Luke Timothy Johnson is an American New Testament scholar and historian of early Christianity. His research interests delve into the Jewish and Greco-Roman contexts of early Christianity, with a particular focus on moral discourse. He also examines the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts, alongside the Pastoral Epistles and the Epistle of James, illuminating the complex intellectual currents of the early church.
Focusing on the interpretation of the "Letter of James," this book explores its historical significance and the enduring appreciation it has received throughout the centuries. It asserts that the letter's authorship can be traced back to James, the brother of Jesus Christ, providing insight into its origins and impact on early Christian thought.
The collection features sermons delivered over fifty years, intricately connected to the church's liturgical calendar. These homilies demonstrate how lectionary texts, worship cycles, and the realities faced by modern believers can interact dynamically, fostering a rich dialogue that enhances the spiritual experience.
A witness to the peculiar way of being that is the scholar's Luke Timothy Johnson is one of the best-known and most influential New Testament scholars of recent decades. In this memoir, he draws on his rich experience to invite readers into the scholar's life--its aims, commitments, and habits. In addition to sharing his own story, from childhood to retirement, Johnson reflects on the nature of scholarship more generally, showing how this vocation has changed over the past half-century and where it might be going in the future. He is as candid and unsparing about negative trends in academia as he is hopeful about the possibilities of steadfast, disciplined scholarship. In two closing chapters, he discusses the essential intellectual and moral virtues of scholarly excellence, including curiosity, imagination, courage, discipline, persistence, detachment, and contentment. Johnson's robust defense of the scholarly life--portrayed throughout this book as a generative process of discovery and disclosure--will inspire both new and seasoned scholars, as well as anyone who reads and values good scholarship. But The Mind in Another Place ultimately resonates beyond the walls of the academy and speaks to matters more universally human: the love of knowledge and the lifelong pursuit of truth.
In The Real Jesus, Luke Timothy Johnson persuasively debunked the aims of the historical Jesus movement-and gave us what Christian Century called "one of the most exhilarating religious books published in this decade." Now, in his new book, this brilliant standard-bearer for traditional Christian faith moves beyond his critique of the Jesus Seminar--and guides us step-by-step to the living Jesus of authentic Christian life and faith. For Johnson, the real Jesus is not simply a historical figure--a dead man whose authentic words and deeds can be approached through historical research and textual analysis. Rather, the real Jesus is the resurrected Lord of Christian faith--a living savior who can be encountered in the world today. Being a Christian means learning this living Jesus by "putting on the mind of Christ" and being transformed in his image. Johnson begins by elucidating the mystery of Jesus' resurrection, which is the key to understanding why Jesus still lives. He demonstrates how Jesus is present in the community of the Christian Church--and how the Church is instrumental in helping us learn Jesus. For Johnson, the Christian traditions that the Church embodies--canon, creed, worship, prayer, veneration of saints, charity toward the powerless--are not dilutions of Jesus' message, but essential components of an authentic Christian spirituality. But Jesus also lives in Scripture, and to learn Jesus we must also learn the New Testament. Johnson leads us book by book through the Gospels, Acts, the Epistles, and Revelation, revealing how each text highlights particular facets of Jesus as the living one. He explains why all of the Gospels provide true witness to Christ's ministry--none takes precedence over the others--and how each can help us better understand Jesus. Fortified with this understanding, we can model our lives and faith on Jesus' own and work toward becoming authentic Christians. Cutting through the confusing claims made about the Jesus of history who died long ago, this remarkable book shows how to experience the Jesus of faith who still lives today. By guiding us through the complex, lifelong endeavor of learning Jesus, Johnson offers us a true gift, a book that will illuminate, inspire--and ultimately bring our lives closer to Jesus.
The Misguided Quest for the Historical Jesus and the Truth of the Traditional Go
Challenging the findings of the Jesus Seminar, this book presents a compelling argument for understanding Jesus through faith rather than speculative historical analysis. Respected New Testament scholar Luke Timothy Johnson draws on rigorous biblical and historical scholarship to assert that the authentic Jesus is experienced in the present. The latest edition includes a new preface where Johnson shares his insights on the ongoing debate surrounding Jesus' identity and teachings, positioning the book as a significant contribution to the discussion known as the "Jesus Wars."
Running your own business is nowhere near as tough as you might think. So what are you waiting for? In this title, the author sets out to inspire - and guide - every budding entrepreneur. It tackles the issues that really matter: finding the right idea, sourcing funds, and getting the best from the people you meet on the way - chiefly yourself.
Featuring a diverse collection of homilies and sermons, this book highlights reflections on lectionary texts during "Ordinary Time" and their relevance to Christian life. The pieces range from brief talks in a monastery setting to more formal sermons aimed at theology students and congregations throughout the US. Additionally, some sermons address significant ritual moments, providing a rich tapestry of spiritual guidance and insight for various audiences.
Focusing on the life and thought of the apostle Paul, this second volume delves into discerning his unique voice and addresses various interpretive challenges within the Pauline letters. It aims to provide readers with a deeper understanding of Paul's theological insights and contextual influences, enriching the study of his epistles.
An Interpretation
A book of reckoning, a book of ghosts, a book of lineal fracture and generational fatherlesness. It’s a visceral guide through boyhood into fatherhood. One that yields witness to trauma, erotic shames, brutalities and toxic masculinity, and in so doing, emerges with a speaker beginning to free himself.