The Basileia Code

What did Jesus mean when he said many are called, but few are chosen? Why are there so many different denominations and divisions in the church world? Have our scholars learned everything there is to know about the Bible? Has God really hidden truth in his Word for our time? Are you ready for what will happen next in the schedule of cosmic events? Get ready for the journey of a lifetime through the hidden mysteries of the Word of God. Solomon put it so well when he wrote, Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding (Prov. 4:7). But do wisdom and understanding just drop into our laps, or do we have to take some sort of action to acquire them? This book will provide an amazing new understanding of Jesuss teachings on salvation and eternity, as well as other Bible prophecy specific to the times in which we now live. You dont have to fear what comes next. When you apply The Basileia Code to the prophecies of old, you will begin to unlock new meaning in the messages recorded in the Word of God thousands of years ago. Jesus made it clear that salvation is free and easy to receive. But if this is true, why does it seem there are so many mandates to follow in order to stay saved? Where do my works fit in? What is the meaning of this life in relation to eternity? In other words, why am I here? What really happens when this temporal existence is over? How can I prepare myself in this life for my place in the next?

How do our social, political and religious commitments influence our interpretation of biblical texts? Are obedience and suspicion necessarily opposite ways to respond to the authority of the Bible? Can one criticize and be transformed at the same time? Lydia Neufeld Harder explores these questions from the vantage point of a scholar, a feminist and a member of a faith community. A hermeneutics of obedience, rising out of the Mennonite theological tradition, and a hermeneutics of suspicion, advocated by many feminist theologians, seem to represent opposite approaches to the Bible’s authority. The resulting polarization could easily have led to static definitions of authority and the subtle domination of those who differ from the majority. However, by focusing on the common theological concept of discipleship, Harder has constructed a critical dialogue, beginning a process of creative change in her own view of authority. This new view opens the way for an interpretation of the Gospel of Mark. A new appreciation of both the power and the vulnerability of the biblical text leads to a view of authority that embraces both suspicion and obedience in a dynamic interpretative process.

The biblical Jubilee has enjoyed increasing prominence in Lukan and missional literature, much of which has been based on suggested Jubilee allusions throughout Luke-Acts (especially Luke 4:16-30). This study questions the presence of such allusions, arguing that the suggested references are better understood within the broader and more explicit tradition of the Basileia of God. Every suggested Lukan textual and thematic reference to the Jubilee is examined, with particular attention given to the Nazareth episode (Luke 4:16-30), which is often cited as the most explicit Jubilee reference. The study also addresses some fundamental issues which have informed recent exegeses, including Luke's use of the term ἄφεσις, the theme of the Basileia of God throughout Luke-Acts, and the importance of Isaiah 61 (both the first-century traditions that may have influenced Luke, as well as how Luke employed the text throughout his two-part work).

The Blackwell Companion to Jesus features a comprehensive collection of essays that explore the diverse ways in which Jesus has been imagined or portrayed from the beginnings of Christianity to the present day. Considers portrayals of Jesus in the New Testament and beyond, Jesus in non-Christian religions, philosophical and historic perspectives, modern manifestations, and representations in Christian art, novels, and film Comprehensive scope of coverage distinguishes this work from similar offerings Examines both Christian and non-Christian perspectives on Jesus, including those from ethnic and sexual groups, as well as from other faiths Offers rich and rewarding insights which will shape our understanding of this influential figure and his enduring legacy

With this twelve-volume series, Westminster John Knox Press offers one of the most extensive and well-respected resources for preaching on the market today. The twelve volumes cover all of the Sundays in the three-year lectionary cycle, along with moveable occasions. The page layout is truly unique. For each lectionary text, preachers will find brief essays--one each on the exegetical, theological, pastoral, and homiletical challenges of the text. Each volume also contains an index of biblical passages so that nonlectionary preachers may make use of it.