Joel B. Green

In this new authoritative volume of the New Testament Library series, Joel B. Green presents the writer of James as a sort of practical theologian, directly addressing the lived experiences of Jewish Christ followers beset by Roman social conventions and sensibilities contrary to the divine command to love God and love neighbor. The book of James is nothing if not pragmatic. Its core arguments rest on urging its audience to take concrete action to develop faithful life patterns in a world that is often set against those who seek to follow Jesus Christ as Lord. Joel B. Green shows how the practical wisdom of James can continue to speak prophetically to a range of issues that plague our contemporary experience—the entrenched and growing gap between the wealthy and impoverished foremost among them. But readers who might be tempted to formulate a simple to-do list from James’s precepts are encouraged instead to enter into the world of the text as fully and as humanly as possible by asking questions like: How would the letter’s first audience (and then how might we) hear, and internalize, the writer’s words about perfection, moral purity, humans made in God’s likeness, and prayer for the sick and disabled? How might their lives (and then how might ours) be shaped by James’s central concern with the double love of love of God and love of neighbor? James: A Commentary examines the Letter of James from a variety of angles—its social and cultural contexts, its relationship to Israel’s Scriptures and to the teaching of Jesus, the development of its message, and its significance theologically. As with other volumes in the New Testament Library series, this commentary strives to come to terms with the literary and historical aspects of James: its arguments, its appeals, its perspectives; its interpretation of Jesus’ message and Israel’s Scriptures; its grasp of contemporary Jewish and Greco-Roman thought. But it most deeply aims to show how James points readers toward envisaging the world as God does and acting accordingly—personally and communally. The New Testament Library series offers authoritative commentary on every book and major aspect of the New Testament, providing fresh translations based on the best available ancient manuscripts, critical portrayals of the historical world in which the books were created, careful attention to their literary design, and a theologically perceptive exposition of the biblical text. The contributors are scholars of international standing. The editorial board consists of John T. Carroll, Union Presbyterian Seminary; Susan E. Hylen, Candler School of Theology, Emory University; and Emerson B. Powery, Messiah University.

This interpretation of Luke encourages in-depth study of the text and genuine grappling with the theological and sociohistorical questions it raises. It draws on a range of methodological interests (author-, text-, and reader-centered) as complementary rather than mutually exclusive ways of understanding the text. It also recognizes the importance of the reception history of biblical texts, increasingly viewed as a vital aspect of interpretation rather than an optional extra. Throughout Discovering Luke, Joel Green gives readers strategies for reading the Gospel of Luke and guides them through Luke's world in its historical, ideological, political, and economic contexts. Green reviews key issues raised by the Gospel and connects these issues to questions of how Luke should be interpreted today.

Discovering Luke is the perfect introduction to the interpretation of Luke’s gospel. Through a critical assessment of key interpreters and interpretative debates, this is a New Testament commentary that encourages in-depth study of the text and a genuine grappling with the theological and historical questions raised. As part of the Discovering Biblical Texts series, Discovering Luke draws on a range of author-, text- and reader-centred methodological approaches as complementary rather than mutually exclusive ways of understanding the text. It also focuses on the reception history of Luke’s gospel, increasingly viewed by Biblical scholars as a vital aspect of interpretation rather than an optional extra. Discovering Luke is an ideal Bible commentary for students and those looking to dig deeper into this key book of the New Testament. You will gain a solid grasp of the structure and content of Luke’s gospel, and a thorough understanding of a wide range of interpretative approaches and theological concerns that will enhance your own reading of the text.

This introduction to the interpretation of Acts encourages in-depth study of the text, and genuine grappling with the theological and historical questions raised, by providing a 'map' to the book as a whole, and to key interpreters and interpretative debates. It draws on a range of methodological approaches (author-, text- and reader-centred), as complementary rather than mutually exclusive ways of interpreting the text. In particular, it reflects the growing scholarly attention to the reception history of biblical texts, increasingly viewed as a vital aspect of interpretation rather than an optional extra.

