Kevin J. Vanhoozer is Research Professor of Biblical and Systematic Theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He has previously taught at Wheaton College and the University of Edinburgh. In addition to The Drama of Doctrine, Vanhoozer is the author or editor of several books.

"Rooted in acute theological intelligence, pervaded by a conviction that faith and the practices of faith are inseparable, and written with verve, Faith Speaking Understanding is a work of alert and engaged Christian reflection which will attract wide consideration." --John Webster, Chair of Divinity, St. Mary's College, University of St Andrews, Scotland "This book is a model of doing theology in the service of the church. Building on his well-known construal of theology as theodrama, Vanhoozer presents the church as the theater of the gospel, a place where observers are participants and where theology and ethics, contemplation and action, surrender and obedience, and James and Paul are no longer enemies but allies. A wonderful theological essay by a brilliant evangelical thinker." -Timothy George, founding Dean, Beeson Divinity School, Samford University "This is vintage Vanhoozer--highly intelligent, wonderfully resonant, almost painfully true to the gospel and to life in the church. Vanhoozer often addresses other theologians: this time he addresses everybody who cares about following Jesus. Faith Speaking Understanding is mighty and prophetic, but, like Jesus, it is full of grace as well as truth. Brilliant work!" --Cornelius Plantinga, Jr., author of Reading for Preaching: The Preacher in Conversation with Storytellers, Biographers, Poets, and Journalists "With his extraordinarily imaginative energy, Kevin Vanhoozer's Faith Speaking Understanding builds on his equally energetic The Drama of Doctrine to help us see how doctrine, like stage direction, helps us live truthfully to the Gospel. Without fail, Vanhoozer vivifies the fundamental convictions of Christians by articulating their dramatic character. I suspect this is a book that will soon be deemed a classic." --Stanley Hauerwas, Gilbert T. Rowe Professor Emeritus of Divinity and Law, Duke Divinity School

• PART 1. BEFORE THE CURTAIN RISES: ON THEOLOGYAND THEATER1 Doing the Word “on Earth as It Is in Heavenâ€�:Introducing the Theater of the Gospel Faith Speaking Understanding: The Challenge The Witness as Doer of the Word: James's Mirrorand Jesus' House “Theaterâ€� of the Gospel: Definitions and Distinctions Theater as Handmaid to Theology: Metaphor or Model? 2 Audience Participation: Loving God, Doing Truth,Being Church “Breaking Down the Dividing Wallâ€�:Between Actor and Audience “Walking in the Truthâ€�: Participation in Christ “Confessing the Coming of Christâ€�:A Self-Involving Demonstration“Abiding in Doctrineâ€�: The Audience as Staging Area PART 2. FAITH SHOWING UNDERSTANDING: HOW DOCTRINEMAKES DISCIPLES AND HOW DISCIPLES DO DOCTRINE3 The Great Theater of the World: Settingthe Twenty-First-Century Stage Stage: Church, World, and the Contemporary Crisisof Authenticity Lighting: “A Lamp unto My Feetâ€� Action: The Essence of Dramatic Theater Recapitulation: The Canonical Imperative 4 Gospel Theater: The Triune Drama of Redemption The Play of the Playwright “from Aboveâ€�: A Dramaof Trinitarian Proportions The Players: Human and Other Dramatis Personae The Play of the Playwright “from Belowâ€�: A CourtroomDrama of Kingdom and Kinship Recapitulation: The Orthodox Imperative 5 Learning (and Becoming) the Part: “Little Christsâ€� Roles: Till We Have Faces Costume: Putting on Christ Prompts: Word and Spirit as Aide-Mémoire and Means of Grace Recapitulation: The Pauline Imperative 6 Forming the Company, Doing Church: DoctrinalDirections for Acting Out Life Together in Christ Communio Sanctorum: Disciples' Gathering asCommand Performanceâ€"“Do Thisâ€� Scenes of Congregational Life Rehearsing Communion: The Supper as Summa of the Gospel Recapitulation: The Catholic-Evangelical Imperative 7 Staging the Play in Ten Thousand Places: How theCompany of the Gospel Enacts Parables of the Kingdom Local Church, Local Theater: Where is “in Christâ€�? An Interactive Theater of Resident Exiles and Holy Fools Improvisation: Embodying the Mind of Christ Always,Everywhere, and to Everyone Recapitulation: The Sapiential Imperative 8 (Torn) Curtain: On Earth as He Is in Heaven Climax: “Sits at the Right Hand of God the Father Almightyâ€� Conflict: Postvictory Theater of the Oppressed Catharsis: Purification of the Heart Recapitulation: The Doxological Imperative Conclusion. Tell and Show: Exhibiting the Gospelin Company with Christ Exeunt: The Dismissal Encore: The Gloria Appendix. What Has Broadway to Do with Jerusalem? The Antitheatrical Prejudice: Respondingto Historical Objections “The Play's Not the Thingâ€�: Respondingto Contemporary Objections Selected Bibliography

Kevin J. Vanhoozer is Research Professor of Biblical and Systematic Theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He has previously taught at Wheaton College and the University of Edinburgh. In addition to The Drama of Doctrine, Vanhoozer is the author or editor of several books.

