Bible
Seven Challenges That Shaped the New Testament Understanding the Inherent Tensions of Early
Christian Faith F. Scott Spencer
The New Testament writings reflect a sense of wrestling to under - stand what the world-shattering events of Jesus’s life, death, resur- rection, and ascension mean in the rough-and-tumble of daily life in a conflicted world. This accessibly written book investigates seven critical areas of tension—historical, moral, political, material, social, perceptual, and temporal—that shape the “big ideas” discussed and debated in the New Testament. Seven Challenges That Shaped the New Testament explores the challenges that influenced the New Testament writings and how the writers responded to those tensions. F. Scott Spencer ex - plains that out of this upheaval came a remarkable set of creative, dynamic writings that have shaped and challenged millions of lives as sacred Scripture. This lively investigation offers a fresh way for students of the New Testament to learn about the world and content of the New Testa- ment writings. It will help readers appreciate the rich diversity of New Testament thought cohering around commitment to the one Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. CONTENTS Preface: What and What Not to Expect from This Book Prologue: Creative Tensions of Mind and Heart 1. Old and New: The Historical Challenge of Innovation and Evolution 2. Right and Wrong: The Moral Challenge of Hypocrisy and Apostasy 3. Weak and Strong: The Political Challenge of Authority and Tyranny 4. Weal and Woe: The Material Challenge of Infirmity and Poverty 5. One and All: The Social Challenge of Particularity and Partisanship 6. Seen and Secret: The Perceptual Challenge of Skepticism and Gnosticism 7. Now and Near: The Temporal Challenge of Delay and Deferment Epilogue: Streaming the Good News Indexes
JUNE 2024 • 240 pp. • paper • $27.99 • 9781540966346
F. Scott Spencer (PhD, University of Durham) has served as pro- fessor of religion at Wingate University and as professor of New Testament and biblical interpretation at the Baptist Theological Seminary of Richmond. He is the author of several books, including Passions of the Christ and commentaries on Mark, Luke, and the Song of Songs. He is also the New Testament general editor for the third edition of the HarperCollins Study Bible .
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PASSIONS OF THE CHRIST 9781540961761 • $32.99p
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