Quotes from George Eldon Ladd

Revelation, then, is the totality of the historical event of Jesus Christ plus the apostolic interpretation of the divine meaning of the event — the apostolic interpretation being itself a part of the event.

The historical events are revelatory only when they are accompanied by the revelatory word. This, however, is not an accurate formulation if it suggests two separate modes of revelation. The fact is that God's word is his deed, and his deed is his word. We would therefore be more accurate if we spoke of the deed-word revelation.

So to be a disciple, while it involves drastic renunciation, is to enter a realm of privilege (10:29-31), and the dullness and failure of the first disciples is offset by the special revelation that will enable them ultimately to fulfill their high responsibility. Two contrasting aspects of discipleship thus reflect the two poles of Mark's paradoxical Christology.

It is therefore the church's duty to display in an evil age of self-seeking, pride, and animosity the life and fellowship of the Kingdom of God and of the Age to Come. This display of Kingdom life is an essential element in the witness of the church to the Kingdom of God.

widely prevailing view is that justification is the term designating the beginning of the Christian life, while sanctification designates development of that life through the internal work of the Spirit.35 This, however, is an oversimplification of the New Testament teaching, and it obscures an important truth. In fact, the idea of sanctification is soteriological before it is a moral concept.

A widely prevailing view is that justification is the term designating the beginning of the Christian life, while sanctification designates development of that life through the internal work of the Spirit.35 This, however, is an oversimplification of the New Testament teaching, and it obscures an important truth. In fact, the idea of sanctification is soteriological before it is a moral concept.

The truth is implicit in the statement that the gates of Hades shall not prevail against the church (Mt. 16:18). This image of the gates of the realm of the dead is a familiar Semitic concept.

The local congregation is not part of the church; the universal church is not thought of as the sum and total of its parts; rather, the local congregation is the church in its local expression.

Jesus' words are inseparable from his person. He himself is the message he proclaims.