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Sojourners and Strangers: The Doctrine of the Church
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Sojourners and Strangers: The Doctrine of the Church
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Overview
Product Details
ISBN-13: | 9781581346619 |
---|---|
Publisher: | Crossway |
Publication date: | 11/30/2012 |
Series: | Foundations of Evangelical Theology |
Pages: | 496 |
Product dimensions: | 6.10(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.40(d) |
About the Author
John S. Feinberg (PhD, University of Chicago) is department chair and professor of biblical and systematic theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He is the author of Ethics for a Brave New World (with Paul D. Feinberg) and is general editor of Crossway’s Foundations of Evangelical Theology series.
Table of Contents
Series Introduction 15
Preface 19
Abbreviations 23
Part 1 Foundational Issues
Chapter 1 Introduction to Ecclesiology 27
Ecclesial Background and Experience
Basic Idea of the Church
Ecclesiology as a Doctrine
The Scope of Ecclesiology
The Sufficiency of Scripture
Other Sources
The Methodology for Ecclesiology
Continuity and Discontinuity between the Testaments
Biblical Language: Prescription versus Description
Basic Approaches to Ecclesiology
Concluding Question: Is Ecclesiology an Important Doctrine?
Chapter 2 The Church of the New Covenant 61
The Concept of the Church
The Concept of Covenant
Covenants That Were Operative before Christ
The Church of the New Covenant
The Inception of the Church
The Relationship of the Church and Israel
The Relationship of the Church and the Kingdom of God
The Identity of the Kingdom of God
The Church and the Kingdom as God's Universal Rule and Eternal Dominion
The Church and the Kingdom as Israel
The Church and the Kingdom as Belonging to the Son of Man/Davidic King
The Church and the Kingdom as an Inaugurated Reality
The Church and the Kingdom as an Eschatological Reality
Part 2 The Biblical Vision-Characteristics of the Church
Chapter 3 Characteristics Regarding the Origin and Orientation of the Church 103
Introduction
The Church Is Doxological
The Church Is Logocentric
Logos: Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Word of God
Logos: Scripture, the Inspired Word of God
The Church Is Pneumadynamic
Affirming the Church as Doxological, Logocentric, and Pneumadynamic
Chapter 4 Characteristics Regarding the Gathering and Sending of the Church 123
Introduction
The Church Is Covenantal
The Church in New Covenant Relationship with God through Christ
Church Members in Covenant Relationship with One Another
The Church as Covenantal: Some Specifications
The Church Is Confessional
Personal Confession of Faith in the Saving
Lordship of Jesus Christ
A Common, Corporate Confession of the Church's Faith
A Proposal
The Church Is Missional
The Church Is Spatio-temporal/Eschatological
Part 3 The Vision Actualized-The Growth of the Church
Chapter 5 The Purity and Unity of the Church 161
The Purity of the Church
The Reality of More-Pure and Less-Pure Churches
The Unity of the Church
Foundations of Church Unity
Maintaining Church Unity
Chapter 6 Church Discipline 179
Definition and Its Biblical Support
Two Key Texts and Their Application to Church Discipline
Matthew 18:15-20
1 Corinthians 5:1-13 (with 2 Corinthians 2:5-11)
Other Matters Requiring Church Discipline
Heretical Teaching
Divisiveness
Idleness
Leadership Failures
The Practice of Church Discipline
Part 4 The Government of the Church
Chapter 7 The Offices of the Church 205
The Office of Apostle
The Apostles and Their Qualifications
The Ministries of the Apostles
The Cessation of the Office of Apostle
The Office of Elder
Qualifications
Responsibilities
The Limitation of the Office of Elder to Qualified Men
The Complementarian Position
The Egalitarian Position
Responses to the Egalitarian Position
A Challenge from the Complementarian Position
The Office of Deacon/Deaconess
The Office of Service
Qualifications and Responsibilities
The Accessibility of the Office of Deacon to Both Men and Women (Deaconesses)
Chapter 8 Types of Church Government 249
Introduction
The Supreme Headship of Jesus Christ
Historical Types of Church Government
Episcopalianism
Description
Biblical and Theological Support
Misapprehensions and Misgivings
Presbyterianism
Description
Biblical and Theological Support
Misapprehensions and Misgivings
Congregationalism
Description
Biblical and Theological Support
Misapprehensions and Misgivings
Varieties of Congregationalism
Single Pastor with Board of Deacons
Plurality of Elders
Chapter 9 A Model of Church Governance 297
Support for Strong Connections among Congregational Churches
Biblical Examples
Lessons Learned from Episcopalianism and Presbyterianism
Historical Precedents
Intense Longing for Cooperation
A Proposal for the Governance of Congregational Churches
Excursus: Multisite Churches
Biblical Support
Theological Support
A Multisite Church Model
Part 5 The Ordinances of the Church
Chapter 10 Baptism 321
Sacraments and Ordinances: General Discussion
A Brief History of the Development of Baptismal Theology and Practice
Baptism in the Early Church
The Turn to Infant Baptism
Reformation Changes to Baptism
Martin Luther
Huldrych Zwingli
The Anabaptists
John Calvin
Post-Reformation Developments
The Current Theological Divide between Paedobaptism and Believer's Baptism: Who Is to Be Baptized?
