I thought I’d do something different for a change. I seldom write anything about myself on this blog, but I had the idea of putting down a few words about the men who trained me and to whom, to one degree or another, I owe a debt. None of them is responsible for how I turned out. The monster was self-made. But I want to introduce you to these men: The first man is David N. Myers M.Min., a knowledgeable …
Category: Bibliographies
Thought I would write a quick post on some of the books I think are important acquisitions for a Christian’s library. If you don’t yet have them (and in some cases, if you can get them), you should try to acquire them. The list is somewhat eclectic and does not pander to what’s new, although some new titles were deliberately included. This is not a Top Ten list, but all the books are, in my opinion, must haves. 1. Systematic …
Review of Robert B. Chisholm, A Commentary on Judges and Ruth, Grand Rapids: Kregel Academic, 2013, 697 pp., $39.99. In the past Judges and Ruth have not been particularly well served by commentators (Leon Wood’s Distressing Days of the Judges being one notable exception). Many studies in the past were more homiletical than analytical. The Book of Judges presents some unique problems for the Bible interpreter. Such issues as the date of certain judges, the extent of their careers and …
Dan Phillips has asked me to come up with a guide to the reading of Dispensational Theology. I hope this is what he expected. Anyway, this is what I have come up with. No “Progressive Dispensationalist” work is included because I do not consider that approach to be Dispensationalism proper (which does not mean dispensationalists can’t learn from them!). Neither have I included ultra-dispensational works, nor indeed, those post-trib./pre-wrath books which deny imminence. An asterisk indicates my recommendation of where …
Years ago, before I attended London Theological Seminary I was given a list of books to acquire and read prior to starting my courses. I can’t remember all of the titles on the list (there were ten I believe), but I do recall plowing my way through Calvin’s Institutes, Machen’s New Testament Introduction, Hendriksen’s Survey of the Bible, Merrill’s Kingdom of Priests. Along with the Bible, which should have been read once through at least (!) before even contemplating going …
My chosen title shouldn’t alert you to my reflections on News stories of the last year Albert Mohler is a good place to go for that. Neither should you come here expecting to read about the controverted topics in the smaller world of Evangelicalism (e.g. the overdone saga of Rob Bell’s book – after all W.G. Scroggie, J. Wenham, J. Stott had issues with Hell too). These have their place, but I often find them somewhat boring. And anyway, …
It’s about time I returned to this series recommending commentaries. There are also lists on John, Romans, Matthew, and Genesis, plus my Introduction. 1. Harold Hoehner – A massive book with an impressive argument for Pauline authorship and extremely detailed in the exegesis department. There is room for him to survey all the options and argue for his choices. One of the best commentaries on any Book. 2. Clinton Arnold (ZECNT)– A very good commentary, pitched just below the …
Commentaries on the Book of Genesis are ten-a-penny. But some of them are too concerned with ANE parallels that they forget to teach the Book itself. Some are over speculative, while others too critical and unbelieving. The pastor who wants to get at the meat without spitting out too many bones might do worse than study the following: 1. Kenneth A. Mathews (NAC) – These two volumes are the best thing I have read on the text of Genesis. They …
Here are my personal picks for the most profitable commentaries on Matthew. I favor a modified ‘Dispensational’ approach to the book which takes seriously the way Matthew provides lines of continuity and discontinuity with the Old Testament. But I have little problem with including studies which do not handle eschatological issues as satisfactorily as I would like. There is, after all, more to Matthew than eschatology: 1. Donald A. Hagner (WBC) – This was a hard choice as I don’t …
The Best Commentaries on Romans: Remember, this list has preachers primarily in mind: 1. Douglas Moo (NICNT) – Somewhat dense, which may hinder readers somewhat, but interaction with the text and the literature is very impressive. Deals well with the ‘new perspective’, and even manages some applications (but see Moo’s contribution to the NIVAC series). His Introduction is on the short side, but there are numerous excurses. Not all will like his treatment of Chapter 7. 2. Thomas Schreiner (BECNT) …
