Ronald A. Piper

Excavating Q

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“Whilst it is designed in part to introduce readers to the subject, this book is in fact much more than this. It is a fascinating analysis of and reflection upon the current state of the debates about Q, and it pilots the way ahead for future debate. The social location of the Q people within Galilee, their distinctive theology and relation to Cynics, and the way in which Q raises questions about the historical Jesus will challenge scholars of all levels. It is essential reading for all interested in Christian origins.”

The Genre, Composition, and Hermeneutics of the Epistle of James

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“There are emerging signs of a renewal of interest in James and in the place that this work occupies in our understanding both of early Christianity and of the traditions of Jesus. Yet scholars still find it difficult to describe a coherent argument for the work. Luke Cheung makes an important and original contribution to the appreciation of James by demonstrating the significant role attributed to the Shema in its argumentative structure. He relates the appeal to wholehearted commitment in the Shema to the call to perfection in James (in contrast to 'doubleness'), and in doing so also seeks to clarify the vexing relationship between Torah and wisdom in the work. Readers will find this a challenging and enlightening study packed with detail but revealing a helpful new approach to one of the New Testament's most difficult works.”

The Radical Jesus, the Bible, and the Great Transformation

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“This important new collection of articles from Doug Oakman makes accessible his provocative and stimulating insights into Jesus’s aims and how Jesus’s kingdom message was appropriated subsequently. For some it may come as a shock. The first-century challenge to social, economic, and political life presented by Jesus of Nazareth is set out sharply and with scholarly skill. The implications for modern values that Oakman draws may well prove unsettling rather than comforting!”