At 193 pages, excluding the bibliography and appendices, Romans in the New Covenant Commentary series is indeed concise. Do not let its brevity decei...more At 193 pages, excluding the bibliography and appendices, Romans in the New Covenant Commentary series is indeed concise. Do not let its brevity deceive you, dear reader. This book is excellent.
Craig Keener has done an amazing job of bringing out the main point of each pericope in the book of Romans. That was the purpose of the commentary, to give the big picture. Amazingly enough, while showing the big picture, Keener still brings out many details.
Should the apparent (though not real) paucity of material disturb the reader, Keener extensively annotates and references other scholarly works. He also gives an extensive bibliography. In fact, the book is worth its cost just for the notes and bibliography.
The strong point of this commentary is that it addresses the big picture of Romans while doing so, not in a simplistic way; but in a simple way. There is depth to this book, yet it is a profound simplicity. That is a good thing, because the book is good for scholars, academics, pastors, and the so-called average reader. It is accessible to all.
The one negative that I must mention is the binding. For a book that will be used as a reference and will be on someone's desk, the binding is very poor. The printer seemed to have tried to economize on the glue that is used at the spine. Because of this the pages easily pull loose and come out. I hope that this was an anomaly that is unique to my copy.
Other than the issue with the binding, I highly recommend this commentary.
Disclosure of Material Connection (FTC 16 CFR, Part 255): Review copy provided by publisher. A positive review was not required; opinions expressed are those of the blogger.(less)
In Unseen Realities R.C. Sproul gives us another good over view of some important biblical subjects. Sproul examines Heaven, Hell, angels and demons i...moreIn Unseen Realities R.C. Sproul gives us another good over view of some important biblical subjects. Sproul examines Heaven, Hell, angels and demons in this brief, simple, yet solid book. Sproul readily espouses the fact that there is something behind the Christian worldview that we call "supernaturalism." He is unafraid to read the Bible and take its teaching for the truth, which is certainly refreshing. Whether one is a new believer who is seeking to learn, is struggling with questions about these issues, or is a more mature believer who simply feels the need of confirmation, this book presents simply and concisely what the Bible teaches about the unseen world and the after life. If I had one complaint it would be that the book was too brief. It is a book to appreciate, enjoy, and learn from. This review copy provided by Christian Focus Publications with no demand or expectation of a positive review.(less)
Whether it is fiction or non-fiction, Randy Alcorn's passion for Christ shines in his writing.
Safely Home is the story of a wealthy, up-and-...moreWhether it is fiction or non-fiction, Randy Alcorn's passion for Christ shines in his writing.
Safely Home is the story of a wealthy, up-and-coming, American executive named Ben Fielding who goes to China to work on increasing business for his employers. As he is there he finds himself challenged by the life and faith of his former roommate who is a Chinese Christian.
The longer Fielding stays in China the more he finds that he has abandoned the faith he once professed. He sees persecution and mistreatment of Christians on a large scale, though the picture portrayed by the government shows that there is freedom.
Fielding finds that things are not always as they appear not only with himself, but his old roommate, and with China as well.
In the end, Fielding and his friend find themselves "Safely Home," but in different ways.
Not only does Alcorn's passion for Christ evidence itself, but he also reminds us that things are not well for Christians in China. This makes for not only an interesting book, but for one that is convicting in that it causes the American reader to consider how well he has it in life.
This book is highly recommended.
Note: Review copy provided by Tyndale with no expectation or demand of a positive review.(less)
Ken Hams's Already Compromised sounds the warning that Christian colleges aren't always what they seem to be, or profess to be. Ham and some of hi...moreKen Hams's Already Compromised sounds the warning that Christian colleges aren't always what they seem to be, or profess to be. Ham and some of his associates did a survey of Christian colleges about their beliefs on the Creation. There was a wide range of responses, many of which were discouraging to them. Many of the colleges surveyed professed to believe in the inerrancy of Scripture, yet were vague on their stance regarding Creation. There was often a disconnect between what the administration believed and what the teachers and professors believed. Often there was a disconnect between what the president and vice-president believed. In fact, the disconnect was not only regarding the beliefs, but also about what the stance of the college was. There was also a large disconnect between the science and theology departments, with the science departments being more likely to believe in young earth Creationism. Many colleges surveyed believe in an old earth Creation, or in theistic evolution. Others were vague. It is clear that many Christian colleges do not adhere to a young earth view of Creation. For parents and students who do believe in YEC, this is certainly something to be aware of. Simply because a college is a Christian college doesn't mean that it will teach Genesis as parents have taught their children. In fact, Ham warns that many will not do so. Ham warns parents and students to beware and carefully question the beliefs of colleges before committing to one. This book is recommended to parents of college bound children, and those students who are college bound, as there is a need to know what one will be taught once they get to college.(less)
C. John Collins, (Phd, University of Liverpool) professor of Old Testament at Covenant Theological Seminary, St Louis, has written a good book on the ...moreC. John Collins, (Phd, University of Liverpool) professor of Old Testament at Covenant Theological Seminary, St Louis, has written a good book on the subject of the historical Adam. From the very beginning, he lays out plainly what he believes. The introduction declares that the historical belief was that Adam and Eve were literal, historical people and that creation occurred in six days. He then states that we may change our views on the length of time in which creation took place without changing our core beliefs, but that we are in danger of disrupting the story line of the Bible. Collins begins by looking at the shape of the biblical story. Understanding that the biblical story is one of worldview, Collins examines it to determine whether or not the account of Adam and Eve is a myth. In doing so, he takes on Peter Enns of Biologos saying, "One difficulty in Enn's definition is its apparent triumphalism: it seems to imply that we in the modern scientific world are more sophisticated than the ancients. This overlooks the astounding achievements of ancient peoples in areas that we would call mathematics and engineering." (pg 29) He goes on to say that the story of Adam has theological implications as well as historical tones. In fact, he tells us that the theology is based upon the history. The story of Adam is part of the grand narrative of Scripture. Having established that the Genesis Creation Account is not a-historical, but historical and theological, Collins examines other mentions of Adam in