History and Theology

M. Kuefler – The Manly Eunuch – Review

Summary:
Matthew Kuefler’s The Manly Eunuch: Masculinity, Gender Ambiguity, and Christian Ideology in Late Antiquity traces the development and transformation of notions of masculinity from the early Roman Empire to late antiquity. The basic thesis is that notions of masculinity were essential to the proper functioning of the Roman Empire. Continue reading…

Outline of M. Bird’s The Saving Righteousness of God

The Saving Righteousness of God: Studies on Paul, Justification and the New Perspective

I. Introduction

1. “The burden of this project is to demonstrate that reformed and “new” readings of Paul are indispensable to attaining a full understanding of Paul’s soteriology.” (1) Continue reading…

W. H. C. Frend – The Donatist Church – Book Review

Summary:

William H. C. Frend has produced a magisterial book (The Donatist Church: A Movement of Protest in Roman North Africa) on the rise, stubborn perseverance, and decline of the Donatist movement in North Africa. The great value of Frend’s work is that it shows not only how persistent the Donatist movement was, but also why it was so. He accomplishes this task in twenty chapters (plus an additional epilogue) in 336 pages. Continue reading…

John North’s Roman Religion – Book Review

In many ways, John A. North’s book, Roman Religion, is a slimmed down version of his larger collaborative work, Religions of Rome, with Mary Beard and Simon Price. He makes this point clear in his introduction by referring his readers to it for more detailed information. Continue reading…

David Dugan – Constantine’s Bible – Review

David Dungan’s book, Constantine’s Bible: Politics and the Making of the New Testament, examines the historical process surrounding the canonization of the New Testament. Dungan begins with a discussion on the difference between scripture and canon. He states that many religions have scriptures, but few religions have a canon. Continue reading…

Dietrich Bonhoeffer – Life Together

As I was reading through a commentary on 1 Corinthians, I came upon a quotation on the sheer beauty of Christian fellowship. The commentator, Richard B. Hays, quoted Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Life Together (pastor, professor, and martyr for his resistance to Hitler). The excerpt was so pointed and filled with spiritual insight and power that I immediately went to buy the book and devoured it. I can say that the reading of this book has already shaped my thinking. I highly recommend it. More importantly, this is the type of book that should probably be read once every few years to remind you of the importance and distinctive of the Christian life. A review, in my opinion, would not do justice to a work like this; it must be read prayerfully. The best that I can do in this post is to offer the quotes that touched me the most. Continue reading…

Review of Living on the Borders by Mark Griffin and Theron Walker

Summary:

Mark Griffin and Theron Walker’s Living on the Borders explores what the church can learn from ethnic minorities. In short, they argue that the notion of the American melting pot is not neutral. Assimilation is assimilation into an individualistic and consumeristic world that is antithetical to ethnic minorities and Christianity. In light of this, they offer five points. First, Christians are part of the melting pot, like other minorities. Second, the melting pot is not a benign concept. Third, the ghetto is not a suitable alternative to the world (or melting pot). Continue reading…