Tag: Christology

The Lord Jesus Christ: The Biblical Doctrine of the Person and Work of Christ by Brandon D. Crowe: Christology 101

DETAILS:
Series: We Believe Series, Volume Three
Publisher: Lexham Academic
Publication Date: October 18, 2023
Format: Hardcover
Length: 316
Read Date: July 21-August 18, 2024

What’s The Lord Jesus Christ About?

It’s a work on Christology–from Scriptural, historical, and systematic theological perspectives.

That seems a bit too pithy, but the few times I’ve tried that paragraph before now have really gone on and on. So–as I so often do when I’m struggling to answer this question–I’m just going to borrow from the Publisher’s description:

Jesus is the divine Son of God who has taken on human nature in the incarnation. As prophet, priest, and king, he leads his people in a new exodus. In The Lord Jesus Christ, Brandon D. Crowe reflects on Christ’s person and work. Crowe traces christological concerns throughout the Old and New Testaments and church history and then presents systematic and practical implications. Through a combination of biblical, historical, and theological study, Crowe provides a fresh and robust statement of who Christ is and what he has done.

Written from a confessionally Reformed perspective in dialogue with the great creeds of the church, The Lord Jesus Christ provides a thorough and trustworthy guide to understanding Jesus and his salvific work.

Breaking Things Down a Bit

I think a glance at a Table of Contents really gives an idea what the book is like and what Crowe’s approach to this is (I included page numbers for each part to show the weight he gives to each area)
Introduction: “Who Do You Say That I Am?”
Part 1: The Biblical Witness [pg. 9-146]
I. The Son of God in Creation and the Old Testament
II. The Son of God Promised in the Prophets
III. The Son of God in the Gospels
IV. The Son of God in Acts and Paul’s Letters
V. The Son of God in Hebrews to Revelation

Part 2: Dogmatic Development [pg.147-294]
VI. Pre-Nicene Christology
VII. Creedal, Conciliar, and Modern Christology
VIII. The Mediator of the Covenant of Grace
IX. The Unity of the Mediator
X. The Work of the Mediator
XI. The Centrality of Christology for Christian Dogmatics

Part 3: Truth for Life and Mission [pg. 295-310]
XII. The Gospel of Grace
XIII. Pluralism and the Uniqueness of Christ

Conclusion: Seven Theses on the Person and Work of Christ

While Parts 1 and 2 are about even in page length, you will realize that the meat of the book is found in The Biblical Witness. The Dogmatic Development part is by no means lightweight, but it is easier to get through. I was a little surprised once I got there at how brief the last Part was–but it didn’t need to be longer to wrap up and apply the previous Parts.

Going Beyond this Work

Crowe is clear that this book isn’t supposed to be an end to one’s Christological reading, but it’s a start. In addition tote helpful footnotes and citations throughout, he concludes each chapter with four or so recommendations for further reading (not all will agree with a lot of Crowe’s arguments). I don’t know that I’m going to follow up with all of them (narrator: he will not), but I am going to chase down some of those works.

Each chapter ends with a clearly designated conclusion, so you can be sure you’re picking up on those parts that Crowe finds most important, which is a very handy little segment. As are the Seven Theses he ends the book with–undoubtedly for me and others, this is going to be the part of the book that gets referred to most often. You can get a quick look at a significant point to brush up on it or refresh your memory, before going back to the appropriate chapter (or chapter conclusion) to get the details you need.

So, what did I think about The Lord Jesus Christ?

This is presented in a text-book style but isn’t quite as dry as one. But I can easily see it functioning as one (and being a favorite of the students using it because of that style).

It took me longer to get through than I anticipated–which is not a bad thing, it just wasn’t what I expected. It is not a difficult read by any means (I can point to other words by Crowe that would fit that description better), but because of the comprehensiveness it’s shooting for, you do have to exercise the gray matter a little as you read.

