Scripture is a beautiful mosaic of Christ.

The earliest Christians expressed their faith with creativity through symbols and summaries. In Christ the Center, Tomas Bokedal explores the relationship of the rule of faith, nomina sacra, and numerical patterns with Scripture. The nomina sacra—scribal reverence for divine names within Scripture—display remarkable intentionality and theological reflection. The nomina sacra in turn directed the emerging rule of faith. These scribal practices reveal early devotional and theological preoccupation and guided the text's shape and interpretation in the early centuries after Christ.

Christ the Center showcases early Christian reverence for Scripture—and especially for the One of whom Scripture speaks.

Tomas Bokedal (ThD, Lund University) is associate professor in New Testament at NLA University College in Bergen, Norway, and lecturer in New Testament at the University of Aberdeen in Scotland.