Review of The Return of Christ: A Premillennial Perspective, edited by David L. Allen & Steve W. Lemke, Nashville: B & H Publishing, 2011, pbk, 285 pp. Following on the heels of their generally excellent Whosoever Will (reviewed here), Messrs Allen and Lemke have produced another collaborative effort for Southern Baptists and beyond. Although the previous book suffered a bit from two or three below par essays, it made up for its poor start with a number of quality contributions. …
Category: Book Reviews
The first part of this review is here. As Lemke continues his seven theological concerns with the doctrine of irresistible grace he criticizes the usual Reformed belief that regeneration precedes faith. Even though many Calvinists insist that this is a logical order only, the quotations Lemke adduces from Sproul, Piper and Boettner are subject to a little more probing, which, in brief, Lemke does (139-140). In particular Loraine Boettner’s quote is assessed. Boettner wrote, “A man is not saved because …
Review of Whosoever Will: A Biblical-Theological Critique of Five Point Calvinism, edited by David L. Allen and Steve W. Lemke, Nashville: B & H Publishing, 2010, xiv + 306 pp, pbk. In choosing to review a book such as this I realize that some readers who are Calvinists would wish me to critique the critique. I am not disposed to do so. Although many of my favorite authors and preachers have been Calvinists, as a theology of salvation I do …
Review of Craig S. Keener, The Historical Jesus of the Gospels, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2009, xxxviii + 831 pages, hardback. Like many of Craig Keener’s books, this one is thick and generously notated. It is academic though accessible. Keener writes very clearly and with commendable charity to those with whom he disagrees. He always keeps the reader’s interest. In fact, even his many endnotes, all 210 pages of them (!), are often interesting. I had wanted to give this work …
Review of Christians Are Hate-Filled Hypocrites…and Other Lies You’ve Been Told, by Bradley R. E. Wright, PhD, Minneapolis: Bethany House, 2010, 249 pages, pbk I am not one to read many books written by sociologists. The occasional work by Os Guinness and the obligatory few by Peter Berger are about it. I recall breezing through one of Barna’s books about ten years back. Quite honestly, though such reading has been profitable, I have come away wondering just how much I …
This is the third and final part of this review article. Here are the links to Parts One and Two. I have not bothered to write out a list of errata as they can be found in other people’s reviews and I wanted to get this review done today. At several places I thought I had read the same material before. This feeling of deja vu has the author to blame for it. Suffice it to say, the editing could …
This continues my review of John Sailhamer’s important book. Time restraints mean I shall need at least one further post to finish the full review. Please bear with me. Part One of the review is here: link Part Two continued… Sailhamer sees the four main poems of the Pentateuch as strong indicators of the fact that the author has not abandoned the messianic hope of Genesis 3:15 or the covenant with Abraham. He teases out several examples of constructive uses …
Review of John H. Sailhamer, The Meaning of the Pentateuch: Revelation, Composition and Interpretation, Downers Grove: IVP Academic, 2010, 632 pp., pbk. John Sailhamer has been writing on the Pentateuch for many years. He is the author of The Pentateuch as Narrative, Genesis Unbound, and the EBC entry on “Genesis”. He is held in high regard by his evangelical peers, especially for his work in this area, and this book was eagerly awaited. It is hard to know where to …
Review of Robert D. Culver, Systematic Theology: Biblical & Historical, Mentor Books (Christian Focus Publications), 2005, xvii + 1258 pages. For a long time now I have been wanting to write a review of Culver’s “Systematic Theology” but have always found something else to do. I do not believe this theology has received the attention it deserves. At one point I strongly considered adopting this work as a backbone text for my courses on Systematic Theology (I was weighing up …
A review of The Bible Among The Myths: Unique Revelation or Just Ancient Literature, by John W. Oswalt, Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2009. The author of this book is well known for his scholarly two volume Commentary on Isaiah in the Word series. This book is meant more for a more popular audience, but is valuable for scholars, pastors and the general reader. From the books published in the past year I would put this one near the top of the …
