From the Bibliography

So I decided to do an annotated bibliography for the upcoming book. Here I have selected a set of samples to give an idea of what I said. If anyone wants to comment on how these short notes can be improved that would be great:

A * means I recommend it even if I may disagree.  A # means I have reviewed the work.

A

Abasciano, Brian J., “Clearing Up Misconceptions About Corporate Election,” Ashland Theological Journal, 41:1 (NA 2009).  A response to several misunderstandings, among which is the idea that corporate election is antithetical to individual election.*

Alexander, T. Desmond & David W. Baker, editors, Dictionary of the Old Testament: Pentateuch, Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2003.  While liberal in areas this is a must buy.*

Alexander, T. Desmond & Brian S. Rosner, editors, New Dictionary of Biblical Theology, Downers Grove, IVP, 2000.  Grab it if you can.  Many good articles.

Allen, David L., Lukan Authorship of Hebrews, Nashville, B&H, 2010.  I’m not convinced by Lukan authorship, but this is an interesting book.    

Allen, David L. & Steve W. Lemke, editors, The Return of Christ: A Premillennial Perspective, Nashville, B&H, 2011.  A mixed bag.  Good chapters by Blaising, Allen, Cooper, Vlach.  Poor stuff from Vines, Caner, Cox and Stanton. #

Allison, Gregg R. & Stephen J. Wellum, editors, Building of the Foundations of Evangelical Theology: Essays in Honor of John S. Feinberg, Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2015.  A fine collection with a response from Feinberg.  

Anderson, Sir Robert, The Coming Prince or The Seventy Weeks of Daniel, London, Hodder and Stoughton, 1865. Classic treatment of the 70^th Week.*

Arnold, Clinton E. General Editor, Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary, Volume 1, Matthew, Mark, Luke, Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2002.  This is a well-illustrated and helpful set.

Attridge, Harold W., Hebrews: A Commentary on the Epistle to the Hebrews, Philadelphia, Hermeneia, Fortress, 1989.  Standard treatment.  Buy it if you can get a good price.  I was surprised by the rather sagging treatment of Heb. 9:16-17.  

Averbeck, Richard E., “Israel, the Jewish People and God’s Covenants,” in Israel, the Church, and the Middle East: A Biblical Response to the Current Conflict, edited by Darrell L. Bock and Mitch Glaser, Grand Rapids, Kregel, 2018.  Fine overview.*

• “Sacrifices and Offerings,” in Dictionary of the Old Testament: Pentateuch, edited by T. Desmond Alexander & David W. Baker, Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2003.  Excellent article that covers all the bases.*

B

Baker, David L., Two Testaments, One Bible: The Theological Relationship Between the Old and New Testaments, third edition, Downers Grove, IL, IVP, 2010.  Highly recommended for those studying the subject.  Solid and cautious.*

Balz, Horst and Gerhard Schneider, editors, Exegetical Dictionary of the New Testament, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1999.  Very useful short yet accurate definitions. 

Bar, Eitan and Golan Broshi, Rabbinic Judaism Debunked: Debunking the Myth of Rabbinic Oral Law, One For Israel, 2022.  Polemical, but a needed short book on the divergence of the Oral Law from the Bible.

Barbieri, Louis, Mark, Chicago: Moody, 1995.  A solid Dispensational commentary.

Barnett, Paul, Jesus and the Rise of Early Christianity, Downers Grove, IL., IVP, 1999.  Excellent Introduction to NT times.*

• Jesus and the Logic of History, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997.  A top-notch brief defense of the Jesus of history.*

Barrett, C. K., The First Epistle to the Corinthians, Peabody, MA: Hendricksen, 1985. A bit liberal but helpful.  Obtuse in places.  

Bartholomew, Craig G., et al, editors, Reading Luke: Interpretation, Reflection, Formation, Grand Rapids: Zondervan, Scripture and Hermeneutics, Volume 6, 2005.  I didn’t get a lot from this book, or from the others in the series overall.  Many chapters borrowed from other publications.

Bateman IV, Herbert W., editor, Four Views on the Warning Passages in Hebrews, Grand Rapids, Kregel, 2007. Very good to and fro discussions.*

Bateman IV, Herbert W. & William C. Varner, James: An Exegetical Guide for Preaching and Teaching, Big Greek Idea Series, Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2022. If you can handle Greek, this is terrific.*#

Bateman IV, Herbert W., Darrell L. Bock, Gordon H. Johnston, Jesus the Messiah: Tracing the Promises, Expectations, and Coming of Israel’s King, Grand Rapids, Kregel, 2012.  A solid, glossy paged study.  I found Bateman’s section a tad below Johnston and Bock, but all the authors do well.

Bates, Matthew W., Salvation By Allegiance Alone: Rethinking Faith, Works, and the Gospel of Jesus the King, Grand Rapids, Baker, 2017.  Provides food for thought but ultimately fails, in large part because his thesis about Christ now reigning is faulty.  I prefer to think of faith as dependence.  Great writer though.   

Bauckham, Richard, Jesus and the Eyewitnesses: The Gospels as Eyewitness Testimony, Grand Rapids, Eerdmans, 2006.  Fascinating multifaceted study which cements the Gospel accounts in their milieu.

• The Theology of the Book of Revelation, Cambridge University Press, 2001.  See my chapter on The Apocalypse. 

Bavinck, Herman, Reformed Dogmatics: Volume 4, Holy Spirit, Church, and New Creation, Grand Rapids, Baker, 2008.  The best of Reformed Systematic Theology.  Excellent translation.  I liked the previous volumes more, but this is still very good.*

Beacham, Roy E., “The Church Has No Legal Relationship to or Participation in the New Covenant,” in Dispensational Understanding of the New Covenant, edited by Mike Stallard.  A sterling effort.  I respectfully demur*

Beale, G. K., A New Testament Biblical Theology, Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2011.  A long and determined attempt to impose a “cosmic temple” motif over the Bible.  Amil and speculative. Doesn’t interact much with opposing views. #

• Handbook on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament: Exegesis and Interpretation, Grand Rapids, Baker, 2012.  I’m no fan of Beale’s conclusions, but there is some good material in this. 
• The Book of Revelation, NIGNTC, Grand Rapids, 1999.  Good on the Greek and OT sources, poor on interpretation.
• “An Exegetical and Theological Consideration of The Hardening of Pharaoh’s Heart In Exodus 4-14 And Romans 9,” TrinJ 05:2 (Fall 1984).  A solid Calvinistic argument.*
• “The Eschatology of Paul,” in Matthew S. Harmon and Jay E. Smith, editors, Studies in the Pauline Epistles: Essays in Honor of Douglas J. Moo, Grand Rapids, Zondervan, 2014.  Beale represents the antithesis of my position.  Good thoughts on the resurrection as an eschatological event though.

