Today I was reading the article on the King James Version of the Bible in the January 11 issue of The Christian Century. The KJV celebrates its 400th birthday this year. I really enjoyed the article, as I am not that familiar with the KJV. I grew up Lutheran (ELCA) and always used the NRSV. I still have my leather-bound Bible that I received when I was confirmed, which has survived many many moves (most recently to New York City). I'm fascinated by all the different translations out there and which denominations lean toward which versions.
Related, I was pleased to see that our new Guide for the Perplexed, The Origin of the Bible by Lee M. McDonald, just arrived in our warehouse here in the US (available in April in the UK). Take a look at the preview on our website.
Kara
I am very pleased to let you know that another new volume, from our A Guide for the Perplexed series, will be published shortly. David M. Whitford’s book on Luther will be available on the 25th of November 2010 in UK and on the 27th of January 2011 in the US.
It could be a real treat for the Christmas stocking!
As always, I wanted to share with you some great endorsements this volume has received – all three are placed below:
'Martin Luther is for the most part fascinating, sometimes annoying, and for many people perplexing: Whitford provides an insight to the reformer's biographical context, his theological foundations and primarily his political theory. The basic nature of the content leads to an elementary understanding of Luther. At no point does Whitford evade discussing problems in Luther's theology, instead inviting discussion with him concerning his interpretation. This book should be read by beginners in Luther studies, taking their first steps, as well by scholars who seek a fresh perspective on Luther.' - Volker Leppin, University of Tübingen, Germany.
‘David Whitford’s graceful new study does exactly what its title promises: guide readers who have only a vague notion of Martin Luther through his life, ideas, and key writings. The book explains complex theological issues in clear, but not overly simplistic, language, and does not avoid the controversies in which Luther was involved, many of which remain matters of debate today: Do humans have free will? Does religion allow one to oppose the government? How should Christians regard the Jews? How should Christians regard—and treat--each other?’ – Merry E. Wiesner-Hanks, Department of History, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, WI, USA.
Lee McDonald offers here a stimulating discussion regarding the history of the Bible as we know it today. How did the Jewish and Christian Bibles come together? Why were some ancient texts excluded or included? What were the criteria for such inclusion or exclusion? These and many other puzzling questions are answered in this volume.
We have received
three excellent reviews from James H. Charlesworth, Timothy H. Lim and Peter
Balla. All three are displayed below:
‘Lee McDonald is widely perceived to be in the front ranks of specialists on the origin of the Bible and the evolution of the canon. In this book, in a lucid engaging fashion, McDonald guides those who are perplexed about such origins. Jews and Christians find the revelation of God’s Will in the Bible and thereby establish a deeper self-identity. These, and all interested in Bible and canon, will find out from a luminary how the texts and words in the biblical canon were defined and deemed inspired. How did we get our Bible? This book gives you answers. It is superb for classes. I recommend it enthusiastically.’ - J.H. Charlesworth, George L. Collord Professor of New Testament Language and Literature and Director of the PTS Dead Sea Scrolls Project, Princeton Theological Seminary, USA.
Continue reading "‘The Origin of the Bible: A Guide for the Perplexed’" »
As always, I have received some great endorsements for this book – from Kevin J. Vanhoozer and William T. Cavanaugh, who have been very enthusiastic about it:
‘The Church is indeed a guide – for both the perplexed and the apoplexed. Jenson and Wilhite offer an important theological tonic to those for whom “church” connotes scandal or abuse rather than good news and reconciliation. Writing from their own free church traditions but for the whole church, they provide a non-partisan overview of the doctrine of the church that is clear but never simplistic. They include several well-judged excurses on particularly important matters (e.g., the question of Jesus’ founding the church, the development of the episcopacy, women’s ordination, and the emerging church). Their main burden, however, is to weave a positive account of the nature, function, and origin of the church as the means by which the triune God asserts and advances the kingdom that arrived in Jesus. This wonderful collaboration provides further evidence that “wherever two or three are gathered in Christ’s name,” Christ is indeed in their midst.’ - Kevin J. Vanhoozer, Blanchard Professor of Theology, Wheaton College Graduate School, USA.
