Catholic Letters

What Are They Saying About the Catholic Epistles? surveys the recent study of the letters of James, 1 and 2 Peter, 1, 2, and 3 John, and Jude. These letters are known collectively as the Catholic or General Epistles, on the grounds that they were originally addressed to early Christians in general. In this respect, they differ from the letters of Paul, which were usually addressed to specific congregations such as those in Corinth and Rome.

Although the Catholic Epistles may not be as well known today as some other writings in the New Testament, they can make a rich contribution to the individual and corporate Christian life. This book addresses issues such as:

--authorship and date
--sources and affinities
--literary genre and structure
--setting and purpose
--Christological and theological formulations

Clearly and concisely written, this book seeks to promote a broader awareness of recent scholarship, a greater understanding of the Catholic Epistles, and a deeper appreciation for their contribution to Christian faith and Christian life in society.

The letter of James has enjoyed a colorful history, with its background and significance widely debated over the centuries. In this book an outstanding scholar of the New Testament offers new and selected studies of James that show its roots in antiquity and its importance for Christian history and theology. Luke Timothy Johnson explores the letter of James from a variety of perspectives. After a general introduction to James, he looks at its history of interpretation. Johnson then examines James's social and historical situation, its place within Scripture, and its use of the sayings of Jesus. Several exegetical studies take care to place James in the context of Hellenistic moral discourse. Two concluding essays look at the themes of friendship and gender in James. While seemingly of interest only to professionals, Johnson's Brother of Jesus, Friend of God will also be accessible to general readers serious about Bible study, and church groups will find this volume to be a fruitful entry into an important portion of the New Testament.

In this fascinating book John Keenan offers a classical commentary on the New Testament Letter of James, section by section, informed by a thorough study of contemporary Jamesian scholarship. His approach is unique in that it employs Mahayana Buddhist philosophy as the interpretive lens to focus on this early Christian text.

The author argues that the first chapter of James' letter presents wisdom as non-discriminative, in a manner very similar to Mahayana Buddhist teaching on wisdom. And James' insistence upon deeds of compassion and justice recommends a notion of Christian practice that is quite close to the Mahayana ideal of Bodhisattva engagement in the world. Because of these areas of resonance, James is particularly amenable to a Mahayana reading--a reading that enables us to elicit fresh insights from the text.

In this newest addition to the acclaimed BECNT series, respected New Testament scholar Karen H. Jobes provides a fresh commentary on 1 Peter. 1 Peter admirably achieves the dual aims of the BECNT series--it is academically sophisticated as well as pastorally sensitive and accessible. This volume features Jobes's own translation of the Greek text and detailed interaction with the meaning of the text, emphasizing the need to read 1 Peter in light of its cultural background. Jobes's commentary will help pastors, students, and teachers better understand the Christian's role as a "foreigner" in contemporary society.