Recent publication

Recent Publication

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Lareta H. Finger   

Assistant Professor of New Testament                              

Did you ever think about the fact that the books in your Bible may be the oldest literature you will ever read? We need wisdom and insight to read it well. This fall (2007) I am teaching two sections of “Encountering the Bible” to first year students. We learn how we got the Bible and to read different types of literature in it. There are many surprises!

As a teacher in New Testament, I also have two sections of a writing course on the Gospel and letters of John. This is new for me and quite exciting. John’s Gospel sounds simple, but it is very profound.

This year two of the books I’ve written were published—also quite exciting!  Of Widows and Meals: Communal Meals in the Book of Acts (Eerdmans, June 2007). From Jesus’ meals with all sorts of people to the economic and spiritual need to eat together in the early Jerusalem church, I show how these daily meals relate to the Lord’s Supper tradition. Our practice of communion has lost some of its original meaning as a full meal where all were fed and none were in need. Find out how some Christians are practicing communal meals today.

The other book is a second edition called Roman House Churches for Today (Eerdmans, October 2007). It can be used for individual or group study, where people learn about the Roman Christians the Apostle Paul wrote to. Take on one of those character roles and debate with other “Jews” and “Gentiles” about what Paul meant. We use this book in our Encountering the Bible class and end the unit with a Roman meal in the Private Dining Room on campus.

As an Anabaptist (Mennonite) Christian, I toured five European countries this summer to learn more about my early Anabaptist ancestors in the period of the Reformation and beyond. We traveled to sites in the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, France, and Switzerland. I even saw the valley in Switzerland where my father’s ancestors came from in the 1700s.

Education:                                                                                                              Contact Information:

Ph.D., 1997                                                                                                            Messiah College

   Northwestern University                                                                                   Box 3053                 
M.T.S., 1989                                                                                                           E-mail: LFinger@messiah.edu

   Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary                                                   Phone: (717) 796-1800 ext.3260

M.A.T.S., 1987                                                                                                        Fax: (717) 796-4790                   

   Northern Baptist Theological Seminary

M.Ed., 1967

   Boston University

B.S., 1967