Figural Reading and the Fleshly God: The Theology of Ephraim Radner

Ephraim Radner is one of the most creative and imaginative (if at times deeply unsettling) Christian thinkers of our day. He has offered searching analysis of Christian divisions and advocated tirelessly for the theological interpretation of Scripture as an activity of the church. Up until now, however, awareness of his work has been mostly confined to a small circle of academic specialists.

Figural Reading and the Fleshly God seeks to change that. The book brings together eighteen scholars from across the Christian spectrum--Catholic, Protestant, Evangelical, and Eastern Orthodox--to articulate and develop Radner’s greatest theological contributions. The book is divided into three parts, each devoted to a major theme that has animated Radner’s thinking: Scripture, Creation, and the Church. Among the issues touched on are Radner’s understanding of divine grace, his counterintuitive views on time, and his figural approach to preaching, as illustrated by extensive quotations from his sermons.

The collective insights of these scholars produce an attractive, accessible guide to one of the most important theologians of the modern era. By critically engaging Radner’s strong, prophetic voice, the book seeks to preserve and extend his rich theological imagination and vision beyond the scope of his published work. Figural Reading and the Fleshly God is an invitation to all--even those unfamiliar with Radner--to discover why his theology matters for the life of the church today.

Joseph L. Mangina is Professor of Systematic Theology at Wycliffe College.

David Ney is Associate Professor of Church History at Trinity School for Ministry and a priest in the Anglican Church of Canada.