A Royal Priesthood?: The Use of the Bible Ethically and Politically : a Dialogue with Oliver O'Donovan

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Craig G. Bartholomew
Harper Collins, 2002 - 445 pages

Since September 11, 2001, we are intensely aware of the need for political wisdom. Can Scripture help us in this respect? Yes, but not simplistically. In an exhilarating dialogue with Oliver O'Donovan, a team of international scholars look in detail in this book at biblical interpretation as we make the journey from what God said to Abraham, as it were, to how to respond to the political challenges of today. Such exploration is essential if the church is to become "a royal priesthood" today. Craig Bartholomew Contributors include: Oliver O'Donovan (respondent to 14 chapters) Gilbert Meilaender Christopher Rowland Bernd Wannenwetsch N. T. Wright A Royal Priesthood? is the third volume from the Scripture and Hermeneutics Seminar. This annual gathering of Christian scholars from various disciplines was established in 1998 and aims to reassess the discipline of biblical studies from the foundations up and forge creative new ways for reopening the Bible in our cultures. Any attempt to open the Book in new and fresh ways for our cultures at the start of the third millennium must explore how to read the Bible ethically and politically. This volume looks at the obstacles to such a process and in dialogue with Oliver O'Donovan's creative work in this regard, looks in detail at how to read different parts of the Bible for ethics and politics. A unique element of the book is Oliver O'Donovan's 14 responses to individual chapters. Volume 1, Renewing Biblical Interpretation and Volume 2, After Pentecost, are also published by Paternoster Press and Zondervan.

From inside the book

Contents

Introduction
1
Obstacles to Reading the Bible Ethically and Politically
7
ODonovans Biblical Theological Ethics
19
ODonovans Reading of the Bible for Politics
26
ODonovans Biblical Hermeneutic
34
The Use of Scripture in The Desire
46
Response to Walter Moberly
52
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58
Response to Bernd Wannenwetsch
221
Two Visions of the Relation Between Government
229
Response to Gerrit de Kruijf
238
The United States of America the Beast and Babylon
244
Contrasting Interpretations of the Apocalypse
247
Political Eschatology and Responsible
265
After Christian Liberalism
283
Response to Jonathan Chaplin
309

Law and Monarchy in
69
Deuteronomy as Critique of the ZionDavidic Synthesis
75
The ZionDavidic Theology Beyond Deuteronomy
84
Epistemology
101
Conclusion
110
The Demands on Eschatology in Latin America
128
Conclusion
139
Power and Judgement in the Trial before Pilate
155
Justice Truth and Life
164
Response to Andrew Lincoln
170
A New Reading of Romans
173
Towards a MultiDimensional Fresh Reading of Paul
180
The Heart of Romans
188
Response to N T Wright
194
The Genuine Political Speech Act
200
The Representation
210
The Early Church
323
Conclusion
336
Authority of the Poor and the Poverty of Authority
344
True Speech and Ideology
350
Christ and Political Order
358
Scriptural Practical Reasoning?
366
Response to Peter Scott
374
The Nation as a Theological Construct
384
Response to Joan Lockwood ODonovan
395
Reading ODonovan
402
Romans 13
410
Conclusion
416
The British and Foreign Bible Society
423
Name Index
430
Subject Index
436
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About the author (2002)

Craig G. Bartholomew (PhD, University of Bristol) is the director of the Kirby Laing Centre for Public Theology in Cambridge, England. He is the author and editor of numerous books, including Divine Action in Hebrews, Listening to Scripture, and The Scripture and Hermeneutics Seminar: Retrospect and Prospect.

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