Transformation: The Heart of Paul's Gospel (Snapshots) - Softcover

DeSilva, David A.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1577995856 ISBN 13: 9781577995852

Publisher: Lexham Press, 2014

Synopsis

The gospel is often presented as little more than a "get out of hell free" pass. But is that all there is to it? What made it so compelling that the Apostle Paul would give up everything, enduring hardships and deprivation to preach good news? David deSilva argues that some Christians have unintentionally reduced the gospel to a message Paul would hardly recognize. The "gift of righteousness" is far richer than many of us have dared to imagine!

In Transformation: The Heart of Paul's Gospel, deSilva examines the gospel message as presented in Paul's letters. He demonstrates that Paul had nothing less than in mind than the means to transform and renew all of creation--including ourselves. Prepare to let Paul's message of change and renewal transform your own thinking.

About this title

About the Author:

David deSilva (PhD, Emory University) is Trustees' Distinguished Professor of New Testament and Greek at Ashland Theological Seminary in Ohio. He is author of An Introduction to the New Testament; Introducing the Apocrypha: Message, Context, and Significance; Honor, Patronage, Kinship and Purity, and a contributor to the Lexham Greek-English Interlinear Septuagint.

Michael F. Bird received his PhD from the University of Queensland in Australia. He is a lecturer in theology and postgraduate research at Ridley Melbourne College. He is the author of several volumes of Bible commentary and theological studies. Michael Bird is also co-moderator of the New Testament blog http://www.patheos.com/blogs/euangelion.

Review:

Sadly, too much of what passes for Christian theology puts the gospel in a straightjacket and imagines salvation as little more than cosmic paperwork. deSilva's approach in Transformation, exegetically cogent and carefully argued, bursts with power and possibility appropriate to the life-changing purpose of the work of God in Jesus Christ. The Snapshots series is off to a great start!
--Nijay K. Gupta, Assistant Professor of New Testament, George Fox Evangelical Seminary

In Transformation, David deSilva opens up for us the life-changing gospel of Jesus that Paul preached but that many have reduced to a kind of easy-believism with little substance. Readers will benefit from David's careful reading of Paul's letters, his in-depth knowledge of Paul's culture, and his understanding of Paul's interpreters (and mis-interpreters). The result is an insightful re-introduction to the apostle and his message of transformation for individuals, communities, and the entire creation.
--Michael J. Gorman, Raymond E. Brown Professor of Biblical Studies and Theology, St. Mary's Seminary & University

Christian interaction with the world has long been hobbled by a stunted picture of what it means to be a Christian. We fail at what we are called to do, because we have far too narrow a picture of what we are called to be. David deSilva seeks to broaden our picture of the good news through a close reading of the Apostle Paul's writings. But do not misunderstand, deSilva's no revisionist. He is not rejecting traditional approaches to Paul, he is refocusing our attention on the big picture: The Christian life is about transformation. And I can think of no more timely and important message than that. A must read for any Christian who desires to take seriously the call to be salt and light in the world.
--Jim Beilby, Professor of Theology, Bethel University

About this edition

• Publisher: Lexham Press
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 1577995856
• ISBN 13: 9781577995852
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 144