Paul S. Fiddes on Spirit

Paul S. Fiddes, Spirit, Elements in Religion and Monotheism (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2026).

The above short (72-page) book is available as a free pdf download until 15 October 2026.

Here is the summary:

‘The Element begins by surveying the image of spirit within Judaism, Christianity and Islam. It explores the duality between the experience of spirit “from beyond” and spirit “within”, and finds a consistency in the idea of spirit as the presence and activity of God in the world. Attention is given to the image of spirit as an “overflow” in Islam and late Judaism. Moving into discussion of a dialectic between “spirit” and “letter”, or spirit and written text, gives a context for investigating the place of spirit in the New Testament, modern romanticism and idealism, and finally in the late-modern protest against structures of spirit. Finally, the development of spirit into the “Holy Spirit” of the Christian doctrine of the Trinity is considered, arguing that an experience of spirit as an inexhaustible relation and flow of love will oppose forces of domination in human life.

The book can be downloaded as a pdf from here.

Edward J. Creedy on Clement of Alexandria and Catechesis

Edward J. Creedy, Clement of Alexandria, Early Christian Instruction and the 'Catechetical School', Elements in Early Christian Literature (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2026).

The above short (86-page) book is available as a free pdf download until 15 October 2026.

Here is the summary:

‘With a scant biography and a notoriously complex oeuvre, Clement of Alexandria survives as one of the most enigmatic early Christian figures. He was traditionally understood as the head of an Alexandrian Catechetical School, succeeding Pantaenus and preceding the more famous Origen. With Eusebius traditionally read as our earliest witness to such a school, however, the anachronism of formal catechetical institution in the second century has long divided scholars. This Element both reintroduces this complex figure and reconsiders the Eusebian presentation of the so-called Catechetical School. Through a close reading of both Eusebius and Clement a new understanding of Clement's pedagogical context is explored. Eusebius does not suggest an early formal institution but is in fact deliberate in describing a far looser, retrospective association between these early Christian intellectuals. With the spectre of an anachronistic Catechetical School banished, the historical reality of Clement's second-century instruction can be retrieved and reevaluated.’

The book can be downloaded as a pdf from here.

Evangelical Alliance UK on Evangelicalism in the UK

The Evangelical Alliance has published a report on ‘Understanding UK Evangelicals: Who are They?’

Here are some snapshots:

‘This report presents the findings of a landmark survey that sought to measure the size, shape and identity of the evangelical population across the United Kingdom.’

‘Most practising Christians in the UK are evangelicals and evangelical Christianity is growing. Evangelicals are younger, more ethnically diverse, and more likely to be male than the wider population.’

‘Using the narrowest definition there are now an estimated 2.6 million evangelical Christians in the UK.’

‘Evangelical Christianity is thriving among young people, ethnic minority populations and men. The UK church is growing, and this looks set to continue, given the demographics.’

See here for more information and to download (with an email required) the report itself.

Anabaptist Witness 13, 1 (2026) on Missiology

The latest issue of Anabaptist Witness is devoted to the topic of ‘Missiology Revisited’, with essays and responses from James R. Krabill, Wilbert Shenk, Lois Y. Barrett, and others.

More information is available here, and the issue is downloadable as a pdf here.

Evangelical Alliance UK on Spiritual Curiosity

The Evangelical Alliance has launched a brief guide offering practical ways to share the Christian faith with the ‘spiritually curious’.

From the blurb:

‘The cultural moment we’re living in is one of remarkable spiritual curiosity… However, it is not just Christianity that people are turning to in their search. The spiritual curiosity is splintered in all directions. For some, the hunger for the transcendent is leading them to alternative spiritualities, trying out things like tarot cards, crystals, manifesting and psychedelics…

‘The question for many people is no longer whether God exists; the question now is – which god?’

See here for more information and a sight of the booklet itself.

Mission Frontiers 48, 5 (September–October 2026)

The September–October 2026 issue of Mission Frontiers, published by Frontier Ventures, contains a number of articles devoted to the topic of ‘Becoming Alongsiders’.

Here’s some of the issue blurb, which sets the scene:

‘Does your prayer life need a boost? How big is your vision for what God is doing among the least reached?

