Category: Non-Fiction Page 4 of 57

REPOSTING JUST CUZ: In the Fullness of Time: An Introduction to the Biblical Theology of Acts and Paul by Richard B. Gaffin Jr.: One of the Best Things I’ve Read in Years

On October 20, 2024

In Non-Fiction, Theology/Christian Living

I can’t put this one off any longer—if I could, I promise you I would. I’m out of my league here, but I’ve got nothing else to write about. And I really need to write something about this.

In the Fullness of Time: An Introduction to the Biblical Theology of Acts and Paul

by Richard B. Gaffin Jr.

DETAILS:
Publisher: Crossway
Publication Date: May 3, 2022
Format: Hardcover
Length: 419 pg.
Read Date: September 4-December 25, 2022

What’s In the Fullness of Time About?

First, let’s look at what was on the Publisher’s Website:

An Exegetical Study of the Book of Acts and Pauline Theology

Christians often skip a crucial starting point when studying the apostle Paul: the foundations of his deeply nuanced theology. Some studies on the book of Acts attempt to touch on every major theme in Paul’s letters, making them difficult to understand or prone to leaving out important nuances. Christians need a biblical, theological, and exegetically grounded framework to thoroughly understand Paul’s theology.

In this book, Richard B. Gaffin Jr. gives readers an accessible introduction to Acts and Paul. Building on a lifetime of study, Gaffin teaches on topics including the redemptive-historical significance of Pentecost; eschatology; and the fulfillment of redemptive history in the death and resurrection of Christ. In the Fullness of Time is an exegetical “textbook” for pastors, students, and lay leaders seeking to learn more about Acts and Paul from a Reformed and evangelical perspective.

Explores the Foundations of Paul’s Theology: Offers a nuanced look at the core of Paul’s thinking

Wide-Ranging Audience: A valuable study for pastors, theology students, and lay leaders

Thorough Yet Accessible: An in-depth look at Pauline theology that’s accessible to readers

After reading the book, however, I’d offer a tweak or two to that description. For example, I’d add to that “for pastors, students, and lay leaders” lay people in general (or just swap out “leaders” for “people”).

Also, I’m not sure I’d include eschatology alongside those other topics. It seemed to me (on first read, anyway) that this was a book about Eschatology as presented by/understood through the New Testament—with a focus on understanding Pentecost and the fulfillment of redemption (and a couple of other topics) in light of that eschatology. That may seem like splitting hairs, and really, I’m guessing the good people at Crossway understand the book a bit better than I do. Still, I didn’t get the impression that the book thought of those ideas as equal (unlike the description).

The chapters in this book came from lecture notes for the class that Gaffin taught for years on Paul and Acts—a class I’ve heard several people mention over the years, and really wish I could’ve taken. Getting that material in written form is a blessing I didn’t expect and was more than happy to receive.

The Centrality of Eschatology

In Chapter 2, Gaffin writes:

for much Christian theology and preaching seeking to be faithful to the Bible as God’s inscripturated word, the rediscovery of eschatology can be seen as having a corrective significance that has resulted in laying hold of biblical teaching in a way that has not been fully appreciated in the past.

For instance, in a standard volume on systematic theology, “Eschatology” is the last chapter. More significantly, coming at the end of the volume, eschatology tends to be defined exclusively in terms of the “last things” having to do with what is still future for the church—Christ’s return and matters concomitant with his return, perhaps including as well some treatment of what occurs at death and the so-called intermediate state. Even more significantly, very often little, if any, attention is given to the relationship with what has preceded, to the integral connection between the future hope of the church and its present life and the practical relevance of the former for the latter.

What has become more and more clear is that in an overall presentation of biblical teaching, eschatology is not properly compartmentalized at the end. In particular, the New Testament teaches, as our own work will show, what is often termed a “realized eschatology.” Biblical eschatology is to be defined in terms of the first as well as the second coming of Christ. New Testament eschatology has a dual focus. In that respect it is elliptical, defined by two foci, present and future, the proverbial already-not-yet.

It’s this dual focus that characterizes so much of this book, and grounds the arguments Gaffin puts forth.

The Exegetical Portions

Throughout the book, Gaffin offers a lengthier exegesis of a particular passage as either a foundation for a chapter’s position or to show how something from earlier in a chapter is worked out through Paul or Luke’s work. These are the best parts of this book.

Period. It’s not even close.

For example, he uses a little more than two pages to exegete Philippians 2:12-13 while considering the indicative and imperative in Paul. I don’t remember a better example of writing leading to doxology recently.

I get—between this being based on the course, where he only had so much time and the design of the book—that he couldn’t have given us similar treatment for several more passages that he touched upon. But man, I wish he had. But that brushes up on the next section, so I guess it’s time to transition.

Could Use A Little More

In addition to wanting more exegetical portions, there’s something else I could use more of.

I think that despite the length of the book, it should’ve been longer—too much needs to be fleshed out a little more. Not much, but almost every point could be expressed more fully. More than once, Gaffin does a better job of clarifying what he’s not addressing or not saying than he does in making it clear what he is trying to say.

So, what did I think about In the Fullness of Time?

I read a chapter (or just a half of one) a week for a few months to carefully work through the book—and I’m sure I need to do the same (or slower) once or twice more to really get a handle on Gaffin’s arguments. But what I got this time around was about as good as anyone could ask for.

Reading this felt like I was sitting in a lecture hall featuring my favorite professor—in a strange way. I felt like I was a beginning student—almost like looking at some of these passages for the first time. Yet, while reading I simultaneously felt like I was understanding texts with a depth I’m not accustomed to. Reading Gaffin you’re frequently running into thinking more subtle and profound than a lot of what you’ve encountered previously—and that’s certainly the case here. Still, I thought this work was a bit easier to work through than some of his shorter works.

For me, this is the kind of work that you want to read alongside one or more others, so you can pause and talk things through from time to time—just to make sure everyone is understanding everything. Or at least you’re stupified with company.

