Many writers on the spiritual life have used the analogy of climbing a ladder, as we progress towards that degree of perfection which Our Lord demands of us, 'Be ye perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect' (Matthew 5:48). It must originate in the story of Jacob's Ladder, on which he saw the angels ascending and descending --and since humility is the key to all virtue, who is to say whether we should be trying to go up, or to go down. St Benedict is the most familiar of those writers who speak of the Ladder of Humility (chapter 7 of his Rule). There are twelve steps, and that at once makes us look out for other things that go in sets of twelve. There are twelve Apostles, of course, and they respond to the twelve Tribes of Israel. There are twelve Minor Prophets. In St Paul there are twelve Fruits of the Holy Spirit, and in the earliest Christian writings after the New Testament itself, we find the Shepherd of Hermas, which speaks of twelve virgins, who are virtues, opposed to twelve women who are vices. Another very important document from this period, which has been strangely neglected, is the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs, which again looks at twelve virtues and their opposites. The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs are worth reading, as the text seems to be the very first systematic Christian treatise on moral theology: the twelve Patriarchs each discourse about some aspect of virtue or vice. It is written in the form of 'Testaments' or last speeches by the twelve sons of Jacob, addressed to their family gathered around them, each on his deathbed, on the model of the Biblical testament of Jacob. Written in Greek, and dated to the very end of the first century, it is seen as a Christian work, using the literary form of a pseudepigraphon (a device by which the real author attributes his writing to authoritative figures from the past to give it greater significance). Some earlier scholars thought it to be a Jewish text, but with a few Christian interpolations; if it really is a pre-Christian work, we would have to place it among St Paul's favourite books, for he seems to quote it many times. In fact, whether the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs is a late Jewish book which only survives in an early Christian edition, or a new composition by an early Christian drawing on Jewish predecessors, matters not a jot. The fact that early Christians edited it or wrote it, and certainly read it, is very significant. It is an important witness to the Early Church, it shows what the second or third generation of Christians thought and believed about the path to virtue, and acts as a guide to the contemporary Christian today.
Twelve Steps to Holiness. The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs
Twelve Steps to Holiness. The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs
Overview
Description
Many writers on the spiritual life have used the analogy of climbing a ladder, as we progress towards that degree of perfection which Our Lord demands of us, 'Be ye perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect' (Matthew 5:48). It must originate in the story of Jacob's Ladder, on which he saw the angels ascending and descending --and since humility is the key to all virtue, who is to say whether we should be trying to go up, or to go down. St Benedict is the most familiar of those writers who speak of the Ladder of Humility (chapter 7 of his Rule). There are twelve steps, and that at once makes us look out for other things that go in sets of twelve. There are twelve Apostles, of course, and they respond to the twelve Tribes of Israel. There are twelve Minor Prophets. In St Paul there are twelve Fruits of the Holy Spirit, and in the earliest Christian writings after the New Testament itself, we find the Shepherd of Hermas, which speaks of twelve virgins, who are virtues, opposed to twelve women who are vices. Another very important document from this period, which has been strangely neglected, is the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs, which again looks at twelve virtues and their opposites. The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs are worth reading, as the text seems to be the very first systematic Christian treatise on moral theology: the twelve Patriarchs each discourse about some aspect of virtue or vice. It is written in the form of 'Testaments' or last speeches by the twelve sons of Jacob, addressed to their family gathered around them, each on his deathbed, on the model of the Biblical testament of Jacob. Written in Greek, and dated to the very end of the first century, it is seen as a Christian work, using the literary form of a pseudepigraphon (a device by which the real author attributes his writing to authoritative figures from the past to give it greater significance). Some earlier scholars thought it to be a Jewish text, but with a few Christian interpolations; if it really is a pre-Christian work, we would have to place it among St Paul's favourite books, for he seems to quote it many times. In fact, whether the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs is a late Jewish book which only survives in an early Christian edition, or a new composition by an early Christian drawing on Jewish predecessors, matters not a jot. The fact that early Christians edited it or wrote it, and certainly read it, is very significant. It is an important witness to the Early Church, it shows what the second or third generation of Christians thought and believed about the path to virtue, and acts as a guide to the contemporary Christian today.
