New Testament Theology [Hardcover]

New Testament theology ought to be both descriptive and constructive-this is the argument of New Testament Theology: Extending the Table. According to Isaak, New Testament theology is descriptive in that it deals with the accounts that people narrate of their experience with Yahweh, the God of Israel, in the light of Easter. It is constructive in that it joins the diverse testimonies of the New Testament writers into a textured and thick space within which contemporary followers of Jesus continue to be shaped by the ancient yet living Spirit of God. Isaak's approach is historical, thematic, and theological in orientation. It explores the conversation taking place around the table, where the writers of the NT share their guiding vision of God's saving work among them, and their passion for the Christian church engaged in God's mission. The differing perspectives of the New Testament authors are held together without reduction, forming a deep and rich space within which ongoing community reflection and praxis can take place. Isaak's model is an invigorating invitation to an ongoing conversation about God's activity in the world. We sit at a table with the NT writers, figures throughout history, and our own contemporaries. This is an intense, rewarding, and necessary discussion. Isaak is an adept moderator as we join others at the table. --Greg A. Camp Director of Biblical and Religious Studies Fresno Pacific University Isaak's approach of listening to a biblical conversation is particularly accessible and engaging and brings the NT writers' texts to life in a unique way. It addresses the realities of contemporary questions with a firm grip on the biblical text and orthodoxy. It also allows the text to function authoritatively while calling for the dynamics of the community hermeneutic valued in the Anabaptist movement. --David Wiebe Executive Director Canadian Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches Jon Isaak's New Testament Theology is a fine introducl3&