Visible Words: The Interpretation and Practice of Christian Sacraments

"Robert Jenson deserves to be studied as one of the more creative theologiansin America today. It is perhaps due to his wisdom in the ways of this worldthat each of his books leaves the reader impatient to hear more. If his workin the future proves to be as stimulating as that in the past, we will not bedisappointed."Christopher L. MorseUnion Theological Seminary, New York"For those who have experienced genuine confusion about sacraments, Jenson'sbook is a breath of fresh air."Donald H. JuelLuther Theological Seminary, Saint Paul, Minnesota"Saint Augustine's distilled description of sacraments, 'visible words, ' is used by the systematic theologian Robert Jenson to title this important book. In attempting something so deceptively simple as 'to explain Christianity's sacraments, ' the author is remarkably successful."William S. AdamsVancouver School of Theology"Jenson is especially helpful in his discussion of the sacraments as communicationevents. One wishes great influence for this book in the Christian churches for itsurely will assist the liturgical dialogue among them."John Barry RyanManhattan College, Bronx, New YorkRobert W. Jenson is a leading American Lutheran theologian. He has taught atmany institutions, including Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, the Lutheran Seminary in Gettysburg, and Saint Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota. With Carl Braaten, he founded the Center for Catholic and Evangelical Theology in Northfield, Minnesota. He was a Senior Scholar for Research at the Center for Theological Inquiry in Princeton, New Jersey, where he now resides. Among his many books are his two-volume Systematic Theology, Lutheranism: The Theological Movement and Its Confessional Writings (with Eric Gritsch), and A Map of Twentieth-Century Theology (editor with Carl Braaten).