Bücher von John Paul Heil

The Gospel of Matthew encourages and inspires its audience to practice the true, authentic, and holistic worship required for believers in Jesus to live in the kingdom of heaven. In accordance with all that Jesus taught and exemplified regarding authentic worship, believers are invited to complement their worship of God by worshiping and praying to Jesus as God¿s beloved Son, who represents ¿God with us.¿ They are also invited to complement their ritualistic worship, especially the baptism and Eucharist instituted for them by Jesus, with an ethical worship that extends to others, especially to disciples, children, and ¿the least ones¿ with whom Jesus identifies himself, the mercy God desires for a holistic worship. Indeed, a compassionate mercy toward all is the distinctive and noteworthy hallmark that characterizes the theme of worship in the kingdom of heaven, according to the Gospel of Matthew.

In his commentary, John Paul Heil presents two new proposals regarding Paul's letter to the Galatians. First, he demonstrates an entirely new chiastic structure embracing the entire letter, based on strict linguistic and textual criteria rather than on conceptual or theological themes. This chiastic structure accords with the view that Galatians was originally performed orally in a setting of communal worship. Second, Heil offers a new proposal for a key theme that runs throughout Galatians, as expressed by the subtitle of this book - 'Worship for Life by Faith in the Crucified and Risen Lord'. Here, 'worship' is considered to be a comprehensive concept that includes liturgical, cultic, or ritual worship as well as the moral behaviour that is to complement it as ethical worship in accord with the biblical tradition. 'Life' refers both to the present way of living as well as to future eternal life. 'Faith' refers to the acceptance of divine grace available to the believer because of the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

This book proposes new and comprehensive chiastic structures as well as new unifying themes for the often-neglected New Testament letters of 1 Peter, 2 Peter, and Jude. In accord with these structures, which organize the oral performance of these letters in a context of communal worship, the subtitle of the book, ""Worship Matters,"" expresses the letters'' main concern. By ""worship"" is meant not only liturgical worship but also the ethical behavior that complements it for a holistic way of worshiping God. ""Matters"" refers not only to the ""matters"" or issues regarding worship in these letters but also to the fact that worship ""matters"" in the sense of making an all-important difference to Christian living, not only for the original audiences of letters, but equally for their contemporary audience. Accordingly, this book proposes that: 1 Peter exhorts its audience to worship for life, both present and eternal, through the sufferings of Jesus Christ; 2 Peter exhorts its audience to worship in the knowledge regarding the final coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; and Jude exhorts its audience to worship in the mercy and love of God through our Lord Jesus Christ.""John Paul Heil applies to the letters of Peter and Jude the thoroughgoing chiastic analysis he has previously applied to Philemon, Ephesians, Colossians, Philippians, Hebrews, and James. He argues that they are focused on worship, broadly understood, as he has previously argued is true of the letters of Paul, Hebrews, and James. All should find his application of these perspectives to the letters of Peter and Jude illuminating.""--Terrance Callan, Dean of Special Studies and Professor of Biblical Studies, The Athenaeum of Ohio""This is not a standard commentary in that few of the traditional introductory topics are covered. Nor is it a discussion of classical rhetorical methodology, but that allows Heil to focus on structure, specifically the macro- and micro-chiastic structures he sees in the letters. Having already applied such analysis to James, Hebrews, and several Pauline letters, Heil is no stranger to this methodology. I look forward to the response his contribution receives in this new field.""--Peter H. Davids, Visiting Professor in Christianity, Houston Baptist University""John Paul Heil offers new proposals for the structures and main themes of these three closely related letters. . . . Heil''s very careful attention to the texts has revealed their chiastic structures, which convey the authors'' thinking. With ''audience response'' Heil clarifies the reactions sought in each letter and presents these to his own reader. The book is truly insightful; and, as always, Heil''s treatment scholarly.""--Robert F. O''Toole, S.J., S.S.D., Professor Emeritus, Pontifical Biblical InstituteJohn Paul Heil is Professor of New Testament at the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. He is the author of The Letter of James: Worship To Live By (2012).

This book focuses on worship in the letters of Paul in an effort to shed some light upon this key theme and bring the various dimensions of its significance into the foreground of Pauline studies. Each of the thirteen New Testament letters attributed to Paul are treated exclusively from the aspect of worship, as understood in its most comprehensive sense in the biblical tradition, with the liturgical and the ethical facets of worship held in dynamic interrelationship. The result is a fresh way of reading and listening to the letters of Paul for a deeper appreciation of their original purpose and message.""When Heil calls the thirteen letters of Paul ''rituals of worship,'' he means that each is written as a script to be performed for a community gathered for worship over which Paul presides through the letter, thereby evoking and sharing in the prayer of his audience. Heil also explores how the language of the letters uses imagery from temple worship metaphorically, to interpret Christian life itself as worship. Heil manages to provide a fresh, pastoral reading of the Pauline corpus as a whole.""--Dennis Hamm, SJDepartment of TheologyCreighton University""This book offers a unique and much needed narrative on the way St. Paul understands liturgy from the inside and how he invites others to do the same. The major factor in Heil''s interpretation of the Pauline corpus is that he restores them to the context in which they were first received--as proclaimed in a liturgical assembly--and in which believers hear them today. This respects the letters not as literary output but as proclamations about the mystery of God as proclaimed in the liturgical and sacramental settings they were intended for. Highly recommended. Christian ''spirituality'' at its best.""--Kevin W. IrwinDean of the School of Theology and Religious StudiesThe Catholic University of America""The connection between communal worship and the NT is a fascinating topic. Understanding ''worship'' comprehensively, Prof. Heil is the first to focus on all the letters attributed to Paul. Prof. Heil appreciates the uniqueness of each letter but notes they all begin with a prayer-greeting for divine grace, include ritualistic and liturgical language, and refer to both the ethical and liturgical worship of the audience. His book is insightful, instructive, and, as always, excellent scholarship.""--Robert F. O''Toole, SJ, SSDGregorian University FoundationJohn Paul Heil is Professor of New Testament at The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. He is the author of Ephesians: Empowerment to Walk in Love for the Unity of All in Christ (2007).

