Paul Cries Freedom in Galatia!


Book Description

This study emphasizes Paul's urgency in conveying the radical newness of life since the advent of Christ and his Spirit. Just as the Spirit introduces believers to the life in Christ, he equally leads them to live life in the faithfulness of Christ, producing the fruit of the Spirit. Paul describes this as a life of freedom from flesh and its law, as well as the elements of the world. Guiding believers ethically from inside and empowering them to do God's will, the Spirit has no need of law, making the christological pneumatological ethic of the new creation wholly anomistic. (Series: Theology in Africa, Vol. 6) [Subject: Religious Studies, Christian Studies]




8 Habits for Growth


Book Description

Don’t just do the right actions. Build habits—and watch your life be transformed. Many books try to help you do the right actions. But the real key to life transformation—for yourself and then for others—is building habits that become part of your life. Because habits don’t just dictate what you do. They reflect who you are. In 8 Habits for Growth, Darryl Dash wants to show you the eight long-term practices—all very doable—that will lead to permanent growth if you incorporate them into your life. You’ll learn why it’s important to: Make time Rest Read or listen to the Bible Pray Pursue worship and community in a church Care for your body Simplify your spiritual life Build a rule of life Personal growth doesn’t happen overnight. But it does happen, slowly, as you build God’s habits into your life. So what are you waiting for? Start your new habits today and let God transform who you are . . . and who you can become.




Interpreting Paul


Book Description

“For me, Paul has always been the most difficult and therefore also most delightful advocate and interpreter of the Lord Jesus Christ and of the human experience of God’s transforming power through Christ. In Paul’s letters above all I have found the quality of mind and the depth of conviction that could arouse in me both excitement and passion. And it is Paul’s letters, above all, that show how important and difficult is life together in the church.” — from the preface With the contextual framework in place from volume one of The Canonical Paul, Luke Timothy Johnson now probes each of the thirteen biblical letters traditionally attributed to the apostle Paul in a way that balances respect for historical integrity with attention to present-day realities. In doing so, Johnson reforges the connection between biblical studies and the life of the church, seeking to establish once again the foundational and generative role that the thirteen letters of Paul have had among Christians for centuries. Far from being a “definitive theology” of Paul, or an oversimplified synthesis, Interpreting Paul provides glimpses into various moments of Paul’s thinking and teaching that we find in Scripture, modeling how one might read his letters closely for fresh, creative interpretations now and into the future. Approached in this way, both in minute detail and as a whole canon, Paul’s letters yield rich insights, and his voice becomes accessible to all readers of the Bible.




The Torah in Matthew


Book Description

Jesus' relation to the Torah forms a significant motif in Matthew's Gospel. This relation is taken up as an important theme in the Sermon on the Mount with its strong Sinai typology, and disputes about the Torah are repeated throughout the Gospel. Jesus is depicted as the last and greatest expositor of the Torah. When reading this Gospel, the central role of the Torah must be seriously considered. This present study is furthermore relevant in the light of new insights that have developed in recent years on the diversity and dynamics within the Judaism that confronted Matthew. This diversity within Judaism is usually related to Judaist attitudes towards the Torah. To complicate this, oral traditions were strong and lively. Questions arose about the status of the written Scriptures and oral traditions and the authority ascribed to these. The Matthean community developed within this turmoil of developing Judaism.




Galatians


Book Description

A new commentary for today's world, The Story of God Bible Commentary explains and illuminates each passage of Scripture in light of the Bible's grand story. The first commentary series to do so, SGBC offers a clear and compelling exposition of biblical texts, guiding everyday readers in how to creatively and faithfully live out the Bible in their own contexts. Its story-centric approach is ideal for pastors, students, Sunday school teachers, and laypeople alike. Three easy-to-use sections designed to help readers live out God's story: LISTEN to the Story: Includes complete NIV text with references to other texts at work in each passage, encouraging the reader to hear it within the Bible's grand story EXPLAIN the Story: Explores and illuminates each text as embedded in its canonical and historical setting LIVE the Story: Reflects on how each text can be lived today and includes contemporary stories and illustrations to aid preachers, teachers, and students Praise for SGBC: "The editors and contributors set that table very well and open up the biblical story in ways that move us to act with sensitivity and understanding ... Well done." -Daniel I. Block, Wheaton College and Graduate School "[The] easy-to-use format and practical guidance brings God's grand story to modern-day life so anyone can understand how it applies today." -Andy Stanley, Senior Pastor, North Point Ministries "Engagingly readable, it not only explores the biblical text but offers a range of applications and interesting illustrations." -Craig S. Keener, Asbury Theological Seminary "I love the SGBC series. It makes the text sing and helps us hear the story afresh." -John Ortberg, Senior Pastor, Menlo Park Presbyterian Church "Pastors, Bible study leaders, and Christians of all types who are looking for a substantive and practical guide through the Scriptures will find these volumes helpful." -Frank Thielman, Beeson Divinity School "This commentary series breaks new ground ... Ideal for preaching and teaching." -Craig Blomberg, Denver Seminary "A perfect tool for helping every follower of Jesus to walk in the story that God is writing for them." -Judy Douglass, Cru




