THE HEART OF PAUL’S GOSPEL
Snapshots
Michael F. Bird, Series Editor
David A. deSilva
Transformation: The Heart of Paul’s Gospel
Snapshots
Copyright 2014 David A. deSilva
Lexham Press, 1313 Commercial St., Bellingham, WA 98225
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Scripture quotations marked (CEB) are taken from the Common English Bible © 2011 Common English Bible.
Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are taken from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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Scripture quotations marked (NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, Copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission. All rights reserved.
ISBN 978-1-57-799560-9
Series Editor: Michael F. Bird
Assistant Editors: Claire Brubaker, Lynnea Fraser, Abigail Stocker
Cover Design: Christine Gerhart
In memory of Dr. James E. Ridgway Sr. (1932–2014),
founder and former president of Educational Opportunities Tours
Introduction: Hearing the Whole of Paul’s Good News
Foundations for a Broader Understanding of Paul’s Gospel of Transformation
Transformation in Paul’s Proclamation of Good News
The Necessity of Transformation: “There Is No Favoritism with God” (Rom 2:11)
The Necessity of Transformation: Paul Places Conditions on Salvation beyond Mere Belief
What Does “Justification” Involve for Paul?
Once Saved, Always Saved—but When “Saved”? Salvation as a “Work in Process”
A Great Gift Is a Great Responsibility
The Gospel Means the Transformation of the Individual: You Are Free to Become a New Person in Christ
You Were Freed for a Fresh Start with God
You Were Freed from Being Who You Were to Become Holy and Just in God’s Sight
You Were Freed to Live a Life of Doing Good
Transformation Means a Putting Off and a Putting On
God Makes This Transformation Possible through the Gift of the Holy Spirit
You Are Free from the Fear of Death
The Gospel Means the Transformation of Community: You Are Free to Relate to One Another in New Ways
The Transformation of Strangers into Family, Many Bodies into One Body
Paul’s Guidance for Living as a Transformed and Transforming Community
Investing in and Encouraging One Another
Moving from Self-Centered Rights to Other-Centered Restraint
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About Transformation: The Heart of Paul’s GospelThe Apostle Paul found the gospel message so compelling that he became a rootless wanderer and endured hardships and deprivation to spread this good news throughout the Roman Empire. What was the “gift of righteousness” that Paul was so eager to share? David deSilva argues that it was far richer than the “get out of hell free” pass that some Christians have unintentionally reduced it to today. In Transformation: The Heart of Paul’s Gospel, deSilva guides readers in expanding their definition of the gospel message as presented in Paul’s letters. He succinctly demonstrates that the gift of righteousness that Paul speaks of in Romans is nothing less than the means to transform and renew all of creation—including ourselves. Join deSilva as he explores Paul’s message of change and renewal, and prepare to be transformed in your own thinking in the process. The Snapshots series, edited by renowned scholar Michael Bird, engages significant issues in contemporary biblical scholarship, making them accessible to busy students of the Word and applicable in the life of the church. |
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