Category: Theology/Christian Living Page 15 of 32

My Favorite Theology/Christian Living Books of 2022
Finally, we’re at the end of my 2022 wrap-up. Thanks for sticking with me for so long! (assuming you have). At a certain point this year, it felt like I was reading a set all around similar/related ideas. The Kapic-Noble-Horton-Zahl books weren’t written in that way, but they hit me that way. I can’t think of one anymore without the others—that’s not the entire reason they all made my favorites list, but I can’t deny there’s a link. The rest are varied enough to show that I didn’t have tunnel vision all year.

As always, re-reads don’t count for these lists.

(in alphabetical order by author)

What is Christianity?

by Herman Bavinck, Gregory Parker, Jr. (Translator)

My original post
These are two short works by the noted Dutch Theologian newly translated into English. Bavink is clear and convincing without being combative in this pair of brief apologetic pieces. Typically for him, he displays a catholicity in his approach—he’s clearly Reformed Protestant, but he doesn’t disparage other views. I don’t know he accomplishes all he does in so few pages—there’s a lot of subtle theological and apologetic work, here. But there’s also a lot that’s just easy to digest, clear and helpful. Bavinck gives his readers a Christ-centered, Christ-focused definition and description of Christianity (you’d think that’d be a given, but…). As Warfield put it, “We cannot imagine how the work could be done better.”

4 1/2 Stars

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

by Richard B. Gaffin, Jr.

I haven’t written about this yet, and I’m pretty intimidated to try. I loved every second of it—I felt like I was a beginning student and at the same time, like I was understanding texts with a depth I’m not accustomed to. There’s a lot of depth to Gaffin’s thinking—as one expects every time you read the man—but I thought this work was a bit easier to work through than some of his shorter works. There’s a strong focus on Pentecost and what it means for the rest of New Testament theology (as there should be). Gaffin also sketches out a way to approach Paul’s theology that’s so helpful you wish that it was at least twice as long so he could develop it more and give more examples (although everything in the book is sufficient, I’m just greedy). I’m likely returning to this book this year.

5 Stars

In Divine Company: Growing Closer to the God Who Speaks

by Pierce Taylor Hibbs

My original post
A great work on prayer. Grounding our need for it not in our limitations or sense of need. Nor in the command to do so. Instead, Hibbs focuses on the nature of God as a communicative God and us as His image bearers. Hibbs being Hibbs, this is one of the better-written books on this list.

4 Stars

Recovering Our Sanity: How the Fear of God Conquers the Fears that Divide Us

by Michael Horton

My original post
Horton seeks to address several issues facing contemporary American Christians through the filter of the fear of God—the basic thesis is that if we are maintaining that fear as we ought, it’s easier to maintain a proper perspective on our problems and concerns (as real and as valid as they are). There’s a lot of wisdom in these pages, a lot to chew on (and a handful of things to disagree with).

4 Stars

You’re Only Human: How Your Limits Reflect God’s Design and Why That’s Good News

by Kelly M. Kapic

My original post
Kapic seeks to apply the doctrine of Creation to remembering that we are created with limits—and, as such, we need to be dependent on one greater than us to help us when we are pushed beyond those limits. There’s a freedom in this realization—we can’t do it all and need to cut ourselves (and others) some slack. Although Kapic states it better than that. The book is a great combination of careful theology and careful application. It’s challenging and reassuring.

4 Stars

What Are Christians For?: Life Together at the End of the World

by Jake Meador

My original post
Meador wants to address American (specifically) and Western (generally) politics from a confessional and Natural Law perspective. He challenges positions and foundations of the Right and the Left calling us all to something deeper and better. And more Biblical. This is a careful book, one that I’m not convinced I completely understood on a first read, but I really appreciated what I did glean from it.

4 1/2 Stars

The Imputation of Adam’s Sin

by John Murray

My original post
This is a very brief work—but as is typical for John Murray, he doesn’t need a lot of words to make his point. He focuses his arguments for the Imputation of Sin on a careful look at Romans 5:12-19. This book is typical Murray—crisp, clear, concise, and convincing. Sure, there’s the drawback that his prose is dry and empty of all personality. The book doesn’t need them (and I’d think it strange to read Murray with it). It’s easy to see why it’s still so heavily used this many years after publication.

