The Identity of God's People and the Paradox of Hebrews

The Identity of God's People and the Paradox of Hebrews
Author: Ole Jakob Filtvedt
Publisher: Mohr Siebeck
Total Pages: 352
Release: 2015-08-03
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 9783161540134

Does the letter to the Hebrews display Jewish or Christian identity? Ole Jakob Filtvedt shows that it takes up a traditional Jewish category, namely membership in God's people, and proposes it for its audience as a collective identity but also significantly reshapes that category in light of belief in Jesus. (Publisher).

Biblical Theology

Biblical Theology
Author: Andreas J. Köstenberger
Publisher: Crossway
Total Pages: 1152
Release: 2023-02-23
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1433569728

A Clear, Careful Textbook to Help Bible Students Interpret Scripture Pastors, thoughtful Christians, and students of Scripture must learn how to carefully read and understand the Bible, but it can be difficult to know where to start. In this clear, logical guide, Andreas J. Köstenberger and Gregory Goswell explain how to interpret Scripture from three effective viewpoints: canonical, thematic, and ethical. Biblical Theology is arranged book by book from the Old Testament (using the Hebrew order) through the New Testament. For each text, Köstenberger and Goswell analyze key biblical-theological themes, discussing the book's place in the overall storyline of Scripture. Next, they focus on the ethical component, showing how God seeks to transform the lives of his people through the inspired text. Following this technique, readers will better understand the theology of each book and its author. A Clearly Written Guide on Biblical Theology: Analyzes all 66 books of the Bible, with emphasis on the coherent, unified framework of Scripture Helps Readers Thoughtfully Interpret Scripture: Provides an essential foundation for a valid theological understanding of Scripture that informs Christian doctrine and ethics Ideal for Pastors, Academics, and Other Serious Students of Scripture: This clear, thoroughly researched guide can be used as a textbook in seminary classes studying biblical theology or the Old and New Testaments

The Figure of Abraham in John 8

The Figure of Abraham in John 8
Author: Ruth Sheridan
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Total Pages: 393
Release: 2020-01-09
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 056769285X

In the Gospel of John, the character of Jesus repeatedly comes into conflict with a group pejoratively designated as 'the Jews'. In chapter 8 of the Gospel this conflict could be said to reach a head, with Jesus labeling the Jews as children 'of the devil' (8:44) - a verse often cited as epitomizing early Christian anti-Judaism. Using methods derived from modern and post-modern literary criticism Ruth Sheridan examines textual allusions to the biblical figures of Cain and Abraham in John 8:1-59. She pays particular attention to how these allusions give shape to the Gospel's alleged and infamous anti-Judaism (exemplified in John 8:44). Moreover, the book uniquely studies the subsequent reception in the Patristic and Rabbinic literature, not only of John 8, but also of the figures of Cain and Abraham. It shows how these figures are linked in Christian and Jewish imagination in the formative centuries in which the two religions came into definition.

The Paradox of Sonship

The Paradox of Sonship
Author: R. B. Jamieson
Publisher: Inter-Varsity Press
Total Pages: 246
Release: 2021-05-20
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1789743036

The Studies in Christian Doctrine and Scripture (SCDS) series promotes fresh understandings of Christian belief through creative, faithful readings of the canonical text. ---------------------------------- What does the epistle to the Hebrews mean when it calls Jesus 'Son'? Is 'Son' a title that denotes his eternal identity in the one, triune God? Or is it a title given to Jesus in light of his unique role as the Messiah? In this volume, theologian and pastor Bobby Jamieson considers the complexity of the Christology presented in the epistle to the Hebrews. Exploring the paradox of the term, Jamieson argues that we should understand Jesus' sonship in light of both his eternal existence as a distinct person of the triune God as well as the messianic office to which he is appointed. Jesus is, in short, the eternal Son who became the incarnate Son in order to fulfil the mission given to him by the Father.

The Power of Paradox: Impossible Conversations

The Power of Paradox: Impossible Conversations
Author: Markus Locker
Publisher: BRILL
Total Pages: 233
Release: 2019-05-07
Genre: Philosophy
ISBN: 9004398244

In this book, Markus Locker demonstrates that the paradox behind each truth claim opens a channel of communication of truths.

Social Identity and the Book of Amos

Social Identity and the Book of Amos
Author: Andrew M. King
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Total Pages: 169
Release: 2021-01-14
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0567695301

What, according to the Book of Amos, does it mean to be the people of God? In this book, Andrew M. King employs a Social Identity Approach (SIA), comprised of Social Identity Theory and Self-Categorization Theory, to explore the relationship between identity formation and the biblical text. Specifically, he examines the identity-forming strategies embedded in the Book of Amos. King begins by outlining the Social Identity Approach, especially its use in Hebrew Bible scholarship. Turning to the Book of Amos, he analyzes group dynamics and intergroup conflicts (national and interpersonal), as well as Amos's presentation of Israel's history and Israel's future. King provides extensive insight into the rhetorical strategies in Amos that shape the trans-temporal audience's sense of self. To live as the people of God, according to Amos, readers and hearers must adopt norms defined by a proper relationship to God that results in the proper treatment of others.