It’s not polemic at all, and almost every controversy it tackles has been settled in the creedal tradition for centuries, so it won’t rankle any Trinitarian as they read their way through it (although this book, like the rest of the series, is firmly within the Confessional Reformed tradition and demonstrates it). Crowe shows not only a familiarity with contemporary–and older–Biblical scholarship, but is just as adept at bringing in major writers from Church History through today to weigh in on the Dogmatic Development sections.

All in all, this was an outstanding book, one that I will return to as a reference (and likely re-read in a couple of years). It’s also a great advertisement for the rest of the series, and I anticipate adding the rest of them to my shelves in short order (well, as short as I can–it doesn’t look like Lexham Press is really rushing to put them out).

Whether or not you grab them all, if you want a solid and accessible stand-alone Christology you’d be well served to turn to Brandon Crowe.

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.
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My Favorite Theology/Christian Living Books of 2020

By HCNewton

On January 3, 2021

In News/Misc., Theology/Christian Living

I knew I’d done a lousy job of keeping up on my Theology/Christian Living posts this year. But assembling this post let me see just how bad I’d done—five posts this year, and only one from this list made was covered in them.

Maybe that’s part of why I was rejected by NetGalley for every book along these lines I requested this year? In retaliation, I bought every book I was rejected for. That’ll teach ’em…

Anyway, these books are important enough to me—and this category makes up enough of what I read that I figured I’d keep up the tradition of making this list. And I’ll try to do better on this front in 2021.

As always, re-reads don’t count for these lists. It’s a self-imposed rule, but in a year when I re-read Calvin’s Institutes, some Machen and Prayer by O. Hallesby, it’s just not fair to almost everything else I read.

(in alphabetical order by author)

Who Is God?: Key Moments of Biblical Revelation

by Richard Bauckham

This is one of those deceptively easy reads that shouldn’t be read easily. Based on lectures that Bauckman has delivered, the book takes a Redemptive Historical approach to God’s revelation of Himself. “Jacob’s dream at Bethel (the revelation of the divine presence), Moses at the burning bush (the revelation of the divine Name), and Moses on Mount Sinai (the revelation of the divine character)…He then shows how the New Testament builds on the Old by exploring three revelatory events in Mark’s Gospel, events that reveal the Trinity: Jesus’s baptism, transfiguration, and crucifixion.” After looking at the particular text, Bauckman then traces that revelation through Scripture showing how the same thought it echoed and expanded throughout.

As these chapters were originally lectures, they’re not full of footnotes—but they’re clearly the product of a lot of scholarship. There’s deep thought here and great spiritual nourishment.
4 1/2 Stars

The Hope of Israel: The Resurrection of Christ in the Acts of the Apostles

by Brandon D. Crowe

It makes no sense to me at all that there hasn’t been a book-length look at the theme of Resurrection in Acts until now. It’s so clearly important to the message of Acts that you’d think there’d be dozens. But nope.

Crowe does a masterful job of filling that lacuna. It is all over Acts—more than I’d have guessed, too. First, he focuses on the topic in general, then focuses on the speeches/sermons of Peter, then those of Paul, and then those of everyone else. The exegetical material is just Part One, and it’s worth the purchase price right there.

But then he goes on to examine the topic from four theological perspectives, fleshing out the exegetical material and it gets so much richer.

This isn’t as easy to read as Bauckman, but it’s not too difficult if you’re willing to put in the work. Fascinating topic and helpful reflections.

4 Stars

From Adam and Israel to the Church: A Biblical Theology of the People of God

by Benjamin L. Gladd

Gladd traces the idea of the people of God through successive Redemptive Historical eras, showing how each built on the one before and points to the final form in the New Heavens and Earth, fulfilling the original Creation design. A helpful way to look at this topic, it’ll challenge, inform and inspire.
4 Stars

Struck Down but Not Destroyed: Living Faithfully with Anxiety

by Pierce Taylor Hibbs

Written twelve years after Hibbs was first diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, he takes a different approach to anxiety disorders than you typically see. It’s not about denying the problem, it’s not about overcoming it, and striving to lead an anxiety-free life. Instead, it’s about relying not on our own strength, but on Christ who is sufficient when we are not; it’s about learning to see what God’s purpose in the suffering is, understanding that His hand is guiding all things—including our problems—so how do we in faith (without denying the suffering) rest in faith.

