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Word And Church: Essays In Christian Dogmatics
by John WebsterThese essays in constructive Christian dogmatics treat a cluster of themes: the nature of Holy Scripture and its interpretation; the place of Jesus in modern intellectual culture, and in theological depiction of the nature of the church; and the inseparability of theological and moral reflection.
Word and Image: An Introduction to Early Medieval Art
by William Diebold<p>This up-to-date, reliable introductory account and interpretation of early medieval art combines art, history, and ideas from around 600 to 1050. Diebold describes diversity and complexity of early medieval art by examining the relationship of word and image. The concept of word and image is broad enough to encompass the Anglo-Saxon art and oral culture of the Sutton Hoo treasure, as well as the literate art of the Carolingian and Ottonian courts. Diebold describes the stunning variety of early medieval objectsillustrated manuscripts, rich metalwork, ivories, textiles, statuary, jewels, painting and architecture. There are 63 black and white illustrations and 4 plates in color. }This up-to-date, reliable introductory account and interpretation of early medieval art combines art, history, and ideas from around 600 to 1050. Diebold describes diversity and complexity of early medieval art by examining the relationship of word and image. The concept of word and image is broad enough to encompass the Anglo-Saxon art and oral culture of the Sutton Hoo treasure, as well as the literate art of the Carolingian and Ottonian courts. <p>Diebold describes and explains the stunning variety of early medieval objects--illustrated manuscripts, rich metal work, ivories, textiles, statuary, jewels, painting and architecture produced north of the Alps beginning with Pope Gregory's Christianization of England and his justification of images, and ending with the spectacular gold reliquary statue of Ste. Foy at Conques, which separates Early Medieval art from the Romanesque. Diebold also discusses the function of (and audience for) medieval art; he shows why, how, and for whom it was made. Diebold outlines the role of artists and patrons in medieval society, and he explains art's institutional and social status. He defines basic historical and art-historical terms and concepts as they are encountered, and illustrations, a map, a glossary, notes, suggestions for further reading, and an index are included.</p>
Word and Image in Medieval Kabbalah
by Marla SegolThe Sefer Yetsirah (the Book of Creation ) is a core text of the early kabbalah, yet scholars have struggled to establish even the most basic facts about the work. This project attempts to discover the ways in which diagrams accompanying the text and its commentaries show trends in the development of the kabbalistic tradition as a whole.
The Word and Power Church: What Happens When a Church Seeks All God Has to Offer?
by Douglas BanisterYou don't have to head overseas to find a war. In the church, the rhetorical cross-fire between evangelical and "spirit-filled" Christians over the past hundred years has been withering. "No scriptural foundations," is the charge evangelicals have leveled at the charismatics. "No spiritual power," the latter have countered. The boundaries are clear. The positions are taken -- and guarded. Either you're a Word person or a Power person. Today, though, such black-and-white, either-or thinking is giving way to the liberty and promise of a Word and Power church. Pastor Doug Banister shows why we cannot afford to settle for less. It's time to bury our differences -- which are largely artificial -- and discover the incredible potential that arises when evangelicals combine their strengths with Pentecostals and charismatics. Taking a long, careful, and honest look at the Scriptures, at church history, and at the state of the church and the world today, Pastor Banister reveals why Pentecostalism and evangelicalism need each other. Each tradition possesses strengths that are essential to a balanced, life-changing faith. The Word and Power Church shows how these "two mighty rivers" add to, rather than subtract from, each other. At the cusp of a new millennium, they are in fact merging into one river. Word and Power churches may experiences turbulence where the waters meet, but they teem with life, hope, faith, and power to reach a desperate world with the Gospel. Filled with personal anecdotes, this fascinating, thought-provoking, and candid book supplies the why-tos and how-tos of a Word-and-Power approach. What you won't find is preferential treatment of one view over another. What you will find are thoughtful biblical insights that will challenge you and inspire you. And you'll discover practical guidance for charting your own course -- whether as an individual or as a church -- toward a faith that embraces the truth of the Word and the power of the Spirit. As a solidly evangelical seminary graduate and pastor, Banister admits to having disdained charismatics. That is, until meticulous study of God’s Word convinced him that miraculous gifts of tongues, healing, and prophecy are indeed valid for today. As he details his “journey beyond categories,” Banister explores the reasons for the age-old rift between the two camps and the ways in which healing is taking place in new “Word and Power” churches all over America. When evangelicals and charismatics bring together the best from each tradition, he has discovered that the result is a strong, unified body. Word and Power churches affirm the authority of Scripture and encourage the prophetic embrace of those who pray in a spiritual language, pursue obedience to Christ, edify the believer and evangelize the seeker, heal the sick and comfort the suffering. The Word and Power Church will speak to Christians everywhere who want to walk in both the integrity of Scripture and the power of the Holy Spirit.
