The Politics of Salvation - (Library of New Testament Studies) by Timothy W Reardon (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Timothy W. Reardon uncovers the salvation narrative developed within Luke-Acts and its key themes as they develop within the Lukan presentation of time and space, while being attentive to overcoming a facile compartmentalization of religion and politics. Reardon argues that Luke-Acts offers a complete, holistic, embodied, and theopolitical soteriology, cosmic in scope, that includes both the what and how of salvation.

In contrast to recent arguments for some form of vicarious expiation in Luke-Acts, Reardon instead suggests that Luke-Acts' presentation of salvation - though exhibiting elements of multiple atonement models - noticeably takes a Christus Victor form, using Irenaeus's Christus Victorparadigm in particular as a point of comparison. Throughout this book, Reardon repeatedly demonstrates that Lukan soteriology is political, examining Jesus' role as herald of God's kingdom, the salvific space of heaven and the Church, and the mission of salvation. Reardon concludes that Luke-Acts is a theopolitical salvation unfolding in space, aiming toward the reconciliation of all things.

Review Quotes

"Reardon's work advances the discourse on Lukan soteriology by redefining religion and politics as complex spaces and by directing attention to less-investigated areas of political salvation in Luke-Acts." --Review of Biblical Literature

About the Author

Timothy W. Reardon is Affiliate Assistant Professor of New Testament at Fuller Theological Seminary, USA.