Scripture and determines that the biblical writers considered Adam to be a historical individual. He proceeds from there to show that the image of God in which Adam was made gives all of humanity uniqueness and dignity. He expresses that Scripture teaches that the image of God is "transmitted by procreation." (pg. 99) This shows us that the Scriptures connect us seminally to Adam. The question is asked whether or not science can pinpoint Adam and Eve. Collins states, "...sooner or later we will have to decide whether the Bible can actually refer to real persons and events or not." (pg. 108) He concludes that the Bible does refer to real persons and events. Collins does tell us that there are times that Scripture uses various literary devices such as imaginative description to refer to actual events. He does believe that the Bible informs us of events, but does not necessarily believe that it does so according to the conventions of science. He also informs us that, though it may be possible that humanity came from more than just Adam and Eve in the beginning, we should understand that there are still ways in which we can see Adam and Eve as historical individuals and not disrupt the grand narrative of Scripture. After examining some of the possibilities, he states that they leave us with some uncertainties, but that they are not of such a character as to undermine our ability to hold fast to the biblical story line with confidence. Collins concludes that a major part of the Christian story is to enable us to make sense of the world, and that abandoning the conventional way of telling the story if a "very good" creation, fall, and redemption as part of God's ongoing plan will certainly disrupt the story line and leave us with little confidence "that any relief is headed our way." (pg. 134) It also will give us little understanding of sin as an alien invader if we abandon Adam and Eve as being literal, historical individuals. Sin and death are not natural, and they came into the world via Adam's and Eve's sin. Also, if we lose the common origin for mankind, how shall we affirm the common dignity of all people, and how shall we stand on biblical authority? These are good questions, and conclusions that we must consider. At the end of the concluding chapter, Collins deals with grief. This is a good thing, as we must consider how theology affects practice. It certainly shows us how that something that seems so dry as a discussion of science, literary genre, and so on truly impact how we live. Collins also includes an appendix in which he compares the Genesis Creation Account with the Ancient Near Eastern texts. He is wise enough to declare that similarities do not make for absolute correspondence between texts. He also states that the "biblical writings are coherent texts in Hebrew, and not simply instantiations of things we find elsewhere." (pg. 139) Appendix 2 is a book review, and appendix 3 discusses the date of Genesis and concludes that it is Mosaic with some final updates being made during the times of David and Solomon. Assessment: I think that this book is good for someone who is established in the faith. It is not an easy read, and it is not necessarily one for novices. In fact, to be honest, only my interest in the material kept me going. The writer's style did not engage me as much as the subject matter. I am glad to find some solid foundation for a belief in Adam and Eve as literal, historical individuals, but I do wish that Collins were more accepting of a six calendar day Creation. Never the less, this book is certainly a good resource on the subject matter that it covers, and is worthy of four stars.(less)
Elyse M. Fitzpatrick and her daughter, Jessica Thompson, team up to write an amazing book on parenting. Give Them Grace is not a parenting manual,...moreElyse M. Fitzpatrick and her daughter, Jessica Thompson, team up to write an amazing book on parenting. Give Them Grace is not a parenting manual, however. Give Them Grace is a book that reminds us that parenting manuals don't do the job that we need them to do. The premise of this book is that the goal of parenting is not to raise good children, but godly children. If we train them to be good, there is a great possibility that they will rebel against the rules, or turn out to be hypocrites, the authors tell us. It is a very real possibility that they will miss the grace of God due to their self-righteousness. If we train them to be godly, and show them the grace of God, we can point out sin and failure while showing them that God offers a way to escape both. Children need more than rules. We should not seek to condition them with various behavioral modification techniques. We should teach them right from wrong, and then show them how that God graciously forgives our sins through Christ. We should also teach them that God's grace is sufficient to help us/them to do what is right. The authors explain that we must continually preach the gospel (not in pulpit fashion, but by example and daily instruction) in our families so that our children will see their need for Jesus and trust Him. That is most effectively done when our parenting is grace based instead of being founded on rules. More than anything, parents and children need to remember that what is right will not be achieved in our own power. We must trust God for His grace. More than a book about how to raise good children, this is a book about how to be a good parent. It is a gospel-centered book that teaches us that success only comes by trusting in the grace of God. I highly recommend this book as a help and an encouragement to parents who wish to raise good children- children who know Jesus and His grace.(less)
The Making of The New Testament, by Arthur G. Patzia, is a concise and interesting entry level text that introduces the reader to the origin, collecti...moreThe Making of The New Testament, by Arthur G. Patzia, is a concise and interesting entry level text that introduces the reader to the origin, collection, canonization, and transmission of the New Testament. Patzia begins by helping the reader to see the world in which the early church existed. He introduces us to the Hebrew Scriptures, the Septuagint, the apocryphal writings, the OT pseudapigrapha, the Dead Sea scrolls, as well as Greco-Roman literature. This sounds like a large amount of info, but it is written in a manner that makes it accessible to all. It is a helpful background to have, however, to see the world into which the NT came. In part two, the author presents to us the gospels. The reader will find an overview of oral tradition, the transition from oral tradition to written gospels, why and how the gospels were written, a brief overview of the synoptic problem, source criticism and redaction criticism. While I felt that this chapter was not the strongest in the book due to the focus on Markan priority that seems to accept the theories of the day instead of dealing with the history found in the Apostolic Fathers, the author does take the time to give us a view of how the early church fathers viewed the Scriptures. He also shows us a bit of how the gospels became accepted as canonical. Parts three and four deal with the rest of the NT books. There is much here to interest the reader, as we not only find an introduction to the various books, but we are introduced to them in their historical, societal, and religious contexts. We also are given a view of the acceptance of the various books and how they came to be considered canonical books. Part five is among the stronger sections of the book, as it deals with the criteria of canonicity. It is brief, yet gives us an introduction to the subject that will help the reader understand the background of his NT. Parts six and seven were the parts that