John Binns - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by John Binns
International Bulletin of Missionary Research, 2010
The Journal of Theological Studies, 2005
Ascetics and Ambassadors of Christ: The Monasteries of Palestine 314 - 631
The Ecumenical Review, 2021
Theology, 2007
history and criticism. Nevertheless, certain themes emerge, not least his emphasis on the incarna... more history and criticism. Nevertheless, certain themes emerge, not least his emphasis on the incarnation (which points forward to the kenoticism of Charles Gore), and his understanding of the relationship between divine and human community. Although it would be wrong to see him as developing a fully fledged doctrine of the social Trinity, he nevertheless shares a degree of affinity with some contemporary theologies of communion. In a brief conclusion, the author assesses what he calls the ‘Maurice myth’. What emerges is a figure who is far too elusive and unsystematic to bear the weight placed upon him. Instead, his thought needs to be understood in its context: it has something to say to the contemporary church, but never in a straightforward and transparent way. His real legacy lies in the ‘breadth of his vision, imagination, and force of conviction’. These are the virtues of a prophet who is still worth reading.
Reviews in Religion & Theology, 2017
Within the field of contextual Bible reading, anthropologists, ethnographers, practical theologia... more Within the field of contextual Bible reading, anthropologists, ethnographers, practical theologians, and biblical scholars have all explored the particular ways in which certain groups or communities engage with the Bible. Keon-Sang An's An Ethiopian Reading of the Bible is a welcome contribution to this growing body of work. Coming from a biblical theology perspective, An highlights the impact that a church's tradition and context (in this case, Ethiopia) make upon its biblical interpretation. This book is split into three parts. The first argues that all theology is contextual, and therefore, all biblical interpretation is contextually influenced. The second traces the context of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church (EOTC), providing a historical overview of its development and of its andemta commentary, which is central to this tradition. The third describes the style and nature of the biblical interpretation found in the andemta and also in a collection of sermons preached in various EOTCs based around Addis Ababa. In this way, the author argues for the contextual nature of biblical interpretation, before describing one particular context and highlighting two central influences that shaped this church's engagement with the Bible. Chapter 1 begins by briefly surveying the literature and providing a definition of various pertinent concepts such as 'culture', 'context', and 'theology', with An proceeding only once he has clarified his use of these terms. Reflecting his confessional stance and locating the work within biblical theology, he argues that 'authentic theology is done by a people of a faith community in a particular cultural context' (p. 20). The chapter ends by claiming that western theology is a contextual theology and has been found wanting in various non-western contexts. Chapter 2 further critiques the historical critical approach that has dominated western studies (and the western church) for 200 years. In my opinion, An successfully highlights some of the influences that gave rise to this form of Bible engagement. He then advocates that the narratives of a text and of a community are important in tracing the
The Journal of Theological Studies, 2017
Cambridge History of Christianity
The study of Christian spirituality investigates the self-understanding, the identity and the mod... more The study of Christian spirituality investigates the self-understanding, the identity and the mode of operation of the church. It is founded on the church’s formation narratives, which identify its foundation with the gift of the Holy Spirit. This is clear from the fourth gospel, which tells how, on the day of the Resurrection, Christ breathed on his disciples with the words ‘receive the Holy Spirit’ (John 20:22), while St Luke recounts how, on the day of Pentecost, the mission of the church began with the coming of the Spirit on the disciples in the form of wind and fire (Acts 2:1–4). So we are shown that the work of the Spirit guides this newly formed community in a variety of ways, such as the proclaiming of the word, mighty works of healing and power, and the formation of a disciplined and ordered community. Spirituality is the discipline which describes and examines the process of how the church subsists, how it understands and defines itself, how it structures and shapes its life, how it engages with other religious communities and the society around, and from where it draws its vitality and resources. It is concerned with the church in its concrete and specific existence as opposed to its eternal and unchanging message. The study of spirituality is located at the intersection of theology, history and sociology, seeking to give a clear account of how the church functions in history but viewed from its own perspective of theology.
Ascetics and Ambassadors of Christ, 1996
This chapter discusses Cyril of Scythopolis' work titled The Lives of the Monks of Palestine,... more This chapter discusses Cyril of Scythopolis' work titled The Lives of the Monks of Palestine, which is the main source of information of monastic life in Palestine during the Byzantine period. This work provides a comprehensive account of the development of Palestinian monasticism in the century and a half from 400 to 550 A.D, a period that included the Council of Chalcedon and the conflict over Origenism. It chronicles the lives of the most notable Palestinian monks including Euthymius, Sabas, John the Hesychast, Cyriac, Theognius, and Theodosius.
Ascetics and Ambassadors of Christ, 1996
This chapter examines the role of miracle stories in the religious history of Palestinian monasti... more This chapter examines the role of miracle stories in the religious history of Palestinian monasticism during the Byzantine period. Miracle stories show in graphic and pictorial language the nature of the relationship between the holy man and God, and his role in bringing the power of God into society. They usually describe the monk's relationship with the environment and his dependence on the power of God for survival. The nature of miracles in Palestine is often described as act of power, a sign, or an omen, and they are divided into several categories that include nature, clairvoyance, and healing.
