Explorations of Systematic Theology

""The following essays were among those presented in June 1983 at a consultation on hermeneutics and systematic theology convened by The Institute of Mennonite Studies in Elkhart, Indiana. Participants came from Canada and the United States. They represented the three largest Mennonite groups in North America."" -- From the Introduction Willard Swartley is dean and professor of New Testament at the Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Elkhart, Indiana. He has been a Bible teacher in congregational settings and church-wide conferences, in both North America and overseas. His special interests are in the Gospels, the peace teaching of the Bible, and biblical interpretation. He is a graduate of Eastern Mennonite College (BA), Goshen Biblical Seminary (BD), and Princeton Theological Seminary (1973 PhD). Swartley is the New Testament editor for the Believers Church Bible Commentery Series and New Testament editor for a book series on Studies in Peace and Scripture. Swartley earlier taught at Eastern Mennonite University and served as interim dean there also. He directed the AMBS Institute of Mennonite Studies from 1979-88. He also taught at Goshen College, Eastern Mennonite College and Seminary, and at Conrad Grebel College. Among Swartley's publications are Mark: The Way for All Nations (Herald Press, 1979, rev. 1981); Slavery, Sabbath, War and Women: Case Issues in Biblical Interpretation (Herald Press, 1983); editor of Essays on Biblical Interpretation: Anabaptist Mennonite Perspectives (IMS, 1984); Israel's Scripture Traditions and the Synoptic Gospels: Story Shaping Story (Hendrickson, 1994); and co-editor, with Donald Kraybill, of Building Communities of Compassion (Herald Press, 1988).