Tag: Herman Bavinck

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

Guidebook for Instruction in the Christian Religion by Herman Bavinck; Gregory Parker Jr., Cameron Clausing (Translators): Dogmatics for Everyone

By HCNewton

On July 24, 2022

In Non-Fiction, Theology/Christian Living

Guidebook for Instruction in the Christian Religion

by Herman Bavinck, translated and edited by Gregory Parker Jr., Cameron Clausing

DETAILS:
Publisher: Hendrickson Academic
Publication Date: June 7, 2022
Format: Hardcover
Length: 194
Read Date: July 3-17, 2022

What’s Guidebook for Instruction in the Christian Religion About?

…in writing this guidebook, I had in mind the pupils in the highest classes of our Christian gymnasium, public schools, in the education of teachers, and in normal schools, etc., and moreover those who desire to understand the main content of our Christian, Reformed confession of faith through a not too comprehensive or expensive book.

That’s it in a nutshell—this book delivers the main content of the Reformed Christian thought directed toward those in High School or those without much education.

In twenty chapters of 10 +/- pages each, Bavinck covers things such as the Knowledge of God, General and Special Revelation, the Trinity, Creation, Providence, The Person and Work of Christ, The Holy Spirit, Salvation, The Church, and The End of the World.

There’s not much more to say than that, it’s shorter and easier to read than Systematic/Dogmatic Theology that I can think of, written by one of the most significant and influential teachers of the Twentieth Century.

[His desire is] to discuss the material in a scriptural sense: that it is not only revealed in its teaching but also in its comforting character, and that it is applied to the heart and conscience. Religious instruction must be education in the true sense of the word, and it must be education in the religion—that is, in the most tender and sacred of what a human soul may possess.

Guidebook and The Wonderful Works of God

While this was an original composition, it is fairly similar to The Wonderful Works of God, published a few years earlier. The Guidebook is streamlined, no doubt, but many passages/paragraphs in both match*, and the translators give footnotes throughout showing that—and when they diverge. There are instances that I’ve found (and will likely see others in future reading/study) that a similar section in the Guidebook helps clarify a point in TWWoG.

* Bavinck says he “intimately connected” the two.

So, what did I think about Guidebook for Instruction in the Christian Religion?

It took three afternoons of semi-casual reading for me to read this—I could’ve done it in two, had I skipped an afternoon nap (much less the three I let myself take over the period). I spent months reading both The Wonderful Works of God and Reformed Dogmatics, I practically gave myself whiplash as quick as this went.

This is incredibly accessible—anyone from fourteen on up should be able to handle it (although parts might take a little work for some—but not often). It covers all the essential matters of Systematic Theology, and occasionally goes beyond. There might be things you’d like him to be a bit more thorough about, but that’s what the other works are for. The translators put it this way:

He traverses a path in which he attempts to bridge the gap between the theology in the academy and theology in the church In doing so, he provides the pilgrim with a theology that is uniquely accessible. For those who found his Reformed Dogmatics alarmingly academic and his Magnalia Dei* intimidatingly thick, Guidebook is the theological porridge that is “just right” for most readers.

* The translators use the Latin title for The Wonderful Works of God throughout the work.

I recommend this without hesitation—as I do everything I’ve read by Bavinck—but without having to worry that someone will be intimidated by it, or decide they’re not up for the work. Although I still maintain that people shouldn’t be as intimidated as they are by him. The translators have given us a gift in making this available to English readers for the first time—as much of a gift as Bavinck gave the church of his time in writing it.

The translators close their Introduction with these words, and I think they’re a great way to sum up the book:

In his Guidebook for Instruction in the Christian Religion, Bavinck has given a gift to the church. The reader will likely find little that is groundbreaking or novel (as one regularly does in Reformed Dogmatics). However, this book supplies the theology of an academic concerned with the life of the church. It is an example of catechetical theology produced by one of the foremost academic theologians of his time.

Above all, we hope this translation helps fulfill Bavinck’s hope for true theology: that it does not remain an object of the head but penetrates the heart and thus becomes an act of confession and praise. As he writes, “Dogmatics, therefore, is… a hymn of adoration and thanksgiving, a ‘glory to God in the highest’ (Luke 2:14). In this book, Bavinck gives us a songbook: setting God before us and calling us to sing God’s praises.

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.

What Is Christianity? by Herman Bavinck, Gregory Parker Jr. (Translator): Short, Sweet, To the Point

By HCNewton

On June 5, 2022

In Non-Fiction, Theology/Christian Living

What is Christianity?

