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Advance Comment
God's Healing
Strategy
"In a conversational voice, Ted
Grimsrud’s book invites its readers to consider what
the Bible is really all about. On the way, we are pointed
to questions that arise when we view the Bible as
centered around one foundational theme. In response to
human brokenness and sin as described in Genesis, what
were God’s three options? How is the message of
Jesus in fundamental agreement with the Old Testament?
Why did Paul, before his conversion, think that God
wanted him to do violence to Jesus’ followers? How
does Jesus Christ’s power finally complete
God’s plan to heal the world? Individuals and groups
who turn again to the Bible with Grimsrud’s book in
hand will find themselves engaged in much lively
discussion and strengthened in their love for this great
story of God’s plan for our world.
—Nancy R. Heisey, associate professor of
Biblical Studies and Church History, Eastern Mennonite
University; President-Elect, Mennonite World Conference
"A more important subject one can
hardly imagine. This book is a compelling and sweeping
overview of the message of the Bible, an introduction to
the good news available in Jesus Christ. It is a
post-critical, appreciative interpretation of the message
of the Bible as a whole, a resounding demonstration of
how and why the gospel really is good news that makes
sense in our day.
"A strength of this book is the author’s
handling of the relationship between the Testaments.
Rather than a relationship of contrast, or of promise and
fulfillment simply conceived, he shows how the visions of
God’s project in both testaments are not only
compatible and "in continuity," but also
complimentary."
Loren L. Johns, Dean, Associated Mennonite Biblical
Seminary
"Ted Grimsrud offers a dynamic
vision of the Bible's core message. Fully conversant with
the best of recent scholarship, this new synthesis is a
theological lens and a reading strategy— a way of
understanding the Bible from Genesis to Revelation as a
story of God's reconciling work in the world. It reflects
a theological message that speaks directly to the
brokenness of the modern world and relates the theme of
healing to an integrated peacemaking ethic. The inclusion
in every chapter of ‘questions for thought and
discussion’ and annotated guides for further reading
make it an effective pedagogical tool for church and
school classrooms, as well as for individual study and
reflection."
—Paul Keim, Academic Dean, Goshen College
"Even though biblical Theology is
always risky business, Ted Grimsrud gives us good reason
to question whether the task is, in fact, as impossible
as many have proclaimed. Highly readable, with many
moments of deep insight, Grimsrud leads us on a personal
journey through the Scriptures that is deeply informed
not only by his Anabaptist commitments, but also his
great hopes for the life of the church. As we read, we
accompany the author as a capable and compassionate
textual tour guide, and we emerge with new ideas about
the possibility of encountering biblical messages for
'God's healing strategy' in our time. Students and
scholars of the Bible often develop a strange fear of
'big picture' discussions. This work, however, shows us
why such efforts can be highly productive."
—Daniel Smith-Christopher, Professor of
Theological Studies (Old Testament), Loyola Marymount
University, Los Angeles, California
"Ted Grimsrud has written an excellent introduction
to the Bible from an Anabaptist/liberationist
perspective. God's goal is to restore the creation,
including human beings, and there is a particular
strategy for doing so which may be traced across the
biblical canon. Even those not initially warm to
Grimsrud's themes of justice and shalom will be motivated
to listen by the tone of teachableness and respect for
the reader which the author sustains throughout.
"Grimsrud speaks simply and clearly while he
informs; he is confident without being dogmatic. There is
a bit of an appropriate oral style, which he employs to
periodically remind the reader of the book's theme. He
discusses an excellent selection of biblical texts which
serve to introduce the reader to the story of Scripture
as well as to develop his case for nonviolent
faithfulness to the way of Jesus.
"The book is organized well and is consistent in its
depth of treatment throughout. It affirms the Christian's
indebtedness to the Jewish faith and Scriptures and
demonstrates the continuities between the two Testaments.
The book's usefulness is increased by the inclusion at
the end of each chapter of "Questions for Thought
and Discussion" and suggestions for additional
reading. The studied breadth and depth of the book make
it ideal as an introductory (upper level) high school or
college text, upon which an instructor would then build,
or for use in adult Christian education.
—Douglas B. Miller, Associate Professor of
Biblical and Religious Studies, Tabor College, Hillsboro,
Kansas
God's Healing Strategy
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