I found most interesting. In these sections we study the writing, copying, and transmission of the NT manuscripts as well as an introduction to textual variants and textual criticism. The author does well in introducing us to the writing materials that were used in the production of the NT. We are also introduced to the various styles of writing that were used in the copying and transmission of the NT. It is here that we begin to see why textual variants exist. They do not exist simply because of some widespread conspiracy to corrupt the text, but because of the imperfections of men. Never the less, textual criticism shows us that we have essentially the same NT as the early church possessed: it has not been lost, but has been preserved for us. Five appendices also add some info concerning various leaders in the early church, the canon of the OT, various lists of the NT canon, and a list of early NT manuscriptus. There is also a glossary included to help the reader. This book will serve to be a good introduction to the NT text. Though I wish that the author took a much more conservative stance toward the dating of the gospels (though he is by no means extremely far off) and the Synoptic problem, I find this book to be one that should be extremely helpful to the beginning student of the NT. I would recommend its being used along with Lea/Black The New Testament Message for a comprehensive overview of the NT.(less)
Dr. Michael A.G. Haykin is the Professor of Church History and Biblical Spirituality and Director of The Andrew Fuller Center for Baptist Studies at T...moreDr. Michael A.G. Haykin is the Professor of Church History and Biblical Spirituality and Director of The Andrew Fuller Center for Baptist Studies at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Haykin's keen interest in, and his amazing knowledge of church history have combined to give us an extraordinarily helpful book about the early church fathers (ECF). The benefit of the book is not in its giving us an exhaustive overview of the ECF, but in giving a brief overview of a few of the ancients form different ages. Haykin contends that Evangelicals need to overcome their fear and disdain of the ECF. There is much to learn from them in the way of wisdom, doctrine, exegesis, and history. We shall certainly disagree with them on various points, yet they are very helpful in helping us see how the early church responded to various problems and how they interpreted the text of Scripture. Haykin introduces us to Ignatius and shows to us that many of the ancients had an amazing love for Christ that was such that they would die for him. Not only so, but that many of them embraced suffering, and even death, as a gift from God. The letter to Diognetus gives us a glimpse into the apologetics of the ECF as well as the desire that they had to be faithful witnesses to Christ. One thing that does not fail to amaze me as I read about the ECF is that Origen is not necessarily as bad as he has been presented. Haykin presents to us the exegesis of Origen showing that he did not hold only to the allegorical method of interpretation (contrary to what many of us have been told). Origen is as many others, a man with faults, yet one from whom we can learn. Being Baptistic, Haykin takes the time to show us Cyprian and Ambrose as they speak of eucharistic theology. Not surprisingly, differs with them. Let me hasten to add, however, that Haykin still believes that there are valuable things to learn from these men, because of the times in which they lived and the reasons for which they wrote. We then find chapters about Basil and Patrick. These great men probably deserve a book of their own. I feel unable to break down the two chapters. I can only imagine that Haykin struggled to condense them into the space that he did. The last chapter gives Haykin's experience with the ECF over the years. It is a very interesting chapter that I'm glad he included. I am especially glad that he included an appendix with recommended readings on and in the ECF. The book would not have been complete without it. I cannot speak highly enough of this book. I highly recommend it to anyone who has little or no familiarity with the ECF. I can honestly say that I have received benefit from it, and shall follow some of the author's recommendations for further reading.
This book given freely by Crossway with no demand or expectation of a positive review. (less)
Michael R. Licona, research Professor of New Testament at Southern Evangelical Seminary, has written an amazing book about the resurrection of Jesus. ...moreMichael R. Licona, research Professor of New Testament at Southern Evangelical Seminary, has written an amazing book about the resurrection of Jesus. In this book, Licona leaves no stone unturned. He simply seems to have examined practically everything. I'm sure there is more to look at, but I wouldn't know where to begin.
Licona approaches the resurrection of Jesus in a manner that is quite distinct from the apologists' approach. Licona seeks to determin whether there is a reason to believe that the resurrection is truly a historical event, and studies the issue as a historian.
Licona spends much time and effort on the philosophy of knowledge and history. He concludes that we can be reasonable certain about history and circumstances of the past for which we have documentation.
Licona then examines the various documents that speak of the resurrection of Jesus and assesses their worth and reliability. I believe this portion of the book is worth the price of the whole, as it is a good thing to examine our sources and determine their reliability. Licona concludes that the New Testament is reliable as a historical source of information. In today's world, it is good to see that being realized, as many dismiss the NT as unreliable. Licona gives good reason for his acceptance of the NT.
Licona then examines these sources, finds a "historical bedrock" on which to build a case for or against the resurrection. Having examined his bedrock, he finds it sufficient to the point of accepting the resurrection.
Licona does not stop with accepting the resurrection, however. He examines several scholars and their approaches to the resurrection. Most of them are quite skeptical of the resurrection. Licona weighs their approaches and finds them wanting. He is quite gracious as he does so, even to the point of conceding the strengths of their arguments.
This book is weighty in many ways. For the ones who care about careful scholarship, and desires to look deeper into the historicity of the resurrection of Jesus, this book will be well worth their time. (less)
Michael Horton's Christian Faith, subtitled "A Systematic Theology for Pilgrims on The Way", is a huge tome. It can be quite intimidating t...moreMichael Horton's Christian Faith, subtitled "A Systematic Theology for Pilgrims on The Way", is a huge tome. It can be quite intimidating to approach a volume this big, so with some trepidation I set out to read it. Having pored over 75% of the book, I can say that this is more than a systematic theology; it is a huge survey of theology.
When I say that "The Christian Fait"h is a huge survey of theology, I mean that it is more than a systematic theology. Horton deals with this from a very different perspective than most theologies. His approach is to show that the Christian faith is about God reconciling man to himself. Though the book is not a thematic survey, it does see great themes in Scripture and shows how they apply to theology and practice.
Not only is that so, but Horton surveys theological thought, so in that sense this is a historical theology as well as a systematic theology.
Horton also seeks to integrate theology with life, so this is also a practical theology.
