The Royal Priesthood: Essays Ecclesiological and Ecumenical [Paperback]

John Howard Yoder (Author), Michael Cartwright (Editor), Richard J. Mouw (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1994

This collection of seventeen essays on ecclesiology and ecumenism from throughout Yoder's highly respected career highlights the central themes and demonstrtes the substantial unity of his entire body of work.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Yoder articulates the Anabaptist position as a consistent alternative to other theologies. This volume looks at his vision of the faithful church under the Lordship of Jesus. The role of the church is not to serve itself but to be the bearer of reconciliation. The church stands as otherness. Yoder calls on Christians to be accountable and candid with themselves and the world about those times when Christian communities have been faithless. --The Challenge --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

John Howard Yoder (1927-1997) taught ethics and theology as a professor at Notre Dame University and Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary. He received his doctorate from the University of Basel, Switzerland, and was a member of the Mennonite Church in Elkhart, Indiana. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 388 pages
• Publisher: Eerdmans Pub Co (November 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802807070
• ISBN-13: 978-0802807076
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,655,299 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Insightful, logical, compelling, but not conclusive!, September 11, 2008

By 

Michael V. Baxter ""Neutrality is a Myth!... (Jackson, MI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Royal Priesthood: Essays Ecclesiastical and Ecumenical (Paperback)

As a collection of essays and presentations by Dr. Yoder, one must remember that each section is intended to stand alone leading to much repetition and incohesiveness.

Divided into two parts, the first dealing with the scriptural reality of God's people is more useful. Dr. Yoder presents a strong argument of what the church of God should look like, act like, and think like. He thoroughly demonstrates the absurdity of the Constantinian view and later Reformed view of church and state, owing much of his insight to the Anabaptists who maintained that one's citizenship is in Heaven and not of earth, nor within its governments. Historically, he proves that when the church is independent and separate from the world's affairs, its witness is increased a hundredfold. Although his points are made adequately, it would still be more prudent for Mr. Yoder to premise his argument from Scripture more abundantly.

The second half on the ecumenical view of the church is inspiring but, in reality, far too optimistic than will probably be achieved in our lifetime. He concedes with the Restoration view of Campbell and others that no Christian is excluded from the universal church except those who choose to support their division and differences upon later creeds rather than the authority of God's word. But Dr. Yoder does not continue to the conclusions necessary to achieve this, instead leaving the reader to conclude this himself. This may help not ostracize many, but it allows Christians to advertise their ecumenicality without having to concede to its necessary inferences and put these into actual practice.

Overall, this book is lengthy and at times difficult to understand, but worth the investment of time and most certainly worth consideration, especially by the "leaders" of current Christian circles.