Q.N.D.S.

(Editorial)

 "What does this mean?" Those who first met with this obscure abbreviation must have surely asked this question. It is found on many tombstones and in the Christian catacombs. Next to the names of the martyrs appears the mysterious writing: "ETALII Q.N.D.S." Finally someone, perhaps finding an antique fragment or a letter o a writing of those first centuries, or perhaps, we wish, thinking of the Bible, has solved the enigma. The letters above were the abbreviation of a Latin saying: "et alii quorum nomina deus scit" which means: "and others whose names God knows". At times the first Christians buried their dead in a communal grave, especially during the first terrible persecutions. On the tombstones were written the names of the more well-known and then they limited themselves to writing the abbreviation to remind everyone that, even if a martyr's name was not written on the tombstone, he was well-known to God. God knows our names, one by one. They are written in "The Book of Life". As Jesus said to His disciples when he exhorted them to rejoice not only because "the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven" (Luke 10:20). Also Paul remembers his companions and, without mentioning them, simply says, "and the rest of my fellow workers whose names are written in the book of life" (Philippians 4:3). God knows us, He has our names well fixed in His mind, and reads them every day among the pages of that book that only Christ will open on the last day (Revelation 5:5).

In biblical times, a name had considerable importance. There was a relationship between the name and the person. The name signified the being of the person himself to such a degree that knowing someone's name meant knowing him in a deep way. Several great characters in biblical history had their names changed by God Himself. By changing their name, God wanted to show that their lives were also changing. How can we forget that: Abram became Abraham, the father of a multitude (Genesis 17:5); Jacob, after wrestling with an angel, became Israel, he who had struggled with God; the hot-tempered Simon became Peter (John 1:42). For each one, God has a task and a special name. In Revelation, a book often overlooked by brethren, it says to him who overcomes, God will give, at the end of time, "a white stone and a new name written on the stone ..." (Revelation 2:17). I do not know what my new name will be, but I know that God knows me intimately. He calls me by name and for Him I am not just a number or one among many. But I am a son, even if often I delude Him and go astray from His house, and He loves me with a jealous love. Does it surprise us to think that God will have a new name for us that only He knows and with that name He will call us to be near Him? In the Father's house, everything is ready, the whole is in order, and all is new for us, even our name. A name that shall be read, in the last day, by Christ Himself when He will break the seals of the Book of Life. I would like, one of these days, to scan that book. Probably I would go immediately to the letter "V" to see if my name is there. I think I could have some surprises when I read the names of people that, in my heart, I have already condemned to the eternal fire. But it's better to leave it to God, knowing for certain, that He has us in His heart, loves us, and wants to keep us with Him.

He knows us and for however hard has have been our walk, and for however many hardships and delusions we have had from life, and for however many bitter events and incomprehensible things we have suffered, there will arrive a moment in which our Father will say, "ENOUGH, THIS IS MY SON!" And, calling us by name, He will hug us to keep us forever with Him.

(Vittorio Vitalone)

A PRESS CONFERENCE FOR THE PRESENTATION OF MARIO PICCOLI'S BOOK--UN'IPOTESI

DI STUDIO: GIUBILEO, ANNO SANTO OPPURE ANNO SABATICO? (An Attempted Study: The Jubilee, The Holy Year, or The Sabbatical Year?)

The introduction was written by Cosmo G. S. Salvemini and the book has been edited by The Gaetano Salvemini Movement.

The conference will be held Wed., 3 December 1997, at 6:00 p.m. at a meeting place for the Salvemini Movement located in P. L. Guerra St., no. 8, of Rome in the Cinecitta district.

The book's contents are illustrated by several different people: Gennaro Coviello (historian), Domenico Del Rio (journalist), Riccardo Di Segni (rabbi), Maria Perrone Policicchio (advertiser), Paolo Ricci (theologian).  The following is an article about Bro. Piccoli's book. The caption reads: A VALUABLE BOOK BY MARIO PICCOLI WHICH WILL CAUSE LENGTHY DISCUSSIONS ABOUT : AN ATTEMPTED STUDY ON THE JUBILEE. The article states: "An attempted study, on any subject, must it be "forced" to present demonstrable proofs in favor of itself? ... In fact Mario Piccoli actually does not state a pretext for demonstrating something. He does, however, show by the book's content and by the manner in which it is presented, "An Attempted Study". It is logical; however, the various elements (texts, history, documents, etc.) which revolve around "the supposition" do not hide a certain intention to clarify, at least in part, the doubts on the subject examined. Thus, the book offers clear and precise elements of knowledge, when necessary, to incite the reader to serious reflection and, possibly, to help him to autonomously acquire directions which can lead him towards a friendship with God. Why? It seems fairly clear, that not only the author of the book, but also the possible positions on the subject, all have the same purpose: they want to point souls towards the Everlasting Lord ... Reading a text of this sort, with an introduction written by Cosmo G. S. Salvemini along the line of a stringent historical analysis, pushes one on towards reading the Only Book of God, which is, The Holy Scriptures, the secure and unquestionable Teacher of spiritual life." Maria Rosaria Sanciuolo (tratto da L'ATTUALITA' - Periodico Mensile di Societa' e Cultura - Novembre-Dicembre 1997; taken from ACTUALITY: A Monthly Periodical of Society and Culture - Nov./Dec. 1997).

On Sat., 7 February 1998, there will be a meeting for preachers and church leaders on the topics: "Roles of Responsibility in the Congregation" and "Co-Operation Between Churches". This meeting will take place at the Florence Bible School and more information can be obtained by calling: 06-871-93697 or by writing to: Church of Christ - V.le Jonio, n. 286 - 00141 Rome - Italy.

BRIEF NEWS ITEMS

 U.S.A. - Darwinism is put on trial. More than 150 scholars are to discuss the hypothesis of "intelligent design". They do not believe in the Bible, but they affirm the difference between applied materialistic philosophy and pure scientific research. Prof. Philip Johnson, author of the book DARWIN ON TRIAL, of the University of Berkeley of California, stated: "We must recognize the difference that exists between materialistic philosophy and scientific investigation."

GERMANY - GianPaolo Fascella of Rheda writes us: "I am happy to receive the newsletter CHIESEinFORMA from Italy and to know that the churches are always truly in FORMA (that is, in good shape). May the good name of the Lord ever go forward. A greeting and a thanks to all the congregations."

APPEALS - We are seeking the addresses of Bro. Earl Weldon and of Bro. Alfonso Castiglione. Whoever knows these, please communicate them to the editor of this newsletter.

We are also seeking a copy of the book IL ROMANZO DELLA BIBBIA (The Story of the Bible) by Bro. Fausto Salvoni. Whoever has a copy available, please send it to: Church of Christ - V.le Jonio, n. 286 - 00141 Rome - Italy.

NEWS FROM THE CONGREGATIONS

 ROME - Church of Christ at Viale Jonio - The congregation is already working on the next annual lectureship at S.Severa, which will take place, God willing, on May 15-17, 1998. Thus, you can put this date on your calendar and schedule in your coming. We will be delighted to be together and to rejoice in the fellowship that we have in Christ.

- Since September, the congregation has begun to have meetings with a group of Latin-American sisters. Each Thursday we gather at the building from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. for prayer and study of God's Word together. We will take advantage of the space offered to us by CHIESEinFORMA to express our joy and to underscore our fellowship with Rosaelena, who stated she wanted to place membership with the saints on Sept. 9. We give best wishes to Rosaelena that the Lord will bless her during her stay in Italy and that He will use her as an instrument in His hands to preach the gospel in this multi-ethnic city! (Giancarlo Balboni)

NEW BIRTHS IN CHRIST

- The church at Petilia Policastro (Catanzaro province) greatly rejoiced this past month for the baptisms of two young people in the congregation: PAOLO MIRABELLI (son of Giuseppe and Elisa) and CINZIA CARDAMONE (daughter of Mario and Lucia). It's wonderful that we can say about these Christian parents: "They feared God WITH ALL THEIR HOUSE" (see Acts 10:2; Joshua 24:15)!

- SILVIA SEMINARA and VALENTINA MILLARINI, of the congregation of Pistoia, asked to be baptized to begin the new life in Christ (see Romans 6).

To these four new young disciples, we dedicate the apostle John's words: "I am writing to you young men, because you have overcome the evil one" (1John 2:13).

PRAYER REQUESTS

- Bro. Shawn Daggett asks our prayers for his family and for the American young people who will come to Italy in the summer of 1998 to be involved in evangelistic activities.

- Bro. Pierino Cosentino called us asking for our prayers for the congregation in Spezzano Piccolo (Cosenza province).

- Bro. Gabriele Modica called us asking for our prayers and for more interaction among the congregations.

