Enabling Fidelity to God (Paternoster Biblical Monographs)

The primary focus of this book is to demonstrate how Hebrews represents, in view of its historical and religious context, human fidelity to God. Thus, the basic thesis is twofold. First, with regard to the divine-human relationship in the ancient Mediterranean world, the belief in the reciprocity rationale was one primary dynamic for establishing fidelity to a relationship and has been applied by some scholars, such as David deSilva, to Hebrews as the way to understand its strategy for creating perseverance. A major problem with the application of this dynamic is that a common optimistic anthropological assumption is associated with the various reciprocity systems in the ancient world, both Jewish and pagan. This assumption is required if reciprocity is to be effective for establishing ongoing fidelity. Second, there was, however, a middle Judaic stream that can be traced from the period of the exile which held to a pessimistic anthropology. This anthropological assumption crippled the perceived success of reciprocity to secure fidelity. Thus, the solution to God's people's inability to remain faithful was an act of God that transformed the human condition and enabled faithfulness to the relationship. The argument of this book is that Hebrews, with its emphasis upon the inauguration of the new covenant by Jesus' high priestly ministry, belongs to this latter stream of thought in understanding how fidelity is secured between God and his people. Hebrews, thus, implicitly rejects the rationale of reciprocity for fidelity. The implications of this offers a fresh perspective on the soteriology of Hebrews.

Clay A. Kahler is the founder of ""Sharing the Word Ministries,"" which includes the radio program ""Sharing the Word,"" heard in Ray County Missouri. He is the Senior Pastor of the First Baptist Church in Orrick Mo. Clay is the author of Simple Theology: Theology for the Rest of Us, Against Protestant Popes, and he is currently working on his next book. He has written for Preaching Magazine Christianity Today and To His Glory. Clay served on the faculty of the Southwest College of Biblical Studies in Pine Valley California, and as an Adjunct Faculty member at the Southern California Bible College & Seminary. He now teaches Bible and Theology at Carver Baptist Bible College in Kansas City Missouri. Prior to entering the ministry, Pastor Kahler served in the United States Army, including service during Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Following his service in the Army, he began a career in Law Enforcement. He worked for 4 years with Village West Police as a Patrolman and as a trainer. He was recruited away from the Department and into corrections and became the Director of Training and CERT Team Commander in a Federal Prison in San Diego, California. Clay has earned his Bachelor of Arts, a Master of Religious Studies and a Master of Arts Degree from Southern California Bible College & Seminary.