SPCK Publishing

The question of interpretation is as old as language itself. In today's post-modern context, however, the task of hermeneutics has become frustratingly complex. This timely collection of essays by ten leading scholars explores the diversity of contemporary Christian hermeneutical theory and practice.

The format of the book consists of a major essay and a response in each of four disciplines - philosophy, English, sociology, and theology - leading to differences in definition and practice, but with the common framework of a Christian perspective.

• Nicholas Wolterstorff asks, 'How does one balance the humanity of the biblical authors with the understanding that the Bible is the Word of God?'
• Donald Marshall asks the fundamental question, 'Can truth come to us through an interpretation?'
• David Lyon explores how developments in biblical hermeneutics have led to the relativism and cynicism of contemporary theories of interpretation.
• Kevin J. Vanhoozer questions post-modern theory in general and deconstruction in particular.

Those who respond to these four authors find some agreement but also some disagreement with their positions.

In their insightful handling of the most challenging contemporary issues and literature on interpretive theory, the authors seek to negotiate the narrow straits between absolute certainty and interpretive licence. And as they chart the turbulent waters of the post-modern world, they serve as savvy guides to assist us in our difficult passage to the truth.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945) was one of the most compelling theologians of the twentieth century. A complex mix of scholarship and passion, his life and writings continue to fascinate and challenge Christians worldwide.

He was a pastor and profound teacher and writer on Christian theology and ethics, yet was also involved in the resistance against Hitler which plotted his assassination. Bonhoeffer graduated from the University of Berlin and earned his doctorate in theology at the age of twenty-one. While pursuing postgraduate work at New York's Union Theological Seminary, his life and ministry were profoundly influenced by his unanticipated involvement with the African-American Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem during that time.

Protesting the unconstitutional interference by Hitler of the established national Protestant church and the persecution of the Jews, and rejecting the alignment of the German Christian movement with the Nazi regime, Bonhoeffer became head of an underground seminary for the resisting Confessing Church in Germany.

At the 2012 Wheaton Theology Conference, Bonhoeffer's thought and ministry were explored in stimulating presentations. Bonhoeffer's views of Jesus Christ, the Christian community, and the church's engagement with culture enjoyed special focus. Throughout it is clear that in the twenty-first century, Bonhoeffer's legacy is as provocative and powerful as ever.

Christians and churches often discuss the roles of men and women in the home. These issues affect every member of the Christian community and some debates often generate more heat than light.

In Discovering Biblical Equality twenty-three evangelical scholars, confidently committed to Scripture, explore the issues relating to gender relation. Offering historical, theological, biblical and practical perspectives that dismiss any myths surrounding the issue. Their sound reasoned case affirms the complementarity of the sexes without requiring a hierarchy of roles and promotes healthy discussion.

Explore the roles of men and women in the Christian home with insights from twenty-three evangelical scholars. Discover biblical equality and promote healthy discussions.

The heart of the biblical understanding of idolatry, argues Gregory Beale, is that we take on the characteristics of what we worship.

Employing Isaiah 6 as his interpretive lens, Beale demonstrates that this understanding of idolatry permeates the whole canon, from Genesis to Revelation. Beale concludes with an application of the biblical notion of idolatry to the challenges of contemporary life.

The history of Britain and Ireland is incomprehensible without an understanding of the Christian faith that has shaped it. Introduced when the nations of these islands were still in their infancy, Christianity has provided the framework for their development from the beginning.

Gerald Bray's comprehensive overview demonstrates the remarkable creativity and resilience of Christianity in Britain and Ireland. Through the ages, it has adapted to the challenges of presenting the gospel of Christ to different generations in a variety of circumstances. As a result, it is at once a recognizable offshoot of the universal church and a world of its own. It has also profoundly affected the notable spread of Christianity worldwide in recent times.

Although historians have done much to explain the details of how the church has evolved separately in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales, a synthesis of the whole has rarely been attempted. Yet the story of one nation cannot be understood properly without involving the others; so, Gerald Bray sets individual narratives in an overarching framework.

Accessible to a general readership, The History of Christianity in Britain and Ireland draws on current scholarship to serve as a reference work for students of both history and theology.

The question of the historicity of Jesus' resurrection has been repeatedly probed, investigated and debated. And the results have varied widely. Perhaps some now regard this issue as the burned-over district of New Testament scholarship. Could there be any new and promising approach to this problem?

Yes, answers Michael Licona. And he convincingly points us to a significant deficiency in approaching this question: our historiographical orientation and practice. So he opens this study with an extensive consideration of historiography and the particular problem of investigating claims of miracles. This alone is a valuable contribution.

But then Licona carefully applies his principles and methods to the question of Jesus' resurrection. In addition to determining and working from the most reliable sources and bedrock historical evidence, Licona critically weighs other prominent hypotheses. His own argument is a challenging and closely argued case for the historicity of the resurrection of Jesus, the Christ. Any future approaches to dealing with this 'prize puzzle' of New Testament study will need to be routed through The Resurrection of Jesus.

The Old Testament book of Leviticus is the sequel to Exodus in that it deals with a deeper dimension of the Sinaitic covenant, giving various rules for the life of the Israelites, and for the sacrifices and offerings to be performed in the sanctuary. It addresses the question of how the Israelites - human beings - can live in proximity to the holy God who has promised to dwell in their midst.

In this excellent commentary, Nobuyoshi Kiuchi offers in-depth discussion of the theology and symbolism of Leviticus. He argues that its laws present an exceedingly high standard, arising from divine holiness, and the giving of these laws to the Israelites is intended to make them aware of their sinfulness, lead them to hopelessness, and ultimately to destroy their egocentric nature.

To be confronted by the laws in Leviticus is to recognize the vast distance that separates the holy from the unclean and sinful, and so to appreciate afresh the grace of God, ultimately expressed in the life and work of Christ.

There is no place, it seems, that feelings do not run high about feelings. Western civilization is still caught between adoration of the emotions as sublime and denigration of them as merely animal. Can we trust our feelings? Should we suppress them or should we indulge them? In what part of our persons do feelings occur?

Contemporary Christianity is no less vexed about emotions. The rise of the charismatic movement in the late twentieth century, with its emphasis on experiential Christianity, has led to an equally strong reaction of suspicion against talk of the emotions as significant for the Christian life. Though these questions have an everyday, practical importance, they also point to profound theological questions about the nature of the triune God and the ascription of emotions to him in the Bible. Does God himself have feelings?

