Sermon on the Mount through the Centuries, The: From the Early Church to John Paul II [Paperback]

Jeffrey P. Greenman (Editor), Timothy Larsen (Editor), Stephen R. Spencer (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1587432056 | ISBN-13: 978-1587432057 | Publication Date: October 1, 2007

Believers around the world and throughout time have relied on their knowledge of the Lord's Prayer, the Beatitudes, and the Golden Rule. The Sermon on the Mount through the Centuries offers illuminating insights into our identity in Christ as it is found in his most famous words. These enlightening essays will heighten the reader's relationship with Christ and make the founders of the faith wholly accessible today. Contributors include Stanley Hauerwas, David Lyle Jeffrey, Margaret M. Mitchell, Mark A. Noll, and Robert L. Wilken.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

The Sermon on the Mount through the Centuries offers an engaging approach to the study of historical theology and biblical exegesis. Stellar contributing scholars examine various interpretative approaches to the Sermon on the Mount, providing glimpses into historical perspectives on a passage that distills the very essence of the teaching of Jesus.The important contribution of this volume--beyond its insightful survey of the interpretative work of influential biblical scholars and theologians through the ages--lies in its integrative treatment of the subjects, bringing together the disciplines of church history, biblical exegesis, and theology. The authors shed light on the many and varied approaches to scripture, examining theological traditions and historical, social, and political contexts, as well as substantial points of agreement.Contributors include:Margaret M. Mitchell on John Chrysostom
Robert Louis Wilken on AugustineBoyd Taylor Coolman on Hugh of St. VictorDavid Lyle Jeffrey on Dante and ChaucerSusan E. Schreiner on Martin LutherStephen R. Spencer on John CalvinMark Noll on John WesleyTimothy Larsen on Charles Haddon SpurgeonStanley Hauerwas on Dietrich Bonhoeffer and John Howard YoderWilliam T. Cavanaugh on Pope John Paul II and Leonardo BoffJeffrey P. Greenman on John R. W. Stott

About the Author

Jeffrey P. Greenman (PhD, University of Virginia) is professor of Christian ethics and associate dean of biblical and theological studies at Wheaton College. Timothy Larsen (PhD, University of Stirling, Scotland) is professor of theology at Wheaton College and author of Crisis of Doubt: Honest Faith in Nineteenth-Century England. Greenman and Larsen are the editors of Reading Romans through the Centuries. Stephen R. Spencer (PhD, Michigan State University) is Blanchard Professor of Theology at Wheaton College.

Product Details

• Paperback: 280 pages
• Publisher: Brazos Press (October 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1587432056
• ISBN-13: 978-1587432057
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #564,596 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must-Have Resource for Studying the Sermon on the Mount, October 19, 2008

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Trevin Wax - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Sermon on the Mount through the Centuries, The: From the Early Church to John Paul II (Paperback)

One of the required books for the Sermon on the Mount J-Term I took in January is The Sermon on the Mount Through the Centuries: From the Early Church to John Paul II (2007, Brazos Press) - a book with contributions from a wide range of scholars. We were required to read only 150 pages of this book and were allowed to choose whatever chapters we desired. I couldn't help myself and wound up reading the whole thing. It's that good!

The Sermon on the Mount is one of the most controversial passages of Scripture. Pastors and theologians have wrestled with its stark demands. Should we ever take an oath? Is war ever justified? How much of this Sermon should be taken literally? Is this Law or Gospel or Law & Gospel? Is the Sermon for believers or for everybody? What do the Beatitudes mean?

No other book will give you such an easily accessible guide to interpretation of the Sermon throughout church history.

Want an Eastern view of the Sermon? Check out the chapter on John Chyrsostom.

What is the purpose of the Sermon? Look at Augustine for a surprising answer.

How are we supposed to treat these demands? Which demand is for which kingdom? The kingdom of man or the kingdom of Christ? Luther had a lot to say to that.

Is the Sermon Law or Gospel? Calvin's answer may differ from some Reformed teaching.

How did John Wesley handle the demand for perfection?

Why did Charles Spurgeon tend to allegorize? What was Spurgeon's link to Catholic mysticism?

How could Dietrich Bonhoeffer see the Sermon as a treatise on the subversive Christian community and then involve himself in a plot to assassinate Hitler?

How counter-cultural is this Sermon? A chapter devoted to John Stott's view will answer that question.

The Sermon on the Mount through the Centuries is a terrific resource for studying the Sermon on the Mount. Next time you work your way through Matthew 5-7, make sure you sit down with some of the greatest thinkers of the Church as you do so.