I tend to think that Grudem is a little easier to read, but I also think that Horton's approach takes one a little further than Grudem. While I don't prefer one above the other (as both have their respective niche), I tend to think that Horton will be found to be a little more profitable for those who seek to minister to others. The way he has of bringing theology to everyday life simply resonates with me, and I appreciate that.
Another thing that I appreciate is the fact that the author is fair to those with whom he disagrees. This is not a polemic, but a positive book that states what theology is, and how is affects us.
In the end, I give this four out of five stars, and recommend it to all who study theology.
Thanks to Andrew Rogers of Zondervan for providing this review copy freely and with no expectation or demand of a positive review. (less)
The Sword of The Lord Subtitled “The Roots of Fundamentalism in an American Family”, this book deals with the historical background which gave ris...moreThe Sword of The Lord Subtitled “The Roots of Fundamentalism in an American Family”, this book deals with the historical background which gave rise to Fundamentalism, the culture of Fundamentalism, the battles of Fundamentalism, and the relationship of all of these to the Rice family. Andrew Himes, grandson of famed evangelist John R. Rice, writes with amazing honesty about his feelings and struggles with Fundamentalism. Each chapter opens with some sort of personal anecdote before delving into the history, happenings, ideas, and personalities of Fundamentalism. Himes deals more with Southern, Independent Baptist Fundamentalism more than any other type. That is because he is relating all of this to his family and how they functioned in the movement. There's much that could probably be said about the relationship between the Scotch-Irish, the Appalachian people, the Civil War, and the Ku Klux Klan to the rise of Southern Fundamentalism. I don't know that I would discount anything that Himes said in that respect. I do wish that there would have been a little more acknowledgment of the northern Fundamentalists, simply because they had a relationship to , and an influence on Southern Fundamentalists. I do understand, however, that he is seeking to relate to his family and Southern Fundamentalism. Sadly, Southern Fundamentalism has a checkered past. In fact, that can be said about the present, also. The struggles of Southern Fundamentalism were not simply doctrinal struggles, but battles for society. Often, Southern Fundamentalists were on the wrong side of the battle, or simply ignored it in the name of evangelism. Himes speaks of how this disconnect between Christianity and human kindness hurt him and caused him to abandon Christianity for a long time. The story is told in a moving fashion. Many times my heart was stirred because of the injustices that were chronicled. My heart was also stirred with a desire to love Christ more. With all of his flaws, John R. Rice is portrayed as a great man. Himes presents what seems to be a balanced picture of his grandfather and his influence on Fundamentalism. Rice is presented as a fighter for truth, but also a lover of his family and a man of compassion. From the northern battles of Fundamentalism (that receive scant mention) to J. Frank Norris, William Bell Riley, William Jennings Bryan, Billy Sunday, Billy Graham, and Jerry Falwell, Himes looks at the rise and strength of Fundamentalism. He shows us how John R. Rice and family fit into the picture. His portrait of Rice is that of any man: Rice was a man of convictions and beliefs. He was also a man who learned and grew as he aged and matured. Himes also shows how Fundamentalism and Fundamentalists reacted to Rice and his changes. We read of the separation of Fundamentalism and Evangelicalism, the separation of Rice and Graham, and the rise of Jerry Falwell and the Moral Majority. Among the saddest of things that I read was the fact that John R. Rice, the last time he spoke at a Sword of The Lord conference, was not given the opportunity to have the impact he wished to have. After speaking to the assembly about loving one another and those who disagree with us, Rice wished to have the people sing “The Family of God”, a song that emphasizes the unity of God's children. Sadly, his successor as editor of the Sword of The Lord, Curtis Hutson, prevented the distribution of cards with the words to the song, thus preventing the song from being sung. Hutson did not walk in the footsteps of Rice in regard to desiring a better relationship with those with whom he had disagreements, it seems. Rice is said to have wept because this happened. At the end of the book, Himes speaks of having conversations with his family about Fundamentalism. He, and they, have many positive things to say about what they learned. Sadly, because of the excesses of many of the Independent Fundamental Baptists, many of Rice's descendants do not claim to be Fundamentalists. Why? Because today's Fundamentalists aren't in step with what they believe about love. I am sure that, if the folks at the Sword of The Lord get hold of this book, there will be many ways in which they find fault with it. They will probably attempt to discredit the book and the author. I only hope that many will read this book, learn the value of a Fundamentalism that holds to the Fundamentals while loving others. I hope that the book will show people that John R. Rice was not perfect, but that he was a man to respect, and in many ways follow. He should especially be followed in holding up the Fundamentals, as well as in his willingness to change, moderate, and learn to love more. In a day in which we are having many discussions about the direction of Fundamentalism, we should certainly look at our past to see what we can learn. The voice of this book should be one that is heard in that discussion. In concluding, I must say that there is one large negative that looms before my eyes. Himes speaks of Fundamentalism as originally being about arcane doctrines. He also speaks of needing a faith that is driven by praxis rather than arcane doctrines. The reality is that the Fundamentalists understood that there could be no right practice without right doctrine. The problem is that many of them (and probably many of us today) did not recognize the disconnect between their doctrine and their practice. This was one of those books that, once started, is difficult to put down. I shall award this book four stars.(less)
