The Power Of The Gospel -- By: Amy L. B. Peeler

Journal: Southeastern Theological Review
Volume: STR 06:2 (Winter 2015)
Article: The Power Of The Gospel
Author: Amy L. B. Peeler


The Power Of The Gospel

Amy L. B. Peeler

Wheaton College

Michael Bird had me at hello (almost). On page 23 (and that is pretty early in a 900 page book), he states, “I would describe myself as an ex-Baptist post-Presbyterian Anglican.” My heart felt strangely warmed for I have traveled the same journey: brought to faith in the Baptist church, trained in a Presbyterian seminary, and recently confirmed in the Anglican Communion. How inspiring will it be to think about the breadth of the Christian faith with a kindred soul, not only denominationally, but vocationally as well: a New Testament scholar deeply interested in the project of theology. And it was. At many turns I found myself informed, inspired, and in full support of Bird’s key claims. “The God we are confronted with in the Gospel is the Triune God” (p. 92). He demonstrates how creed crystalizes the truth of God’s being as revealed in Scripture. “Jesus’ life is in organic unity with Israel’s story” (p. 507). He captures the continuity of God’s new action in Christ. “Penal substitution and Christus Victor do not compete with one another but are part of a bigger picture” (p. 418) is an honest assessment of the richness of the Scriptural account. “Jesus’ resurrection points to a cosmic transformation” (p. 441). Salvation is not solely about the individual: “An approach to biblical interpretation that places Scripture and tradition in a continuous spiral of listening to the text and listening to our forefathers in the faith” (p. 70). Absolutely! And then he so frequently and thoroughly listens to the theologians of the patristic and reformation eras. “Ecclesiology needs to come to the forefront of our thinking” (p. 811), “Baptism is more than a symbol” (p. 774), “The Eucharist is the gospel in sight, smell, and taste” (p. 802). With the zeal of a convert, I delighted to see advocacy for the church and sacraments.

Alas, one detail in my own story prevents me from being Dr. Bird’s doppelganger. In my first teaching position, I worked at a Wesleyan school. For two years, I lived with them, thought with them, grew with them. And so because they fit the definition of

evangelical as Bird himself defines it,1 I found myself wondering if their voice was adequately represented in this Evangelical theology. Does the sanctifying work of the Spirit warrant more than a paragraph (p. 631)? Would not Wesley have some insight on the question of who can and should come to the Eucharist (p. 798)?2

I guess, of course, there is one other little factor that differe...

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