This stimulating volume, based on the 2011 Moore College School of Theology, offers perspectives on emotions. Topics include a cultural overview, theological anthropology, the question of divine passions, the emotional life of Jesus, the Spirit's work in perfecting emotions, preaching the Gospels for divine effects, and the place of the emotions in corporate worship including connections with singing and music.

The contributors are Rhys Bezzant, Peter Bolt, Gerald Bray, Andrew Cameron, Keith Condie, Richard Gibson, David Hohne, Michael Jensen, David Peterson and Robert Smith.

Often overlooked and regularly misunderstood, the Book of Numbers is a daunting prospect for scholars, preachers and students. It covers part of the Israelites' wilderness years between Egypt and the land of the promise - seemingly very different to and detached from our modern context. Yet God's covenant love remains the same, and the book of Numbers remains extremely relevant for ecclesiology and for the church's life within the already-not yet of the present 'wilderness' era.

In his magisterial new commentary, Morales carefully demonstrates the ongoing relevance of Numbers, it's positive vision for life and the surprising challenge it offers to contemporary Christians. This detailed and comprehensive commentary sheds fresh light on a part of the Bible often referenced yet rarely preached and explained.

The Apollos Old Testament Commentary aims to take with equal seriousness the divine and human aspects of Scripture. It expounds the books of the Old Testament in a scholarly manner, accessible to non-experts, and it shows the relevance of the Old Testament to modern readers. Written by an international team of scholars, these commentaries are intended to serve the needs of those who preach from the Old Testament, as well as scholars and all serious students of the Bible.

Volume 2 covers chapters 20-36, and includes Morales' rigorous bibliography and extensive indices. An annotated Translation of the Hebrew text by L. Michael L. Morales forms the basis for his comments

Within this commentary on Numbers 20-36, Form and Structure sections examine the context, source-critical and form-critical issues and rhetorical devices of each passage. Comment sections offer thorough, detailed exegesis of the historical and theological meaning of each passage, and Explanation sections offer a full exposition of the theological message within the framework of biblical theology and a commitment to the inspiration and authority of the Old Testament.

Accompanying all the new studies of the life of Jesus has been the question of Jesus' identity. Was he anything more than a human creature? A key issue in this debate is the claim of Jesus' pre-existence as the divine, uncreated Son of God before his incarnation on earth.

Doug McCready provides a thorough survey of the doctrine, covering New Testament teaching, Jewish and Hellenistic background and historical development. He carefully weighs the evidence and engages the arguments for and against the orthodox Christian conviction of Christ's pre-existence.

Drawing on expert scholarship McCready makes this important subject of debate accessible to students and other non-experts who want to know the evidence and arguments for this central doctrine of Christian faith.

This book will be especially useful as a supplementary text for theology courses on Christology or in biblical studies courses on the New Testament witness to Jesus Christ.

Delve into the debate surrounding Jesus' identity with Doug McCready's insightful examination of his pre-existence, offering valuable perspectives for students and scholars alike.

Are Christians free to declare that their beliefs are true, and that other views are not, in a pluralistic society where 'tolerance' is such an accepted norm?

In the New Testament, do the Synoptic Gospels and John, or the Synoptic Gospels and Paul, or indeed Paul and Jesus, have such mutually exclusive views that they are not coherent in diversity, but actually divergent?

These questions are subjected to penetrating, rigorous analysis in essays from the Ninth Oak Hill Annual School of Theology.

Too often, the Reformers and their doctrines have been caricatured, misrepresented or misappropriated in the service of agendas they would never have recognized, let alone endorsed. Happily, there has been a great deal of fine scholarship in recent years that has exploded some of these myths, but it has not always been accessible to non-specialists.

The intention of Celebrating the Reformation is that Christians today will find new cause to rejoice in what God did in the sixteenth century through weak and fallible men and women. These people sought, in their own context, to submit themselves to the word of God and lead his people in a godly and faithful response to the gospel of grace.

Three sections deal with the chief Reformers, key doctrines and the Reformation in retrospect. Each contribution seeks to connect its subject to the present, making clear its relevance for today. The Reformation is not a dead movement but a living legacy that can still capture the imagination and encourage men and women in their own Christian discipleship.

The contributors are Andrew Bain, Colin R. Bale, Rhys S. Bezzant, Gerald Bray, Martin Foord, David A. Höhne, Chase Kuhn, Andrew Leslie, Edward Loane, John McClean, Joe Mock, Michael J. Ovey, Tim Patrick, Mark D. Thompson, Stephen Tong, Jane Tooher and Dean Zweck.

Do you want to understand public theology and its place in modern society?

These stimulating analyses will enable readers to come to a clearer view of what Public Theology is, and how we may apply it.

What is 'public theology'?

Does it mean the arts?

Public policy?

Party politics?

The answer is: probably all of these.

In 'A Higher Throne' we are dealing with a rather ill-formed topic, on which there has not been a consistent viewpoint. 'A Higher Throne' is based on the Eleventh Oak Hill Annual School of Theology, and it offers a conversation among those who represent a consistently orthodox evangelicalism, who see public life in relation to the Christian gospel in quite different ways, but who are committed to thinking biblically about the matter and coming to a common mind.

Church planting is in vogue, yet there is a paucity of sustained biblical and theological reflection on the topic.

Key voices are practitioners and planters themselves - here is the biblical theology that the missiological practice of our day has been crying out for.

John Valentine explores the Bible's 'how' and 'why' for starting new churches and revitalizing old ones - in this robust and comprehensive biblical theological look at one aspect of the mission of God.

Recounting the greatest event of divine salvation in the Old Testament, the book of Exodus is not merely a story about the Lord God rescuing enslaved Israelites from the power of a despotic and xenophobic dictator. More importantly, it highlights how a compassionate and justice-seeking God transforms the lives of victimized people so that they may experience life in all its fullness in his holy presence.

The story of Exodus illustrates an all-important paradigm for understanding the nature and goal of divine salvation, anticipating an even greater exodus that will come through Jesus Christ. Desmond Alexander grapples with the varied complexities of the carefully constructed literary collage of Exodus. As an integral part of the longer narrative that runs from Genesis to 2 Kings, Exodus recounts a dramatic and unified story of how the Israelites come to a deeper and closer relationship with the Lord God.

