Darin H. Land

The Diffusion of Ecclesiastical Authority

Darin H. Land

The Diffusion of Ecclesiastical Authority explores the leadership of the church in Acts from a sociological perspective. Two primary models emerge from a sociologically informed investigation of first-century Greco-Roman and Jewish religious leadership: «manager-leader» and «innovator-leader.» An examination of seven passages in Acts reveals that the leaders of the early church, although initially conforming to cultural expectations, are best described as innovator-leaders whose counter-cultural actions resulted in the empowerment of new leaders and the advancement of the gospel. Through the use of fictive kinship language, the voluntary sharing of authority, the fostering of a sense of mutual dependence on God as the common patron, and the redefinition of what is honorable, the leaders in Acts consistently enabled others to share authority in the church.

Reboot Your Greek

Darin H. Land

Reboot Your Greek: A Forty-Day New Testament Greek Refresher rekindles the reader's love of reading the Greek New Testament through a step-by-step presentation of basic concepts in easy-to-understand language. Designed to be read in fifteen minutes per day for forty days (thirty minutes per day, counting time for Greek exercises), Reboot Your Greek offers simple explanations of key topics necessary for reading the Greek New Testament with enjoyment. Vocabulary is reintroduced through exposure, not through memorization. The book also introduces helpful tools for maintaining a commitment to regular Greek reading. A glossary offers clear definitions of important terms, and appendices display essential paradigms.