Beale, G. K and D. A. Carson, Editors, Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament, Grand Rapids: Baker, 2007.  Although it is predominantly amillennial this is a useful work.  

Beasley-Murray, G. R., Jesus and the Kingdom of God, Grand Rapids, Eerdmans, 1986.  Mostly a review of scholarship up to that point, with the author’s views appended.  Well respected but unpersuasive.

• John, WBC, Waco, TX: Word, 1987.  Some liberal taints but a very capable commentary.
• “Dying and Rising with Christ,” in Dictionary of Paul and His Letters, Edited by Gerald F. Hawthorne, et al.  A disappointing article.
• G. R. Beasley-Murray, “Revelation, Book of,” in Dictionary of the Later New Testament & Its Development, Editors, Ralph P. Martin & Peter H. Davids, Downers Grove, IL, InterVarsity, 1997.  A fine introduction if you reject Dispensational premillennialism.

Beilby, James K. & Paul R. Eddy, editors, The Historical Jesus: Five Views, Downers Grove, IVP, 2009.  Takes a little patience (esp. reading Price and Crossan) but terrific chapters by Johnson, Dunn, and Bock.  

Beker, J. Christiaan, The Triumph of God: The Essence of Paul’s Thought, Minneapolis, Fortress, 1990.  Takes the notion of “apocalyptic” too far.  Although liberal, this is definitely worth skimming because Beker stresses the occasional nature of Paul’s letters.   

Benware, Paul N., Understanding End Times Prophecy: A Comprehensive Approach, Chicago, Moody, 2006.  A very helpful and reliable work.*

Bernard, Thomas Delaney, The Progress of Doctrine in the New Testament, various editions.  Classic study and devout.*

Berkouwer, G. C., The Return of Christ, Studies in Dogmatics, Grand Rapids, Eerdmans, 1972.  A standard treatment.  Basically amil.  One of Berkouwer’s most straightforward studies.  

Bird, Michael F., Evangelical Theology: A Biblical and Systematic Introduction, Grand Rapids, Zondervan, 2013.  Tries to be readable and “fun.”  I liked that he places eschatology further forward, even if it doesn’t quite work.  A useful second-string work.  

• “Paul’s Messianic Eschatology and Supercessionism, “ in God’s Israel and the Israel of God, edited by Michael F. Bird & Scot McKnight.   Argues that Israel’s future is inclusion in Christ through the Church.  This guarantees the future disappearance of covenant Israel.

Bird, Michael F. & Scot McKnight, editors, God’s Israel and the Israel of God: Paul and Supercessionism, Bellingham, WA, Lexham, 2023.  A failed attempt to address a serious subject. #

Blaising, Craig A. and Darrell L. Bock, Progressive Dispensationalism, Grand Rapids, Baker, 2000.  An important book for understanding PD.  Two chapters on the covenants spoiled by their “complementary” inclusive hermeneutic which rubberizes them.  This affects the way they view the kingdom in the present.  They also tie dispensations too closely to the covenants, a common error. 

• editors, Dispensationalism, Israel and the Church: The Search for Definition, Grand Rapids, Zondervan, 1992.  A good presentation of Prog. Disp.  With counterarguments.  Some strong chapters.  One pushback from a more traditional Dispy would have been nice.* 

Blaising, Craig A., “Biblical Hermeneutics,” in The New Christian Zionism, edited by Gerald R. McDermott.  Very solid.*

• “A Theology of Israel and the Church,” in Darrell L. Bock and Mitch Glaser, Israel, the Church,

and the Middle East: A Biblical Response to the Current Conflict, Grand Rapids, Kregel, 2018.  Nearly any article by this author is worth reading.*

Block, Daniel I., Covenant: The Framework of God’s Grand Plan of Redemption, Grand Rapids: Baker, 2021.  Somewhat informative but hampered by the author’s odd naming of the covenants. #

Blomberg, Craig L., Matthew, Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1992.  Informative and concise.

• A New Testament Theology, Waco, TX: Baylor University Press, 2018.  Irritating on the Gospels owing to his belief in Q.  Still, Blomberg is a good thinker.
• Preaching the Parables: From Responsible Interpretation to Powerful Proclamation, Grand Rapids, Baker, 2004.  A good guide overall.  

Bock, Darrell L. and Buist M. Fanning, editors, Interpreting the New Testament Text: Introduction to the Art and Science of Exegesis, Wheaton, IL, 2006.  A strong group of essays.  One of the best works of its kind.

• and Robert L. Webb, editors, Key Events in the Life of the Historical Jesus: A Collaborative Exploration of Context and Coherence, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2010.  Webb’s introduction is almost positivist in orientation, but that apart this is a great book given its self-imposed limitations.  A bit more critical than I would have liked. *
• and Mitch Glaser, Israel, the Church, and the Middle East: A Biblical Response to the Current Conflict, Grand Rapids, Kregel, 2018.  A good book with fine contributions by Averbeck, Blaising, and Vlach, and a really good chapter by Rydelnik. *#

Bock, Darrell L., Luke, 2 Volumes, BECNT, Grand Rapids: Baker, 1994.  Many people’s top pick on Luke.*

•  Acts, BECNT, Grand Rapids, Baker, 2007.  A contender for the best overall work on this Bible book. *
• “The Reign of the Lord Christ,” in Dispensationalism, Israel and the Church: The Search for Definition, Craig A. Blaising and Darrell L. Bock, editors, Grand Rapids, Zondervan, 1992.  See my chapter on Acts.  

Boda, Mark J. and J. Gordon McConville, editors, Dictionary of the Old Testament Prophets, Downers Grove, InterVarsity, 2012.  Lots of good things here.  I think this dictionary is one of the best in the series.*

Boettner, Loraine The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination, Phillipsburg, NJ, P & R, 1976.  Standard presentation of TULIP, by one of the promulgators of it.  Too much inference for my liking.  

Boice, James M., Witness and Revelation in the Gospel of John, Grand Rapids, Zondervan, 1970.  An interesting study.  Basically, Boice’s dissertation.  

Bray, Gerald, God Is Love: A Biblical and Systematic Theology, Wheaton, Crossway, 2012.  Gets better as one keeps reading.  A fine companion to the author’s excellent Historical Theology.

Brindle, Wayne, “Biblical Evidence for the Imminence of the Rapture,” Bibliotheca Sacra 158 (April-June 2001).  One of the best arguments for this view I have read. *

Brooks, Thomas  Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices, Edinburgh, Banner of Truth, 2021.  Terrific and unrivalled (unless one knows Gilpin).  Brooks is heavy on Ramist outlining, but this work is brilliant.*

Brown, Colin, General Editor, New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology, Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1975.  Still an important work.  Corrected many of the excesses of Kittel.

Brown, Michael G. and Zach Keele, Sacred Bond: Covenant Theology Explored, Reformed Fellowship Inc, 2012. Touted by many as the best intro to CT.  Belcher is better but this should be read. 

Brown, Sherri, Gift Upon Gift: Covenant through Word in the Gospel of John, Eugene, OR, Pickwick, 2010.  A unique study which shows how John uses covenant to underpin his thesis.

Bruce, F. F., The Book of Acts, NICNT, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1977.  Still a standard commentary.*

• Paul: Apostle of the Heart Set Free, Grand Rapids, Eerdmans, 1989.  Good, but not Bruce’s best.
• The Epistle to the Galatians, NIGNTC, Grand Rapids, Eerdmans, 1982.  Outstanding*
• The Epistle of Paul to the Romans, Tyndale, Grand Rapids, Eerdmans, 1983.  For its length this is excellent, but why so brief?*
• The Epistle to the Hebrews, Grand Rapids, Eerdmans, 1990.  Definitely one of the best on this book.*  

Bruno, Chris, Jared Compton, and Kevin McFadden, Biblical Theology According to the Apostles: How the earliest Christians told the story of Israel, Downers Grove, IL, IVP, 2020.  I liked this book more than I thought I would.  The authors cover seven episodes for study.  They are careful in their approach, which I respect even when I disagree, which is quite often.

Bullinger, E. W., The Apocalypse, or “The Day of the Lord,” London, Samuel Bagster, 1972.  Hyper-Dispensational, but worth having because Bullinger thinks outside the box.

• Number in Scripture: Its Supernatural Design and Spiritual Significance, Grand Rapids, Kregel. 1967. A standard work. There is always a danger of seeing what isn’t there.

Bunyan, John, The Pilgrim’s Progress, many editions. Too celebrated for me to add anything.  This ought to be studied by every Christian!*

Burge, Gary M., Jesus and the Land: The New Testament Challenge to “Holy Land” Theology, Grand Rapids, Baker, 2012. Replacement theology at its worst.

• “Territorial Religion, Johannine Christology, and the Vineyard of John 15,” in Jesus of Nazareth: Lord and Christ: Essays on the Historical Jesus and New Testament Christology, edited by Joel B. Green and Max Turner, Grand Rapids, Eerdmans, 1994.  Inference above exegesis.

Burgraff, David L., “Augustine: From the ‘Not Yet’ to the ‘Already,’” in Forsaking Israel: How It Happened and Why It Matters, second edition, edited by Larry D. Pettegrew.  Excellent presentation of Augustine’s influence on eschatology.  Misconstrues Pelagius (see now Ali Bonner’s work).*

E

Echevarria, Miguel G. and Benjamin P. Laird, 40 Questions About the Apostle Paul, Grand Rapids, Kregel, 2023.  The authors do a good job, but the eschatology is typological. #

Eddy, Paul Rhodes and Gregory L. Boyd, The Jesus Legend: A Case for the Historical Reliability of the Jesus Tradition, Grand Rapids: Baker, 2007.  Though somewhat over reliant on secular historiography there is a lot of great material in this book.

Edgar, Thomas R., “An Exegesis of Rapture Passages,” in Issues in Dispensationalism, Wesley R. Willis and John R. Master, General Editors, Chicago. Moody, 1994.  A very useful discussion.

English, E. Schuyler, Rethinking the Rapture, Loizeaux Brothers, 1954.  A gallant but unconvincing attempt to find the rapture in 2 Thess. 2:3.

Erickson, Millard J., God in Three Persons: A Contemporary Interpretation of the Trinity, Grand Rapids, Baker, 1995.  A first-class theologian writes a standard book on the topic.*

Evans, Craig A. & Stanley E. Porter, editors, Dictionary of New Testament Background, Downers Grove, InterVarsity, 2000.  A very well put together dictionary.*

Evans, C. A., “Judaism, Post-A.D. 70,” in Dictionary of the Later New Testament & Its Development, Ralph P. Martin & Peter H. Davids, Editors, Downers Grove, IL, InterVarsity, 1997.  A leading authority on the subject.*  

• Luke, Peabody, MA, Hendricksen, 1990.  A very readable, solid work.   

L

Ladd, George Eldon, The Presence of the Future: The Eschatology of Biblical Realism, Grand Rapids, Eerdmans, 1996. Classic study putting forth the concept of already/not yet eschatology.  Very influential.  I demur but I liked some of the chapters.   

• A Theology of the New Testament, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1983.  Still a top NT Theology.*
• The Blessed Hope: A Biblical Study of the Second Advent and the Rapture, Grand Rapids, Eerdmans, 1990.  An argument for posttribulationism.

Lane, William L., The Gospel of Mark, NICNT, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1974.  Though critical this is a good commentary.  

• Hebrews, WBC, 2 Volumes, Nashville, Thomas Nelson, 1991.  Perhaps the best all-round work on Hebrews.*

Laney, J. Carl, John, Chicago, Moody, 1992.  A competent premillennial commentary.*

Lanier, Greg, Old Made New: A Guide to the New Testament Use of the Old Testament, Wheaton, Crossway, 2022.  From a CT perspective, this work contains much useful information.   

LaRondelle, Hans K., The Israel of God in Prophecy: Principles of Prophetic Interpretation, Berrien Springs, Andrews University Press, 1993.  An SDA work which is routinely utilized by supersessionists.  

