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The gospel according to the Old testament
Hope in the Midst of a Hostile World: The Gospel According to Daniel
Demonstrates how believers living among unbelievers, and citizens of countries with increasingly hostile governments, have an opportunity to reveal God-inspired wisdom and to discover hope.
224 pages, Paperback
First published February 16, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 30, 2012
So much of scripture is a foreshadowing of what has happened and what will happen. It shows the sovereignity of God and his redemptive plan for his people. The apocalyptic is written for those who are in need of perspective. Showing the wisdom of the Gospel. Daniel is a great example for us in living and knowing his identity in who God was. Neb's of course was a different story. He saw himself as the center of all things and because of his self-worship, he became insane. Repentance was the cure. I thought this whole chapter was very interesting in respect to self-worship and how we can get caught in this in our own lives. From the seeking the approval of others to having a false conception of the Most High God. From page 63...While he (Neb) was full of his own importance. Neb's world revolved around himself. It did not strike him how unrealistic this was until he was brought low by illness. Sanity begins with a realistic self appraisal. To know what a person boats about is to know the person's God. (we should boast about Christ( Daniel shows that there is no difference between pride and false worship. The Bablyonians were great humanist. To much to fit here but well worth the read but in the case of the humanist system, man takes the place of God. In our time, now we are dealing with that. Abortion and the santification of marriage. Instead of societal ills decreasing, they increase. Our values are not based on men being made in the image of God, but what is right for man. Daniel's well being is bound up with Who God was and is. The same well being of any christian is bound up with the well being of the church. . Faithful preaching challenges the members fundamental self-centeredness and contrasts this with the Christ-centeredness. We begin to know the reality of our condition and can do nothing but cling to a holy God.
September 28, 2020
The book of Daniel in the Old Testament is a strange book. In the English Bible, it is grouped with the prophets, but in the Hebrew Bible it is in the section called the Writings. Parts of the book were written in Hebrew, and parts in Aramaic, the only book in the Bible of which that is true. The book seems to be bifurcated into the first six chapters focusing on Daniel the government official, and the last six chapters focusing on Daniel the prophet. The first part of the book contains some of the most well-known stories in the Old Testament (the fiery furnace, the lion's den), and the second half contains some of the most detailed and yet perplexing prophecies in the Old Testament (Chapters 10 and 11).
Schwab takes the position--and ably demonstrates it--that the book should be read as one integrated book, and that both the narrative and the apocalyptic portions of the book speak to how saints should undergo and persevere through adversity. In other words, Daniel offers hope in the midst of a hostile world.
In the first section of the book, Schwab demonstrates how to read Daniel as one book, how to read the narrative and the apocalyptic portions, and how to see Daniel as wisdom literature, and how the first chapter gives us the paradigm in which to see the rest of the book.
In the second part, he treats the regimes of Babylon and Medo-Persia (represented by the gold and silver portions of the statue in Nebuchadnezzar's dream), covering Daniel 2-7. He persuasively argues for the chiastic structure of these chapters as an aid in understanding (and in grouping them together).
In the third part, he covers the regime of Greece (represented by the bronze portion of the statue), covering Daniel 8-11. Daniel 9 gets extensive treatment, discussing seven possible interpretations of the chronology of forecasted events. By contrast, coverage of Daniel 10 is almost over before you realize it. He does a good job of working his way through the historical complexities of Daniel 11 as well.
The fourth and final part, the epilogue covering Daniel 12, is very short. But he has alluded to some of it in his treatment of the previous chapters. A two-page "Concluding Thoughts" well summarizes the book and gives encouragement.
If you are looking for a verse-by-verse commentary, this is not the book. But if you want to understand the message of Daniel, and receive the encouragement it offers to the believer, I recommend this book.
Schwab takes the position--and ably demonstrates it--that the book should be read as one integrated book, and that both the narrative and the apocalyptic portions of the book speak to how saints should undergo and persevere through adversity. In other words, Daniel offers hope in the midst of a hostile world.
In the first section of the book, Schwab demonstrates how to read Daniel as one book, how to read the narrative and the apocalyptic portions, and how to see Daniel as wisdom literature, and how the first chapter gives us the paradigm in which to see the rest of the book.
In the second part, he treats the regimes of Babylon and Medo-Persia (represented by the gold and silver portions of the statue in Nebuchadnezzar's dream), covering Daniel 2-7. He persuasively argues for the chiastic structure of these chapters as an aid in understanding (and in grouping them together).
