James Diaspora Rhetoric Of A Friend Of God

The Letter of James has been greatly underestimated. Some have regarded it as no more than a random set of wisdom sayings with minimal theology. Many have dismissed it as too late a writing to be interesting for the beginnings of Christianity. In this Guide Margaret Aymer sets out to counter such assessments. The key focus of the letter of James, a homily in form, is its impassioned argument for living 'unstained by the world' in the Diaspora. Against the charge that James is theologically weak, Aymer focuses on its theology of God's divine singularity and im-mutability, and of God's relationship to the community as father and benefactor. These are theological foundations for its emphasis on praxis, that is, community actions of be-lief, humility and mutual care. James's community does not live in a utopia. The letter of James takes its stand against empire, not least in regard to wealth, though it is in alignment with empire over matters of gender and power. Divine power is envisioned as an al-ternative power to that of the Romans, though in some re-spects it can seem equally brutal. Aymer concludes by focusing on those addressed by James's homily, the exiles in diaspora. Engaging the psychology of migration, she unpacks the migrant strategy underlying James's call to living 'unstained'. But that leads into a fur-ther issue that arises once James becomes part of a scrip-ture. What might it now mean, she asks, for twenty-first century people to take seriously a separatist migrant dis-course not only as an interesting ancient writing but as a scripture, a lens through which its readers can glimpse the possibilities for how lives are to be lived, and how contem-porary worlds can be interpreted and engaged?

In this guide Margaret Aymer introduces the letter of James, countering arguments that it is of limited theological value and significance for early Christianity. Aymer focuses on James' theology of God's divine singularity and immutability, and of God's relationship to the community as father and benefactor. These are theological foundations for its emphasis on community actions of belief, humility and mutual care. Aymer introduces and examines the letter's stand against empire, not least in regard to wealth. Divine power is envisioned as an alternative power to that of the Romans, though in some respects it can seem equally brutal. Aymer concludes by focusing on those addressed by James's homily, the exiles in diaspora. Engaging the psychology of migration, she unpacks the migrant strategy underlying James's call to living 'unstained'. Finally, Aymer encourages student to ask what it might mean now for twenty-first-century people to take seriously a separatist migrant discourse not only as an interesting ancient writing but as a scripture, a lens through which its readers can glimpse the possibilities for how lives are to be lived, and how contemporary worlds can be interpreted and engaged?

Margaret Aymer contends that the Letter of James is best understood as a homily in written form. God's relation to the Christian community has implications for believers' way of life. Aymer also considers what of James is of enduring value when his message to outsiders has become a part of the canon of Scripture.

In a collection of essays, former students, colleagues and friends of Prof Elna Mouton honour her life, career and scholarly contributions upon her retirement from Stellenbosch University. The various essays interact with Prof Mouton's concern for biblical hermeneutics, ethics and the interactions and connections between the two, ultimately illustrating the width and variety of interest that her work stimulated and which it interacted with.

The Letter of James is the focus of the latest commentary in the Belief series. In the Letter of James, the writer sends encouragement to the early church, in the midst of the struggles and strife that marked its early days. Theologian Martha L. Moore-Keish guides the reader through the brief but important letter, most known for its discussion of the importance of actions to make a true life of faith. The volumes in the Belief series offer a fresh and invigorating approach to all the books of the Bible. Building on a wide range of sources from biblical studies and the Christian tradition, noted scholars focus less on traditional, historical and literary angles in favor of a theologically focused commentary that considers the contemporary relevance of the text.

The Oxford Handbook of Postcolonial Biblical Criticism is a comprehensive treatment of a relatively new form of scholarship-one of the most compelling and contested theories to emerge in recent times, and a topic that actively seeks to expand the ways in which the Bible can be studied, interpreted, and applied. Generally speaking, postcolonialism aims to critique and dismantle hegemonic worldviews and power structures, while giving voice to previously marginalized peoples and systems of thought. This approach, often varied in form, has inevitably engaged with the text and reception of the Bible, a scripture that Western colonizers introduced to-and often imposed upon-their colonial subjects. With a globally diverse list of contributors, the Handbook aims to cover the perspective and context of the authors of the Bible, as well as the modern experiences of imperialism, resistance, decolonization, and nationalism. Moreover, the volume includes both a theoretical overview and an exploration of how the field intersects with related areas, such as gender studies, race, postmodernism, and liberation theology.

