The Meaning of Singleness: Retrieving an Eschatological Vision for the Contemporary Church
Digital Logos Edition
Overview
Is Christian singleness a burden to be endured or a God-ordained vocation? Might singleness here and now give the church a glimpse of God’s heavenly promises?
Dani Treweek offers biblical, historical, cultural, and theological reflections to retrieve a theology of singleness for the church today. Drawing upon both ancient and contemporary theologians, including Augustine, Ælfric of Eynsham, John Paul II, and Stanley Hauerwas, she contends not only that singleness has served an important role throughout the church’s history, but that single Christians present the church with a foretaste of the eschatological reality that awaits all of God’s people.
Far from being a burden, then, Christian singleness is among the highest vocations of the faith.
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- Offers biblical, historical, cultural, and theological reflections
- Draws upon both ancient and contemporary theologians
- Part One: The Context of Singleness
- Part Two: The Diagnosis of Singleness
- Part Three: The Retrieval of Singleness
- Part Four: The Meaning of Singleness
Protestants often forget the rich history of the church as it dealt with singleness. This book addresses that lacuna and reminds the church that celibate singleness is an important witness to the future reality of the resurrected world and life. Treweek’s work to retrieve a tradition that understands singleness to be eschatologically significant offers both a genuine encouragement to Christian single people and a faithful challenge to the church at large.
—Christina Hitchcock, professor of theology at the University of Sioux Falls
- Title: The Meaning of Singleness: Retrieving an Eschatological Vision for the Contemporary Church
- Author: Danielle Elizabeth Treweek
- Publisher: IVP Academic
- Print Publication Date: 2023
- Logos Release Date: 2023
- Pages: 315
- Era: era:contemporary
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Reader Edition
- Subject: Single people › Religious life--Biblical teaching
- ISBNs: 9781514004869, 9781514004852, 1514004860, 1514004852
- Resource ID: LLS:MNNGSNGLNSCHRCH
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2023-04-13T17:57:16Z
Reviews
1 rating
Mal Walker
9/9/2023
I picked up this book after listening to Treweek speak on this topic and found myself wanting to know more. Treweek has written an excellent book which has much to contribute to the contemporary (especially evangelical) church. She rightly understands the current attitudes towards singleness within the church, and teases out both the good and the bad these attitudes bring with them (parts 1-2). Treweek then does a deep dive into church history, exegesis and theology (part 3) before drawing it all together and making application for today (party 4). I really enjoyed it. It is clear, well written and researched, with chapter 4 (The Value and Belonging of Christian Singleness) and chapter 5 (Retrieving Singleness in Church History) being highlights for me. Chapter 5 in particular blew me away by showing how much we have lost or forgotten in our discussion about singleness. And chapter 4 had are great section on the over correction that the reformation brought to singleness and even our exegesis on passages such as 1 Cor 7:7. But the big idea Treweek brings to the table is the retrieval of an eschatological view of singleness. This doesn't just mean we should view singleness in light of eternity, but that singleness itself calls/encourages/reminds all of us to live now in light of eternity. And apparently is not a new idea, but an old one we seem to have lost - Thank you Treweek for helping us see this again! As for who this book is for, I'd recommend it to any elder/pastor/church leader in general, but especially if you are teaching on the topic of marriage or singleness or seeking to reshape church culture. I'd also recommend it to you (single or married) if you are trying to better love the single people in you church, or feel you have lost sight of why singleness is a good thing. Lastly, the book is probably a bit to heavy for a lot of lay people, so I wouldn't just 'give it to someone who is struggling with singleness.' Other books like '7 Myths About Singleness' by Sam Allberry are pitched more at that level. Instead, read this book yourself, and let it shape the way you view and talk about singleness.