Narrating past events, Exodus speaks to contemporary society, revealing a God who passionately desires to draw people into an intimate and exclusive relationship with himself. This detailed commentary sheds light on one of the most influential books ever written.

These prophets restate God's intention to establish his kingdom, and explain what this means for the lives of his people. Petterson's commentary sets the books in their wider biblical-theological context, and shows the connections between the post-exilic world and today.

This careful exegetical commentary, based on a fresh and nuanced translation from the author, and deeply informed conservative engagement with each of these vital prophetic books.

The Apollos Old Testament Commentary aims to take with equal seriousness the divine and human aspects of Scripture. It expounds the books of the Old Testament in a scholarly manner, accessible to non-experts, and it shows the relevance of the Old Testament to modern readers. Written by an international team of scholars, these commentaries are intended to serve the needs of those who preach from the Old Testament, as well as scholars and all serious students of the Bible.

This commentary opens with an Introduction which gives an overview of the issues of date, authorship, sources and outlines the theology of the book, providing pointers towards its interpretation and contemporary application. An annotated Translation of the Hebrew text by Anthony R. Petterson forms the basis for his comments.

Within this commentary on Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi, Form and Structure sections examine the context, source-critical and form-critical issues and rhetorical devices of each passage. Comment sections offer thorough, detailed exegesis of the historical and theological meaning of each passage, and Explanation sections offer a full exposition of the theological message within the framework of biblical theology and a commitment to the inspiration and authority of the Old Testament.

The Old Testament is part of the canon of Christian Scripture and, as such, has continuing significance for the church. However, the writings are set within a different historical era, a different culture and a different religious context. To understand the Old Testament in a meaningful way, it must be read against its historical, cultural and theological background.

Here, Robin Routledge enables readers to engage with the text. He discusses:

- date, authorship, the writers' intention and purpose, and significant textual issues
- key scholarly approaches to the text, including historical-critical and literary approaches

To help us comprehend and interpret the Old Testament, and so apply it to current belief and praxis, Routledge includes an overview of exegetical and hermeneutical approaches. He also offers some guidance through the maze of new treatments and terminology.

The volume provides specific introductions to the sections and books of the Old Testament, following the canonical order of the Hebrew text. In addition, Routledge notes key distinctive issues and points to sources for further study.

The author's hope is that this volume will not only aid students but will also benefit others who want to take the Old Testament seriously, and to apply its message to the life and ministry of the church today.

'Scholarly and lucid, Old Testament Introduction is designed especially for those who want to understand how to read the Old Testament as Christian Scripture, while doing justice to its nuances and enormous diversity. I commend it warmly.'
Gordon McConville, Professor of Old Testament Theology, University of Gloucestershire

The influence of Thomas Aquinas on Western theology is beyond dispute, yet his is a contested legacy. In current evangelical studies, there is an emerging infatuation with Thomas, especially as far as his theological metaphysics is concerned.

On the occasion of the eighth centenary of Thomas Aquinas, Engaging with Thomas Aquinas is a thoughtful introduction aimed at presenting the main contours of the doctor's complex legacy and critically evaluating it, especially in areas where the "Roman Catholic" Thomas eclipses the "classical" theology which is attracting renewed attention in evangelical circles.

Engaging with Thomas Aquinas contributes a thoughtful analysis from an evangelical viewpoint, offering answers to complex questions such as:

- Is the thought of Thomas and Thomism(s) the same?
- What strengths and dangers does the legacy of Thomas Aquinas present to evangelical thought?
- How can Rome's chief doctor be, at the same time, a reference point for evangelical theology?

In this book, De Chirico offers an evangelical a framework to think through this contested thinker's legacy, as well as an invitation to the inquiring reader to consider an alternative.

The books of 1 and 2 Kings cover the history of Israel from the last days of the united kingdom under David to the eventual fall of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah.

Within these books, the deuteronomic code - 'doing what is right in the Lord's sight' - provides a framework by which monarchic history is measured. In the kings' cultic failures lies the apostasy of the nation and its eventual exile. This apostasy centres on Israel's commitment to worship YHWH exclusively, and to worship according to deuteronomistic norms within the Jerusalem temple as the locus of YHWH's covenant presence. To safeguard the kings' commitments, YHWH's prophets loom large in 1 and 2 Kings: they herald YHWH's purposes, warn of his judgment for apostasy and woo his people back to the full experience of covenant life.

Lissa M. Wray Beal's valuable commentary examines the successes and failures of monarchy in the divided kingdoms. It works with the final form of the biblical text and pursues historiographical, narrative and theological questions, including the relation of each chapter's themes to biblical theology. While it focuses on theological and narrative concerns, the commentary gives due attention to complex historical issues. It seeks to provide a nuanced reading that is faithful to the text's message.

An exegetical examination of Paul's teaching on law and justification.

* An able Pauline scholar shares the fruits of his considerable research and careful reflection

* An inductive, exegetical, letter-by-letter approach, which examines Paul's teaching in context

* A thorough-going interaction with the scholarly literature relating to 'the new perspective' on Paul and first-century Judaism.

'So be very careful how you live. Do not live like those who are not wise, but live wisely...'

In Ephesians 5, Paul invites every follower of Jesus to 'live wisely'. This call and challenge is particularly pertinent for those dedicated and called to lives of study and scholarship through service in the academy.

Dirk Jongkind offers these reflections to you to help bridge the gap between the daily life of academic study and the complexities of insititutional and career politics, by holding out the reading of Scripture as a vital act of Christian discipleship.

Come, scholar, and read the Bible afresh - God's word directly addresses the 'occupational hazards' and opportunities that arise from working and living in the academic infrastructures of our present time.

Recognising veiled allusions to the Old Testament in the four Gospels has long contributed to our understanding of the Gospels message.

Nicholas Lunn takes the investigation of allusion a significant step further in The Gospels Through Old Testament Eyes. He explores allusions not just in isolated verses, but rather occurring throughout whole passages, demonstrating that many Gospel episodes interact with specific Old Testament accounts through an extended sequence of allusions. Furthermore, his examination is not restricted to episodes presented by a single Gospel, but includes allusions distributed across two or more Gospel treatments of the same event.