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

DETAILS:
Publisher: Hendrickson Academic
Publication Date: May 17, 2022
Format: Paperback
Length: 83 pg.
Read Date: May 29, 2022

After all, [mankind’s] deepest needs always boil down to the fact that all that is finite rests in the Infinite and Eternal One, who cannot be thought of in any other way than as a just and holy God who hates sin and is far removed from wickedness. But if there is to be any talk of comfort and peace for mankind, then this just and holy God must also be a merciful and gracious Father, who reconciles and forgives sin, frees us from guilt, and accepts us as his children out of grace. And finally, he must also be the Almighty and Faithful One who can realize what he promises and who, in the course of regeneration and sanctification, transforms the world and mankind into a kingdom of God.

These are the ineradicable needs of the human heart. But they are also the basic ideas of Christianity, which stand before us in historical facts as monuments. The apostolic benediction of the love of the Father, the grace of the Son, and of the fellowship of the Holy Spirit is the core of the universal, undoubted, Christian faith [2 Cor. 13:14].

What’s What is Christianity? About?

These are two short works by the noted Dutch Theologian newly translated into English. The second piece is an essay he wrote in 1883 called “The Christian Faith” (and because it’s the way my mind works since it was written first, I had to read it first).

The first piece is a small book called Christianity that was published in 1912 as part of a series of books called Great Religions. In this work, he starts by talking about who Jesus is, then covers the life of Jesus and those aspects of the Christian faith common to all its branches. From there he gives a survey of this history of doctrine that is both concise and thorough (in a way I wish I could emulate), before landing on and summarizing a Reformed Protestant understanding of the Faith.

A Nice Touch

Before the text, Parker reprinted a brief review from The Princeton Theological Review of Christianity. It was nice to see a contemporary take on the work from a trusted name to see that what people think of Bavinck now is pretty much what people thought of him then.

So, what did I think about What is Christianity??

These are apologetic works to be sure, but they aren’t aggressive or all that assertive. Bavink is clear and convincing without being combative. Typically for him, he displays a catholicity in his approach—he’s clearly Reformed Protestant, but he doesn’t disparage other views.

Bavinck has a reputation (somewhat deserved) as being a difficult author to read and comprehend. This small book demonstrates pretty conclusively that he’s not always difficult.

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

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 expressed are my own.

My Favorite Theology/Christian Living Books of 2021

By HCNewton

On January 9, 2022

In News/Misc., Theology/Christian Living

Unlike 2020, when I posted about almost nothing I read in this category, I was much stricter with myself and posted about everything. I don’t know if anyone else appreciated or benefited from it, but I sure did. It also made this post a lot easier 🙂

As always, re-reads don’t count for these lists. It’s a self-imposed rule, so I don’t feel too bad about playing fast and loose with the rule for a couple of these entries.

(in alphabetical order by author)

The Wonderful Works of God

by Herman Bavinck

My original post
Bavinck boiled down the material covered in his four-volume Reformed Dogmatics into this “simple explanation of the Christian faith in a book of modest scope.” It’s a pastoral work, a compassionate work, and one that will repeatedly point to the Gospel as well as the Majesty of the Triune God.

5 Stars

Faith in the Time of Plague

Edited by Stephen M. Coleman and Todd M.Rester

My original post
This is an anthology of “plague writings” from (primarily) Reformation and post-Reformation era pastors and theologians, to show how leaders in the past dealt with times of widespread communicable disease. 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.

4 Stars

On God and Christ, The Five Theological Orations and Two Letters to Cledonius

by Gregory of Nazianzus, Translators: Frederick Williams & Lionel Wickham

My original post
These sermons were pivotal in the development of the position behind the modification to the Nicene Creed at the Council of Constantinople. It’s full of technical Trinitarian language, so it’s not the easiest thing to read. But with a lot of care, it’s rewarding. These sermons have lasted since the Fourth Century because they’re useful, educational, approachable, and understandable. The translator calls them “as much high art as high theology” in his introduction. This is a man who cares about what he’s talking about—this is important to him, important to his opponents, important to his audience, and therefore it must be dealt with carefully, with precision, and clearly. All of which translates well to us today.