"Rooted in acute theological intelligence, pervaded by a conviction that faith and the practices of faith are inseparable, and written with verve, Faith Speaking Understanding is a work of alert and engaged Christian reflection which will attract wide consideration." --John Webster, Chair of Divinity, St. Mary's College, University of St Andrews, Scotland "This book is a model of doing theology in the service of the church. Building on his well-known construal of theology as theodrama, Vanhoozer presents the church as the theater of the gospel, a place where observers are participants and where theology and ethics, contemplation and action, surrender and obedience, and James and Paul are no longer enemies but allies. A wonderful theological essay by a brilliant evangelical thinker." -Timothy George, founding Dean, Beeson Divinity School, Samford University "This is vintage Vanhoozer--highly intelligent, wonderfully resonant, almost painfully true to the gospel and to life in the church. Vanhoozer often addresses other theologians: this time he addresses everybody who cares about following Jesus. Faith Speaking Understanding is mighty and prophetic, but, like Jesus, it is full of grace as well as truth. Brilliant work!" --Cornelius Plantinga, Jr., author of Reading for Preaching: The Preacher in Conversation with Storytellers, Biographers, Poets, and Journalists "With his extraordinarily imaginative energy, Kevin Vanhoozer's Faith Speaking Understanding builds on his equally energetic The Drama of Doctrine to help us see how doctrine, like stage direction, helps us live truthfully to the Gospel. Without fail, Vanhoozer vivifies the fundamental convictions of Christians by articulating their dramatic character. I suspect this is a book that will soon be deemed a classic." --Stanley Hauerwas, Gilbert T. Rowe Professor Emeritus of Divinity and Law, Duke Divinity School

• PART 1. BEFORE THE CURTAIN RISES: ON THEOLOGYAND THEATER1 Doing the Word “on Earth as It Is in Heavenâ€�:Introducing the Theater of the Gospel Faith Speaking Understanding: The Challenge The Witness as Doer of the Word: James's Mirrorand Jesus' House “Theaterâ€� of the Gospel: Definitions and Distinctions Theater as Handmaid to Theology: Metaphor or Model? 2 Audience Participation: Loving God, Doing Truth,Being Church “Breaking Down the Dividing Wallâ€�:Between Actor and Audience “Walking in the Truthâ€�: Participation in Christ “Confessing the Coming of Christâ€�:A Self-Involving Demonstration“Abiding in Doctrineâ€�: The Audience as Staging Area PART 2. FAITH SHOWING UNDERSTANDING: HOW DOCTRINEMAKES DISCIPLES AND HOW DISCIPLES DO DOCTRINE3 The Great Theater of the World: Settingthe Twenty-First-Century Stage Stage: Church, World, and the Contemporary Crisisof Authenticity Lighting: “A Lamp unto My Feetâ€� Action: The Essence of Dramatic Theater Recapitulation: The Canonical Imperative 4 Gospel Theater: The Triune Drama of Redemption The Play of the Playwright “from Aboveâ€�: A Dramaof Trinitarian Proportions The Players: Human and Other Dramatis Personae The Play of the Playwright “from Belowâ€�: A CourtroomDrama of Kingdom and Kinship Recapitulation: The Orthodox Imperative 5 Learning (and Becoming) the Part: “Little Christsâ€� Roles: Till We Have Faces Costume: Putting on Christ Prompts: Word and Spirit as Aide-Mémoire and Means of Grace Recapitulation: The Pauline Imperative 6 Forming the Company, Doing Church: DoctrinalDirections for Acting Out Life Together in Christ Communio Sanctorum: Disciples' Gathering asCommand Performanceâ€"“Do Thisâ€� Scenes of Congregational Life Rehearsing Communion: The Supper as Summa of the Gospel Recapitulation: The Catholic-Evangelical Imperative 7 Staging the Play in Ten Thousand Places: How theCompany of the Gospel Enacts Parables of the Kingdom Local Church, Local Theater: Where is “in Christâ€�? An Interactive Theater of Resident Exiles and Holy Fools Improvisation: Embodying the Mind of Christ Always,Everywhere, and to Everyone Recapitulation: The Sapiential Imperative 8 (Torn) Curtain: On Earth as He Is in Heaven Climax: “Sits at the Right Hand of God the Father Almightyâ€� Conflict: Postvictory Theater of the Oppressed Catharsis: Purification of the Heart Recapitulation: The Doxological Imperative Conclusion. Tell and Show: Exhibiting the Gospelin Company with Christ Exeunt: The Dismissal Encore: The Gloria Appendix. What Has Broadway to Do with Jerusalem? The Antitheatrical Prejudice: Respondingto Historical Objections “The Play's Not the Thingâ€�: Respondingto Contemporary Objections Selected Bibliography

Kevin J. Vanhoozer is Research Professor of Biblical and Systematic Theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He has previously taught at Wheaton College and the University of Edinburgh. In addition to The Drama of Doctrine, Vanhoozer is the author or editor of several books.

