Аннотация

This book issues a provocative challenge to the notion, prevalent in Christian circles, that people (or their «souls») go to heaven when they die. Though deeply entrenched in Christian and Western culture, there is little or no biblical warrant for such a belief. John Davies presents a biblical theology of heaven, informed by mainstream biblical scholarship, and in the process sweeps away popular misconceptions. Be prepared to have your understanding of such cherished passages as John 14:2 («In my Father's house . . .») challenged. But as well, this book seeks to show the more glorious dimensions of the Christian hope, our renewal as whole persons in the context of a cosmic restoration, the outcome of the victory of Jesus. Though much of the language of the Bible regarding our eternal destiny is in the form of imagery, we should continue to use such imagery, understanding it against its cultural background, rather than construct our own more impoverished mythology based more on dubious logic and sentiment.

Аннотация

We are increasingly conscious of the significance of our body language in our everyday interactions. The writers of the Bible were also aware of the role this nonverbal form of communication played and have recorded aspects of this in their narratives, or used idioms based on such gestures as head or hand movements, eye contact, and modes of dress. As with spoken or written language, postures and gestures need to be interpreted against a cultural background. This book provides a comprehensive overview of this rich world of nonverbal communication in the Old and New Testaments for the general reader and scholar alike.