The Faith of the Outsider: Exclusion and Inclusion in the Biblical StoryThis book offers a probing, insightful look at the "outsider" motif running through the Bible. The biblical story about God's covenant with "insiders" -- with Israel as the chosen people -- is scandalous in today's cultural climate of inclusivity. But, as Frank Anthony Spina shows, God's exclusive election actually has an inclusive purpose. Looking carefully at the biblical narrative, Spina highlights in bold relief seven remarkable stories that treat nonelect people positively and, even more, as strategically important participants in God's plan of salvation. The stories of Esau, Tamar, Rahab, Naaman, Jonah, Ruth, and the woman at the well come alive in new ways as Spina discusses and examines them from an outsider-insider point of view. |
Contents
Introduction | 1 |
Esau The Face of God | 14 |
Tamars Resolve Judahs Family Israels Future | 35 |
Rahab and Achan Role Reversals | 52 |
Naamans Cure Gehazis Curse | 72 |
Jonah Prophet Among To and Against Outsiders | 94 |
Ruth The Moabite Connection | 117 |
The Woman at the Well | 137 |
Notes | 160 |
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Common terms and phrases
Abraham Achan actions ancestors Aram Aramean become Bible biblical birthright blessing Boaz Boaz's Book of Jonah Book of Joshua Book of Ruth brother Canaanite chapter character Chezib confession context conversation deity Deut disciples divine Edom election Elisha episode Esau Esau's exclusive fact faith Fokkelman Fourth Gospel Gehazi Genesis 38 gift gleaning God's grace Hebrew insider Isaac Israel Israel's future Israelite Jacob Jericho Jesus Jewish Jews John Jonah Josh Judah judgment king land least matter means Messiah military Moab Moabite moral Naaman Naomi narrator negative Nineveh Ninevites Old Testament Onan once outsider motif perhaps perspective phrase positive prayer promise prophet prostitute question quintessential Rahab refers religious response role Ruth Ruth's sailors Samaria Samaritan Samaritan woman says scene seems sexual Shelah speak spies status story surely Tamar theme theological tion tive turns verb wife word worship YHWH YHWH's
References to this book
Imitating Jesus: And Inclusive Approach to New Testament Ethics Richard A. Burridge Limited preview - 2007 |