Where Two Or Three Are Gathered: Essays on Friendship

by Scott Leonard Keith (Editor)

Overview

We need to rediscover dangerous friendships. Dangerous relationships with people who aren't exactly like us, because friendship, creativity, and debate are essential.

In Where Two or Three are Gathered, Dr. Scott Keith has collected essays from several of his friends to reflect on the nature of friendship. Stories of historical friendships from the Ancient Near East to the pubs of modern Oxford are told. The benefits of friends walking together and confiding in each other are also extolled.

Each section takes a unique approach. Some are academic, others are pastoral, while the rest are more down to earth. Not all friends are alike, and thus not all the chapters in this little book are alike. Yet, there is something uniquely special about this work on friendship written by a group of friends. We hope you enjoy this short work given to you by your friends at 1517.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781948969024
Publisher:	1517 Publishing
Publication date:	10/15/2019
Pages:	122
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.29(d)
Age Range:	3 Months to 18 Years

About the Author

Scott Keith is the Executive Director of 1517 and Adjunct Professor of Theology at Concordia University, Irvine. He is a co-host of The Thinking Fellows Podcast and a contributor to 1517 and Christ Hold Fast. He is also the author of "Being Dad: Father as a Picture of God’s Grace." He earned his doctorate from Foundation House Oxford, under the sponsorship of the Graduate Theological Foundation, studying under Dr. James A. Nestingen

Table of Contents

List of Abbreviations, vii



Where Two or Three Are Gathered—An Introduction by Scott L. Keith, Ph.D., page 1



Theology of Friendship by Paul Koch, MDiv, page 10



Friendship in the Old Testament by Chad Bird, MDiv, STM, page 17



Friendship in the New Testament by Caleb E. Keith, page 25



The Invisible Bond of Friendship from Gilgamesh to Augustine by Daniel van Voorhis, Ph.D., page 31



The Philosophy of Friendship by Daniel Deen, Ph.D., page 38



The Ethics of Friendship by Jeffrey C. Mallinson, DPhil, page 49



Luther and Melanchthon: A Reformation Friendship by Scott L. Keith, Ph.D., and Caleb E. Keith, page 68



The Inklings: Friendship and Writing by Samuel P. Schuldheisz, MDiv, page 75



Friendship and the Apologetics of Imagination: Middle-earth and Narnia by Samuel P. Schuldheisz, MDiv, page 87



Friendship in the Lutheran Confessions: The Mutual Consolation of the Brethren by David J. Rufner, MDiv, page 97



Notes, page 107

Editorial Reviews

This collection of essays by pastors, theologians, and other thinkers arrives at just the right time. So many of us are feeling more alienated than ever, from factors within and without, and finding someone to overcome that isolation with can be such a challenge, especially for men. For the male friends who wrote this anthology, that difficulty is worth it, as they describe from so many vantage points. Moving through intellectual, spiritual, and everyday registers, these writers offer gracious encouragement and elucidation on the vital necessity of companions. Much recommended!

David Zahl

Founder and Director of Mockingbird Ministries

Author of Seculosity

Presently, the world blames Christians for the eclipse of friendship due to their dangerous teaching of loving God above all, and neighbors (all of them) as yourself! What about selected preferences for friends? More dangerous yet is the Christian teaching of marriage, which excludes sex from friendship. Why such arbitrary limits? So Achilles and Patroclus are hauled out as the model for the old pagan days when friendship was a virtue, and happiness coincided with goodness. Then, suddenly, this book appeared out of nowhere and put to flight these foolish notions. What about the four who let down their paraplegic friend in the middle of Jesus’ sermon—to which Jesus said: “I see faith!” Or David and Jonathan together overcoming Saul’s decline into witchcraft. Or Paul, Silas, Timothy and the rest learning how to free the captives—uniting and parting as needed? Or Lazarus and Jesus, whose friendship ended in resurrection? Here our writers cut to the chase with the outrageous Lutheran teaching that the world knows nothing about: friend of sinners! Who could imagine it? From this we get the book’s brilliant insights into the uncanny friendship of Luther and Melanchthon, and the use of the office of the keys in the “mutual conversation and consolation” of two or three. Suddenly friendship is not confined to the good life in this old world, but opens the gate to the new world. You who are bad at making friends finally have a future.

Steven D. Paulson

Author of Luther's Outlaw God

From the Publisher