Customer Reviews

Slave of Christ: A New Testament Metaphor for Total Devotion to Christ (New Studies in Biblical Theology)

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It's important to know our place with God. He is the master. Seems we are so hesitant to make God master of our whole life.

I am an avid reader of Christian theological books, currently reading Larry W Hurtado's "Lord Jesus Christ" and enjoying it. This was the last book I read and I have to say that it's nothing if not comprehensive. There's an excellent overview of slavery in the Roman and Greek world in which Christianity appeared and grew and everything the author writes about is set firmly in its socio-historical context. The slave metaphor is a common one in early Christian writings and that's the reason I read this book. It not only gave me the background I was looking for around the use of this metaphor, but also expanded my knowledge around the early Church's take on slavery in its world. This is perhaps the most interesting aspect of the book and I was pleasantly surprised at its comprehensive treatment here. The author sure does cram a great deal into this book, so why only 3 stars? Well the writing is quite dry - and I am one for academic books, its the genre I read most - and that does spoil one's enjoyment of an otherwise excellent and scholarly work.

Dr. Murray Harris' understanding of the cultures of the Bible and biblical languages is apparent, significant and appreciated. His lengthy book on the topic of slaves and the use of slave imagery in the Bible is well researched. There are often ventures down avenues of speculation which are outside historical or biblical information and which are seemingly made to attempt to add interesting nuances to biblical imagery. At times one discovers topics and information already given. Remove the speculation side trips and redundancy and Harris' has a nice little, informative text which could be expanded into a devotional for the Christian who would like to spend more time contemplating the key concept of doulos for Christ.