NOTICE TO OUR READERS

We take this opportunity to remind the churches of Christ in Italy that CHIESEinFORMA was born as a newsletter of service and of information for our congregations. We will be grateful to all those who send us news concerning our fellowship. We urge all congregations to have a greater collaboration.

THE ITALIAN UNIVERSITY WITH MORE CHRISTIAN STUDENTS

The University of Calabria, with its center in Cosenza, is the university which can boast the most Christian students. The are FIVE young believers which are enrolled in the departments of Science and Humanities. They are Debora Mirabelli, Luisa Mirabelli, Katia Cardemone, Francesco Cosentino and Serafina Pometti. And there's even more. Two cooks at this university, professionals in food distribution, are also Christians: Pierino and Ferdinando, members of the Church of Christ in Spezzano Piccolo (Cosenza province). May God bless you all and make it work out so that your presence will be a witness to the cultured world in which you live!

To those who seek for wisdom, we preach Christ (1 Corinthians 1 and 2).

HOW TO HAVE CHURCH GROWTH IN A SHORT TIME WITHOUT PREACHING THE GOSPEL

This is manual of methods and of secrets about the growth of the local church without preaching the Gospel. You can request this from the editor of CHIESEinFORMA and it will be sent to you without cost.

PUBLICATIONS

 - An interesting study has been published on the divinity of Jesus (entitled DIVINITA' DI GESU') by Professors F. F. Bruce and W. S. Martin. Whoever would like a copy can ask for it and send 3,000 lire ($2.00) to the editor of this newsletter.

- There is still available an excellent study by Marcello Cicchese: L'ALTRA BIBBIA (The Other Bible). It is a brief reflective essay on the motivations and the consequences involved in using the historical-critical method for reading the Bible. For information, you can write: Il Cristiano - Via del Campo della Fiera, 16 - 52031 Anghiari (AR) - Italy.

BOOK REVIEWS

 F. F. Bruce - LA LETTERA DI PAOLO AI ROMANI (The Letter of Paul to the Romans) - pp. 364 - L. 37.000 ($23.00) - Ed. GBU, 1997 (This is a translation of the commentary on the book of Romans in the Tyndale NT commentary series.)

We present the second revised edition of a commentary on the letter to the Romans, considered by some scholars to be the most important book in the New Testament. For us every part of the New Testament is important; however, Paul's letter to the Romans clothes every believer's heart with a character all its own. "No man verily can read it too oft or study it too well; for the more it is studied the easier it is, the more it is chewed the pleasanter it is, and the more groundly it is searched the preciouser things are found in it, so great treasure of spiritual things lieth hid therein." Thus wrote the scholar William Tyndale already in 1534. This commentary, well written with plain and easy reading, catches the reader's attention for its harmonious content and its balanced comments. In particular we note the proper emphasis placed by this study on the importance of baptism, commenting on chapter 6 (vv. 3-14). And considering the author's evangelical extraction, we can not but rejoice over the fact that always a greater number of scholars and believers uphold baptism by immersion among the indispensable acts for a new life in Christ, as Bruce in fact says: "Baptism thus seals the believer's exodus, his deliverance from the bondage of sin, and his entry into a new life of freedom." Here then is a good commentary to keep next to our Bibles which can help us to always understand better God's will.

Here is how NOT to collaborate with CHIESEinFORMA:

1) Don't send news;

2) Don't pass out this newsletter in your congregation;

3) Don't read it yourself and don't let anybody else read it;

4) Don't support it;

5) Don't ever let your name been seen; you could be compromising!

"And the serpent said to the woman, "You shall not ..." (Genesis 3:4)

LITERATURE OF CHRISTIAN AUTHORS

 We have received a new series of the magazine in English: REASON & REVELATION. This is a monthly journal of Christian evidences edited by Brothers Bert Thompson and Wayne Jackson. The magazine deals above all with apologetics and Christian evidences. The annual subscription rate is $11.00. Whoever is interested in receiving this magazine can send their subscription to: Apologetics Press, Inc. - 230 Landmark Drive - Montgomery, AL 36117-2752.

BRAND NEW

GRANDE ENCICLOPEDIA ILLUSTRATA DELLA BIBBIA (GREAT ILLUSTRATED ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE BIBLE) - Ed. PIEMME (Edited by Piemme)

This is a work in three volumes created by more than 300 scholars. All the Bible is explained word for word. There are more than 2,500 articles accompanied by more than 1,500 illustrations, maps, charts, and genealogical tables.