Gnostic America by Peter Burfeind – Book Review

The sub-title of this book is: A Reading of Contemporary American Culture & Religion according to Christianity’s Oldest Heresy.  Peter Burfeind has accomplished that by identifying Gnostic traits and following the movement of this heresy as it was vigorously opposed and suppressed in the early church, through to emergence during the Reformation and Enlightenment, then coming to full bloom in modern manifestations both politically (fascism, communism, and nazism) and religiously (Liberalism and Neo-Evangelicalism).

The interplay between political and religious elements was fascinating.  Early on, the close ties of Church and State suppressed gnostic ideas from becoming a force.  As this barrier began to crumble across Europe and into the U.S., gnostic thought flourished and became more ingrained in the psyche of whichever society had as its head a leader adhering to the principles. Gnostic traits would then seep into the Church causing multiple splits, as more and more splinter groups sought (and seek) to work toward the utopian “other” not bound by the strictures of any specific doctrine or practice.

Especially disheartening is the role of Anabaptists in fomenting gnosticism.  Most of my Christian years have been spent in this part of Christendom, and it causes me to question some of the truths I learned, while reinforcing what had already been changing in my mind.  In addition, the author shows how music has been used to subvert the Church from within, leading to the current state of Contemporary Christian Music and its use in worship.  Western Christianity needs a “gut check,” and this book can do it.

A great deal of research and analysis went into this work, and it is written at an academic level.  I was glad for my previous reading of Irenaeus which gave me background to follow, as the author traced the movement and pointed back to the early heresy.  The reader needs to keep the gnostic traits and the spirit entities in relationship while going through this, but the reward will be a solid understanding of how Western Civilization got to this deplorable state.

There are some proofreading errors in the text, but nothing prevents comprehension.  All in all, this is definitely worth reading.

Language for God in Patristic Tradition by Mark Sheridan – Book Review

When reading the Church Fathers, there are times when they are befuddling.  Why did they suddenly take this turn or that, which seemingly has nothing at all to do with the passage at hand?  Why did they go to such great lengths to explain themselves?  Many times we need a road map.  Mark Sheridan has provided just such a map, uncovering for the reader the mindset of the patristic writers in their wrestling and explanation of God’s self-revelation.  The author gleans primarily from Origen’s body of work to demonstrate how the Alexandrian father influenced exegesis for centuries afterward, even to today.

The author begins by examining the early writers as they wrestled with God's transcendence in communicating with mankind.  How could someone so completely “other” express himself in human terms?  Could a self-limiting language accurately convey the expanse of divine meaning?  What has been left unsaid that can only be extracted through the work of the Holy Spirit?  These questions are not those readily considered by the modern reader of Scripture, but to one such as John Chrysostom, this was paramount:

Chrysostom seems constantly to be concerned that his hearers will take the text too literally, and he frequently (several hundred times) introduces this distinction between God’s “considerateness” in formulating things in a human way and what is “a sense befitting God” (Sheridan, 41).

The literal meaning of a text was never in doubt, and we see the great care with which they mined the depths of Scripture in order to correctly expound the spiritual meaning and application.  Knowing their reverence for the Bible, we can understand how writers like Origen earned a reputation for overly spiritualizing in his commentaries and homilies.  We can readily admit that he overstepped the typology and figures the inspired writers used.

Alexandrian homileticians were not the only group to attempt to a spiritual extraction from their sacred text.  Philo, a Jew living at the time of Christ, was noteworthy in his use of allegory to explain the Hebrew Scriptures.  Also, a chapter is offered to the Greek and Latin philosophers who attempted the same rhetorical device to explain their concepts of divinity.  Perhaps this might be the weakest aspect of the book, since the intent is to explain biblical rather than pagan anthropomorphism, but it does lend an historical background to the patristic practice.

After this background information, Sheridan turns his attention to specific passages of the Hebrew Scriptures: first, by gathering patristic comments on Jesus’ and Paul’s use of Torah in teaching; second, by engaging three classic cases from the nation of Israel; and third, by reviewing the imprecatory portions of Psalms.  Each of these requires its own chapter to properly establish how the Fathers interacted with these in light of the New Testament.  These chapters of applying what has been presented in the prior chapters and developing the exegetical sense of the early church, especially as it relates to the Alexandrian school.  Lastly, we are offered a comparison of modern with patristic understanding of the problem texts mentioned in the previous chapters.

Overall, this book is worth the read and is not beyond most readers.  Preachers and teachers would do well to take up this work and learn how the Early Church addressed the Bible.  Plus there is bonus material.  As good as this book is, I found the appendix to be absolute gold.  Sheridan summarizes Christian hermeneutics during the first centuries of the church.  The three major points addressed are:

1. Presuppositions about the Nature of the Text of the Scriptures
2. Criteria for a Correct Interpretation
3. Some Rules of Interpretation

This summary information from the Church Fathers is as applicable to today as it was 1700-1800 years ago and demonstrates that these early expositors were taking greatest care.  I dare say that if the modern Church took the same level of care in their attention to holy things, much exegetical nonsense would be avoided.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from IVP Academic.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Yawning at Tigers by Drew Dyck – Book Review

I just finished Yawning at Tigers: You Can't Tame God, So Stop Trying by Drew Dyck.  Let me begin by saying that one should never review a book based on the Kindle version.  Though a more inexpensive alternative (and handy for reading at the gym), I miss the ease of going back to find specifics.  That being the case, this will be more general than normal.