Of all English translations of the Bible, the King James Version is certainly the one which has stood the test of time. Four hundred years after it w...moreOf all English translations of the Bible, the King James Version is certainly the one which has stood the test of time. Four hundred years after it was first printed, the KJV is still loved by many. This book celebrates the accuracy, beauty, and influence of the King James Version of the Bible. Ryken gives credit where it is due to both Tyndale and Wycliffe, whose translations laid the foundation for the King James Version. Their desire was to translate the Scriptures faithfully so that English speaking people could read and understand God's Word. The King James Version stands upon the shoulders of these translations as well as a few others such as the Bishops Bible. Ryken takes the time to give us interesting facts about the translation process. The work was divided among committees, and they were instructed to use the existing English translations and compare them. In fact, that King James Version is a revision of the Bishop's Bible, which was also compared with the original languages to assure that it was as accurate as possible. The translators also consulted Luther's Bible, the Latin Vulgate, the Syriac New Testament, Aramaic Targums, and various commentaries. This was indeed a great undertaking that was taken very seriously. Once it was published, it only took fifty years for the KJV to surpass the Geneva Bible in popularity. Ryken gives a very timely warning to those who accept that there are more accurate Greek manuscripts than those used by the KJV translators. He reminds us that the ones that were used to translate the KJV were by no means bad texts, and that the difference between the Received Text and today's Critical Text is actually minor. No one is in danger of being misled by the King James Version of the Bible. The influence of the KJV is extensive. Although it is not named a “Standard Bible”, it is the standard for many English translations. The RSV, NKJV, and ESV are all in the stream of the King James tradition in that they seek to adhere to an essentially literal approach. Another thing that points to the King James Version as a standard is the fact that many who follow the dynamic equivalence translational philosophy find fault with the King James Version and try to show how theirs is in some way superior. This may be a back handed acknowledgement of the KJV as a standard, but it is indeed an acknowledgement that it is. The KJV has permeated English culture, language, and literature. Billy Graham, one of the world's foremost evangelists, preached from the KJV. Expressions that are in our everyday speech come from the KJV. Great literature either quotes or has language that is very similar to the KJV. Many writers acknowledge that they used, or are indebted to the KJV. Public inscriptions of Scripture are more often quotations of the KJV than not. Great musicals, poetry, and paintings have been influenced by the KJV. There is no area of English speaking culture that has not been influenced by the KJV. Ryken calls the KJV the “gold standard for a literary Bible”. The language, cadence, and beauty all show the KJV to be an excellent translation. In fact, many consider the KJV to be a miracle of literary excellence. The one place where Ryken faults the KJV translators is in their printing of poetry as prose. In all, he holds the King James Version in high esteem, as well we all should. He makes an amazing statement when he says, “I do not remember ever having encountered a member of the literary establishment who preferred any English Bible other than the KJV.” Today we have a proliferation of English Bible translations. One would think that would be a blessing. Ryken, who greatly loves and supports the work of the English Standard Version, declares that “biblical illiteracy has accompanied the decline of the King James Bible.” He states that this is widely acknowledged. He even quotes a colleague who said that even Christian students have become inept at seeing biblical references in literature, because they do not know the KJV and its influence. There is no greater praise to be given to the King James Version by one who is a great supporter of a modern version. In fact, Ryken recommends that Bible readers continue to read the KJV along with their modern version. Time and space would fail me to say all that could be said about this book. Let it suffice to say that this book is a must read for all who care about literature, whether it be biblical or secular. In fact, I would highly recommend this book for those who are King James Version only believers as well as those who are King James Version critics. Both groups could learn much from this book. This book provided for review by Crossway with no requirement of a positive review.(less)
Commentaries on Genesis 1-3 (Ancient Christian Texts Series)
Intervarsity Press continues to bless the church today with their Ancient Ch...moreCommentaries on Genesis 1-3 (Ancient Christian Texts Series)
Intervarsity Press continues to bless the church today with their Ancient Christian Texts series. This review covers the Commentaries on Genesis 1-3. The series introduction makes a couple of good points that need to be repeated here: 1. “It is ironic that our times, which claim to be so fully furnished with historical insight and reseach methods, have neglected these texts more than scholars in previous centuries who could read them in their original languages.” 2. When ancient exegesis weaves many Scriptures together, it does not limit its focus to a single text as much as modern exegesis prefers, but constantly relates it to other texts, by analogy, intensively using typological reasoning, as did the rabbinic tradition.” This series seeks to connect us to the understanding of those from the past. It also presents them to us as they were. Their exegesis is what it is. It is theirs, and not ours. We have much to learn from the past, though these people were not infallible. The volume editor makes a statement that bears repeating, as well: “Both (the commentators) accepted that their readings of the first chapters of Genesis were built on the profound learning of others who proceeded them.” Not only are we put in touch with Severian of Gabala and TheVenable Bede, but through them we are connecting with the exegesis and teaching of their elders. The work of Severian of Gabala is tedious reading, to say the least. The reason is that he begins with his text, finishing speaking of the text then, in a fashion reminiscent of some extreme fundamentalist preachers, proceeds to extend his sermon by wandering in the wilderness of confusing thoughts for about the same length that he spent on the text. In spite of the topical meanderings, Severian's homilies are valuable to us, because they show the manner of preaching in that time. Not only do they show the manner of preaching, but they show that the emphasis was not necessarily verse by verse exposition as it was verse by verse application. Not only so, but we find Severian to be one who was very concerned about orthodox truth. In a day when so many wish to be aligned with the past, there is a need to see that those of the past held doctrine to be very important. Bede the Venerable was easier to read than Severian. I found it much more enjoyable to read Bede than Severian. Bede spent much time quoting Augustine, thus connecting us to him and his teaching. My statements concerning Severian's emphases generally apply to Bede as well. These two works should be of much help to those embroiled in today's controversy over Genesis chapters 1-3. They show us that these men did seem to believe in a literal six day creation. Moreso, however, they show us that these me understood these chapters to be about much more than the fact of creation; they understood them to be the foundation for doctrine. They show us much about the God who created, and they show us much about ourselves. I highly recommend this volume to all who have an interest in the Creation debate, bibilical exegetes, and anyone who is interested both in ancient exegesis and ancient Christian theology.(less)
