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Local Theology for the Global Church

Principles for an Evangelical Approach to Contextualization
Matthew Cook
Matthew Cook

Matt Cook is the Assistant Professor of Bible, Global Missions, and World Religions at Freed-Hardeman University and is the Program Coordinator of the Doctor of Ministry program. Prior to his role at FHU, Matt and his wife Charla were church planters in Cusco, Peru. Matt received a Master of Arts in New Testament and a Master of Divinity (2007) from Freed-Hardeman University, and also received a Th.M. and a Ph.D. (2019) in Missions and World Religions from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. His dissertation was focused on diaspora missiology, specifically diaspora missiology in rural areas of Tennessee. He is proud to be from rural West Virginia and in addition to his professor duties, he serves in ministry with a nearby rural church.

(Editor), Rob Haskell (Editor), Ruth Julian (Editor), Natee Tanchanpongs (Editor)

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As the church in the global south continues to grow at a rapid pace, the question of how to develop local theologies becomes more and more urgent. This book charts a path forward through exegetical, theological and cultural analysis by scholars who are wrestling with the issues in their own situations around the globe. The contents were developed under the auspices of the World Evangelical Alliance Theological Commission at the Oxford contextualization consultation.  

This book was published in partnership with the World Evangelical Alliance.

  • This important book is not for missiologists only but for theologians, pastors, and everyday Christians trying to live out the one true faith in situations that bear no cultural resemblance to biblical times. Written by an international array of younger evangelical voices aware of but not intimidated by postmodern and global challenges, these essays well represent the state of the contextualizing art.
    — Kevin J. Vanhoozer, Blanchard Professor of Theology Wheaton College Graduate School
  • This fine symposium takes the ongoing evangelical debate over contextualization to new levels. With authors drawn from all continents, it probes the issue with a combination of dynamic biblical faithfulness and creativity on the one hand, and thorough exploration of theological, missiological and practical questions and challenges on the other. It should be a highly commended textbook for a wide range of practitioners, from Bible translators to church planters and theological educators in all cultures.
    — Christopher J. H. Wright, International Director, Langham Partnership International Author of The Mission of God

Foreword: Matthew Cook

Introduction: Rob Haskell

Chapter 1: Paul the Contextualizer - Dean Flemming

Chapter 2: What Shall We Name God? - Youssouf Dembele

Chapter 3: We Contextualize More Than We Realize - Craig Blomberg

Chapter 4: Ground Level Contextualization - Ruth Julian

Chapter 5: Contextual But Still Objective? - Matthew Cook

Chapter 6: Can We See the Naked Theological Truth? - Benno van den Toren

Chapter 7: Developing a Palate for Authentic Theology - Natee Tanchanpongs

Chapter 8: The Practice of Theology - OsÃas Segura-Guzmán

Chapter 9: Theologizing Locally - Paul Siu

Chapter 10: Evangelical Models of Contextualization - A. Scott Moreau

Chapter 11: Bridging Theory and Training - Patricia Harrison

Suggested Reading

Editors

  • Matthew Cook
    Matthew Cook

    Matt Cook is the Assistant Professor of Bible, Global Missions, and World Religions at Freed-Hardeman University and is the Program Coordinator of the Doctor of Ministry program. Prior to his role at FHU, Matt and his wife Charla were church planters in Cusco, Peru. Matt received a Master of Arts in New Testament and a Master of Divinity (2007) from Freed-Hardeman University, and also received a Th.M. and a Ph.D. (2019) in Missions and World Religions from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. His dissertation was focused on diaspora missiology, specifically diaspora missiology in rural areas of Tennessee. He is proud to be from rural West Virginia and in addition to his professor duties, he serves in ministry with a nearby rural church.

  • Rob Haskell
  • Ruth Julian
  • Natee Tanchanpongs
  • Pages: 256
  • Publisher: William Carey Publishing
    William Carey Publishing
  • Binding: Paperback
  • Publish Year: 2010
  • ISBN: 9780878081110
  • Vendor: William Carey Library
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