Johnson's Book Lauded by Catholic Press Association

Luke Timothy Johnson’s most recent book, Prophetic Jesus, Prophetic Church: The Challenge of Luke-Acts to Contemporary Christians, was awarded first place in the Scripture category of the Catholic Press Association’s 2012 book awards. Winners were announced at the annual Catholic Media Conference in June.

In their announcement of the award, the Catholic Press Association wrote, “Johnson clearly, passionately and persuasively challenges Christians to embrace four hallmarks of a prophetic church—prayer, itinerancy, servant leadership and voluntary poverty. All church leaders would benefit from incorporating this book into an adult Bible or continuing education class.”

In Prophetic Jesus, Prophetic Church: The Challenge of Luke-Acts to Contemporary Christians (Eerdmans, 2011), Johnson writes about the human need for prophecy; without it, he claims, people tend toward their own self-interest. For Johnson, the New Testament books of Luke and Acts, when read as a literary unit, provide that much needed jolt of new insight and new energy—a startling prophetic vision of Jesus and the church. He identifies in Luke’s writings an ongoing call for today’s church, grounded in the prophetic ministry of Jesus Christ, to embody and enact God’s vision for the world.

Johnson is Candler’s R.W. Woodruff Professor of New Testament and Christian Origins.