The Society for the Advancement of Ecclesiological Theology

February 23, 2010 by Gerald Hiestand

The Faith of Jesus Christ, Sprinkle and Bird

The new book edited by Preston Sprinkle (one of our SAET Fellows) and Michael Bird, The Faith of Jesus Christ: Exegetical, Biblical, and Theological Studies (Hendrickson, 2010) is now available. The book tackles the pistis christou debate, and has a great line-up of contributors. My reading list tends to bounce back and forth between historical/systematic theology and New Testament studies related to justification. I’ve not dug deeply into this issue, so this is a book I’ve ordered and look forward to reading. Here’s the product description:

One of the most perplexing problems in Pauline studies is the meaning of the phrase pistis christou. Is Paul speaking of our faith in Christ or of Christ’s own faithfulness toward God? Here noted contemporary New Testament scholars join forces–and lock horns–to shed light on the answer by presenting rigorous exegetical studies from both sides of the debate. They also bring fresh creative proposals to bear on the problem, and place the discussion in the wider spectrum of historical, biblical, and systematic theology.

The most penetrating and comprehensive attempt to date to grapple with the significance of Jesus’ faithfulness and obedience for Christian salvation, and the extent to which it is represented in key biblical texts.

CONTRIBUTORS
University of Durham luminary James D.G. Dunn authors an erudite foreword; and editor Michael Bird introduces the problems and prospects for a New Testament conversation on the topic. Debbie Hunn, Stanley E. Porter, and Andrew W. Pitts contribute essays about the background of the pistis christou discussion. Douglas A. Campbell, R. Barry Matlock, Paul Foster, and Richard Bell clarify Pauline texts in contention. Mark A. Seifrid, Francis Watson, Preston M. Sprinkle, and Ardel B. Caneday explore Pauline exegesis, hermeneutics, and theology. The witness of the wider New Testament is covered by Peter G. Bolt, Willis H. Salier, Bruce A. Lowe, and David deSilva. Finally, Mark W. Elliott and Benjamin Myers offer historical and theological reflections from the church fathers, Karl Barth, and others.

Categories: Preston Sprinkle | SAET Fellow Publications | Theology