Anyway, I don’t think I have anything else to say at this point—maybe on the eventual reread, I’ll be able to say something more substantive than this. Basically, you want to read this, wrestle with it, study it, and do it again.

5 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.

On Classical Trinitarianism: Retriving the Nicene Doctrine of the Triune God edited by Matthew Barrett. An Outstanding Defense/Explanation/Retrieval of the Vital Teaching

By HCNewton

On October 13, 2024

In Non-Fiction, Theology/Christian Living

On Classical Trinitarianism:
Retrieving the Nicene Doctrine of the Triune God

edited by Matthew Barrett

DETAILS:
Publisher: IVP Academic
Publication Date: October 1, 2024
Format: eARC
Length: 832 pgs.
Read Date: September 8-October 12, 2024

What Does The Cover Say About This?

There’s no way that I can do this justice easily, so I’ll just borrow the Publisher’s Website’s copy:
Modern theology claimed that it ignited a renaissance in trinitarian theology. Really, it has been a renaissance in social trinitarianism. Classical commitments like divine simplicity have been jettisoned, the three persons have been redefined as three centers of consciousness and will, and modern agendas in politics, gender, and ecclesiology determine the terms of the discussion. Contemporary trinitarian theology has followed the spirit of this trajectory, rejecting doctrines like eternal generation which were once a hallmark of Nicene orthodoxy and reintroducing subordinationism into the Trinity.

Motivated by the longstanding need to retrieve the classical doctrine of the Trinity, theologian Matthew Barrett brings together Protestant, Roman Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox scholars to intervene in the conversation. With over forty contributions, this ecumenical volume resurrects the enduring legacy of Nicene orthodoxy, providing a theological introduction that listens with humility to the Great Tradition.

In On Classical Trinitarianism, you find contributions from a wide range of scholars, including:

Katherin Rogers
Andrew Louth
Gilles Emery
Steven Duby
Gavin Ortlund
Adonis Vidu
Carl Trueman
Matthew Levering
Fred Sanders
Scott Swain
Karen Kilby
Amy Peeler
Thomas Joseph White

The distinct yet united voices of On Classical Trinitarianism summon the next generation to move past modern revisionism for the sake of renewing classical trinitarian theology today. Together, they demonstrate that Nicene orthodoxy can endure in the modern world and unite the church catholic.

Do NOT Follow My Example Here

I read this (until the last week or so) at a rate of 1-2 chapters a day (with the occasional day of 3 or 4 chapters) in a vain attempt to finish the book in under a month, so I could post about it before release day.

This should be read much slower—it wouldn’t hurt to read each chapter at the same pace I did, but only one at a time. Then you should go back and read it again, slower this time—maybe taking notes—and maybe one more time after that before moving on. That’s how I’m going to do it next time.

One thing I think I did do right was that I read this from front to back. Generally, this book builds from chapter to chapter. The first part, in particular, “Retrieving Nicene Trinitarianism” should be read before the rest—those 11 chapters dive deep into the historical material—with an emphasis on the first few centuries of the Church.

Highlights and Lowlights

Frequently when I talk about a book like this I’ll talk about the highlights, the chapters I liked more, or I thought were more convincing than others. And I’ll mention the ones that weren’t so successful in my eyes.

I don’t think I can do that with this one—they were all great. Some were more interesting than others, but…that’s really an “eye of the beholder” kind of thing and will probably vary each time I read the book. Some touched on things I’ve been reading lately, some were authors I wanted to read/read more of. That kind of thing.

Instead, I’ll talk about the difficulty in reading. Chapter 2, The Nicene Creed: Foundation of Orthodoxy could be given to any High School class. Carl Trueman’s “Reforming the Trinity? The Collapse of Classical Metaphysics and the Protestant Identity Crisis,” was only a little tougher. And the final chapter, Michael Horton’s “Biblicism and Heterodoxy: Nicene Orthodoxy, Ecclesiastical Accountability, and Institutional Fidelity,” was also pretty accessible.

Chapter 6 “Maximos and John Damascene: Mid-Byzantine Reception of Nicea” was so filled with Greek that I couldn’t get much out of it. But “The Unbegotten Father”, Chapter 22, was also Greek-rich, and I struggled, but I did get a lot out of it (but would translations in the footnotes have been so bad?). I thought Chapter 17, “Three Persons, One Will” was pretty hard reading, too—but so, so helpful. I don’t know if anything topped Chapter 6, but Chapter 25 “No Impassibility, No Eternal Generation: Retrieving a Pro-Nicene Distinctive” maybe came close. But it’s also one of my favorite chapters.

The rest of the chapters are somewhere in between those extremes, closer to the latter than the former set. None are unapproachable for the non-professional. But you do need to be prepared for some struggles.

So, what did I think about On Classical Trinitarianism?

I loved this book. I’ve been talking with friends about it for weeks (actually, some of us started talking about it months ago). It’s a real blessing for The Church and individual believers.

I learned so, so much—and know when I read it more slowly, I’ll learn so much more. I have notes throughout about looking into this idea or that idea some more. There are also a handful of books from the footnotes that I need to go buy (and that handful will likely multiply on my next read). I got some clarification on positions I already held or leaned toward—and I’m more convinced of them all now, and can explain them better. I was confronted by ideas I hadn’t reckoned with before—or ways of looking at tried and true subjects that I hadn’t considered before, and now can’t help but see everywhere.

I think the critiques of Social Trinitarianism, Eternal Functional Subordinationism (and related positions), attacks on Eternal Generation or the Impassibility of God and so on were so valuable—and the wide range of chapters and topics that led to them shows how large an impact these positions can have—and the way they are out of step with pro-Nicene Theology.

This book takes work—and it should—but it’s worth every ounce of effort you expend. You will be rewarded for your efforts—I have been already, and I took the easy way through it. I’ll be returning to these pages again and again—I heartily recommend this and encourage you to give it a read.

