The T & T Clark Blog

The Roots we need to cultivate

This is a guest post by Rebecca Rozelle-Stone and Lucian Stone, the editors of our recent publication on Simone Weil: Relevance of the Radical.

The Roots We Need to Cultivate:
Reflections on The Relevance of the Radical: Simone Weil 100 Year Later

It is more than a little ironic to devote a book of essays to a person who would maintain that the truly great and profound insights and works of beauty we have received from the past are “essentially anonymous.” Simone Weil (1909-1943), the late French philosopher, mystic, and social activist, would no doubt eclipse her personhood on this occasion of her 100th year, were she still alive. It was not uncommon for her to write things like, “May I disappear in order that those things that I see may become perfect in their beauty from the very fact that they are no longer things that I see.”¹ However, she never shied from elaborating her thoughts on ethics, religion, politics, force, suffering, work, beauty, and a multitude of other critical issues, and although in our book we reflected on these themes while acknowledging their unity in her life and her writings, the thesis of the collection is the universality – and in that sense, the anonymity – of Weil’s insights.

Way down yonder in New Orleans: SBL

Just a quick note to say 'come and see us at SBL' we'll be a booth 300 and have some very exciting new books, electronic publications and new editions to show off.

If you'd like to speak to an editor then you'll need to hunt down either Katie Gallof (for JSOTS/LHBOTS) or me for everything else biblical studies related.

Hope to see you in New Orleans!

Ezekiel: A Commentary - new in paperback, now available!

This commentary has classroom use written all over it, so putting Paul M. Joyce's Ezekiel: A Commentary into paperback was a no-brainer. At $49.95, this edition will certainly be more attainable to students, who are struggling to get through this most complex and controversial book of the prophets. Here's what some have already said:

"It is a rare commentator who combines judicious historical research with genuine literary sensitivity, and Paul Joyce has done just that in this fresh and deeply insightful theological interpretation of the book of Ezekiel. Rich in exegetical detail but never bogged down by it, Ezekiel: A Commentary gets to the heart of Ezekiel's message, never losing sight of the thorny and fundamental question for understanding the book, What is Ezekiel saying about God and God's relation to his people? How does this most difficult to understand prophet deal with the knotty questions of divine justice and power in the wake of the crisis of exile? Learned, informative and engagingly written, this commentary is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the prophet and his by turns perplexing, bizarre, unsettling and oddly comforting message for a time of national catastrophe."

-- J. Cheryl Exum, Professor of Biblical Studies, University of Sheffield

"Paul Joyce's commentary on Ezekiel is warmly commended.  It is unique in the way that it concentrates on Ezekiel's theology, thereby bringing his thought to life."

-- Jacob Milgrom, Professor Emeritus of Biblical Studies University of California at Berkeley

 

"Offers fresh insight into the book of Ezekiel. Joyce never merely repeats another scholar's opinion but always offers his own well-informed perspective. This book is a valuable addition to the literature devoted to the book of Ezekiel and it can be highly recommended."

 

--Lena-Sofia Tiemeyer, Expository Times

"Dr Joyce has put all students of prophecy in his debt with a clear, concise and up-to-date commentary on the book of Ezekiel. This is a thoroughly commended survey of recent studies of the most complex and controversial of the prophetic books of the Old Testament. It explains the problems and recounts and evaluates the proposed solutions to them. From a world where temple-symbolism, ritual-enforced holiness and grotesque visions provided an unfamiliar religious setting, Ezekiel emerges as a figure who upheld human responsibility and awareness of the fundamentally spiritual nature of hope. The commentary should do much to set Ezekiel as a worthy companion alongside the congenial figures of Isaiah and Jeremiah. "

--Ronald E. Clements, Emeritus Professor of Old Testament Studies, King’s College, University of London

Judging a book by its cover!

I know, you should not (normally) judge a book by its cover. However, from time to time we publish a book with a cover that is quite exceptional (I find).

This one is hot from the press: Oliver Crisp's new book God Incarnate. As many of you will know, Oliver has many talents - apart from being a brilliant thinker and theologian he is also a painter. For this new book of "explorations in Christology" we asked him to provide a painting for the cover (not something we would ask many authors to do...). Oliver came up with this remarkable and powerful painting "Jesus of Nazareth".

It now has a special place on my desk. Can't stop gazing at it.

Joseph Ratzinger - Mapping a Theological Journey

This is a guest post by Gerard Mannion from the Catholic University in Leuven. Gerard is one of the editors of our forthcoming title The Ratzinger Reader due to be published in January 2010.

When Joseph Ratzinger was formally announced as Pope Benedict XVI from the balcony above St Peter’s Square on April 19th 2005, completing his long journey from being a pastor-theologian to the Chair of Peter, unlike either of his two immediate predecessors (indeed, in a global sense, any of his predecessors), the world already knew a great deal about him. For the first time in history, here was a pontiff whose books were being read across the globe, whose ideas were widely known, who even had his own online ‘fan club’. So, too were there many books and articles, both popular and scholarly about him. And all this prior to his elevation to Peter’s chair.

Of course, the attention afforded him since his elevation to the Pontificate has multiplied enormously, and the number of books about him is legion. So there are many volumes about Joseph Ratzinger the theologian in print already, including other collections of his writings. Exhaustive bibliographies have been produced and many are available freely on the World Wide Web. A complete edition of his entire published corpus is also presently in production. So why another book about him?

