Just Discipleship: Biblical Justice in an Unjust World

Christianity Today Book Award Finalist―Politics & Public Life

Many Christians and churches are rediscovering that God cares deeply about justice, but opinions abound as to what an approach to biblical justice might look like in contemporary society. What exactly does the Bible mean by justice, and what does it have to do with poverty, racism, and other issues in our world? More importantly, how do we become the kind of people who practice justice?

Biblical scholar Michael Rhodes argues that the Bible offers a vision of justice-oriented discipleship that is critical for the formation of God's people. Grounded in biblical theology, virtue ethics, and his own experiences, he shows that justice is central to the Bible, central to Jesus, and central to authentic Christian discipleship. Justice stands at the heart of Scripture. Following Jesus demands that we become just disciples in an unjust world.

Michael J. Rhodes (PhD, Trinity College/University of Aberdeen) is lecturer in Old Testament at Carey Baptist College in Aotearoa, New Zealand. He is the author of several books, including Reimagining Biblical Politics, Just Discipleship, Formative Feasting, and Practicing the King's Economy (with Robby Holt and Brian Fikkert). Rhodes is an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Presbyterian Church. After spending 12 years living, working, and worshiping in South Memphis, he and his family are now part of an intentional community committed to Christian community development in South Auckland.

Brent A. Strawn is D. Moody Smith Distinguished Professor of Old Testament and Professor of Law at Duke Univeristy. He has edited over thirty volumes to date, including the award-winning The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Bible and Law. He has authored over 300 articles, essays, and contributions to reference works, as well as seven books, most recently Unwavering Faithfulness: Pivotal Moments in the Book of Isaiah, with Walter Brueggemann. Strawn is ordained in The United Methodist Chruch and has served as translator and editor for the Common English Bible and the New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition.