Theology

Answering the Psalmist’s Perplexity (NSBT) by James Hely Hutchinson

/ jimmyreagan / Leave a comment

Though the topics can be narrowly constructed, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the NSBT series. Can you believe this volume is #62 in the series? Regarding narrowly defined subjects, perhaps this one is even more so. Because of that, this book may not find as big a round of acceptance as the others. When you are sixty-two titles deep into a project, you clearly have a homogeneous audience that can be easily described. So why do I feel perhaps that mutual admiration society might not hold up in this case? Well, it’s more, to be sure, the fault of the subject than the author.

He’s jumping into the covenant theology- dispensational theology divide. But he dives deeper still using a 7-model spectrum running from Westminster Covenantalism to Classical Dispensationalism. Though Models 1-5 are more on the Covenant Theology side and 6-7 on the Dispensational Theology side, you are still going to make six out of seven groups at least marginally unhappy.

Let’s give credit where credit is due—he lays out well the seven groups and is fair minded to those even farthest from him. He makes clear the whole Continuity versus Discontinuity that is the trendy way to lay out the issue. Continuity is God’s people (Israel and the Church) are mostly the same ties to Covenant Theology while Discontinuity separates them in distinct ways and ties to Dispensationalism.

Instead of stating Hutchinson’s viewpoint or my own, I’d rather mention the larger problem. His approach reminds me of walking into an opulent room and focusing on one immaculate lamp. It is a nice lamp, but what about that gorgeous mahogany desk? Must the room forever be oriented to the lamp? You mean I can’t talk about the couch or the ceiling tiles unless I speak in terms of the lamp? That’s the problem to my mind with either Covenant Theology or Dispensationalism. They are asked to explain more than they can. Their adherents see them as more a throne in a throne room, but I say they’re still a lamp. Nice lamps, ok, but not strong enough to bear the weight of the room. They explain something, but no where near everything. Less esoteric, less enticing to scholarly vanity, and more accessible to the common Bible believer, are ideas like Jesus, or say relationship between the Trinity and us. Make these ideas (I’ve learned much from all seven of the viewpoints while having some clear opinions on some of those issues) the condiments and Jesus the meal and what a feast we can have.

Let’s move on before someone gags on my review. The richness of this volume is to take the Scripture Index and use with all the texts he uses in Psalms. He can help with exegesis.

He’s a clear writer too. Surely we can do better than the term “New-Covenant Newness”, but he communicates his line effectively.

Agree with Hutchinson and you’ll love the book; not fully agree and you’ll see the boundaries more carefully; agree or not and use the exegesis for Psalms and you’ll be helped at least.

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.

Creator by Peter Leithart

/ jimmyreagan / Leave a comment

Wow! What a book! It was fascinating, enlightening, challenging, and it taught me. I must admit there were times I struggled. There were times I had to lay it aside and come back later. A few times I wondered if I were too dense and were in over my head. But I kept coming back and I am so glad did.

Where I kept running into problems was when I needed a bit more philosophy background than I had. If that describes you, do as I did and persevere. He’s going somewhere and will get back to the more comfortable surroundings of theology soon enough. If you will hang on, he will show that we have had a bit too much Greek influence on our theology and that has put us in scriptural quandaries. I was convinced.

Before I say more, I must admit Leithart is a brilliant writer. I do feel he pitched this volume to professional theologians (untranslated words are a dead giveaway). I wish he had veered toward about 20% more popular in writing style (I mean, how many professional theologians are there?), but the denseness was worth it still. I’ve read some of his more popular works and he is great whether you agree or not. He has original thinking in his works and he is profoundly and pleasingly provocative.

I’m not going to rehash the book here. Just experience it. For me, he tweaked my thinking on some of the attributes, particularly accommodation. Further, he opened my eyes to how crucial the idea of Creator is and made me understand my God even more. Finally, he blew me away in his discussion of time.

I tend to be a bit liberal with praise in my book reviews, but there’s no grading on a curve here. This is a great 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.