Of all of the books that I've read related to Christian living, If God Is Good ranks near the top of the list. Randly Alcorn not only tells us how...moreOf all of the books that I've read related to Christian living, If God Is Good ranks near the top of the list. Randly Alcorn not only tells us how to live in the midst of grief, heartache, hardship, disappointment, and disillusionment, but he does so with a very Biblical approach. He also does so with amazing wisdom and compassion. For the person who struggles with death, pain, suffering, and other forms of evil, Alcorn compassionately addresses these issues from a biblical perspective and comes up with the right answers. He does the same for those who wish to comfort their troubled loved ones. The strength of the book is not only its biblical approach, but its balanced approach. Alcorn blends compassion with wisdom, biblical truth with the insight of experience, and takes difficult philosophical issues and presents them in an understandable form. Through the years I've read many different apologetic texts as well as texts that address the problem of evil. Counseling texts, I have read, too. This book combines the best of each of these forms and gives to us an amazing theodicy, but also a great discussion of evil and how to deal with it. This book has something for practically every person who struggles with the problem of evil. Does one wish to read a theological discussion? It's in the book. Does one desire to consider various philosophical approaches to the problem of evil? It's here in this book. What about how to deal with evil and how to help those who are suffering? Alcorn covers it. I highly recommend this book to everyone who wrestles with the problem of evil, or who wishes to help someone who is struggling with pain and suffering.(less)
When P&R sent me a copy of A Theology of James to review, I expected a good book from which I could learn. What I did not expect was such exegetical ...moreWhen P&R sent me a copy of A Theology of James to review, I expected a good book from which I could learn. What I did not expect was such exegetical and theological dynamite; and in such a small (218 pages including bibliography) package. Christopher Morgan has done a masterful job with this book. Subtitled “Wisdom for God's People”, this book does show that there is an indisputable link between James and Old Testament Wisdom literature. Morgan highlights common themes and shows how James builds upon Old Testament Wisdom literature in an effort to show us how to be wise today. Morgan shows us that James' desire is for the people to be wisely consistent in their attitudes, behavior, suffering, words, and they ways in which they interact with one another. There is an interesting chapter on James and Paul. I honestly didn't have great expectations for this chapter simply because I felt that Morgan was going to throw out the obligatory discussion of how that James and Paul are not contradicting each other, etc, ad nauseum. I was gratified to find that Morgan not only took the issue much further than that, but that Morgan feels that James did not even have Pauline writings in mind as he wrote. Morgan would have us believe that James is simply telling the folks that faith is only genuine if it demonstrates its authenticity by works. I must say that his argument is compelling, and that I am inclined to agree. In fact, there is a good reason to continue further by connecting faith and wisdom here, because wisdom also shows up in our lives, and we only get wisdom by faith (James 1:5-8). The deepest section of the book is the section on James' theology. Honestly, I knew that James had a theology, but never dreamed of how much could actually be seen. James has a high view of God, and a well-developed Christology. Though there is no obvious doctrine of the Holy Spirit, James' theology is never the less deep. In fact, Morgan asserts that James' practical teachings are rooted in his theology, just as the practical teachings of the Old Testament are rooted in the nature of God. Though brief, Morgan also gives us a chapter on how the theology of James is relevant today. All I can say is that it is indeed relevant, because I don't want to give away all that he says. In the end, I must give this a five star rating only because five is the limit. Thanks to P&R for this free review copy that was provided with no expectation of a positive review.(less)
Intervarsity Press is doing a wonderful work for Christians with their commitment to bringing the writings of the ancients to us. Among these is an i...moreIntervarsity Press is doing a wonderful work for Christians with their commitment to bringing the writings of the ancients to us. Among these is an introduction to some early and medieval theologians that is called “Shapers of Christian Orthodoxy”.
This book covers the life, thought, writings, and theology of Inenaeu, Tertullian, Origen, Athanasius, The Cappadocians, Augustine, Anselm, and Aquinas.
The contributors are honest about the ones of whom they write. They show their great contributions to Christian theology, and they also show their errors. What I appreciated was that they seemed to deal fairly with some who have not been fairly dealt with. I am speaking specifically of Tertullian and Origen. Though not without their failures, these two are certainly rehabilitated through an examination of their lives and writings. Thankfully, we can find that they were not as bad as many of us have been told.
In a time when the church is adrift theologically and many evangelicals fear the ancients, this book is a welcome help to those who are serious about Christian doctrine from an ancient perspective.
This review copy provided freely by IVP with no expectation or demand of a positive review.(less)
A reasonable God.
The author declares that his intentions are to counter the arguments of the new atheists. He acknowledges that the book takes ...moreA reasonable God.
The author declares that his intentions are to counter the arguments of the new atheists. He acknowledges that the book takes a defensive tone and does not claim to be the all-in-all apologetics study. What he does is examine the arguments of the new atheists and determine whether they stand muster or not.
Folks such as Hitchens, Dawkins, and Harris have written books that are hits among many who don't want God. Ganssle examines the arguments put forth by these writers and deals with them. While he is defensive in posture, he is not offensive in tone. I think that is a good thing.
Ganssle, in examining these arguments, is fair. He is also honest. His honesty is such that there are a few times in which he acknowledges the weaknesses of certain arguments for theism.
What I truly like about this book is the fact that it is not over the head of the average reader, though the author takes pains to carefully examine arguments and build counter arguments.
I think that I will find myself pulling this book off the shelf in the future for the purpose of revisiting particular issues discussed in it.
A worthwhile read for the person interested in the reasonable nature of theism.
