"... La vie errante d'Isra l Potter commen a de bonne heure. dix-huit ans, il s' mancipa du joug paternel. Il s' tait pris d'amour pour la fille d'un fermier voisin que le p re Potter consid rait comme un parti peu sortable pour son fils. Pouss au d sespoir par la r solution de son p re, le pauvre gar on prit la d termination de s' vader secr tement et d'aller chercher une autre demeure et d'autres amis. Un dimanche matin, pendant que toute la famille tait l' glise, il fit un petit paquet de ses hardes, le cacha dans un bois qui s' tendait par derri re la maison, et le soir, par une chaude nuit de juillet, il mit son projet ex cution. Il se coucha au pied d'un pin afin de se reposer jusqu' l'aurore. Lorsqu'il se r veilla et qu'il entendit le murmure si triste du pin au-dessus de sa t te, toutes les fibres de son coeur trembl rent, et des larmes coul rent de ses yeux; mais il pensa la tyrannie de son p re, ses amours d ues, et alors il pla a r solument son paquet sur son paule, puis se mit en marche..."
Pauline studies are in a conundrum. The Reformation perspectives championed by great men like Martin Luther and John Calvin have been challenged recently by the rise of the new perspective on Paul. The main point of contention seems to be the place of biblical law in salvation. While the Reformation perspectives, based in part on Paul's apparent attacks on law, assert that salvation is a free gift unmerited by human works, the new perspective suggests the law is an integral part of the work of salvation. It holds that Paul's attacks on the law were focused only on specific aspects of law, the so-called boundary markers. This book, while having points of contact with both outlooks, takes a different view on Paul and the law. Building on Paul's self-identification as a Christian, and Christian views on the covenant, it endeavors to give biblical law its due place in the plan of salvation and the life of the believer. ""This book is timely since it emerges on the eve of the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. If its strong Bible-based propositions are genuinely and completely accepted, the result will be a radical paradigm shift in the teaching and practice of Paul's writings. Indeed, a library on contemporary Pauline studies and New Testament scholarship is incomplete without it."" --Ikechukwu Michael Oluikpe, the Northern Caribbean University, Jamaica ""Papaioannou's Israel, Covenant, Law comes as an academic celebration of the Protestant Reformation's quincentenary in 2017. It dashes trough the pros and cons of the old and the new perspectives on Paul, creating a tenable new way of looking at the Pauline theological design with regards to law, covenant, Israel, and salvation. The author is diligent in exegesis and considerate towards practical aspects that derive from it."" -- Laurenţiu Moţ, Dean, Adventist Theological Institute, Cernica, Romania ""Kim Papaioannou is honest and right in saying that this book may change the way you see Pauline theology and exegesis. His Greek native background gives a refreshing meaning to koine Greek expressions, and his historical academic background gives the book a scholarly weight, which have to be considered by those who seriously study Pauline theology. His direct exegetical approach to difficult passages gives a new perspective on practical issues for daily life and salvation."" --Luis Ivan Martinez-Toledo, Vista University, Mexico ""Theologians have been debating for 2,000 years about what Paul really meant. Sometimes these debates only complicate the understanding of the great apostle. Kim Papaioannou, on the other hand, answers many difficult questions regarding Paul's writings in a very clear and easy way. His approach is so simple, but at the same time his arguments are so convincing that when you read his book you inevitably ask yourself: how did I not think of it myself? I must confess I began to understand Paul only after I read this book "" --Felix Poniatowski, Vice President for Academics in Ukrainian Institute of Arts and Sciences Kim Papaioannou holds a PhD in Theology with an emphasis in the New Testament from the University of Durham in England. He has served as church minister and professor of theology in Europe and Asia for over twenty years.
