Richard hays WTCLive

Richard B Hays – Jesus’ Divinity in the Gospels

by WTCLive!

With: Richard Hays, Duke Divinity School

Did all the Gospel writers believe that Jesus is divine? What do we gain by viewing the Gospels’ portraits of Jesus against the backdrop of the Old Testament? Join Richard Hays as he discusses these questions on Jesus divinity in the Gospels and his groundbreaking book Reading Backwards: Figural Christology and the Fourfold Gospel Witness (Baylor, 2014).

Twenty-five years ago Richard Hays launched a quiet but highly effective revolution on how Paul read Israel’s scripture. Now he turns his attention to the four gospels …. Hays opens new and striking vistas on texts we thought we knew—and, particularly, on the early church’s remarkable belief in Jesus as the embodiment of Israel’s God – N. T. Wright on Hays’ Reading Backwards.

Speaker

Richard B. Hays, PhD

richard_b_hayesRichard is Dean and the George Washington Ivey Professor of New Testament at Duke Divinity School and is internationally recognized for his work on the letters of Paul and on New Testament ethics. His scholarly work has bridged the disciplines of biblical criticism and literary studies, exploring the innovative ways in which early Christian writers interpreted Israel’s Scripture.

His book The Moral Vision of the New Testament: Community, Cross, New Creation was selected by Christianity Today as one of the 100 most important religious books of the twentieth century. His most recent books are The Art of Reading Scripture (2003, co-edited with Ellen Davis), The Conversion of the Imagination (2005), Seeking the Identity of Jesus: A Pilgrimage (2008, co-edited with Beverly Roberts Gaventa), and Revelation and the Politics of Apocalyptic Interpretation (2012, co-edited with Stefan Alkier).

He has lectured widely in North America, Europe, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, and Hong Kong. An ordained United Methodist minister, he has preached in settings ranging from rural Oklahoma churches to London’s Westminster Abbey. Professor Hays has chaired the Pauline Epistles Section of the Society of Biblical Literature, as well as the Seminar on New Testament Ethics in the Society for New Testament Studies, and has served on the editorial boards of several leading scholarly journals. Professor Hays received an honorary doctorate (Dr. theol. honoris causa) from the Johann Wolfgang Goethe University in Frankfurt, Germany, in 2009.

Buy the book here:

Reading Backwards

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Violence and God part 1

Iain Provan – Creation, Violence, and the God of the Old Testament (Part 1)

by WTCLive!

With: Iain Provan and Matt Lynch.

Our guest is Iain Provan of Regent College, Vancouver. This is an opportunity for you to engage with Matt Lynch and Iain Provan on some of the difficult issues pertaining to the way violence and God are portrayed in the Old Testament. Matt will also be discussing Provan’s recent book Seriously Dangerous Religion: What the Old Testament Really Says and Why it Matters (Baylor, 2014).

Speakers:

Iain W. Provan, PhD

Iain Provan RegentIain Provan is the Marshall Sheppard Professor of Biblical Studies at Regent College. He received his MA at Glasgow University in Mediaeval History and Archaeology, his BA from London Bible College in Theology, and his PhD from Cambridge. His academic teaching career took him to King’s College London, the University of Wales, and the University of Edinburgh, where he was a senior lecturer in Hebrew and Old Testament Studies. Dr. Provan has written numerous essays and articles, and several books including commentaries on Lamentations, 1 and 2 Kings, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs, and co-authored with Phil Long and Tremper Longman A Biblical History of Israel (John Knox Press, 2003). Most recently he released Against the Grain: Selected Essays (Regent College Publishing, 2015), Seriously Dangerous Religion: What the Old Testament Really Says and Why It Matters (Baylor University Press, 2014) and Convenient Myths: The Axial Age, Dark Green Religion, and the World that Never Was (Baylor University Press, 2013), and Discovering Genesis (SPCK, 2015). He is currently writing a book on Protestant biblical hermeneutics, projected for release in 2017.

Matt Lynch, PhD

Matt Lynch WTCMatt is an Old Testament scholar and the Dean of Studies at Westminster Theological Centre. His research interests include the theology of Isaiah and ethics in the Old Testament. Matt is the author of Monotheism and Institutions in the Book of Chronicles (Mohr Siebeck, 2014) and various articles on the Old Testament. Matt is particularly interested in helping students grasp the theological and literary contours of the Old Testament, wrestle through its ethical and historical challenges, and understand its ongoing significance. Matt is married, with two children.

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Theology and Sport WTCLive

Lincoln Harvey, Andrew Parker, and Brian Brock – Theology and Sport

by WTCLive!

With: Lincoln Harvey, Andrew Parker and Brian Brock.

What can be said about theology and sport in the same breath? As we enter another frenzied World Cup Season, should we give a rest to our theological concerns? No way! say these two theologians of sport. Sport intersects in some fascinating ways with a life of faith, work, and worship. If you think theology and sport is a strange brew, or want to see how theologians think about purportedly ‘non-theological’ subjects, join Matt Lynch for this WTCLive event (or watch it later).

Speakers:

Rev Lincoln Harvey, PhD

lincoln_harvey_bwLincoln is Lecturer in Systematic Theology at St Mellitus College, and author of the recent A Brief Theology of Sport (SCM/Cascade, 2014). He studied systematic theology at King’s College London under the supervision of Colin E. Gunton, on whose theology he has edited a collection of essays with T&T Clark (‘The Theology of Colin Gunton’). He was previously Tutor for Christian Doctrine at The South East Institute for Theological Education (SEITE), and has also taught on the MA programmes at King’s College London, where he continues to contribute to the AKC programme. He is also Associate Priest at St Andrew’s Fulham Fields, having served his curacy at St John-at-Hackney in East London.

Andrew Parker, PhD

andrew_parker_bwAndrew is Professor of Sport and Christian Outreach in the Faculty of Applied Sciences at the University of Gloucestershire, and is the co-author of the recent Sport and the Christian Religion: A Systematic Review of Literature (2014). He is also the editor of three other books on sport, sociology and Christianity. Andrew leads the University of Gloucestershire’s suite of courses (Postgraduate Certificate/Diploma/MA) in Sport and Christian Outreach. He is also founding Director of the University’s Centre for Sport, Spirituality and Religion (CSSR). Andrew is a former physical education teacher and teacher-educator and also has experience of working in manufacturing industry. His research interests include: sport and social identity, sport and spirituality, physical activity and schooling, and broader issues of organisational behaviour and institutional relations.

Brian Brock, DPhil

brian_brock_bwBrian is a reader in the School of Divinity, History and Philosophy at the University of Aberdeen. Brian’s teaching focuses on practical theology, ethics, and scriptural interpretation. He is the author of Christian Ethics in a Technological Age (Eerdmans, 2010) and Singing the Ethos of God: On the Place of Christian Ethics in Scripture (Eerdmans, 2007), and has edited several other books. In addition, Brian has written a recent article entitled ‘Discipline, Sport, and the Religion of Winners: Paul on Running to Win the Prize, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27,’ Studies in Christian Ethics 25/1 (2012): 4-19. Brian’s engagements with Christian doctrine and cultural hermeneutics are tied together by a third interest in the role scripture plays in God’s work of generating a people with a distinctive ethos.

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Public Christianity 2

Dave Landrum, John Stackhouse, and David Gushee – Public Christianity: Wealth & Obligations to the Least

by WTCLive!

With: Dave Landrum, John Stackhouse and David Gushee.

This is the second instalment in our series on ‘Public Christianity’ with Dave Landrum, David Gushee, and John Stackhouse (see the first here). This online WTCLive event revolves around the questions of Christian attitudes toward wealth and poverty by those in places of public influence. As Christians, how do we think through issues like immigration, welfare, poverty alleviation, wealth disparities, and more? In wrestling through this question, our goal is to help Christians find their voice in the public spaces they inhabit – a mum’s group, a business, a school board, city council, a church, and so on- but also to reflect on the kind of voice (and listening ear!) Christians should adopt in affluent (or not) society.

Speakers:

Dave Landrum, PhD

Dr. Dave Landrum has been director of advocacy at the Evangelical Alliance since June 2011, when he joined the Evangelical Alliance from his previous role as parliamentary officer for the Bible Society. Dave also serves on the board of directors of WTC. He has a first-class degree in contemporary politics and urban policy studies and a doctorate in politics and policy process in education. Well-respected in parliament, Dave’s passion is to see Christianity making an impact on society by being at the centre of political, cultural and economic life.