In The Gospels Through Old Testament Eyes, Lunn offers a series of self-contained studies that bring to light allusions, many of them previously unnoted, that affirm the intricate interweaving of New Testament texts with those of the Old. This volume will greatly enhance your appreciation of the Gospels' presentation of Jesus's life and ministry. It will inform and equip scholars, pastors, preachers, Bible teachers and readers to appreciate new depths in the Gospels.

Craig G. Bartholomew and Ryan P. O'Dowd provide an informed introduction to the Old Testament wisdom books Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Job.

Establishing the books in the context of ancient Near Eastern wisdom traditions and literature, the authors move beyond the scope of typical introductions to discuss the theological and hermeneutical implications of this literature

The story of the making of the New Testament is one in which scrolls bumped across cobbled Roman roads and pitched through rolling Mediterranean seas, finally finding their destinations in stuffy, dimly lit Christian house churches in Corinth or Colossae. There they were read aloud and reread, handled and copied, forwarded and collected, studied and treasured. And eventually they were brought together to make up our New Testament.

This revised and expanded edition of The Making of the New Testament is a textbook introduction to the origin, collection, copying and canonizing of the New Testament documents. Like shrewd detectives reading subtle whispers of evidence, biblical scholars have studied the trail of clues and pieced together the story of these books.

Arthur Patzia tells the story, answering our many questions:

- How were books and documents produced in the first century?
- What motivated the early Christians to commit teaching and narrative and vision to papyrus?
- How were the stories and sayings of Jesus circulated, handed down and shaped into Gospels?
- What do we know about ancient letter writing, secretaries and copy shops?
- Why were four Gospels included instead of just one?
- How were Paul's letters, sent here and there, gathered into a single collection?
- Who decided - and by what criteria - which documents would be included in the New Testament?

Explore these questions and more about these Scriptures whose everyday, gritty story rings true to their extraordinary message: the palpable mystery of the Word made flesh.

This detailed and comprehensive commentary by L. Michael Morales sheds fresh light on a part of the Bible often referenced yet rarely preached and understood.

Often overlooked and regularly misunderstood, the Book of Numbers is a daunting prospect for scholars, preachers and students. It covers part of the Israelites' wilderness years between Egypt and the land of the promise - seemingly very different to and detached from our modern context. Yet God's covenant love remains the same, and the book of Numbers remains extremely relevant for ecclesiology and for the church's life within the already-not yet of the present 'wilderness' era.

In his magisterial new commentary, Morales carefully demonstrates the ongoing relevance of Numbers, it's positive vision for life and the surprising challenge it offers to contemporary Christians. This detailed and comprehensive commentary sheds fresh light on a part of the Bible often referenced yet rarely preached and explained.

The Apollos Old Testament Commentary aims to take with equal seriousness the divine and human aspects of Scripture. It expounds the books of the Old Testament in a scholarly manner, accessible to non-experts, and it shows the relevance of the Old Testament to modern readers. Written by an international team of scholars, these commentaries are intended to serve the needs of those who preach from the Old Testament, as well as scholars and all serious students of the Bible.

Volume 1 begins with an Introduction which gives an overview of the issues of date, authorship, sources and outlines the theology of the book, providing pointers towards its interpretation and contemporary application. An annotated Translation of the Hebrew text by L. Michael L. Morales forms the basis for his comments

Within this commentary on Numbers 1-19, Form and Structure sections examine the context, source-critical and form-critical issues and rhetorical devices of each passage. Comment sections offer thorough, detailed exegesis of the historical and theological meaning of each passage, and Explanation sections offer a full exposition of the theological message within the framework of biblical theology and a commitment to the inspiration and authority of the Old Testament.

Tony Lane surveys a wide range of doctrines relating to our experience of God’s gracious salvation.

He begins with our need as sinful and fallen people, moves on to consider what is involved in becoming a Christian - majoring on justification (being put right with God) – and concludes with sanctification (living the Christian life). As well as expounding various aspects of these doctrines, Lane introduces their historical roots in classical expositions.

Lane warns that these doctrines are in danger of being lost by significant sectors of evangelicalism, and he explains them clearly. He encourages readers to hold firmly to an evangelical soteriology, having a greater understanding of it and a stronger conviction of its truth, with experience of its application to Christian discipleship.

The apostle Paul's known mission years were only ten, around ad 47-57. The years before are relatively unknown and the years after were mostly spent in various prisons. The great missionary decade changed the course of history as Paul brought the message of the Messiah of the Jews to the Gentile world.

Strikingly, however, of those ten years, seven (ad 50-57) were occupied with the church in Corinth, especially ad 55-57. During the initial period there is no hint of difficulty between Paul and the church. After his departure, however, relationships began to deteriorate, especially from the time Paul wrote 1 Corinthians (ad 55), and reached a crisis point when he wrote 2 Corinthians (ad 56).

The 'Corinthian question' is: why did the church come to oppose her founder Paul, almost to the point of rejecting him?

In this stimulating and helpful study, Paul Barnett searches for the answer by following Paul's relationships with the Corinthian church through a chronological, sequential study of his letters. He shows how understanding may profitably begin within the text, rather than outside it in Corinth's cultural and historical background.

The Corinthian correspondence provides a remarkable window into the heart of Paul the missionary and pastor and his dealings with the turbulent Corinthians.

What would the world look like if the Old Perspective on Paul was right about justification, the New Perspective was right about Judaism, and the Radical New Perspective was right to note ongoing differences between Jewish and Gentile converts?

Galatians Reconsidered is a compelling, practical study of Paul the Apostle's writing that explores just that. Emphasising the central role played by regression in Paul's argument on justification, Neil Martin examines the dichotomy between faith and works and how the apostle envisaged the differences in how Jews and Gentiles should interact with the Law.

By re-establishing Galatians in its original Jewish and pagan context, Martin exposes the problems faced by Galatian churches and shows how they still speak to modern churches today. His insight not only helps us better appreciate Paul's message but challenges us to put his wisdom into practice in our own church settings.

Provocative and stimulating Galatians Reconsidered is a robust new look at the question of justification. It will leave you with a thorough knowledge of the merits and failings of both the old and new perspectives on Paul, as well as a broader understanding of the letter to the Galatians both in the context in which it was written and its continued relevance today.

Christians throughout history have been strengthened by their confidence that God knows everything about the future. However, open theism claims to offer a more biblical and a more practical alternative to traditional views of God s sovereignty and involvement in our lives.

Bruce Ware carefully summarises and critiques this redefinition of the nature of God.