About the Author
Fr. Jerome Bertram is a Catholic priest of the Oxford Oratory. He regularly preaches retreats to religious communities in England as well as overseas. He has published several books about prayer, the sacraments, and the spiritual life.
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If you are shipping an item over $75, you should consider using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance. We don’t guarantee that we will receive your returned item.
Overview
Many writers on the spiritual life have used the analogy of climbing a ladder, as we progress towards that degree of perfection which Our Lord demands of us, 'Be ye perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect' (Matthew 5:48). It must originate in the story of Jacob's Ladder, on which he saw the angels ascending and descending --and since humility is the key to all virtue, who is to say whether we should be trying to go up, or to go down. St Benedict is the most familiar of those writers who speak of the Ladder of Humility (chapter 7 of his Rule). There are twelve steps, and that at once makes us look out for other things that go in sets of twelve. There are twelve Apostles, of course, and they respond to the twelve Tribes of Israel. There are twelve Minor Prophets. In St Paul there are twelve Fruits of the Holy Spirit, and in the earliest Christian writings after the New Testament itself, we find the Shepherd of Hermas, which speaks of twelve virgins, who are virtues, opposed to twelve women who are vices. Another very important document from this period, which has been strangely neglected, is the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs, which again looks at twelve virtues and their opposites. The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs are worth reading, as the text seems to be the very first systematic Christian treatise on moral theology: the twelve Patriarchs each discourse about some aspect of virtue or vice. It is written in the form of 'Testaments' or last speeches by the twelve sons of Jacob, addressed to their family gathered around them, each on his deathbed, on the model of the Biblical testament of Jacob. Written in Greek, and dated to the very end of the first century, it is seen as a Christian work, using the literary form of a pseudepigraphon (a device by which the real author attributes his writing to authoritative figures from the past to give it greater significance). Some earlier scholars thought it to be a Jewish text, but with a few Christian interpolations; if it really is a pre-Christian work, we would have to place it among St Paul's favourite books, for he seems to quote it many times. In fact, whether the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs is a late Jewish book which only survives in an early Christian edition, or a new composition by an early Christian drawing on Jewish predecessors, matters not a jot. The fact that early Christians edited it or wrote it, and certainly read it, is very significant. It is an important witness to the Early Church, it shows what the second or third generation of Christians thought and believed about the path to virtue, and acts as a guide to the contemporary Christian today.
Description
Many writers on the spiritual life have used the analogy of climbing a ladder, as we progress towards that degree of perfection which Our Lord demands of us, 'Be ye perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect' (Matthew 5:48). It must originate in the story of Jacob's Ladder, on which he saw the angels ascending and descending --and since humility is the key to all virtue, who is to say whether we should be trying to go up, or to go down. St Benedict is the most familiar of those writers who speak of the Ladder of Humility (chapter 7 of his Rule). There are twelve steps, and that at once makes us look out for other things that go in sets of twelve. There are twelve Apostles, of course, and they respond to the twelve Tribes of Israel. There are twelve Minor Prophets. In St Paul there are twelve Fruits of the Holy Spirit, and in the earliest Christian writings after the New Testament itself, we find the Shepherd of Hermas, which speaks of twelve virgins, who are virtues, opposed to twelve women who are vices. Another very important document from this period, which has been strangely neglected, is the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs, which again looks at twelve virtues and their opposites. The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs are worth reading, as the text seems to be the very first systematic Christian treatise on moral theology: the twelve Patriarchs each discourse about some aspect of virtue or vice. It is written in the form of 'Testaments' or last speeches by the twelve sons of Jacob, addressed to their family gathered around them, each on his deathbed, on the model of the Biblical testament of Jacob. Written in Greek, and dated to the very end of the first century, it is seen as a Christian work, using the literary form of a pseudepigraphon (a device by which the real author attributes his writing to authoritative figures from the past to give it greater significance). Some earlier scholars thought it to be a Jewish text, but with a few Christian interpolations; if it really is a pre-Christian work, we would have to place it among St Paul's favourite books, for he seems to quote it many times. In fact, whether the Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs is a late Jewish book which only survives in an early Christian edition, or a new composition by an early Christian drawing on Jewish predecessors, matters not a jot. The fact that early Christians edited it or wrote it, and certainly read it, is very significant. It is an important witness to the Early Church, it shows what the second or third generation of Christians thought and believed about the path to virtue, and acts as a guide to the contemporary Christian today.
