Month: July 2022

How Do We Reason? by Forrest Baird

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Here’s a fine, accessible resource to help us in getting a handle on reasoning logically. Since we live in an age where shouting louder has replaced clear reasoning as a way to propel arguments, this is especially needed today. It’s fair also to observe that Christians don’t always hold logic in as a high regard as should be as we live in the created world of our reasonable God. To be sure, a lot of good theology is based on the fact that we have a reasonable God Who is never illogical. What He does might be counterintuitive to us, but the more you delve into His ways they never violate clear principles of logic. In this book, don’t miss the preface that fully develops what I said above.

The first chapter introducing logic is worth the price of the book. Since formally, logic is about making arguments, that chapter so carefully lays out what kinds of arguments there are as it also establishes what is legitimate. That chapter alone would make you reason better.

Chapter 3 is one of the most important in the book and would revolutionize logical discussion were it grasped. Particularly, notice the discussion of fallacies of ambiguity and relevance. This section might help you not embarrass yourself!

The book moves from sentences to syllogisms to symbols. Since this book could be used as a textbook (fortunately without textbook pricing!), it is true that the complexity grows. If you want a basic understanding and be able to be reasonable in your logic you will need roughly the first half of the book. If you want to really master the subject, the whole book will be a godsend to you.

Though I said it could be a textbook, this book is still perfectly designed for the individual reader. The exercises throughout the book will easily help you see if you are catching on or need to re-read. Some of the examples will raise a smile, but will still help you get it.

This book is written by a Christian. Though he writes mostly about the subject itself, that Christian background makes you feel in trusty hands. I’ve long wanted a book like this and am glad to have this one!

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.

Transfiguration and Transformation by Hywel Jones

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Linking the Transfiguration of Christ to our transformation as believers in Christ is intriguing to say the least. I’ll confess that I never thought of the connection before I came across this book. The connection isn’t fabricated as both spring from the same word in the New Testament.

In a Preface entitled “A Biblical ‘Metamorphosis’”, Jones takes the time to prove linguistic connection and explains why it might be a rich vein to mine. Then the book divides into two main parts taking the Transfiguration and our transformation in turn. At first, I thought his presentation of the Transfiguration began slowly. As I came to realize, he was laying a solid foundation. Perhaps some issues he addresses are not ones you’d ever be concerned with, but he seems determined to counter all criticisms and restore what should have always been a lofty status. As he proceeds, the discussion grows much richer.

When he switches to transformation, rather than addressing critical challenges he reorients to theological challenges. Again he builds his foundation slowly, but really builds on the framework of regeneration, sanctification, and glorification. Whether you’d agree with his theological viewpoint or not, it’s the discussion of individual passages that address transformation that renders the most aid to our contemplation of transformation.

This book addresses more scholarly concerns than I am used to seeing in a BOT volume, but it is an interesting study. I always appreciate someone who can open the Bible and show me something I have never put together before. That is what happens here.

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 Concise New International Dictionary of NT Theology & Exegesis

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Here is a really fine resource for Bible study. In the past I have used the original NIDNTT set edited by Colin Brown and I always got the most out of it if such tools available. I never used Silvia’s updated set from a few years ago as I wondered if it my old set might be sufficient. When I heard about the release of this volume, I thought it worth checking out as a 1-volume condensed set sure would be handy. I was presently surprised and this book will always be kept within arm’s reach going forward for me.

The Introduction carefully explains the design. Every word in the larger set is included but the more scholarly or esoteric information information including bibliographies that probably wouldn’t appeal to most Bible students anyway is omitted. The heart of the discussion that the Bible student is after remains. It’s rich too. That is not to say that you might not disagree ( like “agape” versus the other words for “love” which scholars are convinced that are little more than synonyms), and so this resource can’t be the only opinion you consult, but it should be a prominent one.

There are fine indexes for subject and Scripture references that allow your studies to land in this volume from different directions. The book uses Goodrick-Kohlenberger numbers but fortunately it contains what many others lack: a conversion chart for Strong’s numbers. that means you can get where you need in mere moments.

You will want this one!

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.