‘In this issue... we look inside prayer movements in which God has invited His children like you and me into His unstoppable plan to be glorified among all the peoples. Regardless of geography, economics, and education, each of us has the capacity to change the world through prayer. So, click and read this issue and be encouraged and inspired and maybe even be changed by joining one of the movements described within…’

The issue is available here, from where individual articles can be accessed, and the entire issue can be downloaded as a pdf here.

The Journal of Inductive Biblical Studies 9, 2 (2026)

The latest issue of the Journal of Inductive Biblical Studies is available online, with the below articles and their abstracts. Individual essays are available from here, and the journal is available in its entirety as a pdf here.

Frederick J. Long

From the Editors

Shishou Chen

Can AI Perform Inductive Bible Study? A Case Study and Implications for Applying AI in Biblical Studies

This article explores the potential of employing generative AI in biblical studies, focusing on ChatGPT’s strengths and limitations to perform Inductive Bible Study (IBS). Using the Parable of the Sower (Matt 13:3b–9) as a case study, the author evaluates ChatGPT’s ability to carry out core IBS tasks, including division and the identification of Major Structural Relationships (MSRs) in Matthew and in Matthew 13, as well as interpreting Matt 13:3b–9. The study concludes that ChatGPT can serve as a valuable research assistant but cannot replace human scholars. It also proposes a responsible human-AI collaboration model, explores pedagogical applications, and outlines future directions for AI’s application in broader biblical studies.

Daniel J. Hanlon

“Where Shall Wisdom Be Found?”: Seeking the Place of Wisdom in Biblical Theology

This article explores the place of biblical wisdom literature within biblical theology, challenging the claim that wisdom resists integration into theological frameworks. Using Klink and Lockett’s taxonomy, it surveys five approaches—historical description, history of redemption, worldview-story, canonical, and theological construction—showing that each successfully incorporates wisdom in distinct ways. Rather than privileging a single method, the article argues for the primacy of inductive study of the biblical text. Close attention to wisdom books reveals key epistemological, ethical, and theological dimensions, which provide a flexible framework for integrating wisdom literature into biblical theology across diverse interpretive approaches.

Abbie F. Mantor

Does Eliphaz Begin Gently? Utilizing Inductive Study of Scripture to Analyze the Tone and Message of Job 3:3–5:7

While scholars generally concur on the divisions within the book of Job, the message of those sections is highly debated. One example is the first speech cycle (chs. 3–11) where commentators disagree on the tenor of the speeches. Are the friends offering support or critique? The Inductive Method of Bible interpretation offers helpful insight. This paper will offer a detailed analysis of the chiastic structure of Job’s opening lament and Eliphaz’s response in Job 3:3–5:7. The analysis will illuminate the interrelatedness of the two speeches, providing insights into the tone and message of the speeches.

W. Creighton Marlowe

Splitting Heirs: When the Land was Divided (Genesis 10:25)

Shem’s genealogy (in Gen 10:2–30) records that “Two sons were born to Eber: One was named Peleg [ גֶלֶפ ], because in his time the earth was divided [ הָ֣גְלְפִנ ]; his brother was named Joktan” (10:25; NIV). What this “division” was has generated a few popular views, but none has reached consensus. The major interpretations to date are that the division was: (1) geographically, the patriarchal partitioning of territories to Noah’s three sons, or (2) a second distribution of these territories after the first by Noah; or (3) the split of the Pangaea continent into the modern continents or some other geological event; or (4) linguistically, the scattering of people after the confusion of the people who built the tower in Babel. This fresh and focused look at this genealogy results in added support for a new and more satisfying interpretation. A plausible answer is a theological split between these brothers, since Joktan and his lineage are connected to Canaanite settlements (Gen 10:30).

Samuel Ken-En Gan

Who Are the Sons of God and Nephilim in Genesis 6?: An Exegetical, Theological, and Scientific Evaluation

Scholars debate the meaning of bene ha-elohim and Nephilim in Gen 6:1–4, interpreting the former as either spiritual or human, and the latter as giants or hybrids. Using historical exegesis, linguistic analysis, and genetic insights, this study concludes “sons of God” in Gen 6 refers specifically to humans, aligning with the biblical creation mandate of “kind after kind.” Although elsewhere the term may denote spiritual beings, this paper argues for a context-specific human interpretation in Gen 6, while acknowledging the broader biblical usage covering both angels and humans.

David B. Schreiner

An Enduring Foundation: A Journey with Inductive Bible Study