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Publications

Tyndale resident and associate professors regularly publish for both the academy and the church. We want to highlight not only some of their publications but also the Tyndale Theological Seminary Theses Series. Professors who have recently departed Tyndale are also included in this listing.

Tyndale Theological Seminary Theses Series

The Tyndale Theological Seminary Theses Series displays the seminary’s focus on the study of the Bible with its practical application. Each one of these volumes will contain two selected master’s theses with similar or complementary topics authored by Tyndale graduates. While these are edited theses, these contributions largely are the thoughts and argumentation of the students who wrote them. Accordingly, the Tyndale Theological Seminary Theses Series presents the passion of the authors of the theses to affect issues confronting Christianity in their homelands. The series is oriented to practical concerns, paying attention to a particular need in the Church or a particular country. Each thesis proceeds by examining the need in relation to the classic theological disciplines within one or more of Tyndale’s three divisions: Biblical and Exegetical Studies; Theological and Historical Studies; Intercultural Studies and Practical Ministries. The conclusion applies the findings to the need for a particular country.

If you would like to order a copy of volume one, please email us at info@tyndale-europe.edu with your name and address and whether you will be paying in U.S. dollars or euro. We will contact you with further information.

Volume 1

Marinello, T. J., and H. H. Drake Williams III, eds. “Blessed are the Peacemakers,” but How Does a Christian Make and Preserve Peace? Peacemaking in Nigeria and Rwanda. Tyndale Theological Seminary Theses Series. Badhoevedorp: Tyndale NL Press, 2018. The student contributors are Adeshina Jayeola and Jean Pierre Methode Rukundo.

“Adeshina Jayeola addresses the incessant cycle of religious violence between Muslims and Christians, especially in the northern states of Nigeria. He argues that ending the insurgency of Boko Haram may not necessarily address the perennial religious conflict. Against this backdrop, he proposes a non-retaliatory response by Christians to the attacks of Boko Haram. His study in part examines the general perception of the true identity of Boko Haram and the applicability and workability of the biblical principle of peacemaking in order to end the cycle of religious violence in Nigeria.”

“Jean Pierre Methode Rukundo promotes the importance of proper evangelism and discipleship as a key to preventing another genocide in Rwanda. He suggests that for the Church to carry out her mission effectively, she needs to target grassroots ecumenical communities and preach the gospel, focusing on individual conversion, the sanctity of human life, the reduction of poverty, and a family-based reconciliation and peacemaking amount other ideas. As a survivor of the genocide, Rukundo’s commitment to peacemaking is especially noteworthy.”

Tyndale Faculty

Dr. J. D. Atkins (2020 – Present)

Atkins, J. D. The Doubt of the Apostles and the Resurrection Faith of the Early Church. Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament 2/495. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck, 2019

In this work, J. D. Atkins employs a combination of reception-history analysis and redaction criticism to challenge modern theories that Luke 24 and John 20 are apologetic responses to incipient docetism. He subjects second-century parallels used to support these theories to the same redaction-critical scrutiny as the Gospels and finds that the editorial and apologetic concerns of the evangelists differ fundamentally from those of antidocetic writers: neither Luke nor John aims to prove the physicality of the resurrection. Both instead draw attention to the fulfilment of prophecy. The author also argues that the apostles’ doubt was not an apologetic device and that the bodily demonstrations of touching and eating predate docetism. Early docetists appeal to the Gospels as apostolic testimony but insist on a non-literal hermeneutic in which Christ performs physical actions “in appearance only.”

Dr. Szaszi Bene (2013 – Present)

Heersink, Roland and Szaszi Bene. How to be a Christian at Work: A handbook for the working Christian. God and Work, 2017.

This book gives the Bible-based practical insights needed to help every working Christian live out their faith at work in the way God intended – most of which you won’t hear at church. This book is not an evangelism training tool, but a practical handbook on how to live your faith in the daily grind of meetings, deadlines, politics and the frustrations that accompany these.

