Virtuous Friendship: The New Testament Greco-Roman Friendship Language and Contemporary Community: 8 (Missional Wisdom Library: Resources for Christian Community)

Why do so many feel so lonely today? Are our friendships in breakdown mode or are they just changing? Why are we burdened with the creeping sense that our communities are falling apart? Sociologists report that in recent decades the number of Americans who have no one in whom to confide may have tripled. Likewise church attendance participation in local clubs and groups even the number of times we invite one another over to supper are all in decline. Meanwhile some of us have more friends than ever on social media. The question of friendship its definition virtue and quality is not a new one to the church or the culture in which Christianity was birthed. Greco-Roman ethicists were fascinated by the virtue of friendship. Taking a cue from Jesus the New Testament authors transformed Greco-Roman friendship notions to express visions of Christian community that were spiritually fulfilling sustainably flourishing and socially just. This book traces the New Testament transformation of friendship in specific passages in Matthew Luke John Acts Philippians and James and connects them to contemporary issues and cutting-edge experiments in Christian community. It is New Testament Theology for the twenty-first century.