Leighton, Robert, Commentary on First Peter, Grand Rapids, Kregel, 1981.  A great Churchman of the past wrote this commentary.  Very devout and not to be missed, but exegetes will need to look elsewhere.  

Letham, Robert, The Holy Trinity: In Scripture, History, Theology, and Worship, Phillipsburg, NJ, 2019.  Vies with Erickson as the best treatment on the subject.*

• Systematic Theology, Wheaton, IL, Crossway, 2019.  This one has not got the attention it deserves.  Letham starts with the Trinity and attaches other doctrines to that hub.  Reformed, erudite, readable.  One of the top five systematics in my book.*

Liefeld, Walter L., “Luke,” in EBC, Vol. 8, edited by Frank E. Gaebelein, Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1984.  Competent work within the limits the author had to work within.   

Lincoln, Andrew T., The Gospel According to Saint John, New York: Continuum, 2005.  Underrated but full of insight.  A great foil for other commentaries on John.*

• Truth on Trial: The Lawsuit Motif in the Fourth Gospel, Eugene, OR, Wipf & Stock, 2019.  Posits that John’s use of witness terminology creates a lawsuit/counter lawsuit motif reaching back into Isaiah.

Lindars, Barnabas, The Gospel of John, NCBC, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1982.  A little idiosyncratic but scholarly.

Lindsey, F. Duane, “Isaiah’s Songs of the Servant Part 1: The Call of the Servant in Isaiah 42:1-9,” BSAC 139:553 (Jan 1982).  I think he stops too short in his analysis of Isa. 42:6 but this is a helpful article.

Longenecker, Bruce W. “Moral Character and Divine Generosity: Acts 13:13-52 and the Narrative Dynamics of Luke-Acts,“ in New Testament Greek and Exegesis: Essays in Honor of Gerald F. Hawthorne, edited by Amy M. Donaldson and Timothy B. Sailors, Grand Rapids, Eerdmans, 2003.  Excellent exegesis of Paul’s first speech.*

Longenecker, R. N., The Epistle to the Romans, NIGNTC, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2016.  Detailed and balanced.  Not stuck in a Reformed mold.  One of the best Romans commentaries.*    

• “Acts,” ad loc, in EBC., Vol. 10, edited by Frank L. Gaebelein.  A superb work for the format.*

Longman III, Tremper, Revelation Through Old Testament Eyes, Grand Rapids, Kregel, 2022.  If you want a short exposition of the amillennial approach to Revelation, this is worth getting.   

Lowery, David K., “2 Corinthians,” in BKCNT, edited by John F. Walvoord & Roy B. Zuck, Victor Books, 1997.  A fine exposition.

U

Unger, Merrill F., Unger’s Commentary on the Old Testament, Malachi, Chicago, Moody, 1981.  Unger’s notes on the text.  Good but to my mind (ironically) he jumps too quickly to prophetic interpretation.  

V

Vaillancourt, Ian J., The Dawning of Redemption: The Story of the Pentateuch and the Hope of the Gospel, Wheaton: IL., Crossway, 2022.  A very accessible introduction to the Pentateuch. 

VanGemeren, Willem, The Progress of Redemption, Carlisle, UK, Paternoster, 1995.  VanGemeren was very prolific in the 80’s and 90’s.  This is one of the best Reformed Biblical Theologies.  Divides redemptive history into 12 epochs.*    

VanLaningham, Michael G., “A Response to the Progressive Covenantalists’ (and Others’) View of the Land Promises for Israel,” in The Future Restoration of Israel: A Response to Supersessionism, edited by Stanley E. Porter and Alan E. Kurschner, Eugene, OR, Pickwick, 2023.  A very good and needed critique honing in on Gentry and Wellum’s Kingdom through Covenant.*

• “Romans,” in The Moody Bible Commentary, edited by Michael Rydelnik and Michael VanLaningham.  A solid treatment.  

Van Oosterzee, J. J., The Gospel According to Luke, Lange’s Commentary, Vol. 8, Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1980.  Although he took the kenotic position this is a really good older commentary.*

Venema, Cornelis P, Christ and Covenant Theology: Essays on Election, Republication, and the Covenants, Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R, 2017.  Written for the gallery.  The first two parts are the best in my opinion.  

Vermes, Geza, Jesus the Jew, Minneapolis, Fortress, 1981.  Does strive to bring Jesus back into His milieu.  Bultmannian.  

• Jesus in His Jewish Context, Minneapolis, Fortress, 2003.  See above.  A bit of psychologizing thrown in.

Vlach, Michael J., He Will Reign Forever: A Biblical Theology of the Kingdom of God, Silverton, OR, Lampion, 2017.  The first Biblical Theology I would place into someone’s hands.  I hope one day Vlach will expand this book.* #

• The New Creation Model: A Paradigm for Discovering God’s Restoration Purposes from Creation to New Creation, Cary, NC, Theological Studies Press, 2023.  A great argument for God’s future refurbishment of this world in the Kingdom of God.  An important step forward for Dispensational theology, especially in terms of prolegomena.*
• The Old in the New: Understanding How the New Testament Authors Quoted the Old Testament, The Woodlands, Kress, 2021.  A good look at the OT in the NT from a Dispensational point of view.  Needs a fuller coverage of some passages.*
• The New Covenant Lawgiver: Jesus and Law in Matthew 5:17-48, published independently, 2022. Vlach focusses on the latter part of Matthew 5 to show that Christ issues New Covenant Law.   
• Has the Church Replaced Israel?: A Theological Evaluation, Nashville, B&H, 2010. A first rate work on supersessionism.*  
• “Six Views on New Covenant Fulfillment,” https://mikevlach.blogspot.com/2019/07/six-views-on-new-covenant-fulfillment.html  A capable delineation of the subject matter.*
• “The Eschatology of the Pauline Epistles,” in The Return of Christ: A Premillennial Perspective, edited by David L. Allen & Steve W. Lemke, Nashville, B&H, 2011.  I wish this chapter were longer, but what we’ve got is great.  Believes (correctly) we are living in a New covenant era.* #

Vos, Geerhardus, The Pauline Eschatology, Phillipsburg, NJ, P&R, 1979.  Still one of the best expositions of amillennial eschatology.  Not easy reading.  

