In the western church today, thinking about the people of God is often reduced to how an individual is related to God. The category of holiness is either ignored, reduced to inward piety or reduced to preserve of legalist. However, throughout the Biblical story, the people of God are expected to embody God's holy character publicly. Therefore, holiness is a theological and ecclesial issue prior to being a matter of individual piety.
These essayist approach the issue of holiness from an ecclesial standpoint, participating in a larger discussion indicating a renewed interest in the idea of the holiness of God and of His people. They explore how these concepts are related as they come to expression in a variety of New Testament and Qumran documents.
Holiness and Ecclesiology in the New Testament offers a serious engagement with the text by diverse authors in order to stimulate churches to imagine anew what it might mean to be a publicly identifiable people who embody God's very character in their particular social setting. This exploration provides direction for shaping a local church into a ecclesial community where holiness is a matter of public concern.
