The Challenge of Discipleship: A Critical Study of the Sermon on the Mount as Scripture - Softcover

Patte, Daniel

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1563382865 ISBN 13: 9781563382864

Publisher: Trinity Press International, 1999

Synopsis

This book invites readers to assume responsibility for their own interpretations of the Sermon on the Mount through a practice of "critical study of the Bible as scripture." Such a practice takes as a starting point the conclusions about "the teaching of the Sermon on the Mount for believers today," which Christian believers of all walks of life formulate for themselves, which non-Christian ordinary readers readily envision as they observe Christians, and which scholars imply in their sophisticated interpretations. Assuming responsibility for one's interpretation involves becoming aware that it results from a series of choices among equally legitimate and plausible options, and self-consciously deciding whether or not one wants to claim "it is the best for believers today" - or, for Christian interpreters, "I believe (credo) it is Word of God for us today." Through a series of exercises, readers - whether simple believers or scholars — are invited first to formulate their own conclusions about teachings in the Sermon on the Mount and then to recognize the choices implied in their interpretations by comparing them with five kinds of readings proposed by scholars. "Daniel Patte shows respect for every interpretation, be it those of 'ordinary people' or those of scholars, and clarifies underlying presuppositions of each option. In a fascinating and new way, he relates critical insights to matters of faith, ultimately to help Christians affirm their credo as truly theirs." — Christina Grenholm, Uppsala UniversityDaniel M. Patte is Professor of New Testament at Vanderbilt University and the author of Discipleship according to the Sermon on the Mount (Trinity 1996).

About this title

About the Author

Daniel Patte teaches at Vanderbuilt University, is author of The Challenge of Discipleship (Trinty), Discipleship According to the Sermon on the Mount (Trinity), and an editor of Reading Israel in Romans: Legitimacy and Plausibility of Divergent Interpretations.

Review

"...a rich, optimistic, and challenging study in both its discussion of the [Sermon on the Mount] and in its commitment to faith-interpretations." —Warren Carter, St. Paul School of Theology, reviewing for Religious Studies Review, April 2000 (Warren Carter, St. Paul School of Theology Religious Studies Review)

"Daniel Patte shows respect for every interpretation, be it those of ‘ordinary people’ or those of scholars, and clarifies underlying presuppositions of each option. In a fascinating and new way, he relates critical insights to matters of faith, ultimately to help Christians affirm their credo as truly theirs." —Christina Grenholm, Uppsala University (Christina Grenholm, Uppsala University)

"Daniel Patte invites the reader to engage a question of ultimate importance in New Testament scholarship, namely, the reciprocal influence of textual meaning and the reader through the meditation of praxis. This question and Patte’s answers are significant now only for engagement with the text of the Sermon of the Mount but with New Testament texts in general." —Sandra M. Schneiders, Jesuit School of Theology (Sandra M. Schneiders, Jesuit School of Theology)

"Should be read and discussed in both seminary and church classrooms." —Timothy B. Cargal, Northwood Presbyterian Church, Silver Spring, Maryland (Timothy B. Cargal, Northwood Presbyterian Church)

"Readers of any sacred text will be challenged by Patte’s ecumenical call for believers to engage in ethically responsible interpretations of their own scripture." —Fred W. Burnett, Anderson University (Fred W. Burnett, Anderson University)

"Breaks new ground in teaching and studying the Bible. Bringing multiple voices (interpretations) into conversation honors the diversity of the people of God and empowers readers to engage directly issues of faith, meaning, and discipleship. I highly recommend this book." —Jack L. Seymour, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary (Jack L. Seymour, Garrett-Evangelical Theo Sem)

"Extracts and condenses five representative readings from the morass of modern scholarship, making possible a vigorous dialogue between alternative interpretations. Patte’s new ‘scripture criticism’ will inform the emerging debate about the authority of scripture in the third millenium." —Laurence L. Welborn, United Theological Seminary (Laurence L. Welborn, United Theological Seminary)

"The authority of any particular interpretation of a text, Patte says, may be considered only in the open discussion with peers who take into account not only the historic, linguistic, and theological meanings of a text, but also its significance when applied to a life situation. Such an inquiry is no simple matter, but then that is the challenge of discipleship." —David W. Odell-Scott, Kent State University (David W. Odell-Scott, Kent State University)

"Ministers or teachers who want to know the basic contours of current scholarship will find various approaches succinctly and fairly summarized by Patte... The value in Patte’s study is found in the way he makes explicit the interpretive choices that lead to different, but plausible, formulations of the Sermon’s teaching. In doing so, he challenges us to be responsible ethically for our readings... I enthusiastically commend this book." — David B. Howell, Ferrum College, reviewing for Interpretation, April 2001 (David B. Howell Interpretation)

"...a rich, optimistic, and challenging study in both its discussion of the [Sermon on the Mount] and in its commitment to faith-interpretations." —Warren Carter, St. Paul School of Theology, reviewing for Religious Studies Review, April 2000 (Sanford Lakoff Religious Studies Review)

Edition details

• Publisher: Trinity Press International
• Publication date: 1999
• ISBN 10: 1563382865
• ISBN 13: 9781563382864
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 288