9.5 out of 5 stars. (It loses a half star for all the untranslated Greek)

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from IVP Academic—thanks to both for this.

5 Stars 4 1/2 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.
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On the Unity of Christ by Cyril of Alexandria, John Anthony McGuckin (Translator): A Powerful Dialogue on the Person of Christ

By HCNewton

On October 6, 2024

In Non-Fiction, Theology/Christian Living

On the Unity of Christ

by Cyril of Alexandria, John Anthony McGuckin (Translator)

DETAILS:
Series: Popular Patristics Series, #13
Publisher: St Vladimir's Seminary Press
Publication Date: March 23, 2005
Format: Paperback
Length: 133 pg.
Read Date: August 25, 2024

What’s On the Unity of Christ About?

In a dialogue between characters creatively named A and B, Cyril advances–Scripturally, theologically, and philosophically–the classic case against Nestorius and his teachings, advancing what’s now received as the orthodox position on Christ’s nature as the god-man.

Uh, What?

I haven’t read a lot of the books in this series, but of the handful that I have read, this is one that had me scratching my head the most. There were a few times that I just had no idea why Cyril was addressing topics or making a certain argument. Those either were moved on from quickly, or I finally got the point–I don’t think this was a problem on his part–it’s just me not knowing the ins and outs of my Fifth Century theology, particularly the Christological conflicts.

There were even a couple of times where I was following Cyril, but I really didn’t think the argument was that sound or helpful–and both times, my notes tell me that within two pages, I’d come on board (well, largely).

It’s a good reminder that just because someone is a reliable teacher/writer–even an Early Church Father–they’re flawed people (flawed people who’ve had people reading them for centuries, sure). And while the smart thing to do is shut up and learn from them regardless, they still can stumble from time to time. You’ve still got to keep your brain engaged and to test the Spirits.

Tone

Hoo-ee, Cyril did not hold back what he thought of his opponents or those who differed from him:

What nonsense that is. Surely it is the clearest proof of delirious brain.

My goodness. I cannot imagine how stupid and intellectually superficial they must be who hold to such a conceptos. The whole thing is faithlessness and nothing else. It is the novelty of wicked inventions, the overthrowing of the divine and sacred kerygma which has proclaimed One Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, truly the Word of God the Father…

who is this serpant who has recently appeared? And what are these idiotic things he ser against the teachings of the truth?

What has happened to their brains and their intelligence—people who hold such opinions?

Do they have anything from the sacred scriptures to demonstrate for us the truth of their doctrine on such matters? Or are they innovating in the faith? “Speaking things from their own hearts and not from the mouth of the Lord,” as it is written (Jer 23:6). Perhaps they find themselves unable to say: “As for me, let me never boast save in the cross of Christ, through whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world” (Gal 6:14).

It’s a different time. It’s a different atmosphere. The stakes (typically) in theological controversy aren’t quite as high for us as they were then. So we don’t usually talk like that. I’m not going to say whether Cyril was right or wrong in that–it’s just too hard to apply different cultural standards.

But let’s put it this way: you know where you stood with him. No doubt. It reminded me of reading Luther, to be honest.

So, what did I think about On the Unity of Christ?

So, I’m obviously not going to get into any kind of critique of Cyril’s thinking or writing–I know my place in history and his (I might get into something closer to that in a few weeks when I talk about a book about Cyril). So, this is focusing on this read.

This is a really easy read given how important it (and Cyril) is in history. The translator (like with the rest of this series) has got to be at least partially responsible for that.

Except for the moments I mentioned above, I had no trouble understanding his points–either what he claimed his opponents taught or his response to it. The text flows easily, the dialogue format helps you track what he’s saying (I don’t always appreciate that style, but I got into it with this).

I enjoyed this, I profited from it, and (if nothing else) it serves as a good motivation to get more from this series.

5 Stars

BOOK SPOTLIGHT: On Classical Trinitarianism: Retrieving the Nicene Doctrine of the Triune God edited by Matthew Barrett

By HCNewton

On September 29, 2024

In Non-Fiction, Theology/Christian Living

Ideally last week, or at least today, I’d have posted about this book. But I bit off a bit more than I can chew requesting it when I did from Netgalley. I’m hoping it’ll be up next week–but that won’t be easy. Still, with the publication date coming up on Tuesday, I wanted to get something up about it. So here’s a Spotlight post. (largely taken from the Publisher’s Webpage about the book, I really hope they don’t mind–or that they’ll forgive me if they do mind).

Book Details:

Title: On Classical Trinitarianism: Retrieving the Nicene Doctrine of the Triune God
Genre: Theology
Format: Hardcover/e-Book/Audiobook
Length: 832 pages
Publisher: IVP Academic
Publication Date: October 1, 2024

About the Book:

Modern theology claimed that it ignited a renaissance in trinitarian theology. Really, it has been a renaissance in social trinitarianism. Classical commitments like divine simplicity have been jettisoned, the three persons have been redefined as three centers of consciousness and will, and modern agendas in politics, gender, and ecclesiology determine the terms of the discussion. Contemporary trinitarian theology has followed the spirit of this trajectory, rejecting doctrines like eternal generation which were once a hallmark of Nicene orthodoxy and reintroducing subordinationism into the Trinity.

In On Classical Trinitarianism, you find contributions from a wide range of scholars, including:

Katherin Rogers
Andrew Louth
Gilles Emery
Steven Duby
Gavin Ortlund
Adonis Vidu
Carl Trueman
Matthew Levering
Fred Sanders
Scott Swain
Karen Kilby
Amy Peeler
Thomas Joseph White

About the Editor:

Matthew Barrett is professor of Christian Theology at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, the editor-in-chief of Credo Magazine, and Director of the Center for Classical Theology. He is the author of the award winning book, Simply Trinity: The Unmanipulated Father, Son, and Spirit, as well as the author of The Reformation as Renewal: Retrieving the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. He is currently writing a Systematic Theology. He is the host of the Credo podcast, where he talks with fellow theologians about the retrieval of classical Christianity today for the sake of renewing the church.

