New Testament Theology in a Secular World is an important and original new work in Christian apologetics. It is the first book to apply constructivist theory to biblical studies.
Biblical Studies scholar Peter Lampe tackles head on such questions as: What do we understand by "reality?" How does this relate to what theology calls the "reality of God" or the "reality of resurrection?" How can we account for the concept of "revelation"? Lampe argues that in talking about "reality" theologians must make an effort to engage with the concept of "reality" as it is discussed in the fields of philosophical epistemology and sociology of knowledge. However, as Lampe shows, Theology has so far hardly or only reluctantly participated in this dialogue.

In this newly translated volume, Michael Wolter (University of Bonn, Germany) outlines the architecture of the Apostle's theology. Wolter contends that it is indeed possible to discover Paul's core theological commitments, despite the fact that the sources for Paul's theology - his letters - are diverse, contextually dependent snapshots of the Apostle's thinking at a particular moment in time. Wolter frames Paul's enterprise as a theology of mission and conversion - a mission that accounts for the life and preaching of Paul and a conversion that highlights the experience of Christ shared by all believers. Pauline theology finds expression in the phrase ""faith in Christ,"" which refers to the complete reorientation and exclusive new identity of the Christian. Wolter places Paul's theology into a narrative context, often referred to by Paul himself, that emphasizes the time before Paul's conversion, Paul's encounter with the risen Christ, and the complex events leading to the Antioch incident. Wolter then explores the theology of Paul's Gospel and the response to this good news - faith - before detailing eleven interlocking and overlapping elements of Paul's thought. Wolter's outline successfully delineates a theology common to all of Paul's letters, and does so without collapsing the texts into a timeless whole. By using the language of Paul himself, Wolter reveals the unity of Paul's theology while simultaneously unpacking it via categories drawn from modern scholarship. Wolter's Paul is as vibrant as it is careful - as compelling as it is relevant.

New Testament Theology in a Secular World is an important and original new work in Christian apologetics. It is the first book to apply constructivist theory to biblical studies.
Biblical Studies scholar Peter Lampe tackles head on such questions as: What do we understand by "reality?" How does this relate to what theology calls the "reality of God" or the "reality of resurrection?" How can we account for the concept of "revelation"? Lampe argues that in talking about "reality" theologians must make an effort to engage with the concept of "reality" as it is discussed in the fields of philosophical epistemology and sociology of knowledge. However, as Lampe shows, Theology has so far hardly or only reluctantly participated in this dialogue.

Several modern interpretations of Paul's letter to the Galatians claim to uncover an underlying attitude of anti-Judaism. Michael Bachmann refutes those claims with his own detailed exegesis and astute examination of comparative material from the religious environment of that day, revealing instead how Paul embraces both Jews and Gentiles. Bachmann holds that, in the determination of meaning, the literary context of Galatians should be considered over historical background. / Nonetheless, he does engage parallels in Qumran material and archaeology as secondary methods to confirm his exegetical arguments. Through his rigorous examination, Bachmann shows that Galatians exhibits evidence of anti-Judaism not in itself, but only in its reception. / Rich in scholarship and sound exegesis, Anti-Judaism in Galatians? is an ideal text for scholars and students seeking the whole truth about Paul.

Throughout the New Testament, the Gospel stories, the sayings of Jesus, and the writings of Paul not only teach a way of life that requires individuals to be moral but they demonstrate how. In biblical studies, character ethics has been one of the fastest-growing areas of interest. Whereas ethics usually studies rules of behavior, character ethics focuses on how people are formed to be moral agents in the world. Here editor Robert Brawley presents the most up-to-date academic work in New Testament character ethics, covering topics throughout the Gospels and Paul, as well as focusing on the essential topics of forgiveness, reconciliation, politics, and peacemaking.

In addition to Brawley, contributors are C. Clifton Black, Neil Elliott, Jens Herzer, L. Ann Jervis, Sylvia C. Keesmat, Jae Won Lee, J. Clinton McCann Jr., Elna Mouton, C. Drew Smith, Glen Stassen, Willard M. Swartley, Allen Verhey, and Jinseong Woo.

What are the most important biblical texts for modern Christians to read in order to arrive at responsible decisions regarding the ethics of human sexual behavior? How should the Bible be used in this enterprise? How should those texts be translated for today's reader? The contributors to this book, all noted biblical scholars, confront these questions as they deal with issues surrounding the ethics of sexual behavior, in general, and the divisive issue of gay/lesbian ordination, in particular. They provide for the reader a deeper understanding of the Bible, its intentions, and its variety. This book offers a challenge to the church to give heed to the multiplicity of voices that are engaged in biblically responsible and constructive debates about the volatile issues regarding sexual behavior.

This comprehensive consideration of Luke-Acts offers lucid introductions to a wide variety of exegetical methods. Emphasizing the use of literary criticism, and relating the methods of Roland Barthes's five literary voices, the author analyzes point of view, levels of reliability, and strategies for reformulating reader response, narrative structure, characterization, textual gaps, the cultural repertoire, and redundant antitheses. This book advocates synthesis as the ultimate aim of reading and interpreting and opens new avenues for understanding this important unit of New Testament literature.