The Scalpel and the Cross: A Theology of Surgery

Ordinary Theology

by Gene L. Green

We know the bedrock themes upon which the Christian faith creation, fall, redemption, restoration. As Christians, we live within these great moments of God’s plan for humanity and all of his creation. In other words, our lives are part of Christian theology—every part of our lives, even surgery. As a part of Zondervan’s Ordinary Theology series, The Scalpel and the Cross recounts New Testament professor Gene Green’s encounter with open-heart surgery and carefully examines the many ways in which Christian doctrine spoke into the experience. The result is a short book that avoids shallow explanations and glib promises, instead guiding readers to deeper understanding and enduring hope in the face of one of modern life’s necessary traumas.

96 pages, Paperback

First published May 5, 2015

About the author

Gene L. Green (Ph.D., University of Aberdeen) is professor of New Testament at Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois. He has written commentaries on 2 Peter and Jude (Baker Exegetical series) and the Letters to the Thessalonians (Pillar series).

Reviews

[Alecia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not what I was hoping it would be. More than a theology of surgery, it's a memoir of the author's experience of having heart surgery & similar surgical procedures of others close to him. Contains odd moments of criticism against global medical systems & praise for recent changes to American medical insurance (though quite naively, in my opinion). The last chapter, 4 pages total, would have sufficed as a concise essay of the theology of surgery.