An Introduction to Christian Theology

Second Edition

By

Anthony Towey

Bloomsbury T&T Clark

An imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

t&t clark

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Bloomsbury T&T Clark

An imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

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First published 2013

This version published 2018

© Anthony Towey, 2018

Anthony Towey has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as Author of this work.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publishers.

No responsibility for loss caused to any individual or organization acting on or refraining from action as a result of the material in this publication can be accepted by Bloomsbury or the author.

British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data

A catalogue record for this books is available from the British Library.

ISBN: HB: 978-0-5676-7820-1

PB: 978-0-5676-7819-5

ePub: 978-0-5676-7821-8

epdf: 978-0-5676-7822-5

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Cover image © The Martyrs’ Picture by Durante Alberti, 1581 Photograph by Anthony Milner

Contents

Acknowledgements

Foreword

Foreword to the second edition

Abbreviations

Part 1 Introduction

1 Thoughtful Conversation about God

a) Theology: Thoughtful conversation about God

b) Theology: A basic human conversation

c) Theology: A confused conversation?

d) Theology: A conversation about meaning

e) Theology: A conversation across time

f) Theology as an open conversation

g) Theology and personal faith

h) Theology as history, interpretation and paradox

Summary

Part 2 Theology of Creation and Covenant

2 Genesis: God, Creation and Humanity

a) The Bible: An inspired library

b) In the beginning

c) A dam-burst of theology

d) Introducing Adam and Eve

e) The poem of the fall

f) The loss of communion

g) The battles of the sexes

h) East of Eden

i) Postscript: Authors, editors and Star Wars

Summary

3 The Torah: Covenant, Exodus and the Law

a) The Bible and Christian interpretation

b) Abraham and monotheism

c) Fraternal rivalry from Isaac to Joseph

d) Moses and YHWH: The rebel meets the holy

e) The divine name

f) Exodus

g) Habiru and ritual identity

h) Ten words of freedom

i) Moses and Torah

Summary

4 Nebi’im: Prophets, Kings and Covenant

a) Theology of covenant

b) Covenant and violence

c) Covenant and kingship

d) Covenant and the prophets

e) Injustice and infidelity

f) Invasion and salvation

g) Josiah and the Deuteronomist

h) Theology of exile

i) Colonization and later prophecy

Summary

5 Ketubim: Priests, Poets, Wisdom

a) Ketubim and theology

b) Priestly power and the Second ...