The God of Israel and Christian Theology - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0800628837 ISBN 13: 9780800628833

Publisher: Fortress Press, 1996

Synopsis

With acknowledgment that Christian theology contributed to the persecution and genocide of Jews comes a dilemma: how to excise the cancer without killing the patient? Kendall Soulen shows how important Christian assertionsthe uniqueness of Jesus, the Christian covenant, the finality of salvation in Christhave been formulated in destructive, supersessionist ways not only in the classical period (Justin Martyr, Irenaeus) and early modernity (Kant and Schleiermacher) but even contemporary theology (Barth and Rahner). Along with this first full-scale critique of Christian supersessionism, Soulen's own constructive proposal regraps the narrative unity of Christian identity and the canon through an original and important insight into the divine-human covenant, the election of Israel, and the meaning of history.

About this title

About the Author

R. Kendall Soulen is professor of systematic theology at Candler School of Theology, Emory University. He has devoted much of his scholarship to showing that Christian faith becomes more authentically Christian as it overcomes its stubborn legacy of anti-Judaism. His books include The God of Israel and Christian Theology (1996) and The Divine Name(s) and the Holy Trinity (2011). Soulen is the chair for theological studies in the Laney Graduate Division of Religion and president of the Society for Post-Supersessionist Theology. He served as the president of the American Theological Society in 2017.

From the Back Cover

"This is the most promising proposal to date for overcoming Christian doctrinal supersessionism while maintaining the continuing theological importance of Judaism for Christianity and not sacrificing the christological claims historically considered essential to Christian identity..." George Lindbeck, Yale Divinity School

"A penetrating proposal for a Christianity that does more than pay lip service to its loyalty to the God of Israel....Soulen shapes a Christian theology not embarrassed by the Hebrew Bible and the continuing existence of the Jewish people. It is a major contribution toward a Christianity without anti-Judaism." Michael Wyschogrod, author of The Body of Faith

"Kendall Soulen has written a marvelous piece of critical and constructive theology. Few contemporary works in historical and systematic theology are as thoroughly biblical in orientation as is this one. It is a major effort to think through afresh how Christian theology is peculiarly and truly Christian while at the same time thoroughly accountable to the Old Testament and the continuing and primary place of Israel and its story for Christian faith. This is a very important and mature theological work from one of our most promising younger theologians." Patrick Miller, Princeton Theological Seminary

Edition details

• Publisher: Fortress Press
• Publication date: 1996
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0800628837
• ISBN 13: 9780800628833
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 208
• Editor: Soulen R. Kendall