Controversy rages on about God's choosing people for salvation. Are only the few elect? Rather than typically beginning with the preconceptions of systematic theologies, Dr. William Klein takes up this question by searching for a biblical theology of election. He surveys the OT contexts of God's choosing individuals--prophets, priests, kings--to serve divine purposes, and considers God's election of the nation of Israel as his special people. This OT study proposes that God's election is both individual and corporate, but not always determinative. Individuals entered the people of God by birth, but not all the people found salvation. Faith in Yahweh was required. This book traces these elective understandings through the intertestamental literature, identifying continuities and shifts. The bulk of the study, and the heart of the argument, focus on the New Testament. Klein identifies concepts of election, and relationships between writers in the gospels, the Lucan material, Paul's writings, and the rest. The new covenant, God choosing the church in Christ, emphasizes election as corporate, while the individual election of Jesus' disciples and of Paul raises the question whether such chosenness is necessarily salvific. In closing, Klein discusses the most engaging and divisive questions around God's election, and offers a real challenge to today's church.

This substantive evangelical commentary on Romans by a leading biblical scholar is one of the most popular in the award-winning BECNT series (more than 25,000 copies sold) and has been praised as a great preaching commentary. This new edition, updated and revised throughout, reflects Thomas Schreiner's mature thinking on various interpretive issues. As with all BECNT volumes, this commentary features the author's detailed interaction with the Greek text, extensive research, thoughtful verse-by-verse exegesis, and a user-friendly design. It admirably achieves the dual aims of the series--academic sophistication with pastoral sensitivity and accessibility--making it a useful tool for pastors, church leaders, students, and teachers.

The summons to live a radical life for God has led us away from doing the very basic things he has commanded. Instead of changing the world, our Lord Jesus calls us to change the way we approach relationships. Specifically, he challenges us to pursue reconciliation. Unreconciled: The New Norm invites Christians, especially those who are busy seeking to do great things for a great God, to remember the command “to go and be reconciled” and to renew their commitment to live in obedience to the things God has revealed. Perhaps by pursuing the seemingly ordinary, we will see God do extraordinary things in our pursuit to create cultures of reconciliation.

A deep study on the doctrine of eternal security Does one moment of faith secure a person's eternal destiny with God--even if that person later stops following and trusting in Jesus? Or does a person have to keep on trusting and following Jesus to remain in a saving relationship with God? Now expanded with new chapters and research, this landmark book continues to offer one of the most penetrating studies on the controversial doctrine of eternal security, perseverance, and apostasy in the New Testament. Calling into question the popular "once saved, always saved" belief, internationally respected pastor and scholar Dr. Robert Shank reveals that the question we should be asking is not, "Is the believer secure?" but rather, "What does it mean to be a believer?" Straightforward, thorough, and grounded in biblical understanding, this book warns Christians about dangers that could potentially lead a believer to become an unbeliever (falling away from faith) and share in the unbeliever's eternal condemnation.

A fresh analysis of the Book of Romans for scholars, pastors, and students that blends scholarly depth with readability.

Thousands of American Jews were drawn to Christian Science and other New Thought teachings at the turn of the 20th century along with countless Christians. The growing popularity of New Thought teachings among American Jews concerned Jewish leaders of the time, including American Reform Rabbi Alfred Geiger Moses (1878-1956), who decided to do something about it. Seeing much in New Thought teachings that could be adapted to Judaism, once stripped of its Christian elements, Rabbi Moses first published Jewish Science in 1916. The author spends much time showing that the precepts of Christian Science and other New Thought denominations are drawn largely from the Hebrew scriptures. This redesigned edition includes an extensive anthology of Hebrew scripture quotations from a New Thought perspective, and a new introduction by the editor.