Repentance and conversion are key topics in New Testament interpretation and in Christian life. However, the study of conversion in early Christianity has been plagued by psychological assumptions alien to the world of the New Testament. Leading New Testament scholar Joel Green believes that careful attention to the narrative of Luke-Acts calls for significant rethinking about the nature of Christian conversion. Drawing on the cognitive sciences and examining key evidence in Luke-Acts, this book emphasizes the embodied nature of human life as it explores the life transformation signaled by the message of conversion, offering a new reading of a key aspect of New Testament theology.

Salvation is the bedrock of our faith and the touchstone for faithful living. It is the good news of God drawing near to us as individuals but also as communities of faith. This book helps us understand that when we say "Jesus saves," we stand on scripture that proclaims a God who, through Jesus, heals, liberates, and rescues. Like each generation that has gone before, we too must find our own awareness and then respond and participate in God's work as transformed people, serving together as the Body of Christ, who have also signed up for ongoing, personal and social transformation. This book is an invitation to a journey of salvation oriented toward increased understanding but also to transformed commitments, renewed allegiances, and fresh practices. To address the grand narrative of Scripture in a way that takes seriously its essential focus on the journey of salvation is to open ourselves to fresh (and perhaps refreshed) perspectives on the world and, thus, on life in the world. In this book Joel Green show how salvation can illumine new categories for conceiving the world, for making sense of our experiences, and for directing our lives.

Salvation is the bedrock of our faith and the touchstone for faithful living. It is the good news of God drawing near to us as individuals but also as communities of faith. This book helps us understand that when we say "Jesus saves," we stand on scripture that proclaims a God who, through Jesus, heals, liberates, and rescues. Like each generation that has gone before, we too must find our own awareness and then respond and participate in God's work as transformed people, serving together as the Body of Christ, who have also signed up for ongoing, personal and social transformation. This book is an invitation to a journey of salvation oriented toward increased understanding but also to transformed commitments, renewed allegiances, and fresh practices. To address the grand narrative of Scripture in a way that takes seriously its essential focus on the journey of salvation is to open ourselves to fresh (and perhaps refreshed) perspectives on the world and, thus, on life in the world. In this book Joel Green show how salvation can illumine new categories for conceiving the world, for making sense of our experiences, and for directing our lives.

The acclaimed Dictionary of Scripture and Ethics (DSE), written to respond to the movement among biblical scholars and ethicists to recover the Bible for moral formation, offered needed orientation and perspective on the vital relationship between Scripture and ethics. This book-by-book survey of the Old Testament features key articles from the DSE, bringing together a stellar list of contributors to introduce students to the use of the Old Testament for moral formation. It will serve as an excellent supplementary text. The stellar list of contributors includes Bruce Birch, Mark Boda, William Brown, Stephen Chapman, Daniel Harrington, and Dennis Olson.

John Wesley boasted that he was a man of one book, but he was also a thoughtful student throughout his life and an author of many books.Asbreathgives life, John Wesley inhaled and exhaled the words of Scripture, shaping his thoughts, beliefs, feelings, and behavior. And like our eighteenth-century ancestor, the Bible is central to usfor continued faith formation. In this invitation to Scripture, the general editor of the Wesley Study Bible and biblical scholar, Dr. Joel Green, summarizes Wesley s understanding of key themes and topics of key books of the New Testament. Using brief excerpts from Wesley s writings (in updated language), Dr. Green explains the importance of Wesley s thinking as it directly applies to everyday life and faithful practice. Each chapter ends with questions suitable for private devotion or group settings, to help you apply your study to daily living. This book will be your trusted companion to the Wesley Study Bible as you love God with a warmed heart and serve God with active hands. "

Are humans composed of a material body and an immaterial soul? This view is commonly held by Christians, yet it has been undermined by recent developments in neuroscience. Exploring what Scripture and theology teach about issues such as being in the divine image, the importance of community, sin, free will, salvation, and the afterlife, Joel Green argues that a dualistic view of the human person is inconsistent with both science and Scripture. This wide-ranging discussion is sure to provoke much thought and debate.Bestselling books have explored the relationship between body, mind, and soul. Now Joel Green provides us with a biblical perspective on these issues.