Editor Links:

Twitter ~ Center for Classical Theology ~ Credo Podcast ~ MBTS Page

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Reposting Just Cuz: This is Going to Hurt (Audiobook) by Adam Kay: It’s Funny Because It’s True. Also, Dispiriting Because It’s True

By HCNewton

On September 27, 2024

In (Auto)Biography, Audiobook, Humor, Non-Fiction

This is Going to Hurt:
Secret Diaries of
a Junior Doctor

by Adam Kay

DETAILS:
Publisher: HarperAudio
Publication Date: March 7, 2022
Format: Unabridged Audiobook
Length: 5 hr., 47 min.
Read Date: May 17-18, 2022

Doctors must be psychologically fit for the job — able to make decisions under a terrifying amount of pressure, able to break bad news to us anguished relatives, able to deal with death on a daily basis. They must have something that cannot be memorized and graded; a great doctor must have a huge heart and a distended aorta which pumps a vast lake of compassion and human kindness.

What’s This is Going to Hurt About?

This book covers the years that doctor-turned-comedy writer Adam Kay spent as a junior obstetrics doctor in the NHS. I’m going to gloss over the various titles he had because it’s a different system than I’m used to, and I’d botch it—but basically, it’s the first few years post-medical school.

Essentially these are excerpts (details tweaked to everyone’s privacy) from his diaries from that time showing the day-to-day realities he faced. Told with a comedic bent, sure, but it’s just real life—a version of real-life that’s more exhausted, more stressed, and covered in more and various bodily fluids than most of us have, sure. It’s told very anecdotally, he’s not trying to construct a narrative here, just “here’s Day X, here’s Day X +2,” and so on.

He talks about preposterous situations he’s put in because of his low-ranking status and/or NHS regulations, he talks about funny situations with patients, ridiculous colleagues, unsympathetic friends, harrowing experiences, and just strange ones. Given his specialty, he deals with expectant mothers, newborns, clueless fathers-to-be, and heartbreak. We get the gamut here.

Bonus Material

The audiobook I listened to was released with the paperback release and contained some bonus material—a few more diary entries and an afterword. The afterword was essentially a rallying cry for people to support the NHS’s existence.

I don’t have a dog in this fight—but I found his arguments compelling, and I thought his support of the NHS throughout the book (while freely critiquing aspects of it) added some good and necessary grounding to the humor. The life and death aspect of the book did, too—obviously—but that’s common with medical memoirs, this is distinctive (at least in my limited experience)

So, what did I think about This is Going to Hurt?

Called to the Early Pregnancy Unit by one of the SHOs to confirm a miscarriage at eight weeks—he’s new to scanning and wants a second pair of eyes. I remember that feeling only too well and scamper over. He’s managed the couple’s expectations very well, and clearly made them aware it doesn’t look good—they’re sad and silent as I walk in. What he hasn’t done very well is the ultrasound. He may as well have been scanning the back of his hand or a packet of Quavers. Not only is the baby fine, but so is the other baby that he hadn’t spotted.

I audibly laughed—twice—during the Introduction, so I was instantly on board with this book. The laughs really didn’t let up. At times, I wondered if it was a little too jokey, and wished we got more of the narrative about his experience—but then he’d say something else funny and then I decided I didn’t care because he’s a good comedy writer. Bring on the jokes!

Like the best medical comedies (e.g., MAS*H (in all its forms), Scrubs), Kay intersperses the laughs with drama and tragedy—stories of hard-fought success and heartbreaking—even devastating—loss. That augments both ends of the spectrum—while you’re chuckling, you’re more open to feeling the empathy to appreciate the dramatic. When you’re reeling from a hard experience, you need the laughter. If Kay’s TV scripts are anything like this, I wish I could see some of his episodes.

Kay handles his own narration here and is great at it, wry detachment mixed with a no-nonsense delivery. He knows it’s funny, so he’s not trying to push the humor, he just trusts the material and lets it do the heavy lifting.

When the library told me that my hold for this was ready, I didn’t remember requesting it—wasn’t sure at all why I did. But I gave it a chance, and am so glad I did—it made for a very entertaining 5+ hours. I think you’ll find the same if you give it a try.

3.5 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, opinions are my own.

REPOSTING JUST CUZ: Gentle and Lowly by Dane C. Ortlund: An Encouraging Look at the Heart of Christ

By HCNewton

On September 22, 2024

In Non-Fiction, Theology/Christian Living

Nothing against this book, but I don’t have a lot to say, but I promised myself I’d do better about posting in this genre, so here we go.

Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers

by Dane C. Ortlund

Kindle Edition, 224 pg.
Crossway, 2020

Read: January 3-10, 2021
Grab a copy from your local indie bookstore!

What’s Gentle and Lowly About?

We are not focusing centrally on what Christ has done. We are considering who he is. The two matters are bound up together and indeed interdependent. But they are distinct.

…It is one thing to know the doctrines of the incarnation and the atonement and a hundred other vital doctrines. It is another, more searching matter to know his heart for you.

Where most books on Jesus Christ focus on His work or nature, Ortland focuses on who He is—what He’s revealed to His people. As you might guess from the title, he focuses on Matthew 11:29 the phrase, “I am gentle and lowly in heart,” in particular. But he develops the idea through numerous Gospel passages.

Ortland does spend time on the Spirit and Father, showing how they are both revealed to have a similar heart. He follows that up with material from the Epistles, focusing on the Risen and Ascended Christ, still displaying the same care, the same heart for His people.

