John Howard Yoder: Mennonite Patience, Evangelical Witness, Catholic Convictions - Softcover

Nation, Mark Thiessen

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0802839401 ISBN 13: 9780802839404

Publisher: Eerdmans, 2006

Synopsis

John Howard Yoder (1927–1997) was a leading Christian witness against violence, articulating a theology from his own tradition so powerful that it compelled people from many other traditions to take notice. The war on terror, the temptations of nationalism, and the painful divisions between those who call themselves followers of Jesus signal our need to hear Yoder's voice again at the beginning of the twenty-first century.

In his book Mark Thiessen Nation provides an insider's introduction to Yoder, demonstrating how a committed Mennonite could also be profoundly evangelical in his witness and broadly catholic in his Christian sensibilities. Taking us into Yoder's life and writings, Nation explores Yoder's context, his keen interest in the Anabaptist tradition, his sustained engagement with other Christians and other faiths, and his claim that pacifism is inherent to Jesus' message.

About this title

About the Author

Mark Thiessen Nation is Associate Professor of Theology at Eastern Mennonite Seminary, Virginia, USA. He has previously served as a minister, a founding director of a Christian peace and justice initiative and the director of the London Mennonite Centre.

Review

Booklist
"A biography of great worth to Christians still struggling to understand how faith can open a path to peace."

Nancey Murphy
— Fuller Theological Seminary
"For anyone unfamiliar with John Howard Yoder's writings, this is a superb introduction. For those who already know his work, it is exciting to read such a competent distillation of the major themes of his writings, enriched by sources not readily available. This is an invaluable contribution."

Michael G. Cartwright
— University of Indianapolis
"Mark Thiessen Nation has accomplished something quite significant in identifying and so carefully delineating the triune context of John Howard Yoder's ecumenical contributions — always offered as an evangelical witness with catholic convictions and with Mennonite patience. . . From now on, this book will be the standard against which to measure any future explorations of Yoder's ecumenical vision for the faithful church."

David Burrell, C.S.C.
— University of Notre Dame
"John Howard Yoder's life of sustained retrieving of the witness of faithful and powerless followers of Jesus may well point all Christians, wherever they are, to a distinctively twenty-first-century church. A great job by Mark Thiessen Nation."

Harry J. Huebner
— Canadian Mennonite University
"If Yoder succeeded in bringing the discourse of peace theology into the theological mainstream, Nation, in this wonderful book, succeeds in teaching us how to read him. Drawing on his encyclopedic knowledge of Yoder's work — published, unpublished, even personal papers — Nation presents an amazingly lucid and ever fresh exposure of Yoder's ideas. A gripping appraisal of a theology that is at once profound and simply Christian!"

Reviews in Religion & Theology
"Should be welcome reading for newcomers to all things Yoder, as well as to those more practiced in engaging this important scholar. . . Nation provides a sound and valuable introduction and summary of John Yoder's life and work."

Theological Studies
"This book should be required reading for all scholars who are tempted to write as though they have Yoder pegged."

Expository Times
"An important and engaging contribution to the quickly-growing library of scholarship on Yoder."

Edition details

• Publisher: Eerdmans
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 0802839401
• ISBN 13: 9780802839404
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 235