Galatians


Book Description

Galatians shines as Paul's foundational exposition of core Christianity. It's amazing how many so-called Christians don't really "get it." They think that the basis of Christianity is living a good moral life and doing good works. And - so long as you don't mess up your life entirely - you'll end up in heaven. And, oh yes, Jesus died for our sins, whatever that means. Paul's Letter to the Galatians deals with this kind of shallow understanding head-on. He had won the Galatians to Christ. But now some Jewish-Christians had begun to convince these Gentile believers that they couldn't be saved unless they were circumcised and kept the Mosaic Law. The new Christians were about to go backwards - from faith in Christ to faith in law-keeping - and Paul is adamant that this is a fall from grace. As you study Galatians, you'll begin to grasp the core of the gospel that helped Martin Luther to the conviction that we are saved by faith alone. You'll also learn to walk by the Spirit and bear the fruit of the Spirit in your character. This volume explores Galatians in 9 lessons. Thought-provoking discussion questions make it a useful tool for personal enrichment, small groups, and classes. Extensive footnotes assist teachers and preachers with background research for sermon preparation.




Deacons: The diakon-word group in the New Testament and the ministry of the deacon


Book Description

Deacons:The diakon-words in the New Testament and the ministry of the deacon offers an in depth analysis of the concept of `deacon' in the New Testament and its significance for present day congregational practices. The essence and content of the service of the deacon within the community of God forms the focus of the study. Significant passages in the New Testament are considered in fine exegetical manner to determine the guidelines offered within the context of these NT texts. In this way different perspectives are highlighted that enrich the overall understanding of the concept of `deacon'. Obviously, this challanges some of the views held on this topic (that even influence the way several churches organise their diaconal service) and suggests some novel ideas related to the topic. Certain focal points are described, for instance, the centrality of the covenant and Kingdom in exercising diaconal service, or the interrelatedness of koinonia, diakonia and worship. This book offers a rich and responsible study of the concept of deacons in congregations, both on theoretical and practical levels. Prof Dr Jan van der Watt




The Spirit in Galatia


Book Description

An investigation of the term pneuma in Paul's letter to the Galations is needed from the side of NT scholarship, because debate continues over the question about the nature of the crisis in the churches of Galatia and, therefore, about the historical occasion of Paul's statements about the Spirit. The focus of this debate is the character of Paul's opponents in the Galatian churches. Currently, the consensus is limited to a single point: that someone was engaging in a circumcizing campaign in the Galatian churches. But on the other points no agreement exists. The two parts of this study are distinguished in that the first part deals with the historical context of Paul's statements about the Spirit in Galatians: that is, the events because of which Paul wrote the letter, and the nature and social setting of expriences of the Spirit in the life of the Galatian churches. The second part deals with the theology of the Spirit in Paul's message to the Galatians, which has three aspectsÐsoteriology, christology, and eschatology. Ðfrom the Introduction




Forged


Book Description

Bart D. Ehrman, the New York Times bestselling author of Jesus, Interrupted and God’s Problem reveals which books in the Bible’s New Testament were not passed down by Jesus’s disciples, but were instead forged by other hands—and why this centuries-hidden scandal is far more significant than many scholars are willing to admit. A controversial work of historical reporting in the tradition of Elaine Pagels, Marcus Borg, and John Dominic Crossan, Ehrman’s Forged delivers a stunning explication of one of the most substantial—yet least discussed—problems confronting the world of biblical scholarship.




Galatians


Book Description

This narrative commentary explores Paul’s letter to the Galatians by placing it in the larger context of Paul’s life and ministry. Combining cultural and archeological research, Rev. Dr. Johannes W. H. van der Bijl draws together details from the book of Acts and the Pauline Epistles to offer us a unique glimpse into the real-life issues facing Paul, Barnabas, and the first-century church. While centred on the writing of Paul’s letter to the church in Galatia, the author follows Paul’s story and theological development through his early life and conversion to his ministry in Antioch and first missionary journey. By presenting Paul as a tangible, flesh and blood human, readers will better understand the message of Galatians – that there is unity and freedom to be had in Christ.