Fergus J King
Biographic Data
| ID | 1144818 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Fergus J King |
| GIVEN NAMES | Fergus J |
| FAMILY NAME | King |
| SIGNATURE | KING F J |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Newcastle Australia |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-6822-1529 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 26 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 0 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 26 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1994 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 0 |
Mtu ni Watu
The classic definitions of God and Trinity involving the concept of personhood are grounded in the lexical fields of ancient theological and philosophical discourse. They raise the question of the extent to which a believer is required to enter into those worldviews and conceptualities. If a semantic approach is adopted, it becomes apparent that a term like “person” may be re-accentuated according to context. This is an approach which is itself f…
Stoicism and the Gospel of John
The Gospel of John and Stoicism share significant vocabularies and terms such as Logos and Pneuma . But do they indicate a shared understanding of God, the world and living well? Fergus J. King suggests that such claims become unlikely when detailed analyses of the two traditions are conducted and compared. The first step in his examination looks at evidence of potential engagement between the two traditions historically and geographically. Exami…
Exiles, Not Enemies
Exile was part of the juridical system of the late Republican and early Imperial Rome. 1 Pet 2.11 adopts the language of exile to identify its audience's place within the world. Subsequent verses indicate a disparity between their own place and the world, or wider community, but fall short of rejecting wholesale the apparatus of the Roman state and its socio-political conventions. The apparent self-identification of the community as exiles is a p…
A Sair Trauchle
Allegations brought against Bishop Anne Dyer in the Scottish Episcopal Diocese of Aberdeen and Orkney highlight the need to reflect on their handling. Several responses to allegations brought against churches and church leaders, often related to historic sexual abuse, across the communion show where institutional practice might have exacerbated matters, and suggest how these might have been better handled, as well as providing models for reform o…
Hit or Myth? Methodological Considerations in Comparing Dionysos with the Johannine Jesus
The relationship between Dionysiac and emerging Christian traditions has long exercised biblical and classical scholars. Dionysianism is complex because of both its constituent mythologies and the fluidity and variety of its rituals. Emerging Christianity similarly defies a single metanarrative. This essay notes the difficulties of comparing Dionysiac tradition with just one early Christian text: the Gospel of John. The variety of Dionysiac mater…
Epicureanism and the Gospel of John
The Gospel of John and Epicureanism share vocabulary and reject the conventions of Graeco-Roman theology. Would it then have been easy for an Epicurean to become a Christian or vice-versa? Fergus J. King suggests that such claims become unlikely when detailed analyses of the two traditions are set out and compared. The first step in his examination looks at evidence for potential engagement between the two traditions historically and geographical…
Leadership and Conflict in African Churches
In Two Minds? African Experience and Preferment in umca and the Journey to Independence in Tanganyika
This paper examines the role the Universities’ Mission to Central Africa ( umca ) played in the move towards independence in Tanganyika. It sees a paradox at the heart of the Society’s work and mission in its apparent affirmation of African experience but its seeming failure to promote African leadership. However, the lack of ecclesiastical preferment, due in part to circumstances beyond the control of the Society, could not quench its support fo…
Landmark Essays in Mission and World Christianity
The Ministry of the Missional Church
Book Reviews / Mission Studies 26 (2009) 103–150 105 Th e Ministry of the Missional Church: A Community Led by the Spirit . By Craig van Gelder. Grand Rapids, Michigan, US, Baker Books 2007. Pp. 204. $16.99. Th e Ministry of the Missional Church follows up van Gelder’s previous volume Th e Essence of the Church: A Community Created by the Spirit (2000), which argued that the church was essentially missional and should develop in line with its mis…
De Baptista nil nisi bonum” John the Baptist as a Paradigm for Mission « De Baptista nil nisi bonum » – Jean-Baptiste comme paradigme de la mission ,,De Baptista nil nisi bonum“ – Johannes der Täufer …
This paper considers how John the Baptist may function as a model of mission. The preaching, behaviour and praxis of Jesus and the Baptist are compared, and the results show that there are significant similarities between all three aspects of their depictions across the Gospel traditions. The major difference arises in the subordination of the Baptist to Jesus. The commonalities between the two are further seen in the praxis of the disciples of J…