He provides an excellent treatment of both classical and open theism, explores their implications and pinpoints the subtle ways in which open theism undermines our trust in God and lessens his glory.

What does the bible say about persecution of Christians?

Many New Testament studies focus on persevering in faith to the end and responding even to perpetrators of persecution with love and forgiveness. Yet while there are unifying principles, the New Testament is filled with a range of experiences of and reflections on Christian persecution - texts that it is crucial to engage with in order to fully appreciate the bewildering array of experience and strongly held viewpoints amongst believers today.

In When Christians Face Persecution, Chee-Chiew Lee explores the New Testament authors' theological understanding of persecution. She offers a thorough look at the biblical foundations, covering their responses to early Christian persecution, their evaluation of these responses, and how they encourage or persuade their recipients to persevere in their faith.

Lee also brings these writings together to offer an integrated theology of facing persecution, reflecting on how the understanding of early Christian writers can be applied to the persecution of Christians today.

When Christians Face Persecution is a valuable study that will enrich your knowledge of biblical teaching on persecution, and its continued relevance in the twenty-first century. It offers engaging theological synthesis as well as contextual reflection, and it invites you to a deeper understanding of the breadth of theological perspectives contained with the New Testament.

The Books of Obadiah, Jonah and Micah are richly juxtaposed. From Micah's call to challenge brutal political and religious leaders at home, to Jonah and Obadiah both addressing audiences beyond the boundaries of geo-political Israel, we see these three prophets speaking into their contexts with rhetorical force and passion.

As well as wrestling with theological conundrums, through Obadiah, Jonah and Micah we hear the living Words of God - powerful words, intended to warn, cajole and console, and words which still have much to say to God's people today.

Offering cogent analysis on these often-overlooked books as well as exploring the practical implications for modern Christian life, this is a scholarly Bible commentary on Obadiah, Jonah and Micah that will benefit all preachers and serious students of the Bible.

Part of the Apollos Old Testament commentary series, Obadiah, Jonah and Micah follows a clear, helpful structure that provides a thorough exploration of the Biblical texts - beginning with translation and notes, examining form and structure, offering insightful commentary and ending with a full exposition of the theological message within the framework of biblical theology. It will leave you with a deeper knowledge of the divine and human aspects of Scripture, as well as a broader understanding of what these prophets mean for Christians in the twenty-first century.

The Apollos Old Testament Commentaries are scholarly bible commentaries ideal for those preaching from the Old Testament and looking to explore its riches in depth within their sermons. They will also help lay people and scholars studying the Bible on a higher level.

Comprehensive and compelling, Elaine Phillips' commentary on Obadiah, Jonah and Micah is a thorough study that will give you an appreciation of the struggles these prophets faced as they answered God's call to speak into difficult geo-political contexts, and the lessons that they can teach Christians today.

Chock-full of pithy sayings, the book of Proverbs presents ancient Israelite advice for leading a flourishing life. What is more, it apparently preserves four divisions of an ancient curriculum for cultivating youthful character, teaching reverence toward God and faithful love of our neighbours.

In this comprehensive commentary, Paul Overland examines Proverbs not as a loose collection of isolated sayings, but as an organised whole that forms a series of cohesive poems. Along with a fresh, annotated translation of each saying, he offers detailed commentary on the form and structure of the text, showing the dynamic development of persuasive thinking marshalled by its author.

Exploring the practical implications for living wisely today as well offering cogent analysis, this is a Bible commentary on Proverbs that will benefit all preachers and serious students of the Bible.

Part of the Apollos Old Testament commentary series, Proverbs follows a clear, helpful structure that provides a thorough exploration of the text – beginning with translation and notes, examining form and structure, offering insightful commentary and ending with a full exposition of the theological message within the framework of biblical theology. It will leave you with a deeper knowledge of the divine and human aspects of Scripture, as well as a broader understanding of its meaning and continued relevance for modern Christians.

The Apollos Old Testament Commentaries are ideal bible commentaries for those preaching from the Old Testament and looking to explore its riches in depth within their sermons, and will also help lay people and scholars studying the Bible at a higher level.

Clear and discerning, Paul Overland's commentary on Proverbs is a brilliant study that will give you a profound appreciation for both the poetry of these sayings and the lessons that they can still Christians today.

More than perhaps any other theologian in the twentieth century, Karl Barth has dominated the subject-matter of theology and posed the questions with which the theologians of the different churches have been, and are, occupied, although they may want to "go beyond" him, go back behind him, or even protest against his answers.' (Eberhard Busch).

Karl Barth's theological legacy provides both opportunity and challenge for historic, confessional evangelicalism. While there are now numerous excellent studies highlighting the value of Barth's theology, often receiving it with ringing endorsement, there are fewer more cautionary or critical responses.

This volume engages critically and courteously with Barth on a range of vital topics where, for the contributors, his interpretation of Scripture, reading of church history, and confession of Christian doctrine are unsatisfactory. This engagement is offered as a positive contribution to the wider programme of constructive theological reflection that seeks to articulate the gospel of Jesus Christ in and for the contemporary world, in the conviction that the 'pattern of sound teaching' (2 Timothy 1:13) really matters.

The contributors are Henri Blocher, Oliver Crisp, David Gibson, Ryan Glomsrud, Paul Helm, Michael Horton, Donald Macleod, A. T. B. McGowan, Michael Ovey, Sebastian Rehnman, Mark Thompson and Garry Williams.

In this magisterial synthesis, Paul A. Rainbow presents the most complete account of the theology of the Johannine corpus available today. Both critical and comprehensive, this volume includes all the books of the New Testament ascribed to John: the Gospel, the three Epistles and the book of Revelation.

While not proclaiming a definitive position on the question of authorship, this work seeks to shed light on the theology common to all the New Testament authors. John's root beliefs concerning God, humanity, sin, the world, and the significance of the Christ-event on eschatology unite the examined books with the rest of the New Testament canon. The Johannine corpus also highlights the important areas of Christology, soteriology and ecclesiology in a manner that is worth exploration.

Organizing John's ideas by the main characters around whom they revolve, the Johannine universe consists of persons divine and human, and their relationships with each other. Father, Son, Holy Spirit, faithful believers and the rest of the world are the main cast of characters that make up the rich set of writings considered in this exhaustive analysis.

The book of Joshua presents a number of interpretative problems.

