Biblical Theology

“YHWH Fights for Them!” The Divine Warrior in the Exodus Narrative – Hardcover

The divine warrior is an important motif in the Old Testament, leading many to study profitably the motif in its most prominent manifestations in poetic texts. This study builds on that foundation by examining the divine warrior in detail in the exodus narrative to construct a broader picture of the motif in the Old Testament. The heart of the work focuses on the exodus narrative. Many aspects of YHWH’s actions in the narrative, such as the terminology, his nature weapons, his psychological attacks, the presence of supernatural envoys and disease, and his harmonious relationship with his people identify YHWH’s role as that of a divine warrior.

An Introduction to the Catholic Epistles

This book introduces the Epistles and discusses the different interpretive approaches which have been used to gain a clearer understanding of them. An introductory chapter defines the Epistles and describes the history of their canonization, following chapters are devoted to each of the texts with each chapter including: 1) historical-cultural background; 2) the social-scientific context; 3) social-rhetorical purposes; 4) narrative discourse; 5) postcolonial and 6) feminist insights; and finally 7) theological perspectives. At the end of each chapter there are suggestions for further reading and a list of reflection questions. A final chapter takes up the relationship between the Pauline Epistles and the Catholic Epistles within the New Testament.

Biblical Theology: Past, Present, and Future

This book offers two things in particular: first, these are papers that have been commented on and re-worked in the context of a set of lively sessions from (International) SBL conferences from 2012 to 2014 (Amsterdam, St. Andrews, Vienna). Second, they offer an insight into the origins of the discipline as one which became conscious of itself in the early modern era and the turn to history and the analysis of texts, to offer something exegetical and synthetic. The fresh wind that the enterprise received in the latter part of the twentieth century is the focus of the second part of the volume, which describes the recent activity up to the present “state of the question” The third part takes a step further to anticipate the way forward for the discipline in an era where “canon”–but also “Scripture” and “theology”–seem to be alien terms, and where other ideologies are advanced in the name of neutrality.

Christians in an Age of Wealth: A Biblical Theology of Stewardship

In Christians in an Age of Wealth, Craig Blomberg addresses tough questions about the place and purpose of wealth and material possessions in a Christian’s life. He points to the goodness of wealth, as God originally designed it, but also surveys the Bible’s many warnings against making an idol out of money. Taking a close exegetical look at this topic as it’s discussed in Scripture, Blomberg answers the toughest questions about Christianity and wealth. Blomberg expounds upon how the sharing of goods and possessions is the key safeguard against both greed and covetousness. He expands on the concept of giving generously, even sacrificially, to those who are needier, demonstrating how Christians can participate in God’s original good design for abundance and demonstrate the world-altering gospel of Christ.

Explorations in Interdisciplinary Reading: Theological, Exegetical, and Reception-Historical Perspectives

The tension between reading Scripture as primarily a historically situated text on one hand and binding canon addressed to a community of faith on the other constitutes a crucial issue for biblical interpretation. The goal of this project was to foster a sustained discussion where exploratory papers might be proposed, composed, and rewritten for final form using a collaborative process. This research project, and the present volume resulting from it, offers valuable insights into the integration of Biblical Studies and Theology as subdisciplines within the academy. The essays collected here fall naturally into the following sections: Exegetical Explorations, Reception-Historical Explorations, and finally Theological-Practical Explorations.

Following Jesus, the Servant King: A Biblical Theology of Covenantal Discipleship

What does the Bible say about who Jesus is and what he asks of us, his followers? In Following Jesus, the Servant King, Jonathan Lunde makes plain how having a strong understanding of covenantal theology opens us to greater discipleship. From the angle of biblical teaching, Lunde tackles some of the most poignant questions about being a disciple of Christ: What does it mean to follow Jesus? What does God expect from his followers? How can we be and do what is required? While answering these essential questions, Lunde thoroughly details God’s covenants throughout the whole of Scripture, explaining what this means in terms of our relationship with God and how Jesus fulfills each of them in turn.

Hebrews in Contexts (Ancient Judaism and Early Christianity) – Hardcover

Scholars of Hebrews have repeatedly echoed the almost proverbial saying that the book appears to its reader as a “Melchizedekian being without genealogy”. For such scholars the aphorism identified prominent traits of Hebrews, its enigma, its otherness, its marginality. Hebrews in Contexts, edited by Gabriella Gelardini and Harold W. Attridge, is an expression of this interest. It gathers authors who explore extensively on Hebrews’ relations to other early traditions and texts (Jewish, Hellenistic, and Roman) in order to map Hebrews’ historical, cultural, and religious identity in greater, and perhaps surprising detail.

How to Read Theology: Engaging Doctrine Critically & Charitably

This handy, accessible introduction to reading theology helps readers engage doctrine critically and charitably. It serves as a primer to theological texts, offering practical guidelines for assessing theology and equipping the next generation of pastors and theologians to read theological literature wisely—even when they might disagree with it. An ideal theology textbook, it is especially well suited for students reading theological literature and discussing doctrine for the first time.

Jesus in Trinitarian Perspective: An Intermediate Christology

Jesus in Trinitarian Perspective features six highly respected scholars from schools such as Erskine Theological Seminary, Talbot School of Theology, Dallas Theological Seminary, and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. These scholars address an issue that has a significant impact on the way Christians should approach everyday evangelism but is often ignored: the fundamental fact that the Savior who died on the cross and rose from the dead is the eternal second person of the Trinity. This introductory Christology book is written for advanced undergraduates and entry-level seminary students.