When initially seeing the main title of this book, I immediately thought it would be yet another Christian motivational work, but the subtitle was intriguing.  Instead of the constant refrain of popular Christian fare that somehow God so immanent as to be malleable and useful for our earthly or an intimate lover always longing for us to rest in His bosom as He gently caresses us.  Instead, this book looks squarely at the problem that we, in our minds, have domesticated the Almighty Lord of heaven and earth, and we have lost sight that He is utterly holy and transcendent—unapproachable in any regard save for His own intercession on our behalf.

The book is divided in half with the first section describing how we have forgotten the dread of God’s awesome holiness and what we lose because of it.  I was struck by the gap being overcome from reading another book* in which the author relates some of the early Church Fathers who considered to what lengths God needed to go and lower Himself to our level of language and understanding in order to reveal Himself in Scripture.  The second section reviews the how we need to keep immanence and transcendence in tension in order to appreciate the gap that needed to be bridged in our sin, to demonstrate what great lengths he endured to bring himself close to us in the incarnation, and then even to suffer and die for us.  God suffered for me—unfathomable, but true.  That shows the depths of His love.

 Dyck is an effective, engaging writer.  My thoughts and emotions were stirred considering the ramifications of knowing God’s rightful place, coupled with the awful (awe-full?), yet necessary, work of redemption.  My only quibble is in the perceived conclusion that we are to act in light of the relationship, and the example offered was Mama Maggie, a Coptic Christian who founded the organization Stephen’s Children in Egypt.  I was put off by what appeared to be her mystical leanings.  While her story might be worthwhile to tell, I would rather have been kept focused on Christ.  That aside, this is a worthwhile read.


*  Mark Sheridan, Language for God in Patristic Tradition: Wrestling with Biblical Anthropomorphism, IVP, 2015.

Heaven on Earth by Arthur A. Just – Book Review

I have been reading books on liturgy recently* to better understand both the history and theology of what should happen as believers gather together on Sunday.  Heaven on Earth: The Gifts of God in the Divine Service by Arthur A. Just, Jr. is a welcome addition to that reading list.  While Luther Reed and Frank Senn approach the subject more academically or scholastically, Just delivers the goods in a more pastoral and accessible style, desiring to impress upon the average reader the historic five-fold structure of liturgy, plus the Church Year and Hours, and how these draw from and point to Christ.

Because the liturgy is historic, the author establishes the theology of worship, then lays out how the early church structured their meetings drawing from their Jewish roots.  He then builds and includes the interconnectedness of baptism and the Lord’s Supper to the gathering, establishing the practice and wisdom of when believers were brought into full table fellowship.  Following this are chapters explaining the two main parts of the Divine Service—Liturgy of the Word; Liturgy of the Lord’s Supper—and how the flow of the service moves throughout.  Finally, there is an historic view of how the liturgy changed over the centuries, pointing out both the medieval corruptions and Martin Luther’s corrections, and a proposal for how to approach liturgical reform today.

Each chapter was chock full of excellent material, but there were two chapters in particular that stood out.  The first dealt with the place of psalms in worship.  The psalter is both a songbook and a prayer guide.  Whether in a corporate gathering or individually isolated, these works of David, Moses, etc. beautifully express the whole of human existence and our Lord’s place within it.  What these men of God expressed is a fount of blessing for the Church as they recount the uncertainty of human circumstance, and concomitant emotions, alongside the certitude of divine promise and providence.  We can understand, then, why Jewish, Patristic, and Medieval saints were driven to memorize them and have them as part of their regular worship.

The other chapter that impressed me mightily dealt with the historic overview.  There I found a wealth of information to help any church group (not just Lutheran) understand how better to approach the entire subject.  Referring to those who desire to jettison liturgy for a more relevant worship style for cultural appeal:

Perhaps what is wrong is not the liturgy but those who do liturgy, their understanding, their commitment to it, and their execution of it.  The targets of liturgical renewal are the clergy and the congregation.  The problems are less liturgical and more theological, centering more in our anthropology and ecclesiology than our liturgiology.  What is wrong is not the liturgy but the culture; thus instead of constantly asking what's wrong with the liturgy, we should be asking what's wrong with the culture.  We should concentrate our attention on the renewal of of the culture through liturgy, not vice versa.  The goal of good liturgy is always the transforming of culture by the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  This is not accomplished if the liturgy is subject to the whims of the culture.  Untransformed by liturgy, culture effectively destroys that liturgy.  The Church becomes indistinguishable from the culture, and the Gospel is lost.  (264)

And for those wanting to make the liturgy more individualized for those gathering together:

In our individualistic society, where we all want to do things our own way, one of the worst things we can do in our liturgies is cater to all these individual tastes.  Variety does not solve problems; it creates them.  The reason people are bored with the liturgy is not because there is no variety but because what takes place in the liturgy is perceived to be insignificant.  (267)

The author writes from a Lutheran point of view,† but do not let that prevent you from investigating what is presented.  Whether or not your local assembly has a formal liturgy, this book will be of benefit in understanding worship, both personally and corporately.