5 Stars

Finding Hope in Hard Things: A Positive Take on Suffering

by Pierce Taylor Hibbs

My original post
The central thesis of the book is: hard things are going to shape us in ways easy things can’t. He develops this thesis through a collection of essays about the death of his father, his anxiety disorder, and his struggles with self-doubt. These case studies are just that, things that his readers can relate to, sympathize with, and find similarities in their lives. After that, Hibbs points to finding Christ and His purposes in the hard things, and that’s where we find hope. This isn’t a book that comes to say “here’s a bunch of things you need to know to deal with suffering,” instead it’s “here’s what I’ve learned while through these trials, maybe you can learn from what I’ve been through, too.”

3.5 Stars

What Happens When We Worship

by Jonathan Landry Cruse

My original post
This is not a manual for the “how-to” aspects of worship, nor does it wade into the “style” debates and conflicts, he doesn’t look into the “why” we do certain things in worship (although he brushes against the idea). This is about the supernatural aspect to the ordinary, weekly event. It’s about what God does to and for His people in worship, what’s happening as we worship. Edifying, educational, orthodox, and even devotional—this book will introduce you to the vital topic or will gently remind you of the things you’ve been taken for granted.

5 Stars

Things Unseen: A Systematic Introduction to the Christian Faith and Reformed Theology

by J. Gresham Machen

My original post
These are transcripts of weekly radio addresses Machen made presenting a systematic approach to Christian teaching. Flying in the face of the mode of the day, Machen gives a strong presentation of Reformed distinctives, as well as a whole-hearted belief in a supernatural Christianity. He’s succinct, pastoral, accessible, and even witty. These are not talks for scholars, or dumbed-down–they’re straightforward presentations of the topics for everyone. This is one of the most rewarding books I’ve read in a few years. Even when Machen is merely restating what generations before him taught, there’s a freshness to his presentations that really are appealing.

(I’m thumbing my nose at my “only new to me” rule here–I’ve read these talks in other collections several years ago–but not organized like this in one volume)

5 Stars

The Trinity: An Introduction

by Scott R. Swain

My original post
This is an introduction to the classical Christian doctrine of The Trinity. He’s not trying to re-invent the wheel, he’s definitely not trying to innovate, but to provide a concise jumping-off point into deeper studies by providing a solid foundation. While Swain never seems to be leaving out details or avoiding the complicated ideas (although he obviously has to), he keeps things short and sweet.

This is one of those books where my notes keep saying “Chapter X is likely the highlight of the book,” “the section on X is likely the most valuable in the book.” It appears 60-70% of the book is a highlight—and I may not have written all of those parts down. Which is to say, there’s a lot of gold here. Helpful, insightful, and useful—it also achieves its end for leading on to further study for me. It’s accessible, but not easy, reading. At the same time, it’s a challenging, but not difficult, text.

5 Stars

The Trinity and the Bible: On Theological Interpretation

by Scott R. Swain

My original post
Rather than one overarching topic, this is a collection of previously published papers that seek to show both how the Bible reveals the Trinity and how the Trinity shapes our reading of the Bible. This is not an easy read, but it was worth the effort, every bit of it. Like a lot of the more scholarly theological books I read, I was reminded frequently while reading that I’m not an academic and this is above my weight class. But it wasn’t inaccessible, just difficult and required a little commitment. Like all good academic theology, there were moments of the most doxological writing—or doxology-inspiring writing (or a mix). There are paragraphs and paragraphs that I wish I could commit to memory, so I could use them at the drop of my hat in conversation and in prayer.

5 Stars

Foundations of Covenant Theology: A Biblical-Theological Study of Genesis 1–3

by Lane G. Tipton

My original post
I’ve read several introductions to Covenant Theology in the last couple of decades. This is a different way of covering these concepts and it’s a very effective one. It’s also a different way of looking at Genesis 1-3. Almost every time I’ve seen these chapters explained and exegeted, it had to do with the doctrine of Creation, the Fall and the Promise of the Seed in Genesis 3, and so on. But Tipton’s approach—while addressing all that—focuses on the Big Picture, looking at the purposes behind Creation, the protoevangelium, the Covenants of Work and Grace, and how those are worked out in history (particularly in the last two chapters about Christ as the Promised Seed and the Second Adam).

It’s a self-described “brief and non-technical” book, building on the work of Geerhardus Vos and Meredith G. Kline. Maybe a bit too brief, a little more expansion would be beneficial, but a fascinating and helpful read.

