The first volume of my two volume theology and ethics of the NT, will be out in 2009 with the second volume out in 2010 with Inter Varsity Press Here is the splendid cover design.
Exciting! So you decided not to go for the bland, generic title "New Testament Theology?" Praise the Lord! I have four books back to back to back to back on one of my bookshelves, all with pretty much the same title. Change is good!
Merry Christmas from Wisconsin. We are getting hammered with snow. Out in the country, you have to peek around the corners as you drive by, because the banks of snow are so high.
The Indelible Image, that's a great title. It's good to see you've made the theme of Jesus as the direct bearer of the untarnished divine image a central theme of your work. Having the image of Jesus and Pilate in the telltale "behold the man" is a nice touch too. It looks very promising.
While there is of course interaction with other Biblical scholars on theology and ethics in the NT, this is primarily a positive exposition of my own on this subject, in a reader friendly format.
The volume deals with all the individual witnesses and what their theologizing and ethicizing looks like. This includes and begins with Jesus. I am dealing with the intertwined theological and ethical substance of each NT author and also of Jesus. The book will come out some time in the fall.
I'm half way through your New Testament History and was wondering why you use the word "dominion" when discussing the kingdom of God. The greek seems clear enough. It feels like an egaliatarian choice to mute the maleness of kingdom, but I don't know since you don't explain the choice in the text (at least not yet). I was a religion major back in the day and dominion is just foreign to my ears.
The reason is simply, and no the Greek is not that simple anymore than the Aramaic malkutha is that simple. In those languages the term can have both a verbal or noun aspect, as we might put. God can have dominion over something (verbal aspect), but he can also have a dominion (a sphere or place). Sometimes 'basileia' is used of a saving activity of God, sometimes as a sphere or place that one enters, obtains or inherits. It can be either, and the English word kingdom is in no way adequate to convey the sense, whereas dominion with its verbal and noun aspects is better.
I am so excited to learn of this. I can't wait to read it. How would you compare it with Richard Hays' magisterial work, The Moral Vision of the New Tesetament?
A couple of years ago I read Jesus & Politics by Alan Storkey and was woken up to "the religion of the throne" - I am now reading Ladd's A Theology of the NT. I am looking forward to learning from your book how to be a better disciple-citizen.
Hey Ben, ever since I saw you on the case for Christ, I can't help but like you even more. I think its the accent. Thanks for all you insightful work of answering even my shallow questions from time to time. Keep up the Good work and I'm looking forward to reading your words.
Very nice! Can't wait to read it...
ReplyDeleteExciting! So you decided not to go for the bland, generic title "New Testament Theology?" Praise the Lord! I have four books back to back to back to back on one of my bookshelves, all with pretty much the same title. Change is good!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas from Wisconsin. We are getting hammered with snow. Out in the country, you have to peek around the corners as you drive by, because the banks of snow are so high.
Something else to add to my wishlist on Amazon. ;)
ReplyDeleteThis looks splendid Dr. Witherington. Are you writing the set for reference or as an answer to other NT ethics/theology books?
ReplyDeleteThe Indelible Image, that's a great title. It's good to see you've made the theme of Jesus as the direct bearer of the untarnished divine image a central theme of your work. Having the image of Jesus and Pilate in the telltale "behold the man" is a nice touch too. It looks very promising.
ReplyDeleteHi Michael:
ReplyDeleteWhile there is of course interaction with other Biblical scholars on theology and ethics in the NT, this is primarily a positive exposition of my own on this subject, in a reader friendly format.
BW3
How about a summary of what the first volume deals with. And when it goes on sale....
ReplyDeleteThe volume deals with all the individual witnesses and what their theologizing and ethicizing looks like. This includes and begins with Jesus. I am dealing with the intertwined theological and ethical substance of each NT author and also of Jesus. The book will come out some time in the fall.
ReplyDeleteBW3
I just visited your website and looked at your lecture schedule. You will be in Houston, TX on March 4th, 2009. Cool. I'm marking my calendar!
ReplyDeleteAnd there was much rejoicing.
ReplyDeleteI'll look forward to reading it.
ReplyDeleteBen:
ReplyDeleteA bit off topic but hope you have a minute:
I'm half way through your New Testament History and was wondering why you use the word "dominion" when discussing the kingdom of God. The greek seems clear enough. It feels like an egaliatarian choice to mute the maleness of kingdom, but I don't know since you don't explain the choice in the text (at least not yet). I was a religion major back in the day and dominion is just foreign to my ears.
That said, really enjoying it otherwise.
Blessings and peace.
Hi Mr. Brown:
ReplyDeleteThe reason is simply, and no the Greek is not that simple anymore than the Aramaic malkutha is that simple. In those languages the term can have both a verbal or noun aspect, as we might put. God can have dominion over something (verbal aspect), but he can also have a dominion (a sphere or place). Sometimes 'basileia' is used of a saving activity of God, sometimes as a sphere or place that one enters, obtains or inherits. It can be either, and the English word kingdom is in no way adequate to convey the sense, whereas dominion with its verbal and noun aspects is better.
BW3
I am so excited to learn of this. I can't wait to read it. How would you compare it with Richard Hays' magisterial work, The Moral Vision of the New Tesetament?
ReplyDeleteRichard's fine work focuses solely on ethics. Mine is both the theology and ethics of the NT.
ReplyDeleteBW3
A couple of years ago I read Jesus & Politics by Alan Storkey and was woken up to "the religion of the throne" - I am now reading Ladd's A Theology of the NT. I am looking forward to learning from your book how to be a better disciple-citizen.
ReplyDeleteHey Ben, ever since I saw you on the case for Christ, I can't help but like you even more. I think its the accent. Thanks for all you insightful work of answering even my shallow questions from time to time. Keep up the Good work and I'm looking forward to reading your words.
ReplyDelete