Dr. Bert de Ruiter (2017 – Present)

de Ruiter, Bert. Wisdom is Supreme: Navigating Life with Wisdom from the Book of Proverbs, VTR Publications, 2023

“This book encourages the reader to make a quest for wisdom his or her highest priority. Using the biblical book of Proverbs as its inspiration, the author sheds light on what is the essential foundation of wisdom. The book also seeks to answer the question how to become wise and whether we become wiser when we get older and whether one can learn wisdom in a school.”

de Ruiter, Bert. A Single Hand Cannot Applaud: The Value of Using the Book of Proverbs in Sharing the Gospel with Muslims, VTR Publications, 2011

“Christians who want to share the truth about God with their Muslim friends understandably try to encourage them to read the Bible. Unfortunately, many Muslims believe that Jews and Christians have corrupted the books that God has given them. As a consequence, Muslims are hesitant about reading the Bible. Given this antagonism among a large percentage of Muslims towards Christianity in general and the Bible in particular, there is a need to prepare the ground before a Muslim can be persuaded to read the Bible. To stimulate Muslims to read the Scriptures, we need to find common ground between their worldview and the Bible. This book argues that we find such common ground in the book of Proverbs. The universal character of the book of Proverbs makes it a useful bridge between the truth of God and those outside the Christian faith, including Muslims. The use of proverbs is very common in many Muslim cultures. God’s wisdom found in the book of Proverbs resembles the content of proverbial sayings in many Muslim cultures. Therefore using this book as a tool in sharing the Word of God with Muslims can create openings where there were none. Muslims are familiar with the Solomon of Scripture because he is mentioned in the Qur’an, but most have never read his words. The wisdom God gave Solomon is a natural link to Muslim people so they can come to know more about God. The book of Proverbs is one of the most valuable tools, particularly in combination with local proverbs, to lead our Muslim friends from accepting familiar truth, to embrace less familiar truth, and then to worship the One who said “I am the truth” (John 14:6).”

de Ruiter, Bert. Engaging with Muslims in Europe, VTR Publications, 2014

“In Europe one finds Christian communities and Muslim communities living in close proximity to each other. Muslims and Christians pass each other in the streets, stand next to each other waiting for the bus or metro, live next to one another, share apartment buildings with each other, study in the same universities, have their lunches in the same business canteens, shop in the same shopping centres. Nevertheless, they are essentially strangers to each other. Only a small minority of Churches and Christians in Europe are engaged with Muslims through meaningful and loving relationships which provide opportunities to witness to them about the truth of God. The European Ministry to Muslims Network of the European Leadership Forum seeks to equip the Church in Europe to relate to Muslims with a compassionate heart, an informed mind, an involved hand and a witnessing tongue. In this book, members of the network and others write about their engagement with Muslims in Europe.”

de Ruiter, Bert. Sharing Lives: Overcoming Our Fear of Islam, VTR Publications, 2010

“This book argues that the single greatest hindrance to Christian witness amongst Muslims in Europe is fear. Many European Christians fear that Europe will gradually turn into Eurabia, or Islamic domination of Europe, and they ignore the efforts of Muslims to adapt to the European context, a situation pointing to a future scenario of Euro-Islam, or Islam being Europeanized. The author argues that instead of an attitude of fear, which leads to exclusion, Christians should develop an attitude of grace, which leads to embrace. After analyzing books and courses developed to help Christians relate to Muslims, he concludes that these mostly concentrate on providing information and skills, instead of dealing with one’s attitude. Because of this the author developed a short course to help Christians overcome their fear of Islam and Muslims and to encourage Christians to share their lives with Muslims and to share the truth of the Gospel.”

Dr. Linda Gottschalk (2010 – 2021)

Gottschalk, Linda S. Pleading for Diversity: the Church Caspar Coolhaes Wanted. Gottingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, 2017.

