Making Sense of the Bible: One of Seven Parts from Grudem's Systematic Theology

Making Sense of...

by Wayne Grudem

With a strong emphasis on the scriptural basis for each doctrine---what the whole Bible teaches us today about a particular topic; clear writing, with technical terms kept to a minimum; and a contemporary approach, emphasizing how each doctrine should be understood and applied by present-day Christians, Making Sense of the Bible is required reading for understanding the relevant passages of Scripture.
Topics include Canon of Scripture: the list of all books that belong in the Bible; Authority of Scripture: all words in Scripture are God's words because that is what the Bible claims for itself; Clarity of Scripture: the Bible is written so that its teachings are able to be understood by all who read it; Necessity of Scripture: the Bible is necessary for knowledge of the gospel; and Sufficiency of Scripture: Scripture contains all the words of God he intended his people to have.
Written in a friendly tone, appealing to the emotions and the spirit as well as the intellect, Making Sense of the Bible helps readers overcome wrong ideas, make better decisions on new questions, and grow as Christians.

Genres: Theology

129 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 18, 2011

About the author

Wayne Grudem (PhD, University of Cambridge; DD, Westminster Theological Seminary) is research professor of theology and biblical studies at Phoenix Seminary, having previously taught for 20 years at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Grudem earned his undergraduate degree at Harvard University, as well as an MDiv from Westminster Seminary. He is the former president of the Evangelical Theological Society, a cofounder and past president of the Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood, a member of the Translation Oversight Committee for the English Standard Version of the Bible, the general editor of the ESV Study Bible, and has published over 20 books, including Systematic Theology, Evangelical Feminism, Politics—According to the Bible, and Business for the Glory of God.

Reviews

[Kingsley Layton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part 1 of 7.

Grudem's treatment of the Bible is superb here.

He is clear on what the Canon means, how it came about, and why the Apocryphal books are not included, but also what their use is.

He defends inerrancy well and provides answers to common issues in this field, as well as very important issues which will arise if we deny inerrancy.

[Lexie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Theologically sound and a unique way to disperse Grudem’s Systematic Theology into multiple, more easily digestible books.

[Bret James Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like Grudem's style. This book is attractive, easy to read, clearly laid out, and includes glosses, pertinent hymns for inspiration and worship, and is written in an approachable stylistic. I deduct one star for the lack of an index, though it pains me to deduct points as I really like this book.

As the title states, this is an excerpt of the main points of the Systematic Theology tome. The positive is the material is provided in bite-sized bits everyone can understand and enjoy. The negative is people are missing out on the details. Thus, I recommend those seeking a fuller treatment of the subject get the full text.

Grudem deals with the Bible as an entity. He covers its contents and attributes in a winsome way. He first supplies an introduction to systematic theology, which is the time to do so. The next part deals with the Bible as the Word of God in written form. Then, he describes the canon of Scripture, its completeness and proper composition. Next, he handles the authority of Scripture. A chapter follows about the inerrancy of Scripture. The clarity, necessity, and sufficiency of Scripture round out the book, all of which are argued in a logical and understandable manner. All of the above are basic doctrines regarding the Bible, but I appreciate the clear manner in which Grudem explains them. Whether this book serves as an introduction or simply a compilation of the major characteristics of the Word, I recommend it to all Christians who want an easy to understand overview of the Bible and its attributes. Unless the reader prefers the full Systematic Theology text, this book will suffice. I look forward to reading more of Grudem's books.

[Brent Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grudem is thorough in his approach to systematic theology. I appreciate breaking the book into 7 small books to make it seem more manageable (not necessary, but helpful). He has a big view of who God is and that translates to how he understands Scripture. I appreciate everything at the end of each chapter, inviting the reader to work towards application and not just mental comprehension. Some parts were a little repetitive, but Grudem does a great job helping the reader understand the main topics involved in the theology of the Bible. Grateful for this work and looking forward to the rest of it.