Is your faith countercultural?
When he wrote his first letter to the church in Corinth, Paul wanted to address two cultural issues that the Christians in the city were wrestling with: prosperity and entertainment. He urged the young believers struggling in the midst of Graeco-Roman society to live lives shaped by Christ. Believers today are not immune to these same worldly temptations the Corinthian church was facing.
In Transformed in Christ: 1 Corinthians, Ron Elsdon and William Olhausen show us how Paul uses the cross to define the distinctive patterns of life and behavior to which Christians are called. The transformation that comes from cross-shaped wisdom is not a singular moment in a believer’s life, but a continual process of refinement and spiritual growth. The result is a living, countercultural faith marked by discernment, wisdom, and love.
This work is to be commended.
–Anthony C. Thiselton, professor emeritus of Christian theology, University of Nottingham and University of Chester
A superbly rich and thoughtfully applied distillation of the major themes in 1 Corinthians.
–Maurice Elliott, director, Church of Ireland Theological Institute
God’s Word is transformative. It is this conviction which gives the Transformative Word series its name and its unique character. Series Editors Craig G. Bartholomew and David J. H. Beldman have worked alongside authors from around the world to identify a key theme in each book of the Bible, and each volume provides careful Biblical exegesis centered on that gripping theme. The result is an engaging, accessible thematic exploration of a biblical book, poised to offer you new and refreshing insights.
Learn more about the other titles in this series.
Ron Elsdon is a retired former rector of St. Bartholomew’s Church in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He has written and lectured for many years on the subject of creation and care for the environment.
William Olhausen studied theology at Wycliffe Hall in Oxford and has been ordained in the Anglican Church since 1998. Since 2011, he has served as a parish minister in the Diocese of Dublin, Ireland.