Spirit and Word - (Library of New Testament Studies) by Timothy Wiarda (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

A number of New Testament passages depict the Holy Spirit acting in conjunction with gospel preaching or other forms of humanly given communication about Jesus, yet there is considerable disagreement about how these passages should be interpreted. Unresolved exegetical debates about the correlative action (the "dual testimony") of the Spirit and the humanly conveyed word plague the interpretation of whole writings, extended sections of individual works, and important themes.

This book examines this contested motif in a focused and comprehensive way. It begins by taking the Pauline, Johannine, and Lucan writings in turn, subjecting the central texts that express dual testimony to detailed exegetical analysis. On the basis of this exegetical work it then moves to a big-picture analysis of the way each corpus expresses and uses the dual-testimony motif, identifying individual emphases and tendencies as well as shared elements that can be observed across the three bodies of writing. Two final chapters offer brief reflections on possible developmental scenarios and points at which the preceding exegetical findings may impinge on questions of contemporary theology.

Review Quotes

"Timothy Wiarda's Spirit and Word is an excellent example of how biblical exegesis can serve in theological discussions within the wider church ... This is an excellent book that could be used as a guide for any graduate student to show how a thesis is presented and prosecuted. Above all, it shows that exegetical discoveries are valuable not only for understanding the NT but for how we think theologically about matters of such importance as this." --Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society

About the Author

Timothy Wiarda is Professor of New Testament Studies at Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, USA.