Standing on the Shoulders

In this study, Ortlund draws on insights from the Puritans Thomas Goodwin, Richard Sibbes, and John Owen (some others, including some relatively modern writers, too). Naturally, I found this material very rewarding. Ortland takes his cues from the best of the English Reformed tradition and it shows in his work.

I do sort of wish that the footnotes pointed to things other than various authors collected works, I think in some cases the material is available in other editions, and it’d be nice if it was easier to find, he makes you want to read more by these men on those topics. But that’s beside the point.

So, what did I think about Gentle and Lowly?

“Gentle and lowly” does not mean “mushy and frothy.”

But for the penitent, his heart of gentle embrace is never outmatched by our sins and foibles and insecurities and doubts and anxieties and failures. For lowly gentleness is not one way Jesus occasionally acts toward others. Gentleness is who he is. It is his heart. He can’t un-gentle himself toward his own any more than you or I can change our eye color. It’s who we are.

There’s nothing revolutionary to be found here, but there’s good, solid, reassuring material. It’s impossible to read this book and not be encouraged to draw near to Him and taking His yoke. It’s an easy read, very accessible, and one that’s well worth your time and attention.

3 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, opinions are my own.

REPOSTING JUST CUZ: Top 5 Tuesday – Top 5 Opening Lines

By HCNewton

On September 18, 2024

In A-B, Authors, Books, Douglas Adams, Fiction, Humor, News/Misc., Science Fiction, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Today is turning out to be a bad day for me to post things, but I’ve been inspired by Witty & Sarcastic Bookclub’s thread on Twitter to revisit this post (and a similar one). So, why not repost it while I consider revising the list? From wayyyyyy back in 2020.

I love a good opening line. A solid opening paragraph or page is great, but an opening line that sells you on the next 200-500 pages? Magic. When I saw this list topic listed, these 5 jumped to mind—they may not be the best I’ve ever read, but they’re the most memorable.

(I tried, tried, tried to limit myself to the opening line, but I failed on a couple of them, couldn’t help myself.)

	A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by James Joyce I remember in our English class in High School when we were assigned this book, pretty much no one was interested. When Mr. Russo passed out the paperbacks, a few of us flipped it opened and read these first words—and suddenly we were open to the idea (didn’t last long for all of us, but that’s beside the point, we’re focused on the opening lines here). It’s stuck with me for almost 30 years, that’s gotta say something. Once upon a time and a very good time it was there was a moocow coming down along the road and this moocow that was coming down along the road met a nicens little boy named baby tuckoo….
	Neuromancer by William Gibson This sentence was love at first glance for me. Still love it. Naturally, no one knows what color this is referring to anymore. The sky above the port was the color of television, tuned to a dead channel.
	The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler Oft-parodied. Oft-imitated. Often-celebrated. Does it get better than this? It was about eleven o’clock in the morning, mid October, with the sun not shining and a look of hard wet rain in the clearness of the foothills. I was wearing my powder-blue suit, with dark blue shirt, tie and display handkerchief, black brogues, black wool socks with dark blue clocks on them. I was neat, clean, shaved and sober, and I didn’t care who knew it. I was everything the well-dressed private detective ought to be. I was calling on four million dollars.
	Harry Potter and the Sorceror’s Stone by J. K. Rowling Why bother saying anything here? Mr. and Mrs. Dursley, of number four Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much. They were the last people you’d expect to be involved in anything strange or mysterious, because they just didn’t hold with such nonsense.
	The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams I’ll go on and on about this book next week, so I’ll just keep my trap shut here. But man…there was something about these lines that got into my blood. Far out in the uncharted backwaters of the unfashionable end of the Western Spiral arm of the Galaxy lies a small unregarded yellow sun. Orbiting this at a distance of roughly ninety-eight million miles is an utterly insignificant little blue-green planet whose ape-descended life forms are so amazingly primitive that they still think digital watches are a pretty neat idea.

Redemptive History & Biblical Interpretation: The Shorter Writings of Geerhardus Vos Edited by Richard B. Gaffiin, Jr.: A Treasure of Briefer Theological Writings

By HCNewton

On September 15, 2024

In Non-Fiction, Theology/Christian Living

Redemptive History & Biblical Interpretation: The Shorter Writings of Geerhardus Vos

by Geerhardus Vos, edited by Richard B. Gaffin, Jr.

DETAILS:
Publisher: P & R Publishing 
Publication Date: June 1, 2021
Format: Hardcover
Length: 543 pg. 
Read Date: January 7-September 1, 2024

“Jehovah appeared of old unto me saying, Yea, I have loved thee with ap everlasting love, therefore have I drawn out long lovingkindness unto thee” (31:3), in order to do justice to their sweetness and beauty. This is like coming out of the waste of the wilderness into a land of paradise. Even quite objectively regarded, the piece has its ineffable charm. It is like a landscape bathed in the glow of the harvest-season. In the farther distance winds the caravan of returning captives, coming homeward with weeping and supplication along rivers of water. The people are seen flowing unto the goodness of Jehovah, to the grain, the new wine, and the oil. In the foreground rises Judah with her cities, a mountain resplendent in holiness. And the whole is made musical by the sound of tabrets in the dances of them that make merry. Still, while a delight in itself, the scene, in order to be fully enjoyed, should be seen through the eyes of the prophet. It sounds like the notes of a bird finding its cage unexpectedly open, and with delirious joy exploring the new-gained freedom. For once the vision and the seer’s deepest desire are perfectly blended. The lyre thrills in unison with something that sings itself within and needs no composing. The words move in absolute harmony with the graceful movements of the dancing virgins in the feast. Surely this prophet bore within himself a great poet. One cannot help feeling this even in his litanies with their forecast of doom on the sin of Israel. But most effectively, it shows itself in the larger and freer rhythms of the ascriptions of glory to Jehovah. It is in part a poet’s satisfaction, that at the receding of the tide of vision, finds voice in the spontaneous words, “Upon this I awaked and beheld, and my sleep was sweet unto me” (31:26). For the prophets are the only true interpreters of the sleeping or waking moments in which God communicated His word unto them.