• “Hebrews, the Epistle of the Diatheke,” in The Princeton Theological Review, Vol. 13, No.4, [1915].  A classic essay.  
• Reformed Dogmatics: Ecclesiology, The Means of Grace, Eschatology, Volume 5, Bellingham, WA, 2016.  Written in typical question and answer format, this is a bit of a bore unless one is into these kinds of things.  Noteworthy though are the deeply reflective brief answers Vos gives, even as a young man.   

Some Books I Read in 2023

I read many books this year. Here are my thoughts on some of them:

Peter Stuhlmacher, Biblical Theology of the New Testament

A tome which covers methodology, canonicity, and, in it’s main section the theology (“proclamation”) of the NT. Quite easy to read for the well-versed. I found myself ingesting large chunks of this at one sitting. Really liked the chapters on Paul and after and on John.

Stanley E. Porter, The Apostle Paul: His Life, Thought, and Letters

Thorough and informative without being overly long. Careful defence of the Pauline authorship of the Letters. 

Richard B. Hays, Reading with the Grain of Scripture

A group of penetrating essays on various subjects. Parts 3 & 4 on Paul and NT Theology respectively are especially good.

Mike Stallard, editor, Dispensational Understanding of the New Covenant

Dispensationalists discuss the what and wherefores of the New covenant. Although I cannot see the reason for hesitancy on this matter, very well done all round.

Perry Trotter, Israel in the Biblical Worldview

I wrote a blurb for this. What I liked about it most was its easy reading style with the way it provides a lot of information in a digestible format.

Herbert Bateman IV, ed., Four Views of the Warning Passages in Hebrews

A top-notch comparison of four perspectives on the Warning Passages. Irenic and respectful, yet with bite. Provides a solid study of the main themes of Hebrews as well.

Constantine Campbell, Paul and the Hope of Glory

Thoughtful Amillennial study on Pauline eschatology with some interesting exegesis. 

Charles Ryrie, Biblical Theology of the New Testament

Basic study of the subject. Ryrie’s trademark clarity is on show but there is not much penetrating insight in these pages.

Brian Tabb, All Things New

A study of the themes of Revelation from a realized eschatology perspective. Very well done even though I disagree.

Richard C. Gamble, The Whole Counsel of God, Vol. 2: The Full Revelation of God

Part Bible Handbook, part thematic NT Theology, part Systematic Theology, this is a fine achievement. Conservative, readable, robustly adhered to the Scripture Principle. Reformed amillennial. I take issue with the eschatology in particular.

Stanley E. Porter and Alan E. Kurschner, editors, The Future Restoration of Israel: A Response to Supersessionism

A good selection of studies on important issues where supersessionism departs from the meaning of the Bible. The editors chose their contributors well.

Michael F. Bird & Scot McKnight, editors, God’s Israel and the Israel of God: Paul and Supersessionism

In contrast to the above, this was an opportunity wasted. It probably revealed more about the attitude of supersessionists than anything else. They don’t get it.

Adam Lloyd Johnson, Divine Love Theory: How the Trinity is the Source and Foundation of Morality

An excellent book on the centrality of intra-trinitarian love and its cruciality for Ethics.

Brant Pitre, Michael P. Barber, and John A. Kincaid, Paul, A New Covenant Jew: Rethinking Pauline Theology

A very engaging and erudite work that rightly focuses on the importance of the New covenant for Paul’s theology. Some Roman Catholic intrusions, but bye and large a very good study.

Michael J. Gorman, Cruciformity: Paul’s Narrative Spirituality of the Cross

A now classic study on the crucial aspect of Pauline though, conformity to Christ in His suffering and obedience. An important book.

Michael J. Gorman, The Death of the Messiah and the Birth of the New Covenant: A (Not So) New Model of the Atonement 

I read a number of Gorman’s works this year. He is perhaps America’s top Pauline scholar. This is another thought-provoking study which relates the New covenant to the doctrine of atonement. 

Stephen J. Wellum & Brent E. Parker, editors, Progressive Covenantalism

Typology on steroids. Ugh! This is “covenantalism” with a small ‘c’ and Typologizing with a big ‘T.’

Larry Pettegrew, editor, Forsaking Israel

Mainly by Pettegrew with a few other essays thrown in. A worthy historical and biblical study of the the title. A good book to give to anyone interested in biblical Israel.

Larry Pettegrew, The New Covenant Work of the Holy Spirit

A key work in relating the New covenant with the work of the Spirit. Although I recommend it, I would have loved to have seen him go all out for the Church’s full participation in the New covenant.

Michael J. Vlach, The New Creation Model

Don’t be put off by the title. This is a terrific book which sets the stall out for a more robust Dispensational methodology. Riffing off of Craig Blaising’s work, this study is perhaps Vlach’s most significant book to date.

Andreas J. Kostenberger & Gregory Goswell, Biblical Theology: A Canonical, Thematic, and Ethical Approach

A large, well conceived volume, which can get a bit repetitive owing to its stringent method. Competent. The thing I liked most about this book is its prudent and helpful footnotes.

James M. Hamilton Jr., Typology: Understanding the Bible’s Promised-Shaped Patterns

The author has thought deeply about the “perception-shaping promises” of the OT and how they raised certain typological expectations among Bible readers. He shows this by providing his own translation to highlight commonalities and by displaying repeated emphases. Some good work here but it comes a-cropper because of Hamilton’s first coming hermeneutics. 

Craig L. Blomberg, A New Testament Theology

Blomberg is a top evangelical scholar who is very well read and who thinks through his materials. As such he has to be read by those who want to come to grips with NT Theology. That said, his espousal of the Q Theory and certain critical stances makes him infuriating to read in the Synoptics. 

Benjamin P. Laird & Miguel G. Echevarria, 40 Questions About the Apostle Paul

Yet another solid contribution to the series. The authors do a good job but I found it more difficult to read about Paul in this format than about other subjects. Perhaps that’s me. Despite going out of their way to claim they are not supersessionists, the authors end up there. Claiming Jews are absorbed into the “new Israel” (the Church) means that in a future day no Israelites will exist.

Richard B. Gaffin Jr., In The Fullness of Time: An Introduction to the Biblical Theology of Acts and Paul

Stamped with the usual marks of excellence from this author. This is a well arranged, readable yet thorough introduction to its subject. I am not from Gaffin’s camp. but he is one of the most reflective scholars around. Yes, I read a lot about Paul this year! 

Chad Bird, Limping with God

A wonderfully uplifting study of Jacob’s life played to the tune of Bird’s own struggles. Refreshingly candid with no sugar coating. I was helped much by this book. The allegorical chapter towards the end I could have done without.