“I read Huston Smith’s The World’s Religions as a teenager. It was the most influential event in my life. He has shaped my thinking, my lifelong quest, and guided me to where I am today. The Huston Smith Reader will enlighten you, delight you, and expand your awareness. I intend to carry this book with me wherever I go.”—Deepak Chopra, author of War of the Worldviews “Huston Smith approaches religion with the wisdom of a philosopher and the wonder of a child. He looks for similarities that unite, not differences that divide. He comes armed with knowledge and blessed with understanding."—Don Lattin, author of The Harvard Psychedelic Club "This remarkable book by the beloved scholar-practitioner Huston Smith has the depth and breadth of no other. It is wise and full of insight, at times funny, at times poignant. Manifesting both lived and living wisdom, the book's power, beauty, and courage will take the reader into the heart of the world's religions."—Joan Halifax, Founding Abbot, Upaya Zen Center “No one in our time, neither Martin Buber nor Elie Wiesel, neither Karen Armstrong nor Simone Weil, has made a greater contribution to our understanding of religion and spirituality than Huston Smith. We are privileged to live in his era, not only for his books and films, but for his emphasis on gleaning the wisdom from ancient traditions, and the example he has afforded the rest of us in practicing what he preaches, thus illuminating for us what it means to have a lived-in philosophy of the religious life. In turn, this book affords us the widest and most penetrating range of insights yet published into the mind and heart of this great teacher.”—Phil Cousineau, editor of The Way Things Are: Huston Smith on the Spiritual Life and author of The Art of Pilgrimage "Huston Smith's words serve me well in traversing my spiritual path."—Ram Dass, author of Be Here Now

No one theory of time is pursued in the essays of this volume, but a major theme that threads them together is Wolfson’s signature idea of the timeswerve as a linear circularity or a circular linearity, expressions that are meant to avoid the conventional split between the two temporal modalities of the line and the circle.

How do we as Americans define our identities? How do our stories represent who we are-our successes, our failures, our past, our future? Stories of redemption are some of the most powerful ways to express American identity and all that it can entail, from pain and anguish to joy and fulfillment. Psychologist Dan P. McAdams examines how these narratives, in which the hero is delivered from suffering to an enhanced status or state, represent a new psychology of American identity, and in turn, how they translate to understanding our own lives. In this revised and expanded edition of The Redemptive Self, McAdams shows how redemptive stories promote psychological health and civic engagement among contemporary American adults. He reveals how different kinds of redemptive stories compete for favor in American society, as presented in a dramatic case study comparing the life stories constructed by Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. McAdams provides new insight on race and religion in American narratives, offers a creative blend of psychological research and historical analysis, and explains how the redemptive self is a positive psychological resource for living a worthy American life. From the spiritual testimonials of the Puritans and the celebrated autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, to the harrowing stories of escaped slaves and the modern tales in Hollywood movies, we are surrounded by transformative stories that can inform how we make sense of our American identity. But is the redemptive life story always a good thing, and can anyone achieve it? While affirming the significance of redemptive life stories, McAdams also offers a cultural critique. Through no fault of their own, many Americans cannot achieve this revered story of deliverance. Instead, their lives are rife with contaminated plots, vicious cycles of disappointment, and endless pitfalls. Moreover, there may be a negative side to these beloved stories of redemption-they demonstrate a curiously American form of arrogance, self-righteousness, and naiveté that all bad things can be transformed. In this revised and expanded edition of the his award-winning book, McAdams encourages us to critically examine our own life stories-the good, the bad, the ups, the downs-in order to inform how we can benefit from them and shape a better future American identity.

Women were essential to the ministry of Jesus and the flourishing of the early church. In Women in the New Testament, trusted guide Catherine Cory delves into the lives of the fascinating women who befriended Jesus, were healed and transformed by him, followed him as disciples, and proclaimed the good news of his resurrection. Journey through the New Testament, exploring the social and religious world of first-century Palestine and the remarkable lives of these women of faith. Six lessons survey New Testament texts about Mary the mother of Jesus, women healed by Jesus, the Samaritan woman, Mary and Martha of Bethany, Mary Magdalene, and various women of the early church, such as Priscilla and Phoebe. Commentary, study and reflection questions, prayers, and access to online lectures are included. 6 lessons.