What’s Redemptive History & Biblical Interpretation About?

Paraphrasing the Preface, the plan for this work was to include almost all of Vos’s work that wasn’t included in his “major works.” But there was just too much of it—so Gaffin limited this to his shorter works that weren’t sermons or that weren’t dated. We get seven “Major Biblical and Theological Studies,” sixteen “Shorter Biblical Studies,” two addresses, and nine book reviews.

Those reviews “either deal with books of continuing influence or provide a valuable statement of Vos’s own views.”

Major Studies

The book starts out with the heavy-weights of the collection20+ page articles on things like “The Eschatology of the New Testament,” “The Range of the Logos Title in the Prologue to the Fourth Gospel,” two (dynamite) pieces on the book of Hebrews, the Doctrine of the Covenant, and so on.

Most of these were worth the purchase price of the book as a whole—I’ve read entire volumes on some of these topics that didn’t give me as much to chew on as these did. Most of what he said in his article on Biblical Theology has been echoed by Vos’s students and readers for decades, so I didn’t get as much from that one as I’d hoped—but it was nice hearing it from his own pen.

Basically, just an outstanding way to start this book, and a great way to spend 270 or so pages.

The Shorter Studies and Addresses

These were a mixed bag of focused and impactful articles and some that had to settle for being interesting and thoughtful. There was one article here that went largely over my head—and probably relied too much on linguistic scholarship that has probably shifted a great deal in the century +/- since it was written. Sometimes—especially in these shorter pieces—you can see that Vos also dabbled in poetry, because some of the phrasing is so lyrical.

The addresses make me wish we had video—or at least audio—recordings of him. I bet those were fascinating to hear—they’re fascinating to read, but probably would give an extra punch when delivered. The first of the addresses, “The Scriptural Doctrine of the Love of God” is something I should read annually—at least.

Book Reviews

Dr. Denney’s latest book puts us under the strange necessity of heartily praising its contents and at the same time deploring most deeply the main purpose for which it was written. We confess to having seldom read a book productive of such a sudden and painful revulsion of feeling, from a sympathetic and enthusiastically admiring state of mind to one of sharp protest and radical dissent, as the work before us. Dr. Denney’s style and manner of presentation are so brilliant and yet so warm and genial, he carries us along so easily, so absolutely compels our belief in the irrefutableness of his argument, that, when he proceeds to make the disagreeable application, we find it more than ordinarily difficult to arrest the momentum of conviction acquired and turn our minds all at once in the opposite direction. The sense of disillusionment at the close is so poignant that it inevitably gives rise to the question, whether perhaps the profound agreement in which we imagined ourselves to be with the writer was not after all a delusion, arising from a misinterpretation on our part of the real drift of the discussion, so that, if we had only read more carefully and between the lines, we would have disagreed from the beginning. Whether the case lies actually as just stated or whether it is a simple instance of non sequitur between approved premises and a false conclusion, we find it extremely difficult to decide.

I really figured that the home stretch of this book contained in these reviews would be easy reading, and really something I could skim because who’d ever heard of most of these books? Wow, I could not have been more wrong (and, it had been months since I read the Preface, so I’d forgotten that “valuable statement of Vos’s own views” part).

To start with, we get reviews of the first two volumes of Bavinck’s Gereformeerde Dogmatiek (known in English as Reformed Dogmatics)—I wish we’d gotten reviews of all four volumes. What I found interesting here was how much what Vos said about these volumes matched what my friends, others in my Church, and I have said about Bavinck’s writing.

Then we move to the books he wasn’t quite so positive about—there are two books by Albert Schweitzer here, and I at least know a little about him, but the other names were new to me. I’m not positive, but I think that all but Bavinck fall under the “statement of Vos’s own views.” These all share a similar outline: a pretty glowing introductory paragraph, a quick synopsis of the work or its premise, and a very nice one-paragraph conclusion. He’s largely complimentary in these parts, recognizing the labor, the experience, and the intelligence of the author. It’s all the stuff in-between where Vos will talk about the many, many flaws of these works and will challenge the thinking, conclusions, and some of the basic assumptions involved. He is capable of appreciating the work and its strengths—and has no problem talking about them—but still talking about the faults, in a serious but not in an offensive or mean-spirited way. He really gives an example for his readers in that way.

He also does a bang-up job of working in those principles and types of argument that can be profitable, even if the works he’s talking about have faded from almost everyone’s memory.

So, what did I think about Redemptive History & Biblical Interpretation?

Let us not forget, however, that as of all theology, so of Biblical Theology, the highest aim cannot lie in man, or in anything that serves the crea. ture. Its most excellent practical use is surely this, that it grants us a new vision of the glory of Him who has made all things to the praise of His own wonderful name. As the Uncreated, the Unchangeable, Eternal God, He lives above the sphere of history. He is the Being and never the Becoming One. And, no doubt, when once this veil of time shall be drawn aside, when we shall see face to face, then also the necessity for viewing His knowledge in the glass of history will cease. But since on our behalf and for our salvation He has condescended to work and speak in the form of time, and thus to make His works and His speech partake of that peculiar glory that attaches to all organic growth, let us also seek to know Him as the One that is, that was, and that is to come, in order that no note may be lacking in that psalm of praise to be sung by the Church into which all our Theology must issue.

This is not going to come as a shock to anyone who’s read any of the things I’ve said about Vos in the previous four posts about his work, but this collection just knocked my socks off. I read an article a week and it was one of the highlights of the week for me to do so.

I learned a lot. Not just about Vos and his brand of theology, but about the Scriptures and the Lord who gave them to His Church so she would see Him and His glory in them.

The writing is fantastic. The thinking is even better. I had to think about a lot of this, to ponder and wrestle with it, and got to revel in it, too.