On the basis of literary studies and archaeology, some have claimed that the book is a product of a much later age than the one it portrays and does not reflect actual events. Another important issue is how it should be read as Christian Scripture, given that it describes at least a partial annihilation of indigenous people groups. Related to this today is the ongoing struggle over essentially the same piece of land that is described in Joshua.

To address these and other issues, Pekka Pitkanen reads Joshua in its Ancient Near Eastern context. He makes extensive comparisons with relevant contemporary literature and includes an archaeological survey of all places mentioned in the Masoretic text. He argues that Joshua helps conclude the pentateuchal tradition and is best understood as a conquest document originating from the Late Bronze-Early Iron Age that helps define Israelite identity in Yahwistic terms and promulgates Yahwism in Israel as the exclusive religious ideology. In application, he engages with genocide studies and reflects on theodicy and the use and abuse of power.

For Daniel Fredericks, allowing the thematic words and phrases of Ecclesiastes to speak with their Hebrew voices demonstrates its affinity with the breadth of Old Testament legal, poetic, wisdom and prophetic writings as well as the teachings of Christ and the apostles.

Ecclesiastes is found in the canon of Scripture because it plays a significant role in a cumulative theology of the Old and New Testaments.

The beautiful and mysterious lyrics of The Song of Songs have prompted a wide range of interpretations. Daniel Estes reads the ancient song cycle in terms of its literary genre as Hebrew poetry. By attending carefully to the literary features of the text, he seeks to remain sensitive to the emotions that the poet desired to express and to reproduce in the reader. At the same time, he endeavours to hear the echoes of the Song as they resonate within the larger context of the biblical canon, and to suggest how its prominent theme of the nurture of intimacy can be applied to life today.

Does the Bible favour one particular model for God's relationship with the created order? Is it intellectually responsible or credible to talk of 'special divine action'?

Such questions are explored by Dr C. John Collins, who provides a thorough exegetical foundation for discussing God's action in the world, and offers a concise examination of key philosophical, theological, scientific and apologetic questions which arise from it.

Dr Collins begins by presenting and contrasting the main options within traditional Christian theism, then examines the biblical passages which support, or seem to support, these options. He offers a wide-ranging evaluation of the biblical teaching on miracles, 'nature', 'cause' and special divine action. He ably defends the biblical view from empiricist, rationalist or postmodern critiques.

Spiritual formation is critical for the Christian. And preaching is, effectively, spiritual formation from the pulpit, seeking to bring to bear the thrust of a portion of Scripture upon the lives of believers.

However, the careful integration of the divine call for holiness, with the concrete processes of transformation in response to that call, remains a challenge. How does the former lead to the latter, to culminate in Christlikeness?

This book fills that gap, as it shows the unnatural, supernatural journey from the glory of creation to the glory of redeemed humanity.

Abraham Kuruvilla informs and equips pastors, preachers and church leaders to focus on God's work to overcome the sinful flesh in humanity through the agency of the Spirit and through the Spirit's product: Scripture. These are the ways that God brings His people from glory to ever-increasing glory. This is not a model or plan of action, but rather an invitation towards being conformed to Christlikeness.

How can we present the truth about Jesus to a world that no longer believes in truth? Can we find ways to engage in meaningful conversation with those who reject all claims to absolutes? Can we talk about our convictions without appearing arrogant or manipulative.

Curtis Chang has found vital resources for addressing these issues in the lives of Augustine bishop of Hippo (AD 413) and Dominican priest Thomas Aquinas (AD1259). These two apologists grounded their response to the shifting cultural sands of their time on Christ's own ministry of transforming love. Through a careful study of Augustine's City of God and Aquinas's Summa Contra Gentiles, Chang has discerned a valuable rhetorical strategy for engaging unbelief in cultural contexts where Christian faith seems less and less plausible

Building on the contemporary cultural analysis of Alasdair MacIntyre, Christopher Lasch, James Davison Hunter and John Milbank as well as insights gleaned from Lesslie Newbigin and Stanley Hauerwas, Chang puts forth his own bold recommendation. We should confront challengers not with legal or moral coercion, much less violence, but by meeting and speaking with them within their own thought and language worlds. This approach will involve (1) entering the challengers' stories, (2) retelling the stories and (3) capturing those retold stories within the gospel's larger story. With theological as well as practical insights drawn from Augustine and Aquinas, Chang completes the book by offering concrete suggestions for more faithfully taking up our evangelistic and apologetic task today.

Donald Bloesch surveys the history of Christian thinking on the nature of the spiritual life.

In his own charitable, ecumenical yet evangelical way he provides incisive guidance toward a genuine Christian spirituality that is firmly rooted in biblical faith and fully aware of the positive contributions of various streams of Christian tradition, while critically engaging the current plethora of options being offered today.

James Robson's accessible study focuses on Deuteronomy's storyline, explores its role within a biblical theology of the Old and New Testaments, and sets out its enduring function as an authoritative word for the Christian and the church today.

In the Old Testament, milk and honey are the enticing fare of the Promised Land; but honey as sweet nourishment extends to Yahweh's words, and Deuteronomy is a book filled with them.

A rock is hardly the most promising place to find nourishment, and perhaps for many readers Deuteronomy may seem equally unpromising. However, in the song of Moses Yahweh is pictured as the Rock (Deuteronomy 32:4). Our nourishment comes not just from Deuteronomy, but from God himself.

James Robson's aim is to orient readers to Deuteronomy: to guide them in what to expect, to help them interpret what they find, and to help them think through the wider significance of what they have read. His study is for those interested in understanding Deuteronomy's role within a biblical theology of the Old and New Testaments, and for those convinced that when Deuteronomy is read, God's voice is heard. All with a concern for Christian interpretation and appropriation of the book of Deuteronomy will appreciate Robson's accessible exploration of a word with a story, to shape the life of God's people.

Although the Reformation took place in the sixteenth century, this was the beginning of something and not the end. The Reformed churches affirmed the need to be semper reformanda (Latin for "the Church must always be reformed")

Unfortunately, this commitment to continuing reformation has not been faithfully and consistently maintained over the centuries. At one end of the theological spectrum, some have invoked semper reformanda in order to justify abandoning the core of Reformation theology and departing from received orthodoxy. At the other end, some have forgotten about semper reformanda in their progress towards a rigid confessionalism, giving the impression that the final codification of truth has already taken place, and that there is no further need for reformation.

