Digital Logos Edition
Intended for upper division college students, seminarians, and pastors, The Community of Jesus delivers a biblical, historic, systematic, and missional theology of the church.
Today the word church provokes wide-ranging reactions and generates discussion on a variety of issues among Christians and non-Christians alike. In order to sort through this maze of responses and topics, a biblical and theological foundation must be laid that provides a clear vision of the church of the Lord Jesus Christ and its significance in God’s eternal purpose.
With extensive pastoral, teaching, missions, and administrative experience, this team of contributors carefully sets forth the biblical teachings concerning the church and then builds on this core material, relating the theology of the church to salvation history, church history, God’s glory, and God’s mission:
“Second, God’s people consist of individuals gathered as a visible community from more than one ethnic background.” (Page 10)
“Third, these passages stress God’s reasonable relational expectations of his people. They must be holy, that is, set apart for his purposes, as he has set himself apart for them.” (Page 10)
“Third, since Moses’ time God has been teaching his people how to demonstrate his greatness to the nations” (Page 20)
“Third, Luke, Paul, and the writer of Hebrews emphasize the new covenant in Jer 31:31–34” (Page 27)
“In this volume, we do not attempt to address all these issues but to lay a theological foundation that will help readers sort through them. Our focus is to work toward a biblical, historic, systematic, missional theology of the church.” (Page xiii)
"Morgan and Easley have assembled a well-balanced team of highly regarded Christian scholars with complementary areas of expertise - biblical interpretation and theology, the history of Christian thought, systematic theology, philosophy, and missiology - to produce this comprehensive volume on the doctrine of the church. A much-needed resource for lay people, clergy, and scholars alike!"
Gregg R. Allison, professor of Christian Theology, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
"This comprehensive biblical theology of the church has contributions by leading evangelical Baptist scholars whose integrity, scholarship, and insight are remarkable. Biblical theology is enlightening because its material is drawn from the Word itself. Even though the role the church might play in a future millenial kingdom is intentionally omitted, much can be gained from this study, and I heartily recommend it. This book sharpens our thinking, delights our soul, and encourages us as we move forward in the twenty-first century of the church."
James a Borland, professor of New Testament and Theology, Liberty University
"This collection of essays is a welcome addition to ecclesiological scholarship in the Baptist tradition. The authors, mostly younger scholars, bring together an impressive array of recent literature that informs several angles of debate about the church. Especially strong are the chapters exhibiting biblical material nad discussion. Baptist theologians should definitely add this book to their research tools and course bibliographies."
William Brackney, Millard R. Cherry distinguished professor of Christian Thought and Ethics, director of Acadia Centre of Baptist and Anabaptist Studies, Acadia Divinity College