Word and Spirit: Truth, Power, and the Next Great Move of God
by R.T. KendallFrom best-selling author and theologian R. T. Kendall...Will you continue to sit back and take sides? This book will help you unite the power of the Holy Spirit with the knowledge of God's Word, and anticipate a last-days revival because of this union. In October 1992 while pastoring Westminster Chapel in London, England, R. T. Kendall organized a conference around a series of sermons prophetically describing what God may have in store for His people in these last days. The series proclaimed an outpouring much deeper than anything we have ever experienced—an awakening not based on feelings or emotions but inspired through the irrevocable truth of God's Word, fulfilled through the conviction and direction of the Holy Spirit. In Word and Spirit best-selling author and theologian R. T. Kendall challenges your traditions, emotions, convictions, and maybe even your faith. Kendall shares his vision of the future—of a holy unity of the Word and the Spirit that leads to a last-days revival. There are those who live their spiritual lives by biblical explanation only. Meanwhile, others base their theological dispositions on &“signs and wonders&” characterized by the Pentecostal/Charismatic movement. In this exciting and controversial book R. T. revives his original messages, adding new insights into what they mean for us today and revealing everything we need to know about the coming move of God.Also Available in SpanishISBN-13: 978-1-62999-279-2E-Book ISBN: 978-1-62999-280-8Other Books by R.T. KendallTotal Forgiveness (2010) ISBN-13: 978-1599791760Whatever Happened to the Gospel? (2018) ISBN-13: 978-1629994710Popular in Heaven Famous in Hell (2018) ISBN-13: 978-1629995519The Presence of God (2017) ISBN-13: 978-1629991573Holy Fire (2014) ISBN-13: 978-1621366041
The Word Became Culture (Disruptive Cartographers: Doing Theology Latinamente)
by Miguel H. Díaz María Teresa Dávila Néstor Medina Carmen M. Nanko-Fernández Jean-Pierre RuizExploring Latin@ theologies and the power of revelation.The Word Became Culture enacts a preferential option for culture, retrieving experiences and expressions from across latinidad as sources of theologizing and acts of resistance to marginalization. Each author in this edited volume demonstrates the many ways in which Latin@ theologies are disruptive, generative, and creative spaces rooted in the richness, struggles, texts, and rituals found at the intersections of faith and culture. With a foreword by Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, president emeritus of the Pontifical Council for Culture, this book situates Latin@ theologies in the ongoing search for and recognition of the “Word becoming” within the particularities of diverse cultural experiences.
The Word Became Flesh
by E. Stanley JonesThis updated classic contains 364 daily devotionals revolving around "And the Word became flesh" (John 1:14) and its meaning for a transformed life. From his wide experience with world religions and contact with believers across the globe, E. Stanley Jones explains the difference between Christianity (in which God reaches toward humanity through Jesus Christ) and other faiths (in which humanity reaches toward God in various ways). Includes: Daily scripture reading, commentary, a prayer and affirmation for each day. Discussion guide for 52 weeks with several questions for reflection and conversation. Scripture index. Topical index. E. Stanley Jones (1884-1973) was perhaps the most widely known and admired Christian evangelist of his time. He spent a lifetime in missionary work in India, Japan, and other countries, and touched many more lives through his writings.
Word Become Flesh: Dimensions of Christology
by Brian C. McDermottAs a text for a basic Christology course, this work orients the student of theology by tracing the principal developments in the New Testament and in later Church tradition, giving attention to some of the principal concerns of contemporary culture and the way some of the present-day forms of Christology try to respond to those concerns. It therefore offers a range of contemporary Christological proposals rather than one to the exclusion of others. It also seeks to reunite study of Christ's "person" with his "work" through greater attention to soteriology than often happens in traditional Christology.
