Bible

Discovering the New Testament (Volume 2) by Mark Keown

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This volume continues the excellence found in the first volume on the Gospels and Acts. If anything, this volume is even better because it lies in the author’s area of expertise. He has written a major exegetical commentary on Philippians that is outstanding. This volume covers only the Pauline Epistles, which are worthy of their own volume.

There is a biographical chapter on Paul’s life and conversion which discusses all issues of chronology as well. Chapter 2 gives an overall induction to all of these epistles. Chapters 3 through 13 take each of these epistles in turn. In each case, we are presented with occasion and context, structure, rhetorical devices, form of letters, authorship, a discussion on its placement in the Pauline corpus, and concluded with some questions to consider. To me they seemed well reasoned, judicious, and mature.

There’s a chapter on Paul’s thought in theology that approaches theology by key subjects. As you would expect, the main topics are here as well as the New Perspective on Paul. Appropriately, there is a concluding chapter on Paul’s missionary strategy.

When I encountered the first volume, I felt it would be a replacement for Merrill Tenny’s widely used New Testament introduction. On reflection, this set will be so much more than that. The three volume set by Hiebert that was found in so many personal libraries a few decades back is a closer comparison, except that this set is at once more up-to-date and better. I am impressed with everything I’ve seen from Mark Keown’s hand. This fine volume does nothing to lessen that opinion. To my mind, this will be when concluded THE New Testament introduction set.

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 Question of Canon by Kruger

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This book on the canon of the New Testament comes at a different angle than most I’ve seen. In my view, it’s a breath of fresh air and displays a wonderful viewpoint. He goes beyond the usual question of which book should be included in the canon to the more fundamental one: why is there a canon of the New Testament in the first place? Along the way, he exposes where the scholarly world has gone awry in this discussion. Where I felt that those scholars were predisposed against the Bible, Mr. Kruger was content to look at the Bible, what was logical, and weigh scholarly opinion against it. I may have disagreed with him on a small point or two, but this book was a grand success!

In the introduction, he lists five tenets that are prevalent in a wide array of scholarship. These five assumptions lead to conclusions that put the canon of the New Testament in jeopardy. The five chapters of this book tear these five assumptions to pieces. Since the canon of the New Testament is under relentless attack in our day, it’s great to see how lacking these assumptions are on a variety of levels. Someone should send Bart Ehrman this book for a Christmas present!

Call this book a needed corrective. Call it a helpful apologetic. But most of all, call it a book that you need to read.

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.

In Defense of the Bible–A Great Book!

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book def bib

This is a needed book! Its subtitle explains its approach: “a comprehensive apologetic for the authority of Scripture”. Edited by Steven B. Cowan and Terry L. Wilder, this book gathers a fine collection of articles by competent writers. I was especially impressed that though these writers were scholars, they truly succeeded in writing in a way that was accessible to a wide array of readers.

You will find this book to be expertly designed. After a brief introduction, Part One discusses philosophical and methodological challenges in four chapters. That covers things like special revelation, the veracity of the Bible, what higher criticism says and how it’s wrong, as well as our ability to understand the Bible. Part Two explains textual and historical challenges in seven chapters. In this section, you will learn how that neither the Old nor the New Testament are hopelessly corrupted. You will also be made aware of the reliability of each Testament and how to view apparent contradictions in the Bible.

Part Three, which was my favorite, looked at ethical, scientific, and theological challenges in six chapters. It covers subjects that often bewilder Christians when the world attacks. What about the Bible’s apparent condoning of genocide? There’s a profound chapter answering the question–does the Bible condone slavery and sexism? There’s another chapter on the Bible’s conflict with science, and though I did not agree with all of it, it did give some help in understanding the subject. Considering the charges that our Bible is missing several books, the chapter on Canon was especially enlightening. All in all, every chapter was a winner.

My library contains just about every major work on the authority and inspiration of the Bible. I have all the old standbys and love them, but if I had to choose to recommend just one volume to someone wanting to really dig into this subject, I would choose this book. The main reason that it’s so valuable is that it takes a high view of Scripture just as the best books have in the past while focusing on the most turbulent issues that our non-Christian culture hurls at the Bible today. It’s fair to say this book succeeds in both defending the Bible and in offering an apologetic for our day. Every pastor could benefit from this book, but I recommended it to anyone feeling overwhelmed by the criticisms widely broadcast against the Bible in our day. This is an awesome resource!

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.

Bible Matters by Tim Chester

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book bible matters

Tim Chester has written the perfect book to help people approach the Bible. Though it would help Christians at any point in their journey, it’s especially instructive to those who are new at wrestling with the Bible. Along the way, Mr. Chester will both enlighten the reader on the doctrine of the Bible and give some guidance on how to properly study the Bible. Through quality writing and timely illustrations, he helps you see that the Bible is no mere book, but a word from God to us.