"Rooted in acute theological intelligence, pervaded by a conviction that faith and the practices of faith are inseparable, and written with verve, Faith Speaking Understanding is a work of alert and engaged Christian reflection which will attract wide consideration." --John Webster, Chair of Divinity, St. Mary's College, University of St Andrews, Scotland "This book is a model of doing theology in the service of the church. Building on his well-known construal of theology as theodrama, Vanhoozer presents the church as the theater of the gospel, a place where observers are participants and where theology and ethics, contemplation and action, surrender and obedience, and James and Paul are no longer enemies but allies. A wonderful theological essay by a brilliant evangelical thinker." -Timothy George, founding Dean, Beeson Divinity School, Samford University "This is vintage Vanhoozer--highly intelligent, wonderfully resonant, almost painfully true to the gospel and to life in the church. Vanhoozer often addresses other theologians: this time he addresses everybody who cares about following Jesus. Faith Speaking Understanding is mighty and prophetic, but, like Jesus, it is full of grace as well as truth. Brilliant work!" --Cornelius Plantinga, Jr., author of Reading for Preaching: The Preacher in Conversation with Storytellers, Biographers, Poets, and Journalists "With his extraordinarily imaginative energy, Kevin Vanhoozer's Faith Speaking Understanding builds on his equally energetic The Drama of Doctrine to help us see how doctrine, like stage direction, helps us live truthfully to the Gospel. Without fail, Vanhoozer vivifies the fundamental convictions of Christians by articulating their dramatic character. I suspect this is a book that will soon be deemed a classic." --Stanley Hauerwas, Gilbert T. Rowe Professor Emeritus of Divinity and Law, Duke Divinity School

• PART 1. BEFORE THE CURTAIN RISES: ON THEOLOGYAND THEATER1 Doing the Word “on Earth as It Is in Heavenâ€�:Introducing the Theater of the Gospel Faith Speaking Understanding: The Challenge The Witness as Doer of the Word: James's Mirrorand Jesus' House “Theaterâ€� of the Gospel: Definitions and Distinctions Theater as Handmaid to Theology: Metaphor or Model? 2 Audience Participation: Loving God, Doing Truth,Being Church “Breaking Down the Dividing Wallâ€�:Between Actor and Audience “Walking in the Truthâ€�: Participation in Christ “Confessing the Coming of Christâ€�:A Self-Involving Demonstration“Abiding in Doctrineâ€�: The Audience as Staging Area PART 2. FAITH SHOWING UNDERSTANDING: HOW DOCTRINEMAKES DISCIPLES AND HOW DISCIPLES DO DOCTRINE3 The Great Theater of the World: Settingthe Twenty-First-Century Stage Stage: Church, World, and the Contemporary Crisisof Authenticity Lighting: “A Lamp unto My Feetâ€� Action: The Essence of Dramatic Theater Recapitulation: The Canonical Imperative 4 Gospel Theater: The Triune Drama of Redemption The Play of the Playwright “from Aboveâ€�: A Dramaof Trinitarian Proportions The Players: Human and Other Dramatis Personae The Play of the Playwright “from Belowâ€�: A CourtroomDrama of Kingdom and Kinship Recapitulation: The Orthodox Imperative 5 Learning (and Becoming) the Part: “Little Christsâ€� Roles: Till We Have Faces Costume: Putting on Christ Prompts: Word and Spirit as Aide-Mémoire and Means of Grace Recapitulation: The Pauline Imperative 6 Forming the Company, Doing Church: DoctrinalDirections for Acting Out Life Together in Christ Communio Sanctorum: Disciples' Gathering asCommand Performanceâ€"“Do Thisâ€� Scenes of Congregational Life Rehearsing Communion: The Supper as Summa of the Gospel Recapitulation: The Catholic-Evangelical Imperative 7 Staging the Play in Ten Thousand Places: How theCompany of the Gospel Enacts Parables of the Kingdom Local Church, Local Theater: Where is “in Christâ€�? An Interactive Theater of Resident Exiles and Holy Fools Improvisation: Embodying the Mind of Christ Always,Everywhere, and to Everyone Recapitulation: The Sapiential Imperative 8 (Torn) Curtain: On Earth as He Is in Heaven Climax: “Sits at the Right Hand of God the Father Almightyâ€� Conflict: Postvictory Theater of the Oppressed Catharsis: Purification of the Heart Recapitulation: The Doxological Imperative Conclusion. Tell and Show: Exhibiting the Gospelin Company with Christ Exeunt: The Dismissal Encore: The Gloria Appendix. What Has Broadway to Do with Jerusalem? The Antitheatrical Prejudice: Respondingto Historical Objections “The Play's Not the Thingâ€�: Respondingto Contemporary Objections Selected Bibliography