4 Stars

You Are Not Your Own: Belonging to God in an Inhuman World

by Alan Noble

My original post
American Christians are too prone to think of themselves as their own, Noble seeks to remind us that (in the words of the Heidelberg Catechism), “I am not my own, but belong with body and soul, both in life and in death, to my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ.” Noble points the believer to recalibrate their understanding of human nature—particularly redeemed human nature—to begin to understand what being the possession of Christ means to our life, our future, our identity. Noble’s writing flows—he’s engaging, compassionate, and relatable. It’s easy to understand even the more complex points he’s making, and his illustrations give the reader plenty to hang on to. Noble’s diagnosis and advice were sound—they seemed to match up with the world around us and the problems we see. More importantly, he points to the One whose grace, mercy, and care offer any true hope and help in this broken and dying world.

4 1/2 Stars

Christ of the Consummation: A New Testament Biblical Theology Volume 1: The Testimony of the Four Gospels

by O. Palmer Robertson

My original post
This is the first of a three-part exercise in applying the method of Biblical Theolgy for the New Testament as outlined by Vos. This volume focuses on the Gospels (obviously) and is a treasure from beginning to end. It’s not “here’s a whole new way to read/think about the Gospels”—and Robertson would be the last to want something like that. Instead, this is a “here’s a way to profitably consider the way these things were revealed” and “here’s how the Gospels build upon one another and build up each other.” It’s one of those books that mid-way through, you’re already trying to figure out when you can schedule a re-read.

5 Stars

Low Anthropology: The Unlikely Key to a Gracious View of Others (and Yourself)

by David Zahl

My original post
Zahl’s concern is the way we think about human nature—our anthropology—not in some academic sense (or just that), but how, individually, what we believe about human nature impacts the way we live and think. A Low Anthropology remembers that we are dust, we are broken, we suffer, in short—we aren’t perfect. This is an engaging, frequently humorous, and grace-filled look at human frailty and how remembering we are that way (and that others are, too).

4 Stars

Reread Project: Faith & Life by B.B. Warfield: 41 Brief Bursts of Profundity

By HCNewton

On January 1, 2023

In Non-Fiction, Theology/Christian Living

Faith & Life

by B. B. Warfield

DETAILS:
Publisher: Banner of Truth
Publication Date: Dec 1, 1974
Format: Clothbound
Length: 458 pg.
Read Date: January 2-December 25, 2022

N.B.: I’ve revamped and slightly updated this from the last time I reread this.

What’s Faith & Life About?

Back when Princeton Seminary was the crown jewel of biblical Presbyterian training in the US, notable professors like Archibald Alexander, Samuel Miller, and Charles Hodge would have informal addresses for students on Sunday afternoons. B. B. Warfield, the lion of Princeton, continued this practice. These 41 chapters come from some of these addresses to the students.

They are roughly 10 (+/-2) pages long (the pages are on the small side, it should be noted), short, and to the point. They’re expositions of small pericopes of Scripture (primarily one or two verses, but he’ll often address the immediate context). Three chapters are from the Old Testament, with the rest from the New—the chapters are organized by canonical order, not by any particular themes or lines of thought.

So, what did I think about Faith & Life?

I went skimming over the Table of Contents to pick out a few highlights—and I’m having a real problem. Almost every one is a gem. “Prayer as a Means of Grace” and “Prayer as a Practice” were very helpful—the latter was slightly better. “New Testament Puritanism” was great. Despite the reputation men like Warfield have, the chapters involving the work of the Holy Spirit were all tremendous. “God’s Holiness and Ours” was fantastic. I could keep going here, but it wouldn’t be long before I copied the Table of Contents.

For being the exemplar of “old Princeton,” with all the rigor and scholarship that entails—these addresses help us remember that even stalwarts like Warfield, who are known for strong stances on doctrinal issues—were men with vibrant faith, even a sense of humor.

With a couple of breaks for illnesses, travel, etc. I read a chapter each Lord’s Day. It was like sitting down with a trusted friend to talk about the Bible for a couple of minutes. I’m going to miss doing that going into the next year. I last did this back in 2013, and won’t let myself wait as long for the next time through.

Faith & Life is everything Christian scholarship should be—warm, Christ-centered, practical, and doxological. It’s also everything that Christian devotional material should be—careful, sound, and deliberately orthodox. Highly recommended.

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.

12 Things God Can’t Do by Nick Tucker: 12 Reassuring Truths

By HCNewton

On December 25, 2022

In Non-Fiction, Theology/Christian Living

12 Things God Can’t Do:
…and How They Can Help
You Sleep at Night

by Nick Tucker

DETAILS:
Publisher: The Good Book Company
Publication Date: May 31, 2022
Format: Paperback
Length: 184 pg.
Read Date: December 4-18, 2022

What’s 12 Things God Can’t Do About?

A lot of Theology Proper is negative*—God can’t do this, He can’t do that, He won’t do another thing. This has been the case since the beginning and is still true today.