Chad Bird, Night Driving: Notes from a Prodigal Soul

Another excellent “devotional” work that does not abound in pink tea promises but instead faces us with the freeing truth that we’re not “victorious Christians.” Christ is victorious for us. I can’t recommend everything Bird writes, but these two books are great.

Paul E. Miller, J-Curve: Dying and Rising with Jesus in Everyday Life

I was sent this as a review copy some years back and put it to one side because I thought the “J” was a gimmick for “Jesus.” It’s not and I’m very glad I gave the book a second chance. This truth of our participation in Christ’s dying and rising through life is greatly needed. Buy and read.

Paul E. Miller, A Loving Life

An edifying journey through the Book of Ruth which highlights hesed love!

David Zahl, Low Anthropology

I don’t like some of the people/publications Zahl quotes from but this is a very good book so don’t be deterred. Zahl is a very winsome writer who is always on point. This book is about having right expectations about ourselves and others. It’s about humility, and it’s worth reading.

Well, that’s all I think. There were several other books I wanted to include, but the list is already too long. Wishing you all a blessed 2024!

Thoughts on Books I Read in 2022

These are a few thoughts on the books I read last year. I may have missed one or two but this list is pretty complete. Many of the works were read as I researched Volume Two of The Words of the Covenant. Not to knock them but rarely now am I helped by books that I already agree with. I did not include two books that I am more than halfway through: Paul: A New Covenant Jew by Pitre, Barber & Kincaid, and Peter Stuhlmacher’s Biblical Theology of the New Testament. If I do this again at the cusp of 2024 I shall give my opinion on both of them. Have a Happy and Blessed New Year!

The Messianic Theology of the New Testament – Joshua Jipp

An engaging Reformed treatment of an important theme. Clearly, I don’t agree that Jesus is on David’s throne now, but it is very important because of what it highlights.

1 Peter – Craig Keener

Keener is a very clear writer. He always provides loads of background info. Sometimes he overdoes it, but this is a very good all-round commentary.

Revelation – Buist Fanning

Fanning is an excellent commentator who packs a lot of information into a page. I wasn’t convinced by everything in this book (like his treatment of the sixth seal in Rev. 6), but found this a great way to think through Revelation. Definitely deserves to be near the top of anyone’s lists on the last book of the Bible.

Colossians and Philemon: A Commentary for Biblical Preaching and Teaching – Adam Copenhaver and Jeffrey D. Arthurs,

Copenhaver’s exposition is excellent. Arthurs’s homiletical notes, meh.

James: An Exegetical Guide for Preaching and Teaching – Herbert W. Bateman & William C. Varner

The best commentary I have read this year. Great layout. Scores on all points a work like it explores. Requires a knowledge of Greek.

1 & 2 Kings: A Commentary for Biblical Preaching and Teaching – David B. Schreiner & Lee Compson

Somewhat critical from Schreiner, but still very useful all the same. For what you get preachers could do worse (though Iain Provan is better). Compson’s homiletics notes are okay I guess.

Jesus Remembered – James D. G. Dunn

Finished this off this year. I love Dunn’s writing style and the way he triggers new questions. I don’t like everything I read, but am helped by it. Great material on the Kingdom.

Beginning From Jerusalem – James D. G. Dunn

Volume 2 of Dunn’s massive Trilogy and fully up to the standard of the first. Really appreciated the way Dunn intertwines expansion and the NT writings.

The Theology of the Apostle Paul – James D. G. Dunn

Rightly regarded as an exceptional work. Brilliant thinking through Paul. A stimulating work! Dunn is so good at linking up the epistles to the central pillar of Romans.

Paul and the Faithfulness of God – N. T. Wright

I haven’t completed these two volumes but have read much of them. Wright doesn’t capture my imagination like Dunn does, and I haven’t gotten as much from this book as I’d hoped. This is mainly because I disagree with his dominating thesis of Israel’s exile being ended in Christ.

Paul in Fresh Perspective – N. T. Wright

Wright at his best. Some terrific essays here, even though I disagree more than I agree.

A Theology of Paul and His Letters – Douglas Moo

Good, clear, very useful, but yet not as groundbreaking as I had hoped. Relies on Dunn (above) quite a lot. I think reading Dunn first blunted my experience of this work.

Paul and the Salvation of Mankind – Johannes Munck

Since lots of scholars cite this work I thought I better read it. Liberal dogmatism at its worse, but one or two redeeming features.

The King of God’s Kingdom – David Seccombe

Backed by scholarship but written for everyone. This book explores and explains the identity of Jesus and the significance of His work in an almost devotional way. Some of his notes date him a tad, but I enjoyed this book. It deserves to be better known – and to be cheaper!

Covenant Theology: Biblical, Historical & Theological Perspectives – Waters, Reid & Muether (eds)

An excellent compendium of articles on CT from a paedo-baptist perspective. Some of the material is from other books (e.g., Belcher on the cov. of works), but this is a really good book. Stops short of being definitive but is a must for anyone wanting to understand CT.

Paul’s Theology in Context – James P. Ware

An excellent piece of work written with deference to better known scholars but which makes a solid contribution. Focusses on the themes of Creation, Incarnation, Covenant, and Kingdom. Right up my alley.

When People Are Big and God is Small – Ed Welch

A good book dealing with self-centeredness and co-dependency. I used it for a Bible Study. Added quite a bit of my own stuff but always found good jumping off points in the book.

40 Questions About Arminianism – J. Matthew Pinson

An outstanding discussion of Classical Arminianism from a very competent writer who knows theology and philosophy. All Calvinists need to read this, especially if they think Arminius and Wesley were “semi-pelagians.” I am not Arminian but was much helped by this book. It needed to be written.

40 Questions About Prayer – Joseph C. Harrod

One of the very best books on Prayer I have ever read (and I’ve read of lot of them). Balanced, sober, and uplifting. A job well done.