Even though the letter of 1 Peter has sometimes been overshadowed by Paul's many New Testament letters, it is nonetheless distinctive for the clarity with which it presents the Christian message. In this volume Joel Green offers a clear paragraph-by-paragraph analysis of 1 Peter and, even more, unpacks the letter's theology in ways that go beyond the typical modern commentary. Following Green's paragraph-by-paragraph commentary is an extended discussion of the "theological horizons" of 1 Peter. Throughout his study Green brings the message of 1 Peter into conversation with Christian theologians - ancient and contemporary - so that the challenge of this letter for Christian faithfulness can be heard more clearly today.

We read the "Bible" and interpret Scripture in order to live in grace-filled relation to God's divine purpose. When we approach the "Bible" as Scripture, author Joel Green, takes seriously, the faith statement that the "Bible" is our Book; these scriptures are our Scripture. We are not reading someone else's mail - as though reading the "Bible" had to do foremost with recovering an ancient meaning intended for someone else and then translating its principles for use in our own lives.When we recall that we are the people of God to whom the bible is addressed as Scripture, we realize that the fundamental transformation is not the transformation of an ancient message into a contemporary meaning, bur rather the transformation of our lives by means of God's Word. This means that reading the "Bible" as Scripture has less to do with what tools we bring to the task, however important these may be, and more to do with our own dispositions as we come to our engagement with Scripture. We come not so much to retrieve facts or to gain information, but to be formed and ultimately, transformed.Scripture does not present us with texts to be mastered but with a Word, God's Word, intent on mastering us, on shaping our lives.

There is often an unfortunate division between the technical work of biblical scholars and the practical work of preachers who construct sermons each week. These two fields of study, which ought to be mutually informed and supportive, are more often practically divided by divergent methods, interests, and goals. Narrative Reading, Narrative Preaching aims to bridge that divide. Using narrative as an organizing theme, the contributors work through the New Testament offering examples of how interpretation can rightly inform proclamation. Three pairs of chapters feature an exemplary reading by a New Testament scholar followed by a sermon informed by that reading. Introductory and concluding chapters provide guidance for application of the model. Pastors and seminarians will find here a uniquely practical work that will help them with both the reading and preaching of Scripture.

This highly original commentary, part of the New International Commentary, is unique for the way it combines concerns with first-century culture in the Roman world with understanding the text of Luke as a wholistic, historical narrative.

The Gospel of Luke, often mined for information about the life of Jesus, is also one of the earliest Christian examples of narrative theology. Unlike some writers of New Testament books, Luke has engaged in the theological task by shaping a narrative representation of the coming and mission of Jesus. In doing so, he goes to great lengths to ground the work of Jesus in the continuing story of God’s redemptive plan, especially witnessed in the Scriptures, and he also emphasises the ongoing character of that story, with the result that Luke’s audience is challenged to discern the purpose of God in order that they may embrace it and order their lives around it. This exploration of the way in which Luke accomplishes his theological task in the first century is both informative and illuminating for contemporary readers seeking approaches to cultural criticism and constructive theology today.

A newly updated edition of a beloved guide to the New Testament For more than twenty-five years, Introducing the New Testament: Its Literature and Theology has been the go-to resource for readers seeking a guide to interpreting the New Testament. Now this remarkable volume has been thoroughly revised for a new generation. Every chapter has been updated, and the sections on Paul have been substantially rewritten. Wonderfully readable and well supplied with maps and photographs, this volume is both an ideal textbook for biblical studies courses and a superb introduction for general readers wanting an overview of the New Testament. The book begins with an overview of the nature of the New Testament and the world in which it was written. Thereafter, the authors examine the twenty-seven books of the New Testament, illuminating each book's key messages and explaining why they continue to inspire and challenge readers today. Separate chapters also explore the types of literature found in the New Testament, the life and teachings of Jesus, Paul's life and world, and the formation of the New Testament canon. In addition, numerous sidebars offer a wealth of relevant background information that helps modern readers more fully grasp biblical themes. Unlike other New Testament surveys that devote significant space to scholarly debates, this volume prioritizes the New Testament's background, content, and theology. While the authors are attuned to current debates in biblical studies, their primary aim is to make the message of the Christian Scriptures accessible to thoughtful general readers. Engaging and informative, this volume is a trustworthy guide for anyone who wants to understand the New Testament.