*  Luther Reed, The Lutheran Liturgy; Frank C. Senn, Introduction to Christian Liturgy and Christian Liturgy.
†  Dr. Just is professor of exegetical theology at Concordia Seminary, Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Is Your Theology of Worship Scriptural?

Recently, Daniel Block has written a book aimed at recovering a proper theology of worship.  I have not purchased it yet, but if this quote from a Baker Book House blog post is an indicator of the contents, the book should be near the top of your wish list.

A number of years ago I preached in a large church with three Sunday morning services.  I shall never forget when, at a transitional moment in the service, the “pastor of music and worship’ declared to the congregation, “Now, before we continue our worship, let me read a passage from Colossians 3”—as if reading and hearing the Scriptures are not exercises in worship.

This restricted notion of worship is common in our day and is reflected in the ubiquitous labeling of CDs as “praise and worship” music, the specification in church bulletins of the singing period as “worship time,” and the identification of musicians on the pastoral staff as “worship ministers” or “ministers of worship arts.”  In fact, the worship industry tends to equate worship not only with music but with a particular type of music: contemporary praise.

These practices raise all sorts of questions, not only about the significance of other aspects of the Sunday service (prayer, preaching, testimonials, etc.) but also about religious rituals in the Bible and the Scriptures’ relative minor emphasis on music in worship.  Not only is music rarely associated with worship in the New Testament but the Pentateuch is altogether silent on music associated with tabernacle worship.  All of this highlights our skewed preoccupation with music in the current conflicts over worship. (xi)

Biblical Dogmatics by A. G. Voigt – Book Review

Biblical Dogmatics by A. G. Voigt is the third volume in the American Lutheran Classics series edited by Jordan Cooper.  As the title states, this is a dogmatic theology text focusing on the presentation of what is confessed about God and His work by a Church body—in this case the Lutheran church—as opposed to a systematic theology which examines the major theological themes of the Bible, each building upon the preceding.

Voigt’s overriding thesis is the communion of man with God.  Beginning with the environment created in order for this communion to be established, the authors moves through the Fall (broken communion), execution of the redemption plan (restored, imperfect communion), and ending with the consummation (full communion).   I like this format for two reasons.  First, it follows the revelation of scripture from Creation to Revelation giving the reader the general flow of redemptive history.

Second, the chapters can be easily grouped into sections on the working of God, Son, and Holy Spirit.  This grouping establishes a Trinitarian view of redemption as each part may be explained by emphasizing the primary work of the different persons of the Godhead, while demonstrating their interconnectedness in every part.  I do not remember a theology work intentionally using this format since reading Thomas Oden’s Systematic Theology.

I am always pleased when learning something new, and this did not disappoint.  While discussing Christ’s two natures, the author posits the question: Was Christ a human person,  Or was His humanity impersonal? (p. 111)  John of Damascus determined that Christ assumed an impersonal humanity thereby avoiding the possible conflict from the idea of Him being a double person. (ibid.)

Other new information came in the discussion of the communication of human and divine properties, specifically the communication of divine attributes to the human nature.  Because the divine attributes in question are infinite and eternal, he explains this way:

Here the attributes of the divine nature are communicated to the human nature.  It is not a transfusion, by which the divine essence parts with something in it, or the essence of the humanity is changed.  The humanity always remains in itself finite.  The communication of the divine attributes is not such as to produce an infinite expansion of the human nature.  It only imparts to it the ability to concur and participate in the divine works of Christ. (p. 127)

As the author states immediately afterward, this affects the basis of the Lutheran understanding of Christ’s real presence in the bread and cup of the Lord’s Supper.  The Lutheran Confessions argued for this position, and Martin Chemnitz individually* noted that anything accomplished by Christ must be done so be the whole person and not just one nature.  John Calvin’s teaching (and those following him) subsequently focused on the finiteness of the human nature—basically a natural law argument—to say that the human nature could not be present.  Based on the arguments presented, the Lutheran Christology has better ground, thus making the real presence possible.  Whether or not it is actually present seems to more depend upon the text and context of what happened in the Upper Room.

This book gives the reader a solid understanding of God’s redemptive plan in a format accessible for the average reader.  There are a few Greek and Latin terms tossed around, but that helps the reader understand what their pastors are writing in blog posts. 


*  Chemnitz states his case in both The Two Natures in Christ and The Lord’s Supper, but I cannot put my finger on the exact references.

The Way of Salvation in the Lutheran Church by G. H. Gerberding – Book Review

Jordan Cooper has undertaken the task of publishing Lutheran works from the early twentieth century American authors with slightly updated language and scripture references (English Standard Version) at an affordable price.  The series, entitled American Lutheran Classics, was initially announced as having five volumes of which four are available.