The Mission-Driven Parish
How Africa Shaped the Christian Mind
The Living Dead and the Living God
Anglican Swahili Prayer Books
282 Book Reviews / Mission Studies 25 (2008) 273–314 Anglican Swahili Prayer Books: Tanzania (1995) and Congo (1998) . By Ian Tarrant. Liturgi- cal Studies 62. Norwich, UK, Alcuin Club and the Group for Renewal of Worship, SCM- Canterbury Press 2006. Pp. 55. £5.95. Ian Tarrant, senior chaplain at Nottingham University, is well placed to write this study of Anglican prayer books. A Kiswahili-speaker and canon of Boga Cathedral in eastern Congo, he…
Popular Spiritualities
Paul on the Cross
A Ministry Shaped By Mission
Biblical Interpretation in African Perspective
Contextualization in the New Testament
The Evangelization of Slaves and Catholic Origins in East Africa
142 Book Reviews / Mission Studies 24 (2007) 127–166 Th e Evangelization of Slaves and Catholic Origins in East Africa. By Paul V. Kollman. Maryknoll, New York, USA, Orbis 2005. Pp. xxv + 356. $25.00. Th ere is an old saw that history is written by the victors. A similar dictum might be applied to the history of mission: it is primarily a record of the mis- sionaries rather than those on the receiving end of their enterprises. Histories of the mo…
Theological Education and Mission
In this article, veteran Tanzania missionary Fergus King reflects on the connection between mission and theological education. "Mission" is primarily God's mission, participation in which is constitutive of the church's very nature. In today's debate, "theological education" is pulled between a commitment to a more "holistic" approach (paideia) and a more academic approach (Wissenschaft), and while it needs both it also must take into account loc…
Inculturation & the Book of Revelation
For some, couching theology in contemporary (and non-Christian) terms can seem to be a theological method which is novel and dangerous. By examining the book of Revelation, we can see that John (the writer responsible for recording the visions of Revelation) has used elements from pagan and magical language and symbolism to develop his theology. This method does not compromise his message, but rather enhances it. He further shows that it is possi…
Across the Great Divide
St. Paul and Culture
In this article, Fergus King examines the writings of St. Paul, particularly the letters to the Romans and the Galatians and the first letter to the Corinthians, in an attempt to discern Paul's attitude toward culture. Taking issue with H. R. Niebuhr's identification of Paul with his "Christ and culture in paradox" paradigm, King argues that Paul's--and by implication, Christians'-- attitude toward culture is--and should be--complex and flexible.…
No prominent works on this page.
Angels and Ancestors
10 Fergus J. King ANGELS AND ANCESTORS: A BASIS FOR CHRISTOLOGY? Introduction In his book Christian Origins,' Christopher Rowland describes, as a feature of Inter-Testamental Judaism, the concept of the "angelic medi- ator," that is, of the righteous man ascended into heaven who in- tercedes for his people. In much African Traditional Religion, a similar role seems to be given the ancestors, whose continued existence in a metaphysical state which…
St. Paul and Culture
In this article, Fergus King examines the writings of St. Paul, particularly the letters to the Romans and the Galatians and the first letter to the Corinthians, in an attempt to discern Paul's attitude toward culture. Taking issue with H. R. Niebuhr's identification of Paul with his "Christ and culture in paradox" paradigm, King argues that Paul's--and by implication, Christians'-- attitude toward culture is--and should be--complex and flexible.…
Across the Great Divide
Inculturation & the Book of Revelation
For some, couching theology in contemporary (and non-Christian) terms can seem to be a theological method which is novel and dangerous. By examining the book of Revelation, we can see that John (the writer responsible for recording the visions of Revelation) has used elements from pagan and magical language and symbolism to develop his theology. This method does not compromise his message, but rather enhances it. He further shows that it is possi…
Theological Education and Mission
In this article, veteran Tanzania missionary Fergus King reflects on the connection between mission and theological education. "Mission" is primarily God's mission, participation in which is constitutive of the church's very nature. In today's debate, "theological education" is pulled between a commitment to a more "holistic" approach (paideia) and a more academic approach (Wissenschaft), and while it needs both it also must take into account loc…
A Ministry Shaped By Mission
Biblical Interpretation in African Perspective
Contextualization in the New Testament
The Evangelization of Slaves and Catholic Origins in East Africa
142 Book Reviews / Mission Studies 24 (2007) 127–166 Th e Evangelization of Slaves and Catholic Origins in East Africa. By Paul V. Kollman. Maryknoll, New York, USA, Orbis 2005. Pp. xxv + 356. $25.00. Th ere is an old saw that history is written by the victors. A similar dictum might be applied to the history of mission: it is primarily a record of the mis- sionaries rather than those on the receiving end of their enterprises. Histories of the mo…
