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Jesus and the Fundamentalism of His Day is a deconstructive view of the Gospels (in the Jesus Seminar mode) that sets each Gospel writer beside the others -- and beside the hypothetical source document Q -- to show that Jesus' primary message was compassion for human beings, even when such compassion subordinated the demands of Scripture.
Statement of faith by one of Australia's leading New Testament scholars, written in the form of letters to a young adult in her twenties. The author outlines his beliefs in God, Jesus, the Bible, the Church and morality. His other publications include 'The Christmas Stories'.
Communities of faith regularly turn to texts written two millennia ago to explore their questions about sexuality. This book introduces readers to the key passages that must be examined when trying to understand what the New Testament says about sexual ethics.
This is the fifth and final installment of William Loader's authoritative, acclaimed series on attitudes toward sexuality in the ancient world. Sexual themes are never far beneath the surface where there are human beings. This was certainly the case for Christians in the first-century world. Some began in a strongly Jewish context and worked out their faith in dialogue with their scriptural heritage. Others had to work out their sexual ethics in a world strongly influenced by Greco-Roman ideals and practices. In The New Testament on Sexuality William Loader explores the relevant cultural contexts and looks at New Testament texts related to sexuality, highlighting both the warnings about sexual wrongdoing and the affirmations of sexual union. He deals with specific themes such as divorce, same-sex relations, women and men in leadership, and celibacy; individual behavior, gender roles and rules, preferences, and hopes also fall under the scope of his investigation. Broad-ranging and thorough, this book engages both the biblical texts and the diverse ways in which they have been interpreted.
This book is about listening to what writers were saying about sex in early Judaism and Christianity -- ancient words surprisingly relevant for today. It functions as both a summary and a conclusion to William Loader's five previous books on sexuality in a form accessible to those who may not have a background knowledge of early Judaism and Christianity. It also contains a useful subject index to those five previous volumes. In examining thoroughly all the relevant writings and related evidence of the Greco-Roman period, Loader dialogues with scholarship related to each writing in order to make his conclusions as objective as possible. By enabling the reader to listen respectfully to these ancient texts, Making Sense of Sex provides a basis for informed discussion of sexual issues today.
This book offers an alternative commentary—concise, up-to-date, readable, engaging the text as a cross-cultural encounter, acknowledging distance and difference from our contemporary world as well as highlighting proximity and relevance. It is written by a leading international New Testament scholar and designed for individual and group use. The commentary looks at Mark’s special emphases, with attention also to its use by other Gospel writers and its use for recovering the emphases of Jesus himself. It explores why Mark thought to tell the story of Jesus’ ministry as the good news and what impact he likely sought to have on communities of his time. The commentary also considers what in Mark’s Gospel might still have something to say to our time, and what might not. This book is written for faith seeking an informed understanding of the past and a critical appreciation of its abiding relevance. Also included is the full text of Mark’s Gospel in a fresh translation by the author.
This book raises thorny questions about the themes of faith, hope, and love. Is God really like Jesus or was Jesus a temporary exception to the way God usually is? Was there forgiveness before the cross? Will God one day stop loving? What do we do with the fact that the hopes they had for change were not fulfilled? What happened to good news for the poor? Why did some replace it with something else? Does Christian freedom mean we no longer need the Law? Were early responses to rejection always healthy? Does the Bible say all we need to know about sexuality? It responds to what the author observes is a widespread hunger and interest for discussions which identify and tackle some of the troubling themes of New Testament interpretation in ways that are not defensive, but yet are also supportive of faith, especially an informed faith. It draws together the fruit of over half a century of scholarly research and teaching.
Discourse related to sex excites passion and debate, partly because sexuality is a central aspect of what it means to be human. Following up on his recent book on sexuality in the Septuagint, William Loader here explores what the Christian Gospels and related writings have to say about sexuality, how they reflect the faith and social values of their day, and what impact they've had on our own. Sexuality and the Jesus Tradition is thorough in its investigation and compelling in its analyses. Loader examines all of the passages that convey views about sexuality in the Gospels and other first-century literature, including the Gospel of Thomas, and the influence in Paul of the Jesus tradition. Among the interesting topics covered are attitudes concerning lust, perspectives on marriage and divorce, and views about celibacy. Loader shows how, despite the passing of two thousand years and massive social change, these ancient texts contain common issues that we still grapple with today.
This book offers an alternative commentary—concise, up-to-date, readable, engaging the text as a cross-cultural encounter, acknowledging distance and difference from our contemporary world as well as highlighting proximity and relevance. It is written by a leading international New Testament scholar and designed for individual and group use. The commentary looks at Mark’s special emphases, with attention also to its use by other Gospel writers and its use for recovering the emphases of Jesus himself. It explores why Mark thought to tell the story of Jesus’ ministry as the good news and what impact he likely sought to have on communities of his time. The commentary also considers what in Mark’s Gospel might still have something to say to our time, and what might not. This book is written for faith seeking an informed understanding of the past and a critical appreciation of its abiding relevance. Also included is the full text of Mark’s Gospel in a fresh translation by the author.
Can myths be true? Hiding behind their unreality is often deep meaning waiting to be uncovered. This book explores four myths first found on the margins of Israel’s faith. Over time these myths became major resources for understanding and articulating faith. They began as stories of wicked angels, kings claiming to be gods, and women whom men should fear. They then developed to become sources of deep insight. They helped open up our understanding of sin and suffering, of Christ as servant king, and of the Word and Wisdom of God incarnate. Like imaginative works of art, which can communicate truth in ways that photographs cannot, these myths adorn the halls of faith and invite wonder and engagement.