The Indelible Image: The Theological and Ethical Thought World of the New Testament, Volume 1: The Individual Witnesses

by Ben Witherington III

Publisher:

IVP

, 2009

Overview

In this first of two volumes, Ben Witherington gives us core samplings on the theological and ethical thought world of Jesus and each of the individual New Testament writers, giving special attention to oft-neglected authors such as James, Peter, Jude, and the author of Hebrews. Rather than abstracting a set of principles from these texts, Witherington contextualizes in true narrative form the manner in which these authors applied their understanding of the gospel to particular, concrete situations. The result is that readers are able to soak in the thought world of the New Testament writers, learning to think with them in terms that do not separate theology from ethics, doctrine from discipleship. This integrated perspective offers fresh insights and an innovative approach to the whole of the New Testament.

In the Logos edition, this volume is enhanced by amazing functionality. Important terms link to dictionaries, encyclopedias, and a wealth of other resources in your digital library. Perform powerful searches to find exactly what you’re looking for. Take the discussion with you using tablet and mobile apps. With Logos Bible Software, the most efficient and comprehensive research tools are in one place, so you get the most out of your study.

If you like this resource be sure to check out IVP New Testament Studies Collection (14 vols.).

Key Features

• Examinates the theological and ethical thought world of the New Testament
• Considers New Testament writers in their historical and cultural context
• Interacts with major scholarship on the New Testament

Praise for the Print Edition

Ben Witherington is a skilled historical exegete who has, probably uniquely in our generation, pursued his passion for the theological and ethical message of the New Testament through commentaries on every one of the New Testament books. Now he has given us a summation that is even more unusual—a New Testament theology that allows to every one of those books a voice that really counts. A magnificent climax to Witherington's work.

—Richard Bauckham,Emeritus Professor, University of St. Andrews

To discuss the theology and ethics of the New Testament is to dive into a vast ocean of theological reflection from many angles. It would be easy to get lost at sea. That is where a good navigator and cruise director are essential. Ben Witherington takes up both roles and steers us on a solid course through the array of ideas the New Testament treats. He does so with skill, clarity and an eye on what is important. He also notes what dangers lurk in taking a wrong course. In sum, here is a solid introduction to how theology and ethics work together in the New Testament. Enjoy the tour and linger in spots. It will be worth it.

—Darrell Bock, research professor of New Testament studies, Dallas Theological Seminary

Product Details

• Title: The Indelible Image: The Theological and Ethical Thought World of the New Testament, Volume 1: The Individual Witnesses
• Author: Ben Witherington III
• Publisher: IVP
• Publication Date: 2009
• Pages: 856
• Resource Type: Monographs
• Topic: Biblical Studies

About Ben Witherington

Ben Witherington III (PhD, University of Durham, England) is Professor of New Testament at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. He is the author of many books on the New Testament, including Women and the Genesis of Christianity, Jesus the Sage, The Jesus Quest and The Paul Quest. A frequent contributor to Beliefnet.com, Witherington has also appeared on numerous TV news programs such as Dateline, 60 Minutes, 20/20 and the Peter Jennings ABC special Jesus and Paul—The Word and the Witness

Contents

Top Highlights

“In a seminal essay written in the 1960s, Harvard professor Krister Stendahl made a distinction between what a text meant and what it means today. I am not entirely happy with this distinction. I would prefer to talk about the difference between what it meant and what it may signify for various people today. I prefer to say that what it meant back then and there is still what the text means today. The meaning has not changed, though the implications, applications, and significances do change as the world and its cultures change.” (Page 43)

“in fact the Gospels are either ancient biographies” (Page 65)

“The Word is eternally relevant as it is; it does not, in our desperate quest for ‘relevance,’ need to be transformed into something that it was not, nor does it need to be ‘made relevant’ for today. It is rather we who, and our cultures that, need to be transformed in the image of the Word. It is, however, a necessary part of any good Christian communication to be able to show the meaning, importance, and relevance of the text of Scripture. A good motto to follow is that of Johannes Bengel: ‘Apply the whole of yourself to the text, apply the whole of the text to yourself.’” (Page 46)

“Watson is right to assert that an author’s meaning is encoded into the words that convey it and that we can know something of the author’s intention in saying such things by studying the author’s words in their original context.” (Page 39)

“I tell my students all the time that a text without a context is just a pretext for what we want it to mean, and thus the New Testament text must be read in its historical, rhetorical, literary, social, and religious contexts.” (Page 41)

Product Details

• Title: The Indelible Image: The Theological and Ethical Thought World of the New Testament, Volume 1: The Individual Witnesses
• Author: Ben Witherington III
• Series: The Indelible Image
• Publisher: IVP
• Print Publication Date: 2009
• Logos Release Date: 2011
• Language: English
• Resources: 1
• Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
• Subjects: Bible. N.T. › Criticism; Bible. N.T. › Interpretation
• ISBNs: 9780830879137, 9780830838615, 9780830867134, 9780830838622, 0830879137, 0830838619, 0830867139, 0830838627
• Resource ID: LLS:INDELIMAGE01
• Resource Type: Monograph
• Metadata Last Updated: 2022-09-30T00:43:09Z

About Ben Witherington III

Ben Witherington III (PhD, University of Durham) is Jean R. Amos Professor of New Testament for Doctoral Studies at Asbury Theological Seminary. A prominent evangelical scholar, he is also on the doctoral faculty at St. Andrews University in Scotland. Witherington has written over forty books, including The Jesus Quest and The Paul Quest, both of which were selected as top biblical studies works by Christianity Today. His other works include The Indelible Image, Women and the Genesis of Christianity, The Gospel Code, A Week in the Life of Corinth and commentaries on the entire New Testament. He also writes for many church and scholarly publications and is a frequent contributor to Patheos and Beliefnet. Witherington is an elected member of the prestigious Studiorum Novi Testamenti Societas, a society dedicated to New Testament studies. He is a John Wesley Fellow for Life, a research fellow at Cambridge University and a member of numerous professional organizations, including the Society of Biblical Literature, Society for the Study of the New Testament and the Institute for Biblical Research. He previously taught at institutions like Ashland Theological Seminary, Vanderbilt University, Duke Divinity School and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. An ordained pastor in the United Methodist Church and a popular lecturer, Witherington has presented seminars for churches, colleges and biblical meetings around the world. He has led numerous study tours through the lands of the Bible and is known for bringing the text to life through incisive historical and cultural analysis. Along with many interviews on radio and television networks across the country, Witherington has been seen in programs such as 60 Minutes, 20/20, Dateline and the Peter Jennings ABC special Jesus and Paul—The Word and the Witness.