The Way of Salvation in the Lutheran Church by George H. Gerberding is the first volume in the series and is an introduction to the Lutheran doctrine of salvation.  Gerberding desired “to write a basic of basic, practical articles” on the Lutheran doctrine of salvation in order to answer questions that were raised.  This he has accomplished.

The topics are presented in a logical order beginning with Original Sin and the necessity of salvation.  From there Geberding takes up the means of grace.  There will be disagreement over the use and efficacy of baptism, however I do commend the author for being thorough and discussing its use both for infants and adults.  Especially, in regards to the former, there are concerns about the parent’s upbringing of the child in the “fear and admonition of the Lord” to ensure they understand their covenant responsibility.  He also addresses the use of Sunday School in supporting catechetical and other biblical instruction at home and church.  Following these chapters are those addressing the Lord's Supper, Confession, and the Word of God as means of grace delivering faith.  These points are presented in logical fashion, one building on the preceding, so that the progression is integrated from new birth to adulthood.  Any reading the book will appreciate the multifaceted obligation of parents, pastor, and the church at large for the care of each person so that they might be built up and taught rightly in Christ.

Following the above subjects are chapters dealing specifically with conversion, justification, and sanctification, ending with a biblical look at revival.  Gerberding wants to lay a foundation of the necessity of regeneration or newness of life and that it is all of Christ.  However, he also looks forward to when faith wanes, swerves, or is upset.  As a complete picture, he understands that revival (or restoration) follows the same source and path as that faith first came: it is not through programmed measures or new excitements, but is built up by returning to the fount of blessing—Christ and his eternal word.

Overall, the material is quite readable and easy to understand.  As Cooper states from his own introduction:

This book was not written primarily for pastors or theologians…. It is exceptionally readable, so that it might be used in Bible studies, Sunday school, or just read by those interested in Lutheranism or in defending their own Lutheran faith. (12)

I have read Lutheran books that dealt with this subject in part, but as they were more academic in nature, points were made without connecting the points to my satisfaction.  This simple book fills in those gaps.  Also, I was pleasantly surprised by the passion the author exuded in his desire to build up the Christian and encourage the sharing of the gospel.  Not all Lutherans are reserved.

I recommend this to be read for no other reason than to understand that discipleship does not happen in a vacuum, but in a community of like-minded believers.  On the other hand, Gerberding is persuasive in his simple, reverent style, so that you may come away saying to yourself: Almost thou persuadest me to be a Lutheran.

This book and others in the series can be purchased directly at Amazon.com and Booksamillion.com.

Eusebius of Caesarea: Gospel Problems and Solutions - Book Review

Roger Pearse is the editor of a translation work, Eusebius of Caesarea: Gospel Problems and Solutions, comprising letters to both Stephanus and Marinus on various subjects from the gospel texts.  Complete letters and fragments have been compiled from the Greek, along with fragments from Latin, Syriac, Coptic, and Arabic translations.  The entire book is typeset with the original language from which the accounts are taken on the left and English on the right, allowing the reader to view the original with the translation.  Readers of volumes in the Loeb Classical Library will be familiar with this format.

Although Eusebius may be more commonly known for his Ecclesiastical History, these letters are evidence of a student of scripture as he gives logical explanations for Matthew’s genealogy, among them the precedence of David, missing generations, and differences from Luke.  Along with these are apparent inconsistencies in the Gospel accounts of the resurrection: the timing, women present, Jesus’ interaction with Mary Magdalene, and so on.  Some of the explanations are familiar and can be found in any commentary, however some are unique and worthy of notation.  Bible students having a conservative view of the gospel texts will appreciate what is presented.

This work is intended to be the first in a series from Chieftain Publishing.  Origen’s homilies on Ezekiel had been in progress, but more material surfaced adding time and effort to the project.  I look forward to its arrival.


Roger Pearse has been advocating the translation of the early church materials, as well as availability of texts in the original languages, for several years.  His online presence includes The Tertullian Project, which deals primarily with the North African apologist but extends to other patristic authors as well (see here for a complete collection.)  In addition, his blog gives incites and updates to ongoing and prospective projects, as well as miscellaneous reflections.

Defending Christ by Nicholas L. Thomas – Book Review

I purchased Defending Christ by Nicholas L. Thomas in an effort to further research on Arnobius of Sicca.  While this work did not aid toward the specifics of my research, the author did a good job in presenting five early Latin apologists in their defense of Christianity.  The author compares and contrasts styles of argumentation in chronological order* to show how authors may have borrowed from one another or addressed similar issues.

I found the lack of direct scriptural citation to be interesting.  Each was more intent on presenting the Christian position in general terms assuming the specific propositions from which they are derived are true.  Instead, each apologist brings his argument to the cause to lay out the reasonableness of the Christian position, the unfairness of attacks against believers, and the folly of continued pagan worship.

Thomas does a good job of interconnecting the thought processes between these men and bringing out individual rhetorical styles.  Minucius Felix is noted for his elegance and Tertullian for prowess in building a legal case.  Lactantius, the last of the men chronologically, set out to draw from and improve upon the argumentation of the North African writers who preceded him, as noted in Divine Institutes.

