Re-membering the New Covenant at Corinth


Book Description

"Did Paul instigate Christianity's separation from Judaism, if one considers the stark polemical contrasts of 'new' and 'old' covenant in 2 Cor 3? Emmanuel Nathan argues that Paul reconfigured traditions and memories shaping the identity of his community at Corinth." --back cover




Re-Membering the Body


Book Description

This volume celebrates the ministry and theological contribution of Dr. Ruth Gouldbourne, one of the foremost Baptist and Free Church women ministers and scholars in Britain and Europe. Following studies at St Andrews University, and King’s College London, and ministerial training at Spurgeon’s College, she served at Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church, the Free Church Bunyan Meeting, Bedford, and had been a Tutor, after which she returned to the local pastorate at Bloomsbury then Grove Lane Baptist Church, Cheadle. Her doctorate explores gender and theology in the writings of the radical reformer, Caspar Schwenckfeld, and she has recently earned her MA in Shakespearean Studies. She has served the Baptist Union on the Baptist Women in Ministry and Training group, the Covenant 2000 Committee, the Working Groups on Membership, and Superintendency, as well as the Baptist Historical Society. Internationally, she chaired the Academic Board of the International Baptist Theological Seminary (IBTSC), and its the Board of Trustees, and her ecumenical commitment has included sitting on the World Council of Churches’ Faith and Order Commission, and serving Churches Together in Britain and Ireland. An Associate Fellow of Spurgeon’s College, she is also Senior Research Fellow of IBTSC Amsterdam, and a Research Fellow of Bristol Baptist College.




A Companion to Comparative Theology


Book Description

This Companion to Comparative Theology offers a survey of historical developments, contemporary approaches and future directions in a field of theology that has experienced rapid growth and expansion in the past decades.




The The New Quest for Paul and His Reading of the Old Testament


Book Description

The author is known as a strong opponent of the so-called New Perspective on Paul. In this book, he seeks to move beyond that debate and open new vistas in Pauline research. There is a need for much revision. The author first dives in&­ to a detailed exegetical study of 2 Corinthians 3, a chapter that has a reputation of being an exegetical nightmare. He examines the interpretational problems associated with the opposition between the letter that kills and the Spirit that gives life. Fresh insights emerge. Ultimately, the whole issue turns on the question whether to understand the Old Testament ac&­ cord&­ ing to the "literal-letteral" or "literal-spiritual" sense. As a consequence, Paul breaks up with Ju&­ da&­ ism and pulls down the works of the law since he competes against the view of observing the Torah "in flesh" and ac&­ cording to the "literal-letteral" meaning of the text. He regards such a reli&­ gious pur&­ suit as the worst form of human self-righteousness and self-praise (despite the serious efforts to true piety). On the other hand, Christians have undergone a transformation in terms of re-creation, rege&­ neration, resusci&­ tation, resur&­ rec&­ tion, or revitalization. The Spirit gives them life. He reigns in them. Hence, Christians do fulfill the whole Mosaic law. Yet, they fulfill it "in Spirit" and not "in flesh," in other words, according to the "literal-spiritual" and not "literal-letteral" sense of Scripture. As a consequence, they do not bolster their self-righteousness and self-praise. To corroborate his the&­ sis, the author draws on similar wordings in other Pauline letters and several passages in the Old Tes&­ ta&­ ment from Exodus, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel. The author concludes that the New Perspec&­ tive on Paul has run its course. A New Quest for Paul is needed. Therefore, this book is needed.




1 Corinthians


Book Description

Paul writes a letter to a church routinely in disagreement with Paul's vision for how to live as a Christian in Corinth (a Roman city). The Corinthians were daily challenged to pursue Romanitas, or the social, cultural, and religious life of the elites in the Roman world, and thus the Corinthians were pursuing too much prestige and status and honor. Various factions, or divisions, had formed among the house churches. Paul addresses a series of church problems presenting themselves in Corinth that need to be understood and corrected so the believers of Corinth can walk in the way of Christ more consistently. Scot McKnight provides scholarly insights with a pastoral heart for all the books of the New Testament. The NIV is used as the primary Bible text but McKnight also includes insights from his own translation of the entire New Testament. Each Bible study features a short, compact, clear exposition that both summarizes the whole and gives the reader a clear focus for what is central to the passage. McKnight also offers some historical context; connects the passage to the larger story of the Bible; provides an illustration, a metaphor, or an image that brings the passage alive; and provides a list of 2-3 resources for further reading or study. The series is suitable for group study, personal study, or daily reading.




Contextualization in the New Testament


Book Description

Winner of a 2006 Christianity Today Book Award! Honored as one of the "Fifteen Outstanding Books of 2005 for Mission Studies" by International Bulletin of Missionary Research From Cairo to Calcutta, from Cochabamba to Columbus, Christians are engaged in a conversation about how to speak and live the gospel in today's traditional, modern and emergent cultures. The technical term for their efforts is contextualization. Missionary theorists have pondered and written on it at length. More and more, those who do theology in the West are also trying to discover new ways of communicating and embodying the gospel for an emerging postmodern culture. But few have considered in depth how the early church contextualized the gospel. And yet the New Testament provides numerous examples. As both a crosscultural missionary and a New Testament scholar, Dean Flemming is well equipped to examine how the early church contextualized the gospel and to draw out lessons for today. By carefully sifting the New Testament evidence, Flemming uncovers the patterns and parameters of a Paul or Mark or John as they spoke the Word on target, and he brings these to bear on our contemporary missiological task. Rich in insights and conversant with frontline thinking, this is a book that will revitalize the conversation and refresh our speaking and living the gospel in today's cultures, whether in traditional, modern or emergent contexts.




2 Corinthians (Teach the Text Commentary Series)


Book Description

The Teach the Text Commentary Series utilizes the best of biblical scholarship to provide the information a pastor needs to communicate the text effectively. The carefully selected preaching units and focused commentary allow pastors to quickly grasp the big idea and key themes of each passage of Scripture. Each unit of the commentary includes the big idea and key themes of the passage and sections dedicated to understanding, teaching, and illustrating the text.




Remembering Jesus


Book Description

In the wake of the "What Would Jesus Do?" movement, Allen Verhey's Remembering Jesus takes a serious look at what Jesus really did and what he might do in the strange world of contemporary ethics. Verhey asserts that following Jesus requires remembering him, and this entails immersing ourselves in Scripture and Christian community, where the memory of Jesus is found. This book, which promises to be Verhy's magnum opus, explores how Christians can practice medical, sexual, economic, and political ethics with integrity. An ideal text for courses in Christian ethics, Remembering Jesus is also a valuable resource for pastors and general readers in search of readable, biblically based guidance for living in today's complex world.




The World's Greatest Love Story


Book Description

The components of this book will enhance the readers spiritual growth in the biblical ethics by placing these principles at the fingertips of the readers wealth of related information from which to draw. Reading and studying this bible study guide will enhance your Christian walk as well as your growth in faith. It will give the biblical way of living based on its ethical principles and presents Gods plan for salvation and daily Christian living. I pray that the annotating study of this Bible Study Guide will bless your spiritual life and growth for years to come. These notes provide a system for studying the doctrines of the Bible and for teaching them through the Scripture. By reading the notes within one topic area, you will complete a total survey of that particular Bible teaching with its explanations, illustrations, and practical applications for daily living. The comprehensive introductions, outlines, and reflection worksheets will give you an opportunity to strengthen your understanding of each topic.