God Is Present - by Frank J Matera (Paperback)

About the Book

Through an exploration of key Old Testament stories, a leading biblical scholar shows how God enters the lives of his people and helps readers learn how to enter more deeply into the life of God's friendship.

Book Synopsis

Does God enter our lives in a personal way? We read stories in the Bible of how he did in the past, but we may wonder how he does so today.

To answer this crucial question, leading biblical scholar Frank J. Matera examines seven Old Testament stories and how God made his presence known, drawing out important theological principles. He then traces each story and theme into the New Testament, showing how God makes his presence known in our lives in similar ways. We can experience God's presence through his promises, his purposes, his name, his silence, his judgment, his restoration, and his call. And when we do, everything changes, taking us into deeper friendship with God.

This well-informed biblical study is appropriate for classroom use, but its warm, accessible style makes it ideal for study in church groups as well.

About the Author

Frank J. Matera (PhD, Union Theological Seminary, Richmond) is professor emeritus at The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, where he taught New Testament for many years. He recently served as pastor at St. Mary's Church in Simsbury, Connecticut. A past president of the Catholic Biblical Association of America, he has written commentaries on Romans, Galatians, and 2 Corinthians as well as volumes on Pauline theology, New Testament theology, Christology, and ethics.