Between Babel and Beast
(America and Empires in Biblical Perspective)

The Glory of Kings: A Festschrift for James B. Jordan

Fyodor Dostoevsky
(Christian Encounters Series)

Athanasius
(Foundations of Theological Exegesis and Christian Spirituality)

The Four: A Survey of the Gospels

Defending Constantine: The Twilight of an Empire and the Dawn of Christendom

From Behind the Veil: The Epistles of John

Deep Exegesis:The Mystery of Reading Scripture

Jane Austen
(A Biography)

Solomon Among the Postmoderns

The Baptized Body

1 & 2 Kings
Brazos Theological Commentary

The Promise Of His Appearing: An Exposition Of Second Peter

A Great Mystery: Fourteen Wedding Sermons

Deep Comedy: Trinity, Tragedy, And Hope In Western Literature

Miniatures & Morals: The Christian Novels of Jane Austen

The Priesthood of the Plebs: A Theology of Baptism

A Son To Me: An Exposition of 1 & 2 Samuel

Against Christianity

From Silence to Song: The Davidic Liturgical Revolution

Ascent to Love: A Guide to Dante's Divine Comedy

Blessed Are the Hungry: Meditations on the Lord's Supper

A House For My Name: A Survey of the Old Testament

Heroes of the City of Man: A Christian Guide to Select Ancient Literature

Brightest Heaven of Invention: A Christian Guide To Six Shakespeare Plays

Wise Words: Family Stories That Bring the Proverbs to Life

The Kingdom and the Power: Rediscovering the Centrality of the Church

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Bible - NT - Romans: Shameless Paul

Paul is not ashamed of the gospel (Romans 1:16).  We psychologize: Some might be embarrassed to preach a crucified Christ, but not Paul.  He glories in the shame.

That’s true enough, but Paul’s emphasis lies elsewhere, according to Neil Elliott (The Arrogance of Nations: Reading Romans in the Shadow of Empire (Paul in Critical Context) (Paul in Critical Contexts)): “The revelation of the justice of God is an occasion of power, a power that empowers [Paul's] defiant refusal to be ‘put to shame.’  Because shame is a social reality, we should regard the revelation of God’s justice that empowers Paul’s ‘shamelessness,’ too, as a social, indeed . . . a public reality.  But this means that the revelation of God’s wrath that manifests God’s justice also must be a public revelation – not . . . a private matter of the convicted heart.”

In Scripture, shame is associated with defeat.  Confident of God’s triumph, in the public history of Israel and the nations, Paul knows that he will not be ashamed.  Like the Christ he serves, he will be vindicated.