God and Human Wholeness: Perfection in Biblical and Theological Tradition
Ebook
The language of perfection crops up regularly in the Bible, from Noah ("a just man and perfect in his generations," KJV) to Jesus ("be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly father is perfect," NRSV). Is flawless behavior what God expects, the only standard of righteousness that can satisfy him? Jewish tradition has long questioned this Christian assumption. Since Sanders and the New Perspective on Paul, it has come under increasing challenge from many directions. In Reclaiming Human Wholeness, Kent Yinger provides an in-depth examination of what the Bible intends with this perfection-wholeness language and of its impact on theology and spiritual life. Rather than calling to an unreachable perfection, the God of the Bible desires our flourishing and wholeness.
Top Highlights
“ This is not the story of the origin of human sinful nature. Instead, it is the story of the first disobedience” (source)
“To get to the bottom of this, we will have to dig more deeply into the meaning of the two main Hebrew roots in these texts.” (source)
“prescriptive texts, which speak of God’s demand for this blamelessness, maturity, wholehearted loyalty.” (source)
“Being in covenant with God was a bit like being married: you either were or you weren’t.” (source)
“the demand for the perfect is the greatest enemy of the good” (source)
“Kent Yinger’s latest publication is a fine contribution to the
field of biblical scholarship generally and in particular to the
subject under investigation—perfection. Yinger demonstrates that
the popular conception of perfection as sinlessness is unbiblical
and needs to be adjusted in light of the pertinent exegetical data.
The volume surveys the history of the doctrine, examines the
biblical materials, and concludes with a consideration of the
church’s pursuit of perfection. All in all, one need look no
further for an all-around treatment of this important topic.”
—Don Garlington, author of The Obedience of Faith
“Kent Yinger's work is more than a well-researched supplementary
study of the topic of biblical perfection. It is a must read that
will change how one thinks about faith, righteousness,
sanctification, and Christian living. It clarifies the biblical
presentation of the response that God desires to God’s offer of
grace. This work has historical-reconstructive, theological, and
pastoral ramifications for understanding the nature of faith and
righteousness—that is, living by a wholehearted response to
God.”
—Rodney Duke, Professor of Religion, Appalachian State
University
“‘Be perfect’ (Matt 5:48)—this little command in the Bible has
always perplexed me. Who can be perfect? Yinger has convincingly
argued that here, and elsewhere in the Bible, ‘perfection’ language
is not about obeying God without mistakes or errors, but rather
about wholehearted love and loyalty to God. All students of the
Bible will benefit from Yinger's important book.”
—Nijay K. Gupta, Associate Professor of New Testament, Portland
Seminary
Product Details
- Title : God and Human Wholeness: Perfection in Biblical and Theological Tradition
- Author: Yinger, Kent L.
- Publisher: Cascade Books
- Publication Date: 2019
- ISBN: 9781498243674
Kent L. Yinger is Professor of New Testament Studies (retired),
Portland Seminary (Oregon). He is the author of Paul, Judaism
and Judgment according to Deeds (1999) and The New
Perspective on Paul: An Introduction (2010).