The Hope of Life After Death (ESBT) by Jeff Brannon

/ jimmyreagan / Leave a comment

This series is exciting! Had I been planning this series I might have overlooked resurrection getting one of the slots in it, but after seeing this title it makes perfect sense. Brannon makes his case for Resurrection being one of the “essential” themes of biblical theology. His fleshing out the link to Creation and Redemption only strengthen his case.

The book is clear and clear-headed. He is quite convincing in driving home his premise. Besides his love of quoting obscure lyrics of (popular?…I guess) music, he succeeds across the board.

To grasp resurrection he grapples with life and death. Relating that to Creation and the Fall was the proper foundation while building with redemption (New Creation) and Resurrection (Eternal Life) was the right edifice to build upon it. A lot has been written on these themes but his niche is a clarity that comes from a careful presentation.

He also traces his theme to good effect in biblical order. Watching a doctrine develop progressively is one of the best ways to take it in.

As you can imagine, he address Christ’s resurrection and does so by building into his rich tapestry. From there he weaves in the church before reaching our final resurrection.

What’s amazing in a book like this is taking one doctrine to examine them all. Biblical theology is really rocking when that really happens. It 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.

Treasuring the Psalms by Vaillancourt

/ jimmyreagan / Leave a comment

A treasure itself! Vaillancount is expert in biblical theology and the Psalms are indeed rich in that way. For some reason, I see this as a fine addendum to James Hamilton’s fine commentary on the Psalms in the EBTC series.

His Introduction whets the appetite for more and more is what we get. His chapters on reading Psalms canonically, as are what follows, are outstanding as they abound in both Structure and Theology. Throughout the text, specific psalms pop up and though he writes on a perceptible track you might not anticipate which psalm comes next. Fortunately, the scriptural index at the back of the book opens up this work to a whole additional approach. There’s good exegesis wherever he comments. You just can’t lose here.

Really, he opens up many pathways that you can begin and go even farther. When I do deep study on the Psalms, in addition to some favorite commentaries, I assure you this book will be in my “special” pile. This is the kind of book you don’t want to be without.

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.

Holiness: A Biblical, Historical, and Systematic Theology

/ jimmyreagan / Leave a comment

This book was not what I expected. Let’s just say that it isn’t J. C. Ryle 2.0 for sure. No, it was something else. Since I already own Ryle, though, maybe that’s a good thing. To be fair, I just didn’t read the blurbs carefully enough because it was exactly what it professed to be. It’s holiness from the Wesleyan tradition. Since Wesley’s day they’ve been joined at the hip with their teaching on holiness. To be sure, these authors have laid out a cogent case for their perspective. Agree, or like me, not, you will learn much in this passionate, yet respectful work.

There’s a bonus here as well. I love big picture biblical theology. The first chapter was incredible and could hold its own with any biblical theology works (and I’ve read a lot of them). Since the Pentateuch is so foundational to biblical theology, this chapter is key. Holiness is covered, but there’s so much more. Two more chapters finish the Old Testament.

Part Two covers the New Testament and as you probably can guess Paul’s writings are where they make the heart of their case. Here many will disagree, but at least they so clearly make their case.

Part Three takes holiness through church history. You can decide for yourself if it’s on target or skewed.

The final section traces holiness through the whole of systematic theology before turning practical in “the when and how of holiness”. I find the most sympathy with “the longer way”. Taking the whole as a call to maturity means the work is even not bereft of devotional value.

To those who follow the Wesleyan tradition, this must be a jewel. To rest of us it’s a window to look in. Perhaps we do not agree, but we must tip our hats. This is a good book.

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.

A Bird’s-Eye View of Luke and Acts by Michael Bird

/ jimmyreagan / Leave a comment

Think of this book as a nice Introduction like you might find in a good commentary but presenting in a more appealing, accessible format. Its style extends past scholars only, while most of their issues are addressed, to other Bible students. The writing is easy to follow.