The Journal of Theological Studies, 2005
... known. Gaza did, however, produce a rich and diverse literature, with works such as the Ascet... more ... known. Gaza did, however, produce a rich and diverse literature, with works such as the Asceticon of Abba Isaiah, the Life of Peter the Iberian, the Questions and Answers of Barsanuphius and John, and the Life of Dorotheus. ...
The Journal of Ecclesiastical History, 2008
The Journal of Ecclesiastical History, 2009
The Journal of Ecclesiastical History, 2004
... East and west. The making of a rift in the Church. From apostolic times until the Council of ... more ... East and west. The making of a rift in the Church. From apostolic times until the Council of Florence. By Henry Chadwick. ... The story concludes in 1439 with the Council of Florence, nominally a moment of union, but one that proved superficial and unsustainable. ...
Church History, 2010
Catharinus was no better equipped than Cajetan for the task of biblical exegesis, he echoed the t... more Catharinus was no better equipped than Cajetan for the task of biblical exegesis, he echoed the traditional stance that condemns the search for and the independent discovery of new meanings for this charge of novelty—namely, believing other than the Church believes—signals the departure from the meaning of the holy fathers and from the Catholic Church itself. The strength of this book is its comparison of three different debates in the first half of the sixteenth century that illustrate the close relationship between the interpretation of the scripture and the struggle for authority. What is noteworthy of this choice of debates is that they potentially offer different kinds of comparisons, which provide a multifaceted method of inquiry into the subject of interpretation. Erasmus and traditionalists claimed loyalty to the same late medieval Catholic Church but represented humanist and scholastic learning which were often at odds with each other. In England, More represented the reforming Catholic, versus Tyndale, who sided with the reforming Protestant perspective. Meanwhile in Italy, the controversy erupted between the stances of two Dominicans—Cajetan, the reforming Catholic was willing to depart from tradition and question previous interpretations, thereby challenging the authority of the pope and the Church’s magistrates and Catherinus, the traditional Catholic whose views supporting the Church’s ultimate authority in the interpretation of scripture was upheld at the Council of Trent. Within the scholarship in the history of biblical interpretation, this book’s thesis is most applicable for historical contexts in which the political and religious authorities were intricately linked so that the enforcement of a supreme authority over biblical interpretation was at least conceptually conceivable. This book reiterates the sixteenth-century reality that the scriptures became a contested text, which resulted in a crisis of authority.
The American Historical Review, 1996
International Bulletin of Missionary Research, 2010
The Journal of Theological Studies, 2005
Ascetics and Ambassadors of Christ: The Monasteries of Palestine 314 - 631
The Ecumenical Review, 2021
Theology, 2007
history and criticism. Nevertheless, certain themes emerge, not least his emphasis on the incarna... more history and criticism. Nevertheless, certain themes emerge, not least his emphasis on the incarnation (which points forward to the kenoticism of Charles Gore), and his understanding of the relationship between divine and human community. Although it would be wrong to see him as developing a fully fledged doctrine of the social Trinity, he nevertheless shares a degree of affinity with some contemporary theologies of communion. In a brief conclusion, the author assesses what he calls the ‘Maurice myth’. What emerges is a figure who is far too elusive and unsystematic to bear the weight placed upon him. Instead, his thought needs to be understood in its context: it has something to say to the contemporary church, but never in a straightforward and transparent way. His real legacy lies in the ‘breadth of his vision, imagination, and force of conviction’. These are the virtues of a prophet who is still worth reading.
Reviews in Religion & Theology, 2017
Within the field of contextual Bible reading, anthropologists, ethnographers, practical theologia... more Within the field of contextual Bible reading, anthropologists, ethnographers, practical theologians, and biblical scholars have all explored the particular ways in which certain groups or communities engage with the Bible. Keon-Sang An's An Ethiopian Reading of the Bible is a welcome contribution to this growing body of work. Coming from a biblical theology perspective, An highlights the impact that a church's tradition and context (in this case, Ethiopia) make upon its biblical interpretation. This book is split into three parts. The first argues that all theology is contextual, and therefore, all biblical interpretation is contextually influenced. The second traces the context of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church (EOTC), providing a historical overview of its development and of its andemta commentary, which is central to this tradition. The third describes the style and nature of the biblical interpretation found in the andemta and also in a collection of sermons preached in various EOTCs based around Addis Ababa. In this way, the author argues for the contextual nature of biblical interpretation, before describing one particular context and highlighting two central influences that shaped this church's engagement with the Bible. Chapter 1 begins by briefly surveying the literature and providing a definition of various pertinent concepts such as 'culture', 'context', and 'theology', with An proceeding only once he has clarified his use of these terms. Reflecting his confessional stance and locating the work within biblical theology, he argues that 'authentic theology is done by a people of a faith community in a particular cultural context' (p. 20). The chapter ends by claiming that western theology is a contextual theology and has been found wanting in various non-western contexts. Chapter 2 further critiques the historical critical approach that has dominated western studies (and the western church) for 200 years. In my opinion, An successfully highlights some of the influences that gave rise to this form of Bible engagement. He then advocates that the narratives of a text and of a community are important in tracing the
The Journal of Theological Studies, 2017
Cambridge History of Christianity
The study of Christian spirituality investigates the self-understanding, the identity and the mod... more The study of Christian spirituality investigates the self-understanding, the identity and the mode of operation of the church. It is founded on the church’s formation narratives, which identify its foundation with the gift of the Holy Spirit. This is clear from the fourth gospel, which tells how, on the day of the Resurrection, Christ breathed on his disciples with the words ‘receive the Holy Spirit’ (John 20:22), while St Luke recounts how, on the day of Pentecost, the mission of the church began with the coming of the Spirit on the disciples in the form of wind and fire (Acts 2:1–4). So we are shown that the work of the Spirit guides this newly formed community in a variety of ways, such as the proclaiming of the word, mighty works of healing and power, and the formation of a disciplined and ordered community. Spirituality is the discipline which describes and examines the process of how the church subsists, how it understands and defines itself, how it structures and shapes its life, how it engages with other religious communities and the society around, and from where it draws its vitality and resources. It is concerned with the church in its concrete and specific existence as opposed to its eternal and unchanging message. The study of spirituality is located at the intersection of theology, history and sociology, seeking to give a clear account of how the church functions in history but viewed from its own perspective of theology.
