2025 Gospel Coalition Book Award (Theological Studies)
Southwestern Journal of Theology 2025 Book Award (Honorable Mention, Theological Studies)
Biblical Theology in the Life of the Early Church recasts biblical theology as a practice cultivated in Christian community rather than a solely academic pursuit. Stephen Presley argues that the early church fathers crafted an ecclesial biblical theology that was lived out communally and oriented believers toward beholding God's glory.
This volume brings patristic biblical interpretation into conversation with contemporary biblical theology, exploring how assumptions and methods of figures such as Irenaeus and Augustine can guide modern hermeneutics. Presley shows how early Christian theologians emphasized virtue and discipleship alongside exegesis, patiently shaping readers to inhabit Scripture's narrative. He illuminates the catechetical and liturgical scaffolding that informed patristic biblical theology, centered on Christ as the cornerstone.
Students and scholars of theology, church history, hermeneutics, and patristics will find valuable new insights.
Introduction
1. Ecclesial Biblical Theology
2. Signs of God
3. Narratives of Scripture
4. Christ in All Things
5. The Good Life
6. The Community of Faith
Conclusion
Indexes
Accessing your eBook through Kortext
Once purchased, you can view your eBook through the Kortext app, available to download for Windows, Android and iOS devices. Once you have downloaded the app, your eBook will be available on your Kortext digital bookshelf and can even be downloaded to view offline anytime, anywhere, helping you learn without limits.
In addition, you'll have access to Kortext's smart study tools including highlighting, notetaking, copy and paste, and easy reference export.
To download the Kortext app, head to your device's app store or visit https://app.kortext.com to sign up and read through your browser.

NB: eBook is only available for a single-user licence (i.e. not for multiple / networked users).