Pauline studies are in a conundrum. The Reformation perspectives championed by great men like Martin Luther and John Calvin have been challenged recently by the rise of the new perspective on Paul. The main point of contention seems to be the place of biblical law in salvation. While the Reformation perspectives, based in part on Paul's apparent attacks on law, assert that salvation is a free gift unmerited by human works, the new perspective suggests the law is an integral part of the work of salvation. It holds that Paul's attacks on the law were focused only on specific aspects of law, the so-called boundary markers. This book, while having points of contact with both outlooks, takes a different view on Paul and the law. Building on Paul's self-identification as a Christian, and Christian views on the covenant, it endeavors to give biblical law its due place in the plan of salvation and the life of the believer. ""This book is timely since it emerges on the eve of the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. If its strong Bible-based propositions are genuinely and completely accepted, the result will be a radical paradigm shift in the teaching and practice of Paul's writings. Indeed, a library on contemporary Pauline studies and New Testament scholarship is incomplete without it."" --Ikechukwu Michael Oluikpe, the Northern Caribbean University, Jamaica ""Papaioannou's Israel, Covenant, Law comes as an academic celebration of the Protestant Reformation's quincentenary in 2017. It dashes trough the pros and cons of the old and the new perspectives on Paul, creating a tenable new way of looking at the Pauline theological design with regards to law, covenant, Israel, and salvation. The author is diligent in exegesis and considerate towards practical aspects that derive from it."" -- Laurenţiu Moţ, Dean, Adventist Theological Institute, Cernica, Romania ""Kim Papaioannou is honest and right in saying that this book may change the way you see Pauline theology and exegesis. His Greek native background gives a refreshing meaning to koine Greek expressions, and his historical academic background gives the book a scholarly weight, which have to be considered by those who seriously study Pauline theology. His direct exegetical approach to difficult passages gives a new perspective on practical issues for daily life and salvation."" --Luis Ivan Martinez-Toledo, Vista University, Mexico ""Theologians have been debating for 2,000 years about what Paul really meant. Sometimes these debates only complicate the understanding of the great apostle. Kim Papaioannou, on the other hand, answers many difficult questions regarding Paul's writings in a very clear and easy way. His approach is so simple, but at the same time his arguments are so convincing that when you read his book you inevitably ask yourself: how did I not think of it myself? I must confess I began to understand Paul only after I read this book "" --Felix Poniatowski, Vice President for Academics in Ukrainian Institute of Arts and Sciences Kim Papaioannou holds a PhD in Theology with an emphasis in the New Testament from the University of Durham in England. He has served as church minister and professor of theology in Europe and Asia for over twenty years.
Given that Pope Francis is a popular global religious leader, and in the light of the lessons drawn from the nature, meaning, and functions of Israel's prophets, this tripartite work historically, pastorally, and theologically examines whether, and how Francis' teaching, visits, outreach to the poor, preaching, and recent biblically based writings (Lumen Fidei, Evangelii Gaudium, Amoris Laetitia, Laudato Si', Gaudete et Exsultate, Letters, and Messages) have had any prophetic effects or impact on contemporary society. ""When Pope Francis was elected in 2013, a ninety-nine-year-old retired French journalist, Genevieve Honore Laine, celebrated his election thus: 'We were expecting a Pontiff; God gives us a prophet' (original in French). Dr. Udoekpo's on-target study of the prophetic impact of Pope Francis alongside Israel's prophet offers readers key insight for understanding and appreciating the Spirit-filled revolutionary mission of this Pope, as leader of a church whose very nature is prophetic."" --Teresa Okure, SHCJ, Catholic Institute of West Africa, Port Harcourt, Nigeria ""In this exposition, it has become even clearer that Pope Francis is a gift to our generation in a unique way. It needed no less a scholar than somebody like Dr. Udoekpo to bring out the prophetic worth of his ministry. . . . Now, the best way to appreciate this effort by our author is to make this work a must in every library and family bookshelf."" --Emem Gerald Umoren, University of Uyo, Nigeria Fr. Michael Ufok Udoekpo is a priest of the Catholic Diocese of Ikot Ekpene, Nigeria. Udoekpo is an Associate Professor of Biblical Studies/Scripture and Languages at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology (2011- ), currently serving his sabbatical year appointment at the theological faculty of the Catholic Institute of West Africa (2018-2019). His most recent publications include Rethinking the Prophetic Critique of Worship in Amos 5 for Contemporary Nigeria and the USA (2017).
Given that Pope Francis is a popular global religious leader, and in the light of the lessons drawn from the nature, meaning, and functions of Israel's prophets, this tripartite work historically, pastorally, and theologically examines whether, and how Francis' teaching, visits, outreach to the poor, preaching, and recent biblically based writings (Lumen Fidei, Evangelii Gaudium, Amoris Laetitia, Laudato Si', Gaudete et Exsultate, Letters, and Messages) have had any prophetic effects or impact on contemporary society. ""When Pope Francis was elected in 2013, a ninety-nine-year-old retired French journalist, Genevieve Honore Laine, celebrated his election thus: 'We were expecting a Pontiff; God gives us a prophet' (original in French). Dr. Udoekpo's on-target study of the prophetic impact of Pope Francis alongside Israel's prophet offers readers key insight for understanding and appreciating the Spirit-filled revolutionary mission of this Pope, as leader of a church whose very nature is prophetic."" --Teresa Okure, SHCJ, Catholic Institute of West Africa, Port Harcourt, Nigeria ""In this exposition, it has become even clearer that Pope Francis is a gift to our generation in a unique way. It needed no less a scholar than somebody like Dr. Udoekpo to bring out the prophetic worth of his ministry. . . . Now, the best way to appreciate this effort by our author is to make this work a must in every library and family bookshelf."" --Emem Gerald Umoren, University of Uyo, Nigeria Fr. Michael Ufok Udoekpo is a priest of the Catholic Diocese of Ikot Ekpene, Nigeria. Udoekpo is an Associate Professor of Biblical Studies/Scripture and Languages at Sacred Heart Seminary and School of Theology (2011- ), currently serving his sabbatical year appointment at the theological faculty of the Catholic Institute of West Africa (2018-2019). His most recent publications include Rethinking the Prophetic Critique of Worship in Amos 5 for Contemporary Nigeria and the USA (2017).
