"I wish to extend my sincere appreciation to Timothy Gaines, who authored such an excellent work. Furthermore, I sincerely congratulate the theological and academic circles in the United States for producing a young theologian who demonstrates theessence of theological life with such a comprehensive and balanced perspective. If I had read this book thirty years ago when I began my theological studies, I have no doubt that I would be a better theologian. The book presents a remarkable and persuasive discourse on what it means to live a theological life through profound biblical interpretation and theological understanding, avoiding fossilized theological methodologies."
"Timothy Gaines understands that knowing God means far more than knowing facts about God. In Walking the Theological Life, Gaines introduces students to theology through the lives of biblical figures, each transformed by the living God amidthe nitty gritty of their daily lives. With the gift of a good storyteller and the wisdom of a seasoned professor, Gaines casts a vision for the kinds of people we're invited to become in order to know and love God, even if we never join the theological academy. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and can't wait to get it into the hands of my students."
"Walking the Theological Life reminds us of the joy of theology done rightly. Drawing on the stories of several (often quite imperfect) biblical characters facing various situations, we hear the message that theology is foundational for each of us, even those of us who are quite imperfect. The theme throughout is formation—the goal of theology is not simply to shape our thoughts but to draw us toward the virtues necessary for the life of faith."
"This book is an extraordinary invitation to engage (and perhaps wrestle!) with thinking theologically in deeply formative ways. Timothy Gaines proves to be an excellent guide, bringing into conversation important biblical figures, key theologians(such as Augustine, Barth, and Jennings), and his own reflections. This bridge of theological method and virtue formation takes seriously the task of spiritual formation for the reader, demonstrating how thinking theologically through story continues to be transformative, complex, embodied, and dynamic. Engaging and beautifully accessible, this work is a gift for both the academy and the church."
"By examining the stories of people in Scripture who are just as flawed as we are, Timothy Gaines moves us beyond simply memorizing precepts of theology and instead provides compelling evidence that theology may be best understood as we examine who God is in relation to his people. I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to move beyond the need for absolute certitude in one's faith, and instead is willing to swim about in the mystery of a God who exceeds anything we can imagine."
"More than telling people about theology, volumes of which abound, Gaines invites us into thinking about theology in new, enlivening, and constructive ways. He is inviting people to reconceive the theological task in ways that the Bible itself exemplifies: in real lives, in formative and engaging ways. This is a primer on how the theological work can continue in coming generations and, as so, a book I'm eager to share with undergraduates and seminarians alike who seek to know and reflect Godbut have felt alienated from the academic contexts."
