Marva J. Dawn (1948–2021)

A manuscript of the author's Schaff Lecture on Christianity and the Powers.

The author begins by exploring the concept of the powers and principalities and traces out modern exploration of the theme. She offers insightful and beneficial critiques to Wink's magisterial trilogy in terms of its emphasis on nonviolent resistance in socio-political terms as well as the denial of the embodiment of the Powers.

The author offers a persuasive case that Paul in 2 Corinthians 12 spoke of Jesus' work as coming to completion in Paul through weakness; in fact, God as "tabernacling" with believers in their weakness to overcome the forces arrayed against them. She then applies the concept to churches as powers in and of themselves, perhaps corrupted by the appeal of worldliness in its projections of strength, and better off glorifying God in weakness. She engages in a productive expansion on the work of the church as seen in Acts 2:42-47 as reflecting how the church could grow outside of the cult of leadership and strength prominent in much of Evangelicalism. Later on she also spends time working through Ephesians 6:10-18, considering them less in terms of "defense" as is commonly done, but with Yoder Neufeld seeing how God can work through the believer in the manifestation of the various elements of the "armor of God" to actively resist the Powers and uphold truth.

She is highly influenced by Jacques Ellul and quotes him extensively and frequently. Definitely a thought-provoking and well-argued work, and challenging in terms of the current status quo within many churches.… (meer)