The descent of Jesus Christ to the dead has been a fundamental tenet of the Christian faith, as indicated by its inclusion in both the Apostles' and Athanasian Creeds. But it has also been the subject of suspicion and scrutiny, especially from evangelicals. Led by the mystery and wonder of Holy Saturday, Matthew Emerson offers an exploration of the biblical, historical, theological, and practical implications of the descent.
How can Christians claim that the death of Jesus Christ on the cross is a victory? Eastern Orthodoxy has made its own contributions to the belief in salvation through Christ, but its expressions sometimes sound unfamiliar to Western branches of the church. James Payton explores the Orthodox doctrine of salvation, helping Christians of all traditions listen to Orthodox brothers and sisters.
The Bible resounds with affirmations that God is faithful and trustworthy. But might he also exhibit faith and trust? Wm. Curtis Holtzen contends that because God is a being of relational love and exists in relationship with humans, then God is a God who trusts. Holtzen argues that understanding the relationship between divine trust and human faith can give us a fuller, truer picture of who God is and who we are.
Stanley Hauerwas is often associated with the postliberal theological movement, yet he also claims to stand within Karl Barth's theological tradition. Which is true? Theologian David Hunsicker offers a reevaluation of Hauerwas's theology, arguing that he is both a postliberal and a Barthian theologian, helping us understand both the formation and the ongoing significance of one of America's great theologians.
The story of Methodism is much richer and more expansive than John Wesley's sermons and Charles Wesley's hymns. In this book, Methodist theologian Jeffrey W. Barbeau provides a brief and helpful introduction to the history of Methodism—from the time of the Wesleys, through developments in North America, to its diverse and global communion today—as well as its primary beliefs and practices.
Does God suffer? Does God experience emotions? Does God change? This Spectrum Multiview volume brings together four theologians who make a case for their own view—ranging from a traditional affirmation of divine impassibility (the idea that God does not suffer) to the position that God is necessarily and intimately affected by creation—and then each contributor responds to the others' views.
In this RCS companion volume Gerald L. Bray immerses readers in the world of Reformation theology. He introduces the range of theological debates as Catholics and Protestants from a diversity of traditions disputed the essentials of the faith, from the authority of Scripture and the nature of salvation to the definition of the church, the efficacy of the sacraments, and the place of good works in the Christian life.
Christians cannot ignore the intersection of religion and violence. In our own Scriptures, war texts that appear to approve of genocidal killings and war rape raise hard questions about biblical ethics and the character of God. Have we missed something in our traditional readings? Identifying a spectrum of views on biblical war texts, Webb and Oeste pursue a middle path using a hermeneutic of incremental, redemptive-movement ethics.
Despite the current evangelical focus on justice work, evangelical theologians have not adequately developed a theological foundation for this activism. In this insightful resource, evangelical academics, activists, and pastors come together to survey the history and outlines of liberation theology, opening a conversation for developing a specifically evangelical view of liberation that speaks to the critical justice issues of our time.
Christians usually focus on what Jesus has done (his life, death and resurrection) and what he will do (his second coming and reign). However, Christ is the one who not only lived, died, rose, and will come again: he is also currently seated at God's right hand. In this NSBT volume, Peter Orr explores the New Testament witness to Jesus as he is now, the exalted Christ, through the lenses of his identity, his location, and his activity.