Summary: How should one read that ancient book called the Bible thes many centuries after its formation? How can its instructions to civilizations of three and four thousand years ago be relevant to our modern technical age? This book wrestles with such questions. Each chapter, a whole in itself; addresses some aspect of how the Bible may speak today as Kraus engages a variety of major issues, including christology, hermeneutics, peace, sexuality, creationism, miracles, social justice, and spiritual reality. Several concluding autobiographical chapters also set the larger book in the context of the author’s long experience as a teacher of the Bible and theology in many different cultures. Comment: "I
remember vividly the wash of relief I felt my first day
in C. Norman Kraus’ class in Christian Faith at
Goshen College in 1967. Oh, I thought, I can think and
believe. Norman’s careful and loving address of the
issues of faith and life, something I found so nurturing
then, returns here in a coherent set of essays that
reflect a lifetime of his ministry of ideas in the
church. His clarity is always helpful and sometimes
astonishing. I am convinced that attention to these
essays will help us as a church be more loving, more
understanding, more faithful as we dialogue with each
other on the issues that matter most." "In this era of specialization,
few can so competently use and integrate the disciplines
of biblical studies, historical theology, Anabaptist
studies, missiology, and North American church history.
Kraus, drawing on his decades as teacher, missionary,
scholar, and churchman, challenges Anabaptists with the
necessity of contextualization in the multiple cultures
of the twenty-first-century church. He then models
contextualization of the Bible and Anabaptist theology
throughout this book." "Each chapter demonstrates
Kraus’ passion for serious scriptural study and
vital congregational life. Along the way there are
critical comments on misreading the Scriptures and
inadequate church practice. . . . Organizational types
like myself will occasionally squirm at his critique of
institutions. Without squirming and repenting there will
be no change or growth." Market: Anyone—from scholars, students, pastors, church leaders, congregational discussion groups through general readers—interested in a sophisticated yet personalized treatment of how we we engage the Bible in our times. Shelving: Biblical studies, Hermeneutics, Theology—Anabaptist-Mennonite. BISAC: Religion. RTM: 690 Religion/Ethics. The Author: C. Norman Kraus, Harrisonburg, Virginia, has been a teacher and scholar, including in many crosscultural settings; historian of theology, civil rights activist, churchman, peace and justice advocate. He was Goshen College Professor of Bible and Religion for 30 years and during part of that time Director of the Goshen College Center for Discipleship, which he helped found. Among the many books Kraus has written or edited, recent titles include An Intrusive Gospel? (Intervarsity Press, 1998) and To Continue the Dialogue (Pandora Press U.S., 2001). Publisher: Cascadia
Publishing House Using Scripture in a Global Age orders:
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