Although Tertullian fully pleaded the same cause in that treatise which is entitled the Apology, yet, inasmuch as it is one thing to answer accusers, which consists in defense or denial only, and another thing to instruct, which we do, in which the substance of the whole system must be contained, I have not shrunk from this labor, that I might complete the subject, which Cyprian did not fully carry out in that discourse in which he endeavors to refute Demetrianus (as he himself says) railing at and clamoring against the truth.… For, since he was contending against a man who was ignorant of the truth, he ought for a while to have laid aside divine readings, and to have formed from the beginning this man as one who was altogether ignorant, and to have shown to him by degrees the beginnings of light, that he might not be dazzled, the whole of its brightness being presented to him. (5.4.1)

I was disappointed that the section covering Arnobius did not dwell more on his arguments, dwelling on his relation to the others.  This is understandable since the apologist is a professional rhetorician, not a theologian, something his errant scriptural support demonstrates.  Instead he plays to his strengths and argues against the pagans with an offensive polemic akin to Martin Luther’s denunciations of foolhardy doctrine and practice.†

All in all, I appreciate this book explaining the united effort given to the defense of Christ while undergoing Roman persecution.  It is my hope that this will assist believers in learning of the early apologists and how they built upon their predecessors to logically address cultural, if not legal, opposition to the gospel.


*  Exact chronology is impossible, especially in the case of Minucius Felix, however the relative placement of the original works assists in understanding the relationship of ideas.
†  And who doesn’t like a good smack down where it is richly deserved?

The Righteousness of One by Jordan Cooper - Book Review

Available at Amazon

From the back cover:

Since the publication of E.P. Sanders' Paul and Palestinian Judaism in 1977, Paul's soteriology has received extensive evaluation in light of second temple Judaism.  These works have focused on exegesis of the Pauline text and evaluating Sanders' proposal of covenantal nomism within the second temple Jewish literature.  There has been an unfortunate gap in this discussion: historical theology.  This work addresses the historical claims made by proponents of the New Perspective on Paul regarding Luther's theology and the early church.  In The Righteousness of One, Jordan Cooper demonstrates that the portrait of Luther given by many of the New Perspective writers is a caricature, read through the lens of both Protestant scholasticism and twentieth-century existentialist theology.  Luther's views are more nuanced and balanced than many Pauline interpreters are willing to admit.  In light of this reevaluation of Luther's own theology, early Patristic writings are evaluated in terms of similarity and disparity between Patristic Pauline interpretation and Lutheran Pauline interpretation, and thus it becomes apparent that there is continuity between the patristic tradition and Luther's reading of the Pauline text.  Rather than being driven purely by medieval debates about merit, Luther's reading of Paul is both exegetically sensitive and consistent with the broader catholic tradition.

My understanding of the New Perspective of Paul (NPP) cannot be considered anywhere near comprehensive.  What I have gleaned from that hermeneutic is derived mainly from critiques of Sanders, James D. G. Dunn, and N. T. Wright, plus my own reading of Dunn's commentary on Romans and Wright's The New Testament and the People of God.  The latter especially has an engaging writing style that allows him to handily communicate and apply NPP to the New Testament.

The outstanding question to be asked for any developing theory must be: Is it true?  Rather than using the time-tested method of comparing what is proposed with that which was handed down from previous generations to establish veracity, proponents of NPP have dismantled what had been commonly taught and built a completely new supporting framework in order to promulgate their teaching.  They assert that Martin Luther, being a victim of medieval theology and philosophy, misunderstood the apostle Paul concerning justification, so that those who followed built on a faulty platform.  Jordan Cooper undertakes the thesis that Luther was not mistaken about justification and righteousness, but actually followed in the steps of the Early Church Fathers.

Cooper builds his case by first articulating what Luther taught and believed about soteriology, especially as it is developed in his commentary on Galatians.  This helps to establish what came from the reformer rather than how he is portrayed amongst the NPP authors.  True, Luther did develop his thinking over time, yet we are able to get a firm grasp on his position.

Next, the author draws from four early sources—Clement of Rome, Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to Diognetus, and Justin Martyr—which addressed the basis of salvation.  He wisely notes that these do not have a fully-developed soteriology, yet they are useful because of common elements across the works, demonstrating a developing teaching consistency in the Christian world.  These works are shown to contain the rudimentary elements upon which the Reformers built, with the conclusion that Luther was faithful in building on what the early church had believed and taught.

Cooper does a solid job of building his case for consistency from Paul to Luther using the post-apostolic fathers.  Being a revision of his master's thesis, I understand why he used only a limited number.  Perhaps there might be an enlarged edition of this work, drawing from more sources in the patristic era in order to further bolster the argument.  Still, I recommend the work for those wanting some background while dealing with the New Perspective.

Buried Treasure

Photo: Cyberbrethren

A blogger I follow dared to make the suggestion that personal libraries need to be pruned occasionally.

Barbarian!  Heretic!

