This book is Prof. Minear's clarion for a return to authentic biblical theology. After more than fifty years of teaching and research, his message is still simple: biblical theology must pay attention to the emphases of the biblical writers. Contemporary biblical scholars, often best trained as historians, tend to dismiss those elements of the Bible most relevant to the faith of ancient and contemporary Christians. This book introduces contemporary students again to a study of the Bible with God at its heart.

"Paul S. Minear provokes readers of the New Testament to attend to the utter confidence with which its pages speak of God and God's doings. In a book that ranges from Matthew to Revelation and from J. S. Bach to Jacques Ellul, Minear's insights are both classic and astonishing. A volume to be both welcomed and read." --Beverly Roberts Gaventa, Princeton Theological Seminary

"Paul Minear's work, too little known to recent students, was a major influence that drew me into the field of New Testament studies. These subtly crafted essays press us to reckon with the New Testament writers' claim to speak about a God who transcends modernist ways of knowing. Minear's far-seeing readings beckon us to peer into the mystery to which the texts point. In short, Minear raises the art of New Testament criticism into the practice of prophecy. The publication of this book is an event to be celebrated by all who cherish theological interpretation of the New Testament." --Richard B. Hays, The Divinity School, Duke University

"Minear goes directly to the biblical texts, and by deftly exploring their ways of talking about things like peace, death or "the heavens," lets their language invite the reader to be grasped by the extraordinary reality of which they speak. These jargon-free essays do more than express an aesthetic appreciation of the New Testament's distinct language; they exemplify a way of reading scripture that can stimulate the imagination, challenge the moral will and deepen understanding. For thirsting spirits, an oasis." --Leander E. Keck, Yale Divinity School

Until recently, many scholars have read Pauls use of the word Christos as more of a proper name (Jesus Christ) than a title, Jesus the Messiah. Joshua Jipp broadens the discussion by surveying Greco-Roman and Jewish depictions of the ideal king and argues for the influence of these traditions on several aspects of Pauls thought, including Pauls language of participation in Christ. Jipp finds that Pauls use of royal tropes is indeed significant, and concludes that Christos is a royal title, an honorific, within Pauls letters.

What does healing mean for people with disabilities? The Gospels are filled with accounts of Jesus offering physical healing. But even as churches today seek to follow the way of Jesus, people with disabilities all too often experience the very opposite of healing and life-giving community: exclusion, judgment, barriers. Misinterpretation and misapplication of biblical healing narratives can do great damage, yet those who take the Bible seriously mustn't avoid these passages either. Bethany McKinney Fox believes that Christian communities are better off when people with disabilities are an integral part of our common life. In Disability and the Way of Jesus, she considers how the stories of Jesus' healings can guide us toward mutual thriving. How did Jesus' original audience understand his works of healing, and how should we relate to these texts today? After examining the healing narratives in their biblical and cultural contexts, Fox considers perspectives from medical doctors, disability scholars, and pastors to more fully understand what Jesus does as he heals and how he points the way for relationships with people with disabilities. Personal reflections from Christians with disabilities are featured throughout the book, which concludes with suggestions for concrete practices adaptable to a variety of church settings. Bridging biblical studies, ethics, and disability studies with the work of practitioners, Fox provides a unique resource that is both theologically grounded and winsomely practical. Disability and the Way of Jesus provides new lenses on holistic healing for scholars, laypeople, and ministry leaders who care about welcoming all people as Jesus would.

Throughout the Old Testament and into the New, God not only demands righteousness from his people but also showers on grace that enables them to act. Jesus, of course, provides the ultimate fulfillment of these twin aspects of God's relationship to humanity. In biblical terms, Jesus is the King who demands righteous obedience from his followers, and Jesus is the Servant who provides the grace that enables this obedience.So what does it mean to follow Jesus? What does God expect from his followers, and how can they be and do what is required?Jonathan Lunde answers these and other questions in his sweeping biblical study on discipleship. He surveys God's interaction with his people from Eden to Jesus, paying special attention to the biblical covenants that illuminate the character and plans of God. He offers Bible students and teachers--such as pastors, missionaries, and lay leaders--the gift of practical biblical teaching rooted in the Bible's witness on the vital topic of discipleship.

The apostle Paul was a vital force in the development of Christianity. Paul's historical and religious context affects the theological interpretation of Paul's writings, no small issue in the whole of Christian theology.

Recent years have seen much controversy about the apostle Paul, his context, and its effect on his theology. In Four Views on the Apostle Paul, A Video Study, four leading scholars present their views on the best framework for describing Paul's theological perspective, including his view of salvation, the significance of Christ, and his vision for the churches.

Views include:

Reformed View: Thomas R. Schreiner

Catholic View: Luke Timothy Johnson

Post-New Perspective View: Douglas Campbell

Jewish View: Mark D. Nanos

Four Views on the Apostle Paul, A Video Study, alongside the Counterpoints volume Four Views on the Apostle Paul, gives students the tools they need to draw informed conclusions on debates about Paul. New Testament scholar Michael F. Bird also covers foundational issues and provides helpful summaries in his introduction and conclusion.

New Testament scholars, pastors, and students of Christian history and biblical theology will find Four Views on the Apostle Paul, A Video Study, an indispensable introduction to ongoing debates on the apostle Paul's life and teaching.

Session Titles and Runtimes:

0 - Introduction (9 min)

1 - Paul: A Reformed Reading (18 min)

- Response from Luke Timothy Johnson (5 min)

- Response from Douglas A Campbell (3 min)

- Response from Mark D. Nanos (5 min)

2 - The Paul of the Letters: A Catholic Perspective (20 min)

- Response from Thomas R. Schreiner (3 min)

- Response from Douglas A. Campbell (5 min)

- Response from Mark D. Nanos (5 min)

3 - Christ and the Church in Paul: A "Post-New Perspective" Account (26 min)

- Response from Thomas R. Schreiner (4 min)

- Response from Luke Timothy Johnson (5 min)

- Response from Mark D. Nanos (6 min)

4 - A Jewish View (39 min)

- Response from Thomas R. Schreiner (4 min)

- Response from Luke Timothy Johnson (5 min)

- Response from Douglas A. Campbell (4 min)

5 - Conclusion (4 min)