Paul S. Minear

Images of the Church in the New Testament

Foreword by Leander E. Keck

Original text published in 1960 by The Westminster Press.

© 2004 Westminster John Knox Press

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Scripture quotations from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible are copyright © 1946, 1952, 1971, and 1973 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. and are used by permission.

Published by Westminster John Knox Press

Louisville, Kentucky

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Minear, Paul Sevier, 1906–

Images of the church in the New Testament / Paul S. Minear.

p. cm.—(New Testament library)

Originally published: Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1960.

Includes bibliographical referencees and index.

ISBN 0-664-22779-1 (alk. paper)

1. Church—Biblical teaching. 2. Bible. N.T.—Theology. I. Title. II Series.

BS2545.C5M5 2005

262'.009'015—dc22

2004050884

THE NEW TESTAMENT LIBRARY

Editorial Board

C. Clifton Black

John T. Carroll

Beverly Roberts Gaventa

To

George L. Minear (1868–1924)

Oliver J. Hoffman (1875–1959)

CONTENTS

Acknowledgments

Preface

The Editors, The New Testament Library

Foreword by Leander E. Keck

I. The Scope and Method of Study

II. Minor Images of the Church

III. The People of God

IV. The New Creation

V. The Fellowship in Faith

VI. The Body of Christ

VII. Interrelation of the Images

VIII. A Postscript

Appendix: Analogies Discussed in the Text

Index

Authors

Scripture References

Acknowledgments

I wish first of all to recognize a massive debt to my colleagues on the Theological Commission on Christ and the Church who have furnished many fresh insights into the character of New Testament ecclesiology. A second word of gratitude is due to those who made so enjoyable a year’s study in the Netherlands, where this manuscript took shape. Especially helpful were Professor Willem C. van Unnik of the University of Utrecht and Dr. Johanna J. van Dullemen of the U.S. Educational Foundation in the Netherlands. Still another vote of thanks goes to two schools where various chapters were used as lectures: the Theological Institute held by the Nanking Board of Founders in Singapore in 1959; the Perkins School of Theology in Dallas in 1960. Above all, a salute must be given to my wife, whose help, from first draft through the last, has been phenomenal.

Paul S. Minear

February, 1960