Well, maybe not.  He does have a point.  My office area is not quite as bad as this picture, but I have an abundance of printed material standing on my shelves and lying about the house.

The difficulty comes in what to do with books I have read once and never intend to revisit because they are either poorly written or promoted doctrine I could not espouse.  More than once I have wrestled over whether to sell a book on eBay, donate it to an organization, or drop it in the recycle bin because of content.  I might give it to a discerning friend who can properly ascertain its usefulness.

For those books of good quality, I am all for putting them.  An aging preacher did that for me by selecting works from his personal library and handed them to me in a sort of sacred trust to glean from their collective wisdom.  His generosity has always been appreciated.  Maybe I should start doing the same.

Win "Historical Theology" by Gregg Allison

Credo, the online magazine, is giving away a copy of Historical Theology by Gregg Allison.  Multiple opportunities to win are allowed by posting and sharing the news.  And since divine providence will surely work so that this volume comes into my possession, I promise to let you know how good it is after reading it.

From Eternity to Here, Frank Viola - Book Review

I have enjoyed reading Frank Viola's books, so when this became available for free download, I jumped at the chance.  The best that can be said for this book is that it was worth the price. Had actual funds been transferred, a refund would have been appropriate.

The book is divided into three sections.  The first relates how God's ultimate passion was a bride for His son.  Now, I do not want to negate that a bride was not in God's mind since before the foundations of the earth, but to state that is His ultimate passion is to say that the eternal Trinitarian Godhead is incomplete.  Is this really Viola's claim?  Is the only begotten Son of God so lovesick that the Father must send the Holy Spirit out to find a suitable bride, and until that happens God is thwarted? What kind of a God is this?  Surely it is not the one found in Scripture who is all in all and complete within Himself.

To build his case, Viola begins with eisegesis: he states that Eve did not come along until after the seven days of creation were complete.  Where did this come from?  I have read most works of the Ante-Nicene Fathers, and they do not mention this. Is this a later development?  A Google search gives many sights with this theory, but those I read were promoting a different race of man having been created before Adam and Eve came on the scene—more folly.

Section two outlines how God has always wanted a dwelling place.  Again, I do not wish to take away from His promises to dwell with the elect, especially that found in the new Jerusalem, but to claim God was basically homeless without the church is utter nonsense.  Again, where can we find apostolic or historic teaching that such is the case?

These first two sections were written in a sentimental style.  The aim was clearly to appeal to the emotions without reasoning through divine revelation.  This is sloppy teaching, and the author should know better.

Section three surprised me because of the clear, correct application that was made in spite of the faulty foundation built with the first two.  If someone could secure a copy of the book and read only this part, there would be some merit.

At the end of the book is a page of acknowledgements which disturbed me.  The scholars were a mixed bag—some I trust, other not—but the authors and friends I recognized frightened me: Tom Wright, Brian McLaren, and Mike Bickle.  These men are cover the spectrum from poor to heretical theology.  Frank Viola considers these men as influential or friends.  While someone might be able to divorce friendship from exegesis, eventually the errors will become ingrained.  Apparently, this book is the manifestation of that association.

If you choose to read this book, do so with your Bible open and sound commentaries at your disposal.

Book Giveaway at Christian Focus Booknotes

Christian Focus Publications is giving away two copies of The Trials of Theology this week on the Christian Focus Booknotes blog.  Details for the giveaway can be found here: LINK.

Book Giveaway

Bob Hayton at Fundamentally Reformed is giving away two copies of the book The Essence of Christian Doctrine by Martin Murphy.  It is a study of the importance of the Apostle's Creed.  Entries are accepted until Wednesday, June 29 at 9:00 P.M. CDT.

Following Jesus, the Servant King, Jonathan Lunde - Book Review

Zondervan has undertaken the Biblical Theology for Life Series to bring "groundbreaking academic study of the Bible alongside contemporary contextualization and proclamation."  So that you do not have to break out a thesaurus, the series goal is to cover a subject in scripture and apply it primarily within 21st-century American evangelical culture.  That does not automatically make the book yet another pint of fad-imbued swill, but if the person who wrote this copy for the back cover is an indicator of the content, we are in trouble.  Thankfully, the text is only a marketing gimmick.  Instead, Jonathan Lunde develops a theology of discipleship grounded in the biblical understanding of a covenant.  This approach separates the work from other popular methodologies driven along by strictly New Testament or even denominational lines to a richer and deeper understanding of walking and working in a covenant relationship with the triune God.

Lunde begins by asking three simple questions which drive the format of the book:

Why should I be concerned to obey all of Jesus' commands if I have been saved by grace?
What is it that Jesus demands of his disciples?
How can the disciple obey Jesus' high demand, while experiencing his "yoke" as "light" and "easy"?

The "Why" is dealt with in detail by examining what a covenant is, what types are present in scripture, and the content of the different major covenants made from Noah through the New Covenant in Christ.  Considered in these are the gracious dealings of God to man, righteous demands, and the proper place of faith and works in each.  This broad view allows the reader to understand how God developed his suzerainty and grant covenants from one revelatory period to another as his eternal plan, developing how God's grace was a basis for each with the view to a loving response.  Jesus is finally presented as the fulfillment of the covenantal demands and the proper intermediary for that to occur.