This review copy provided freely by Baylor University Press. There was no demand or expectation of a positive review.(less)
Louis Markos holds the Robert H. Ray Chair in Humanities at Houston Baptist University. He is also an expert in C.S. Lewis' writings and thought. In...moreLouis Markos holds the Robert H. Ray Chair in Humanities at Houston Baptist University. He is also an expert in C.S. Lewis' writings and thought. In fact, the Teaching Company has a course that is taught by Markos available. It is there that I first encountered Markos on Lewis, and I was very impressed. The book opens with Markos discussing the apologetic value of C.S. Lewis' works. As an expert in Lewis' thought, Markos digs deeply into it to show us the value of the apparent simplicity of what Lewis had to say. It turns out that there is a simple profundity to be found even in the Chronicles of Narnia. I must say that the section on Lewis is not only a section on his apologetic, but also an apologetic for Lewis himself. For the Fundamentalists and Evangelicals who wish to discount Lewis as being liberal or even one who encourages universalism, this book is a must read. From Lewis Markos turns to G.K. Chesterton and examines his works, then Dorothy Sayers. These apologists were not formal apologists in the sense that we are accustomed to meeting apologists. They were literary people. It is precisely there, however, that their value is found. Not everyone will like to dig into the philosophy of apologetics, or the theology of apologetics. The fact that one can read a good book, enjoy it, and learn at the same time is a wonderful thing, however. That is what one can do while reading these authors' works. Markos' examination of them will help us better appreciate their value as being more than entertainment or just theological understanding. Markos presents to us some thoughts on Francis Schaeffer and Josh McDowell, too. He associates them with the foregone apologists in that their thought processes, or their experiences in coming to faith were similar. The next section of the book deals with “making a case for faith in a (post) modern world”. Here Markos begins to look back at Aquinas as well as bringing modern apologists such as William Craig. Here Markos truly shines as an apologist in his own right. He examines past and present writings on issues such as creation, the existence of God, the problem of pain, the reliability of Scripture, and the resurrection of Christ. I appreciated the fact that Markos also interacted with the arguments of present day atheists such as Dawkins. There is also a very good bibliography at the back of the book that will be quite helpful, too. I found myself enjoying this book very much, and highlighting throughout it so that I can easily find important quotes and arguments. The reader will do himself a favor if he buys this book and virtually devours it.(less)
Coming at a time when I'm sick, I fear that my review will not be up to par.
Suffice it to say that the layout of the ZECNT series is good. I li...moreComing at a time when I'm sick, I fear that my review will not be up to par.
Suffice it to say that the layout of the ZECNT series is good. I like the print format, page size, layout, and everything about it.
The content is great. I've worked more with James than any of the others, and can honestly say that it is a very good commentary.
The strength of the ZECNT is not that it has good comments on the text, thought it does. Its strength lies in that it is an exegetical commentary. That being said, it is an exegetical commentary for the common man. One need not have an extensive knowledge of Greek to benefit from it. In fact, one can learn much from the ZECNT without having any knowledge of Greek, though it is helpful to have some.
The commentary presents the literary context, the main idea, a translation of the text, the structure of the text, an exegetical outline, and then an explanation of the text. What stands out to me as extremely helpful is the way that they divided the various pericope. I think that they have done well with this, and I think that I shall find myself agreeing with them in the manner in which they block out the sections of texts.
I can hardly recommend this series enough. Whether one is a seasoned scholar, or a newcomer to the faith, the ZECNT is great for the serious student of Scripture. It has become my favorite. I look forward to each new volume with much anticipation.(less)
With a daily devotion, discussion questions, and then some Scripture passages for further reference, this little book is a good devotional aid.
N...moreWith a daily devotion, discussion questions, and then some Scripture passages for further reference, this little book is a good devotional aid.
Nancy Guthrie is a person whose love for Christ shines brightly through her writings, and that is especially so in “Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room”.
Each day's devotion points us away from the business of the Christmas season and back to the PERSON of the Christmas season.
Well written, concise, and helpful are words that describe this little book.
I highly recommend this little book.(less)
Reclaiming The Old Testament for Christian Preaching
One thing that I have noticed to be painfully absent in Christian preaching is the Old...moreReclaiming The Old Testament for Christian Preaching
One thing that I have noticed to be painfully absent in Christian preaching is the Old Testament. I have noticed its absence in my own preaching far too often. Thankfully, the good folks at Intervarsity Press noticed this issue and took steps to help us with it. They assembled a team that is a “who's who” of preachers, teacher, professors, etc. to write a book about Old Testament preaching in the Christian church.
The book is essentially an encyclopedia of preaching on the Old Testament. It addresses the various genre of the OT, as well as the law, the prophets, minor prophets, Psalms, wisdom, Song of Solomon, and much more. In other words, this book is not only about preaching, but hermeneutics, Biblical theology, and pastoral application.
I simply cannot say enough good about this book, as almost every chapter delves into the heart of what we must do to understand the genre, or book we are reading and preaching. Then it moves to how to present it. There is much wisdom to be found here for pastors in preaching, too, as the contributors help us to see various mistakes we could make with the texts and applications. They also suggest to us various ways that we can best present the texts.
Best of all, however, each contributor shows us how to find Jesus in each text, or how to minister Christ through each text. It is refreshing to read and learn how we can bring out the relevance of this ancient text and preach Christ to our people.
I highly recommend this book to everyone who longs to gain a greater understanding of the unity that exists in the Bible, and express that unity to others in teaching God's Word. This book will be of inestimable value.
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The Stategically Small Church is a refreshing book. It affirms the small church in its smallness. Not the ineffective, uncaring smallness that prays...moreThe Stategically Small Church is a refreshing book. It affirms the small church in its smallness. Not the ineffective, uncaring smallness that prays for “me and my four, and no more”. It affirms the fact that smallness isn't a bad thing, but can be strategically used to honor God and minister to others. In the Christian world bigger seems to be better. It seems that we have bought into the world's idea that size equals worth. O'Brien counters that with the fact that a small church may not be able to do everything that big churches can, but they can do things big churches can't. Small churches can be nimble, move quickly, can be unhindered by beauracracy, and can be authentic. Not all small churches are like that, and there is no glory in being small for small's sake. The potential is there, however. Small churches have great potential to foster relationships, reach out to the troubled with care and compassion, and minister in a way that is felt in the heart. Why? Because in small churches practically everyone knows everyone. It also means that the membership is the ministry much more than in the large church. Everyone has the opportunity to be involved. One thing that I truly like is the emphasis made on intergenerational focus. We often feel that we MUST have youth groups. O'Brien states that we can have everyone worshiping together and working together. That is a good thing that bridges the so-called generation gap. Many positive things could be said about this book. In fact, I must say that I intend to read it again so that I can get more out of it. What about negatives? I think that would simply be the fact that there is a need for some “how to” on overcoming the problems that are so common to small churches: one man leadership, cliques and schisms, family rule, democratic process that sometimes equals mob rule, etc. In the end, however, I know that everything can't be contained in one book. Perhaps a sequel??????????(less)
How does one begin to write a review of a book that he did not care for? How does one deal with the negatives with grace and kindness? Those are the q...moreHow does one begin to write a review of a book that he did not care for? How does one deal with the negatives with grace and kindness? Those are the questions that I've asked myself as I have procrastinated and delayed writing this review.