The Word Before Work: A Monday-Through-Friday Devotional to Help You Find Eternal Purpose in Your Daily Work
by Jordan RaynorA weekday devotional to help Christians connect the gospel to their vocation and appreciate the eternal significance of their work—no matter what it is—from the entrepreneur, thought leader, and bestselling author of Redeeming Your Time.Perhaps you feel as if the work you do carries less eternal impact than the work of a pastor or missionary. But that&’s not how God sees it. Whatever it looks like day to day, your work is ministry and central to God&’s plans to restore fallen creation. As the days of creation reveal, God is quite familiar with work himself. He created humans with unique giftings and interests, specifically so we can pursue his redemptive work in partnership with him. The Word Before Work features 260 readings—one for every workday of the year—to help you see how your work connects to God&’s work in the world. The first four weeks set the foundation by exploring:• what work means in light of the biblical narrative• why our work matters• five ways these truths inform how we should work todayThe rest of this one-year devotional takes you on a journey through Scripture to explore God&’s perspective on the work he has called you to do.Whether you&’re an entrepreneur, barista, stay-at-home parent, CEO, or coach, The Word Before Work affirms how God created you for work, why it matters, and the ways it holds significance both now and for eternity.
Word Biblical Themes Collection: 15-Volume Set (Word Biblical Themes)
by Dr John Goldingay Dr Richard Bauckham George R. Beasley-Murray Dr Roddy Braun Dr John I. Durham T. R. Hobbs Leslie C. Allen Trent C. Butler Gerald F. Hawthorne J. Ramsey Michaels Leon Morris Ralph Smith Douglas StuartA companion series to the acclaimed Word Biblical Commentary.Finding the great themes of the books of the Bible is essential to the study of God's Word and to the preaching and teaching of its truths. These themes and ideas are often like precious gems: they lie beneath the surface and can only be discovered with some difficulty. While commentaries are useful for helping readers understand the content of a verse or chapter, they are not usually designed to help the reader to trace important subjects systematically within a given book a Scripture.The Word Biblical Themes series helps readers discover the important themes of a book of the Bible. This series distills the theological essence of a given book of Scripture and serves it up in ways that enrich the preaching, teaching, worship, and discipleship of God's people.Volumes in this series:Written by top biblical scholarsFeature authors who wrote on the same book of the Bible for the Word Biblical Commentary seriesDistill deep and focused study on a biblical book into the most important themes and practical applications of themGive reader's an ability to see the "big picture" of a book of the Bible by understanding what topics and concerns were most important to the biblical writersHelp address pressing issues in the church today by showing readers see how the biblical writers approached similar issues in their dayIdeal for sermon preparation and for other teaching in the churchVolumes in the Word Biblical Themes: 15-Volume Set include:Exodus by John I. DurhamJoshua by Trent C. Butler1 and 2 Kings by T. R. Hobbs1 and 2 Chronicles by Roddy L. BraunPsalms by Leslie C. AllenIsaiah by John D. W. WattsDaniel by John GoldingayHosea-Jonah by Douglas StuartMicah-Malachi by Ralph L. SmithJohn by George R. Beasley-Murray1 and 2 Corinthians by Ralph P. MartinPhilippians by Gerald F. Hawthorne1 and 2 Thessalonians by Leon Morris1 Peter by J. Ramsey Michaels2 Peter and Jude by Richard J. BauckhamWord Biblical Themes are an ideal resource for any reader who has used and benefited from the Word Biblical Commentary series, and will help pastors, bible teachers, and students as they seek to understand and apply God's word to their ministry and learning.
Word by Word: A Daily Spiritual Practice
by Marilyn McEntyreBeautifully written meditations on fifteen well-chosen words In What's in a Phrase? — winner of the 2015 Christianity Today Book Award in Spirituality — Marilyn McEntyre showed readers how brief scriptural phrases can evoke and invite. In Word by WordMcEntyre invites readers to dwell intentionally with single words — remembering their biblical and literary contexts, considering the personal associations they bring up, and allowing them to become a focus for prayer and meditation. McEntyre has thoughtfully chosen fifteen words (see below), and she gives each word a week, guiding readers in examining the word from seven different angles throughout the week. She draws on the spiritual practices of lectio divina and centering prayer as she encourages readers to allow these small words to help them pause and hear the voice of the Spirit. "I invite you to discover," says McEntyre in her intro-duction, "how words may become little fountains of grace. How a single word may, if you hold it for a while, become a prayer." ListenReceiveEnjoyLet GoWatchAcceptResistAllowBe StillFollowRejoiceAskDareLeaveWelcome
Word by Word: A Daily Spiritual Practice