Anglican Swahili Prayer Books
282 Book Reviews / Mission Studies 25 (2008) 273–314 Anglican Swahili Prayer Books: Tanzania (1995) and Congo (1998) . By Ian Tarrant. Liturgi- cal Studies 62. Norwich, UK, Alcuin Club and the Group for Renewal of Worship, SCM- Canterbury Press 2006. Pp. 55. £5.95. Ian Tarrant, senior chaplain at Nottingham University, is well placed to write this study of Anglican prayer books. A Kiswahili-speaker and canon of Boga Cathedral in eastern Congo, he…
Popular Spiritualities
Paul on the Cross
The Ministry of the Missional Church
Book Reviews / Mission Studies 26 (2009) 103–150 105 Th e Ministry of the Missional Church: A Community Led by the Spirit . By Craig van Gelder. Grand Rapids, Michigan, US, Baker Books 2007. Pp. 204. $16.99. Th e Ministry of the Missional Church follows up van Gelder’s previous volume Th e Essence of the Church: A Community Created by the Spirit (2000), which argued that the church was essentially missional and should develop in line with its mis…
De Baptista nil nisi bonum” John the Baptist as a Paradigm for Mission « De Baptista nil nisi bonum » – Jean-Baptiste comme paradigme de la mission ,,De Baptista nil nisi bonum“ – Johannes der Täufer …
This paper considers how John the Baptist may function as a model of mission. The preaching, behaviour and praxis of Jesus and the Baptist are compared, and the results show that there are significant similarities between all three aspects of their depictions across the Gospel traditions. The major difference arises in the subordination of the Baptist to Jesus. The commonalities between the two are further seen in the praxis of the disciples of J…
The Mission-Driven Parish
How Africa Shaped the Christian Mind
The Living Dead and the Living God
Landmark Essays in Mission and World Christianity
In Two Minds? African Experience and Preferment in umca and the Journey to Independence in Tanganyika
This paper examines the role the Universities’ Mission to Central Africa ( umca ) played in the move towards independence in Tanganyika. It sees a paradox at the heart of the Society’s work and mission in its apparent affirmation of African experience but its seeming failure to promote African leadership. However, the lack of ecclesiastical preferment, due in part to circumstances beyond the control of the Society, could not quench its support fo…
Leadership and Conflict in African Churches
Epicureanism and the Gospel of John
The Gospel of John and Epicureanism share vocabulary and reject the conventions of Graeco-Roman theology. Would it then have been easy for an Epicurean to become a Christian or vice-versa? Fergus J. King suggests that such claims become unlikely when detailed analyses of the two traditions are set out and compared. The first step in his examination looks at evidence for potential engagement between the two traditions historically and geographical…
A Sair Trauchle
Allegations brought against Bishop Anne Dyer in the Scottish Episcopal Diocese of Aberdeen and Orkney highlight the need to reflect on their handling. Several responses to allegations brought against churches and church leaders, often related to historic sexual abuse, across the communion show where institutional practice might have exacerbated matters, and suggest how these might have been better handled, as well as providing models for reform o…
Hit or Myth? Methodological Considerations in Comparing Dionysos with the Johannine Jesus
The relationship between Dionysiac and emerging Christian traditions has long exercised biblical and classical scholars. Dionysianism is complex because of both its constituent mythologies and the fluidity and variety of its rituals. Emerging Christianity similarly defies a single metanarrative. This essay notes the difficulties of comparing Dionysiac tradition with just one early Christian text: the Gospel of John. The variety of Dionysiac mater…
Exiles, Not Enemies
Exile was part of the juridical system of the late Republican and early Imperial Rome. 1 Pet 2.11 adopts the language of exile to identify its audience's place within the world. Subsequent verses indicate a disparity between their own place and the world, or wider community, but fall short of rejecting wholesale the apparatus of the Roman state and its socio-political conventions. The apparent self-identification of the community as exiles is a p…
Stoicism and the Gospel of John
The Gospel of John and Stoicism share significant vocabularies and terms such as Logos and Pneuma . But do they indicate a shared understanding of God, the world and living well? Fergus J. King suggests that such claims become unlikely when detailed analyses of the two traditions are conducted and compared. The first step in his examination looks at evidence of potential engagement between the two traditions historically and geographically. Exami…
Philosophy (22 works) · Philosophy (19 works) · History of religions (18 works) · Religious Studies (17 works) · Religious studies (17 works) · Sociology (17 works) · History (15 works) · History (13 works) · Christian Theology and Mission (11 works) · Theology (11 works)