Between these two extremes, there is a vital task to be performed by the church in every generation: to subject its beliefs and practices to renewed scrutiny in the light of Scripture. In doing so, the church must re-state biblical truth in ways that faithfully communicate the gospel, advance the mission of the church, and address the issues which men, women and children face as they seek to follow Christ and witness to him.

This volume is an exercise in semper reformanda. Each contributor was asked to take a different theme, doctrine or subject area within the discipline of systematic theology, and to assess the current state of scholarship in that area, before indicating areas where further work, development, re-statement or clarification are required. Overall, this stimulating collection is intended to make a positive contribution to evangelical scholarship, by helping to identify problems, dangers and exciting new possibilities, and to set an agenda for future theological reflection.

Table of Contents:

1. The Trinity: Where Do We Go from Here? - Gerald Bray
2. Observations on the Future of System - Stephen Williams
3. Classical Christology's Future in Systematic Theology - Robert L. Reymond
4. On the Very Idea of a Theological System: An Essay in Aid of Triangulating Scripture, Church and World
5. The Atonement as Penal Substitution - A. T. B. McGowan
6. The Relationship between Biblical Theology and Systematic Theology - Richard C. Gamble
7. Old Covenant, New Covenant - Henri Blocher
8. Union with Christ: Some Biblical and Theological Reflections - Richard B. Gaffin, Jr
9. Justification: The Ecumenical, Biblical and Theological Dimensions of Different Debates
10. The Doctrine of the Church in the Twenty-First Century - Derek W. H. Thomas

'My heart is stirred by a noble theme ...' (Psalm 45:1)

The Old Testament prophets spoke oracles from God - but the theology of the Psalms arises from the daily lives of his people. The New Testament apostles expounded the death and resurrection of Christ through sermon and epistle - but the Christology of the Psalms is expressed in poetry. The Gospels show us Jesus in the flesh, teaching, healing, dying and rising. In the Psalms we are invited to accompany him on his journey of suffering, trust and vindication.

What are we to do with such unique theology? How should we hear it as Christians? How can it shape our life together, and our lives as individuals?

The goal of this stimulating volume, based on the 2012 Moore College School of Theology, is to help us hear the message of the Psalms - as a story, as prophecy, as theology, as poetry, as praise - and to explore its application for the people of God today, whether in joy or pain, perplexity or persecution, politics or mission.

The contributors are Greg Anderson, Kit Barker, Andrew Cameron, James Hely Hutchinson, Seumas Macdonald, David Peterson, Andrew Shead, Andrew Sloane, Tara Stenhouse, Mark Thompson, John Woodhouse and Dan Wu.

The Bible is both a divine and a human book. It is the inspired word of God for his people, whether in biblical times or for the church today. It is also a fully human book, written by different people in a variety of cultural settings. Knowledge of biblical language and society is essential if the meaning of the human writer is to be grasped fully.

The Apollos Old Testament Commentary aims to take with equal seriousness the divine and human aspects of Scripture. It expounds the books of the Old Testament in a scholarly manner accessible to nonexperts, and shows the relevance of the Old Testament to modern readers.

This commentary begins with an Introduction, which gives an overview of the issues of date, authorship, sources and so on, but which also outlines more fully than usual the theology of 1 and 2 Samuel, and provides pointers toward its interpretation and contemporary application. The annotated Translation of the Hebrew text by the author forms the basis for the subsequent commentary. The Form and Structure section examines the context of a passage, its use of rhetorical devices, and source and form-critical issues. The Comment section is a thorough, detailed exegesis of the historical and theological meaning of the passage. The Explanation-the goal of the commentary-offers a full exposition of the theological message within the framework of biblical theology, and a commitment to the inspiration and authority of the Old Testament.

Written by an international team of scholars, the commentaries are intended primarily to serve the needs of those who preach from the Old Testament. They are equally suitable for use by scholars and all serious students of the Bible.

On the surface, the book of Ruth tells the tale of an unlikely marriage between a destitute Moabite widow and an upstanding citizen of a Judean village. The deeper import of the story, however, has to do with the internal boundaries that define the people of God.

Is Israel a closed community, held together exclusively by bonds of kinship, or a nation that welcomes faithful outsiders into its sphere of belonging?

Ruth appropriates marriage as the symbolic vehicle of a transformation in Israel's self-understanding - from a community articulated by Naomi's declaration that her daughters-in-law marry within their own people, to the acclamations by the people of Bethlehem that endorse Boaz's marriage to a Moabite.

L. Daniel Hawk undertakes a detailed narrative analysis of Ruth that goes beyond the description of its content and stylistic features to illumine its deep structure and use of metaphor.

Informed by contemporary studies on ethnicity, he discovers a work of remarkable sophistication that employs a story of intermarriage to address opposing ideas of Israelite identity. Hawk's meticulous attention to patterned structures, stylistic devices and characterization reveals the strategy by which the narrator constructs a vision of Israel that looks beyond rigid internal boundaries to the welcome of faithful foreigners as agents of blessing.

Proverbs 31:8 challenges God's people to 'Open your mouth for those with no voice, for the cause of all the Proverbs 31:8 challenges God's people to 'Open your mouth for those with no voice, for the cause of all the dispossessed' (ESV).

In Unmuted, Usha Reifsnider makes use of 'muted group theory' to help church leaders and theologians understand the real challenges of identity, intersectionality, and the myriad ways of being human in God's world.

Drawing together powerful testimonies from disciples of Jesus from around the world, Usha Reifsnider brings theological reflection and biblical insight to the contested question of multifaceted identities. As a convert from a Hindu background and, married to an American, she is well placed to do so.

Unmuted ends with a powerful statement about the future of evangelicalism - in a clarion cry to the West to listen again to the voices of global church and join in with what God is doing.

In many ways, the Old Testament book of Daniel is an enigma. It consists of two different kinds of material: stories about Judean exiles working in the court of pagan kings (chapters 1-6) and accounts of visions experienced by one of these exiles (chapters 7-12).

It is written in two languages, Hebrew and Aramaic, and the language division does not match the subject division. Whether the book's affinities lie more with the Hebrew prophets or with later Jewish apocalypses is debated, as are its affinities with the wisdom traditions of both Israel and Babylon.

