The movement that is known as 'theological interpretation of Scripture' reminds us that the reading and exegesis of Scripture is an indispensable part of the theologian's work, not to be reserved to biblical scholars alone. This insight that the reading of Scripture is a theological responsibility is always at risk of being eclipsed by the modern disciplinary divisions between biblical studies, historical theology, and systematic theology. Intended as a contribution to the theological re-engagement with Scripture, this book invites a range of high-profile systematic and constructive theologians to reflect on the role that the reading and interpretation of Scripture plays in their theological work, both professionally and more personally. Spanning a cross-section of theological perspectives contributors reflect on the role of tradition in their reading of Scripture, the company they view as indispensable in their engagement with the text, the place of historical critical study and biblical studies, and the significance of their context. The book will be valued by all those who care for the place of Scripture in theology and the life of the church, as well as those who want an insight into the state of contemporary theology.

What kind of authority does Scripture have? How is Scripture's authority to be negotiated in relation to other sources of authority? And what are the implications of confessing the Bible to be authoritative? The Bible: Culture, Community and Society seeks to answer these questions, covering three core themes. First, reading the Bible in the context of modernity - the challenges the intellectual history of modernity has posed to the Bible's authority and how historical work can co-exist with a commitment to the Bible as the Word of God. Secondly, the Bible as a text that forms the church community - how the Bible as an authoritative text shapes a culture. Thirdly, reading the Bible as a public text and the challenges posed by holding to the Bible as the Word of God in a religiously diverse context. The highly distinguished contributors include Ben Quash, David Ferguson, Angus Paddison and Zoe Bennett.

This is a study of scripture, ethics and preaching. It is of great use to students of theology at all levels. Scripture is a text drawn into the activity of the triune God of Israel, its ultimate destination is the worshiping church, it has a ministry in shaping Christian thinking and acting, and it cannot be isolated both from attention to Christ and the church in whose life it is embedded. Scripture is not first a source for historical inquiry, or a text that tickles our literary sensitivities: Holy Scripture has a commissioned role in the saving purposes of God. This text recovers scriptural reading as a discipline that can be undertaken only when theologically equipped. Theological inquiry into Scripture is required to locate Scripture within the action of the gospel and within the life and worship of the church: a task undertaken by negotiating our way through P. T. Forsyth, Stanley Hauerwas, and other recent doctrines of Scripture. Chapter 1 therefore relate Scripture both to the action of God and ecclesiology. Chapter 2 explores the relationship between Scripture and ethics, arguing that starting from within the politics of the church appropriately re-locates the 'problem' of relating the Bible to ethics as proposed by biblical scholarship. Chapter 3 evinces how keeping company with a host of theologians can help us read John's gospel. Chapter 4 articulates a decidedly theological account of preaching, attentive to Christ, Scripture, and the church. Chapter 5 explores what kind of university would be a hospitable host for the theological.

This collection of twelve essays will celebrate the distinguished contribution of Professor John Kenneth Riches to biblical interpretation. The international selection of contributors are all either former students or colleagues of Professor Riches and the focus of the essays all reflect (and extend) Professor Riches' particular research interests and contribution to biblical and theological studies. The essays in this volume are clustered around two closely related topics: historical and theological contributions to understanding the nature of Christian freedom and agency, and studies which investigate how Paul's thought has been interpreted in diverse settings. All the contributors have been asked to centre their thinking around the following issues: how does the grace of being 'in Christ' transform and restore those who receive it in faith; how far they are, as it were, responsible for that transformation; how far their is identity changed by their union with Christ; and how are they to make ethical decisions, are they to be guided (and goaded?) by the law, or are to be led by the Spirit and called to discern what is right and good in the law?There are four parts to this book. Part I explores grace and human agency by looking at texts both within and outside of the New Testament, highlighting the themes of ethical responsibility and freedom. Part II turns to look at how Pauline themes of grace and the Christian life have been interpreted at various points of Christian history. Part III reflects John Riches' substantial interest in and contribution to African biblical interpretation and includes essays that investigate how Paul is appropriated in African contexts. Part IV reflects John Riches' interest in the mutual engagement between theology and Scripture and includes contributions investigating the theological aspects of the Law and the Spirit, and transformation in Christ in the theology and ethics of P.T. Forsyth.

This book proposes a theological reading of 1 Thessalonians, making an important response to the increasing demand to relate biblical scholarship more closely to theological concerns. Paddison's interpretation adheres very closely to the text and is divided into three parts. Part I offers a theological critique of dominant historical-critical readings of 1 Thessalonians. Part II examines the history of interpretation of 1 Thessalonians focusing on the pre-Modern exegesis of Thomas Aquinas and John Calvin. Paddison explores what theological exegetes can learn from Thomas Aquinas' Lectura and John Calvin's commentary on 1 Thessalonians. Aided by the insights of these neglected pre-Modern commentators, Part III presents a theologically driven interpretation of the letter. Theological exegesis is practised as a dialogue with Paul, the canon and a plethora of theological voices to elucidate Paddison's central argument, that the astonishing subject-matter of 1 Thessalonians is God's all-powerful hold over death.

This book proposes a theological reading of 1 Thessalonians, making an important response to the increasing demand to relate biblical scholarship more closely to theological concerns. Paddison's interpretation adheres very closely to the text and is divided into three parts. Part I offers a theological critique of dominant historical-critical readings of 1 Thessalonians. Part II examines the history of interpretation of 1 Thessalonians focusing on the pre-Modern exegesis of Thomas Aquinas and John Calvin. Paddison explores what theological exegetes can learn from Thomas Aquinas' Lectura and John Calvin's commentary on 1 Thessalonians. Aided by the insights of these neglected pre-Modern commentators, Part III presents a theologically driven interpretation of the letter. Theological exegesis is practised as a dialogue with Paul, the canon and a plethora of theological voices to elucidate Paddison's central argument, that the astonishing subject-matter of 1 Thessalonians is God's all-powerful hold over death.