As a side note, Lunde develops the major covenants beginning with Noah, not because the covenant with Adam was insignificant, but because scripture does not develop it to the degree of the others. The author does point out the relative covenant pattern within the Adamic without overly pressing the text to make the connection.

The "What" is presented in Jesus' varied roles in his work and teaching in the Gospels.  As the giver, administrator, and best interpreter of God's word, what Christ says concerning past covenantal commands during his incarnation is examined.  Each part of this section examines the gospel accounts and understanding of prior covenants with the view to understand how those are practiced today, if at all.  Jesus is presented as the Prophet-King in the Davidic line and type who has authority over men as sovereign and as the Father's mouthpiece to properly interpret and administer the commands and precepts of God.  During his incarnation, he acts as filter, lens, and prism of the Law and Prophets for use by a New Covenant community.  Each of these three facets are examined in individual chapters with sufficient examples, followed by their understanding in the culmination to be a people behaving within the local sphere as on a mission with the gospel.

Finally, the "How" is developed by examining Christ's person and work in the New Covenant.  What was promised to which current believers adhere?  How does the Lord's position with its resulting role and responsibility to be played out in the life of a believer?  What of his earthly work is to be brought forward in each Christian and to what degree?  As Jesus went about doing his Father's work, he represented God to the people, redeemed the exiled, restored the broken, and began unveiling his current and future work as king.  Taking each of these separately, Lunde explains the place believers have as co-laborers with Christ in his mission and work, particularly as it means in being a disciple.

Finally, there is a chapter laying out the relevance that all theology has for the average Christian.  What all is meant to be a disciple in today's world?

Two points are in order here.  First, the author does not shy away from presenting his own view when it may in the minority.  In the discussion of Jesus as the servant-redeemer (chapter 14), we are presented with the faithful remnant as a possible first intent of Isaiah's servant passages.  This differs from both the typical Jewish understanding which has the entire nation of Israel in view without reference to the future messiah and the Christian view which looks solely at the Christological implications apart from any immediate reference.  By putting forth the notion of the remnant, Lunde (and others from whom he derived the hypothesis) offers a possible solution for a contemporaneous use in Isaiah's time that is typical of most prophetic writing with their “now and not yet” application.

Second, I am disappointed with the short shrift given to baptism as an integral part of the biblical theology of discipleship.  While Jesus' own baptism in relation to the fulfillment of all righteousness is given sufficient space, the Christian's is nowhere to be found though it is in clear view both when Christ commands the apostles to “make disciples of all nations” and when Paul teaches the Corinthians of the baptism into Christ as the anti-type of the Red Sea crossing. Regardless of a reader's understanding of baptism (means of grace or mere symbol), discipleship begins at that point.  It is the discernible marker of a commitment to the Father by virtue of the finished work of Christ in the empowerment by the Holy Spirit.

Overall, the book is quite worthwhile.  The arguments are sound and clear without being overly academic.  This makes this work well within reach of most teenagers and adults.  Interspersed throughout are sidebar quotes commenting on the subject matter being presented helping to elucidate the points made.  Even the book's printed format is favorable with its wide margin for plenty of notes.  I recommend this as a useful tool in not just understanding my own walk of discipleship, but in teaching end encouraging others in their spiritual growth and service.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Zondervan.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

The Bell for Whom Richard Mouw Tolls

Richard J. Mouw, president of Fuller Seminary has recently commented on Rob Bell's new book, Love Wins and the divergent rhetoric about the ideas posited.  I have not read it, but from internet chatter Bell's position is that anyone who is not openly hostile to God and his revelation will be accepted when brought before the judgment seat.  This thinking has been promulgated over many years, especially recently within the effort for making the gospel relevant to a sin-filled world through postmodern paradigms and seems to be have become a mark of the emerging/emergent church movement of which Rob Bell and Brian McLaren are fixtures.

President Mouw himself supports the book and told a USA Today reporter

I basically agree with his theology.  I knew that the book was being widely criticized for having crossed the theological bridge from evangelical orthodoxy into universalism.  Not true, I told the reporter.  Rob Bell is calling us away from a stingy orthodoxy to a generous orthodoxy.

This seems innocuous enough, and one might naturally ask how Mouw sees Bell adhering to the scriptures.  Sadly, that never occurs.  Mouw's defense is built on C. S. Lewis' understanding of heaven and hell.  In other words, human philosophy is given authority over divine revelation.  As much as I enjoy Lewis' work, the use of faulty, limited, sinful understanding to trump what came through the apostles and prophets by God's command is disastrous and self-defeating.  Mouw also goes on to give statements of a rabbi and Billy Graham that seemed to agree with the basic tenet of Bell—only really bad people like Hitler will go to hell.

Where was Mouw's biblical defense of Rob Bell?  It was nonexistent.  I did not hope for a fully formed outline: just give us something.  What was served up was a plateful of philosophy with a side of straw man.  My Lone Star Steakhouse hamburger and salad at lunch were far more satisfying and beneficial.  I expected more from the president of a seminary.

