The Priestly Kingdom: Social Ethics As Gospel

In this volume of essays John Howard Yoder projects a vision of Christian social ethics rooted in historical community and illuminated by scripture. Drawing upon scriptural accounts of the early church, he demonstrates the Christian community's constant need for reform and change. Yoder first examines the scriptural and theoretical foundations of Christian social ethics. While personally committed to the "radical reformation" tradition, he eschews "denominational" categorization and addresses Christians in general. The status of Christian community, he argues, cannot be separated from the doctrinal content of beliefs and the moral understanding of discipleship. As a result, the Christian's voluntary commitment to a particular community, as distinct from secular society, offers him valuable resources for practical moral reasoning. From a historical perspective, Yoder reviews the efforts of sixteenth-century radical (or Anabaptist) reformers to return to the fundamental ethical standards of the New Testament, and to disengage the community, as a biblically rooted call to faith that does not imply withdrawal from the pluralistic world. Rather, radical commitment to Christianity strengthens and renews the authentic human interests and values of the whole society. His analyses of democracy and of civil religion illustrate how Christianity must challenge and embrace the wider world.

The Priestly Kingdom: Social Ethics as Gospel

History

Yoder, John Howard

Historical Study & Educational Resources

University of Notre Dame Press

In this volume of essays John Howard Yoder projects a vision of Christian social ethics rooted in historical community and illuminated by scripture. Drawing upon scriptural accounts of the early church, he demonstrates the Christian community's constant need for reform and change. Yoder first examines the scriptural and theoretical foundations of Christian social ethics. While personally committed to the "radical reformation" tradition, he eschews "denominational" categorization and addresses Christians in general. The status of Christian community, he argues, cannot be separated from the doctrinal content of beliefs and the moral understanding of discipleship. As a result, the Christian's voluntary commitment to a particular community, as distinct from secular society, offers him valuable resources for practical moral reasoning. From a historical perspective, Yoder reviews the efforts of sixteenth-century radical (or Anabaptist) reformers to return to the fundamental ethical standards of the New Testament, and to disengage the community, as a biblically rooted call to faith that does not imply withdrawal from the pluralistic world. Rather, radical commitment to Christianity strengthens and renews the authentic human interests and values of the whole society. His analyses of democracy and of civil religion illustrate how Christianity must challenge and embrace the wider world.

Between 1971 and 1996, the late John Howard Yoder wrote a series of ten essays "revisiting" the Jewish-Christian schism. He argued that, properly understood, Jesus did not reject Judaism, Judaism did not reject Jesus and that the apostle Paul's mandate for the salvation of the nations is best understood not as a product of his Hellenization, but rather as belonging to the context of his Jewish heritage. Drawing on his lifelong critique of the Constantinian deformation of Christianity, Yoder argues that the "free church" vision of Christianity can be closely linked to Diaspora Judaism. In their introduction, the editors locate Yoder's argument in relation to his decades-long dialogue with the philosopher and rabbi Steven S. Schwarzschild and in relation to Yoder's understanding of Jewish-Christian reconciliation. The editors also show how Yoder's understanding of the Jewish-Christian schism must be understood in the context of his theological understanding of what it means for Christians and Jews to share the God-given vocation to be "missionary" peoples to and for the nations.

Jewish-Christian Schism Revisited: John Howard Yoder (Radical Traditions)

Religion & Spirituality

Christian Books & Bibles

SCM Press

Karl Barth and the problem of war, (Studies in Christian ethics series)

ABINGDON PRESS *

Tradition has painted a portrait of a Savior aloof from governmental concerns and whose teachings point to an apolitical life for his disciples. How, then, are we to respond today to a world so thoroughly entrenched in national and international affairs? But such a picture of Jesus is far from accurate, argues John Howard Yoder. Using the texts of the New Testament, Yoder critically examines the traditional portrait of Jesus as an apolitical figure and attempts to clarify the true impact of Jesus' life, work, and teachings on his disciples' social behavior. The book first surveys the multiple ways the image of an apolitical Jesus has been propagated, then canvasses the Gospel narrative to reveal how Jesus is rightly portrayed as a thinker and leader immediately concerned with the agenda of politics and the related issues of power, status, and right relations. Selected passages from the epistles corroborate a Savior deeply concerned with social, political, and moral issues. In this thorough revision of his acclaimed 1972 text, Yoder provides updated interaction with publications touching on this subject. Following most of the chapters are new "epilogues" that summarize research conducted during the last two decades -- research that continues to support the insights set forth in Yoder's original work. Currently a standard in many college and seminary ethics courses, The Politics of Jesus is also an excellent resource for the general reader desiring to understand Christ's response to the world of politics and his will for those who would follow him.

