J. Clinton McCann Jr.

A Table in the Wilderness

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

Foreword

(wrote the foreword)

Dangerous Songs

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“Richard Bruxvoort Colligan has been engaged with the Psalms for 50+ years, including the past 20+ years during which he has composed psalm-songs for each of the 150 psalms. He knows the Psalms and their life-transforming power, and his insightful and engaging 'musical exegesis' invites his readers to be transformed as well.”

Discovering Psalms

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“Jerome Creach is an internationally known Psalms scholar, and the depth and breadth of his knowledge of the Psalms are on full display in this impressive volume. It is the best introduction to the Psalms that I have ever seen. Readers will find answers to virtually every question that they might bring to their study of the Psalms, ranging from possible Davidic authorship to how the Psalms influenced the New Testament writers. Creach’s book will certainly be useful in seminary classrooms and to church professionals, and its clarity and accessibility will also make it useful to lay readers who want to engage the Psalms intelligently, fruitfully, and faithfully.”

From Whom No Secrets Are Hid

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“This volume represents the splendid culmination of Walter Brueggemann’s faithful, fruitful, career-long engagement with the Psalms—nearly one hundred books, articles, and book reviews over a period of almost fifty years! This crowning achievement will certainly be of major interest and usefulness to other scholars and teachers of the Bible. But my fervent hope is that it will also be widely used by pastors, musicians, and church educators so that Brueggemann’s expressed ‘long-term hope’ for this volume will be realized—that is, ‘that it may lead common church practice to greatly expand the repertoire of Psalms that are utilized in worship’ (p. xi).”

God's Righteousness and Justice in the Old Testament

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“The first section of this extraordinary volume offers a comprehensive analysis of the Hebrew root ṣdq and its synonyms in the Old Testament. The second section is an exposition of the complex relationship among ‘righteousness’ (the usual translation of nouns formed from ṣdq) and concepts of justice, reconciliation, punishment, and forgiveness in the Bible. Krašovec demonstrates in detail the ‘supremacy of forgiveness and reconciliation over the imperatives of punishment.’ Very impressive!”

Imprecations in the Psalms

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“With sustained and careful analysis of Psalms 1–3 and the shape of Book 5, Jenkins demonstrates persuasively that the Imprecatory Psalms should not be understood as self-righteous requests for revenge. Rather, they ‘show concern for the welfare of the enemy, including . . . a desire for their repentance and blessing.’ His work also clearly shows how attention to Psalter shape continues to yield illuminating and important results—very impressive!”

Joining God in the Thin Places

Theology

“Mary Schaller Blaufuss is uniquely qualified to write this book on disaster theology. Not only is she a careful scholar of Bible and theology, but she also has fifteen years of direct experience of accompanying victims of disaster and of planning effective, liberating, compassionate, and just responses to disaster. This book very helpfully addresses the questions regularly raised by people of faith: Why disaster? Who and where is God? How can we best respond?”

Old Testament Themes

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“In a clear and compelling way, Victor Matthews discerns and articulates unified themes among the variety of stories and voices in Hebrew Scripture. This valuable service makes Old Testament Themes highly useful for students of the Bible in several settings, including colleges, universities, seminaries, and the church.”

Praise or Performance?

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“Among the many riches of this volume is Moore’s very helpful exposition of the Psalter’s ‘primary theological motifs’ (loyalty, trust, identity, salvation refuge, wealth, kingship, holiness, justice). The overriding significance of the volume is Moore’s eloquent and urgent plea to leaders of worship (especially those incorporating contemporary Christian music) to find songs that echo the spiritual depth and richness of the Psalms, as opposed to songs infected with what Moore calls the ‘celebrity culture virus.’”

Pressing Toward the Mark

Ethics, Culture & Social Issues

“Representing the mature reflections of a distinguished teacher and author in the field of Christian Ethics, Professor Oglesby's volume grounds Christian Ethics in the black church tradition in the inseparability of love and justice. . . . [T]he four case studies will be valuable resources that effectively invite and facilitate further reflection, dialogue, and group discussion, both in the black church and beyond.”

Reading the Bible Badly

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“As Karl Kuhn persuasively demonstrates, everyone interprets when they read the Bible. The question is, ‘How?’ Kuhn very accessibly and effectively exposes the bad readings of Scripture that are so prevalent today; and he shows us how to read the Bible in a way that honors its original cultural contexts, its dynamic nature, and its ‘ever-persistent call to compassion, hospitality, and love.’ Highly recommended for laypersons, congregational study groups, pastors, and religious educators!”

Violence in Scripture

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“Creach demonstrates clearly and convincingly that the Bible is not an inherently violent book (as some suppose) and that it certainly does not authorize violence in the human community. Drawing upon the latest and best historical-critical research, along with canonical perspectives and insights from the history of biblical interpretation, Creach shows that the Bible from its very beginning portrays a God who wills comprehensive peace and well-being for all people and all creation. Given our current culture of violence (in which the church is often complicit), Creach’s work is an extraordinarily timely and valuable contribution to biblical theology. It should serve as an indispensable resource for church members and church leaders as we confront violence in self and society, and as we pursue the peace that God wills.”