“Coolhaes was a Reformed preacher, a writer of theology, a critic of the churches of his day, and an advocate of religious diversity. Coolhaes opposed much of the building up of the organization of the Reformed Church in the Northern Netherlands and Dutch Republic in the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries. The struggle between Coolhaes and the Leiden magistrates on one side and the Leiden consistory and fellow-preacher Pieter Cornelisz on the other encapsulated the question of authority which was being asked by many. At the same time, Coolhaes’ theology, especially his Spiritualistic understanding of the sacraments, his Erastianism, and his views on free will made him suspicious to his Reformed colleagues. The latter of which leading him later to be labeled “the forerunner of Arminius and the Remonstrants.” All this eventually led to his defrocking at the synod of Middelburg and soon after to excommunication from the Reformed Church. The question this book answers, therefore, is: What sort of church would the critic Coolhaes himself have wanted to design for the new Republic? The first part of the book gives a new biographical sketch. Fresh information, sources, and un-examined works by Coolhaes himself have been uncovered since H.C. Rogge’s nineteenth-century biography. In the second part the ecclesiology of Coolhaes takes center stage: His ideal church would have been characterized by diversity, for diversity of religious confessions in the same society would stabilize it and diversity of views even within a confession would not harm it.”

Dr. Philip A. Gottschalk (2000 – 2021)

Gottschalk, Philip A. Entertaining Angels Unaware: Welcoming the Immigrant Other. Eugene, OR: Cascade Books, 2021

The United States and many western European nations have grown by immigration. What sort of reception have immigrants been given by Christians? Are Christians today aware of the need of people suffering from war or persecution to immigrate to safe places?

In earlier times immigrants were generally “like us.” Now many immigrants are often Muslims, who not only dress distinctively, but practice a different religious creed as well. Many fear that terrorists will enter our country under the guise of immigrants. Christians, however, belong to another kingdom, the kingdom of Jesus the Messiah. A Christian response to the needs of refugees and immigrants should reflect their commitment to Christ more than their fears or political allegiances.

Through stories of immigrants in the past and present, this book aims to show that not only is it safe to accept them, but our commitment to Christ compels us to help those less fortunate than ourselves.

 

Dr. Peter Hays (1996 – Present)

Hays, Peter. Building Bridges: A Practical Guide for Evangelism and Discipleship with the Unchurched, Galatians 2:20 Publishers, 2016.

“Building Bridges is a hands-on guide to reaching unchurched people. Written in an informal, chatty style, reading this book is like sitting at Margré and Peter’s kitchen table and hearing the stories of things they learned on the go. Margré and Peter share the insights they have learned, answering questions and giving practical steps.

Building Bridges traces a process that begins with discussion groups with unbelievers using topics of general interest in order to demonstrate the truth and relevance of the gospel. Gradually, through building a safe and warm community, Bible study and prayer are incorporated. Unbelievers are discipled into faith and growth in Christ.”

Dr. Rob MacEwen (2019 – Present)

MacEwen, Robert K.,Matthean Posteriority: An Exploration of Matthew’s Use of Mark and Luke as a Solution to the Synoptic Problem. Library of New Testament Studies, ed. Chris Keith, vol. 501. London: Bloomsbury T&T Clark, 2015.

“This book explores the Matthean Posteriority Hypothesis (MPH), a largely neglected solution to the Synoptic Problem which holds that the author of the Gospel of Luke used the Gospel of Mark as a source, and that the author of the Gospel of Matthew used both the Gospel of Mark and the Gospel of Luke as sources.

MacEwen begins with a survey of the scholars who have defended various forms of the MPH. Chapter 2 discusses two key lines of evidence which support the MPH. The first line of evidence is textual – demonstrating that Matthew could have known the contents of Luke’s Gospel beyond merely the double tradition material. The second line of evidence, involving a study of strings of verbatim agreements in the Gospels, supports the view that Matthew depended directly on Luke. Chapter 3 explores evidence and arguments which can be seen as problematic for the MPH. MacEwen concludes that the MPH has been neither definitely proved nor disproved, and deserves further scholarly scrutiny.”

Dr. T. J. Marinello (2000 – Present)

Dickson, Neil T. R., and T. J. Marinello, eds. Bible and Theology in the Brethren. Studies in Brethren History. Glasgow: BAHN, 2018.

