On Earth as in Heaven: Theopolis Fundamentals

Theopolis Fundamentals

by Peter J. Leithart

The heavenly city of God resurrects the cities of men.
On Earth as in Heaven calls the church to embrace her identity and mission as one shaped by biblical theology and liturgy. The world grows increasingly polarized and politicized, but the church's commission remains unchanged. Christians carry out Jesus's mission by being the church. To change the world, the church needs only to be what she is―the bride of Christ―and to do what she does―teach, preach, sing, pray, break bread. Cultural and political mission and individual witness and service all spring from the church's liturgical life. As the church proclaims God's word and practices vibrant liturgy, she is God's heavenly city, shining as a light to the world.

Genres: Theology, Church, Ecclesiology, Christian

460 pages, Hardcover

Published September 7, 2022

About the author

Peter Leithart received an A.B. in English and History from Hillsdale College in 1981, and a Master of Arts in Religion and a Master of Theology from Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia in 1986 and 1987. In 1998 he received his Ph.D. at the University of Cambridge in England. He has served in two pastorates: He was pastor of Reformed Heritage Presbyterian Church (now Trinity Presbyterian Church), Birmingham, Alabama from 1989 to 1995, and was founding pastor of Trinity Reformed Church, Moscow, Idaho, and served on the pastoral staff at Trinity from 2003-2013. From 1998 to 2013 he taught theology and literature at New St. Andrews College, Moscow, Idaho, where he continues to teach as an adjunct Senior Fellow. He now serves as President of Trinity House in Alabama, where is also resident Church Teacher at the local CREC church. He and his wife, Noel, have ten children and five grandchildren.

Reviews

[Jesse Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this quote 👌 “The city of heaven resurrects the cities of men.”

[Sean Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book seems to be Peter Leithart's theory of everything, and as someone who appreciates his work, this was really enjoyable to read, especially seeing how the various aspects of his thought hang together. I especially loved the early chapters with its high level vision of the church, and the emphasis on the fact of it as a concrete, visible church in time and space.

My critiques mostly amount to nitpicks (eg, I'm not sure I understand what Leithart's hang-up is about natural law). It was a very satisfying book to read, and left me very thankful to have counted amongst those born in Zion.

[Jeremy Crump · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marvelous! One of the best books I’ve ever read on the Bible and theology. It is quintessential Leithart - big, bold, brilliant - and yes, idiosyncratic. His exegesis and his typological connections don’t always hold up under scrutiny for me. But they can’t be dismissed lightly either. And then again, maybe I’m the problem in such cases. For my money, no one reads the Bible as carefully and as insightfully as Leithart. This book will thrill and awe you with the heights and depths and riches of the biblical vision for the church and the world. Read it and discover how impoverished our “biblical” understanding of the church really is. Read it and be moved to worship.

[Josiah Bates · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is extremely well-written and thought-provoking. I am continuing to wrestle with the ideas presented within even a month after reading it. I really appreciate Leithart's heart for the ministry of the local church, which shines through in each chapter. He faithfully explains portions of Revelation which are often overlooked, and looks to scripture for what God calls the Church to do in the world.
This is a very helpful book, especially with the focus on liturgy, mission, and scripture reading.

[Lee Boso · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful vision for the people of God

Leithart’s Thopolitan vision is a great view of the work of God in the Church to transform the world. Through carefully working through aspects of the litergy of the Church, he shows how the words, elements, and actions can transform the culture at large

[Gregory · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rarely give books 5 stars. I give this book 5 stars. That should tell you everything you need to know.

[Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good. I especially enjoyed Part II: Theopolitan Reading.

[Ryan Handermann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent vision for the church.

[Simon Esmond · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really good distillation of the great work of many saints who have labored in the reformed, post-millennial, and ecclesiocentric movement.

[Josh Shelton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Refreshing and excellent!

[Andrew Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

All four volumes of this wonderful series in one place.

(1) Theopolitan Vision
(2) Theopolitan Reading
(3) Theopolitan Liturgy
(4) Theopolitan Mission

Highly, highly recommended.