Linda L. Belleville – författare

The message of one of Paul's most sensitive letters made clear and accessible.In this accessible and erudite commentary, the respected New Testament scholar Linda Belleville shows how Paul's letter to the Philippians provides a unique opportunity to see the similarities between the culture of his day and ours and to understand not only what is needed to cope in a hostile society but also to be bold in sharing the sole hope for our global world: knowing Christ and eternal citizenship in heaven.Philippians was written while Paul was imprisoned in the imperial barracks, awaiting the outcome of a life-or-death trial. His most beloved church was facing strong opponents without and selfish division within. Paul's strategy is to remind the church of the reasons to rejoice and forgo selfish opinion differences. There is much cause to rejoice because, despite imprisonment, the gospel had reached the entire imperial guard and emboldened Christians everywhere to boldly proclaim Christ; even if he dies, Paul's ministry of preaching Christ will continue. Yet the Philippians' best exemplar is Christ himself, who, while enjoying his heavenly riches, willingly took on the human condition with its pain, suffering, and death so that they might gain their own heavenly riches.

We are in the midst of a rapidly changing sexual scene. Casual sex between consenting adults scarcely gets a second look, marriage is increasingly viewed as an at-will contract, attitudes toward same-sex relationships have done an about-face, and the family has been redefined in ways that challenge how we effectively minister to those inside and the church. If we as believers value our call to be the salt and light of society, then we must begin to think biblically and strategically about how to engage our sexually volatile culture. Sex, Lies, and the Truth aims to help Christians in all walks of life do just that: It addresses the question of how to develop a Christian ethic in an increasingly post-Christian society by becoming biblically informed and culturally conversant with a topic that promises to be one of the foremost challenges the church will face in the coming years.

This book advances the interpretation of 1 Corinthians by exploring the ways the apostle Paul quoted or “echoed” Jewish scriptures more indirectly in his letter. Identification of allusions are brought to the fore, as are questions of the texture of Paul’s theology and his understanding of scripture. Important topics in 1 Corinthians addressed here include Paul’s use of the Law, monotheism, Christology, wisdom and mystery language, punishment of the incestuous man, baptism for the dead, eschatology, and resurrection.