Tag: J. V. Fesko

REPOSTING JUST CUZ: Songs of a Suffering King by J. V. Fesko

By

On January 21, 2024

In Non-Fiction, Theology/Christian Living

Songs of a Suffering KingSongs of a Suffering King: The Grand Christ Hymn of Psalms 1–8

by J. V. Fesko

Kindle Edition, 123 pg.
Reformation Heritage Books, 2014

Read: January 17, 2016


This is a “small survey” (his words) of the first 8 Psalms, looking at them as testifying of Christ — His experiences, His heart, His prayers, His praise. Fesko doesn’t ignore the original author or context, but his focus is reading them through the filter of John 5:27/Luke 24:27. With that filter, it’s easy to see how the first 8 Psalms (as a microcosm of the Psalter as a whole) testify to Jesus Christ.

This book was just “oooohkay.” Maybe I came in with too high of expectations. I get that Fesko was writing for a more popular audience than some of this other work — but this seemed very shallow. There wasn’t a whole lot to sink my teeth into. I’m glad he made this material very accessible — it’s the kind of thing the Church needs more of. I’m just afraid he didn’t hit the right balance of content and ease of understanding.

The content was good, I do think each chapter helped me understand the Psalm in question a little better (more than that at least twice). The conclusion is very strong — probably the best chapter in the book. I just wish he’d brought some of that strength to bear on the earlier chapters.

The book contained some great insights, but it was primarily surface-level material. I just wanted more from the book. Maybe I wanted too much, but I don’t think so. There were a couple of “wow!” moments for me that lead me to rate this at 3-stars rather than 2 1/2 (but if he’d developed those ideas for more than the one or two sentences he gave them I’d have gone with 4). It’s a nice, quick easy read with some good devotional material, but it could’ve been more without making it too technical.

—–

3 Stars

Who Is Jesus? Knowing Christ through His “I Am” Sayings by J. V. Fesko

By

On December 12, 2021

In Non-Fiction, Theology/Christian Living

Who Is Jesus?

Who Is Jesus?:
Knowing Christ through
His “I Am” Sayings

by J. V. Fesko

Paperback, 93 pg.
Reformation Heritage Books, 2016

Read: December 5, 2021
Grab a copy from your local indie bookstore!

What’s Who is Jesus? About?

This book does three things—at the same time—first and foremost, it looks at all fourteen times that Jesus uses the phrase “I am,” in the Gospel of John, and discusses the context and meaning of it. Fesko doesn’t just look at Christ’s meaning of “the door,” “the bread of life,” and so on, but the significance of the use of “I am” (ἐγώ εἰμι, ego eimi).

Secondly, it looks at the “seven signs of divinity” presented in John—and how they’re intertwined in the “I am” sayings. But Fesko doesn’t let the focus linger on these signs.

Lastly, and this is the unique part of this study, is to look at the Old Testament allusions and roots of the fourteen “I am”s. Seeing how Christ was self-consciously pointing to the Scriptures to show how he fulfills them is a real treasure.

Fesko concludes each chapter with a few paragraphs of application to the reader and some questions for further study.

So, what did I think about Who is Jesus??

This might not be the best comparison, but it’s the one that I kept thinking of as I read this, so…if you don’t like this, I’ll give you a full refund for the cost of your subscription.

In The West Wing, there were repeated worries about the President’s approach to things—the way he interacts with people, there’s “The President at his Best”/”The Professor” or “Uncle Fluffy.” Fesko’s books feel like they’re written the same way. For example, Death in Adam, Life in Christ: The Doctrine of Imputation or Word, Water, and Spirit: A Reformed Perspective on Baptism are products of “The Professor.” Who is Jesus? is pure Uncle Fluffy.

This is not a complaint. This is an observation. Well, okay, maybe a little of a complaint. I’m glad this was the Uncle Fluffy Fesko—I appreciated that this was an accessible, short read—but I think it could’ve used a little more of The Professor. Just a little more depth would’ve been great. But it’s good as it is, just could’ve been a bit better.

At the same time—you give me a version of this book by The Professor? I’m there in a heartbeat.

Who is Jesus? is a quick read (it’s very easy to be too quick about it, I had to tap my breaks a few times), but it’s a good read. There’s a richness to the study of the “I Am” sayings and a real reward to looking at their Old Testament roots. This is well-worth your time, it’d be good for Bible Studies, Sunday Schools—even Family Worship aids.

3 Stars

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

Death in Adam, Life in Christ: The Doctrine of Imputation by J. V. Fesko: Careful Words on an Important Topic

By

On June 27, 2021

In Non-Fiction, Theology/Christian Living

Death in Adam, Life in Christ

Death in Adam, Life in Christ:
The Doctrine of Imputation

by J. V. Fesko
Series: Reformed Exegetical and Doctrinal Studies

Paperback, 280 pg.
Mentor, 2016

Read: May 23-June 21, 2021

What’s Death in Adam, Life in Christ About?

The Back of the Book:

The doctrine of imputation is the ground in which salvation is rooted. It centers around the three great ‘assignments’ of the Bible:

  • Adam’s original sin assigned to mankind
  • The sins of God’s people assigned to Chrsit
  • And Christ’s righteousness assigned to all of His people.
    This doctrine is often seen as superfluous or splitting hairs, and yet, without it, redemption automatically becomes reliant on our own works and assurance of salvation is suddenly not so sure.J. V. Fesko eloquently and systematically works through this doctrine, looking at its long history in the church, its exegetical foundation, and its dogmatic formulation. In exploring imputed guilt from the First Adam alongside the imputed righteousness from the Second, this volume offers a helpfully well-rounded explanation of the doctrine.

Fesko starts out by sketching the doctrine and how he’s going to approach the argument. He then discusses the history of the doctrine, how the Church has discussed this from the Early Church through to the present—this takes about half the book. Then we get two carefully structured chapters looking at Imputation in the Old and New Testaments. He wraps things up with a long chapter that brings all the data together to lay out a doctrine of Imputation that reflects the exegesis and honors the best of the history.

So, what did I think about Death in Adam, Life in Christ?

I’d been wanting to try the R.E.D.S. series for a while, but hadn’t taken the leap. When Jonathan Landry Cruse cited this in The Christian’s True Identity, I figured this was the way in. This volume speaks well for the series.

If J. V. Fesko convinces you to embrace his position on something it won’t be through soaring rhetoric, emotional ploys, or charm and wit—it’ll be because he’s right. I’m not saying that Fesko drains all the life and verve out of important and interesting topics; but if you said it, I wouldn’t argue. It’s dry, it’s careful, it’s painstaking. It’s also very good.

These are important ideas, difficult topics, and they should be talked about as if they are. This is what Fesko does.

The historical overview was helpful and informative. The exegetical chapters were great. The doctrinal chapter and conclusion? Gold. It’ll take work and perseverance, but if you want to understand this vital doctrine, I can’t think of a better way.

4 Stars

Songs of a Suffering King by J. V. Fesko

By

On January 24, 2016

In Non-Fiction, Theology/Christian Living

Songs of a Suffering KingSongs of a Suffering King: The Grand Christ Hymn of Psalms 1–8

by J. V. Fesko

Kindle Edition, 123 pg.
Reformation Heritage Books, 2014

Read: January 17, 2016


This is a “small survey” (his words) of the first 8 Psalms, looking at them as testifying of Christ — His experiences, His heart, His prayers, His praise. Fesko doesn’t ignore the original author or context, but his focus is reading them through the filter of John 5:27/Luke 24:27. With that filter, it’s easy to see how the first 8 Psalms (as a microcosm of the Psalter as a whole) testify to Jesus Christ.

This book was just “oooohkay.” Maybe I came in with too high of expectations. I get that Fesko was writing for a more popular audience than some of this other work — but this seemed very shallow. There wasn’t a whole lot to sink my teeth into. I’m glad he made this material very accessible — it’s the kind of thing the Church needs more of. I’m just afraid he didn’t hit the right balance of content and ease of understanding.

The content was good, I do think each chapter helped me understand the Psalm in question a little better (more than that at least twice). The conclusion is very strong — probably the best chapter in the book. I just wish he’d brought some of that strength to bear on the earlier chapters.

The book contained some great insights, but it was primarily surface-level material. I just wanted more from the book. Maybe I wanted too much, but I don’t think so. There were a couple of “wow!” moments for me that lead me to rate this at 3-stars rather than 2 1/2 (but if he’d developed those ideas for more than the one or two sentences he gave them I’d have gone with 4). It’s a nice, quick easy read with some good devotional material, but it could’ve been more without making it too technical.

—–

3 Stars

Powered by WordPress & Theme by Anders Norén