Month: February 2016

Philosophy In Seven Sentences by Groothuis

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philosophy

This book is an experience. It takes an impenetrable subject for many and makes it fascinating. I found this volume far superior to a semester-long undergraduate class I took years ago. He makes it relevant, interesting, and all with a Christian guide to take you along. The writing style is engaging, enjoyable, and captivating. I only use the cliche “I couldn’t put it down” because I never dreamed that would be the case.

Taking seven great philosophers along with their most famous statements was a masterstroke in giving an introduction to philosophy in a small compass. Again, I opened the book thinking that would never work, only to discover it did.

He begins with Protagoras, who I knew nothing about, and taught me about using a measurement outside ourselves. He taught something about today. When he used a statement that many agree with,  including his students,  and then shocked us with the knowledge that it was a philosophy statement of a serial killer, you knew he had something worthwhile to say.

He brought Socrates to life. In fact, I feel I never knew him at all until this book. I learned too how we hear more of a caricature of these philosophers rather than what they really believed. It’s the same with Aristotle. We learn too that if we ignore the basic Law of Noncontradiction we give up everything we could ever know.

He well explained Augustine from a philosophic viewpoint while in no way damaging his theology. He made plain Descartes and Pascal too. He made me realize I had Kierkegard all wrong in that superb chapter.

All in all, this is a masterpiece.
 

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Zechariah by Mark Boda (NICOT)

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zech

This is what an exhaustive commentary looks like. This commentary on the Minor Prophet of Zechariah is almost as large as the one on Psalms in this same New International Commentary series. I am not suggesting it is exhausting though. A judicious use of footnotes has made for a volume at once effective for scholarly pastors and academia. I can’t imagine the hours Boda must have put in here.

You would expect the Introduction to be massive in a volume so large, yet it is a manageable 45 pages. That means the bulk of the book is actual commentary on the text.

The Introduction contains a textual history as well as a competent historical background. A section called “Compositional History” overlapped with structure and was worthwhile. I couldn’t personally agree with some of his other conclusions on how the composition came together, but he still trusts the text. His section on the message of Zechariah was good as far as it went.

Again, it’s the actual commentary that will make this volume important for the next 50 years. It seems most every angle is discussed and it is almost encyclopedic. Still, as most will read it one text at a time, the depth will be appreciated. For that reason, I must give a strong recommendation.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

The Message of Ezra & Haggai (BST) by Fyall

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ezra

This is a helpful commentary on two books of the Bible that are not only less studied than others, but rarely seen packaged in one commentary. That is not to say that the combination doesn’t make sense; it does. As Robert Fyall explains, Ezra gives the exciting history while Haggai gives the prophetic voice.

The Introduction is a little longer for Ezra than Haggai, but that is partly because the historical setting is the same and needs no repeating. Particularly, his discussion on the structure of Ezra was fascinating. His selections for the leading themes of Ezra (God, worship of God, the people of God, Scripture and prayer) were well discussed and seemed spot on.

The shorter Introduction on Haggai still sufficiently covered similar territory. Again, the approach was well thought out.

The commentary proper was outstanding in the BST style that we have come to love and expect. In the Preface he pays homage to Derek Kidner’s fine volume on Ezra, but this is clearly a worthy companion to it. I’m sure glad to have it on my shelves when studying these two books, and I highly recommend it.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

From The Pen of Pastor Paul by Daniel Hyde

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paul

This new volume gives help for studying I & II Thessalonians. The style is sermonic rather than a regular commentary style. Whether reading for study purposes, or just for devotional reasons, you will likely enjoy it.

The approach may vary from one text to another, and it may not cover all that could be said, but what is said is of value. You do sense a pastor at work and that the approach was first to address his own congregation. You also pick up on his closely following the thinking of his denomination–the Reformed Church.

The book’s greatest feature is Hyde’s ability to trace Pastor Paul in the two letters. It strikes me that he may he on to something that I will want to think about in my own future studies of Thessalonians. Those sermons that highlighted the ministry were the most penetrating in this volume.

There is some repetition from one sermon to another as might happen in a preaching series, but this is a solid volume to pick up for your studies.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

The Radical Pursuit of Rest by John Koessler

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rest
This book blessed my soul. It said so much that needs to be said, yet we never hear. Along the way you get a good understanding of what the Bible tells us about rest. This book is not “get apart and rest”, or even “stop and smell the roses along the way”. No, though those type books are popular in our exhausting age, this book goes much deeper in the concept of rest. We don’t rest because we don’t even know what it is. John Koessler gives us exactly what we need to get our thinking straight.

He explains how our thinking is skewed these days and affects us as Christians and especially those in ministry. We fall into what he describes as “the productivity trap”. It has come to us from the business world. We now assume busier is better. We always want to exceed what we have done before. He says,”The church is driven by bottom line just as much as a company whose lifeblood is sales revenue.” We even to fail to see that worship is a wonderful thing and critically important, though we might feel we aren’t actually doing anything.

We get reduced to selling our brand–our particular church. We change our worship to consumerism. He says, “Visitors are treated like consumers and the church’s members are employees whose main job is to promote the brand. They do not worship; they produce. ” How incredibly perceptive is what he shares.

He used the Sabbath and Christ’s saying “I will give you rest”to explain the idea of rest. Rest is trusting God. He says, “Rest is a practice because the ‘work’ of rest is rooted in the finished work of God.”

There is so much more here. This book is exceedingly valuable. I wish all of us would read it and take it to heart.  

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

The Message of Joshua (BST) by Firth

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joshua

It’s finally complete! Now every book of the Bible is represented in the BST series. It’s strange that Joshua would be the last to get coverage in the series, but it is an outstanding volume in any event. David Firth, the contributor of this volume, has shown in recent years his mettle as a commentator on the historical books of the Old Testament. His superb quality is upheld here.

The Introduction is unique, and yet a joy. The typical elements of an Introduction, which are of varying worth to readers, were skipped to focus on what he felt was the biggest issue in studying Joshua–the violence in Joshua. Since that violence is often parlayed into an attack on God, and a reason to completely discount Joshua, his approach has merit.

His conclusions are interesting. He argues that the violence is not as widespread as it sounded, and that the line was not as racial as imagined. Rahab and others seem to prove his point. Even his explanation that the land is owned by Jehovah as the overriding justification is helpful. This novel approach to Introduction is, in my judgement, a success.

The commentary proper exhibits those qualities you love when studying a text. Great insights and good theology abound. For example, read all he explains on the story of Rahab and see what I mean. He addresses the violence all through the text as well.

This is a fine commentary and I highly recommend it.

I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.