Jerry L. Sumney Libri

Exploring the intersection of biblical texts with civic politics, this book encourages readers to consider how faith influences social policy and governance. It highlights the Bible's guidance on economic and social policies that benefit the disadvantaged and the community. By examining Old Testament insights, the early church in Acts, and Jesus' ministry in Matthew, the author emphasizes the need for political commitments rooted in Scripture. Each chapter concludes with discussion questions to foster deeper engagement and reflection on how faith can shape voting and policy support.

Exploring the duality of Paul's role, the narrative delves into his pioneering spirit in spreading the message of Christ while also adhering to the traditions he established. The book examines how his life and teachings shaped early Christianity, highlighting the balance between innovation and tradition in his ministry. Through this lens, readers gain insight into the complexities of faith and the impact of one man's journey on the foundation of a religious movement.

Examining Paul's prison epistle, Jerry Sumney highlights the challenges the early church faced in articulating its faith amidst the diverse cultural landscape of the Greco-Roman world. He contrasts this letter with Paul's other writings, providing insights into the unique struggles and adaptations of the Christian community during that era.

One view that perennially springs up among biblical scholars is that Paul was the inventor of Christianity, or that Paul introduced the idea of a divine Christ to a church that earlier had simply followed the ethical teaching of a human Jesus. In this book Jerry Sumney responds to that claim by examining how, in reality, Paul drew on what the church already believed and confessed about Jesus. As he explores how Paul's theology relates to that of the broader early church, Sumney identifies where in the Christian tradition distinctive theological claims about Christ, his death, the nature of salvation, and eschatology first seem to appear. Without diminishing significant differences, Sumney describes what common traditions and beliefs various branches of the early church shared and compares them to Paul's thought. Sumney interacts directly with arguments made by those who claim Paul as the inventor of Christianity and approaches the questions raised by that claim in a fresh way.