by Marilyn McEntyreBeautifully written meditations on fifteen well-chosen words In What's in a Phrase? — winner of the 2015 Christianity Today Book Award in Spirituality — Marilyn McEntyre showed readers how brief scriptural phrases can evoke and invite. In Word by WordMcEntyre invites readers to dwell intentionally with single words — remembering their biblical and literary contexts, considering the personal associations they bring up, and allowing them to become a focus for prayer and meditation. McEntyre has thoughtfully chosen fifteen words (see below), and she gives each word a week, guiding readers in examining the word from seven different angles throughout the week. She draws on the spiritual practices of lectio divina and centering prayer as she encourages readers to allow these small words to help them pause and hear the voice of the Spirit. "I invite you to discover," says McEntyre in her intro-duction, "how words may become little fountains of grace. How a single word may, if you hold it for a while, become a prayer." ListenReceiveEnjoyLet GoWatchAcceptResistAllowBe StillFollowRejoiceAskDareLeaveWelcome
Word-Centered Church: How Scripture Brings Life and Growth to God's People
by Jonathan LeemanIt&’s a question hundreds of pastors ask every day:What is the best way to grow?A lot of books give a lot of answers, but the best one comes from Scripture. Word-Centered Church brings that answer into sharp focus. Written by Jonathan Leeman, editorial director for the reputable ministry 9Marks, Word-Centered Church offers a thorough treatment of one of God&’s greatest concerns: growing His people and growing His church. As simple as the concept may seem, it&’s one that many churches miss, and to their own detriment. Because when churches center everything they do on God&’s Word—when the pulpit ministry gives direction to every aspect of the church&’s life—growth happens God&’s way. God&’s Word is what creates the church, and it&’s what sustains it, too.Theological and practical, Word-Centered Church focuses on how the church hears, responds to, discusses, implements, and is transformed by Scripture. It&’s not about high-octane production, superstar personalities, or postmodern entreaties, but stuff that is really old, really good, and really powerful.Word-Centered Church is the ministry-model book that churches need, because it advances the model God designed. For anyone who wants to grow or help others grow, Word-Centered Church is indispensable.
Word-Centered Church: How Scripture Brings Life and Growth to God's People
by Jonathan LeemanIt&’s a question hundreds of pastors ask every day:What is the best way to grow?A lot of books give a lot of answers, but the best one comes from Scripture. Word-Centered Church brings that answer into sharp focus. Written by Jonathan Leeman, editorial director for the reputable ministry 9Marks, Word-Centered Church offers a thorough treatment of one of God&’s greatest concerns: growing His people and growing His church. As simple as the concept may seem, it&’s one that many churches miss, and to their own detriment. Because when churches center everything they do on God&’s Word—when the pulpit ministry gives direction to every aspect of the church&’s life—growth happens God&’s way. God&’s Word is what creates the church, and it&’s what sustains it, too.Theological and practical, Word-Centered Church focuses on how the church hears, responds to, discusses, implements, and is transformed by Scripture. It&’s not about high-octane production, superstar personalities, or postmodern entreaties, but stuff that is really old, really good, and really powerful.Word-Centered Church is the ministry-model book that churches need, because it advances the model God designed. For anyone who wants to grow or help others grow, Word-Centered Church is indispensable.
The Word, Church and Sacraments in Protestantism and Catholicism
by Louis BouyerThis book is a theological classic. It seeks to foster unity and deeper understanding among Christians by comparing the Catholic and Protestant views of Scripture, Church authority, and the Sacraments. Bouyer, one of the greatest theologians of the 20th century and a convert from Protestantism, contributed significantly to the movement out of which came the Second Vatican Council's efforts to promote Christian unity. <p><p>In The Word, Church and Sacraments, he shows how Catholic teaching is often misunderstood by Catholics and Protestants alike, and how this teaching is fundamentally compatible with key positive elements of Reformation thought. He also examines the main points of disagreement between Catholicism and Protestantism and demonstrates how Catholicism, properly understood, maintains the theological balance necessary to uphold some of the main truths on which Catholics and Protestants agree.
Word-Filled Women’s Ministry: Loving and Serving the Church (The Gospel Coalition)
by Gloria furman & Kathleen B. NielsonThe Bible is clear that women as well as men are created in God's image and intended to serve him with their lives. But what does this look like for women in the church? Helping church leaders think through what a Bible-centered women’s ministry looks like, this collection of essays by respected Bible teachers and authors such as Gloria Furman, Nancy Guthrie, and Susan Hunt addresses a variety of topics relevant to women. Whether exploring the importance of intergenerational relationships, the Bible’s teaching on sexuality, or women’s roles in the church and the home, this book of wise teaching and practical instruction will become a must-have resource for anyone interested in bolstering the health and vitality of Christian women in the context of the local church.