Key Tenets of Infant Baptism (or Paedobaptism)
Key Tenets of Believer's Baptism (or Credobaptism)
Evaluation of Believer's Baptism by Paedobaptism, and Rejoinders by Believer's Baptism
Evaluation of Paedobaptism by Believer's Baptism, and Rejoinders by Paedobaptism
The Practice of Believer's Baptism
The Mode of Baptism
The Meaning of Baptism
Is Baptism Necessary for Salvation?
Miscellaneous Matters for Believer's Baptism
Chapter 11 The Lord's Supper 365
Historical Development: The Early and Medieval Church
The Five Principal Views of the Lord's Supper
Catholic Transubstantiation
Lutheran Consubstantiation (or Sacramental Union)
Zwinglian Memorial View
Calvinist Spiritual Presence View
Anabaptist and Baptist Views
Biblical and Theological Framework
The Institution by Jesus Christ
The Pauline Tradition
My Perspective and Matters of Application
The Nature of the Lord's Supper
Regular Observance with Biblically Prescribed Elements
Participants in the Lord's Supper
Participation in a Worthy Manner
A Symbol of Church Unity
A Proleptic Celebration
Part 6 The Ministries of the Church
Chapter 12 Ministries of the Church 413
Divine Enablement for Ministry: Spiritual Gifts
Apostles/Apostleship
Prophets/Prophecy
Teachers/Teaching/Pastor-teachers
Evangelists
Utterance of Wisdom and Utterance of Knowledge
Exhortation
Leading/Administration
Faith
Service/Helping
Giving
Acts of Mercy
Gifts of Healing
Working of Miracles/Miracles
Distinguishing of Spirits
Kinds of Tongues
Interpretation of Tongues
Other "Gifts"
The Church Worships the Triune God
Defining Worship
Regulative Principle versus Normative Principle
The Church Proclaims the Word of God
The Church Engages Non-Christians with the Gospel
The Church Disciples Its Members
Christian Education
Community Life
The Church Cares for People
Prayer
Giving
Financial Support of Pastors
Assistance for Those in Need
The Church Is for and against the World
Part 7 Conclusion
Chapter 13 Sojourners and Strangers 467
Scripture Index 472
General Index 483
What People are Saying About This
“I believe that the doctrine of the church will be the most urgent locus of theological reflection over the next generation. In Sojourners and Strangers, Gregg Allison clears the ground by presenting a thoroughly biblical ecclesiology, at once comprehensive in scope and sensitive to nuance. A welcome addition to an important series.”—Timothy George, Distinguished Professor of Divinity, Beeson Divinity School, Samford University
“The doctrine of the church is one that continues to divide Christians, and especially Protestants, from one another. Dr. Gregg Allison has grasped this thorny nettle and produced a book that presents both the basic principles that unite us and the controversies that continue to produce different ecclesial formations. He maintains his own conservative, Reformed Baptist convictions while being fair to those who hold other views, making his book a valuable contribution to our understanding of this vitally important subject.”—Gerald Bray, Research Professor, Beeson Divinity School
“I am a full-time pastor, and therefore I must be a full-time theologian. As a pastor, my highest calling is to honor Jesus by shepherding his flock. As a theologian, my highest calling is to laud Jesus publically as the hope of the world. Quite frankly, I need help as I deal with real life difficulties that I could not fictionally create. Dr. Allison’s work in Sojourners and Strangers is the most helpful, theologically driven manual for leading in the church. If you buy it, you’ll wear it out.”—Tyler Jones, Lead Pastor, Vintage Church, Raleigh, North Carolina; Founder, Advance the Church
“Gregg Allison’s Sojourners and Strangers is historically informed, exegetically driven, and theological precise. Even more, this timely tour-de-force ecclesiology displays a love for the church and is written for the church!”—Christopher W. Morgan, Dean, School of Christian Ministries, California Baptist University; Pastor, Immanuel Baptist Church, Highland, California
