Offer Yourselves to God: Vocation, Work, and Ministry in Paul's Epistles

by Gordon D. Fee, Jeffrey P. Greenman (Editor), R. Paul Stevens (Foreword)

Renowned New Testament scholar Gordon Fee explores the meaning of Christian witness and service in every area of life. Focusing on the implications of every Christian's calling to belong to Christ, Fee reframes our contemporary quest for a more seamless, integrated faith. His careful examination of the context and message of Paul's letters sheds light on how a Christian identity is lived out in home, workplace, and church.

Genres: Theology

94 pages, Hardcover

Published October 28, 2019

About the author

Gordon Fee was Professor Emeritus of New Testament at Regent College, where he taught for sixteen years. His teaching experience also included serving schools in Washington, California, Kentucky, as well as Wheaton College in Illinois (five years) and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Massachusetts (twelve years).

Gordon Fee was a noted New Testament scholar, having published several books and articles in his field of specialization, New Testament textual criticism. He also published a textbook on New Testament interpretation, co-authored two books for lay people on biblical interpretation, as well as scholarly-popular commentaries on 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus and on Galatians, and major commentaries on 1 Corinthians and Philippians. He is also the author of a major work on the Holy Spirit and the Person of Christ in the letters of Paul.

Gordon Fee served as the general editor of the New International Commentary series, as well as on the NIV revision committee that produced the TNIV. Besides his ability as a biblical scholar, he was a noted teacher and conference speaker. He has given the Staley Distinguished Christian Scholar lectures on fifteen college campuses as well as the annual NT lectures at Southwestern Baptist Seminary, North Park Seminary, the Mennonite Brethren Biblical Seminary, the Canadian Theological Seminary, Duke Divinity School, Golden Gate Baptist, Anderson School of Theology, Asbury Seminary, and Chrichton College. An ordained minister with the Assemblies of God, Gordon Fee was well known for his manifest concern for the renewal of the church.

Gordon Fee was married and had four married children.

Reviews

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very short book, and for most of it I thought it was very good—a four star book. Yet in the end I gave it five stars. The major reason why I thought it was lacking was its brevity. I wish Fee would say more and write more on these topics, but I cannot fault him (or the editors), as the book is based on four addresses (sermons?) he gave in 2002.
Fee sets out to argue that what Paul says about calling, work, ministry, etc., is sadly being ignored by many in the church and many churches. I agree. Putting into practice what Fee draws from Paul would give us a better grasp of the relation of Christians to work, to see our calling as a summons from God (contra what many think of as 'calling' today—chapter 1 on this topic is excellent and my highlight of the book), to grasp that ministry is what the church does and not simply the 'minister'. There are challenging chapters for every Christian, as well as for those in leadership positions within the church. Much is challenging, and while I didn't agree with everything (I actually disagreed with very little), this is an excellent book, and I'm glad I read it.

[Jess Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dans ce livre, qui est une transcription d'une série de conférences, Fee aborde les sujets du travail, de la vocation et du "ministère" dans les lettres de Paul. Il le fait notamment en replaçant ces mots dans le contexte de l'époque de rédaction des épîtres.

J'ai beaucoup apprécié la lecture de ce livre qui ce lit facilement. On y apprend beaucoup et il fait réfléchir sur notre conception des choses parfois très éloigné des standards bibliques et révèle à quel point nous lisons la bible avec les lunettes de notre époque.

[Will van Delft · Rating 5 out of 5]

Accessible, short, and easy to read with so much insightful 1st century cultural background that makes Paul's letters in Scripture come alive.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love when a theology bro pops off about things I care about. Here for it.