I had hopes that this would be a good book, because we need good books in this area of study. To be honest, however, there's little that is memorable about it, and that's probably a good thing. I guess that shows that I was let down.
The author seeks to show that there is a possibility that the legendary King Arthur was a descendant of Jesus' family, though not of Jesus Himself. He then hopes to make connections between Arthur and the coming Anti-Christ. He brings in many different facts, but finally comes across as one who thinks he has seen something, goes to great pains to show what he has seen, and ends up leaving the reader confused about what he has read, and unconvinced that he has read anything that was helpful.
From the author of SeaBiscuit comes this amazing story of resilience, survival, hope, redemption, and recovery.
Louis Zamperini was your average ...moreFrom the author of SeaBiscuit comes this amazing story of resilience, survival, hope, redemption, and recovery.
Louis Zamperini was your average boy until he was a teenager. It was then that he learned to run. Setting new records was common for him as a young man. He went to the Berlin Olympics to represent the USA.
His greatest feat, however, was his endurance of an Air force plane crash in the Pacific during WWII, being a prisoner of war, and surviving the beatings, the starvation, and the mockery directed his way by the Japanese.
Though this book is long, it is very moving. Hillenbrand portrays the emotional highs and lows of Zamperini as he endured the various trials of being a prisoner of war. It is also interesting to see the strength of this man as he and others would intentionally mislead Japanese soldiers as they taught them English, and how they managed to get extra food from time to time. In the midst of it all, one can see that these great men maintained a sense of humor.
The reader will rejoice as he experiences the end of the war and the subsequent release of the POWs with Zamperini.
What was truly great is the fact that, though this is not intended to be a book for Christian audiences alone, the author faithfully presents the fact that Zamperini fell into the trap of trying to drown his sorrows in booze. Facing a failed marriage, his life fallen apart, with no hope, and seemingly no help, Zamperini heard from Billy Graham (In that great LA crusade that launched him into the limelight) that Jesus loved him, died and rose from the dead for him. Zamperini believed that and was redeemed from his self-destructing ways. Life for Zamperini was only beginning.
This is a great book. It is well written. It is moving, and it is so very true-to-life.
I highly recommend it.(less)
Love Has Come is an interesting little devotional with a pretty good punch to it. It daily takes one chapter, one verse, and one theme in the book of...moreLove Has Come is an interesting little devotional with a pretty good punch to it. It daily takes one chapter, one verse, and one theme in the book of Matthew and focuses on it. The focus of the whole is that Love Has Come in the person of Jesus. That love should also be embodied by His people.
I've been teaching through Matthew for quite some time, so I was very interested in this book. What I found, however, was nothing like a theological treatise. Remember, this is a devotional book and is not a commentary. On the other hand, theology becomes practice in the words of this book. There's a sweet love for God that we should enjoy. It is exemplified in the words of Kevin Orr. He greatly upholds love for God and love for our fellow man. He does so, because love came to us in Jesus. He does so by utilizing the Scripture as well as short stories relating to the Scriptures. Orr shows us how these things have worked in his life.
The reader will find himself convicted of sin, encouraged by grace, and exhorted to faithfully love God and His people. He will also find great encouragement to love his enemies. After all, that is what Jesus taught us.
The reader will also find himself challenged to serve God more effectively, because Orr provides us with penetrating questions about ourselves. These questions serve to help us examine ourselves in the light of God's Word and God's Son.
In the end, I'd say that this is more than a devotional book. It has the potential to be a life transforming book.(less)
IVP is doing a great service to the Christian community by publishing the works of great men ...moreBook Review: Incomplete Commentary on Matthew
IVP is doing a great service to the Christian community by publishing the works of great men of old. Perhaps I should say the great works of great men of old. As part of the work of publishing these ancient Christian writings IVP has given us the Incomplete Commentary on Matthew.
Having read a little in the Early Church Fathers I knew that the exegesis and commentary would not be exactly as today's is. What I found, however, is that there is great continuity between today's understanding and the understanding of the past. That was good to see.
There are issues in which some of the common views of today would probably not be in sync with the views of the ancient commentator. What is of interest to me, however, is the hermeneutic of the commentator. How did he arrive at his views? What I found was that the commentary shows conclusions that were often the same as mine. Why is that interesting? I subscribe to a literal, or grammatical-historical, hermeneutic. I found that, though the ancients were spoken of as not holding to a literal hermeneutic, this one still held much in common with a literal hermeneutic.
There are times that it seems the commentator employed a hermeneutic that would not do justice to a parable or some other saying of Jesus. Sometimes he seemed to make things into allegories, though they were simple, straightforward narratives. Sometimes parables were pressed beyond their intent. What was gratifying to me is the fact that the commentator still arrived at many of the same conclusions I did. Perhaps I should say that it is gratifying that I arrived at some of the same conclusions as he did.
I have decided that one of the reasons that we have an issue with the hermeneutics of the ancients is the fact that they seem to have not been theologians in the sense that we have theologians today. They were practical theologians. Today's theologians often confine themselves to the realm of ideas. The ancients understood that ideas has consequences. I believe that led them to view things as they did. They sought to apply every text to life. They determined to make every doctrine practical. That is an admirable goal. My opinion is that there was a bit of an imbalance, yet that is characteristic of us all, isn't it?
In the end, I found this to be an excellent window into ancient thought. It is worthwhile for every thinking pastor, teacher, and student of church history to examine this set for the purpose of learning the hermeneutic, doctrine, and practical views of this commentator.
I highly recommend this set to the mature, discerning reader.(less)
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