Friday, October 30, 2009

Coming Soon from Baker Academic: Jesus and the Land

This past Tuesday I attended sales conference for Baker Publishing Group and was able to see the forthcoming titles for Summer 2010 (May - August). Over the next couple of weeks I will feature some of the titles I found particularly interesting.

This first title is from Gary M. Burge, professor of New Testament at Wheaton College called Jesus and the Land: The New Testament Challenge to "Holy Land" Theology. The early praise for this book is impressive. Consider this from Craig Blomberg:

"Gary Burge may be American evangelicalism's foremost expert on a biblical theology of the land of Israel. This book reintroduces sanity, common sense, and exegetical acumen into a discussion that often sadly lacks these traits. Absolutely essential reading for any Christian who wants to hold a biblically defensible position on the topic."

Klyne Snodgrass says "For many years Gary Burge has focused on issues relating to Palestinians and the land of Israel. In this careful survey of biblical material, he pulls the rug from under any Christian emphasis on a special status for the land of Israel and from under Christian Zionism. Churches and pastors need to give serious attention to this study and follow its lead."

Walter Brueggemann comments, "A valuable contribution to the ongoing matter of the 'Holy Land' so contested by Israelis and Palestinians. . . Burge's reading of Scripture is persuasive and provides a fresh way to think about 'faith and land.'"

Burge just recently published a popular treatment from Zondervan entitled The Bible and the Land. You can get a good look at it on Koinonia.

Jesus and the Land is due out April 2010. It will be a paperback with 192 pages and sell for $22.99.

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