Although Loyal Sisters is about Loyal Sisters it is not only for them. From ethnographic exploration into mainly two churches: Messa Pentecostal and High Parish, the religiosity and faith in the Triune God, through the Holy Spirit (pneumatology), of Loyal Sisters is realized. They are faithful and avid ecclesiastical worshipers amidst a tide of dwindling church-attendance. We can reflect on their faith-lifestyle and ontological passion for God which propels them into action in the British church. We discover their values and beliefs and how they transcend and redeem adversity and/or immigration, patriarchy, and racism, “come what may,” and seek for womanist, cultural, and religious change in the church through the Spirit. Furthermore, this book provides an insight into my autobiography/womanist testimonies as a British, Black, female practicing, ecumenical Christian who is an ally with Loyal Sisters. You do not have to be a Loyal Sister or identify as female of color to read this book. There is much we can learn from Loyal Sisters and about the British church which can enrich our understanding, epistemology, and/or spirituality as faith-believers or persons of no religious faith: whether we agree with all, some or none of their womanist spirituality.

A Clear, Careful Textbook to Help Bible Students Interpret Scripture Pastors, thoughtful Christians, and students of Scripture must learn how to carefully read and understand the Bible, but it can be difficult to know where to start. In this clear, logical guide, Andreas J. Köstenberger and Gregory Goswell explain how to interpret Scripture from three effective viewpoints: canonical, thematic, and ethical. Biblical Theology is arranged book by book from the Old Testament (using the Hebrew order) through the New Testament. For each text, Köstenberger and Goswell analyze key biblical-theological themes, discussing the book's place in the overall storyline of Scripture. Next, they focus on the ethical component, showing how God seeks to transform the lives of his people through the inspired text. Following this technique, readers will better understand the theology of each book and its author. A Clearly Written Guide on Biblical Theology: Analyzes all 66 books of the Bible, with emphasis on the coherent, unified framework of Scripture Helps Readers Thoughtfully Interpret Scripture: Provides an essential foundation for a valid theological understanding of Scripture that informs Christian doctrine and ethics Ideal for Pastors, Academics, and Other Serious Students of Scripture: This clear, thoroughly researched guide can be used as a textbook in seminary classes studying biblical theology or the Old and New Testaments

Reading the Bible Amid the Environmental Crisis: Interdisciplinary Insights to Ecological Hermeneutics ventures into the realms of love, loss, despair, and compassion, demonstrating the profound interconnectedness of ecology with every facet of human existence. Drawing from diverse disciplines such as trauma theory, affect theory, ethics, animal studies, posthumanism philosophy, and environmental humanities. Sébastien Doane intertwines biblical texts and theoretical frameworks to challenge traditional methodologies, presenting a fresh perspective on the ecological crisis of our time. This book argues for a vital role of biblical studies in addressing the ecological challenge, acknowledging the Bible’s profound influence on Western cultures. Doane advocates for critical examination of anthropocentrism in biblical texts, exploring innovative ways to read the Bible in the Anthropocene.

Now available from SBL Press Employing social description, social scientific models, and rhetorical analysis, Alicia J. Batten argues that the letter of James is conversant with the topic of friendship within Greek and Roman literature, as well as within various texts of early Christianity. She illustrates how James drew upon some of the language and concepts related to friendship with an intriguing density to advocate resistance to wealth, avoidance of rich patrons, and reliance upon God. Features: Use of friendship, benefaction, and patronage as lenses through which James and related texts can be viewed A strong case for how the letter appels to the language and ideas of friendship with regard to God's relationships with humans Exploration of the relationship between the book of James and the teachings of Jesus