About the Contributor(s):John Paul Heil is Professor of New Testament at the Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. He is the author of The Letter of James: Worship To Live By (2012).

Description:This book seeks a more comprehensive understanding and appreciation for the Letter to the Hebrews by examining it from the viewpoint of its prominent theme of worship. It aims to demonstrate the topic of worship in all of its rich and varied dimensions provides the major concern and thrust that embraces Hebrews from start to finish. The author of Hebrews encourages his audience to hold on to the letter he has written to them as "the word of the encouragement" (Heb 13:22). In a very carefully concerted and masterfully artistic way, the letter persistently encourages the members of its audience with regard to their worship. Indeed, Hebrews was intended to be presented orally in a public performance as a liturgical or homiletic letter, an act of worship in itself, heard by its audience gathered together as a worshiping assembly. Hebrews exhorts the members of its audience not only with regard to their liturgical worship in which they engage during their communal gatherings, but also with regard to their ethical or moral worship in which they engage by the way they conduct themselves outside of their communal gatherings. This close examination of Hebrews through the lens of worship is intended to inform and enrich the worship of Christians today. Hebrews presents important and unique points about worship not found in any other New Testament writing. The goal is to illustrate and illuminate these points for the benefit of those who desire to deepen their worship as Christians by deepening their understanding of the magnificent literary masterpiece that the poetically lively letter to the Hebrews articulates for all Christians.Endorsements:"Fr. Heil is certainly on the right track when he emphasizes the approach of Hebrews as being all about worship. The book is rich in the use of secondary literature from the recent past. It is handsomely produced."-James Swetnam, SJProfessor Emeritus, Pontifical Biblical Institute"The author of Hebrews reminds his audience of the importance of meeting together for worship (Heb 10:25), and John Paul Heil examines this ''word of exhortation'' (Heb 13:22) to consider what might be inferred throughout the book about worship experiences and expectations. Heil''s approach is distinctive and offers new insights."-Eric F. Masonauthor of ''You Are a Priest Forever'': Second Temple Jewish Messianism and the Priestly Christology of the Epistle to the Hebrews"Professor Heil provides an ecumenical scholarly analysis of the message of Hebrews for intelligent Christians today. His particular focus on worship, both in community and in the individual''s moral and faith life, remains faithfully contextualized within the structure of Hebrews'' argument. His final Conclusion applies Hebrews to today in a way that fully retains the biblical perspective and transcends contemporary denominational doctrinal differences."-William S. Kurz, SJProfessor of New Testament, Marquette UniversityAbout the Contributor(s):Paul Heil is Professor of New Testament at The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. He is the author of The Letters of Paul as Rituals of Worship (2011).

Synopsis:This book focuses on worship in the letters of Paul in an effort to shed some light upon this key theme and bring the various dimensions of its significance into the foreground of Pauline studies. Each of the thirteen New Testament letters attributed to Paul are treated exclusively from the aspect of worship, as understood in its most comprehensive sense in the biblical tradition, with the liturgical and the ethical facets of worship held in dynamic interrelationship. The result is a fresh way of reading and listening to the letters of Paul for a deeper appreciation of their original purpose and message.Endorsements:"When Heil calls the thirteen letters of Paul 'rituals of worship,' he means that each is written as a script to be performed for a community gathered for worship over which Paul presides through the letter, thereby evoking and sharing in the prayer of his audience. Heil also explores how the language of the letters uses imagery from temple worship metaphorically, to interpret Christian life itself as worship. Heil manages to provide a fresh, pastoral reading of the Pauline corpus as a whole."--Dennis Hamm, SJDepartment of TheologyCreighton University"This book offers a unique and much needed narrative on the way St. Paul understands liturgy from the inside and how he invites others to do the same. The major factor in Heil's interpretation of the Pauline corpus is that he restores them to the context in which they were first received--as proclaimed in a liturgical assembly--and in which believers hear them today. This respects the letters not as literary output but as proclamations about the mystery of God as proclaimed in the liturgical and sacramental settings they were intended for. Highly recommended. Christian 'spirituality' at its best."--Kevin W. IrwinDean of the School of Theology and Religious StudiesThe Catholic University of America"The connection between communal worship and the NT is a fascinating topic. Understanding 'worship' comprehensively, Prof. Heil is the first to focus on all the letters attributed to Paul. Prof. Heil appreciates the uniqueness of each letter but notes they all begin with a prayer-greeting for divine grace, include ritualistic and liturgical language, and refer to both the ethical and liturgical worship of the audience. His book is insightful, instructive, and, as always, excellent scholarship."--Robert F. O'Toole, SJ, SSDGregorian University FoundationAuthor Biography:John Paul Heil is Professor of New Testament at The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. He is the author of Ephesians: Empowerment to Walk in Love for the Unity of All in Christ (2007).

This book proposes a new and comprehensive chiastic structure as well as a new unifying theme for the Letter of James. In accord with this structure that organizes its oral performance, the words "worship to live by" express what the letter as a whole is exhorting its audience to adopt. "Worship" includes not only liturgical worship but also the ethical behavior that complements it, so that the result is a holistic way of worshiping God. And the words "to live by" embrace the worshipful conduct by which to live out presently one's birth to a new life as a believer before the final coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, with a view to the future eternal life to be granted at the last judgment as the outcome of such worship. In short, the Letter of James urges its audience to practice the worship to live by now in order to live eternally.