What is a consistent theological meaning of the Son of Man in the Gospel of Matthew? For a suitable response, it is essential to analyze all thirty Son of Man logia in their relative literary contexts and in relationship to the gospel as a whole. Also, to bring out the uniqueness in Matthew's portrayal of the Son of Man, a comparison with the other Synoptic Gospels aids the investigation. This work argues that the answer lies in the role of the Son of Man in the first Gospel. In Matthew, Jesus the Son of Man functions as mediator of God's will to his genuine disciples. As the Son of Man journeys through his earthly life climaxing in his death and resurrection, Jesus mediates God's will through his message and works and by exhibiting active obedience to his Father in the heavens. Jesus's genuine disciples learn how to emulate the Son of Man's character and ministry, enabling them to continue it in their future mission. At his parousia, the Son of Man will mediate God's promised vindication and reward for his genuine disciples who have proven their fidelity to Jesus and God's will.

What is a consistent theological meaning of the Son of Man in the Gospel of Matthew? For a suitable response, it is essential to analyze all thirty Son of Man logia in their relative literary contexts and in relationship to the gospel as a whole. Also, to bring out the uniqueness in Matthew's portrayal of the Son of Man, a comparison with the other Synoptic Gospels aids the investigation. This work argues that the answer lies in the role of the Son of Man in the first Gospel. In Matthew, Jesus the Son of Man functions as mediator of God's will to his genuine disciples. As the Son of Man journeys through his earthly life climaxing in his death and resurrection, Jesus mediates God's will through his message and works and by exhibiting active obedience to his Father in the heavens. Jesus's genuine disciples learn how to emulate the Son of Man's character and ministry, enabling them to continue it in their future mission. At his parousia, the Son of Man will mediate God's promised vindication and reward for his genuine disciples who have proven their fidelity to Jesus and God's will.

This collection of essays by Joel B. Green draws together studies on Luke's theology over a thirty-year period - from the early days when many scholars questioned whether one might refer to Luke as a "theologian," to contemporary studies pursuing a variety of approaches to discerning Luke's message. These essays contribute to our understanding of the theological and narrative unity of Luke-Acts by pursuing a variety of topics (e.g., salvation, wealth and poverty, baptism, resurrection, and conversion) and more focused examinations of selected Lukan texts, such as the birth narrative, Jesus's crucifixion, Jesus's ascension, the Pentecost episode, and the stories of Cornelius and Lydia.

Love God with a warmed heart. Serve God with active hands. Lead an abundant life, grow as a faithful disciple, and find new avenues to serve. By studying the Wesley Study Bible you will share God's grace and find the good gifts God has for you. As God transforms you through study, you will be inspired to transform the world. Contributors from across the Wesleyan family join together to help you experience God in fresh ways. Special Features: Comprehensive study notes on NRSV text by over 50 biblical scholars Accessibly written life application and inspiration by over 50 key pastors Easy-to-understand explanations of core terms by over 60 Wesley experts, including: eternal life, forgiveness, grace, heaven, holiness, justice, and mission Extended reference to works by John Wesley 19 pages of full-color maps; cross references; and summary of each biblical book 7" x 9-/18" trim size with a 9.75 font Beautiful distressed bonded leather. PLEASE NOTE: The cover of this Bible is an uncoated distressed bonded leather. There will be variations in the material, so no two Bibles will be exactly alike.