* A lot of the rest is the omni- attributes. Theology Proper is really an all-or-nothing kind of thing.

Nick Tucker wants the believer to consider 12 of the things God cannot do. No, we’re not talking about foolishness like “Can he make a rock so heavy that he can’t lift it?” These are the big things—the stuff a faith (collective and individual) can be built on.

But…God…

Along with these 12 things, Tucker pauses for five interludes. These interludes look at things the God-man, the Incarnate Word, could and did do. He could learn, He could be tempted, and He did sleep. As He took on humanity, The Son was now capable of these things—and that’s proof of His humanity. He became truly human—and as such, He could (and did) redeem us.

So, what did I think about 12 Things God Can’t Do?

I’ve read a handful of books on the attributes of God over the last few years (and have one more scheduled), but this one approaches the idea from a very different perspective. Well, most of the other books touch upon Tucker’s purpose, but they have other things going on—Tucker’s more single-minded.

Most books on the topic are about advancing or defending orthodoxy, buttressing right thinking about God (and it is right to do so). Tucker’s focused on what the believer is to do with orthodoxy. What’s the whole point of understanding who God is? It’s for the reassurance, confidence, hope, and comfort of the believer—look at the way the Psalmists, prophets, and apostles used these doctrines. Reflecting their priorities, Tucker points the reader to these can’ts.

We can sleep well at night, knowing that God will not slumber. We can trust His promises because He can’t change or lie. And so on. Which makes this book one of the more rewarding reads I’ve come across lately.

Tucker writes in a simple, clear, and straightforward style. There’s a little gentle humor in his illustrations and style—but the book isn’t a showcase for Tucker’s writing. He writes to point the reader to God. This book is encouraging, devotional, and should lead to doxology. It’s wholly sound, and easy to read and, in turn, to lead to trust. It’s well worth the short time it takes to read and re-read.

4 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.

Low Anthropology by David Zahl: How Realism Should Lead to Compassion and Charity

By HCNewton

On December 18, 2022

In Non-Fiction, Theology/Christian Living

Low Anthropology:
The Unlikely Key to a
Gracious View of Others
(and Yourself)

by David Zahl

DETAILS:
Publisher: Brazos Press
Publication Date: September 12, 2022
Format: Hardcover
Length: 203 pg.
Read Date: November 27-December 4, 2022

This is another one of those books that I have to fight the temptation to dig deep and spend a few thousand words laying out the ideas in detail and responding to them in kind. But that’s not what I do around here—nor is it what I have time to do. But mostly, I wouldn’t do it as well as the author did in the book—so why not just stick with what I do and tell you to buy the book?

What’s Low Anthropology About?

Zahl’s concern is the way we think about human nature—our anthropology—not in some academic sense (or just that), but how, individually, what we believe about human nature impacts the way we live and think.

High anthropologies are based on some idea about basic decency and goodness in humanity and that with the right ideas, the right amount of effort and ambition, we can improve ourselves, and fix ourselves. Low anthropologies start off with the idea that people are broken, sinful, a mess, and that while we’ll do the right thing sometimes, those times are the exception. And yes, with help, we can stumble through life in a way to be of service to others and do better ourselves.

By realizing—and remembering—that everyone is broken and struggling, we can be gracious. We know ourselves and that we are a mess, we deal with bad habits, addictions, imperfections, and sin on a more-than-daily basis. But we forget that’s true of others, too, especially in a social media world where we only see the airbrushed images others put forward.

High anthropologies tend toward self-righteousness, perfectionism, and judgementalism (toward ourselves and others). Low anthropologies can and should free us from that—to compassion, humor, and charity.

At least that’s the basic idea—he fleshes it out and argues for it much more convincingly. Then he applies it to various aspects of life—relationships, politics, and religion.

So, what did I think about Low Anthropology?

This really reminded me of Alan Noble’s You Are Not Your Own: Belonging to God in an Inhuman World and Kelly Kapic’s You’re Only Human: How Your Limits Reflect God’s Design and Why That’s Good News (it’s not that surprising, really, I invoked Kapic’s book when I posted about Noble’s). The three books approach similar topics in very similar terms—just changing the focus a little bit. The chapter on politics reminded me of the relevant chapters in Michael Horton’s Recovering Our Sanity: How the Fear of God Conquers the Fears that Divide Us (and there’s probably some overlap with other chapters, too).

