Understanding the Times: New Testament Studies in the 21st Century: Essays in Honor of D. A. Carson on the Occasion of His 65th Birthday

by Andreas J. Köstenberger (Editor), Robert W. Yarbrough

First Chronicles speaks of “men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do.” In our rapidly changing, postmodern culture, we desperately need Christian leaders who understand the times and can guide us in our work as the body of Christ. D. A. Carson is such a man. Renowned as a gifted speaker, writer, theologian, and pastor, Carson has written extensively and persuasively on a wide range of topics, particularly in the field of New Testament studies. He has taught for over thirty years at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, where he has influenced many students, a large number of whom have become pastors or scholars themselves. In appreciation of Carson’s lifework, editors Andreas J. Köstenberger and Robert Yarbrough have assembled a team of his former students and colleagues to produce this volume of essays on contemporary New Testament studies. The book explores New Testament studies as they relate to special topics and ancillary disciplines, and it surveys the state of New Testament scholarship around the world. Readers will benefit not only from the example of Carson, as one who understands our times, but also from the high quality of essays produced for this volume.

Genres: Theology, Biblical Studies, Christianity, Nonfiction, Christian

400 pages, Hardcover

First published April 28, 2011

Reviews

[David]

I enjoyed this book was it was very uneven. Some chapters were fascinating and helpful, others were definitely not for me. The book is definitely aimed towards the academy so I did not enjoy it as much as others would. The first chapter being a deep dive on Greek Lexiography made me realize how unacademic I am.

Do read this book if you are more academically minded and are interested in New Testament studies. You will probably find this much more useful and encouraging than I did.

Don't read this book if you are unfamiliar with New Testament Studies as an academic discipline. Also, do not read this book if you don't chapters written about different topics from different authors.

[Geoff]

Disappointed by the mix of quality & polemic spirit toward other competent scholars in some essays

[Brad]

"Understanding the Times" is an excellent essay compilation, written in honor of D.A. Carson. But it is an essay compilation, so, at times, it felt disjointed and unconnected. What does extremely technical lexicology have to do with Evangelicals and inerrancy, and what does baptism have to do with biblical interpretation, and what do trends in interpretation acirss the world have to do with thee things? Well, they're all tangentially connected, but the work lacked unity.

Stanley Porter's essay was the most interesting. He argues for monosemy, which was interesting in its own right. Words have meaning, without context. This shouldn't be controversial, but it is. He obliterates Constantine Campbell's aspect system and Daniel Wallace's grammar. He was convincing and detailed, but I didn't show charity. I blame the editors for this, though. His tone should have been edited.

Grant Osborne was just a repeat of his "Hermeneutical Spiral" book.

Mark Dever's chapter on the church was also just a summary of some of his longer writing like "9 Marks of a Healthy Church" or "How to Build a Healthy Church."

None of the other stood out. Although "The Language of Baptism" would find a little refinement or even correction in Benjamin Snyder's article (not in the book) "Technical Term or Technical Foul? —βαπτίζω and the Problem of Transliteration as Translation."

Overall, good. But also random.

B. Grizenko

Age 18+

[Michael Vincent]

Much more for the scholar, than than the layperson, there is much that I skimmed as it was over my head. On the section concerning New Testament studies around the world, I wish there would have more included about evangelical scholarship. However, I found several of the chapters interesting and helpful in thinking about important theological topics such as, hermeneutics, the church, inerrancy, John 3:16, justification in Galatians, how God speaks in Hebrews, and the meaning of "baptism." Carson was certainly honored by the vast array of topics which reflects his own diversity of study, passions and gifts. One thing I learned, never make a study of Greek linguistics and lexicography the first chapter of your book. I started with the last chapter, a short biography of Carson's life and ministry.

[Tim Franks]

This was a good read and tribute to D.A. Carson that resonates past the decade or so ago it was written. Surely there are some outdated stuff here and there has been much more in the past decade that Dr. Carson has done! Especially appreciated the essays looking at the different theological trends in the different continents around the world. Many of the essays are very technical and dense at times. Took me a while to get through this work, but it was well worth the read for scholars especially. I am thankful very much for the ministry done by D.A. Carson, it has affected by life deeply.

[Drake]

Mostly solid essays. Standouts include Woodbridge on the history of inerrancy, Moo on justification in Galatians, Schnabel on the meaning of the terms baptize/baptism, and Pao on NT studies in Asia.

[Wes Bredenhof]

Like most collections of essays, this festschrift has some that are outstanding (i.e. Woodbridge), some that are average, and some mediocre.