Yeshua: The Life of the Messiah from a Messianic Jewish Perspective (Vol. 1) – Arnold Fruchtenbaum

Finally, I was sent this book by a kind friend who wanted an opinion on it. It is the first of a massive four volume work. My intention was to review it but I felt that the review would be too negative, so I didn’t write it. Dr. Fruchtenbaum is a messianic Jewish teacher whose ministry is focused on the Jews, and this has to be kept in mind. With that said I have to report that this large book is thin on biblical exposition of its subject. It relies heavily (and questionably) upon parallels and echoes from Mishnaic/Talmudic Jewish sources, most of which stem from a time long after the times of Jesus (which is acknowledged by the author). As such the light cast from the non-inspired sources on the inspired ones is suspect. The trouble with this method is that for every assertion made on the basis of a targum another view is possible depending on the choice of source and the weight given to it (e.g., the Dead Sea Scrolls). Any familiarity with e.g., N. T. Wright or Peter Stuhlmacher will reveal this.

Personal Thoughts About Commentaries (12): The Pastoral Epistles

When it comes to the Pastoral Epistles there is a wealth of good choices. The top four in the following list are all excellent high-level works. I would personally go for Knight and Marshall if money were no object (although Mounce and Towner would be just fine). Some of these scholars dance around Paul’s clear statement preventing women from being preachers and teachers of men. I have marked such with a (w’)

1. George W. Knight III – Good at about everything. Heavy on the Greek but usable by most. Conservative. This has been around for a while but I still think it is unsurpassed.

2. William D. Mounce – Very solid exegesis and exposition. Some people don’t like the format, but Mounce makes the most of it. I have always gotten something from this volume.

3. Philip W. Towner – Impressive and accessible despite its size. An expert on the Pastorals. (w).

4. I. Howard Marshall – Helped by Towner (above), this is the most detailed and theologically nuanced commentary of the bunch. Marshall comments on Titus first because he says it tends to get overlooked – a not unwise decision. Infuriatingly rejects Pauline authorship. Expensive. (w).

5. Gordon D. Fee – I always turn to Fee on the Pastorals because of the way he writes and his ability to bring his exegesis to street level. This is one you should own. (w).

6. Andreas J. Kostenberger – The usual pithy style of the author is on display. Kostenberger is both a good distiller of other scholars and a competent thinker in his own right. Solid.

7. Donald Guthrie – A very fine scholar of the end of the last century, Guthrie is slight but always “in” the text. (w).

8. John Stott – Two small volumes by a great expositor. (w).

9. Patrick Fairbairn – Fairbairn is never easy reading, but everything he wrote is valuable in its way. I can’t say I like the textual emendations via Tischendorf, but the work is valuable. Don’t miss the excellent appendices.

10. William Hendriksen – Hendriksen is forgotten by many today, but his work is pious, scholarly, pastoral, and conservative. This is well worth having in the preacher’s library.

Other works that should be mentioned Robert Yarbrough’s volume, which is highly praised. I haven’t seen it. Had I it would probably be in my top ten. L. T. Johnson’s large scholarly treatment on 1 & 2 Timothy in the Anchor Bible is well regarded. Surprisingly, he argues for Pauline authorship. Jerome Quinn & Grant Wacker on the same is, well, odd. It’s good in places and “meh” in others. I bought it cheap, which is how you should buy it. Of course, do not neglect Calvin here (if you can get his sermons on these books you will be impressed at his conversational preaching style). Lenski is conservative and solid. I put Hendriksen just ahead of him. J. N. D. Kelly is brief but good. Continuing with initials J. D. G. Dunn’s contribution in the NIB (Vol. 11) is bound to be good. Dunn is always thought-provoking. Finally, I suppose I should include the volume edited by Kostenberger and Wilder entitled Entrusted with the Gospel: Paul’s Theology in the Pastoral Epistles. No, I haven’t read it, but it looks good.

Some Recommended Books on Covenant Theology

I am not a covenant theologian. However, I am very familiar with it in both its pedo- and credo-baptist forms. While my ongoing series critiquing CT shows that I am in disagreement with many of its major hermeneutical tenets, I want my readers to know that I have a long-standing admiration for CT for its comprehensiveness and its ability to address many areas of Theology and Apologetics. Later in the series I am writing (of which this is an interlude), I will express my appreciation of CT along those lines. But I had the thought today that I should perhaps write something about books about Covenant Theology for those not acquainted with it who may wish to dive in.

This list is not meant to be comprehensive.

Cornelius Van Til – An Introduction to Systematic Theology

An outstanding work which features Van Til’s robust approach to the doctrine of God and trinitarian perspectives. Not for the faint of heart but a book that relates Van Til’s apologetic understanding to his Reformed theology more directly than most of his other books, showing how one relates to the other. While I do not believe presuppositionalism requires CT (contra Scott Oliphint) I do agree that it requires something like CT’s teleology.

Cornelius Van Til – A Christian Theory of Knowledge

Ought to be reprinted. A wonderful exploration of the sufficiency of Scripture among other things. This is what opened my eyes to the relative barrenness of Dispensational theology (DT) and made me ask the question “Why?” Short answer: because DT is not teleological.

John Frame – Cornelius Van Til’: An Analysis of His Thought

My first encounter (other than a dip here and there) with Van Til’s thought. I include it here because it gives an idea of the range of his revelational epistemology, which he roots in CT. N.B. Not all CT’s agree with Van Til (e.g., John Gerstner, R. C. Sproul). Recently John V. Fesko has written a critique of Van Til which repeats the old misrepresentations of his work.

Peter Golding – Covenant Theology

A Congregational minister who wrote a fine historical overview of CT. This book doesn’t get the appreciation it deserves. Traces the development of CT as well as providing a decent introduction.

Pascal Denault – The Distinctiveness of Baptist Covenant Theology

To my mind if you want to know the difference between Baptist and Presbyterian approaches to CT this is the book to study. Denault both lets the authorities from both sides speak and provides helpful and readable commentary. Indispensable.

Greg Nichols – Covenant Theology : A Reformed and Baptistic Perspective on God’s Covenants

A very full Baptist approach which goes its own way on occasion. The benefit of this work is its interaction with major North American pedo-baptist systematicians and Nichols’ attempts to find scriptural supports for his doctrines.

Herman Bavinck – Reformed Dogmatics, Vol. 3: Sin and Salvation in Christ

For a long time writers such as Vos and Van Til were our only access into the Dogmatics of Bavinck. The translation of his four volumes was long overdue. This volume includes the most detailed chapter on the Covenant of Grace I have read.

Richard Gamble – The Whole Counsel of God

The first two volumes deal with the OT and NT. There is a lot to admire in this work. As far as CT goes it is important because it shows how CT mixes with Systematics.