The papers collected in this volume, with one exception, were presented at International Brethren History Conferences in 2013 and 2015. As the section on the Bible in this book demonstrates, Brethren individuals invested considerable energies in textual and biblical criticism; translating the Scriptures; disseminating it through the Bible Society or in other ways; and in using it pointedly as an evangelistic tool. The section on theology is slighter. This is largely because of the exigencies of organizing a conference and then progressing the papers to publication. It is also because, as one of the volume’s contributor’s noted, the Brethren “vigorously opposed” systematic theology. It is hoped that the collected papers, which are arranged chronologically, will stimulate further thought and research, as well as acting as an introduction to some of the ways in which Bible and theology have been understood and used within the Brethren movement.

Marinello, T. J., and H. H. Drake Williams III, eds. “Blessed are the Peacemakers,” but How Does a Christian Make and Preserve Peace? Peacemaking in Nigeria and Rwanda. Tyndale Theological Seminary Theses Series. Badhoevedorp: Tyndale NL Press, 2018.

Dickson, Neil T. R., and T. J. Marinello, eds. Brethren and Mission: Essays in Honour of Timothy C. F. Stunt. Studies in Brethren History. Troon, Scotland: BAHN, 2016.

Mission is close to the heart of the Open Brethren. Although the Brethren are a small ecclesiastical body, in 1945 Brethren missionaries from Western countries formed five percent of all foreign Protestant missionaries worldwide, proportions that were perhaps eclipsed only by the eighteenth-century Moravians. The essays in this volume are in honor of a notable historian of the Brethren movement and beyond. Dr. Timothy C. F. Stunt has taught history, perhaps for more years than he cares to remember, in England, Switzerland, and the USA. Church historians are especially in his debt for the depth of his scholarship of nineteenth-century Christianity, which has taken seriously the religion of radical evangelicals, sometimes even those who might be regarded as mavericks, without participating in the partisan spirit that they often sadly displayed.

Dickson, Neil T. R., and T. J. Marinello, eds. Culture, Spirituality, and the Brethren. Studies in Brethren History. Troon, Scotland: BAHN 2014.

At various points the authors of this book’s chapters will be seen battling with the meanings of the three nouns that are used in the title, for each of the words has had problems with definition. “Culture is one of the two or three most complicated words in the English language,” according to Raymond Williams. Among the modern definitions of the word Williams offers, the one that is most applicable to the chapters in this book is “a particular way of life, whether of a people, a period, a group, or humanity in general.” Traditionally, in Brethren usage, spirituality was seen as “a quality which grows in a believer” as” ‘tokens of the Holy Spirit’s residence” and therefore might be seen as being equivalent to “spiritual,” a synonym for holiness. “Brethren” has long been contested as a name by many of those people and churches that have theology and practices which would identify them as such. Nonetheless, this book treats culture and spirituality in a Brethren context.

Marinello, Thomas J. New Brethren in Flanders: A History of the Origins and Development of the Evangelische Christengemeenten Vlaanderen, 1971–2008. Eugene, OR: Pickwick Publications, 2013.

This book is a presentation of a remarkable chapter in the history of revival in late twentieth century Flanders. The Evangelische Christengemeenten Vlaanderen (ECV) began in the early 1970s as a result of evangelistic church-planting efforts led by a group of Canadian, Christian Brethren missionaries. What began in Flanders as a series of evangelistic home Bible studies grew into a fully recognized denomination within a few decades of the first study. This result was surprising at a number of levels. First, the speed was remarkable at which the churches were planted. In just under twenty years, the ECV grew from one evangelistic home Bible study to over thirty local churches in Flanders, the Netherlands, and Germany. These local churches were composed almost entirely of newly converted, evangelical Christians. Second, the suddenness of the ECV’s growth was matched by the equal suddenness of its cessation of growth. New converts became infrequent and new churches were not planted after the early 1990s. Alongside this history are observations related to both the essential and functional ecclesiology of the ECV.

Marinello, Thomas J., and H.H. Drake Williams III, eds. Not Weary of Well Doing: Essays in Honor of Cecil W. Stalnaker. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2013.