Kingdom of God and the Teaching of Jesus: In 20th Century Theology

Is the Kingdom already realized when people live in the Christian ethic, or does it await fulfillment in the Second Coming? In this penetrating analysis, Dr. Mark Saucy shows that how we answer such questions is far from being merely an academic issue. He holds that emphasizing the “already” or social aspect of the Kingdom over the “not yet” or apocalyptic aspect results in failed utopianism and devaluation of the Church as the contemporary expression of the Kingdom.

Paul’s Thorn in the Flesh: New Clues for an Old Problem

Paul’s enigmatic “thorn in the flesh” in 2 Corinthians has baffled interpreters for centuries. Many offer suggestions as to the identity of Satan’s messenger; others despair that the puzzle is unsolvable. In Paul’s Thorn in the Flesh: New Clues for an Old Problem, Kenneth Berding reopens the case. He follows a trail of clues that includes ancient beliefs about curses, hints in Paul’s letters, similarities with Jesus’s suffering, and the attempts of the earliest Christian interpreters. Berding offers twenty criteria—some familiar, others neglected—that any proposals must explain.

Since we are Justified by Faith: Justification in the Theologies of the Protestant Reformation

It is often assumed that the Reformation taught justification by faith as if there was a monolithic view of the doctrine. Since We Are Justified By Faith is a collection of important essays that dispel this myth, demonstrating the diverse theologies of that period. Experts in the field, including Cameron MacKenzie, Aaron OKelly, Jeff Fisher, Kirk MacGregor, Mary Patton Baker, Karin Spiecker Stetina, David Hall, Bonnie Pattison, Timothy Shaun Price, Andre Gazal, and Chris Ross, write on the theologies of Luther, Melanchthon, Oecolampadius, Marpeck, Calvin, and the English reformers to give a nuanced reading of the doctrine in sixteenth-century Protestant theology.

Tempted for Us: Theological Models and the Practical Relevance of Christ’s Impeccability and Temptation

McKinley explores and evaluates several models that have been developed of Christ’s impeccability and temptation. His pneumatological account maintains that Jesus was truly tempted in ways that are closely relevant to the temptations common to us. Thus Jesus provides true help as the credible example to follow and truly sympathetic ally in the fight against sin.

The Gospel of John – Participant Guide

Designed to accompany the DVD study, The Gospel of John Participant Guide provides an outline of the video teaching with room for notes and includes photos, maps, additional information, and a five-day personal Bible study guide after each lesson.  Jesus has called you. Called you to be different. Called you to love. Called you to restore. Equip your small group to answer the call of God on their life with this incredible 12-session DVD. The Gospel of John: Finding Identity and Purpose DVD Bible Study covers 12 passages from the book of John that will deepen your understanding of identity, calling, and God’s purpose for you. Packed with leader tips, discussion questions, practical applications, and prayer points, this DVD study can be led by anyone! Sessions are taught by 6 professors with specialized areas of knowledge. This includes the Participant Guide only. DVD sold separately.

The Kingdom of God

The kingdom of God is a very large biblical category indeed. Accordingly, a comprehensive understanding of the kingdom would illuminate many aspects of theology. With this in mind, Bruce Waltke, Robert Yarbrough, Gerald Bray, Clinton Arnold, Gregg Allison, Stephen Nichols, and Anthony Bradley have collaborated to articulate a full view of the kingdom of God across multiple disciplines. One of the most important books on the kingdom since G. E. Ladd, this volume offers a robust theology and is corroborated by the very series in which it stands. Fourth in the noted Theology in Community series, The Kingdom of God establishes the significance of the kingdom from the perspectives of biblical theology, systematic theology, history, pastoral application, missiology, and cultural analysis.

The Story of the Old Testament

David Talley believes that following THE STORY of the Old Testament is the key to understanding it. To trace the clear, continuous narrative is to draw the lines between the dots, soon the whole picture emerges. In this book, Talley examines the eleven storyline books of the Old Testament and shows where the other 28 books fit into THE STORY. Unpacking the theology of each storyline book he reflects on the Old Testament’s power for Christians today.

The Synoptic Gospels: An Annotated Bibliography

The highly popular Sheffield New Testament Guides are being reissued in a new format, grouped together and prefaced by leading North American scholars. This new format is designed to ensure that these authoritative introductions remain up-to-date and accessible to seminary and university students of the New Testament while offering a broader theological and literary context for their study. In this volume, Scot McKnight writes an introducton to the Synoptic Gospels as a whole, illuminating their distinctive historical and theological features and their importance within the New Testament canon.

Three Views on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament

Is sensus plenior an appropriate way of explaining the New Testament use of the Old Testament? Do NT writers take into account the context of the passages they cite? Should modern scholars model their exegesis after the apostles’? Following the classic presentation-critique-response format, three scholars discuss questions relating to the literary relationship between the two Testaments.

Three Views on the Origins of the Synoptic Gospels

While secular critics and liberal religious scholars have discounted the historicity and integrity of the first three Gospels, evangelicals maintain that the Synoptic Gospels fully support a high view of inspiration and historicity, despite varying views among evangelicals on Gospel origins. Four evangelical scholars join together in a presentation/response format to examine the three dominant views on Gospel origins. Grant Osborne and Matthew Williams present the Two-Source or Markian Priority View; John H. Niemelä presents the Two Gospel or Matthewan Priority View; and F. David Farnell presents the Independence View.

Understanding Biblical Theology: A Comparison of Theory and Practice

Understanding Biblical Theology provides an expert and clarifying look at the catch-all term “biblical theology,” a movement that tries to remove the often-held dichotomy between biblical studies for the Church and as an academic pursuit. Using a spectrum between history and theology, each of the five “types” of biblical theology are identified as landing somewhere on the continuum from “more theological” to “more historical” in concern and practice. Readers will gain an appreciation for each of these approaches and understand how any student of the Bible can learn from them.

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