‘This is an excellent and much-needed introduction to ecclesiology. The book is wide-ranging, engaging the most important classical sources and some of the most interesting contemporary theological voices. The authors consider ancient controversies and new movements like the Emerging Church, always steering a steady course between ecclesiological sloth and ecclesiological pride. This book is a model for how generous and critical theological conversation should be conducted.’ – William T. Cavanaugh, Senior Research Fellow, Center for World Catholicism and Intercultural Theology, and Professor of Catholic Studies, DePaul University, USA.
Readers in the UK can purchase this volume now and all interested in the US will have to wait until the beginning of October 2010.
A while ago we published a remarkeable collectioin of essays on Dietrich Bonhoeffer's poetry, edited by Bernd Wannenwetsch from Oxford: Who am I?
Now we have published another book on the German martyr and theologian in our Guides for the Perplexed series, written by Joel Lawrence.
Joel has receive quite a bit of praise for his book:
‘Bonhoeffer’s legacy has had
a far-reaching influence on contemporary Christianity, perhaps more so
than any other theologian/pastor of the twentieth century. Yet many
people are not sure how to understand what he wrote, and are especially
perplexed by his theological reflections in his prison letters. Joel
Lawrence has recognized this need and has provided an admirable guide
through the labyrinth. Identifying the key themes in Bonhoeffer’s prison
theology, he traces their development from his student years onwards
and interprets them in a way that is informed, accessible and readable.’
– John W. de Gruchy, University of Cape Town, South Africa.
‘Fortunately,
with every new generation of theologians, there arise those who firmly grasp - and then accurately describe
- the legacies of great minds who have shaped our thinking. Joel Lawrence grasps well and
describes clearly the
theological legacy of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. He rightly perceivesthat Jesus Christ is the center of all
reality for Bonhoeffer, and then creatively shows how that same Jesus finds
expression today in a world that is less and less religious and more and more worldly. This
"guide for the
perplexed" is designed for all those who stumble on this irony that Bonhoeffer describes: living before God
without God! Read on . . .’ - John W. Matthews, President of the International Bonhoeffer
Society, English
Language Section, Apple Valley, MN, USA.
More information on the book can be found here.
There is a nice review of Jason Vickers' Wesley: A Guide for the Perplexed in this edition of Themelios by Dave Hill:
"Vickers’ argument is both illuminating and persuasive. His decision to engage with Wesley’s ecclesiology and public theology provides a helpful corrective to pietistic trends within evangelicalism. Those looking for a hero of private, individualistic Christianity in Wesley should look again."
You can read the full review here.
This is an extract of our forthcoming Balthasar: A Guide for the Perplexed by Rodney Howsare. The book will publish in June in the UK and in August in the US. The extract is from chapter 7: Balthasar's Ongoing Role in Theology. Enjoy!
Balthasar and the Resurgence of Traditional Catholicism
Once more, I intend in this short space only to raise questions for further discussion; I make no pretence at settling them. I stated earlier that when I began work on my dissertation in the mid-90’s, the main issue in Balthasar studies was to get Balthasar a hearing in a context still dominated by Rahner, Lonergan and Liberation Theology. Of course things were already changing. Milbank’s Theology and Social Theory had already come out in 1990 and Fergus Kerr’s, Theology after Wittgenstein had come out even before that. I mention these as just two examples of the growing dissatisfaction over an academic approach to theology that was still under the sway of Enlightenment patterns of thought. But once the modern has been put in its place, room is made not only for the postmodern (postliberal, radically orthodox, etc.), but also, in the case of some, for the pre-modern. In our own day, for instance, we are beginning to witness a new interest in the thought of Thomas Aquinas, not simply as a philosopher, and not simply out of historical curiosity, but as a theologian to be reckoned with.
Continue reading "Balthasar and the Resurgence of Traditional Catholicism" »
There is a wonderful review of Paul Helm's new Guide for the Perplexed on Calvin on the Exiled Preacher Blog:
"Paul Helm has provided us with a first class introduction to Calvin's thought in all its grandeur and breadth. There is certainly more to Calvin than predestination. He gives us invaluable insight into the nature of biblical revelation, the Trinity, and Christ in his offices of Prophet, Priest and King. His teaching on salvation through union with Christ, and the gift of 'double grace' in him, is especially helpful. What he has to say on living the Christian life is full of practical wisdom. This guide will help the perplexed. I hope that it will also stimulate the reader to get better acquainted with the theological legacy of John Calvin, great Genevan Reformer." Read more
Recent Comments