Not Weary of Well Doing is a collection of essays penned by people interested in educating primarily European church leaders, theological educators, and missionaries as well as other Christian leaders from around the world. All of the authors are related to the ministries of Tyndale Theological Seminary, the Netherlands. This book is in honor of missionary scholar and colleague, Dr. Cecil W. Stalnaker, for his lifetime of Christian service in Europe. Each of the articles is related to the work of missions or local church ministry. Most of the authors have many decades of experience primarily as missionary professors throughout Europe as well as pastoral ministry experience in Europe and North America. Local church leaders and cross-cultural workers especially will find this a worthwhile addition to their personal and school libraries.

Marinello, Thomas J., and H.H. Drake Williams III, eds. My Brother’s Keeper: Essays in honor of Ellis R. Brotzman. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2010.

My Brother’s Keeper is a collection of essays penned by people interested in educating primarily European church leaders, theological educators, and missionaries as well as other Christian leaders from around the world. All of the authors are related to the ministries of Tyndale Theological Seminary, the Netherlands. This book is in honor of missionary Hebrew scholar and colleague, Ellis R. Brotzman upon his retirement. Included is material from the fields of biblical studies, theological studies, and pastoral ministries and missions. The articles represent a sampling of the type of teaching provided at Tyndale since its beginnings in 1985. Most of the authors have many decades of experience primarily as missionary professors throughout Europe. Others include those with pastoral ministry experience in Europe and North America. Theological educators, local church leaders, and cross-cultural workers will find this a worthwhile addition to their personal and school libraries.

Dr. Cecil Stalnaker (1997 – Present)

Stalnaker, Cecil W., Faith Adrift Christianity: How Can We Avoid Drifting Away from God? Independently published (27 July 2022).

Faith Adrift Christianity is a biblical response to a devastating form of Christianity that has gripped the heart and soul of many ‘Christians’ and their churches, namely, that of nominal Christianity. This form of Christianity is counterfeit at its best and is one of the greatest challenges facing the church today, whether Protestant, Catholic, or Orthodox. It is estimated that an alarming 75% of professing Christians are living lifeless forms of their faith. Although so many identify as Christians, something is strangely wrong. Sadly, wavering in the Christian faith is more common than not. Millions of professing Christians in America and Europe are adrift spiritually and indifferent to Jesus Christ and his church. This deceptive form of Christianity is not only personally detrimental to the Christian, but devastating to the life of the local church. Being a weak form of Christianity, the church loses its saltiness and its light dims. It nullifies its penetrating and powerful outreach into society. If not countered, Christians will continue to drift toward the sea of nominally, having nothing but a token relationship with God. For this reason, Faith Adrift Christianity is an indispensable guide because it reveals, counters, and provides answers from a biblical perspective to churches regarding those who profess Christ, yet live lapsed Christian lives. The uniqueness of Faith Adrift Christianity is its biblical analysis as to why people manifest an aloofness regarding God. Yet, it does not merely cite the problems and leave the reader adrift, for it offers effective means to combat this very troublesome challenge.”

Dr. Alex Stewart (2013 – 2021)

Stewart, Alexander E. Perseverance and Salvation: What the New Testament Teaches about Faith and Works. Areopagus Critical Christian Issues Series. Gonzalez, FL: Energion, 2018.

“This book works through the questions of the role and meaning of perseverance in salvation. Is perseverance necessary and thus not optional in salvation? What does it mean, and what is its role? Does the idea of perseverance result in a works-based view of righteousness and salvation? These six short chapters will help to clarify your understanding and provide a basis for continuing and deeper study.”

Köstenberger, Andreas, Alexander E. Stewart, and Apollo Makara. Jesus and the Future: Understanding What He Taught about the End Times. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2018.

“Jesus was a prophet who often spoke about future events. Some readers apply all of Jesus’s teaching about the future to the distant future: his return, the future resurrection, and final judgment. Other readers contend that virtually everything Jesus taught about the future was fulfilled in the destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70. The authors conclude that the truth lies somewhere in the middle. As a prophet, Jesus spoke both about the near future events of AD 70 and the distant future events surrounding his second coming. The challenge lies in determining when he was speaking about near instead of distant future events.

