Being Conformed to Christ in Community: A Study of Maturity, Maturation and the Local Church in the Undisputed Pauline Epistles (The Library of New Testament Studies)

by James G. Samra

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Being Conformed to Christ in Community explores Paul's conception of maturity, paying particular attention to the maturation process and the role of the local church in facilitating this process. Although central to Paul's theology, maturity is often overlooked in Pauline studies. Samra argues that Paul understood his apostolic commission to involve delivering mature believers on the day of Christ. He suggests that the central motif of Pauline maturity is conformity of believers to the image of Christ, who provides the defi ning standard of maturity. For Paul there are fi ve means used by the Spirit to conform believers to the image of Christ, which Samra presents and analyzes as components of the maturation process, namely identifying with Christ, enduring suffering, experiencing the presence of God, receiving and living out wisdom from God and imitating a godly example. Samra concludes by arguing that Paul expected the local church to facilitate maturation so that believers' participation in a local assembly would result in their being conformed to Christ. REV DR JAMES G. SAMRA is Senior Minister at Calvary Church in Grand Rapids, USA.He earned a doctor of philosophy in New Testament from Oxford University and a masters of theology from Dallas Theological Seminary.
  • ISBN10 0567043541
  • ISBN13 9780567043542
  • Publish Date 25 June 2006
  • Publish Status Active
  • Publish Country GB
  • Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
  • Imprint T.& T.Clark Ltd
  • Format Hardcover
  • Pages 280
  • Language English