Workbook in Romans: Arranged According to the History of Redemption (Workbooks in the History of Redemption)
“Berding has created an outstanding volume because it forces the reader to do two critical things: to place Paul’s letter within the flow of redemptive history and to engage the text of Romans itself. This produces at least two happy results, the first of which is that the message of Romans is the constant focus, since it is set within the history of redemption rather than one’s own personal, subjective experience. The second of which is to curtail the tendency toward atomistic exegesis. In short, Paul and the biblical message are central and controlling, not one’s twenty-first century existence. I am heartened by such a clear-headed approach. I recommend it highly.”—Jay E. Smith, Ph.D., Professor of New Testament Studies, Dallas Theological Seminary  “Bookcases are filled with commentaries and studies of Paul's letter to the early Roman Christians.  What new, helpful work could possibly be done on this letter? Berding answers this question ably with a helpful inductive workbook on Romans looking at the letter through the lens of redemptive historical categories.  Berding draws our attention to God's Big Story of Salvation, which we find peeking out from behind verses all throughout the letter. I am happy to commend this excellent new tool for studying Romans.”—Robert L. Plummer, Ph.D., Professor of New Testament Interpretation, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary “Berding’s delightful book,Workbook in Romansis the first volume in a new series for Workbooks in the History of Redemption. As such Berding discusses key themes of biblical redemption relative to Romans (the stories of God’s eternal plan, Creation, Abraham, Moses, David and the Prophets, Christ, the Holy Spirit, Paul, the Church, and the eschatological future). Each chapter of the book begins with an introduction about the redemptive theme and then raises questions based on those texts in Romans that interact with that theme. In doing so, Professor Berding has provided the reader with an engaging way to grapple with Paul’s letter to the Romans. Berding thereby accomplishes two goals: grasping Romans and relating it to the relevant redemptive themes that intersect with it. The result is a very useful handbook that nicely informs the reader about Romans and how that book fits into the divine scheme of redemption. This work will prove to be a great tool for Bible study groups. I strongly recommend it!”—C. Marvin Pate, Ph.D., Professor and Chair of Christian Theology, Ouachita Baptist University “This book is a unique and captivating contribution to the literature on Romans! It helps a reader trace thenarrativethat is inherent in Romans, the story of God’s redemptive work in human history. In doing so, it integrates Romans into the story of the whole Bible using a series of well-designed, interactive questions to focus on the content of Romans and our response to it. Highly recommended for college or seminary classes or individual or group Bible study.”—Buist Fanning, Ph.D., Department Chair and Senior Professor of New Testament Studies, Dallas Theological Seminary “One of the marks of a great teacher is the ability to direct the student to see the one or two things that are important amidst the dozens of things in front of him or her. Berding shows precisely that in his workbook on Romans. His leading questions juxtaposed with Romans passages enable the reader in a self-guided way to view the entire Bible using Romans as a lens. He confirms what all Bible professors have always known, that every individual book of the Bible tells a piece of the one singular story of the Bible, and that Romans in particular tells a great deal of that story. The workbook's table of contents alone reads like a miniature textbook in biblical theology. A great achievement, not only in Romans studies, but also in Bible pedagogy.”—Frank Chan, Ph.D., Professor of Bible, Nyack College  “The ability to perceive any New Testament author’s understanding of the history of redemption and the relationship between Jesus Christ and the audience in light of their place in that history of redemption is one of the keys to an insightful theological reading of any book of the New Testament. Berding’sWorkbookis bound to help its readers in the important task of thinking through the particular ways Paul would have the readers of Romans understand their relationship to the most important storylines of Scripture.”—Roy E. Ciampa, Ph.D., Professor of New Testament; Chair, Division of Biblical StudiesGordon-Conwell Theological Seminary  “Berding’sWorkbook in Romansis the first volume in an intriguing new series, Workbooks in the History of Redemption. This is an invaluable resource for individuals or groups to study the text of Romans in the light of the biblical theological theme of God’s redemptive plan of history. Kenneth Berding is a highly gifted scholar-pastor, who blends his scholarly understanding of Romans with his pastoral care of his readers as they walk through this rich study. Through ten carefully constructed lessons he provides oversights of the plan of redemption throughout Scripture and then skillfully guides the reader with thought-provoking questions that lead to profound insights from the book of Romans. He escorts the reader with kind and gentle encouragement to think for oneself and to allow the Spirit of God to make application to one’s life. This is a highly recommended new study that pastors and Bible study leaders can use profitably as a resource that promises rich rewards for their people.”—Michael J. Wilkins, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor of New Testament Language and Literature, Talbot School of Theology, Biola University. “This is a very fine Bible study resource as it helps readers grasp the details of the biblical text and how those details tie into the overall storyline of the Scriptures. A significant problem in the church is that people have diverse pieces of biblical information but are not able to see how all these pieces fit together. Berding's workbook is a wonderful way to solve this problem. It will help open the fullness of the biblical message to readers in a fresh way. I heartily commend it.”—Ray Van Neste, Ph.D., Professor of Biblical Studies, Director, R. C. Ryan Center for Biblical Studies, Union University