This collection of twelve essays will celebrate the distinguished contribution of Professor John Kenneth Riches to biblical interpretation. The international selection of contributors are all either former students or colleagues of Professor Riches and the focus of the essays all reflect (and extend) Professor Riches' particular research interests and contribution to biblical and theological studies. The essays in this volume are clustered around two closely related topics: historical and theological contributions to understanding the nature of Christian freedom and agency, and studies...

The act of martyrdom in the worldview of the Apocalypse has been considered to be an exemplification of non-violent resistance. Paul Middleton argues here, however, that it is in fact a representation of direct participation by Christians, through their martyrdom, in divine violence against those the author of Revelation portrays as God's enemies. Middleton shows that acceptance of martyrdom is to grasp the invitation to participate in the Revelation's divine violence. Martyrs follow the model laid down by the Lamb, who was not only slain, but resurrected, glorified, and who executes...

Matthew Henry (1662-1714) is arguably the best known English expositor of the Bible mainly due to his massive 6-volume Exposition of the Old and New Testaments. This monumental work had already been published in 25 different editions by 1855, and is used widely even today in print and online versions. Yet Henry's famous commentary is by no means the only expression of his engagement with the Scriptures. Amongst his 30 further publications, his many sermons and works on Christian Piety-including the still popular Method for Prayer (1710)-are saturated with Henry's peculiarly...