David Peterson

Jesus spent much time explaining to his disciples `what was said in all the scriptures concerning himself' (Luke 24:27), and yet many Christians find it difficult to relate the Old Testament to their own life situations, or neglect its original meaning in search of a direct personal or doctrinal application. Furthermore, debate continues about how to preach the Old Testament as Christian Scripture. David Peterson provides a model for how to do this, rooted in biblical theology, and uses it to expound and apply an important group of chapters from the prophecy of Isaiah. In their original context, and through their us e by New Testament writers, these chapters provide a framework for understanding God's purposes for the world, and the central role of the Messiah in their accomplishment.

Gilbert et al. examine the impact of churches and church membership patterns on third parties and independent candidates in 20th-century U. S. politics. Candidates who choose not to run for office under the rubric of a major party face a well-known set of obstacles, yet the absence of discussion about the interconnections between religious institutions and minor parties is striking. The book presents a theoretical framework for understanding how religious institutions create, support, and sustain the political culture of local communities; by playing this role religious institutions support major parties and impede the electoral chances of political outsiders. The book's central finding is that third candidates are not privy to the ties that bind Democratic and Republican voters to their parties; one of the factors that creates and strengthens such ties is religion. Therefore, third candidates do best where church and party loyalties are weakest, or where third candidates have existing bases of support. The rare third candidate or minor party that possesses a base of support centered around a denomination or religious group can overcome such barriers. These conclusions are supported by analysis of census data, election returns, and voter surveys spanning the 20th century. Special attention is given to the 1992 and 1996 presidential candidacies of H. Ross Perot. This is an important analysis for scholars and other researchers dealing with American third parties and independent candidates and the impact of religion on politics.

In this book Dr David Peterson challenges the common assumption that the New Testament views sanctification as primarily a process. He argues that its emphasis falls upon sanctification as a definitive event, 'God's way of taking possession of us in Christ, setting us apart to belong to him and to fulfil his purpose for us'. Simply to identify sanctification with growth in holiness, he contends, obscures the emphasis and balance of New Testament teaching and creates unrealistic expectations. Throughout Dr Peterson builds his case on the careful exegesis of relevant passages, with a keen eye for the pastoral implications of his findings.

A thorough-going exposition of the biblical theology of worship. Deploying impressive exegetical gifts across the significant biblical data, Peterson sees worship as engaging with God in terms of a total lifestyle directed to glorifying him. A book which challenges much current thinking and practice.