Ben C. Blackwell

Apologetics

“Since Theophilus's Ad Autolycum has received less attention than other second- and third-century writers, Stuart Parsons not only fills a lacuna in scholarship but also provides us with an important lens for reading Theophilus's exegetically based, apologetic argument by situating the work in its second-century rhetorical context. This book presents a helpful balance between establishing Theophilus's rhetorical purpose, providing close readings of texts, and demonstrating an overall structure for reading these letters.”

Athanasius and the Holy Spirit

Theology

“Adding to the small but growing number of monographs on patristic pneumatology, Kevin Douglas Hill greatly helps us with this contribution on the Holy Spirit in Athanasius. He rightly shows the integrated nature of Athanasius’s theological and pastoral corpus, demonstrating how the Spirit does indeed play a key role throughout his career, even if not in every work. Hill does not, however, limit his discussion to the Spirit; rather, he expertly establishes how Athanasius’s pneumatology integrates with his Christological and Trinitarian thought.”

Christianity at the Crossroads

History & Biography

“Many scholars of early Christianity are pushing beyond the New Testament era, into the second century; however, the complexity of issues magnifies due to the intersection of such a diverse expression of Christian groups interpreting biblical texts and developing their approaches to theology and society. With Christianity at the Crossroads, Michael Kruger provides an orientation to the diversity of groups, texts, and practices that students and scholars of Christian origins will find invaluable. He summarizes the best of contemporary research about second-century Christianity and provides robust bibliographies for further study. This is definitely a book I wish I had a decade ago, when I began my work in this area.”

Exporting Progressivism to Communist China

History & Biography

“Focusing on the developments of Chinese Christianity, Christopher Sneller provides an insightful book that gives a window to wider Christian movements over the last century. Sneller draws the story of Union Theological Seminary and Chinese Christianity together with the likes of Bonhoeffer and the Modernist-Fundamentalist debates, resulting in an accessible and engaging account of how these cross-cultural interactions continue to influence events today. You’ll learn as much about American Christianity as that of Chinese Christianity.”

Five Things Biblical Scholars Wish Theologians Knew

Theology

“Like siblings who were separated by divorced parents, biblical studies and theology already have much in common but also need to reacquaint themselves with one another. Addressing key issues and key voices, Scot McKnight helps foster a much-needed reconciliation between these two disciplines that often speak in different ways and value different evidence for their conclusions. This conversation is necessary for the vitality of the church and the academy.”