"Disability Studies and the Hebrew Bible" LHBOTS PB Released

I am personally very excited to announce the release of Jeremy Schipper's important LHBOTS Disability Studies and the Hebrew Bible: Figuring Mephibosheth in the David Story in paperback. For the last few years, Schipper has been on the cutting edge of considering the intersection of disability studies and biblical studies and we are very happy to make his important work more easily available to both the scholar and student. He has also received some stellar endorsements for this book:

"Jeremy Schipper has written an exceedingly important, thoughtful, disciplined book that will concern anyone who notices the toxic “social constructions” that go on in our society. His study is acute in its attention to the biblical text while at the same time it carefully probes contemporary disability theory. Schipper offers a model for interpretation and a summons to engagement."

-Walter Brueggemann, Professor Emeritus of Old Testament, Columbia Theological Seminary

"There is nothing tame about minor biblical characters or about this exceptional book. Such an analysis does more than complicate the ideologies of disability and kingship; it forever changes the way you read the Deuteronomistic History."

-Gina Hens-Piazza, Professor of Biblical Studies, Jesuit School of Theology at the Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, CA

"This is a remarkable book that is destined to set new standards for the study of disability in the Bible."

-Dr. Hector Avalos, Professor of Religious Studies, Iowa State University

Professor Schipper has also written a guest post for our Authors Circle, which I am sure you will enjoy:

A few years have passed since I wrote Disability Studies and the Hebrew Bible. I am flattered at the reception that it has received since its original publication in 2006 and am very happy to see it in paperback this year.  Regarding the books of Samuel and Kings, biblical scholarship has shown how certain motifs and themes (Zion, kingship, covenant, family, and so on) do more than just describe particular institutions and conceptions.  Instead, these themes and motifs help to articulate, interpret and organize Israelite identity.  Along these lines, Disability Studies and the Hebrew Bible shows that when the Hebrew Bible addresses disability it usually does more than just describe or diagnose a particular physical, mental or emotional trait.  Rather, when read alongside images of Zion and kingship, disability provides a frequent, but often overlooked, means of articulating, interpreting, and organizing Israelite identity.  My book uses the story of Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s disabled son (2 Samuel 4, 9, 16, 19) to show how disability functions as a means of social or ideological commentary rather than an objective and clear depiction of the everyday experience of disability in the ancient world. A close study of Mephibosheth as a point of entry into these larger set of issues surrounding disability imagery allowed me to emphasize the complicated and nuanced manner in which the Hebrew Bible represents disability. 

"Derrida and Theology" set to release in June!

 

Customers in the UK please click here

Customers in the US please click here 

Derrida and Theology, by Steven Shakespeare, offers a new discussion regarding Jacques Derrida. The aim of this volume is to give theologians the confidence to explore the key aspects of Derrida’s work, and its influence on theology. Steven Shakespeare discusses here a variety of themes, namely Derrida’s philosophical approach, his specific work on religious subjects; as well as the ways in which theologians have understood, took on and clashed with these topics.

What the reader can expect of this volume then? Following Shakespeare’s words: ‘This book invites the reader to spend time and attention on Derrida’s early works, when the key parameters of notions like deconstructing and différance emerged. It will also attempt to keep in view, not just what Derrida wrote but how he wrote. There is always a question mark about the status of his authorial voice, one he exploits through employing a plurality of voices and personas in his texts. This is not to say that his writings have no intending meaning. It is rather that, like Kierkegaard before him, Derrida is both questioning our preconceived ideas about meaning and evoking a radical and paradoxical structuring and de-structuring of truth that can never be directly stated, grasped or defined.’

This short paragraph gives us a small glimpse into this invaluable guide, invaluable especially for those ready to ride the leading wave of contemporary theology.

Derrida and Theology will be available to the UK customers in June 2009 and to the US customers in August 2009.

eLHBOTS SERIES NOW AVAILABLE! 380+ titles in digital format!

We said last week that we had big news for you today. Well, here it is: Those iconic green books you know and love are now available as never before!

Here's the official press release:

We are delighted to announce the launch of over 380 titles from The Library of Hebrew Bible/Old Testament Studies series as ebooks. This includes the re-release of over 200 titles which have not been available in their print editions for several years - giving institutions a chance both to fill gaps in their collections and to offer digital access to this scholarship for the first time. For a full list of titles, please click here.

- The series is the essential resource for any Hebrew Bible/Old Testament scholar

- Over 30 years of critical scholarship is now available in digital format - much of which has been unavailable in any format for some time.

- The ebooks are fully searchable, with linked tables of contents and footnotes, creating a powerful research and reference tool.

To celebrate this release we are partnering with MyiLibrary to offer discounts across the list of ebooks now available.

These include:
20% off the list price of 50 titles of your choice
30% off the list price of 100 titles of your choice
40% off the list price of 150 titles of your choice
50% off the list price when you purchase all 382 titles available.

These discounts will be offered by MyiLibrary through December 31, 2009. Please contact your MyiLibrary Sales Representative or sales@myilibrary.com to make a purchase. The full list of ebooks is also available from Ebrary, Dawsonera and NetLibrary.

Imprimatur: Church Dogmatics at the printers!

   

Good news for all who have pre-ordered the new Study Edition of the Church Dogmatics. And even better news for all who have been working on this for the last years... 

Today we have sent the last pdf (fascicle 31 - the General Index) off to the printers! This means we will be out in early April

To whet your appetites, here is the foreword to the new Study Edition:

Since the publication of the first English translation of Church Dogmatics I.1 by Professor Thomson in 1936, T&T Clark has been closely linked with Karl Barth. An authorised translation of the whole of the Kirchliche Dogmatik was begun in the 1950s under the editoriship of G. W. Bromiley and T. F. Torrance, a work which eventually replaced Professor Thomson’s initial translation of CD I.1.

Balthasar and the Resurgence of Traditional Catholicism

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.