Ten Theology Books to Watch For – Nov. 2018

[easyazon_link identifier=”0190237589″ locale=”US” tag=”douloschristo-20″]Women in the New Testament World (Essentials of Biblical Studies)[/easyazon_link] 

Susan Hylen

Oxford UP

Modern readers of the New Testament often notice its varying ideas about women. Some passages encouraged women to be submissive and remain silent. Yet in others, women characters owned property, headed households, or spoke with approval. Women in the New Testament World helps readers understand this conflicting evidence. It argues that social norms of the time encouraged traditional feminine virtues. However, as Susan Hylen argues, women in the culture enacted these virtues in a variety of ways, including active leadership in households, associations, and cities. In contrast to earlier approaches that divided the evidence into groups that either allowed or forbade women’s leadership, this book points to a tension that was pervasive across different groups and regions of the Roman world. Society widely viewed women as inferior to men yet applauded their active pursuit of familial and civic interests. Thus, it was not the case that some women led while others were silent; instead, women were praised for modesty at the same time as they exerted influence in their communities. Elaborating on this rich historical background, Hylen illuminates new possibilities in New Testament texts.

[easyazon_link identifier=”1587433303″ locale=”US” tag=”douloschristo-20″]Judges & Ruth
(Brazos Theological Commentary on the Bible)[/easyazon_link] 

Laura A. Smit /
Stephen Fowl

Brazos Press

The Brazos Theological Commentary on the Bible encourages readers to explore how the vital roots of the ancient Christian tradition inform and shape faithfulness today. In this addition to the series, two respected scholars offer a theological reading of Judges and Ruth. As with other volumes in the series, this commentary is designed to serve the church–providing a rich resource for preachers, teachers, students, and study groups–and to demonstrate the continuing intellectual and practical viability of theological interpretation of the Bible.

“Judges & Ruth is a salutary reminder that the dichotomy between theology and biblical scholarship is a false one. Smit and Fowl gift us with rich textual insight against the backdrop of God’s providential ordering of history.”
—Elizabeth Newman, Eula Mae and John Baugh Professor of Theology and Ethics, Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond

“Judges, in the history of its interpretation, has been well served by astute literary and historical commentary, but to these Laura Smit adds robust theological engagement. She is not afraid to go where the text leads–to a God of election, a God who involves us in warfare, a God who demands sacrifice, a God who requires countercultural fidelity. This is a challenging reading of a challenging book and will encourage all Christian readers to reexamine their own theological commitments. In addition, Stephen Fowl offers a nuanced reading of Ruth, pondering Gentile inclusion in the people of God and reflecting wisely on the multiple challenges of theological interpretation. Together these two different voices model something of the variety of ways that theological reading can engage the scriptural text.”
—Richard S. Briggs, lecturer in Old Testament and director of biblical studies, Cranmer Hall, St. John’s College, Durham University

<<<<< PREV. PAGE | NEXT PAGE >>>>>
PAGE 3 of 5