respite, since his faith may be challenged even at times when he would think it to be most secure. But then again, that’s the point of Satan’s deception: to strike

B I B L I O N - A C H R I S T I A N B OO K M AG A Z I N E

when least expected, to manipulate his opponents – which, according to the Bible, is just about God and His entire Creation – and leave them vulnerable. The art of spiritual warfare is based not upon deception, but truth. The faithful Christian knows that the truth is the only way to beat the Adversary. But as Pilate famously put it, “What is truth”? To the believer, the truth is God’s Word. It holds the promise of redemption and grace through which man may be justified by faith. It reveals God’s character and denounces Satan’s rebellion. It sheds light on the sinless life of the Christ, who yet suffered a grievous penalty for the deliverance of many. By holding on to the truth and proclaiming it – even if at the cost of his life – the Christian fulfills his call and emerges victorious from the spiritual

battle he is constantly engaged in. By holding himself accountable before God and repenting from sin, the Christian denies Satan the opportunity to accuse him. Therein lies the fundamental concept of this art: that truth alone vanquishes the Adversary, thwarts his plans and disarms his traps. It is an immense ordeal to put this principle into practice, and there will be times when the believer simply won’t be able to uphold it; in these times, the believer must remind himself that he is not alone, that the One who gave him truth will also help him stand for it. If he clings to the truth, he will be triumphant; he will have checkmated Satan himself in the fight for his soul and earn for himself the victor’s wreath – a most deserved reward to one who masters the art of spiritual warfare.

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word search

M O

W O

O M

M O

W A

M U

M O

characters from arthurian legend: •

Agravain

•

Gawain

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Morgause

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Arthur

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Guinevere

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Nimue

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Bagdemagus

•

Kay

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Percival

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Balin

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Lancelot

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Sagramore

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Bors

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Merlin

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Ulfius

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Ector

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Mordred

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Uther

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Gareth

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Morgana

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connect the dots

20th century christian authors (Uk) G. K. Chesterton •

C. S. Lewis •

J. R. R. Tolkien •

Evelyn Underhill •

• Basic Christianity

• The Hobbit

• Knowing God

• Mysticism

John Stott •

• The Chronicles of Narnia

J. I. Packer •

• Orthodoxy

How to use this section:

Step 1: Download the PDF file

Step 2: Print the specific pages

Step 3: Have fun!

www.biblion.pt 37

38 ISSUE #10 A nswers : 1 - Quintilian; 2 - Lucan; 3 - Seneca; 4 - Echegaray; 5 - Averroes; 6 - Cervantes; 7 - Saramago; 8 - Pessoa; 9 - GarcĂa Lorca; 10 - Maimonides; 11 - CamĂľes.

11 10

g a r c

l o r c a

8 7

3 4

2 1

iberian authors crosswords

crosswords

down

across

1 - Famous Roman rhetorician who influenced Renaissance rhetoric schools with his twelve-volume work, Institutio Oratoria.

2 - One of the greatest poets in Ancient Rome, author of Pharsalia (De Bello Civili) and several lost works, put to death at the age of 25.

4 - The first Spanish author to win the Nobel prize, praised for his skills as a dramatist and playwright.

3 - Roman stateman and renowned Stoic philosopher, tutor and advisor to Emperor Nero.

5 - Andalusian philosopher known for his commentary on Aristotles and his work Tahafut al-Tahafut, a response to Al-Ghazali's criticism of Western Philosophy.

6 - Author of Don Quixote, regarded as the greatest Spanish writer of all time, and one of history's finest novelists.

7 - Portuguese author and laureate of the Nobel Prize in Literature, known for his unusual writing style.

9 - Prolific Spanish poet and playwright from Andalusia who died at the age of 38.

8 - Illustrious Portuguese poet known for writing under dozens of different aliases, author of Mensagem.

10 - Sephardic Jewish philosopher from CĂłrdoba, author of the Mishneh Torah and scholar of Jewish Law. 11 - Author of Os LusĂadas, regarded as the greatest Portuguese poet in history. His influence in the Portuguese language is akin to that of Shakespeare in English.

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Articles inside

HISTORICAL FICTION: QUO VADIS

Sun Tzu, The Art of Spiritual Warfare

Caedmon's Hymn

Dostoevsky's The Grand Inquisitor