David L. Mathewson

Interpretation for Preaching and Teaching

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“This book is a must-read for pastors and teachers because it will help them think more clearly and rigorously about the hermeneutical process and its practice. Stanley Porter leads the reader deftly through the complexities of theoretical hermeneutical discussions in a readable manner, offering examples along the way. The valuable ‘Study and Practice’ sections at the end of each chapter provide guidance for applying the concepts discussed. This book will stimulate and sharpen the thinking of any pastor or teacher who takes the time to digest it, and a careful reading will pay huge dividends. As a bonus, one also gets insights into Porter’s reading of key New Testament texts throughout the book. I wish I would have had this book during my time in pastoral ministry!”

Linguistics and the Bible

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“Stanley Porter has been a leader in the field of application of linguistic theory to the interpretation of the New Testament and study of Greek grammar. In this collection of essays, he assembles an impressive group of scholars who address a wide range of issues related to the application of linguistics to interpreting the Greek text. More specifically, this volume focuses on the application of Systemic Functional Linguistics in the tradition of M. A. K. Halliday. This volume will provide a solid and up-to-date introduction and discussion of the importance and usage of Systemic Functional Linguistics for New Testament students. This book is a must-read for anyone unfamiliar with linguistic approaches to the New Testament, or anyone who wants to explore further the value and implications of Systemic Functional Linguistics for interpreting the New Testament. I highly recommend it.”

Praising God beside the Sea

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“Though a proliferation of studies on the use of the Old Testament in Revelation have appeared in recent years, Son demonstrates that there is still room for more work in this area. Her work reflects careful methodological consideration and exegesis of the relevant texts in demonstrating the importance of the Exodus motif for interpreting Revelation 15. This book will advance the discussion on the use of the Old Testament in Revelation.”

Putting the Pieces Together

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“It is impossible to discuss biblical languages anymore without recourse to insights from linguistics. But what is needed more and more are clear examples of how insights into linguistics actually affect the way we interpret biblical texts. We need to see linguistic theory modeled in application to biblical texts. This collection of essays does just that. Especially for those who learn by seeing examples at work, this collection of essays will be a welcome tool to understanding how linguistics actually ‘works’ in the use of the Hebrew and Greek languages for biblical interpretation. I highly recommend this volume.”

The Book of Revelation

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“Revelation has been well-served recently with a number of commentaries and treatments at both an academic and popular level. But this work by Martin Culy is unique among all of them. Marty takes seriously the background to the messages to the seven churches in chapters 2–3 as the hermeneutical lens for reading the book of Revelation. He considers how Revelation would have been understood given the unique situation and problems faced by each of the seven churches. Culy leads the reader through the book of Revelation seven times from the perspective of each of the seven churches. It is one of those ‘why didn’t I think of that’ books! Pitched at an appropriate level, this book will shed much valuable light on the book of Revelation and should be consulted regularly along with other aids in coming to grips with the message of the apocalypse. Marty is a wise, judicious, and insightful guide through this difficult New Testament book.”

The Lamb Christology of the Apocalypse of John

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“For many modern readers of the book of Revelation, the visions contained in this book raise serious questions. Revelation is a book filled with warfare, bloodshed, judgment, and divinely sanctioned suffering of humanity. How can a modern Christian reader claim as Scripture a book filled with such violence? Johns's book is the most significant attempt to date to wrestle with the Lamb Christology of Revelation as it relates to the question of how we should treat the violent nature of Revelation's visions. In doing so, he has rightly shown that the author of Revelation offers a significant reversal of our understanding of power and overcoming, both for first-century readers and today. Anyone who wants to engage the Lamb imagery in Revelation and the question of how we understand its violent imagery must interact with Johns's work.”

The Letter to the Romans

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“This collection of essays breaks new ground historically, exegetically, and linguistically. Pitched at an appropriate level, this volume will serve the academic, pastor, and any serious student who wants to explore fresh avenues for interpreting Romans.”

The Pastoral Epistles

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“This is a much-needed book on a contentious group of writings. Porter sheds fresh light on the Pastoral Epistles and the issues surrounding them, especially authorship, by applying a consistent and rigorous linguistic model (Systemic Functional Linguistics) and placing emphasis where it belongs, on the Greek text. No one will want to study these books without recourse to Porter’s meticulous, judicious, and thought-provoking work. Get this book, and refer to it often.”

The West and China in Africa

Ethics, Culture & Social Issues

“Alex Mekonnen speaks to this topic with passion and from experience. He successfully avoids the extremes of an uncritical dogmatism, and a disconnected analysis of the current situation in Africa. Rather, here is an informed, knowledgeable, and fair assessment of an important topic from one who speaks with firsthand experience. This is certainly bound to emerge as the standard treatment of this crucial issue. A must-read for anyone dealing specifically with the topic of China in Africa and the resulting political situation, but also for a penetrating analysis of culture and issues of social justice. At the same time it will challenge those of us in the West, and perhaps will make us somewhat uncomfortable! I recommend this book highly.”