Refreshingly, Enest Lucas postpones much of the discussion of such issues to an Epilogue, and invites the reader to an investigation of the meaning of the text in the form in which we now have it. He identifies the central theme of the book as the sovereignty of the God of Israel. With even-handedness and clarity, Lucas demonstrates that, for preachers and teachers, there is much in Daniel that is fairly readily understandable and applicable, and that there are also theological depths that are rewarding for those willing to plumb them and wrestle with the issues they raise.

The Apollos Old Testament Commentary aims to take with equal seriousness the divine and human aspects of Scripture. It expounds the books of the Old Testament in a scholarly manner, accessible to non-experts, and it shows the relevance of the Old Testament to modern readers. Written by an international team of scholars, these commentaries are intended to serve the needs of those who preach from the Old Testament, as well as scholars and all serious students of the Bible.

'Biblical Theology' attempts to embrace the message of the Bible holistically and to describe this wholeness using biblical categories.

These essays focus on selected central themes and their development across the canon, and demonstrate the essential unity of the Bible.

Key benefits of this book include expositions of selected themes in the theology of both Old and New Testaments, the demonstration of the unity of Scripture and it is accessible to all Christians, not just those studying Theology.

Pastoral theology is theology seen from the shepherding perspective. Relating to every aspect of church life - from leading congregations to counselling individuals - it calls for pastors with a good grasp of Christian doctrine and a wide range of skills.

After defining pastoral theology the author examines its biblical foundations. He then surveys the various ways in which it has been understood in the history of the church. In his final section Dr Tidball considers five major themes - belief, forgiveness, suffering, unity and ministry - as examples of pastoral theology at work in the church today.

The Bible is both a divine and a human book. It is the inspired word of God for his people, whether in biblical times or for the church today. It is also a fully human book, written by different people in a variety of cultural settings. Knowledge of biblical language and society is essential if the meaning of the human writer is to be grasped fully.

The Apollos Old Testament Commentary aims to take with equal seriousness the divine and human aspects of Scripture. It expounds the books of the Old Testament in a scholarly manner accessible to non-experts and shows the relevance of the Old Testament to modern readers.

This commentary begins with an introduction, which gives an overview of the issues of date, authorship, sources and so on, but which also outlines more fully than usual the theology of the Psalms and provides pointers toward its interpretation and contemporary application.

The annotated translation of the Hebrew text by the author forms the basis for the subsequent commentary. The form and structure section examines the context of a passage, its use of rhetorical devices, and source and form-critical issues. The comment section is a thorough, detailed exegesis of the historical and theological meaning of the passage. The explanation - the goal of the commentary - offers a full exposition of the theological message within the framework of biblical theology, and a commitment to the inspiration and authority of the Old Testament.

In this outstanding commentary, Gordon McConville offers a theological interpretation of the Old Testament book of Deuteronomy in the context of the biblical canon.

He gives due attention to historical issues where these bear on what can be known about the settings in which the text emerged. His dominant method is one that approaches Deuteronomy as a finished work.

Dr McConville argues that in the context of the ancient world, Deuteronomy should be understood as the radical blueprint for the life of a people, at the same time both spiritual and political, and profoundly different from every other social, political and religious programme.

The book incorporates the tension between an open-ended vision of a perfectly ordered society under God, and practical provisions for dealing with the frailty and imperfections of real people. Hence, it is capable of informing our thinking about the organisation of societies while maintaining a vision of the kingdom of God.

The theme of covenant is foundational to the Bible's story. From the beginning of the biblical narrative, God is revealed as the one who enters into covenant relationship with his people, and this theme threads its way through the unfolding account of God s involvement in his creation and its redemption. The essence of covenant is simple; the divine promise that 'I will be your God and you will be my people', but the implications are immense, and breath-taking.

This volume explores the concept of covenant from a variety of perspectives. It examines relevant texts in both Old and New Testaments, discusses the development of the theme within the canon of Scripture, and also draws out some of its theological, ethical and contemporary implications. As befits such a magisterial topic, the discussion is wide-ranging and fascinating.

The contributors are David L. Baker, Christopher J. H. Wright, David Firth, James Hely Hutchinson, Tan Kim Huat, Alistair Wilson, Andrew T. B. McGowan, Harry Bunting and Colin Chapman.

Discover the profound theme of covenant in the Bible, exploring its significance from Genesis to Revelation through diverse theological perspectives.

The Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed of ad 381 was a key statement in the context of the theological controversies and confessional atmosphere of the fourth-century church.

Alexander Irving explores Christian belief about God, creation and redemption, as it is expressed in the Creed. He thereby contributes to the continuing task of the church's self-examination of its talk about God.

Irving shows the importance of tradition and the intrinsic relationship between thought in the church today and thought in the church across time. He sets the Creed in its historical and theological contexts, and connects its theology to some areas of contemporary theological inquiry.

The Creed sets out the basic parameters of Christian belief. While the specifics of what is believed within those parameters are not determined, there is an internal logic to the Creed's presentation of the Christian faith. The contrast between God's internal and external relations is the theological motif that gives particular shape to the Creed, which expresses an expansive vision of the generosity of God, with his relation to creation grounded in his being as love.

Missional ethics is concerned with the way in which the believing community's behaviour is, in and of itself, a witness to the wisdom and goodness of God. The debate surrounding the relationship between word and deed, or evangelism and social action, remains a significant issue within evangelical missiology.

Martin Salter seeks to address one aspect of that debate - namely, the missional significance of ethics - by conducting detailed exegesis of key biblical texts. He argues that biblical ethics is neither entirely separate from, nor merely preparatory for, mission - rather, it is an integral part of the church's mission.

Missional ethics is a theme that arises from the biblical texts and is not imposed on them. The church as both organism and institution embody a missional ethic that includes worship, justice, and charity. Word and deed belong together as an integral whole. Salter's valuable study concludes by offering a definition of missional ethics.

The study of epistemology can aid us as we work to achieve a vital, healthy cognitive life, one preoccupied with pursuing intellectual virtue. It can help to illuminate our intellectual duties and train us in the mental virtues.

Providing an account of the stewardship of the mind requires that we think about three related epistemological matters: the logical structure of our knowledge, the requirement for justified belief, and how both bear on beliefs of central concern to Christians.

Undertaking to make ourselves intellectually fit for the world in which we were created to live, believes Jay Wood, quite naturally leads us to ask whether there is an ideal structure for ordering our thought life, what rules or habits dispose us to flourish cognitively, and whether our religious and other beliefs reflect these cognitive ideals.