Galatians (ZECNT), Thomas R. Schreiner - Book Review

Zondervan has initiated the Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (ZECNT) series designed to assist the preacher and teacher with practical help from evangelical scholars in better comprehending the underlying the Greek text without being overly technical or detailed.  Each scripture passage includes the author's translation and is broken into the following sections with descriptions edited from "Series Introduction" (10-12):

Literary Content	Concise discussion of how the passage functions in the broader literary context of the book.
Main Idea	A one- or two-sentence statement of the big idea or central thrust of the passage.
Translation and Graphical Layout	A graphical layout of the commentator's translation with the purpose of helping the reader visualize the flow of thought within the text.
Structure	The flow of thought in the passage and explanation concerning certain interpretive decisions regarding the relationship of clauses.
Exegetical Outline	Detailed exegetical outline of the overall structure.
Explanation of the Text	Using the Greek text to interpret the meaning of the text with an effort to make the commentary as readable and useful as possible even for the nonspecialist.
Theology in Application	The theological message of the passage is summarized in terms of its place in terms of the book and the broader biblical-theological context.

In Schreiner's introduction he presents the background material for the book leading with the arguments regarding the long-disputed recipients and date (South Galatia, pre-Jerusalem council; North Galatia, post-council).  The arguments are given fair treatment on both sounds with an acknowledging that the theological understanding of the book will be based partially on the decision, but leaning toward the early, southern view.  Following this, various views are given concerning the source of opposition coming on the church of Galatia. The epistle's date has bearing here as well, since the regions were variously affected by Jews, Romans, and other pagan influences.  The book's structure and outline are presented last with no real surprises and form the remaining commentary's chapters with the divisions.

The given outline of Galatians is given in three major divisions with a fourth as summary.  The first and fourth are as expected (1:1-2:21 and 6:11-18 respectively).  The unique break came between divisions two and three with the latter beginning at 4:12 with the change of language from chastisement for being led astray to beseeching of fellow brethren.  The argument for placing the break here seems sound.

The book clarifies how Galatians was written not only to demonstrate that justification is by faith, but that sanctification also comes through the same way.  Works are unnecessary, and even counter-productive, for a right standing before God whether initially at salvation or anytime thereafter.  Works are a result of grace, not the vehicle for gaining it.

Schreiner's conservative understanding of the text manifests itself in his complementarian handling of the relationship between men and women in 3:28. He does so gracefully by showing how "Paul affirms the oneness of males and females in Christ, but he does not claim that maleness and femaleness are irrelevant in every respect" and "the equality of men and women in Christ does not cancel out, in Paul's mind, the distinct roles of men and women in marriage…or in ministry contexts" (259).

I found the commentary to be enjoyable with several good thoughts, the graphical layout of the translation being a particularly useful feature.  Those who use Logos software know the value of the sentence diagramming offered in the exegetical tools.  The book uses less technical language for diagramming and is more readable.  Though it claims to be directed to someone with some Greek training, I found the explanatory sections to be sufficient in overcoming any lack of training one might have.  I wholeheartedly recommend this book for the library of anyone desiring to teach in the local church.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Zondervan.  I was not required to write a positive review.  The opinions I have expressed are my own.  I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Got Old Testament?

Last night I finished a Bible study in Hebrews with a brother, Randy, I have been discipling who is a fairly new believer.  His wife has confessed Christ for many years, and when he started following, she encouraged him to read and study that book.  She loved the book and knew he would, too.  He did—in spades.

Most reading this blog will know the structure of Hebrews with its use of the Law and Christ's exceedingly abundant fulfillment of all it represented.  After we were done, Randy commented on how important it was to know the Old Testament to understand the New.  His experience as a Roman Catholic was for the teaching to dwell solely on NT with various smatterings of Psalms and well-known stories as moral examples.  I told him that evangelicals at-large are not much different. Sure, there are some denominations and individual churches who understand the importance of rooting Christian teaching in sound biblical theology and the progressive revelation of redemptive history, but my experience is that Christians are so intent on "believing in Jesus" that they ignore why the incarnation and his atoning work were necessary, much less their full import.

Why do I mention all that?  This morning I read a book review of Reclaiming the Old Testament for Christian Preaching by my good friend¹ at Pastoral Musings.  This offering from InterVarsity does not address the detail of each genre but the importance and method of preaching/teaching it to believers and making it applicable to today.  If the review is accurate, you will want to secure a copy of this for whomever is in a teaching role in your church, or get it for your church library so it can be shared.

Exodus 21 through Deuteronomy 33 appear to be dry reading because they are not taught or are not made applicable.  Let's change that.  I am currently leading a study with three other men through Deuteronomy.  They find the time rewarding and are putting together the puzzle pieces I mention above concerning Christ's work and our response to it.  The same can happen in your church.


¹ He acknowledges my internet presence.

Book Giveaway

Diglot is giving away a copy of Holy Writing, Sacred Scriptures.  To see how, visit here.