Muted Voices of the New Testament

Muted Voices of the New Testament
Author: Katherine M. Hockey
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Total Pages: 224
Release: 2017-07-13
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0567667790

Pauline- and Gospel-centred readings have too long provided the normative understanding of Christian identity. The chapters in this volume features evidence from other, less-frequently studied texts, so as to broaden perspectives on early Christian identity. Each chapter in the collection focuses on one or more of the later New Testament epistles and answers one of the following questions: what did/do these texts uniquely contribute to Christian identity? How does the author frame or shape identity? What are the potential results of the identities constructed in these texts for early Christian communities? What are the influences of these texts on later Christian identity? Together these chapters contribute fresh insights through innovative research, furthering the discussion on the theological and historical importance of these texts within the canon. The distinguished list of contributors includes: Richard Bauckham, David G. Horrell, Francis Watson, and Robert W. Wall.

The Second Chance for God's People

The Second Chance for God's People
Author: Timothy W. Seid
Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers
Total Pages: 332
Release: 2008-09-26
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1556358261

For centuries the New Testament book of Hebrews has been interpreted as though it had been written for Jewish Christians in danger of lapsing back into legalism and religious ceremony. This view is now being challenged by current scholarship. Rather than attacking the Old Testament and Judaism, the author of Hebrews praises the person and work of Jesus through a series of comparisons on which he bases exhortations and warnings to the present people of God. Hebrews urges God's people to learn from past mistakes and failures, and to take up the challenge in difficult times to live faithfully in the new relationship to God through Jesus, God's Son. In The Second Chance for God's People: Messages from Hebrews, Quaker pastor and professor Timothy W. Seid encourages today's church to respond to the challenge of Hebrews: first individually by progressing in spiritual and moral maturity, and second collectively by being God's faithful people in the world. In the light of ancient Greek language and rhetoric after having extensively researched Hebrews, Seid interprets the text of Hebrews section by section in an accessible and nontechnical way while also illustrating and applying the meaning of the text for the contemporary church.

God (in) Acts

God (in) Acts
Author: Christine H. Aarflot
Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers
Total Pages: 250
Release: 2020-06-26
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1532693516

The Acts of the Apostles reveals a God at work. However, what do God's actions reveal about God's character? This question drives the present study, whose ultimate goal is to discover what portrayal Acts constructs of God through God's actions. Aarflot demonstrates how Jesus's ascension and the development of the gentile mission prove key to Acts' distinctive portrayal of God. The study explores what happens to the characterization of God when Jesus's character comes to resemble God through the ascension, noting in particular the effect of ambiguous language that might refer to either God or Jesus on the portrayal of God. It also considers how Acts depicts God through actions in Israel's past in relation to the narrative present. This is done by looking at how God is characterized at decisive moments of Acts' plot. The resulting observations are ultimately synthesized in a final chapter presenting the portrayal of God in Acts. The results of the study have implications for the discussion of the impact of Christology on theology, and furthers the discussion of "God" in the New Testament by delineating a constant, yet developing image of God, and solidifies previous research's observations on the centrality of God's actions to Acts' narrative.

Purifying the Consciousness in Hebrews

Purifying the Consciousness in Hebrews
Author: Joshua D. A. Bloor
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Total Pages: 252
Release: 2023-02-23
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0567708136

Joshua D. A. Bloor argues that the purification of the consciousness of sin, via Jesus' perpetual heavenly blood offering, is a vital motif for understanding Hebrews' sacrificial argumentation, and vice-versa. Jesus' 'objective' earthly achievements are many, yet only his 'subjective' heavenly blood offering purges the heavenly tabernacle and subsequently the consciousness of sin. Bloor views the Levitical cult as having a positive role in Hebrews, with Levitical 'guilt' foreshadowing and informing Hebrews' notion of the 'consciousness of sin'. Levitical sacrifices could purge the consciousness, but only Jesus' heavenly blood can offer complete perpetual purgation. This blood is a qualitative type of purgation which continually speaks in heaven, offering eternal assurance for the recipients regarding their consciousness of sin. Bloor begins with the 'defiled consciousness' and situates the world of Hebrews within cultic defilement, enabling the consciousness of sin and its cosmic implications to be properly understood. From here, the solution to a defiled consciousness is explored by examining Hebrews' cultic argumentation. Bloor highlights the distinctive purposes inherent in both Jesus' earthly and heavenly achievements, with the latter concerned particularly with Yom Kippur imagery and the purgation of the consciousness. Bloor concludes by differentiating between Jesus' session, present heavenly activity and perpetual heavenly blood offering. Throughout this volume, Bloor engages, critiques and advances current discourse concerning the nature and timing of Jesus' offering in Hebrews.