I guess what I’m saying is that there’s a lot in this book to tie to things I read over the course of the year—2022 ended up being along a theme. In essence, humans are limited creatures—and when we remember that (as true of ourselves and others) and recognize the legitimacy of those limitations, as well as who put those limitations on us—it will affect the way we live and think of ourselves. It will free us to obey as we ought, to live as we ought, and treat ourselves and others along the lines we’re supposed to. We can think of it in terms of limitation and creaturely dependence, in terms of being those purchased by Christ, or in terms of realism about human nature. All call us to humility, all put the emphasis on our hope in Christ, and all will help us serve others because we’re in the same situation as them.

Zahl’s treatment of this is a bit briefer—and he applies it to more situations than Noble or Kapic, so it’s inevitably shallower. Not worse, I want to stress, but he can’t get to the same depth as the others.

Zahl’s sense of humor is evident throughout, and his engaging style really carries this work—it’s not just a helpful book, but you want to be helped by it because you’re having such a good time reading it. He brings in good illustrations and insights from psychology and culture alongside his points from Scripture and theology.

This is a practical work—the theory is sound and worked out well, but it’s not theory for theory’s sake—Zaahl’s eye is on doing something the whole time—living better, serving others, and being gracious. I wondered a little bit about particular applications he makes, and if they’re as consistent as I’d want them to be. Thankfully, a low anthropology ensures there’s plenty of room for Zahl and me to be wrong on those points and not get too worked up about it.

I really liked this work and suggest you find some time for it.

4 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.

SICK LEAVE REPOST: Faith in the Time of Plague Edited by Stephen M. Coleman and Todd M. Rester: Reformation and Post-Reformation Voices Speak to Our Moment

By HCNewton

On December 11, 2022

In Non-Fiction, Theology/Christian Living

Wasn’t feeling well enough to finish a post for today, and given my recent test results, I thought of this book–something I’m pretty sure Westminster Seminary Press wouldn’t have put out without a certain pandemic.

Faith in the Time of Plague

Edited by Stephen M. Coleman and Todd M.Rester

Hardcover, 309 pg.
Westminster Seminary Press, 2021

Read: November 7-December 12, 2021

The main point? Two rocks must be steered clear of: stupid boldness and exceedingly vicious fear. On the first, one does those things that while we fear nothing—would often lose ourselves and others. On the second it happens that as we would look to our own life, we would desert the work of Christ. Therefore, let us fear what can happen if we fail to avoid those evils. But let us be confident in the Lord and let us remain as steadfast as possible—even to the point of death—in our calling and in the work of Christ.

What’s Faith in the Time of Plague About?

The Editors describe the book like this:

The body of extant plague writings is vast and much of it remains unavailable in English. The selections in this book were determined to a great extent by the treasures that came to light in translating the 1655 pamphlet Variorum tractatus theologici de peste, which makes up Part I of the book. This collection of tracts is an unparalleled Post-Reformation treatment of the plague, from pastoral and scholarly points of view. Part II consists of those Reformation and Post-Reformation works that Beza, Rivet, Voetius, and Hoornbeeck [the authors in Part I] engaged with frequently (Zanchi, Abbot, and Ursinus). Alongside those pieces are additional contemporary works that we felt would be especially useful for pastors, scholars, and interested readers to have available in book form (Zwingli, Luther, Lavater, and Rawlet), and which give the reader a more complete picture of the Reformed tradition’s branch of plague writings. Each of these eleven authors addresses the unique questions posited by the plague in distinct ways, yet each does so by definitively Reformed methods—grounded in Scripture, historically informed, and always with the issue of faith in Christ at the forefront.

There are also two appendices, On Mortality by Cyprian of Carthage—a work that multiple authors in the main texts refer to (and likely shape even those who don’t) and the section Prayer and Thanksgiving from the Book of Common Prayer—an application of all the theology of the main texts.

Part 1: Variorum tractatus theologici de peste

The various works in part one are careful, methodical, Scriptural, and thorough—they cover all the bases. The treatise by Beza seems to both reflect the thinking of the rest of the Reformation as much as it shapes everything that comes after (or at least everything in the book).

Some parts of this took some work to get through, but it was worth it.

Part II: Reformation and Post-Reformation Plague Writings

Others sin on the right hand. They are much too rash and reckless, tempting God and disregarding everything which might counteract death and the plague. They disdain the use of medicines; they do not avoid places and persons infected by the plague, but lightheartedly make sport of it and wish to prove how independent they are. They say that it is God’s punishment; if he wants to protect them he can do so without medicines or our carefulness. This is not trusting God but tempting him. God has created medicines and provided us with intelligence to guard and take good care of the body so that we can live in good health.

