Paul S. Minear, Images of the Church in the New Testament. New Testament Library. Westminster/John Knox Press, 2005.
Referenced in: Biblical Ecclesiologies
LifeandLeadership.com Summary
Ecclesiology is very important to congregational leadership and renewal. Ecclesiologies come in several varieties. LifeandLeadership.com focuses on three – biblical, comparative, and contextualized. For definitions see the essay on Church Renewal/Ecclesiology. Also, since each major section of this site has a biblical/theological component, see the other theologies categorized under missional, evangelism, social action, pastoral, practical, etc. These are also compiled under one heading, Theology of Mission and Ministry.
In terms of biblical ecclesiology, this is a recognized classic, printed originally in 1960 and recently repackaged in 2005. It is probably the most complete survey of all the various figures of speech used to refer to the church in the New Testament. It is still referenced by most ecclesiologies today. It would be a good read all the way through, but perhaps the best way to use this volume is as a reference using the helpful index in the back, “Analogies Discussed in the Text.” This lists over 96 images of the church, along with the chapter and page number where they are discussed.
From the Publisher
First published in 1960, Paul Minear’s classic work identifies and explicates the ninety-six images for the church found in the New Testament. While other volumes have approached ecclesiology from varying angles, none has done it so comprehensively. Accessibly written, it has been used in seminary classes for over thirty years. Its range of reach and incredibly rich discussions of the many images and metaphors make this a splendid resource for students and pastors.
About the Author
Paul S. Minear is Winkley Professor Emeritus of Biblical Theology at Yale Divinity School. Also among his many books is “The Kingdom and the Power: An Exposition of the New Testament Gospel,” available from Westminster John Knox Press.
***For additional information on this resource, including reviews, click the bookstore links. Check the reference at page top or the links below for resource guides on related topics.***
Related Areas
See Other Resources on Theology of Mission and Ministry:
See Other Resources on Church Leadership and Renewal:
- Church Leadership and Renewal, Index
- Church Leadership, Theological Foundations, Ecclesiology
- Church Leadership, Philosophical Foundations – e.g. Church Growth, Missional, Emergent, and Other Missionally Responsive Trajectories
- Church Leadership, Practical Foundations – Church Dynamics and Research
- Church Leadership, Practical Foundations – Congregational Culture, Church Identity
- Church Leadership, Practical Foundations – Size Dynamics, Size Transitions
- Church Leadership, Practical Foundations – Research and Case Studies on Effective Churches
- Church Leadership, Special Situations – Small Church Development
- Church Leadership, Strategies for Renewal
See Resources on Over 100 Areas of Ministry Leadership: