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True Christianity, Containing The Whole Theology Of The New Church That Was Predicted By The Lord In Daniel 7:13-14 And Revelation 21:1, 2
What are the true doctrines of Christianity? In this book - a combination of all three volumes - the author Emanuel Swedenborg sets out to describe the true doctrines of Christianity, based on scripture and revelations he received through heavenly visions. For those questioning the definition of the Trinity that was defined in the fourth century and later, Swedenborg describes a view of God Who is One in person, Jesus Christ. As Jehovah in human form, Jesus progressively resisted temptation in His human, until he made his human Divine, and became the God-man. It was through this process that Jesus saved all of humanity, as His Holy Spirit is now available to all to help people resist temptation and live the Christian life according to God's will. Swedenborg stated, "it is a law of order that as far as man approaches and draws near to God, which he must do altogether as of himself — so far God approaches and draws near to man, and conjoins Himself with him." The book first discusses the different manifestations of God, as God the Creator, God the Redeemer, and the Holy Spirit. The book also discusses how the sacred scripture is Divinely inspired, as it is the Divine Truth itself which allows communion between humankind and heaven. Both the literal and spiritual meanings of the ten commandments of the Decalogue are discussed, which contains all the precepts of eternal life. Other topics include doctrines concerning faith, charity, free will, repentance, reformation and regeneration. The symbolism of two Holy Sacraments Baptism and Holy Supper are explained in detail. Finally, the book concludes with a discussion concerning the end of the age, and an explanation of the Second Coming and the prophecies contained in the Apocalypse.
This book contains all three volumes of the original publication, and has been formatted for digital publication: it has hyperlinked table of contents, references, and topical index. It is volumes 30, 31 and 32 of the Hyperlinked Works of Emanuel Swedenborg, available as part of the multi-volume work "The Divine Revelation of the New Jerusalem."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Emanuel Swedenborg (1688-1772) was born in Stockholm, Sweden. He journeyed to England, Holland, France, and Germany to study and work with leading scientists in western Europe. Upon his return he apprenticed as an engineer under the brilliant Swedish inventor Christopher Polhem (1661-1751). King Charles XII of Sweden gave him a salaried position as an overseer of Sweden's mining industry (1716-1747). After the death of the King, Emanuel was ennobled by Queen Ulrika Eleonora. This gave him a seat in the Swedish House of Nobles, where he remained an active participant in the Swedish government throughout his life. A member of the Swedish Royal Academy of Sciences, he devoted himself to scientific studies and philosophical reflections that culminated in a number of scientific publications, mainly concerning minerology and physiology, where he had made several discoveries. From 1743 to 1745 he entered a transitional phase that resulted in a shift of his main focus from science and philosophy to theology. Throughout the rest of his life he maintained that this shift was brought about by Jesus Christ, who appeared to him, called him to a new mission, and opened his perception to a permanent dual consciousness of this life and the spiritual world of heaven and hell. Although he at first published his theological works anonymously, he became more well known to the public when he had a clairvoyant experience where he could describe a fire in Stockholm in 1759, over 400 km away. This was investigated by the German philosopher Immanuel Kant, who confirmed the event, and it was also noted by Carl Jung who borrowed from Swedenborg for many of his ideas in psychology. At other times Swedenborg demonstrated his clairvoyant abilities to multiple witnesses. Zen master D.T. Suzuki called Swedenborg the "Buddha of the North."
This book contains all three volumes of the original publication, and has been formatted for digital publication: it has hyperlinked table of contents, references, and topical index. It is volumes 30, 31 and 32 of the Hyperlinked Works of Emanuel Swedenborg, available as part of the multi-volume work "The Divine Revelation of the New Jerusalem."
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Emanuel Swedenborg (1688-1772) was born in Stockholm, Sweden. He journeyed to England, Holland, France, and Germany to study and work with leading scientists in western Europe. Upon his return he apprenticed as an engineer under the brilliant Swedish inventor Christopher Polhem (1661-1751). King Charles XII of Sweden gave him a salaried position as an overseer of Sweden's mining industry (1716-1747). After the death of the King, Emanuel was ennobled by Queen Ulrika Eleonora. This gave him a seat in the Swedish House of Nobles, where he remained an active participant in the Swedish government throughout his life. A member of the Swedish Royal Academy of Sciences, he devoted himself to scientific studies and philosophical reflections that culminated in a number of scientific publications, mainly concerning minerology and physiology, where he had made several discoveries. From 1743 to 1745 he entered a transitional phase that resulted in a shift of his main focus from science and philosophy to theology. Throughout the rest of his life he maintained that this shift was brought about by Jesus Christ, who appeared to him, called him to a new mission, and opened his perception to a permanent dual consciousness of this life and the spiritual world of heaven and hell. Although he at first published his theological works anonymously, he became more well known to the public when he had a clairvoyant experience where he could describe a fire in Stockholm in 1759, over 400 km away. This was investigated by the German philosopher Immanuel Kant, who confirmed the event, and it was also noted by Carl Jung who borrowed from Swedenborg for many of his ideas in psychology. At other times Swedenborg demonstrated his clairvoyant abilities to multiple witnesses. Zen master D.T. Suzuki called Swedenborg the "Buddha of the North."