If like me, you don’t suffer from an anxiety disorder, you have your own challenges in your life, ways in which you suffer. It’s easy, thanks to the way Hibbs wrote this, to see how you can apply these principles to your own circumstances.

Very practical, but not at the cost of truth and theological reflection.

4 Stars

Bearing God’s Name: Why Sinai Still Matters

by Carmen Joy Imes

I had some real problems with this book—I quibbled with more than a few points, and flat-out disagreed with others (although I think her arguments are interesting and I’d like to see someone who knows what they’re doing dissect them). And I’m not so sure her thesis is all that revolutionary—I’ve heard it in almost every (maybe every) sermon I’ve heard on the Third Commandment in Confessional Presbyterian and Reformed Churches in the last two and a half decades.

That said, it’s a thesis that more people need to hear. The commandment isn’t primarily about our language, it’s about taking the Name of the Lord our God in the sense of “bearing.” When God’s people call themselves that, certain things are expected of them to not bring shame to that name (which will involve treating His name—and the means by which He is revealed—with the due respect).

She starts at Sinai and then traces the idea (a theme in this post, no?) through the rest of Scripture, showing how God’s people have done this—and how they’ve failed at it, too.

It’s a popularized version of a good portion of her dissertation, and is so accessible it’s ridiculous. Thought-provoking and helpful (even when I think she’s wrong about something), it’s a book I can’t help but recommend. My disagreements (and the way she expressed problems that don’t exist with the Reformed understanding of the topics) led to my reduced rating, not anything to do with the way the book was written.

3.5 Stars

The Identity and Attributes of God

by Terry L. Johnson

The reason I haven’t written anything about this is simple: I don’t know how to start—or how to finish (or anything in between). This is a modern, less-exhaustive version of Charnock’s The Existence and Attributes of God. Full of quotations and lessons from Puritans and others in church history, this is an excellent introduction (and then some) to the classical doctrine of God so often ignored or downplayed today. If we don’t know who He is, how will we know how to worship and serve Him?

It’s convicting. It’s informative and educational. It’s devotional. It’s probably the best thing that Johnson’s written—and that’s saying something.

5 Stars

Exodus Old and New: A Biblical Theology of Redemption

by L. Michael Morales

“Morales examines the key elements of three major redemption movements in Scripture: the exodus out of Egypt, the second exodus foretold by the prophets, and the new exodus accomplished by Jesus Christ.” Like so many others I read this year this takes a Redemptive Historical approach seeing the way these ideas play out throughout Scripture, are echoed and expanded in successive eras.

The exodus from Egypt is the template (not the best word, but the only one that comes to mind at the moment) for redemption in general, and we see this figure used time and time again in Scripture. Morales is a helpful guide through this progression.

4 Stars

With All Your Heart: Orienting Your Mind, Desires, and Will Toward Christ

by A. Craig Troxel

Troxel begins by fleshing out a Biblical understanding of the heart (short version: the governing center of life). That understood, he then moves on to show how we’re to use that heart to fulfill Christ’s commands—how we keep it pure, how we protect it, how we keep it obedient. Most of all, how we respond when we fail (and fail, and fail).

One of the most humbling—yet helpful—books I’ve read in years. Troxel pierces the heart in the best way, so that we can see our need for repentance.

4 Stars

The Teaching of Jesus Concerning the Kingdom of God and the Church

by Geerhardus Vos

This work “surveys the teaching of Jesus concerning the kingdom of God. It covers the kingdom in the Old Testament, the meaning of the biblical words for kingdom and kingship, the present and future aspects of the kingdom, the essence of the kingdom, the relationship between the kingdom and the church, and finally the saving benefits of entering the kingdom…Vos exposited an inaugurated kingdom with a future consummation long before G. E. Ladd popularized it.”

