This book investigates the relationship between justification by faith and final judgment according to works as found in Paul's second epistle to the Corinthians within a Protestant theological framework. Benjamin M. Dally first demonstrates the diversity and breadth of mainstream Protestant soteriology and eschatology beginning at the time of the Reformation by examining the confessional standards of its four primary ecclesial/theological streams: Lutheran, Reformed, Anabaptist, and Anglican. The soteriological structure of each is assessed (i.e., how each construes the relationship between justification and final judgment), with particular attention given to how each speaks of the place of good works at the final judgment. This initial examination outlines the theological boundaries within which the exegesis of Second Corinthians can legitimately proceed, and illuminates language and conceptual matrices that will be drawn upon throughout the remainder of thebook. Then, drawing upon the narrative logic of Paul's Early Jewish thought-world, Dally examines the text of Second Corinthians to discern its own soteriological framework, paying particular attention to both the meaning and rhetorical function of the "judgment according to works" motif as it is utilized throughout the letter. The book concludes by offering a Protestant synthesis of the relationship between justification and final judgment according to works in Second Corinthians, giving an explanation of the role of works at the final judgment that arguably alleviates a number of tensions often perceived in other readings devoted to this key aspect of Pauline exegesis and theology. Dally ultimately argues a three-fold thesis: (1) For the believer one's earthly conduct, taken as a whole, is best spoken of in the language of inferior/secondary "cause" and/or "basis" as far as its import at the last judgment. (2) One's earthly conduct, again taken as a whole, is soteriologically necessary (not solely, but secondarily nonetheless) and not simply of importance for the bestowal of non-soteriological, eschatological rewards. (3) There are crucial resources from within mainstream Protestantism to authorize such ways of speaking and to simultaneously affirm these contentions in conjunction with a robust, strictly forensic/imputational, "traditional" Protestant understanding of the doctrine of justification by faith alone.

This accessible introduction to Christian worldview explores how Christians can live faithfully at the crossroads of Scripture and postmodern culture.

"Living at the Crossroads" first lays out a brief summary of the biblical story and the most fundamental beliefs of Scripture. The book then tells the story of Western culture from the classical period to postmodernity. Authors Michael Goheen and Craig Bartholomew next provide an analysis of how Christians live in the tension that exists at the intersection of the biblical and cultural stories. They proceed to tease out the implications for key areas of life, such as education, scholarship, economics, politics, and church. The result is a deeply thoughtful yet approachable book that draws on the rich tradition of Reformational thinking but contextualizes it to a postmodern setting.

"In this book, the authors show students how to recognize and gradually understand more fully the relevance of the living Word of God for their living, working, and studying in these complex and often bewildering times. If I still had university-age children, I would be very pleased if they received their basic introduction in academics from these two trustworthy and deeply engaged Christian educators."--Bob Goudzwaard, professor emeritus, Free University of Amsterdam

"The concept of 'Christian worldview, ' let alone 'biblical worldview, ' has more often been invoked than helpfully defined. In this stimulating, well-informed, and practical sequel to "The Drama of Scripture," Goheen and Bartholomew once again demonstrate their remarkable effectiveness at articulating accessibly an understanding of Christian identity in the West that is both scripturallygrounded and, notably, shaped by the Reformed intellectual tradition in its ecumenical context."--David L. Jeffrey, author of "Houses of the Interpreter: Reading Scripture, Reading Culture"

Matthias Smalbrugge compares modern images to plays without a script: while they appear to refer to a deeper identity or reality, it is ultimately the image itself that truly matters. He argues that our modern society of images is the product of a destructive tendency in the Christian notion of the image in general, and Augustine of Hippo's in particular. This insight enables him to decode our current 'scripts' of image. As we live in an increasingly visual culture, we are constantly confronted with images that seem to exist without a deeper identity or reality - but did this referential character really get lost over time? Smalbrugge first explores the roots of the modern image by analysing imagery, what it represents, and its moral state within the framework of Platonic philosophy. He then moves to the Augustinian heritage, in particular the Soliloquies, the Confessions and the Trinity, where he finds valuable insights into images and memory. He explores within the trinitarian framework the crossroads of a theology of grace and a theology based on Neoplatonic views. Smalbrugge ultimately answers two questions: what happened to the referential character of the image, and can it be recovered?