Paul's Spirituality in Galatians: A Critique of Contemporary Christian Spiritualities

Spirituality is a hot topic in todays culture. Spirituality is essentially how ones beliefs and experiences influence the way one lives their life. Such influences for living are of critical importance to ones faith within the Christian community. What role does the Bible play in developing an expressed spirituality among the Christian community? How do ones religious traditions cultural influences and personal preferences influence the way Christian spirituality is perceived and expressed? All too often and at times unintentionally the foundational truths of the Bible are subordinated to tradition culture and personal preference. This book provides a context for understanding Pauls foundational components for Christian spirituality within the book of Galatians while showing how an accurate understanding of these components can and should serve as a corrective lens to various aspects of Christian spirituality as expressed and experienced today. Contrary to the thinking of Western culture in general spirituality is not merely a human achievement. First and foremost true spirituality comes from God and is given shape and substance by Gods witness to himself in the Scriptures. Beginning with this vital principle this new work by McClendon dismantles a number of contemporary models of spirituality in order to build one rooted in the thought of Paul as it appears in the New Testament and especially in his letter to the Galatians. An extremely helpful and engaging study. --Michael A. G. Haykin Professor of Church History and Biblical Spirituality The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Louisville KY P. Adam McClendon is Lead Pastor at Springhill Baptist Church in Springfield Missouri. He is Adjunct Professor of New Testament at Boyce College and Adjunct Instructor for Liberty University Online. McClendon has a PhD in biblical spirituality from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and has authored several articles.