What terms would early Christians have used to address one another? In the first book-length study on this topic, Paul Trebilco investigates the origin, use and function of seven key self-designations: 'brothers and sisters', 'believers', 'saints', 'the assembly', 'disciples', 'the Way', and 'Christian'. In doing so, he discovers what they reveal about the identity, self-understanding and character of the early Christian movement. This study sheds light on the theology of particular New Te...

In 2 Timothy and Titus, Paul passes on profound wisdom to two of his most trusted co-workers who are facing many difficult challenges. This commentary provides an exposition of the message of these two books, which is relevant to many theological and pastoral situations faced by Asian church communities today. Along with the detailed commentary, the authors provide reflections on various topics relating to the gospel, the Bible’s authority, Christian life, leadership, and governing authori...

1 Timothy shows how Christians can live in harmony and with integrity in a society of people with differing religious and cultural beliefs and values. This commentary provides an exposition of 1 Timothy’s message, which is relevant to many theological and pastoral situations faced by Asian church communities today. Along with the detailed commentary, the authors provide cultural reflections on various topics surrounding church, government, and society. The Asia Bible Commentary Series empo...

What thresholds of theology would we cross if we engage the aches and despairs, wisdoms, and hopes in and of Aotearoa New Zealand and the neighboring sea of islands? What thresholds need to be jarred or moved (threshold as opening), probed and raised (threshold as limit)? This book engages these questions in two parts: “(re)Locating Theological Studies” contains essays that interrogate the purposes of theological studies (locally and globally), identify gaps due to the Western heritage and...

In the tradition of The First Urban Christians by Wayne Meeks, this book explores the relationship between the earliest Christians and the city environment. Experts in classics, early Christianity, and human geography analyze the growth, development, and self-understanding of the early Christian movement in urban settings.The book's contributors first look at how the urban physical, cultural, and social environments of the ancient Mediterranean basin affected the ways in wh...

What terms did early Christians use for outsiders? How did they refer to non-members? In this book-length investigation of these questions, Paul Trebilco explores the outsider designations that the early Christians used in the New Testament. He examines a range of terms, including unbelievers, 'outsiders', sinners, Gentiles, Jews, among others. Drawing on insights from social identity theory, sociolinguistics, and the sociology of deviance, he investigates the usage and development of thes...

Public interest in the religion of Islam and in Muslim communities in recent years has generated an impetus for Western Universities to establish an array of Institutes and programs dedicated to the study of Islam. Despite the growth in number of programs dedicated to this study, very little attention has been paid to the appropriate shape of such programs and the assumptions that ought to underlie such a study.The Teaching and Study of Islam in Western Universities attempts to add...