Work Matters - Lessons from Scripture

Adam and Eve worked. Jacob and Joseph worked. So did Ruth, David, Daniel, Jonah, Martha, Priscilla and Aquila, Paul -- and most people in the Old and New Testaments. In Work Matters marketplace theology expert R. Paul Stevens revisits more than twenty biblical accounts -- from Genesis to Revelation -- exploring through them the theological meaning of every sort of work, manual or intellectual, domestic or commercial. Taken together, his short, pithy reflections on these well-known Bible passages add up to a comprehensive, Bible-based theology of work -- one that will be equally useful for seminars, classes, Bible studies, and individuals seeking to grasp more fully the theological dimensions of their daily labor. - Publisher. Foreword / Don Flow Introduction Part one : God-given work : an introduction to the first five books. Good work : Adam and Eve Degraded work : Cain Virtuous work : Jacob Vocational work : Joseph Spirit work : Bezalel Part two : Stewardship work : an introduction to the historical books. Survival work : Ruth Royal work : David Shrewd work : Nehemiah Providential work : Esther Part three : Soul work : an introduction to the wisdom books. Wild work : God and Job Slothful work : the sluggard Entrepreneurial work : the businessperson Enigmatic work : the professor Part four : Just work : an introduction to the prophets. Imaginative work : Ezekiel Exilic work : Daniel Missionary work : Jonah Part five : Kingdom work : an introduction to the New Testament. Contemplative work : Martha Tent-making work : Paul, Aquila, and Priscilla Lasting work : Paul Heavenly work : John Epilogue : How then shall we work? Selected bibliography : Theology of work Marketplace theology expert R. Paul Stevens revisits more than twenty biblical accounts -- from Genesis to Revelation -- exploring through them the theological meaning of every sort of work, manual or intellectual, domestic or commercial. --from publisher description