Angus Paddison is Theology Lecturer in the University of Winchester, UK. Karen Wenell is Lecturer in New Testament and Theology at the University of Birmingham, UK. Dr. Paul Middleton is Lecturer in New Testament Studies at the University of Wales, Lampeter.

'A consistently excellent collection that, although wide-ranging--the essays cover historical-critical subjects, reception history, and constructive theology--remains coherent. This energetic volume is worthy of its honoree.' -Dale C. Allison, Jr., Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, USA "This remarkable compilation of essays, in honour of the eminent scholar, John Riches, houses an assortment of valuable contributions from his former student and colleagues." -Theological Book Review, Vol 21, 2009 'It is not always the case that Festschriften, indeed retrospectives of any sort, form coherent works, since scholarly interests across an entire career are often diverse. It is therefore a perennial challenge to bring these interests together into a single, readable volume while doing justice to the career being celebrated. The present collection of essays in honor of John Riches suffers from no defect on that score. It comprises twelve essays, with an afterword by Prof Riches. Contributions are grouped into two sections. The first concerns the themes of grace, freedom, law, and human agency in the literature of the New Testament, with anemphasis upon Paul. The second addresses the question of the reception of these themes historically, in an African setting, and in recent Christian theology. Those familiar with Prof Riches's work will recognize these themes, and these settings, as ones to which he often returned. They will also recognize the present volume as a suitable tribute to a productive and highly respected scholar and an appropriate contribution to these fields of study."-- Michael J. Lakey, Review of Biblical Literature

• PART I: Grace and Human Agency in the New Testament and Other Writings; John Barclay, 'Paul and Philo'; Troels Engberg-Pedersen, 'Paul and the Stoics'; David Sim, 'The Torah in Paul and Matthew: Two Early Christian Perspectives'; Joel Marcus, The Human Subject in the Gospel of Mark; Karen Wenell, 'Law, Kingdom and Spirit in the Ethics of Jesus and Paul'; PART II: Paul and Grace in Historical Perspective; Paul Middleton, --Dying we live": Paul and the Martyrs'; Stephen Chester, 'Paul and Luther on Christian Freedom'; Christopher Rowland, 'William Blake and Life in the Divine Body'; PART III: Readings of Paul in Africa; Gerald West, 'Constructing African Christianity: The Voice of Paul in the Formative Teachings of Isaiah Shembe'; Leslie Milton, 'Your circumcision has become uncircumcision": context and culture in New Testament study'; PART IV -- Theological Perspectives on the Law and Life 'In Christ'; Angus Paddison, 'P.T. Forsyth, Ethics, and Regeneration'; Ben Quash, 'The Law and the Spirit in Christian Life'; Afterword by John Riches.

Angus Paddison is Theology Lecturer in the University of Winchester, UK. Karen Wenell is Lecturer in New Testament and Theology at the University of Birmingham, UK. Dr. Paul Middleton is Lecturer in New Testament Studies at the University of Wales, Lampeter.

'A consistently excellent collection that, although wide-ranging--the essays cover historical-critical subjects, reception history, and constructive theology--remains coherent. This energetic volume is worthy of its honoree.' -Dale C. Allison, Jr., Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, USA "This remarkable compilation of essays, in honour of the eminent scholar, John Riches, houses an assortment of valuable contributions from his former student and colleagues." -Theological Book Review, Vol 21, 2009 'It is not always the case that Festschriften, indeed retrospectives of any sort, form coherent works, since scholarly interests across an entire career are often diverse. It is therefore a perennial challenge to bring these interests together into a single, readable volume while doing justice to the career being celebrated. The present collection of essays in honor of John Riches suffers from no defect on that score. It comprises twelve essays, with an afterword by Prof Riches. Contributions are grouped into two sections. The first concerns the themes of grace, freedom, law, and human agency in the literature of the New Testament, with anemphasis upon Paul. The second addresses the question of the reception of these themes historically, in an African setting, and in recent Christian theology. Those familiar with Prof Riches's work will recognize these themes, and these settings, as ones to which he often returned. They will also recognize the present volume as a suitable tribute to a productive and highly respected scholar and an appropriate contribution to these fields of study."-- Michael J. Lakey, Review of Biblical Literature

• PART I: Grace and Human Agency in the New Testament and Other Writings; John Barclay, 'Paul and Philo'; Troels Engberg-Pedersen, 'Paul and the Stoics'; David Sim, 'The Torah in Paul and Matthew: Two Early Christian Perspectives'; Joel Marcus, The Human Subject in the Gospel of Mark; Karen Wenell, 'Law, Kingdom and Spirit in the Ethics of Jesus and Paul'; PART II: Paul and Grace in Historical Perspective; Paul Middleton, --Dying we live": Paul and the Martyrs'; Stephen Chester, 'Paul and Luther on Christian Freedom'; Christopher Rowland, 'William Blake and Life in the Divine Body'; PART III: Readings of Paul in Africa; Gerald West, 'Constructing African Christianity: The Voice of Paul in the Formative Teachings of Isaiah Shembe'; Leslie Milton, 'Your circumcision has become uncircumcision": context and culture in New Testament study'; PART IV -- Theological Perspectives on the Law and Life 'In Christ'; Angus Paddison, 'P.T. Forsyth, Ethics, and Regeneration'; Ben Quash, 'The Law and the Spirit in Christian Life'; Afterword by John Riches.