Though he covers a lot of ground that you also find in other books about the Bible, he certainly traces out his own path. Still, he begins by explaining that the Bible is from a God who speaks. Next, he gives us a particularly helpful chapter on how God spoke in the Bible. This chapter will answer a lot of questions. In the third chapter on God speaking in the Bible, he explains the Holy Spirit’s role. In chapter 4, he sees Jesus as a key theme of Scripture.

Though it is often overlooked by other writers, Mr. Chester explains how the Bible is relational. This chapter really helps you to get your head on straight about the Bible. Likewise, the chapter on the Bible being intentional proves what many critics deny. I enjoyed the chapter explaining that the Bible is enough too. You wouldn’t think that would have to be explained, but many Christians need to hear that message.

In chapter 8, he finally gets to the chapter that’s going to be in any book on the Bible – one discussing its reliability. He does a fine job with that subject, but appropriately uses Spurgeon’s analogy that a lion doesn’t need defending! The chapter on the Bible being accessible will help those who are always looking for some message in code. Hint: it’s not there. He rounds out the book with a chapter about reading the Bible, and a short conclusion on why he loves it.

There’s a substantial study guide at the end of the book. With that resource, every chapter could be turned into a study group discussion.

This book is profitable and is worthy of a wide audience. 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.

The King James Study Bible (Thomas Nelson)

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book kjv study

Thomas Nelson’s King James Study Bible in the full-color edition is a beautiful choice for those seeking a helpful, conservative study Bible. My teenage son is especially into study Bibles, so when I received this Bible for review I asked him first to take it and look at it. He loved it! My review copy was cloth over board, but he says now that this is the Bible he wants in a leather edition for his high school graduation present. He already owns some other nice study Bibles from different publishers, but in his view the notes were “deeper” and he felt he would get more out of it in his studies than from other such volumes.

From my point of view, in addition to what my son appreciated, I also was impressed by the many full-color maps and charts. There were archaeological notes, personality profiles, and discussion of important Christian doctrines. Every book of the Bible had an introduction and outline and there were helpful indices and a concordance at the end. The pictures were beautiful and I agree that the notes were helpful.

I’ll have to agree with my son on ranking this volume at the top of KJV study Bibles. I can think of one other KJV study Bible that’s almost as attractive, but the notes put this volume over the top. You owe it to yourself to look over this volume if you are in the market for a KJV study Bible. You won’t be disappointed.

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.

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KJV Expressions Bible–A Review

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book kjv expressians

The KJV Expressions Bible published by Hendrickson publishers is the perfect Bible for those interested in journaling. This Bible gives over 2 inch margins on the outside of each page. With the recent upsurge in adult coloring there’s ample room for that activity as well. Finally, and much more in line with my tastes, this Bible gives you wonderful room to take notes.

The wide margin Bibles I’ve used in the past are rather expensive. This volume is much more inexpensive, though it might be your choice for your second Bible rather than for your “church” Bible. You might even prefer to fill up all the note pages, and decide that means you’ll deserve a new one when that happens. If you’re looking for note taking, journaling, or coloring, this is an attractive, economical choice.

The volume comes in an attractive brown, leather over board edition. To give you all that journaling room there’s no other frills, as you’ll find it’s all just the biblical text. At the end of the Bible they did include a harmony of the Gospels, a list of the miracles of the Old and New Testaments, and a list of the parables found in the Bible.

I don’t think you’ll regret getting this Bible if you do. My son is begging me for my review copy. He thinks it’s awesome. I’m sure you will too.

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.

KJV Word Study Bible

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bible-word-study

Are you looking for a Bible that in addition to the text can teach you how to do word study? Do you use the KJV? I think you’re really going to like this new Bible by Thomas Nelson. (You can get it in hardback or in imitation leather). The Bible is a book of words. Our understanding of the Bible boils down to an understanding of the words. Every Bible student should be particular about understanding the words, especially the keywords. This new Bible will greatly help you in that endeavor.

Each book of the Bible is given a short overview in a few paragraphs with some especially important keywords to watch for. Then, in the KJV text every word that is especially studied in their added notes is underlined. Some of the discussions will take place on the page you are on while others require you to look at a list in the lower right corner of the page and go to another passage where that word is discussed. While what words are discussed may strike you as arbitrary, many words in the text get covered.

You can expand your studies by the indexes provided in the back. There’s an English word index which will guide you to the passage and Strong’s number where you can do further study of the word. Next, there’s a Scripture passage index that takes Scriptures in order from Genesis to Revelation to let you see what words will be discussed. Finally, there is a separate Hebrew and Greek index tied to the Strong’s numbers to open yet another way for further study. In addition, there’s an abbreviated concordance followed by some attractive, full-color maps.

This Bible is not a reference Bible. A reference Bible aids study by providing background information or brief commentary. This Bible is exclusively to help you develop your word study skills and get more out of your Bible reading. I consider it an awesome tool for all Bible readers out there.

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.