For me, this part of the book (roughly a third) was the most rewarding. Luther’s Whether One May Flee from a Deadly Plague covered most/all of the points in Part I, but in a pithier and more digestible fashion. Which is what you expect from Luther, right?

Zwingli’s Plauge Hymn is great. I really don’t know what else to say.

The most moving, the most personal entry in the volume is John Rawlet’s A Letter to my Mother is clearly part of that preparation for death mentioned in the post last week. In this printing, it’s an eleven-page letter* written by an Anglican minister in London sure he was soon to contract the plague and die. He was wrong about contracting the plague and never sent the letter—but he was ready for it.

* Hard to fathom in the age of texts, tweets, and email.

An Unimportant Observation

I’m pretty sure I’ve never run into the word “licit” as often as I have in this work. Like most people (especially those who read a lot of Crime Fiction), I run across “illicit” all the time. But “licit”? Almost never.

Maybe it’s a quirk of the translators, but I doubt it. It’s just refreshing to see the word—and it’s one I’m going to try to use more often.

So, what did I think about Faith in the Time of Plague?

One thing that struck me was how often these Reformation authors appealed to earlier theologians (like Cyprian). But largely not about plagues or other diseases. Instead, it was how they approached the response to persecution—could believers flee from it, or do they have to run toward it or simply wait for it? Both persecution and disease come from the Lord—as both trial and result of sin.

I have to say, I’m not sure I’d have approached it that way before.

Those looking for easy answers to “how would the early Church or Reformers” deal with COVID-19 (or the like)”, will be disappointed. There are no quick and easy answers here. But this can remind readers that the Church has been through similar—and worse—times before. She likely will again. There have been careful, pastoral responses to it in the past, and that can be true again. We don’t have to have a snappy, one-size-fits-all approach at the first sign of trouble, but we are called to gracious, Christ-honoring, people-serving responses.

These are some excellent examples of how to do it. This isn’t the easiest, breeziest thing I’ve read this year—it might even be the furthest from it. But it’s an invaluable resource and I’m glad Westminster Seminary Press brought it to us.

Bully Pulpit: Confronting the Problem of Spiritual Abuse in the Church by Michael J. Kruger: A Needed Call to Arms

By HCNewton

On December 4, 2022

In Non-Fiction, Theology/Christian Living

Bully Pulpit:
Confronting the Problem
of Spiritual Abuse in
the Church

by Michael J. Kruger

DETAILS:
Publisher: Zondervan
Publication Date: November 8, 2022
Format: Hardcover
Length: 145 pg.
Read Date: November 20-27, 2022

The Back of the Book

Are churches looking for the wrong kind of leaders?

The last decade has witnessed a rising number of churches wrecked by spiritual abuse—harsh, heavy-handed, domineering behavior from those in a position of spiritual authority. And high-profile cases are only a small portion of this widespread problem. Behind the scenes are many more cases of spiritual abuse that we will never hear about. Victims suffer in silence, not knowing where to turn.

Of course, most pastors and leaders are godly, wonderful people who don’t abuse their sheep. They shepherd their flocks gently and patiently. But we can’t ignore the growing number who do not. We have tolerated and even celebrated the kind of leaders Jesus warned us against.

We need gentle shepherds now more than ever, and in Bully Pulpit, seminary president and biblical scholar Michael J. Kruger offers a unique perspective for both church leaders and church members on the problem of spiritual abuse, how to spot it, and how to handle it in the church.

The Approach

Kruger is writing to defend the Church—all of it. Congregations and other organizations need to be aware of what to look for—both in leaders they are about to call, and those already called—both the attributes we want to see and the warning signs we should be aware of. We need to be able to take appropriate steps to protect the victims of abuse while investigating the claims, and part of that is recognizing the duty of leaders to do that. Yes, there’s an obligation to investigate thoroughly, to presume innocence, and to follow the existing ecclesiastical and accountability structures in place—but we shouldn’t set the well-being of a bruised reed up against those.

We—as individual believers and corporately—need to understand what spiritual abuse is, the damage it can do, and how we can inadvertently help abusers to get away with it. More than that, we need to look at the whole of Scripture to see the very consistent message that God has given when it comes to those leaders who would cause his people harm. Recognizing the seriousness of the problem from eternal and temporal perspectives ought to be the starting point.

Kruger knows his ecclesiology, he knows leadership of Christian organizations, he understands the warnings of the Bible—and he’s taken steps to learn from the abused. He puts these together to shape and inform the discussions here.

So, what did I think about Bully Pulpit?