About the Author
Fr. Jerome Bertram is a Catholic priest of the Oxford Oratory. He regularly preaches retreats to religious communities in England as well as overseas. He has published several books about prayer, the sacraments, and the spiritual life.
Condition Guidelines
Books - New and Used
The following guidelines apply to books:
- New: A brand-new copy with cover and original protective wrapping intact. Books with markings of any kind on the cover or pages, books marked as "Bargain" or "Remainder," or with any other labels attached, may not be listed as New condition.
- Used - Good: All pages and cover are intact (including the dust cover, if applicable). Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May include "From the library of" labels. Shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Item may be missing bundled media.
- Used - Acceptable: All pages and the cover are intact, but shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Pages may include limited notes, highlighting, or minor water damage but the text is readable. Item may but the dust cover may be missing. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting, but the text cannot be obscured or unreadable.
Note: Some electronic material access codes are valid only for one user. For this reason, used books, including books listed in the Used – Like New condition, may not come with functional electronic material access codes.
Shipping & Delivery
Shipping Fees
- Stevens Books offers FREE SHIPPING everywhere in the United States for ALL non-book orders, and $3.99 for each book.
- Packages are shipped from Monday to Friday.
- No additional fees and charges.
Delivery Times
The usual time for processing an order is 24 hours (1 business day), but may vary depending on the availability of products ordered. This period excludes delivery times, which depend on your geographic location.
Estimated delivery times:
- Standard Shipping: 5-8 business days
- Expedited Shipping: 3-5 business days
Shipping method varies depending on what is being shipped.
Tracking
All orders are shipped with a tracking number. Once your order has left our warehouse, a confirmation e-mail with a tracking number will be sent to you. You will be able to track your package at all times.
Damaged Parcel
If your package has been delivered in a PO Box, please note that we are not responsible for any damage that may result (consequences of extreme temperatures, theft, etc.).
If you have any questions regarding shipping or want to know about the status of an order, please contact us or email to support@stevensbooks.com.
Returns & Refunds
You may return most items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund.
To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging.
Several types of goods are exempt from being returned. Perishable goods such as food, flowers, newspapers or magazines cannot be returned. We also do not accept products that are intimate or sanitary goods, hazardous materials, or flammable liquids or gases.
Additional non-returnable items:
- Gift cards
- Downloadable software products
- Some health and personal care items
To complete your return, we require a tracking number, which shows the items which you already returned to us.
There are certain situations where only partial refunds are granted (if applicable)
- Book with obvious signs of use
- CD, DVD, VHS tape, software, video game, cassette tape, or vinyl record that has been opened
- Any item not in its original condition, is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to our error
- Any item that is returned more than 30 days after delivery
Items returned to us as a result of our error will receive a full refund,some returns may be subject to a restocking fee of 7% of the total item price, please contact a customer care team member to see if your return is subject. Returns that arrived on time and were as described are subject to a restocking fee.
Items returned to us that were not the result of our error, including items returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address, will be refunded the original item price less our standard restocking fees.
If the item is returned to us for any of the following reasons, a 15% restocking fee will be applied to your refund total and you will be asked to pay for return shipping:
- Item(s) no longer needed or wanted.
- Item(s) returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address.
- Item(s) returned to us that were not a result of our error.
You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).
If you need to return an item, please Contact Us with your order number and details about the product you would like to return. We will respond quickly with instructions for how to return items from your order.
Shipping Cost
We'll pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.). In other cases, you will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable. If you receive a refund, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund.
Depending on where you live, the time it may take for your exchanged product to reach you, may vary.
If you are shipping an item over $75, you should consider using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance. We don’t guarantee that we will receive your returned item.
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