I can’t think of a reason to not read this book—it’ll reward careful reading (and casual reading, too—just not as richly). It’s just great stuff.

5 Stars

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REPOSTING JUST CUZ: The Holy Spirit: An Introduction by Fred Sanders: A Vital and Needed Work

By HCNewton

On September 8, 2024

In Non-Fiction, Theology/Christian Living

The Holy Spirit:
An Introduction

by Fred Sanders

DETAILS:
Series: Short Studies in Systematic Theology
Publisher: Crossway
Publication Date: October 3, 2023
Format: Paperback
Length: 157 pg. 
Read Date: October 15-November 12, 2023

This book introduces Christians to the Holy Spirit, which is a cheeky thing to do.

By definition, every Christian must already know the Holy Spirit in the most important way, since “anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him” (Rom. 8:9). So to publish a book for Christian readers under the title The Holy Spirit: An Introduction is to take on a peculiar project: introducing readers to somebody they already know. That is exactly what this book does. It presupposes that its readers are already engaged with the reality of the Holy Spirit and invites them to a theological encounter with that person.

What’s The Holy Spirit: An Introduction About?

It’s kind of summarized there in that last sentence: it’s an introductory work on the theology of the Holy Spirit assuming that the reader knows Him already, but needs to understand Him, His identity, and His work more fully.

As it’s an Introduction (like all the books in this series), and therefore accessible which is nice—but it does a thorough job of talking about things like the Doctrine of the Trinity and how it is informed by and informs our Theology of the Spirit.

Sanders’ Approach

Rather than try to paraphrase or summarize Sanders, let me just let him describe the design of the book:

But my approach in this book is, as I said above, indirect, which is why I began by highlighting the paradoxical character of studying the Holy Spirit. I hope to treat the paradoxical character of pneumatology not as a hindrance to be lamented but as a help to be cherished. If knowledge of the Holy Spirit is, in the ways described above, deflective, reflexive, and connective, then an introduction to the Holy Spirit might deliver a great deal of insight by arranging itself in a corresponding way. Think of the implications that follow from the work of the Spirit being deflective, reflexive, and connective. Deflective means that when you try to think about the Spirit, you find the Spirit himself changing the subject to the Father and the Son. Reflexive means that when you try to think about the Spirit, you find the Spirit himself requiring you to think about yourself and about thinking. Connective means that when you try to think about the Spirit, the Spirit himself draws you out into the full scope of all theology. But these things are all beneficial! To study the Holy Spirit according to his own characteristic way of working means to be personally engaged in a total Trinitarian encounter with the truth of God, We will engage the deflective character of pneumatology.

Many books about Him focus on things like how the Spirit acts in the world today, the gifts of the Spirit—what that phrase means and how one obtains them—the role of Pentecost and how it can/if it can be duplicated today, and so on. Sanders eschews that—focusing on more primary issues (which isn’t to say he doesn’t get into some of that). He starts looking at the Trinity, then he considers the Spirit in relation to the Father—and how by doing so we can gain a better understanding of them both. Then he moves on to the Spirit in relation to the Son—how that’s similar and how that relationship is different than the previous. The final chapter considers the Spirit Himself—yes, addressing some of the same information, but from a different angle.

Bonus Material

As with many (sadly, not all) of this series, this comes with a nifty-looking Further Reading list—one I fully intend to use.

But the additional material I want to talk about is the Appendix, “Rules for Thinking Well about the Holy Spirit.” These are 27 brief rules that so usefully summarize the material in the book—and related ideas—for believers to bear in mind as we read Scripture or theology while working through doctrines/ideas about the Spirit. These rules are the kind of thing that students would do well to pin a copy of onto their wall/somewhere in easy reach.

So, what did I think about The Holy Spirit: An Introduction?

The Holy Spirit makes himself known to us in a way that is better than we could have expected or imagined for ourselves. He is the prevenient person, always already at work, never Father-free or Sonless in his being or in his work, closer to us than our own breath, and making known to us in the depths of our selves the deep things of God.

This is definitely one of my top 3 books in this series—possibly the best thing in it so far.

Sanders’s tone is certainly engaging—he never loses sight of the importance of what he’s talking about, and the necessary reverence. But he’s okay with being chatty and a little witty with the reader. He’s able to break down some complicated and technical points in a way that the reader can find them understandable and compelling.

I really appreciated his approach—both in the way he focused on what he chose to and those things he didn’t seem that interested in writing about. I’m sure others would disagree with me, but it looks like he majored on the major issues and didn’t bother with the minor ones.

I’m not sure that this will supplant Ferguson’s The Holy Spirit in my own use and reference when it comes to pneumatology—but I can’t see me looking into Ferguson’s without looking into this next.

Get your hands on it, and be introduced to Someone you’re already close to.

4 1/2 Stars

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Institutes of Elenctic Theology Vol. 2: Eleventh through Seventeenth Topics by Francis Turretin: A Master Class on Theology and Methodology Continues

By HCNewton

On September 1, 2024

In Non-Fiction, Theology/Christian Living

Yes, this is largely just a reworking of my post about Vol. 1. It’s not like I’m going to have a lot of different things to say about this, so why torture myself by trying? I reckon the same will be true in December/January when I write about Vol. 3. Still, it’s different enough to justify my time. Hopefully yours, too.

Institutes of Elenctic Theology
Vol. 2: Eleventh through Seventeenth Topics

by Francis Turretin, George Musgrave Giger (Translator), James T. Dennison, Jr. (Editor)

DETAILS:
Series: Institutes of Elenctic Theology, Vol. 2
Publisher: P & R Publishing
Publication Date: February 1, 1994
Format: Hardcover
Length: 724 pg.
Read Date: May 5-Augst 25, 2024

What’s Elenctic Theology Anyway?

Elenctic refers to a logical method involving asking questions, of defending a position (or arguing to persuade people to accept it) by proposing alternatives and asking a series of questions—practically cross-examing the alternatives, to show the problems of the alternatives. A good deal of what we call the “Socratic method” is elenctics.