In the third part, he covers the regime of Greece (represented by the bronze portion of the statue), covering Daniel 8-11. Daniel 9 gets extensive treatment, discussing seven possible interpretations of the chronology of forecasted events. By contrast, coverage of Daniel 10 is almost over before you realize it. He does a good job of working his way through the historical complexities of Daniel 11 as well.
The fourth and final part, the epilogue covering Daniel 12, is very short. But he has alluded to some of it in his treatment of the previous chapters. A two-page "Concluding Thoughts" well summarizes the book and gives encouragement.
If you are looking for a verse-by-verse commentary, this is not the book. But if you want to understand the message of Daniel, and receive the encouragement it offers to the believer, I recommend this book.
December 28, 2013
A bit technical at times, especially for a popular level book. Had made me realize how much more of the details of the book that I need to wrestle through, though at the same time it has further clarified the big picture of the book. Though we are now experiencing many trials, tribulation and the rule of pagan kings, our God is sovereignly in control of history and He will return to consummate His kingdom.
August 22, 2024
One of the weaker commentaries in this series.
April 14, 2021
I read this as a part of a small group study on the book of Daniel. We chose this volume out of interest in the character of Daniel as well as for the overarching theme of identifying the gospel message within the book of Daniel and gaining some insight as to our relationship to a hostile culture surrounding the Christian. There was a lot that was interesting and intriguing in Schwab's analysis. However, I do feel that the material as presented is somewhat disjointed, and I could have used more continuity in his conclusions, as well as some clearer charts. Some of his analysis struck me as overly detailed and it would have been helpful to me, at any rate, had he included more summation within his chapters. As it is the only book on Daniel which I've read, I don't have anything else with which to compare it, and it does make some good points, as well as deepen my spiritual appreciation for this book of the Bible.
February 12, 2021
A great overview of the book of Daniel. I highly recommend this volume if you are studying Daniel.
December 18, 2016
I really enjoyed this study, and learned so much! Highly recommend.
November 10, 2013
Given it's relatively short length, this book manages to pack a lot of information in. It's in-depth but not exhaustive.
I didn't know going in, but quickly discovered that Schwab was taking an amillennial approach, which means there were aspects of his interpretation I found lacking. I appreciate, though, that on several issues he laid out multiple points of view with their strengths and weaknesses. It made it easier for me to disagree with him on his eschatology and still get something from the text.
My only other complain would be that there were times I just had a hard time understanding the point he was trying to get across. For less than 200 pages, it took me quite a bit of time to read it.
Still, I recommend it as a decent source on the book of Daniel. There is a great deal of history presented, and even if you disagree with some points, they are a way to bolster your arguments.
I didn't know going in, but quickly discovered that Schwab was taking an amillennial approach, which means there were aspects of his interpretation I found lacking. I appreciate, though, that on several issues he laid out multiple points of view with their strengths and weaknesses. It made it easier for me to disagree with him on his eschatology and still get something from the text.
My only other complain would be that there were times I just had a hard time understanding the point he was trying to get across. For less than 200 pages, it took me quite a bit of time to read it.
Still, I recommend it as a decent source on the book of Daniel. There is a great deal of history presented, and even if you disagree with some points, they are a way to bolster your arguments.
December 18, 2012
I bought this book to be my 'second commentary' while teaching through the book of Daniel. I have to say that it did not turn out to be nearly as helpful as I had hoped.
This book is part of a series called "The Gospel According to the Old Testament" which features endorsements by DA Caron and Sinclair Ferguson. With such 'high powered' endorsements for the series, you would expect something first rate. But this book is sort of a mixed bag. There are cetainly some good insights along the way, but I simply did not find it very helpful in undestanding the book of Daniel.
This book is part of a series called "The Gospel According to the Old Testament" which features endorsements by DA Caron and Sinclair Ferguson. With such 'high powered' endorsements for the series, you would expect something first rate. But this book is sort of a mixed bag. There are cetainly some good insights along the way, but I simply did not find it very helpful in undestanding the book of Daniel.
August 13, 2016
This entry in the helpful Gospel According to the Old Testament series works through the book of Daniel. Schwab divides Daniel into its Aramaic and Hebrew sections, dealing with the issues and imagery that weave through each. Although the apocalyptic nature of Daniel’s second half can be off-putting, Schwab navigates those waters with a steady hand and even keel. There is much to be charted in Daniel; Schwab is a fine captain to helm that journey.
November 6, 2016
I've really enjoyed the commentaries in this series so far.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews