E. Earle Ellis is Research Professor Emeritus at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Texas, USA.

'The highly respected New Testament scholar, E.E. Ellis, well known for his outstanding pioneering work on Paul's use of the Old Testament and of pre-formed traditions in his letters, brings together here a collection of his most recent essays. Although it takes its title from an essay commending a traditional Calvinist interpretation of divine sovereignty, the other essays are largely devoted to a critical assessment of contemporary trends in New Testament interpretation including such issues as the presences of Graeco-Roman rhetorical methods in Paul and the validity of dynamic equivalence translations of the Bible.' -I. Howard Marshall, Honorary Research Professor of New Testament, University of Aberdeen, UK 'Altogether these essays present the perspective of a mature New Testament scholar who sees the sovreignty of God in salvation written across history of the Bible and its ongoing interpretation.' - Reginald L King, University of Durham Reginald L King Theological Book Review

• Preface; Abbreviations; Part I. God's Sovereign Grace In Salvation And The Nature Of Man's Free Will; 1. Reformed Understanding Of Salvation; 2. Election To Salvation And Free Will; 3. Calvinism And Hyper-Calvinism; 4. General Predestination; And Free Will; Aspects Of God's Will; Divine Predestination And History; Salvation History And History; 5. The Finite God Of Free Will Theism; 6. Conclusion; Part II. Paul, Predestined Apostle Of Christ Jesus: Whence The Name And The Title?; 7. Paul's Name; 8. Paul's Title; Part III. Colossians 1:12-20: Christus Creator, Christos Salvator; 9. The Historical Setting Of Colossians; 10. The Literary Form Of Col 1:12-20; 11. The Teaching Of Col 1:12-20; Introduction; God's Gracious Action Of Salvation (Col 1:12-14); Christ: The Head Of Creation, The Head Of The Church (Col1:15-20); IV. Perspectives On Biblical Interpretation; 12. Old Testament Issues; History; Transmission; 13. New Testament Issues ; Gospels; Acts And Letters; 14. Confessional And Hermeneutical Traditions; Evangelical Interpretation; 15. Method; Subjective Historical-Critical Interpretation; Postmodernism; Non-Historical Literary Interpretation; 16. Conclusion; Part V. Paul And Graeco-Roman Rhetoric; 17. Introduction; 18. Paul's Background; 19. Paul As A Jewish Christian Prophet; 20. Revelation And Rhetoric In I Corinthians; 21. Conclusion; Part VI. Dynamic Equivalence Theory, Feminist Ideology And Three Recent Bible Versions; 22. Two Philosophies Of Translation; 23. Biblical Paraphrase Serving Feminist Ideology; 24. Biblical Paraphrase As 'Holy Bible?'; 25. Conclusion.

E. Earle Ellis is Research Professor Emeritus at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Texas, USA.

'The highly respected New Testament scholar, E.E. Ellis, well known for his outstanding pioneering work on Paul's use of the Old Testament and of pre-formed traditions in his letters, brings together here a collection of his most recent essays. Although it takes its title from an essay commending a traditional Calvinist interpretation of divine sovereignty, the other essays are largely devoted to a critical assessment of contemporary trends in New Testament interpretation including such issues as the presences of Graeco-Roman rhetorical methods in Paul and the validity of dynamic equivalence translations of the Bible.' -I. Howard Marshall, Honorary Research Professor of New Testament, University of Aberdeen, UK 'Altogether these essays present the perspective of a mature New Testament scholar who sees the sovreignty of God in salvation written across history of the Bible and its ongoing interpretation.' - Reginald L King, University of Durham Reginald L King Theological Book Review

• Preface; Abbreviations; Part I. God's Sovereign Grace In Salvation And The Nature Of Man's Free Will; 1. Reformed Understanding Of Salvation; 2. Election To Salvation And Free Will; 3. Calvinism And Hyper-Calvinism; 4. General Predestination; And Free Will; Aspects Of God's Will; Divine Predestination And History; Salvation History And History; 5. The Finite God Of Free Will Theism; 6. Conclusion; Part II. Paul, Predestined Apostle Of Christ Jesus: Whence The Name And The Title?; 7. Paul's Name; 8. Paul's Title; Part III. Colossians 1:12-20: Christus Creator, Christos Salvator; 9. The Historical Setting Of Colossians; 10. The Literary Form Of Col 1:12-20; 11. The Teaching Of Col 1:12-20; Introduction; God's Gracious Action Of Salvation (Col 1:12-14); Christ: The Head Of Creation, The Head Of The Church (Col1:15-20); IV. Perspectives On Biblical Interpretation; 12. Old Testament Issues; History; Transmission; 13. New Testament Issues ; Gospels; Acts And Letters; 14. Confessional And Hermeneutical Traditions; Evangelical Interpretation; 15. Method; Subjective Historical-Critical Interpretation; Postmodernism; Non-Historical Literary Interpretation; 16. Conclusion; Part V. Paul And Graeco-Roman Rhetoric; 17. Introduction; 18. Paul's Background; 19. Paul As A Jewish Christian Prophet; 20. Revelation And Rhetoric In I Corinthians; 21. Conclusion; Part VI. Dynamic Equivalence Theory, Feminist Ideology And Three Recent Bible Versions; 22. Two Philosophies Of Translation; 23. Biblical Paraphrase Serving Feminist Ideology; 24. Biblical Paraphrase As 'Holy Bible?'; 25. Conclusion.