This is a slim, dense volume. Vos demands care and close attention to his work—but it’s so worth it (and after a while, you don’t notice how much you’re working to read). Fascinating and still helpful a century later.
5 Stars

The Song of Songs

by G. I. Williamson

My original post
Yeah, I gave this one only 3 1/2 Stars, but it’s on this list because it stuck with me. It’s been since April and I’ve thought about this book a few times (definitely during the two times this year I’ve read the Song of Songs). Williamson’s wisdom and carefully Christ-centered approach to the book makes these sermons really valuable.

3.5 Stars

My Favorite Theology/Christian Living Books of 2020

By HCNewton

On January 5, 2020

In News/Misc., Theology/Christian Living

I read a lot of good, inspirational, thoughtful and devotional work this year, but these were the ones that stuck out in my mind. I’d encourage the careful reading of all of them.

(in alphabetical order by author)

None Greater: The Undomesticated Attributes of God

by Matthew Barrett

I haven’t had a chance to write about this book yet, but it’s great. Barrett provides a wonderful tool to introduce believers of all ages/background to the main attributes of God to shape belief and practice. It’s a corrective, but not scoldy. It’s deep, but not hard to understand. It appreciates mystery and doesn’t try to overexplain anything but it also grapples with what we’re given to understand. I’ll say more in a week or two, but for now, just know it’s one of the best things I read last year.

4 Stars

Reformed Dogmatics, Volume 1: Theology Proper

by Geerhardus Vos, Richard B. Gaffin, Jr. (Translator and Editor)

My original post
Yeah, it’s only a picture of one of the volumes (but they all pretty much look alike). This set concisely, yet comprehensively, discusses the major theological loci in a way that’s scholarly and yet warm and practical.

5 Stars

Saving the Reformation: The Pastoral Theology of the Canons of Dort

by W. Robert Godfrey

My original post
This look at the Synod of Dort, as well as the Canons produced by it, is well-researched, careful, encouraging and pastoral—this is not dry and dusty history, nor dry and dusty doctrine. This book, like the Synod it focuses on, seeks to defend, protect and further the cause of the Protestant Reformation, the Gospel itself. As such, it succeeds and you’d do well to study it.

5 Stars

Grace Worth Fighting For: Recapturing the Vision of God’s Grace in the Canons of Dort

by Daniel R. Hyde

My original post
Is a fantastic companion to the previous book. Hyde focuses on the Canons themselves and what they’re getting at, showing how Church History developed those ideas to this point and how the Reformed church built on them. I didn’t expect anything to beat the Godfrey volume in this year where we got multiple books (thanks to the Canons’s anniversary), but this one did. it’s warm, pastoral and approachable. Anyone over 13 should have no problem with it. Sure, some of the topics will leave some scratching their heads and pondering for a while, but that’s because these are weighty, thought-provoking topics, not because of Hyde’s text. I may have read a better theological book this year, but I can’t think of it off the top of my head. This is simply excellent—rich theology, rich application, solid history, smartly writing, occasionally stirring.

5 Stars

Beyond Authority and Submission: Women and Men in Marriage, Church, and Society

by Rachel Green Miller

My original post
This book made me re-examine a lot—and will probably continue to do so as I mull on what she has to say (and I’ll probably find a lot to disagree with ultimately, and a lot to agree with—as it ought to be). How much of what I think about how women and men should interact with each other (in the home, Church and society) comes from Scripture and how much from the culture? How much of what I think it means to be a man or what it means to be a woman has more to do with Ancient Greek culture or the Victorians? (more than it should). The core of the message should be heard and weighed, and hopefully, after the hubbub around its publication has died down a bit, we can start to deal with it.

4 Stars

Theological Retrieval for Evangelicals: Why We Need Our Past to Have a Future

by Gavin Ortlund

My original post
A fantastic mix of theory and practice—showing why and how Evangelicals should mine the treasures of the past to shape the theology of today and tomorrow.

4 Stars

The Imputation of the Active Obedience of Christ in the Westminster Standards

by Alan D. Strange

I was sure I’d written a post about this book, and was embarrassed to discover that I hadn’t—I somehow let this not be included in the November Retrospective, too. This is why I don’t get paid for this blog, folks.