To my mind, the work covers much of the basics in the first few chapters. Chapter 8 on discipleship was thoroughly enjoyable and my favorite of the book. I might have discussed “salvation” differently in some ways, but he did a good job illustrating how big it is in these two books. The chapter on empire was interesting.

The design and even layout of the book is favorable. Several of the charts met a need too.

The book misses in some cases. The chapter that asks if Jesus is a feminist is a perfect example. Luke, as has long been noted, mentions women more often than other Gospels. That fact is, too, worthy of study. But why use the term “feminist”? It’s true that there has been a substantial bit of literature on feminism in the Bible, such as it was, that a comprehensive commentary might have to address, but a book to a wider audience would do better to avoid a word with so much baggage. The term means more than pro-woman and those modern notions are no where in Luke. Why write as if they were? I could argue the same way on the next chapter when he asks if Luke is a socialist. Luke speaks of the individual ethical use of money and just isn’t on the capitalist/socialist spectrum at all. It also sounds in these examples like we are taking our thoughts and judging Luke, and ultimately God, rather than the other way around.

Another problem for me is that in a work like this you can analyze Luke at the expense of the rest of the Bible. Of course, it’s good to study what he includes and excludes. But if the Spirit is the true author, then the inclusions and exclusions are better addressed theologically than with some discussion of Luke, say, just being a product of his time. Luke’s times are in play but mistakes because of it, for example, could not be.

My criticisms, to be fair, are not unique to Bird. After he traverses the landscape including some faint trails going no where, he finally concludes in a better place in most cases. I’m probably dwelling on the negatives and not sufficiently covering the far more numerous positives as well.

You’ll have to learn in this book; it’s inevitable. Luke/Acts is worthy of our learning. If your questions are exactly those scholarly questions that are hot at the moment, rather than just what you might ask usually, add a star to the rating.

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 Lord Jesus Christ (WB)

/ jimmyreagan / Leave a comment

This inaugural volume of the WB (We Believe) series bespeaks the idea that a great set is coming. Here Christology, a most important doctrine of our faith, gets its due. I even like the look and feel of this hardback volume.

What is unique here amongst a world of theological series and systematic theologies? I can best describe it as taking an item from systematic theology and running it the filter of biblical theology. That means it’s not just a new book to get lost in the crowd.

You’ll see this immediately as the Doctrine of the Son takes a drive through the Pentateuch. It wasn’t what I expected, but I could have gotten that somewhere else anyway. Unique yes; esoteric no. The forest dwarfs the trees here. The footnotes were often referencing some of the best biblical theology out there while the synthesis into guidance on the Doctrine of Christ was on target.

Perhaps the reformed orientation will mold your final grade one way or the other. Covenant Theology is pushed at points, but the overall biblical theology overcomes most minor objections with ease.

The dogmatic development section isn’t quite as compelling as the biblical theology, but that’s a personal preference on subject rather than any writer fails. If you’re a history buff you won’t agree with me anyway.

The last part “Truth For Worship, Life, and Mission”, though quite brief, brings this great doctrine to the issues of today.

The scholarship here will please that crowd, the theology here will please that crowd, and the writing itself will please them all. It’s a good one 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.

Life in the Son (NSBT) by Clive Bowsher

/ jimmyreagan / 3 Comments

Fascinating! Whether he’s teasing out or trumpeting loudly, Clive Bowsher makes John’s take on participation or union with Christ come alive. So successful is his presentation that at its end you find it as essential to the overarching understanding of Christianity. How were we not always talking about it? Why was John shelved while Paul was paraded when they should have been walking the streets of our minds arm in arm?

As much as I love this series, and it is a treasure, I wonder if this volume had better been served in a more popular setting. Unfortunately, mostly theological junkies read this series (count me in that peculiar group) and the subject here needs a larger circle. For the record, many Christians could markedly grow were they to read this series, yet platitudes and self-confidence growth hormones are the trending proclivities of palettes today.