""My standpoint is then one of tension, a tension that I bear in my flesh and in my intellectual and spiritual life: I heard the two voices. And it is the weight of this tension that has pressed me to think and study about it, to teach about it, and eventually to write about it. It is the Jewish-Christian tension in my flesh and in my scholarly and professional life that has given birth to this book. In echo to Israel Zangwill, I will set my questions straight: Were Jesus and Moses indeed irreconcilable? Are our theological and historical cliches in agreement with the original intention of prophetic revelation and with what indeed took place in history?"" --From the Preface: The Two Jews Jacques B. Doukhan is professor of Hebrew and Old Testament Exegesis at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary and director of the Institute of Jewish-Christian Studies at Andrews University, Berrien Springs, Michigan. Doukhan received a doctorate in Hebrew Language and Literature from the University of Strasbourg. Doukhan was the recipient of a post-doctoral research scholarship from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Later, he received a Doctorate of Theology in Biblical Studies and Systematic Theology from Andrews University. Dr. Doukhan also holds a Master in Egyptology from the University of Montpellier. In addition to his numerous articles and reviews, Doukhan has written twenty books including the following: Drinking at the Sources: An Appeal to the Jew and the Christian to Note Their Common Beginnings; Daniel: The Vision of the End; On the Way to Emmaus: Five Messianic Prophecies Explained; and Commentary on Genesis. Dr. Doukhan is the General Editor of the SDAIBC Series.
The mention of 'Israel' usually provokes a reaction of some sort. In today's world, the reaction is often negative. Many regarding the nation is an obstacle to peace in the Middle East. I believe that such reactions are promoted by biased reports coming out of an anti-Semitic news station in the Middle East. Such propaganda is being uncritically supported and broadcast by national media throughout the Western world.
The mention of 'Israel' usually provokes a reaction of some sort. In today's world, the reaction is often negative. Many regarding the nation is an obstacle to peace in the Middle East. I believe that such reactions are promoted by biased reports coming out of an anti-Semitic news station in the Middle East. Such propaganda is being uncritically supported and broadcast by national media throughout the Western world.
""My standpoint is then one of tension, a tension that I bear in my flesh and in my intellectual and spiritual life: I heard the two voices. And it is the weight of this tension that has pressed me to think and study about it, to teach about it, and eventually to write about it. It is the Jewish-Christian tension in my flesh and in my scholarly and professional life that has given birth to this book. In echo to Israel Zangwill, I will set my questions straight: Were Jesus and Moses indeed irreconcilable? Are our theological and historical cliches in agreement with the original intention of prophetic revelation and with what indeed took place in history?"" --From the Preface: The Two Jews
The most significant human rights problems were terrorist attacks targeting civilians and politically and religiously motivated societal violence; institutional and societal discrimination against Arab citizens of Israel, many of whom self identify as Palestinian, including the Bedouin, in particular in access to equal education and employment opportunities; institutional and societal discrimination against Ethiopian Israelis and women; and the treatment of refugees, asylum seekers, and irregular migrants.Other human rights problems included institutional and societal discrimination against non-Orthodox Jews and intermarried families and labor rights abuses against foreign workers.The government took some steps to prosecute and punish officials who committed abuses within Israel regardless of rank or seniority. The government proceeded with structural reforms to reduce impunity and increase accountability.
"The Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel... bears importance of the highest magnitude, for it symbolizes a momentous change in Jewish history. In its contents, structure, and language, it is one of the most impressive of its genre. In its structure and stylistic cadence, the Declaration is a literary gem, its elegant phrasing successfully blending solemnity and exaltation, sober idealism and practicality, coupled with daring, moral force and lucid foresight." Prof. E. GutmannThe book Israel: Independence Proclamation brilliantly shares this gem with kids of all ages.