A Word in Season: Isaiah's Reception in the Book of Mormon
by Joseph M. SpencerA groundbreaking look at the relationship between two sacred texts The Book of Mormon’s narrative privileges Isaiah over other sources, provocatively interpreting and at times inventively reworking the biblical text. Joseph M. Spencer sees within the Book of Mormon a programmatic investigation regarding the meaning and relevance of the Book of Isaiah in a world increasingly removed from the context of the times that produced it. Working from the crossroads of reception studies and Mormon studies, Spencer investigates and clarifies the Book of Mormon’s questions about the vitality of Isaiah’s prophetic project. Spencer’s analysis focuses on the Book of Mormon’s three interactions with the prophet: the character of Abinadi; the resurrected Jesus Christ; and the nation-founding figure of Nephi. Working from the Book of Mormon as it was dictated, Spencer details its vital and overlooked place in Isaiah’s reception while recognizing the interpretation of Isaiah as an organizing force behind the Book of Mormon.
The Word in the Wilderness: Popular Piety and the Manuscript Arts in Early Pennsylvania (Pietist, Moravian, and Anabaptist Studies #5)
by Alexander Lawrence AmesOnce a vibrant part of religious life for many Pennsylvania Germans in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, Fraktur manuscripts today are primarily studied for their decorative qualities. The Word in the Wilderness takes a different view, probing these documents for what they tell us about the lived religious experiences of the Protestant communities that made and used them and opening avenues for reinterpretation of this well-known, if little understood, set of cultural artifacts.The resplendent illuminated religious manuscripts commonly known as Fraktur have captivated collectors and scholars for generations. Yet fundamental questions about their cultural origins, purpose, and historical significance remain. Alexander Lawrence Ames addresses these by placing Fraktur manuscripts within a "Pietist paradigm," grounded in an understanding of how their makers viewed "the Word," or scripture. His analysis combines a sweeping overview of Protestant Christian religious movements in Europe and early America with close analysis of key Pennsylvania devotional manuscripts, revealing novel insights into the religious utility of calligraphy, manuscript illumination, and devotional reading as Protestant spiritual enterprises. Situating the manuscripts in the context of transatlantic religious history, early American spirituality, material culture studies, and the history of book and manuscript production, Ames challenges long-held approaches to Pennsylvania German studies and urges scholars to engage with these texts and with their makers and users on their own terms. Featuring dozens of illustrations, this lively, engaging book will appeal to Fraktur scholars and enthusiasts, historians of early America, and anyone interested in the material culture and spiritual practices of the German-speaking residents of Pennsylvania.
The Word in the Wilderness: Popular Piety and the Manuscript Arts in Early Pennsylvania (Pietist, Moravian, and Anabaptist Studies #5)
by Alexander Lawrence AmesOnce a vibrant part of religious life for many Pennsylvania Germans in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, Fraktur manuscripts today are primarily studied for their decorative qualities. The Word in the Wilderness takes a different view, probing these documents for what they tell us about the lived religious experiences of the Protestant communities that made and used them and opening avenues for reinterpretation of this well-known, if little understood, set of cultural artifacts.The resplendent illuminated religious manuscripts commonly known as Fraktur have captivated collectors and scholars for generations. Yet fundamental questions about their cultural origins, purpose, and historical significance remain. Alexander Lawrence Ames addresses these by placing Fraktur manuscripts within a “Pietist paradigm,” grounded in an understanding of how their makers viewed “the Word,” or scripture. His analysis combines a sweeping overview of Protestant Christian religious movements in Europe and early America with close analysis of key Pennsylvania devotional manuscripts, revealing novel insights into the religious utility of calligraphy, manuscript illumination, and devotional reading as Protestant spiritual enterprises. Situating the manuscripts in the context of transatlantic religious history, early American spirituality, material culture studies, and the history of book and manuscript production, Ames challenges long-held approaches to Pennsylvania German studies and urges scholars to engage with these texts and with their makers and users on their own terms. Featuring dozens of illustrations, this lively, engaging book will appeal to Fraktur scholars and enthusiasts, historians of early America, and anyone interested in the material culture and spiritual practices of the German-speaking residents of Pennsylvania.
