Acts: A Theological Commentary on the Bible

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Westminster John Knox Press, May 5, 2017 - Religion - 272 pages

In this new commentary for the Belief series, award-winning author and theologian Willie James Jennings explores the relevance of the book of Acts for the struggles of today. While some see Acts as the story of the founding of the Christian church, Jennings argues that it is so much more, depicting revolutionlife in the disrupting presence of the Spirit of God. According to Jennings, Acts is like Genesis, revealing a God who is moving over the land, "putting into place a holy repetition that speaks of the willingness of God to invade our every day and our every moment." He reminds us that Acts took place in a time of Empire, when the people were caught between diaspora Israel and the Empire of Rome. The spirit of God intervened, offering new life to both. Jennings shows that Acts teaches how people of faith can yield to the Spirit to overcome the divisions of our present world.

 

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Acts: A Theological Commentary on the Bible
Willie James Jennings
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Acts: A Theological Commentary on the Bible
Willie James Jennings
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Common terms and phrases

actions Acts already apostles Barnabas become beginning believe body born bound bring calling Christ Christian church claim comes couple created creature cultural danger death desire diaspora difference disciples of Jesus divine draw economic empire enter existence exposes faith fear flesh follow future Gentiles give given God’s gospel hands hear hold Holy Spirit hope human identity imagine inside intimate invites Israel Jewish Jews joining journey kill lives Lord Luke Luke’s mark matter means moment moving narrative never offer past Paul Paul’s perform Peter political possible precisely present Press prison question reach reality religious resurrection revealed Roman Saul seeks sense shared shows simply social space speak stands story struggle suffering theological things threat tion touch truth turn understand violence vision voice waiting witness word

About the author (2017)

Willie James Jennings is Associate Professor of Systematic Theology and Africana Studies at Yale Divinity School. He is the author of The Christian Imagination: Theology and the Origins of Race, which received the American Academy of Religion Award for Excellence in the Study of Religion in the Constructive-Reflective category as well as the Grawemeyer Award in Religion, the largest prize for a theological work in North America. A prolific writer and highly sought-after speaker, he is also an ordained Baptist minister.

Bibliographic information

TitleActs: A Theological Commentary on the Bible
AuthorWillie James Jennings
PublisherWestminster John Knox Press, 2017
ISBN161164805X, 9781611648058
Length272 pages
Subjects ›  ›  › 

Religion / Biblical Commentary / General
Religion / Biblical Commentary / New Testament / General
Religion / Christian Theology / General
Religion / Christianity / General
  
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