Walking the Theological Life

"Timothy Gaines understands that knowing God means far more than knowing facts about God. In Walking the Theological Life, Gaines introduces students to theology through the lives of biblical figures, each transformed by the living God amid the nitty gritty of their daily lives. With the gift of a good storyteller and the wisdom of a seasoned professor, Gaines casts a vision for the kinds of people we're invited to become in order to know and love God, even if we never join the theological academy. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and can't wait to get it into the hands of my students."

-Emily Hunter McGowin, associate professor of theology at Wheaton College and author of Christmas in the Fullness of Time Series

"I wish to extend my sincere appreciation to Timothy Gaines, who authored such an excellent work. Furthermore, I sincerely congratulate the theological and academic circles in the United States for producing a young theologian who demonstrates the essence of theological life with such a comprehensive and balanced perspective. If I had read this book thirty years ago when I began my theological studies, I have no doubt that I would be a better theologian. The book presents a remarkable and persuasive discourse on what it means to live a theological life through profound biblical interpretation and theological understanding, avoiding fossilized theological methodologies."

-Hwarang Moon, professor of worship at Korea Theological Seminary

"By examining the stories of people in Scripture who are just as flawed as we are, Timothy Gaines moves us beyond simply memorizing precepts of theology and instead provides compelling evidence that theology may be best understood as we examine who God is in relation to his people. I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants to move beyond the need for absolute certitude in one's faith, and instead is willing to swim about in the mystery of a God who exceeds anything we can imagine."

-James K. Hampton, professor at Asbury Theological Seminary

"This book is an extraordinary invitation to engage (and perhaps wrestle!) with thinking theologically in deeply formative ways. Timothy Gaines proves to be an excellent guide, bringing into conversation important biblical figures, key theologians (such as Augustine, Barth, and Jennings), and his own reflections. This bridge of theological method and virtue formation takes seriously the task of spiritual formation for the reader, demonstrating how thinking theologically through story continues to be transformative, complex, embodied, and dynamic. Engaging and beautifully accessible, this work is a gift for both the academy and the church."

-Jennifer Matheny, George W. Truett Theological Seminary at Baylor University