“The Gospel is greater than the words that describe it…” Nijay Gupta is a creative and productive scholar who moves with ease between academic scholarship, and the kind of teaching and wisdom that nourishes Christian community. For him the New Testament is “thought provoking, captivating and worldview shaping.” His aim in this book is to help his readers experience the same transformative encounter with Scripture.
Gupta chooses fifteen key words, explains their use and meaning in the New Testament, and explores the ways each word encapsulates Christian faith in experience and practice. The words are chosen carefully, though none of them are a surprise: righteousness, gospel, life, forgiveness, cross, grace, faith, fellowship, hope, salvation, peace, religion, holiness, love and witness.
Fifteen word studies, but much more than that. Each word is attached to a New Testament Gospel or Letter, which is then used to explain and illustrate not only the meaning of the word, but the spiritual experiences and practical impact of such powerful theological words.
The result is a very different kind of New Testament Theology. The word list touches on almost all of the New Testament books. But Gupta isn’t trying to cover everything. The social and historical context, then the theological content of each word, is skilfully and persuasively presented. In the process the implications for Christian living are spelled out for obedient and faithful Christian existence. The lexical, grammatical, exegetical and theological work is all done, but the end result is a series of practical essays on the “load bearing concepts” that cumulatively spell out the Good News of Jesus Christ. There is much pastoral wisdom and spiritual insight woven throughout this volume
So, a book on New Testament Theology that both draws unifying threads, and yet affirms the diversity of New Testament voices. Gupta demonstrates the practical shaping impact of each of these words on the spiritual experiences that shape Christian existence in community and its witness to the world. Theology and praxis, semantics and spirituality, grammar and grace; Gupta achieves a creative balance of careful scholarship and practical coaching, supporting the reader towards a more confident and trustful improvisation of what it means for us to live into the Christian story.
I warmly recommend this book to those needing more than how to spiritual advice and wanting a deeper understanding of the dynamic core of New Testament faith. It will also serve very well for those seeking a tour of New Testament theology with a well informed and good natured guide. And preachers? They could profitably take and use the fruits of the learning on display in all or some of these exegetical essays. I could see much value in an occasional series applying what is learned here to their hearers, opening up the riches of God’s grace, the joy of witness and worship, and the theological potency embedded in the “load bearing” vocabulary of our faith.
Nijay Gupta is Professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary, Illinois, and author of several New Testament monographs and Commentaries.
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