The biggest problem with this book is that it’s an introductory volume. Kruger’s starting the conversation for many (for others, he’s continuing it, and hopefully bringing more into it). As it’s just an introduction, some of the suggestions are too vague. Also (and he admits this more than once), most of what he suggests would work best in larger congregations and organizations—which leaves out many/most of those in this country alone. Yes, most of this can be scaled down to meet a medium/small congregation’s needs, but that will present problems.

Those are really the only drawbacks I saw here. And they’re pretty minor—Bully Pulpit should serve to initiate people to the issue and prompt more people from the confessional and conservative wings of Protestantism to start addressing this problem. It’s not only an introduction in that it’s basic and a beginning—it’s introducing the topic to a whole lot of people.

Kruger is clear about the issues, he’s clear about the responsibility of the Church and her leaders to address them. This is a significant problem, and it appears to be growing (I think it’s really our being exposed to it that’s growing—as Kruger shows, we’ve seen it in the Church from the beginning). I hope that Kruger’s call to action is heeded.

Picking this up yourself or giving it away, would be a good step in that direction.

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, the opinions expressed are my own.

The Excellencies of God: Exploring and Enjoying His Attributes by Terry Johnson: Not Quite as Good as Its Predecessor but Worth Your Time

By HCNewton

On November 27, 2022

In Non-Fiction, Theology/Christian Living

The Excellencies of God:
Exploring and Enjoying
His Attributes

by Terry Johnson

DETAILS:
Publisher: Reformation Heritage Books
Publication Date: October 23, 2022
Format: Hardcover
Length: 347 pg.
Read Date: October 23-November 20, 2022

The Excellencies of God‘s Jacket Copy

God’s attributes is the most practical of subjects, inspiring and shaping the entire Christian life. Contemplating who God is and what He has promised to do can bring great comfort to the most despairing soul. Moreover, it brings immense delight to all those who recognize their chief end as the glory and enjoyment of God. In The Excellencies of God, Terry L. Johnson explores several aspects of the divine character and shows how they play a crucial role in our Christian experience. May God’s mercy and grace, His patience and wisdom, His truth and faithfulness, His spirituality and blessedness prove to be a blessing to all who peruse these pages.

The Table of Contents

That’s kind of vague, so let’s look at the TOC.

Preface
Introduction: The Christian and the Attributes
The Mercy, Grace, and Patience of God
1. The Mercy of God
2. The Grace of God
3. The Patience of God
The Truth and Faithfulness of God
4. The God of Truth
5. Liberating Truth
6. Pursue and Proclaim the Truth
The Blessedness of God
7. The Blessed God
8. Our Blessedness in God
The Fatherhood of God
9. God Our Father
10. Pleasing Our Father
11. Our Father’s Children
12. Our Father’s Care
The Spirituality of God
13. The God Who Is Spirit
14. Serving an Invisible God
15. Spiritual Mindedness
16. Spiritual Worship
17. True Worship
The Wisdom of God
18. God Only Wise
19. Wisdom and Folly
20. Seeking and Submitting to God’s Wisdom

So, what did I think about The Excellencies of God?

I struggled to write a post about Johnson’s The Identity and Attributes of God two years ago, and I find myself in a similar position now with this follow-up. I went with the bare minimum above because it fits the book—Johnson lays things out very matter-of-factly, and you get exactly what the TOC lists. He takes each thought and explains it using citations from Scripture, the Fathers, Reformers, and some contemporary writers—with some illustrations of hymns.

I have the impression that Johnson gives 50-60% of the text, and the rest are quotations (mostly a sentence or less). I did not (would not) try to verify that—and I’m pretty sure I’m wrong, but that’s my impression as a whole. I wanted more of Johnson and less of everyone else. I think this is about the same as the previous volume, and I had a similar thought about it—but overall it was so good, I didn’t care. This book was a little less impressive so it stuck out to me more.

I don’t think I get the selection of the major topics and how they flowed one from the other—the chapters within each topic, on the other hand, flowed nicely.

Is this a decent read? Yeah, but it tends to the dull-side with the repeated quotations. But beyond that, it’s a pretty straightforward and thorough look at the topics. It’s helpful, it should push you to look more into some of the ideas that you find more provocative (and the footnotes will help with that). It’s sound and measured, majoring on the majors and not really spending time on minor issues.

It’s a good book that I can recommend without hesitation, I just wanted more from it.

4 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.

Creeds, Confessions, and Catechisms: A Reader’s Edition edited by Chad Van Dixhoorn

By HCNewton

On November 20, 2022

In Non-Fiction, Theology/Christian Living

Creeds, Confessions, and Catechisms: A Reader’s Edition

edited by Chad Van Dixhoorn

DETAILS:
Publisher: Crossway
Publication Date: June 21, 2022
Format: Clothbound
Length: 434 pg.

