Modern culture is obsessed with identity.

Since the landmark Obergefell v. Hodges Supreme Court decision in 2015, sexual identity has dominated both public discourse and cultural trends—and yet, no historical phenomenon is its own cause. From Augustine to Marx, various views and perspectives have contributed to the modern understanding of self. In The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self, Carl Trueman carefully analyzes the roots and development of the sexual revolution as a symptom, rather than the cause, of the human search for identity. This timely exploration of the history of thought behind the sexual revolution teaches readers about the past, brings clarity to the present, and gives guidance for the future as Christians navigate the culture’s ever-changing search for identity.

Martin Luther’s historical significance can hardly be overstated. Known as the father of the Protestant Reformation, no single figure has had a greater impact on Western Christianity except perhaps Augustine. In Luther on the Christian Life, historian Carl Trueman introduces readers to the lively Reformer, taking them on a tour of his historical context, theological system, and approach to the Christian life. Whether exploring Luther’s theology of protest, ever-present sense of humor, or misunderstood view of sanctification, this addition to Crossway’s Theologians on the Christian Life series highlights the ways in which Luther’s eventful life shaped his understanding of what it means to be a Christian. Ultimately, this book will help modern readers go deeper in their spiritual walk by learning from one of the great teachers of the faith.

Part of the Theologians on the Christian Life series.

From Philosophy to Technology, Tracing the Origin of Identity Politics

How did the world arrive at its current, disorienting state of identity politics, and how should the church respond? Historian Carl R. Trueman shows how influences ranging from traditional institutions to technology and pornography moved modern culture toward an era of “expressive individualism.” Investigating philosophies from the Romantics, Nietzsche, Marx, Wilde, Freud, and the New Left, he outlines the history of Western thought to the distinctly sexual direction of present-day identity politics and explains the modern implications of these ideas on religion, free speech, and personal identity. 

For fans of Trueman’s The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self, this ebook offers a more concise presentation and application of some of the most critical topics of our day. Individuals and groups can work through the book together with the Strange New World Study Guide and Strange New World Video Study, sold separately. 

• Cultural Analysis from a Christian Perspective: Explores the history of the sexual revolution and its influence today
• A Concise Version of The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self: Offers an approachable presentation of the points in Trueman’s popular book
• A Great Resource for Individual and Small-Group Study: Each chapter ends with thought-provoking application questions
• Part of the Strange New World Suite: Can be used with the Strange New World Video Study and Strange New World Study Guide

Carl Trueman Analyzes How Ancient Creeds and Confessions Protect Biblical Christianity in a Culture of Expressive Individualism

Historic statements of faith—such as the Heidelberg Catechism, the Apostles’ Creed, and the Westminster Confession of Faith—have helped the Christian church recite and hold fast to God’s truth for centuries. However, many modern evangelicals reject these historic documents and the practices of catechesis, proclaiming their commitment to “no creed but the Bible.” And yet, in today’s rapidly changing culture, ancient liturgical tradition is not only biblical it’s essential.

In Crisis of Confidence, Carl Trueman analyzes how creeds and confessions can help the Christian church navigate modern concerns, particularly around the fraught issue of identity. He contends that statements of faith promote humility, moral structure, and a godly view of personhood, helping believers maintain a strong foundation amid a culture in crisis. This is a revised edition of Trueman’s The Creedal Imperative, now with a new section on the rise of expressive individualism.

• Updated Edition of The Creedal Imperative: Includes fresh cultural insights on modern individualism
• Written by Carl Trueman: Author of The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self (100,000+ copies sold)
• Theological and Historical: Explains why creeds and confessions are necessary, how they have developed over time, and how they can function in the church of today and tomorrow
• Ideal for Pastors, Professors, and Those Interested in Liturgical Tradition
• Replaces ISBN 978-1-4335-2190-4

Martin Luther’s Classic Work, Newly Translated by Robert Kolb

Originally published in 1520, The Freedom of a Christian is one of Martin Luther’s most well-known and enduring treatises. In it, Luther examines Christian ethics and how justification by faith alone impacts the liberty of believers. He famously writes, “A Christian is a free lord of everything and subject to no one. A Christian is a willing servant of everything and subject to everyone.” Luther also further develops ideas and doctrines that were key to the Reformation, such as the priesthood of all believers and union with Christ.

This addition to the Crossway Short Classics series features a new translation from the original German to English by renowned Reformation scholar Robert Kolb. The Freedom of a Christian reminds modern-day readers that it is ultimately grace that transforms God’s people and frees us to love and obey. 

• Accessible: Helpful for those looking to learn more about Luther and the Christian life, both new Christians and seasoned saints alike
• Part of the Crossway Short Classics Series: Introducing modern-day readers to classic works of faith—other volumes include Fighting for Holiness; Heaven Is a World of Love; and The Emotional Life of Our Lord  
• New Translation: Translated from the original German by world-renowned scholar Robert Kolb, author of Martin Luther: Confessor of the Faith. 
• Foreword by Carl R. Trueman: Author of the bestselling book The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self 

A Christian Answer to the Identity Angst of Our Culture

In the 21st-century West, identity is everything. Never has it been more important, culturally speaking, to know who you are and remain true to yourself. Expressive individualism—the belief that looking inward is the way to find yourself—has become the primary approach to identity formation, and questioning anyone’s “self-made self” is often considered a threat or attack.

Prompted by his own past crisis of identity, Brian Rosner challenges the status quo by arguing that, while knowing yourself is of some value, it cannot be the sole basis for one’s identity. He provides an approach to identity formation that leads to a more stable and satisfying sense of self. This approach looks outward to others—acknowledging that we are social beings—and looks upward to God to find a self who is intimately known and loved by him. How to Find Yourself equips readers from a variety of backgrounds to engage sympathetically with some of the most pressing questions of our day.

• Challenges the Status Quo: Examines and critiques expressive individualism—the leading strategy for identity formation
• Gospel-Centered: Identifies an approach to identity formation in Jesus’s life story and God’s personal knowledge of his children
• Accessible: Helpful for a wide audience of laypeople, students, and church leaders
• Foreword by Carl R. Trueman: Opens with a message from the author of The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self

Carl Trueman analyses the theology of the great Puritan theologian, John Owen, paying particular attention to his vigorous trinitarianism. To understand Owen, we need to see him as a seventeenth-century representative of the Western trinitarian and anti-Pelagian tradition. Trueman demonstrates how Owen used the theological insights of patristic, medieval, and Reformation theologians to meet the challenges posed to Reformed Orthodoxy by his contemporaries. A picture emerges of a theologian whose thought represented a critical reappropriation of aspects of the Western tradition for the purpose of developing a systematic restatement of Reformed theology capable of withstanding the assaults of both the subtly heterodox and the openly heretical.

Table of Contents:

1. Owen in Context

2. The Principles of Theology

3. The Doctrine of God

4. The Person and Work of Christ

5. The Nature of Satisfaction

6. The Man Who Wasn’t There

Appendix One: The Role of Aristotelian Teleology in Owen’s Doctrine of Atonement

Appendix Two: Owen, Baxter, and the Threefold Office

Author

Carl R. Trueman is professor of biblical and religious studies at Grove City College.

Endorsement

“Drawing on recent scholarship from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, the author brings attention to the important continuity that exists between the theology of John Owen and Reformation thought on the one hand and the continuity between theological method and that of the Church Fathers and Medieval doctors on the other hand . . . sound historical methodology and . . . a successful attempt to debunk many of the myths surrounding Reformed Scholasticism.” - Willem J. Asselt, University of Utrecht