Paul, Grace and Freedom: Essays in Honour of John K. Riches

(Paperback, NIPPOD)

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This collection of twelve essays will celebrate the distinguished contribution of Professor John Kenneth Riches to biblical interpretation. The international selection of contributors are all either former students or colleagues of Professor Riches and the focus of the essays all reflect (and extend) Professor Riches' particular research interests and contribution to biblical and theological studies.
The essays in this volume are clustered around two closely related topics: historical and theological contributions to understanding the nature of Christian freedom and agency, and studies which investigate how Paul's thought has been interpreted in diverse settings. All the contributors have been asked to centre their thinking around the following issues: how does the grace of being in Christ' transform and restore those who receive it in faith; how far they are, as it were, responsible for that transformation; how far their is identity changed by their union with Christ; and how are they to make ethical decisions, are they to be guided (and goaded) by the law, or are to be led by the Spirit and called to discern what is right and good in the lawThere are four parts to this book. Part I explores grace and human agency by looking at texts both within and outside of the New Testament, highlighting the themes of ethical responsibility and freedom. Part II turns to look at how Pauline themes of grace and the Christian life have been interpreted at various points of Christian history. Part III reflects John Riches' substantial interest in and contribution to African biblical interpretation and includes essays that investigate how Paul is appropriated in African contexts. Part IV reflects John Riches' interest in the mutual engagement between theology and Scripture and includes contributions investigating the theological aspects of the Law and the Spirit, and transformation in Christ in the theology and ethics of P.T. Forsyth.

Reviews

'A consistently excellent collection that, although wide-rangingthe essays cover historical-critical subjects, reception history, and constructive theologyremains coherent. This energetic volume is worthy of its honoree.' Dale C. Allison, Jr., Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, USA -- Dale C. Allison Jr
"This remarkable compilation of essays, in honour of the eminent scholar, John Riches, houses an assortment of valuable contributions from his former student and colleagues." Theological Book Review, Vol 21, 2009
"It is not always the case that Festschriften, indeed retrospectives of any sort, form coherent works, since scholarly interests across an entire career are often diverse. It is therefore a perennial challenge to bring these interests together into a single, readable volume while doing justice to the career being celebrated. The present collection of essays in honor of John Riches suffers from no defect on that score. It comprises twelve essays, with an afterword by Prof. Riches. Contributions are grouped into two sections. The first concerns the themes of grace, freedom, law, and human agency in the literature of the New Testament, with an emphasis upon Paul. The second addresses the question of the reception of these themes historically, in an African setting, and in recent Christian theology. Those familiar with Prof. Riches's work will recognize these themes, and these settings, as ones to which he often returned. They will also recognize the present volume as a suitable tribute to a productive and highly respected scholar and an appropriate contribution to these fields of study." -- Michael J. Lakey, Review of Biblical LIterature -- Michael J. Lakey * Review of Biblical Literature *

Author Bio

Dr. Paul Middleton isLecturerin New Testament Studiesat theUniversity of Wales, Lampeter.
Angus Paddison is Theology Lecturer in the University of Winchester, UK.