A Word Less Heard: A Mainliner's Take on the issues
by Robert K. Nace(from the back cover) Robert Nace combines a fervent curiosity for truth with a fundamental appreciation for the decency of mankind, in this convincing appeal to reason in the face of the challenging complexity of today's social issues... From the experience and perspective of more than fifty years of preaching, Robert Nace, from a little left of center, offers these insightful sermons on some of the most perplexing issues confronting the contemporary Christian. He never ducks the hard questions. Whether you agree or disagree with his answers, you will be stimulated by his insight, wit, and caring heart. His illustrations come from real life. Reading the book's pages moves one to want to carry on the conversation with him over a cup of coffee. All will find this collection of sermons by a master preacher helpful, but younger and even mature preachers can also find here models of how to preach on disputed questions. Benjamin Griffin, President Andover Newton Theological School
Word, Like Fire: Maria Stewart, the Bible, and the Rights of African Americans (Carter G. Woodson Institute Series)
by Valerie C. CooperMaria Stewart is believed by many to have been the first American woman of any race to give public political speeches. In Word, Like Fire, Valerie C. Cooper argues that the religious, political, and social threads of Maria Stewart's thought are tightly interwoven, such that focusing narrowly on any one aspect would be to misunderstand her rhetoric. Cooper demonstrates how a certain kind of biblical interpretation can be a Rosetta Stone for understanding various areas of African American life and thought that still resonate today.
The Word Made Flesh: The language of Jesus in his stories and prayers
by Eugene PetersonTHE WORD MADE FLESH is Eugene Peterson at his best: writing about words and the way we are called to use them.Continuing Peterson's evaluation of contemporary Christian Spirituality, THE WORD MADE FLESH is an extended meditation on language and the way it should be used in Christian community.As with the first three books in the series, THE WORD MADE FLESH is written for both lay and academic audiences. Challenging but deeply rewarding, it combines scholarship with the human experience and lightness of touch for which Peterson is known.Also available in the Spiritual Theology series: Christ Plays in Ten Thousand Places, Eat This Book, The Jesus Way and Practise Resurrection.
Word Made Fresh: An Invitation to Poetry for the Church
by Abram Van EngenHave you ever read a book that turned your world upside down? What about a poem? Poetry has the power to enliven, challenge, change, and enrich our lives. But it can also feel intimidating, confusing, or simply &“not for us.&” In these joyful and wise reflections, Abram Van Engen shows readers how poetry is for everyone—and how it can reinvigorate our Christian faith. Intertwining close readings with personal storytelling, Van Engen explains how and why to read poems as a spiritual practice. Far from dry, academic instruction, his approach encourages readers to delight in poetry, even as they come to understand its form. He also opens up the meaning of poetry and parables in Scripture, revealing the deep connection between literature and theology. Word Made Fresh is more than a guide to poetry—it&’s an invitation to wonder, to speak up, to lament, to praise. Including dozens of poems from diverse authors, this book will inspire curious and thoughtful readers to see God and God&’s creation in surprising new ways.
The Word of a Humble God: The Origins, Inspiration, and Interpretation of Scripture
by Karen R. Keen&“Scripture is a spring of life-giving, life-altering truth, but when we don&’t understand how and why it came to us, we end up misusing it.&” How did we get the Bible? And why does it matter? History reveals that Scripture can be used for both life-giving and destructive purposes. Discovering the Bible&’s origins makes all the difference for fostering redemptive interpretation of Scripture. Bringing together both historical criticism and theology, this investigation examines ancient scribal culture through the lens of faith. What we find is a divine-human collaboration that points to the character of God and the value of human agency. In this concise presentation of a breadth of scholarship usually only found across multiple volumes, Karen Keen offers a vital introduction to the material origins of the Bible, theories of inspiration, and the history of biblical interpretation—with reflections on what this all means for us as we read Scripture today. Through the ins and outs of these important topics, and with the aid of thought-provoking questions and learning activities at the end of each chapter, Keen argues that the Bible and its origins reveal a humble God who invites us to imitate that humility—a humility that is itself the most powerful antidote to the misinterpretation and abuse of Scripture.
The Word of God for the People of God: An Entryway to the Theological Interpretation of Scripture
by J. Todd BillingsThis book fills a real need for pastors and students. Though there is currently a large body of material on the theological interpretation of Scripture, most of it is highly specific and extremely technical. J. Todd Billings here provides a straightforward entryway for students and pastors to understand why theological interpretation matters and how it can be done. / A solid, constructive theological work, The Word of God for the People of God presents a distinctive Trinitarian, participatory approach toward reading Scripture as the church. Billings's accessible yet substantial argument for a theological hermeneutic is rooted in a historic vision of the practice of scriptural interpretation even as it engages a wide range of contemporary issues and includes several exegetical examples that apply to concrete Christian ministry situations.