This book is an experiment in systematic theology. It is an attempt to see if a particular interpretation of Christian narrative speaks to the situation of Christians in affluent western cultures, a context in which Christian identity is increasingly problematic. Stroup's work purposes to determine if the use of narrative in theology casts any new light on what Christians mean by Òrevelation,Ó the doctrine some Christian theologians have appealed to as the basis for what Christians know and confess about God.
This book presents narrative theology as radically orthodox. It is orthodox because in the tradition of all those who maintain the priority of the story of Jesus, as it is sacramentally performed in the Church, and radical because it eschews all modern attempts to found Christian faith on some other story, such as that of reason, critical history or human consciousness. Acknowledging the indeterminacy of and textuality of human existance, Telling God's Story presents the Christian life as as a truly postmodern venture: the groundless enactment of God's future now.
Laced with brilliant insights, broad in its view of the interaction of culture and theology, this book gives new resonance to old and important questions about the meaning of the Bible.
Focusing on the metanarrative of exile and restoration Timo Eskola claims that a post-liberal, narrative New Testament theology is both consistent and explanative. Combining a post-New Quest perspective on Jesus with an eschatological reading of Paul, the author states that Jesus' temple criticism aims at restoration eschatology. Jesus starts a priestly community that expects God's jubilee to begin with Jesus' work, and proceed with the preaching of the new gospel. The reception of this message in the post-Easter church results in resurrection Christology that proclaims Jesus' Davidic kingship on God's throne of glory. Both Paul and Jewish Christian teachers later present Christ's community as a new temple where believers serve the Lord as priests of the new covenant. Furthermore, restoration eschatology provides a new basis for understanding Paul's contrast with the words of the law, and his teaching of justification.
Biblical theology attempts to explore the theological coherence of the canonical witnesses; no serious Christian theology can overlook this issue. The essays in the present volume illustrate the complexity and richness of the conversation that results from attentive consideration of the question. In a time when some voices are calling for a moratorium on biblical theology or pronouncing its concerns obsolete, this collection of meaty essays demonstrates the continuing vitality and necessity of the enterprise. Richard B. Hays, George Washington Ivey Professor of New Testament, The Divinity School, Duke University, USA This volume on biblical theology jumps into the fray and poses the right kind of questions. It does not offer a single way forward. Several of the essays are quite fresh and provocative, breaking new ground (Bray, Reno); others set out the issues with clarity and grace (Bartholomew); others offer programmatic analysis (Webster; Bauckham); others offer a fresh angle of view (Chapman, Martin). The success of this series is in facing the challenge of disarray in biblical studies head-on and then modeling a variety of approaches to stimulate our reflection. Christopher Seitz, Professor of Old Testament and Theological Studies, St. Andrews University, UK
As a theological biography of Professor Walter J. Hollenweger, this book surveys his extensive interests, varied methods and wide-ranging reflection. But Price also incorporates an enquiry into the nature and function of western academic theology relating to to Christian practice today. Hollenweger's research into Pentecostalism, Ecumenism and Intercultural Theology is here brought together in a synthetic overview. Issues such as the unity and diversity of the Bible and its interpretations, the particular and universal dimensions of worldwide Chrsitianity, and relations between Christians and between Christians and 'the others' are all exploited in order to stimulate fresh thinking on the mission of the churches.
Hans W. Frei (1922-1988) was one of the most influential American theologians of his generation. This collection provides an unrivaled introduction to Frei's work.
One of the thorniest problems in theological study is the relationship between biblical studies on the one hand, and constructive theology on the other. Theologians know that the Bible is the core source document for theological construction, and hence that they must be in conversation with the best in critical study of Scripture. For many biblical scholars, the point of what they do is to help the biblical text speak to today’s church and world, and hence they would do well to be in conversation with contemporary theology. Yet too often the two groups fail to engage each other’s work in significant and productive ways. The purpose of the Library of Biblical Theology, and this introductory volume to it, is to bring the worlds of biblical scholarship and constructive theology together. It will do so by reviving biblical theology as a discipline that describes the faith of the biblical periods on the one hand, and on the other hand articulates normative understandings of modern faith and practice. In this volume the authors begin by providing an overview of the history and possible future of biblical theology. They introduce biblical theology as a fundamentally contrastive discipline, one that is neither dogmatic theology (seeking to explain the official teachings of a particular Christian tradition), nor is it a purely historical approach to Scripture, eschewing questions of the Bible’s contemporary message and meaning. Rather, biblical theology takes seriously both the need to understand the message of Scripture in its particular historical context, and the need to address that message to questions that confront contemporary human life.
Many Christians today have experienced a loss of enormous significance -- they no longer understand their daily lives to be lived "before God." This timely work traces the development and implications of this loss and argues for its recovery. In comparing contemporary Christians with believers of previous eras, author George Stroup sees an "eclipse" of life lived before God. This eclipse is tragic because the Bible presupposes human life as a daily, personal relationship with God. Stroup here offers help by exploring anew the biblical view that Jesus Christ models most clearly what life lived before God and neighbor looks like. He then suggests that describing Christian life as "gratitude naturally evokes a sense of life lived before God. The book concludes by examining whether life before God requires a sense of God's presence -- and whether it is possible to live before God even in those times when he seems to be absent. Offering thought-provoking analysis of modern faith and sound direction for spiritual renewal, "Before God is perfect for churches, study groups, pastors, and individuals pursuing genuine discipleship.
