“Reading Scripture as Wesleyans”

I just finished another book that I’m reading before ordination (see 75 Days of Preparation for Ordination). Reading Scripture as Wesleyans by Joel B. Green (now at Fuller Theological Seminary, formerly at Asbury) is described as “ideal for use with the Wesley Study Bible.”

I enjoyed reading this book. It takes a look at how Wesley used a number of different New Testament books in his sermons, which also provides a Wesleyan view of Scripture.

Here are some statements I highlighted …

There is only one church. So words addressed to God’s people in the first century are actually addressed to the whole people of God, everywhere and at all times. (3)

In discussing Wesley’s use of Matthew, Green points out a “hallmark of Wesleyan faith” …

Becoming Christian is not simply an event in the past; rather, one ‘becomes’ Christian through ongoing formation of heart and life in ways that reflect the image of Christ. (11)

I’ve used orthodoxy (right doctrine) and orthopraxy (right action), and I’ve used orthopathy (right passion) (similar to Green’s use of orthokardia, right heart), so I love this statement …

… neither orthodoxy (‘right doctrine’) nor orthopraxy (‘right action’) can substitute for orthokardia (‘right heart’). (22)

Besides discussing Wesley’s use of Scripture, the book also gives a nice overview/summary of some of the New Testament books. For example, on Luke’s writings (his Gospel and Acts), Green notes …

… the account of Jesus’ suffering and death comprises some 25 percent of the Gospel, so Paul’s arrest and trials account for some 25 percent of Acts. … Taken together, the writings of Luke comprise the single largest contribution to the New Testament (28 percent of the whole). (63)

On Hebrews …

For Hebrews as for Wesley, salvation was not merely a fixed point in the past but an ongoing pilgrimage as one moves forward to maturity in the faith. (105)

Jesus thus walked faithfully the path of obedience to God and blazed the trail of holy living that others might follow. (108)

I love this statement …

Moving on in the journey of salvation is nonnegotiable. Not to move on is to fall away. (109)

Green does a nice job discussing how our practices form us …

Christians engage in such practices because of their allegiance to Christ, and their engagement in those practices forms them more fully in their allegiance to Christ. (114)

On “testing” and “temptation” …

The paradox, which we find in both James ad 1 Peter, is that the very process that can lead to growth in faith and faithfulness toward God (that is, ‘testing’) can also lead to loss of faithfulness, even falling away from faith (that is, ‘temptation’) (121). … It is a ‘trial’ (that leads to maturation) when believers respond to it appropriately, with joy; but it is a ‘temptation’ (that leads to death) when believers respond to it inappropriately, out of their own evil inclinations. (122)

Finally, a couple quotes from Green’s treatment of Revelation …

… the basic Christian response to which John calls his readers is nothing less (and nothing more) than ongoing, stubborn allegiance to the kingdom of God. (165)

Indeed, what a remarkable scene John has given us—not in order to feed curiosity or nurture speculation about the end, but in order to cultivate hope in the God who will set hings right, and to call for present responses of faithfulness and praise. (171)

Good stuff!

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