- GenresReligionNonfiction
2 pages, Hardcover
First published December 31, 1969
About the author
Emanuel Swedenborg
1,691 books305 followersEmanuel Swedenborg (born Emanuel Swedberg; February 8, 1688–March 29, 1772) was a Swedish scientist, philosopher, Christian mystic, and theologian. Swedenborg had a prolific career as an inventor and scientist. At the age of fifty-six he entered into a spiritual phase in which he experienced dreams and visions. This culminated in a spiritual awakening, where he claimed he was appointed by the Lord to write a heavenly doctrine to reform Christianity. He claimed that the Lord had opened his eyes, so that from then on he could freely visit heaven and hell, and talk with angels, demons, and other spirits. For the remaining 28 years of his life, he wrote and published 18 theological works, of which the best known was Heaven and Hell (1758), and several unpublished theological works.
Swedenborg explicitly rejected the common explanation of the Trinity as a Trinity of Persons, which he said was not taught in the early Christian Church. Instead he explained in his theological writings how the Divine Trinity exists in One Person, in One God, the Lord Jesus Christ. Swedenborg also rejected the doctrine of salvation through faith alone, since he considered both faith and charity necessary for salvation, not one without the other. The purpose of faith, according to Swedenborg, is to lead a person to a life according to the truths of faith, which is charity.
Swedenborg's theological writings have elicited a range of responses. Toward the end of Swedenborg's life, small reading groups formed in England and Sweden to study the truth they saw in his teachings and several writers were influenced by him, including William Blake (though he ended up renouncing him), Elizabeth Barrett Browning, August Strindberg, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Charles Baudelaire, Balzac, William Butler Yeats, Sheridan Le Fanu, Jorge Luis Borges and Carl Jung. The theologian Henry James Sr. was also a follower of his teachings, as were Johnny Appleseed and Helen Keller.
In contrast, one of the most prominent Swedish authors of Swedenborg's day, Johan Henrik Kellgren, called Swedenborg "nothing but a fool". A heresy trial was initiated in Sweden in 1768 against Swedenborg's writings and two men who promoted these ideas.
In the two centuries since Swedenborg's death, various interpretations of Swedenborg's theology have been made (see: Swedenborgian Church), and he has also been scrutinized in biographies and psychological studies.
Swedenborg explicitly rejected the common explanation of the Trinity as a Trinity of Persons, which he said was not taught in the early Christian Church. Instead he explained in his theological writings how the Divine Trinity exists in One Person, in One God, the Lord Jesus Christ. Swedenborg also rejected the doctrine of salvation through faith alone, since he considered both faith and charity necessary for salvation, not one without the other. The purpose of faith, according to Swedenborg, is to lead a person to a life according to the truths of faith, which is charity.
Swedenborg's theological writings have elicited a range of responses. Toward the end of Swedenborg's life, small reading groups formed in England and Sweden to study the truth they saw in his teachings and several writers were influenced by him, including William Blake (though he ended up renouncing him), Elizabeth Barrett Browning, August Strindberg, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Charles Baudelaire, Balzac, William Butler Yeats, Sheridan Le Fanu, Jorge Luis Borges and Carl Jung. The theologian Henry James Sr. was also a follower of his teachings, as were Johnny Appleseed and Helen Keller.
In contrast, one of the most prominent Swedish authors of Swedenborg's day, Johan Henrik Kellgren, called Swedenborg "nothing but a fool". A heresy trial was initiated in Sweden in 1768 against Swedenborg's writings and two men who promoted these ideas.
In the two centuries since Swedenborg's death, various interpretations of Swedenborg's theology have been made (see: Swedenborgian Church), and he has also been scrutinized in biographies and psychological studies.
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May 9, 2013
I remember picking up this book at the University library - I had heard of Swedenborg from the book "Life After Life" by Raymond Moody, and I was curious what he had to say on the doctrines of Christianity. When I started reading it, I was stunned - he began to clearly set forth the true doctrine of the Trinity. He shows that it is not a trinity of three persons, but the aspects of the soul, body and spirit of Jesus Christ, and shows that using scripture. It was at that point I realized who Jesus really is - He is not a "second" person, He is THE person. Jehovah in the Old Testament is the Lord of the New Testament. From then on, it really has changed my views on Christianity, one that is truly Monotheistic, and one where one must live by God's commandments. Up until that point I had been going through a long period of searching, trying to find the true doctrines of Christianity among its different sects.
Displaying 1 of 1 review