The movement that is known as 'theological interpretation of Scripture' reminds us that the reading and exegesis of Scripture is an indispensable part of the theologian's work, not to be reserved to biblical scholars alone. This insight that the reading of Scripture is a theological responsibility is always at risk of being eclipsed by the modern disciplinary divisions between biblical studies, historical theology, and systematic theology. Intended as a contribution to the theological re-engagement with Scripture, this book invites a range of high-profile systematic and constructive theologians to reflect on the role that the reading and interpretation of Scripture plays in their theological work, both professionally and more personally. Spanning a cross-section of theological perspectives contributors reflect on the role of tradition in their reading of Scripture, the company they view as indispensable in their engagement with the text, the place of historical critical study and biblical studies, and the significance of their context. The book will be valued by all those who care for the place of Scripture in theology and the life of the church, as well as those who want an insight into the state of contemporary theology.

This collection of twelve essays will celebrate the distinguished contribution of Professor John Kenneth Riches to biblical interpretation. The international selection of contributors are all either former students or colleagues of Professor Riches and the focus of the essays all reflect (and extend) Professor Riches' particular research interests and contribution to biblical and theological studies. The essays in this volume are clustered around two closely related topics: historical and theological contributions to understanding the nature of Christian freedom and agency, and studies which investigate how Paul's thought has been interpreted in diverse settings. All the contributors have been asked to centre their thinking around the following issues: how does the grace of being 'in Christ' transform and restore those who receive it in faith; how far they are, as it were, responsible for that transformation; how far their is identity changed by their union with Christ; and how are they to make ethical decisions, are they to be guided (and goaded?) by the law, or are to be led by the Spirit and called to discern what is right and good in the law?There are four parts to this book. Part I explores grace and human agency by looking at texts both within and outside of the New Testament, highlighting the themes of ethical responsibility and freedom. Part II turns to look at how Pauline themes of grace and the Christian life have been interpreted at various points of Christian history. Part III reflects John Riches' substantial interest in and contribution to African biblical interpretation and includes essays that investigate how Paul is appropriated in African contexts. Part IV reflects John Riches' interest in the mutual engagement between theology and Scripture and includes contributions investigating the theological aspects of the Law and the Spirit, and transformation in Christ in the theology and ethics of P.T. Forsyth.

Key Selling Points The VERITAS series is an exciting new venture between SCM Press and the Centre for Philosophy and Theology at Nottingham University. The first major international symposium on the Pope's book on Jesus, one of the major religious publishing events of our time. An excellent cast of contributors from a variety of disciplines and countries. The Veritas Series brings to market original volumes all engaging in critical questions of pressing concern to both philosophers, theologians, biologists, economists and more. The series aims to illustrate that without theology, something essential is lost in our account of such categories - not only in an abstract way but in the way in which we inhabit the world. The Veritas Series refuses to accept disciplinary isolation: both for theology and for other disciplines. The Pope and Jesus of Nazareth brings together some of the leading scholars in Britain, continental Europe and the USA to highlight the insights and limits of the Pope's reflection on Jesus. It engages with the book from critical, cross-disciplinary and different faith perspectives. The objective is to generate a wider debate on the issues raised and to make a substantial contribution to contemporary thinking on Jesus. Angus Paddison is Theology Lecturer at the University of Winchester. Adrian Pabst is a Leverhulme Early Career Research Fellow at the Department of Theology and Religious Studies in the University of Nottingham. Series Editors: Connor Cunningham (Centre for Philosophy and Theology, Nottingham) and Peter C. Candler (Baylor University, Waco, Texas).

In Christology and Scripture leading biblical scholars and theologians explore the relation of theological thought to the reading of Scripture. The focus is on three inter-related issues. The first is how theologians appropriately read Scripture around Christ, and what contribution, if any, historical-criticism makes to this endeavour. The second is that of the person and work of Christ in relation to Scripture. In interaction with specific texts, contributors engage with the related questions of who Christ is and how his benefits are communicated. This leads on to the final issue of responsiveness to our current context of reading, and contributors reflect on how Christological models relate to contemporary cultural and political concerns.

A study of scripture, ethics and preaching of great use to students of theology at all levels. Scripture is a text drawn into the activity of the triune God of Israel, its ultimate destination is the worshiping church, it has a ministry in shaping Christian thinking and acting, and it cannot be isolated both from attention to Christ and the church in whose life it is embedded. Scripture is not first a source for historical inquiry, or a text that tickles our literary sensitivities: Holy Scripture has a commissioned role in the saving purposes of God. This text recovers scriptural reading as a discipline that can be undertaken only when theologically equipped. Theological inquiry into Scripture is required to locate Scripture within the action of the gospel and within the life and worship of the church: a task undertaken by negotiating our way through P. T. Forsyth, Stanley Hauerwas, and other recent doctrines of Scripture. Chapter 1 therefore relate Scripture both to the action of God and ecclesiology. Chapter 2 explores the relationship between Scripture and ethics, arguing that starting from within the politics of the church appropriately re-locates the 'problem' of relating the Bible to ethics as proposed by biblical scholarship. Chapter 3 evinces how keeping company with a host of theologians can help us read John's gospel. Chapter 4 articulates a decidedly theological account of preaching, attentive to Christ, Scripture, and the church. Chapter 5 explores what kind of university would be a hospitable host for the theological.