Books by "Dr. Julia M. O'Brien"
3 books found
Most people do not understand elements of the gospel that are emphasized in the minor prophets. For example, without the minor prophets, we are at risk of not cherishing or fearing the “day of the Lord” (Joel 2). Likewise, we’d fail to understand and appreciate themes like the wrath of God (Micah 2:3) and social justice (Micah 6:8) in light of the Christ event. Micah is often overlooked, but this commentary presents a compelling case for why he matters. The author argues that while Micah is often lumped in with minor prophets, he deserves to be taught on his own. He also suggests that while many have read and preached Micah, they have missed the gospel. For instance, a minor prophetic book like Micah is sometimes used by advocates for social justice to advance a progressive, social gospel agenda, which runs the risk of applying the text in a way that urges people toward progressive political positions disconnected from Jesus. Take Micah back and marvel at the glory of the Lord with the insights and commentary in The Gospel According to Micah.
Enslaved Leadership in Early Christianity challenges readers to re-think common perceptions about how enslaved persons participated in first- and second-century CE Christian communities. Using archaeology and ancient literature, the book destabilizes structures of domination and reimagines early Christian communities through the ambiguities of power.
Building on recent developments in biblical studies, this book introduces the prophetic literature of the Old Testament against the background of today's postmodern context and crisis of meaning. Pulsating with anxiety over the empire--Assyrian, Babylonian, and Persian--the prophet corpus is a disturbing cultural expression of lament and chaos. Danger, disjunction, and disaster bubble beneath the surface of virtually every prophetic text. Sometimes in denial, sometimes in despair, and sometimes in defiance, the readers of this literature find themselves living at the edge of time, immediately before, during, or after the collapse of longstanding symbolic, cultural, and geo-political structures. These written prophecies not only reflect the social location of trauma, but are also a complex response. More specifically, prophetic texts are thick meaning-making maps, tapestries of hope that help at-risk communities survive.