Now and Not Yet: Theology and Mission in Ezra-Nehemiah

Dean Ulrich's book, "Now and Not Yet: Ezra-Nehemiah as a Literary Unit," explores the narrative theology of Ezra and Nehemiah, showing how to be a godly participant in God's story and how the moral imperatives of leadership are bound up in the larger context of God's acts and promises. It also illuminates how the theology of Ezra and Nehemiah connects to the larger biblical narrative and leads to the first coming of Jesus. It is ideal for students, pastors, and anyone looking for studies on Ezra and Nehemiah that dig deeply into their theology, particularly in relation to biblical mission.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 208 pages
\n Publication date: 18 November 2021
\n Publisher: Inter-Varsity Press
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The books of Ezra and Nehemiah have often been overlooked in Old Testament scholarship, as Dean Ulrich's valuable study in the NSBT series demonstrates. However, as Ulrich argues, Ezra-Nehemiah forms a literary unit within the Christian Bible that tells the grand story of God's saving activity. In his book, Now and Not Yet, Ulrich explores how the narrative theology of these books reveals how we can participate in God's story and how the moral imperatives of leadership are interconnected with the broader context of God's acts and promises.

Ulrich views Ezra and Nehemiah as the record of the beginning of a new work of God among his people after the exile. He also highlights how the theology of these books connects to the larger biblical narrative and leads to the first coming of Jesus. The book is insightful and accessible, making it an excellent addition to the New Studies in Biblical Theology series. It is particularly valuable for students, pastors, and anyone interested in studying Ezra and Nehemiah's theology, particularly in relation to biblical mission.

Through his exploration of the narrative theology of Ezra and Nehemiah, Ulrich demonstrates how these books offer a profound understanding of God's purpose for his world. He shows how the moral imperatives of leadership are bound up in the larger context of God's acts and promises, and how the redeemed community of God is greater than any individual person. At the heart of this community is mission—participation in God's purpose for his world.

Ulrich's book will leave readers with a greater appreciation for Ezra-Nehemiah as a literary unit and how its theology remains relevant for Christians today. The new work it reveals enables God's people to be restored in their relationship with God, through both hope in God's promises and obedience to his instruction concerning mission. By studying these books, we can gain a deeper understanding of God's plan for his people and our role in his kingdom.

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Dimension: 216 x 138 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781789743463\n \n