The twenty-first century opened with the religiously-inspired attacks of 9/11 and in the years since such attacks have become all too common. Over against the minority who carry out violence at God's direction, however, there are millions of believers around the world who live lives of anonymous kindness. They also see their actions as guided by the divine. How is divine guidance to be understood against the background of such diametrically opposed results? How to make sense of both Osama bin Laden and Mother Teresa? In order to answer this question, John A. Jillions turns to the first-century world of Corinth, where Jews, Gentiles, and early Christians intermixed and vigorously debated the question of divine guidance. In this ancient melting pot, the ideas of writers and poets, philosophers, rabbis, prophets, and the apostle Paul confronted and complemented each other. These writers reveal a culture that reflected deeply upon the realities, ambiguities, and snares posed by questions of divine guidance. Jillions draws these insights together to offer an outline for the twenty-first century and suggest criteria for how to assess perceived divine guidance. Jillions opens a long-closed window in the history of ideas in order to shed valuable light on this timeless question.

"This is an intriguing approach to understanding a complex epistle in the light of Paul's own convictions concerning his calling and the continuing presence of Christ and the Spirit in the emerging Christian community....a pioneering study." - Paul Ladouceur, University of Toronto, Journal of Orthodox Christian Studies

"This study is framed with remarkable scholarly and pastoral sensitivity... It demonstrates methodical, perceptive, theological and philological analysis of the historical sources while also engaging with contemporary theological, ecclesiological and ecumenical issues." - Petros Vassiliadis, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Theologia 91:1

"What a time to have a book appear about divine guidance! The endless, and on the whole very depressing, debates among Catholic and Orthodox Christians I have been watching, especially over whether the sacraments - the Eucharist especially - have some kind of magical properties given by God to "protect" people...have been almost entirely unedifying to behold...Along comes the calm, cool scholarship of Fr John Jillions in this moment." - Eastern Christian Books

"By a comprehensive historical survey of literary and religious evidence from Greco-Roman and Jewish cultures, Fr. Jillions offers a brilliant analysis of Paul's letter to the Corinthians. Philosophical reflections about grace and free will, faith and reason, inspired Scripture and personal experience, encounter the cross. This book reflects that of all theological doctrines, the most challenging may be providence: does God sit idle in heaven, or does he exercise divine guidance in our lives?" - David W. Fagerberg, Professor, University of Notre Dame

"John Jillions has written a book that is a splendid work of scholarship, and on a fascinating (if neglected) topic. But it is ever so much more than that: a rich, searching, moving meditation on some of the most essential dimensions of spiritual longing and religious hope." - David Bentley Hart, author of The Hidden and the Manifest: Essays in Theology and Metaphysics

"This is a work of original scholarship that breaks new ground. It is of interest to specialists in the field of New Testament studies and early church history, but it is written in such a way that it will also appeal to a wider field, including theology students in general, and clergy and laity who are not necessary academics. I predict it will become the standard treatment of the subject." - Metropolitan Kallistos (Ware) of Diokleia