“No longer can one regard ‘evangelical ecclesiology’ as a contradiction in terms. Among the many recent evangelical volumes on the doctrine of the church, Allison’s will undoubtedly prove to be the standard treatment for years to come. This excellent book is biblically faithful, historically informed, and pastorally relevant. One need not agree with Allison on every point of interpretation to profit immensely from his insights. I struggle to think of another volume on the subject that combines both theological depth and practical wisdom in such readable fashion as does Allison. I cannot recommend it too highly.”—Sam Storms, Founder and President, Enjoying God Ministries
“Dr. Gregg Allison has done a masterful job of writing a thorough yet practical analysis of the church. This volume is a ‘must read’ for any serious pastor or theologian who desires to look into the heart of evangelical ecclesiology. As a conservative Christian and pastor of a local church I am too quick to recommend or make decisions regarding the ‘practice’ of the local church with little thought of accountability or connectedness to the church both universal or historical. Allison brings such breadth and depth to the beauty of the church by tracing every section through the early church, Catholic Church, Reformation, and into our contemporary culture and times. I especially appreciated Gregg’s willingness to address prominent issues churches are currently struggling with—such as church governance or the ‘multisite’ movement. This book fills the void that has long existed in most evangelicals’ libraries!”—Jeffrey T. Gilmore, Executive Teaching Pastor, Parkview Evangelical Free Church, Iowa City, Iowa
“Writing an evangelical ecclesiology is a difficult task, due to the fact that evangelicals differ on many aspects of ecclesiology. All will not agree with the positions taken by Gregg Allison in Sojourners and Strangers, but all will profit from his detailed study. He is especially thorough in his treatment of polity and the ordinances, and goes down some seldom-explored paths in his opening sections. At points, his arguments require careful reading, but often open up new perspectives. I commend it to students of ecclesiology.”—John S. Hammett, Professor of Systematic Theology, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary; author, Biblical Foundations for Baptist Churches
“In this comprehensive treatment of the doctrine of the church, Gregg Allison brings a depth of doctrinal reflection, scriptural understanding, and practical wisdom to bear. Interacting with various ecclesiological perspectives throughout church history and today, he provides a balanced, biblical, and up-to-date treatment of topics from the characteristics of the church, to church government, to church ministry—all informed by his understanding of the paradoxical nature of the church as both part of the world and yet looking to another Kingdom. This work will make a major theological contribution to the expanding literature on the doctrine of the church.”—Justin S. Holcomb, Episcopal Priest; Adjunct Professor of Theology, Reformed Theological Seminary, Orlando; coauthor, Rid of My Disgrace and God Made All of Me; editor, Christian Theologies of Scripture
“Gregg Allison has done evangelicals a great service with a true theology of the church. In the endless stream of books and blogs on technique and pragmatics of doing church, Sojourners and Strangers gives an answer to the question ‘what is a church?’ that is superbly written, soundly biblical, theologically coherent, and practically applicable. His expertise in historical theology and his experience in leadership in a variety of types of churches enrich his profound biblical insights. It is a must read for all who are serious about leadership in the church of Jesus Christ.”—Gerry Breshears, Professor of Theology and Chair of the Center for Biblical and Theological Studies, Western Seminary; coauthor, Death by Love: Letters from the Cross