Central to the praxis of the historical Jesus were his gatherings with tax collectors and debtors to remediate the situation of the debtors. Hence, Jesus' table and meals were to continue in the core ritual of Christianity-the cucharistic Table and the Great Thanksgiving on the Lord's Day. Around this Table would be gathered the diverse members of those called into fellowship with Jesus and one another. From the beginning, the Body of Christ took on a material shape in the world as well as material significance around tables. This thoughtful new book by James Kalong, therefore, deserves attention. Of the four canonical evangelists, Luke places the most emphasis on Jesus' meals and table talk. Kalong strategically submits Luke's reports of Jesus' conversations with his associates to close and illuminating social analysis. For this scholarly task, Kalong draws upon the international work of scholars who have integrated the social sciences into biblical studies over the last fifty years. The result is an insightful and inspiring account of how Luke's recollection of Jesus' meals and table conversations served his gospel's central message about the good news of Jesus' kingdom of "peace - on earth" (Luke 2:14). Further in a last chapter, Kalong ably shows how the Table continues to function as a central rite of reconciliation in addition to a Model for overcoming enmity in the world. This is true not only for his own context in Nagaland, but also in world Christianity. In a world torn by seemingly endless wars and deadly ethnic strife, Kalong's work serves as an important reminder to Christians of their continuing call to heal social divisions and to lead in conciliatory conversations. This book should find a useful place in the current curriculum of biblical and theological studies. And Dr. Kalong further is to be congratulated for an important contribution illuminating the contemporary mission of the global Christian church.
This little book has taken many years in the making. The work initially began as a doctoral research and continued through postdoctoral studies, which has finally evolved into this slim material. The first part of the book is an excerpt from my dissertation and I have added the latter parts along the way. I am immensely grateful to the Global Research Institute at Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, California for providing me and my family with a generous grant to pursue postdoctoral studies. To scholars Douglas E. Oakman, Joel B. Green and Richard L. Rohrbaugh, who have kindly read through the manuscript and have shared with me their thoughts and have given constructive insights and gracious endorsements. I remain truly grateful to them. I am very thankful to Wati Aier-mentor and colleague, for granting me a much needed sabbatical during his final year of Principalship at Oriental Theological Seminary. I also thank my friend and colleague Joshua Lorin for kindly prompting me to embark on a postdoctoral research program at Fuller Theological Seminary, whose disposition made me to set things off with ease. To Aku, Ali, and Timo in Pasadena for the many table fellowships at their place and the many rides to many exciting places all over LA and beyond-truly grateful to this generous family.
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