The Politics of Jesus

World

Eerdmans

Tradition has painted a portrait of a Savior who stands aloof from governmental concerns and who calls his disciples to an apolitical life. But such a picture of Jesus is far from accurate, according to John Howard Yoder. This watershed work in New Testament ethics leads us to a Savior who was deeply concerned with the agenda of politics and the related issues of power, status, and right relations. By canvassing Luke's Gospel, Yoder argues convincingly that the true impact of Jesus' life and ministry on his disciples' social behavior points to a specific kind of Christian pacifism in which "the cross of Christ is the model of Christian social efficacy." This second edition of The Politics of Jesus provides up-to-date interaction with recent publications that touch on Yoder's timely topic. Following most of the chapters are new "epilogues" summarizing research conducted during the last two decades - research that continues to support the outstanding insights set forth in Yoder's original work.

Politics of Jesus

Eerdmans, William B.@publishin

This collection of essays by John Howard Yoder written over the course of his career reflect his consistent conviction that the Christian believer is the bearer of good news for the culture at large and that he must engage that culture intentionally.

For the Nations: Essays Evangelical and Public

Wm. B. Eerdmans-Lightning Source

Can any war really be considered "just"? If so, which wars, and under what circumstances? If not, why not? When War Is Unjust provides a systematic exploration of these questions for students of ethics, Christian doctrine, and history. For centuries the just-war tradition has been the dominant framework for Christian thinking about organized conflict. This tradition sets a number of specific conditions which must be satisfied before a particular war can termed "just" and therefore supportable by the faithful Christian. John Howard Yoder, himself a pacifist, approaches the just-war theory on its own terms. His purpose: to introduce the student to this just-war tradition, and to offer a critical framework for evaluating its tenets and applying them to real conflicts. When War Is Unjust takes the just-war tradition seriously, and holds its proponents accountable in a critical debate about when - if ever - war can be justified. It is a readable and thought-provoking primer on the history, criteria, and application of just-war teaching in Christian churches. Study guides and a bibliography, as well as helpful responses from Charles Lutz (Lutheran) and Drew Christiansen (Roman Catholic) make this an ideal text for undergraduate ethics courses, peace studies, and individuals interested in exploring the meaning and application of just-war theory.

When War Is Unjust: Being Honest in Just-War Thinking

Religious Studies

Augsburg Fortress Pub

Examines the message of Jesus Christ and discusses how to put the teachings of Christianity into practice in daily life

God's Revolution: The Witness of Eberhard Arnold

Hutterian Society of Brothers (Rifton, N. Y.)

Paulist Pr

2014 Best Texts of Missiology, from Byron Borger, Hearts and Minds Bookstore John Howard Yoder, author of The Politics of Jesus (1972), was best known for his writing and teaching on Christian pacifism. The material in Theology of Mission shows he was a profound missiologist as well. Working from a believers or free church perspective, Yoder effortlessly weaves together biblical, theological, practical and interreligious reflections to think about mission beyond Christendom. Along the way he traces the developments in the theology of mission and argues for an understanding of the church that is not merely a corrective but a genuine alternative. The church is missionary by nature, called to bear witness to the coming kingdom, because it serves the missionary God of the Bible "who comes, who takes the initiative, who reaches across whatever it is that separates us." Decades later, these lectures read just as fresh and relevant as if they were written today. As the editors state in their preface, "those who have followed Yoder’s work over the years will find this book to be some of his most striking unpublished material since The Politics of Jesus." Not just a volume for Yoder enthusiasts, Theology of Mission is for anyone who cares about the mission of the church today. It only reinforces Yoder's status as one of the most important and prophetic theologians of the last century.

Theology of Mission: A Believers Church Perspective

IVP Academic

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