Anyway, Strange packs a lot into this 176 page tome. It is dense. But somehow, it’s also an easy read. He explores the historical debate—particularly around the Westminster Assembly—around this doctrine and explains why the Standards express things the way they do. Then he applies it to contemporary debate in a straightforward manner. Pound for pound, possibly the most helpful book I’ve read this year.

4 Stars

Grace and Glory: Sermons Preached in the Chapel of Princeton Theological Seminary

by Geerhardus Vos

My original post
This is exactly what a collection of sermons ought to be—the language is clear, precise and almost lyrical. You can almost hear them as you read them. Solid theology, warm application and gospel-centered. My only problem with this collection is that it was so short.

5 Stars

Books that almost made the list (links to my original posts for those I wrote about): The Future of Everything: Essential Truths about the End Times by Willaim Boekestein, The Whole Armor of God: How Christ’s Victory Strengthens Us for Spiritual Warfare by Iain M. Duguid, Rediscovering the Holy Spirit: God’s Perfecting Presence in Creation, Redemption, and Everyday Life by Michael S. Horton, The Prayers of Jesus by Mark Jones, and Baptism: Answers to Common Questions by Guy M. Richard.

Reformed Dogmatics (5 vols.) by Geerhardus Vos, Richard B. Gaffin Jr.: A Twentieth-Century Classic for Heart and Mind Alike

By HCNewton

On December 29, 2019

In Non-Fiction, Theology/Christian Living

This is going to be a record-setting header section here, get your scrolling finger ready..
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	Reformed Dogmatics, Volume 1: Theology Proper by Geerhardus Vos, Richard B. Gaffin, Jr. (Translator and Editor) Hardcover, 256 pg. Lexham Press, 2012 Read: January 6-February 17, 2019 Grab a copy from your local indie bookstore!
	Reformed Dogmatics, Volume 2: Anthropology by Geerhardus Vos, Richard B. Gaffin, Jr. (Translator and Editor) Hardcover, 176 pg. Lexham Press, 2013 Read: February 24-March 31, 2019 Grab a copy from your local indie bookstore!
	Reformed Dogmatics, Volume 3: Christology by Geerhardus Vos, Richard B. Gaffin, Jr. (Translator and Editor) Hardcover, 288 pg. Lexham Press, 2012 Read: April 7-June 23, 2019 Grab a copy from your local indie bookstore!
	Reformed Dogmatics, Volume 4: Soteriology by Geerhardus Vos, Richard B. Gaffin, Jr. (Translator and Editor) Hardcover, 272 pg. Lexham Press, 2012 Read: June 30-August 25, 2019 Grab a copy from your local indie bookstore!
	Reformed Dogmatics, Volume 5: Ecclesiology, the Means of Grace, Eschatology by Geerhardus Vos, Richard B. Gaffin, Jr. (Translator and Editor) Hardcover, 352 pg. Lexham Press, 2016 Read: September 1-November 24, 2019 Grab a copy from your local indie bookstore!

Why am I talking about this as a set instead of individual volumes? That’s a decent question, but I guessed when I finished Volume 1 that I’d end up saying the same things each time. And now looking back on the set, I think I agree. Sure, I could’ve talked some in some more detail about each one, but I’m not sure there’d have been a lot of profit in that for anyone reading this.

Honestly, what I should do here is just post a link to Lane Tipton’s review/article, Vos’s Reformed Dogmatics and be done with it. Lipton says in two paragraphs, what I would flail around for 10-12 paragraphs to say:

Richard B. Gaffin Jr.’s editorial oversight of the translation of Geerhardus Vos’s Gereformeerde Dogmatiek has brought to light yet another theological treasure from perhaps the finest Reformed theologian since Calvin. The sustained depth of penetration of the traditional loci of systematic theological discussion is coupled with the warmth of a theological reflection pursued in vital communion with the absolute, triune God through Spirit-gifted, faith-union with Christ. This renders it ideal for both seminary instruction and devotional reading.

On the one side, Vos’s work displays the proper, and it seems to me necessary, task of retrieving creedal doctrine in the preservation of Christian theology. On the other side, his work displays the proper, and it seems to me equally necessary, task of reforming that creedal doctrine in the formulation of a confessionally constructive, Reformed theology, tethered to its preceding creedal and confessional expressions, yet advancing organically beyond both, through biblical and systematic theological methods of interpreting the inerrant Scriptures. Vos not only expounds orthodox creedal theology in a faithful way, but, within the boundaries of confessionally Reformed theology, he advances that confessional theology with unparalleled insight. His work presents us with an orthodox, yet constructive, expression of the truth of the Scriptures that faithfully serves to instruct the church in the gospel of Jesus Christ.

But just pointing to (and/or reposting) Tipton would be cheating, albeit efficient. So let’s see what I can say.

This was my big project read for the year and was so worth it. As Tipton said, it’s great devotional reading—and you even learn a little bit. Okay, that’s a gross understatement, you can learn a great deal from these (relatively) slim volumes.

Vos displays a fantastic economy of words here—especially if you contrast his Dogmatics with, say, Bavinck. He’s basically the Hemingway of Reformed Theology. There are no wasted words here, he says everything he needs to say and you rarely say to yourself, “I wished he’d covered something more thoroughly.” The segment on Individual Eschatology, however, works as an example of something he could’ve done more with—if you ignore his addressing the errors like purgatory, soul sleep, and annihilation, there’s practically nothing there.

The downside to his style and vocabulary is, like Hemingway, you can look at his writing and think “oh, this is simple and basic” and read too quickly and without reflection. This is a giant mistake. Vos is subtle. He’s profound. He’s also, thankfully, clear. You read this carefully and you’ll benefit greatly.

As the titles of the individual volumes suggest, he covers the major loci, and not much else. But he covers everything you’d need to cover in those, the topics covered are:

The Knowability of God
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Names, Being, and Attributes of God
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The Trinity
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Of God’s Decrees in General
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The Doctrine of Predestination
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Creation

Providence
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The Nature of Man
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Sin

The Covenant of Grace

Names of Christ
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Person and Natures of Christ
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Offices of Christ
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States of Christ
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The Ordo Salutis
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Regeneration and Calling
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Conversion
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Faith

Justification
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Sanctification

The Doctrine of the Church
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Essence of the Church
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Organization, Discipline, Offices of the Church
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The Means of Grace
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Word and Sacraments
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Baptism

The Lord’s Supper
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Eschatology: The Doctrine of Last Things
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Individual Eschatology
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General Eschatology

Which looks like a lot for so few pages, but Vos somehow pulls it off.

I expected that I’d have a favorite volume or two out of the set, but I really didn’t. There were sections within each I found more interesting/useful to me, but I am willing to bet that your list would vary from mine. Except maybe the section on the covenants in Volume 2, I can’t imagine there’s anything else in that one nearly as interesting to anyone. Not that the rest of the volume is lacking or uninteresting, it’s just that it’s so good.

The book is clearly written for his Dutch-speaking students in Michigan, focusing on that Church Order and controversies in contemporary Holland. So there are bits and pieces of it that will seem awfully foreign to those of us not in those circles. But even those parts have something we can profit from if we don’t get too bogged down in trying to suss out names/positions/etc.

Gaffin does provide the occasional footnote to explain the text or translation choice, but he’s largely silent, letting Vos speak for himself. I wouldn’t have minded a little more commentary, but honestly, it wasn’t necessary (but maybe was helpful).

I’m glad I read this and will be returning to it in years to come, both for reference and re-reading. I’m also glad that I found an electronic copy on sale over a year ago, so I can keep it on my phone for easy reference. One side-benefit of his pithiness is that you can do a quick check on the high points while having a conversation (something you can’t do so easily with Hodge, Turretin or Bavinck). Scholarly, yet approachable, simple and profound—oh, and piously orthodox–I really can’t recommend it highly enough.

5 Stars

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