What’s Creeds, Confessions, and Catechisms: A Reader’s Edition?

This is a collection of Ecumenical Creeds and some of the most-used Protestant Confessions and Catechisms. These are:
bullet The Apostles’ Creed
bullet The Nicene Creed
bullet The Athanasian Creed
bullet The Chalcedonian Definition
bullet The Augsburg Confession
bullet The Belgic Confession
bullet The Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion
bullet The Canons of Dort
bullet The Westminster Confession of Faith
bullet The London Baptist Confession
bullet The Heidelberg Catechism
bullet The Westminster Larger Catechism
bullet The Westminster Shorter Catechism

Each document is given a 1-2 page introduction by the editor describing “its origins and significance” to the church (as the Publisher puts it).

As I’m not foolhardy enough to give pluses and minuses (or whatever) when it comes to the matieral, so this isn’t going to be my typical kind of post.

Questions I Had

While reading through this collection, I had a few questions about why Van Dixhoorn selected certain Confessions (no offense, Lutherans and Baptists) or why he picked particular translations of some of them. And I’d intended to spend a little time discussing them and speculating about the answers. But then I read on Crossway’s site that this book was “Adapted from ESV BIble with Creeds and Confessions,” so I guess that edition of the ESV probably did the selecting in the first place and Van Dixhoorn stuck with that.

Why Should You Buy Creeds, Confessions, and Catechisms: A Reader’s Edition?

bullet It’s very attractive—the cover design is top-notch. The interior layout is pleasing to the eye and easy to read. The paper is nice and thick. It looks good on your shelf or in your hands. On the one hand, this is a minor point—but it’s a big selling point for a reference work.
bullet Along those lines, the binding and everything makes me think this is going to last a long time—and through repeated readings.
bullet The way it’s typeset and laid out would make it easier as a copy to read through some or all of the contents. I’ve got multiple copies of most of these documents, and a lot of them aren’t easy to read—they’re more things you consult briefly. This is one I could sit down with regularly and just read.
bullet That’s what it’s designed for—to read. It’s right there in the title. This isn’t an edition for people who are doing scholarship or research. You’ve got Schaff for that—or James Dennison’s set.
bullet Especially if you’re looking for an introduction to the Protestant standards, this is a handy edition and guide to the essentials.
bullet Van Dixhoorn’s introductions are user-friendly and helpful to orient the reader to the origin, concerns, and highlightings of each document.

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Christ of the Consummation, Vol. 1 by O. Palmer Robertson: The Beginning of A Wonderful Trilogy

By HCNewton

On November 13, 2022

In Non-Fiction, Theology/Christian Living

Christ of the Consummation:
A New Testament Biblical Theology
Volume 1: The Testimony of
the Four Gospels

by O. Palmer Robertson

DETAILS:
Publisher: P & R Publishing
Publication Date: June 1, 2022
Format: Paperback
Length: 321 pg.
Read Date: August 7-28, 2022

In these new phases of redemptive history, the heart of the revelation does not change, but it broadens and deepens in the realities of the truth. Jesus Christ is the same, but his church, his precious bride, is being built by the addition of nations being born in a day as a consequence of Christ’s pouring out the gifts of his Spirit on all flesh. The kingdom of God has come and continues to come. The kingdom of God is yet to come. It will arrive in all its fullness on that day, the great judgment day, the day of resurrection and restoration of all things. To God be the glory for the things he has done, is doing, and yet will do.

What’s Christ of the Consummation, Volume 1 About?

At some point when reading Vos’ Biblical Theology most readers like me* start to wonder, “How is he doing to have time to cover the New Testament? While Vos doesn’t give his readers the same kind of insight into the history of revelation of the NT as he does the OT, he does set out some principles. Robert’s work is the first book-length attempt to apply Vos’ directions to apply his method to the NT (actually, the first of three book-length attempts).

That’d be people who didn’t know what was coming from pre-knowledge about the book or reading the Table of Contents.

He begins by stating the difference between the two works—there are centuries upon centuries of history of OT revelation, and a maximum of one from the announcement of Jesus’ birth to Mary to the end of John’s writing on Patmos. But that doesn’t mean that there’s no development, but how best to approach that? Robertson focuses on three distinctives in his approach:

Retracing the Historical Progression across the Various Phases of New Covenant Revelation as the Organizing Principle
The Foundational Role of the Old Covenant Scriptures
Contemporary [to their writing] Application of New Testament Biblical Theology

With these distinctives in mind, Robertson looks at material concerning Jesus’ self-testimony; various phases of His life and work; the progressive revelation of the Kingdom during His life; His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension; and then he moves into closer looks at the various Gospels individually and corporately.