John G. Stackhouse Jr., PhD

Dr. John Stackhouse serves as Sangwoo Youtong Chee Professor, Theology & Culture at Regent College, Vancouver. He has published more than 500 articles, book chapters, and reviews in the history, sociology, and philosophy of religion, in ethics, and in theology. He has authored seven books and co-authored, edited, or co-edited seven more, many of which address the place of Christianity and the public sphere.

David P. Gushee, PhD

Rev. Dr. David P. Gushee, a Christian ethicist, teacher, activist, and churchman, serves as Distinguished University Professor of Christian Ethics and Director of the Center for Theology and Public Life at Mercer University, Atlanta. His research interests focus on the ethical teachings of Jesus Christ and the Christian theological-ethical tradition, together with its contemporary implications for Christian discipleship and public witness. He has published sixteen books, with three more in development, and many hundreds of essays, book chapters, articles, reviews, and opinion pieces.

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Violence Bible

Matt Lynch – Wrestling with Violence in the Bible

by WTCLive!
With: Lucy Peppiatt, Brad Jersak, Matt Lynch and Bob Ekblad.

Violence in the Bible, and especially divinely authorised violence, is one of the most troublesome aspects of the Christian Scriptures. This is so not only for those outside the Church, but also for Christians. We don’t gain anything by pretending there aren’t real challenges to hearing the whole Bible as God’s word. I feel strongly that learning how to interpret difficult biblical texts, live in a place of trusting tension, and voice honest questions, are key ‘transferable skills’ to develop for the whole Christian journey. This WTCLive! event is an opportunity to hear how WTC’s faculty wrestle with issues of violence in the Bible, but also to participate by asking questions or making a comment on our discussion.

Speakers:

Matt Lynch, PhD

Matt Lynch WTCMatt is an Old Testament scholar and the Dean of Studies at Westminster Theological Centre. His research interests include the theology of Isaiah and ethics in the Old Testament. Matt is the author of Monotheism and Institutions in the Book of Chronicles (Mohr Siebeck, 2014) and various articles on the Old Testament. Matt is particularly interested in helping students grasp the theological and literary contours of the Old Testament, wrestle through its ethical and historical challenges, and understand its ongoing significance. Matt is married, and has two children .

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Lucy Peppiatt, PhD

Lucy Peppiatt WTC PrincipalLucy is the Principal of WTC, and a lecturer in Systematic Theology. Lucy’s areas of research are Spirit Christology and Mission. She has written The Disciple: On Becoming Truly Human (Wipf and Stock, 2012) and Women and Worship at Corinth (Wipf and Stock, 2015). Lucy lives in Bristol with her husband, Nick Crawley, where they lead Crossnet Community. She has four sons, loves pastoring young people and students and enjoys the good things in life.

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Rev Brad Jersak, PhD

Brad Jersak WTCBrad is an author and teacher based in Abbotsford, Canada. He earned his Ph.D. from Bangor University, Wales, and has completed post-doctoral research at the University of Nottingham. He teaches Graduate Gospel Studies for WTC. After serving as a pastor and church planter for twenty years, he now attends Fresh Wind Christian Fellowship, an ‘Isaiah 58 church’, where his wife, Eden, is the lead pastor. Brad’s focus today is on writing accessible theology, facilitating ‘listening prayer’ seminars, and teaching college courses. His emphases are the Gospels, the theology of the Cross, and contemplative spirituality applied to prophetic justice. He is currently chair of the board of Soul Stream (www.soulstream.org) and associate editor of The Plain Truth magazine (www.ptm.org). Among Brad’s various books are Her Gates will Never be Shut: Hope, Hell and the New Jerusalem (Wipf and Stock, 2009); Fear No Evil: Breaking Free from the Culture of Fear (Fresh Wind, 2006); Kissing the Leper: Seeing Jesus in the Least of These (Fresh Wind, 2006); Can You Hear Me? Tuning in to the God who Speaks (Fresh Wind, 2003) and A More Christlike God, A More Beautiful Gospel (Plain Truth, 2015).

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Rev Bob Ekblad, PhD

Bob Ekblad WTCBob is a theologian and missionary. He has spent 25 years in international mission and is particularly passionate about working with the poor and ethnic minorities, as well as teaching on Mission and Social Justice Classes. Bob is an international speaker and has authored three books including Reading the Bible With the Damned (WJK, 2005). He founded the Tierra Nueva outreach ministry which ministers to prisoners and runs a social coffee farming project.

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