Mr. Bowsher knew who would read this book too. That, strangely enough, is my only criticism of the book, though it is an exceedingly minor one. At times, it seemed that Mr. Bowsher wrote for Mr. D.A. Carson instead of me. Or maybe those grading his dissertation. Still, that was only a little speed bump on the way to the goodies.

I’m not going to rehash this book as you just need to read it. When you do, settle in and enjoy the ride to learning the phrase “in-one-another”. Watch him connect the idea to the interrelatedness of our Triune God. Then watch yourself brought into it. The vistas on that scenic route will take your breath away if you’ll use the pull-offs and take the long look.

On the technical side, he will work in turn through key passages in both John’s Gospel and his First Epistle to carefully construct his premise. All the necessary undergirding, too, is there and built soundly.

I guess I don’t have to summarize that I highly recommend this book as surely you intuited that already.

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 Path of Faith (ESBT) by Brandon Crowe

/ jimmyreagan / 1 Comment

The ESBT is a tremendous, eye-opening series. Its chief value is its ability to connect dots that only top-notch biblical theology can do. Perhaps its only downside is its rigid adherence to Covenant Theology. As one who does not wholeheartedly embrace that perspective, I still find multiple nuggets of insight that can be organized into grand vistas of the biblical horizon. Among the books I’ve encountered in this series, it is this one by Brandon Crowe that most comes across as a polemic for Covenant Theology. Still, I found connections that I really appreciated in the biblical text.

A secret for gleaning (if you’re a Covenant Theology proponent you’ll need no such secrets) is to simply substitute the continual refrain of “covenant” with the great overarching concept of our Lord reaching out to us. I find that throbs with life while funneling it through the narrow funnel of “covenant” a bit stale. That perspective makes other demands too that straightjacket God’s full-orbed vision more than is necessary. My point for rambling on about this line of thought is that non-Covenant Theology folks can benefit between the covers of this book as well. Of course it’s red meat for rabid followers, but, surprisingly, it’s pretty nourishing for the rest of us. (To be fair, I sometimes feel the same way about dispensational writings).

So where goes this book strike oil for me? It’s the walk through Scripture from a birds-eye view. You might have the ah-ha moment, like me, when you, say, see that profound connection between Judges and Ruth. There were others, but I really enjoyed that one. You can read through for the flow of Scripture or you can read sections where you are currently studying and really add to your stores.

With those caveats above, I still recommend this book.

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 Beginning and End of All Things (ESBT) by Edward Klink

/ jimmyreagan / 1 Comment

This is a biblical theology book par excellence. It is masterful on so many levels and is one of the best big picture books that I’ve come across. It suggests sidelines of thought in droves. It was so good that I had to really slow down and just take it in. I probably underlined half the book, which probably overthrows the value of underlining, but you get the point.

It is no surprise that this is such a good book. Edward Klink wrote a few years back one of the best commentaries on the Gospel of John that I have ever encountered. If he continues on this track, I predict an incredible career for him.

I might have a few caveats for the book, but they really don’t decrease its value. Not as badly as a few other books in this series, this book is something of a polemic for Covenant Theology. Personally, I am one who enjoys learning all I can from writers of that persuasion while ignoring some of their excesses. For the record, I approach many dispensational writers in the same way. Occasionally, he gets so carried away championing the cause of Creation and New Creation that he kind of runs over Redemption a little bit. He didn’t have to downplay heaven either in an effort to magnify the already glorious thought of what this New Creation will be. You can easily stay on track, though, and continue to learn treasures of such exquisite worth that it will be hard to really criticize the book at all.

He puts on no airs as he writes. Rather than being impressed with himself as some theological writers are, he is only impressed with his subject. You might say he is in awe. Those writers give us the best books.

All the titles in the ESBT are helpful, but not all as incredible as this one. I’ve not explored them all yet, but I will be shocked if one can surpass this one. Whether you procure the entire series or not, don’t miss 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.