In Jesus and the Future, the authors examine everything Jesus said about future events as recorded in the four canonical Gospels. This includes the famous Olivet Discourse along with many other parables and sayings. The authors situate Jesus’s teaching in its original literary and 1st century Jewish and Greco-Roman context.

Jesus and the Future is designed to discuss Jesus’ teaching about the end times in a way that is accessible, biblical-theological, exegetical, and devotional and spiritually-nurturing. Written with a scholar’s mind but a pastor’s heart, the book is geared to a popular audience interested in making sense of end-time phenomena and conflicting teachings on the end times.”

Stewart, Alexander E. Soteriology as Motivation in the Apocalypse of John. Gorgias Biblical Studies 61. Piscataway, NJ: Gorgias Press, 2015.

“John did not write the Apocalypse in order to provide a detailed time-table of events that would unfold thousands of years in the future. Instead, John wrote to affect and move his hearers at the end of the first century-to motivate them to reject idolatrous compromise with the surrounding cultural and political institutions and overcome through repentance, worship, witness, perseverance, and obedience. How does the Apocalypse of John accomplish this motivation and persuade its hearers to adopt a course of action that would put their present lives, income, and security in jeopardy? This monograph employs Stephen Toulmin’s model of argumentation analysis to study John’s explicit and implicit motivational argumentation and to argue that the two primary grounds for John’s argumentation are soteriological. Hearers are motivated positively by the promise of future salvation and negatively by warnings of future judgment. In addition to this main claim, this monograph will (1) argue that the Apocalypse of John is a thoroughly rhetorical text; (2) highlight the centrality of logos, or logical argumentation, in John’s argumentation; (3) demonstrate the general applicability of Toulmin’s model of argumentation analysis to biblical texts; (4) argue that one’s systematic theology of motivation or salvation must be grounded in a comprehensive analysis of the actual motivational argumentation within a text; and (5) explore some of the theological questions raised by the use of soteriology as motivation.” 

Köstenberger, Andreas and Alexander E. Stewart, The First Days of Jesus: The Story of the Incarnation. Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway, 2015.

“The birth of Jesus stands as a pivotal moment in the history of the world, marking a dramatic turning point in God’s plan to redeem creation from sin and death. Much to the world’s surprise, redemption had arrived . . . in the form of a lowly baby.

Aimed at stirring your affections for Jesus, this meditative book will lead you on a step-by-step journey through the Gospels’ birth narratives, clearing away common misconceptions, making messianic connections, and setting the stage for Jesus’s later life and ministry.”

Köstenberger, Andreas, Justin Taylor, and Alexander E. Stewart. The Final Days of Jesus. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2014.

“Walk With Jesus During His Last Week on Earth.

On March 29, AD 33, Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem and boldly predicted that he would soon be put to death―executed on a cross, like a common criminal. So began the most important week of the most important person who ever lived.

Nearly 2,000 years later, the events that took place during Jesus’s last days still reverberate through the ages. Designed as a day-by-day guide to Passion Week, The Final Days of Jesus leads us to reexamine and meditate on the history-making, earth-shaking significance of Jesus’s arrest, trial, crucifixion, and empty tomb.

Combining a chronological arrangement of the Gospel accounts with insightful commentary, charts, and maps, this book will help you better understand what actually happened all those years ago―and why it matters today.”

Dr. Rahman Yakubu (2018 – Present)

Yakubu, Abdul-Rahman, The Gods are not Jealous: Lived Contextualization of Religious Identity and Dialogue through Dagomba Rites of Passage, Leipzig: Evangelische Verlagsanstalt, 2022.

“Rahman Yakubu critiques the notion that Islam and Christianity in Africa have been benevolent to African Traditional Religion (ATR) in their interreligious encounter. Rather, he argues that ATR plays an active and central role in creating a peaceful interreligious space in Africa. Using an ethnographic study of rituals in the rites of passage among Dagomba Muslims, Christians and adherents of ATR of Ghana, the author concludes that Dagomba religio-culture has influenced not only the identity of adherents of the two faiths, but also the relations between them. This book proposes that, for a constructive negotiating of religious identity and peaceful interreligious existence, Traditional Religions should be considered an equal partner in interreligious dialogue.”