Therefore, Elenctic Theology is a form of defending the truth of Christianity or Christian dogmas by suggesting alternatives and demonstrating their lack by way of asking and answering questions about them. Or by asking a question about a true dogma and asking questions that affirm them. Aquinas’ Summa Contra Gentiles is one example. This book is another.

What’s Institutes of Elenctic Theology Then?

For a long time, it was the standard textbook to train Presbyterian and Reformed ministers in various parts of the world—including the U.S.—until Charles Hodge’s systematic theology overtook it in popularity (Hodge, it should be noted had his students read Turretin’s Institutes).

Turretin wrote it at the height of Protestant Scholasticism, defending the Reformed understanding of Christianity in a post-Synod of Dordt and post-Westminster Assembly-era. He interacts with the best of Roman Catholic theology of the era, as well as Socinians, Remonstrants (read: Arminians), Lutherans, and others.

He examines the big issues of the time—and several smaller issues, as well. In this volume, of the 20 topics these volumes cover, we get topics 11-17. Yes, the last three topics get an excess of 600 pages devoted to them—he’s going to really get into the details with those. But I’m not thinking about that yet. The topics in this volume are:

The Law of God
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The Covenant of Grace and Its Twofold Economy in the Old and New Testaments
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The Person and State of Christ
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The Mediatorial Office of Christ
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Calling and Faith
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Justification
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Sanctification and Good Works

Turretin’s Method

I think the best way to show how Turretin approaches these discussions is to show you the list of questions from one of the topics. Here’s what he looks at in the roughly 130 pages of The Fifteenth Topic: calling and Faith:
I. Are decrees in God, and how?
Il. Are the decrees of God eternal? We affirm against Socinus.
Ill. Are there conditional decrees? We deny against the Socinians, Remonstrants and Jesuits.
IV. Does the decree necessitate future things? We affirm.
V. Is the fixed and immovable end of the life of each man with all its circumstances so determined by the decree of God, that he cannot die in another moment of time or by another kind of death than that in which he does die? We affirm against the Socinians and Remonstrants.
VI. Ought predestination to be publicly taught and preached? We affirm.
VII. In what sense are the words “predestination,” prognōseōs, eklogēs and prosthesōs used in this mystery?
VIII. Was there a predestination of angels, and was it of the same kind and order with the predestination of men? The former we affirm; the latter we deny.
IX. Whether the object of predestination was man creatable, or capable of falling; or whether as created and fallen. The former we deny; the latter we affirm.
X. Is Christ the cause and foundation of election? We deny against the Arminians and Lutherans.
XI. Is election made from the foresight of faith, or works; or from the grace of God alone? The former we deny; the latter we affirm.
XII. Is the election of certain men to salvation constant and immutable? We affirm against the Remonstrants.
XIII. Can the believer be certain of his own election with a certainty not only conjectural and moral, but infallible and of faith? We affirm against the papists and Remonstrants.
XIV. Is the decree of reprobation absolute, depending upon the good pleasure (eudokia) of God alone; or is sin its proper cause? We distinguish.
XV. Is infidelity, or unbelief of the gospel, presupposed as a cause of reprobation? We deny against the Remonstrants.
XVI. Is the will of God to save persevering believers and condemn the unbelieving, the whole decree of reprobation? We deny against the Remonstrants.
XVII. Can there be attributed to God any conditional will, or universal purpose of pitying the whole human race fallen in sin, of destinating Christ as Mediator to each and all, and of calling them all to a saving participation of his benefits? We deny.
XVIII. Is any order to be admitted in the divine decrees, and what is it?

Like I said last time, I texted a friend saying that I wish I could break down an idea like Turretin. He made me feel a little better by replying, “You and everyone else born in the 20th century.” Because from these questions, he’ll spend a few pages breaking down the idea further, systematically working his way through the question and seemingly every possible angle of it.

There’s part of me that wants to abandon this re-read and just focus on observing his method and trying to replicate it in my life. I’m not going to, but it’s a thought.

There are times, however, where I wonder why Turretin would spend time on something like, “Was Christ caught up into heaven before beginning his public ministry in order to be taught there by the Father? We deny against the Socinians.” The answer is, obviously, that these were topics being discussed in the Church, and it seemed necessary to Turretin. It’s just so far out of our experience to think of.

So, what did I think about Institutes of Elenctic Theology Vol. 2?

Let me get this out of the way first: This is dry. Dry like a stale crouton. I know most people think that about Theology in general—and sure, bad theology is usually dry, but not the good stuff. This is one of those exceptions that proves the rule.

There are moments, I should note, that some of Turretin’s personality shows through, some moments expressing the awe appropriate to the topic, the emotions stirred by the Gospel, and even a little humor/snark at the thoughts of his opponents. But those moments are brief and rare. But they’re golden. There were segments in this book where Turretin focused on the gospel and some of those practically sung. It was just great.

As it’s dry, it’s a little harder to read than others (say, Calvin or Bavinck). But it’s absolutely worth the effort—and after a little while, you won’t notice the effort. It’s so crisp, so clear, so helpful that you relish getting to read it. Giger and Dennison likely are due as much credit for this as Turretin is. Giger’s also likely due some credit for the arid language (he was translating in the early Nineteenth Century, not one an era known for punchy prose).

I can’t recommend this highly enough.

We have now said enough on this subject. God grant that, dismissing a vain confidence in our own merit, we may rest in the most perfect merit of Christ alone and so keep faithful to him and fight the good fight even unto the end that we may receive a crown of righteousness; due not to our merit, but most graciously promised to us from the heavenly rewarder. To him, the author and finisher (archēgō kai teleiōtē) of our salvation, the one and triune God, “from whom, by whom and to whom are all things, be praise and glory world without end.” Amen.

5 Stars