For All It's Worth

Invitation to Biblical Interpretation: Exploring the Hermeneutical Triad of History, Literature, and Theology by Andreas J. Kostenberger and Richard D. Patterson If Andreas Kostenberger writes something, I’m going to read it, his books are just that good.  Throw in a seasoned OT Scholar with a spate of published commentaries and you have a great team.  The great advantage to this book, as Vanhoozer has noted, is its use of the three-fold paradigm of history, literature, and theology.  Divorcing one of these triadic members is part of the struggle in biblical studies, and for Kostenberger and Patterson to use these concepts together is a lofty goal.  Yet, you find in this book a real sense of how both history, literature and theology drive each other in the biblical text, and to amplify one is to bring into the discussion the other two.  In the Welcome to the Hermeneutical Triad chapter, the authors seek to analyze the flow of biblical inter...

A Commentary on the Psalms (Volume 2, Psalms 42-89) by Allen P. Ross Anyone familiar with Allen P. Ross knows that when he writes a book, it is going to be detailed and very good.   The same can be said for his new commentary on Psalms 42-89.  This commentary is rich in analysis, grammar and syntax, but also gives the reader some practical applications of the text also.  What I found particularly illuminating was the exegetical outline provided at the beginning of each chapter that outlines the psalm, giving meaning but also pointing to the main ideas in the text.  As others have pointed out, the way Ross approaches the Psalms provides a model for reading the text of Scripture.  In the section of Psalm 58 concerning Unrighteous Judges, Ross carefully makes the point that we don’t entirely know of the occasion in David’s life that led to this Psalm but we should see it as a communal lament psalm (296-297).  The cautious nature of ...

Healed at Last: Separating Biblical Truth from Myth by Scott Blackwell How do we understand miracles in the Bible and today?  Are miracles evidence of a strong faith or is the lack of miracles evidence of the lack of it?  All these questions are swirling around the Christian church and yet, we need solid biblical answers to these questions.  In Healed at Last , Scott Blackwell examines these issues with an eye toward the Bible and sound practice.  No stranger to illness (meningitis) and a sever limp even today, Scott is not one for easy answers or practical appeal, he seeks truth.  For Scott, the discussion on healing with begins with two corollary truths: God is good, his truth is in Scripture and life is hard (or in other words, we live in a fallen and sinful world).  The second truth is the hardest to swallow for many Christians who err on the side of seeing miracles everywhere.  Blackwell explains this as “life as it is reall...

China’s Reforming Churches: Mission, Polity, and Ministry in the Next Christendom Edited by Bruce P. Baugus The explosion of church growth in China has been happening at an alarming rate.  The house church movement has seen dramatic growth over the past 25 years.  Yet, what is happening in the church of China as it connects to Reformed worship and practice?  These and other questions are ones tackled by the contributors to the new book entitled China’s Reforming Churches edited by Bruce Baugus.  The book is split into four sections that outline the history, present state, challenges and tradition of Presbyterianism in China.  With 13 chapters, a conclusion and two appendices, the book provides a thorough analysis of the issues regarding Presbyterianism in China.   Michael M. traces the early Protestant missionary involvement in China to Robert Morrison in 1807.  With restrictions on proselytizing, Morrison in his twenty-seven ...

Titus for You by Tim Chester http://www.amazon.com/Titus-For-You-Tim-Chester/dp/1909919616/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1406223261&sr=8-6&keywords=tim+chester We are often unfamiliar with the Pastoral Epistles in the church.  Church government and leadership puzzle us because we’d rather get on with the show.  Yet, the book of Titus, is such an important book for the church today.  Pastor Tim Chester gives us much to chew on as he opens up the book of Titus to us in his new commentary, Titus for Everyone , published by thegoodbook company.  In the introduction, Tim brings out the point that appointed church leadership is part and parcel of the book of Titus, but this is important in the context of evangelical zeal for the gospel.  The process of appointing church leaders should not denigrate zeal for the gospel but promote life giving energy for the good news of Jesus Christ (12).  Tim quickly gets into some troubling waters...