An Unexpected Bonus

A number of times throughout the text Robertson will hit pause on his exegetical work, the historical reflections, or the interpretative/theological conclusions from those, to offer application to the lives and hearts of the reader. Sometimes a broader or more general call and sometimes it’s a narrow focus. I really didn’t expect these at all, and I almost never saw them coming when he did pause for one. But I appreciated them all and found them to be a real enhancement to the work.

So, what did I think about Christ of the Consummation, Volume 1?

I’m clearly not qualified to evaluate Robertson’s application of Vos, but people like D.A. Carson and Richard Gaffin are, so I’ll take their word for it. Sure, they wrote the forward and a “further word” for this book, so it’s not like we’re talking about impartial evaluations.

Nor am I capable of—or willing to—give this a good and thorough review/evaluation. Although I do wish I could. So let me offer a few thoughts from my perspective as a lay reader. And I do think this is a book written with the layman in mind—it’s not a casual read by any means, but it is not a book solely for scholars.

I’m not sure I’ve read a Christian book this year that has made me think more, read slower/closer, and pushed my thinking more. It’s also been the most rewarding and I think it will prove the most fecund for my future reading, study, and devotion.

At the same time, the number of times that I read something I don’t think I’d ever been exposed to, or that was wholly novel to me is so small as to be negligible. This is not to say that it was all review or that he didn’t make me stop and think for a minute or ten to consider a point before moving on. But on the whole, it’s a reframing and refocusing of many things I’ve read in lay-friendly works or heard in sermons/lectures. It’s not “here’s a whole new way to read/think about the Gospels”—and Robertson would be the last to want something like that. Instead, this is a “here’s a way to profitably consider the way these things were revealed” and “here’s how the Gospels build upon one another and build up each other.”

I’m already trying to figure out when I can get in a re-read without ruining plans for next year—possibly in combination with a re-read of Vos’ Biblical Theology so I can more directly see for myself the connections between the two works and Vos’ influence.

This is the first in a trilogy—if the rest of the trilogy is as good as this one, the series will likely end up on shelves everywhere next to Vos. I know I’m already ready to dive into the next volume.

5 Stars

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The Life and Work of Jesus by Ra McLaughlin and Christopher Caudle: A Broad and Capable Introduction to Christology

By HCNewton

On November 6, 2022

In Non-Fiction, Theology/Christian Living

The Life and Work of Jesus

by Ra McLaughlin and Christopher Caudle

DETAILS:
Series: Christian Essentials 
Publisher: P & R Publishing
Publication Date: April 26, 2022
Format: Paperback
Length: 286 pg.
Read Date: October 8-23, 2022

What’s The Life and Work of Jesus About?

One of the advantages of this series is that I can largely recycle what I said about the first volume (I tried to come up with something new, but it felt like I was wasting time reinventing it).

This is a basic and broad introduction to Christology—starting with the idea of a savior and dealing with the overall plan of salvation before moving into seeing the outworking of that idea in history through the Incarnation and Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection. Then it moves into a discussion of the offices Christ executes (prophet, priest, and king)–looking at them in the OT shadows, Christ’s fulfillment of them on Earth and now. It’s adapted from curriculum using language that’s easy to translate—particularly into languages that don’t have a well-developed theological vocabulary—so the English is kept basic, too. There’s almost no academic or technical theological language used, and those that are used are well-defined (including in a handy glossary).

The chapters are short (most around fifteen pages) and well-organized. Each contains a handful of side-bars consisting of a paragraph or two with the contents of interviews with pastors and theologians on the topic under discussion. These interviews were with people from a variety of theological perspectives helping broaden the text so that it’s not exclusively from a reformed perspective.

So, what did I think about The Life and Work of Jesus?

I wasn’t blown away by this, but I liked it. It was a good, basic but thorough introduction to both the life and work of Jesus. After the first book in the series, I thought I knew what to expect from this book–and got it, with a little bit more. I’d say these authors covered their topics a bit more thoroughly than the previous book did (but just a bit). I’m not as convinced that the sidebars were as helpful this time out, however, so maybe things evened out.

I didn’t stumble onto anything problematic in this work like I did in the previous one, which was very encouraging.

All in all, this is a solid work that would be great for a new believer or a young student looking to get a better grounding. It’s broad enough to appeal to any evangelical but solid enough to work for those who tend to prefer a bit more precision.

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, the opinions expressed are my own.