David deSilva’s new book Transformations: The Heart of Paul’s Gospel

David deSilva (Ashland Theological Seminary) has a great little book out with Logos in the Snapshots series called, Transformation: The Heart of Paul’s Gospel, where he tries to construct an alternative theology of sanctification over and against the easy believism that is endemic in the evangelical churches. Its only $6.95!

DeSilva’s main aim is to use the metaphor of transformation to balance the notion of grace as both gift and obligation. Let me add that this book will be controversial. For those with a reformed slant, they will inevitably accuse deSilva of confusing justification with sanctification. But the arguments need to be heard and his case has to be tested against the grain of Scripture.

There is a short 4 minute video by deSilva himself that you can watch here.

Here’s the TOC

Introduction: Hearing the Whole of Paul’s Good News
Foundations for a Broader Understanding Paul’s Gospel of Transformation
The Gospel Means the Transformation of the Individual: You Are Free to Become a New Person in Christ
The Gospel Means the Transformation of Community: You Are Free to Relate to One Another in New Ways
The Gospel Means the Transformation of the Cosmos: You Are Free from the World’s Rules to Witness to God’s Rule

In Transformation, David deSilva opens up for us the life-changing gospel of Jesus that Paul preached but that many have reduced to a kind of easy-believism with little substance. Readers will benefit from David’s careful reading of Paul’s letters, his in-depth knowledge of Paul’s culture, and his understanding of Paul’s interpreters (and mis-interpreters). The result is an insightful re-introduction to the apostle and his message of transformation for individuals, communities, and the entire creation.

— Michael J. Gorman, Raymond E. Brown Professor of Biblical Studies and Theology, St. Mary’s Seminary & University