Scot McKnight's book honored by Christianity Today
CHICAGO, IL (May 20) - The Jesus Creed, written by North Park University Professor Scot McKnight, has been named by Christianity Today magazine as its 2005 Book of the Year for Christian living. McKnight has been the Karl A. Olsson Professor in Religious Studies at North Park University since 1994.
In making today's announcement honoring the book, CT editors wrote on the magazine's website, "In clear, engaging prose, The Jesus Creed offers a broad range of material - from personal anecdote to Jewish prayers - for abundant reflection on Jesus and on practical ways for loving God and others."
A Publisher's Weekly review praised the book saying, "Its pages glow with compassion, generosity and the invitation to understand what was important to Jesus and what is crucial for Christianity."
The book has sold nearly 20,000 copies and has led McKnight to travel around the country discussing Jesus and spiritual formation. "It has been a wild and wonderful ride," he says.
McKnight's work has long been recognized in academic circles, but he had a different audience in mind when writing the book. "I made a commitment to myself at the beginning that this would be for lay people, for the people who sit in the pew, and it would be designed for personal and group Bible studies. So the companion guide was very important. That would be the part that would deepen the formation part of the chapter."
McKnight says his wife, Kris, was indispensable in helping him make the transition to writing for a lay audience. "She read every chapter and would say, "This isn't interesting, or this is interesting or this is too much theory." He is finishing the editing of his next book project that is also intended for a lay audience, to be called Embracing Grace.
McKnight specializes in historical Jesus studies as well as the Gospels and the New Testament. As an authority in Jesus studies, McKnight has been frequently consulted by Fox News, WGN, U.S. News & World Report, Newsweek, TIME and various newspapers throughout the United States.
Prior to joining the Faculty at North Park University (1994), McKnight was a professor at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. McKnight was awarded a Ph.D. at the University of Nottingham (England), and earned his master's degree at Trinity and his bachelor's degree at Cornerstone University. Recently, McKnight was inducted into the Hall of Honor at Cornerstone University to recognize his basketball career.
The Jesus Creed can be purchased online through the Covenant Bookstore by visiting Covenant Bookstore. To read the comments from Christianity Today on its web site, please see Christianity Today.
Used with permission from the Evangelical Covenant Church.
|