Ascetics and Ambassadors of Christ, 1996
This chapter discusses Cyril of Scythopolis' work titled The Lives of the Monks of Palestine,... more This chapter discusses Cyril of Scythopolis' work titled The Lives of the Monks of Palestine, which is the main source of information of monastic life in Palestine during the Byzantine period. This work provides a comprehensive account of the development of Palestinian monasticism in the century and a half from 400 to 550 A.D, a period that included the Council of Chalcedon and the conflict over Origenism. It chronicles the lives of the most notable Palestinian monks including Euthymius, Sabas, John the Hesychast, Cyriac, Theognius, and Theodosius.
Ascetics and Ambassadors of Christ, 1996
This chapter examines the role of miracle stories in the religious history of Palestinian monasti... more This chapter examines the role of miracle stories in the religious history of Palestinian monasticism during the Byzantine period. Miracle stories show in graphic and pictorial language the nature of the relationship between the holy man and God, and his role in bringing the power of God into society. They usually describe the monk's relationship with the environment and his dependence on the power of God for survival. The nature of miracles in Palestine is often described as act of power, a sign, or an omen, and they are divided into several categories that include nature, clairvoyance, and healing.
The Journal of Theological Studies, 2005
... known. Gaza did, however, produce a rich and diverse literature, with works such as the Ascet... more ... known. Gaza did, however, produce a rich and diverse literature, with works such as the Asceticon of Abba Isaiah, the Life of Peter the Iberian, the Questions and Answers of Barsanuphius and John, and the Life of Dorotheus. ...
The Journal of Ecclesiastical History, 2008
The Journal of Ecclesiastical History, 2009
The Journal of Ecclesiastical History, 2004
... East and west. The making of a rift in the Church. From apostolic times until the Council of ... more ... East and west. The making of a rift in the Church. From apostolic times until the Council of Florence. By Henry Chadwick. ... The story concludes in 1439 with the Council of Florence, nominally a moment of union, but one that proved superficial and unsustainable. ...
Church History, 2010
Catharinus was no better equipped than Cajetan for the task of biblical exegesis, he echoed the t... more Catharinus was no better equipped than Cajetan for the task of biblical exegesis, he echoed the traditional stance that condemns the search for and the independent discovery of new meanings for this charge of novelty—namely, believing other than the Church believes—signals the departure from the meaning of the holy fathers and from the Catholic Church itself. The strength of this book is its comparison of three different debates in the first half of the sixteenth century that illustrate the close relationship between the interpretation of the scripture and the struggle for authority. What is noteworthy of this choice of debates is that they potentially offer different kinds of comparisons, which provide a multifaceted method of inquiry into the subject of interpretation. Erasmus and traditionalists claimed loyalty to the same late medieval Catholic Church but represented humanist and scholastic learning which were often at odds with each other. In England, More represented the reforming Catholic, versus Tyndale, who sided with the reforming Protestant perspective. Meanwhile in Italy, the controversy erupted between the stances of two Dominicans—Cajetan, the reforming Catholic was willing to depart from tradition and question previous interpretations, thereby challenging the authority of the pope and the Church’s magistrates and Catherinus, the traditional Catholic whose views supporting the Church’s ultimate authority in the interpretation of scripture was upheld at the Council of Trent. Within the scholarship in the history of biblical interpretation, this book’s thesis is most applicable for historical contexts in which the political and religious authorities were intricately linked so that the enforcement of a supreme authority over biblical interpretation was at least conceptually conceivable. This book reiterates the sixteenth-century reality that the scriptures became a contested text, which resulted in a crisis of authority.
The American Historical Review, 1996