4 Stars

Grace and Glory

by Geerhardus Vos

My original post
Another version of this book made this list a couple of years ago, but this version has more sermons. It’s easily the best collection of sermons I’ve ever read. Yes, there’s rich theology behind these sermons, but they’re primarily expositions and applications of the texts for the hearers. And, yes, the audiences of these sermons were students at Princeton Theological Seminary (before the downgrade that led to the creation of Westminster Theological Seminary), but these were not airy, academic addresses. Sure, as the initial hearers were largely future ministers, there are portions that are more applicable to preachers than to laity. But there’s not a lot of that, and even in the midst of one of those sections, there’s still a lot of gold to be mined.

5 Stars

The Wonderful Works of God by Herman Bavinck: A Modern Classic Worth Its Weight in Gold

By HCNewton

On September 19, 2021

In Non-Fiction, Theology/Christian Living

I must be insane for even trying this one…what can I possibly say about this? But it’s been over a month since I finished this, and I’ve got to pull the trigger on this now before I overthink it any more than I already have.

The Wonderful Works of God

by Herman Bavinck

Hardcover, 549 pg.
Westminster Seminary Press, 2021

Read: January 3-August 8, 2021

Thus the confession of the trinity is the sum of the Christian religion. Without it neither the creation nor the redemption nor the sanctification can be purely maintained. Every departure from this confession leads to error in the other heads of doctrine…We can truly proclaim the mighty works of God only when we recognize and confess them as the one great work of Father, Son, and Spirit.

In the love of the Father, the grace of the Son, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit is contained the whole salvation of men.

What’s The Wonderful Works of God About?

Over a century ago, Herman Bavinck gave the world a gift when he abridged his magnum opus, Reformed Dogmatics (a four-volume set) into one volume—simplified for the laity. It was translated into English in the 1950s and published under the title Our Reasonable Faith. In 2019, that same translation was re-typeset and republished as The Wonderful Works of God (a better translation of the original title) with a new translation of Bavinck’s Foreword—which was left out of the original English edition, for some reason.

And wow—what a treasure this is. Over 24 chapters—none that are terribly long—Bavick covers all the necessary topics—Revelation (General and Special), Scripture, the Nature of God, the Trinity, Creation, Sin, Redemption, Eschatology, and so on. You can read each chapter in one sitting pretty easily, but they’re deep enough that you might not want to.

Strengths and Weaknesses

It’s my habit to talk about strengths/highlights of a book along these lines, as well as things I think the author could’ve done better at. When it comes to Bavinck (or the writer of any systematic theology), I’d be punching above my weight as a reader and as a blogger to do that. Instead, I’m limiting myself to the experience of reading the work.

I’ll talk more about the strengths in the next section. As for weaknesses? One of the best parts of this book is that it’s primarily positive/constructive–here’s how the Church has understood and developed its ideas about X. He rarely spends time critiquing/criticizing a teaching or a group. When he does, he does so effectively (for example, see his comments on Chiliasm). I would’ve liked to have seen a bit more of that–I’m all for following a writer/teacher down a path, I just like a little warning when I’m about to stray off of it while I’m at it.

So, what did I think about The Wonderful Works of God?

Under the title of Magnalia Dei, the wonderful works of God, I wish to give a simple explanation of the Christian faith in a book of modest scope, as confessed by the Reformed churches (Gereformeerde Kerken) in all times and lands.

Many contemporary readers will roll their eyes at the “simple explanation” and “modest scope” that Bavinck mentions in the first paragraph of this Foreword. But really, it kind of is. Ambitious and complex would describe his Dogmatics. Contemporary readers being flummoxed has more to do with educational standards and the other ways we’ve let our minds rot.

I should stress—by “simple” I don’t mean easy, I just mean not that complex. This is readable by anyone who’s willing to put a little work into it, Bavinck’s point is being something that anyone can understand and profit from it.

The book is steeped in Scripture and you can sense it on every page—following that Bavinck will explain the catholic* understanding of the doctrine—and then narrows the focus of the chapter to a Reformed understanding. It’s a pastoral work, a compassionate work, and one that will repeatedly point to the Gospel as well as the Majesty of the Triune God.

* Catholic=universal, that is. Small “c” catholic, not capital “c.”

While I’d recommend people put the effort into Reformed Dogmatics this is a far easier place to start reading Bavinck. (I made the mistake of coming at those works in the wrong way). There’s plenty to chew on in these pages, but it’s nothing to be daunted by. I’ve read a few single-volume systematics like this—none compare to the depth, clarity, and usefulness of this one.

If you’ve yet to read this, it’s time to fix that.

5 Stars