Richard Belcher – The Fulfillment of the Promises of God

This is the best articulation of CT in print as far as I am concerned. A must-have.

Michael Brown & Zach Keele – Sacred Bond: Covenant Theology Explained

Now in a second edition, this book is worth reading because it successfully sets out CT while also (to my eyes) showing how the theological covenants force interpretations.

Guy Prentiss Waters, et al., Editors – Covenant Theology: Biblical, Theological, and Historical Perspectives

A recent very large book with some excellent discussions. Again, I am far from persuaded by the arguments in the first and third sections, but this is the book to have if one needs an up-to-date resource.

Herman Witsius – The Economy of the Covenants Between God and Man

A seminal work in two volumes. Witsius is pious and irenic and his concern is pastoral (although not the namby-pamby nonsense that passes for pastoralia today). I don’t think he is at his best when setting out the existence of the theological covenants, but he excels in explaining how they “work” with the Bible.

Robert Reymond – A New Systematic Theology of the Christian Faith

Reymond’s prolegomena is terrific. It’s Van Tillian without the author wanting to be Van Tillian! I include this work because I love its seriousness (he reminds me of John Murray), and because he argues in-depth for the scriptural (and even exegetical!) support for the theological covenants.

O. Palmer Robertson – The Christ of the Covenants

There would be howls of protest if I didn’t include this one. Personally I can’t really get on with it. I’m not sure why. Maybe it is because it so self-consciously works through the biblical covenants while warping them in service of the theological covenants? Maybe it’s his style? Maybe it’s his too easy dismissal of the land-promise to Israel? Whatever, this is an important book. There is a valuable excursus chapter which contrasts CT with DT as structural systems.

John Brown of Haddington – Systematic Theology

Brown is a legendary figure. Very pious, humble, but powerful in his writing. He reminds me of Thomas Boston, but is more concise. This book demonstrates how the theological covenants are joined to Scripture once the assumptions of the Westminster Confession are held.

Edward Fisher with notes by Thomas Boston – The Marrow of Modern Divinity

I have not read this famous book, but it is recommended frequently and Boston’s Memoirs and his Human Nature in Its Fourfold State both had an influence upon me so I include it here. In dialogical format (which I do not enjoy), its main purpose was to offset legalism. A recent “simplified” version by Andy Wilson is available.

A “Must-Read” Booklist For Those Who Want To Study Theology (3)

Part Two

This post will be the last set of recommendations for those whom one might call “beginning students.” I had said that I would do Church history and biography, but first let me say something about the apologists Francis Schaeffer and C. S. Lewis. Surveying some of the works of these men does not mean that I endorse everything about their methodology or substance, but the importance of their work speaks for itself.

Francis Schaeffer wrote small but thoughtful books about worldview. His style requires a little effort to adapt to, but his concerns are of great relevance today. The first works by him that you should seek out are those which comprise what is known as The Trilogy. Those are, The God Who Is There, Escape From Reason, and He Is There and He Is Not Silent. They can now be purchased in a single volume. These books deal with the consequences of abandoning Truth and Reason, and the reality of God. Yes, you’ll have to put your thinking caps on.

Also important by Schaeffer are his Death in the City, True Spirituality, and The Church at the End of the Twentieth Century. Finally, his How Should We Then Live? is a sweep through history with a diagnosis of Western despair. I’m not saying you have to read all these titles, but do try and read some of them.

C. S. Lewis was a man of great erudition but with a working man’s outlook. Of his fiction works, everyone should read (or listen to) his Chronicles of Narnia. As well as being rattling good stories they explore Christian themes such as temptation, folly and its consequences, the virtues, sacrifice, redemption, the struggle to do the good, and hope. After that I recommend the deeper, more “philosophical” yet still entertaining “Space Trilogy” (or “Ransom Trilogy”). These are remarkable reflections on the fallenness of our world, on providence and the reality of the spirit world. Lewis displays the arrogance and folly of intellectuals brilliantly; something we need to put our fingers on today.

Two more fictionalized accounts from his pen are The Great Divorce; an imaginary bus trip from “Hell” to the border of “Heaven.” The depictions of slavery to sin, and of the half-light in which we live when contrasted with Heaven are memorable. The second is The Screwtape Letters, which is profound yet delightful set of correspondence between an older demon to his apprentice regarding keeping a man from seeing truth, from dwelling on reality, and from trusting “the Enemy.”

Other non-fiction books by Lewis are Mere Christianity, and Miracles. Lewis is a thinker of the first order and his works need to be reread regularly.

Church History

Church History as History generally, seems to have suffered in our perverse and narcissistic times. It is essential that Christians have some grasp of their heritage. It links them with those who have now gone to their reward. In this regard I think the following books are most helpful:

Sketches From Church History by S. M. Houghton, and The Pilgrim Church by E. H. Broadbent. Of American authors see Bruce Shelley’s Church History in Plain Language, and Earl Cairns’ Christianity Through the Centuries.

A few books highly recommended to go with the above are J. C. Ryle’s Five English Reformers and Christian Leaders of the Eighteenth Century. Both are superb. S. M. Houghton edited the book Five Pioneer Missionaries which is very good. Then there is Leland Ryken’s study of Puritanism called Worldly Saints which is worth a mention, as is the similar volume by Peter Lewis called The Genius of Puritanism. But I’m pushing it a bit by including those titles as they’re a little tougher to get through.

Biographies

There are countless biographies of notable men and women of the Church. Some of them are maudlin encomiums of a revered individual, few are warts and all portrayals. Here are some suggestions:

Here I Stand by Roland Bainton is still the classic biography of Luther, although I also like Herman Selderhuis’s Martin Luther – A Spiritual Biography.

Since I referred to warts and all I am reminded to include Lady Antonia Fraser’s terrific biography of Oliver Cromwell: The Lord Protector (in England its title is Cromwell: Our Chief of Men after Milton’s description).

We have to have a biography of Spurgeon, and Arnold Dallimore’s Spurgeon: A New Biography fits the bill admirably. Anything by Dallimore is worth reading. If you can get it I advise reading H. C. G. Moule’s brilliant biography of Charles Simeon. Then there is the Memoir and Remains of Robert Murray M’Cheyne by A. A. Bonar. Most of the biographies of John Pollock (Whitefield, Cambridge Seven, Hudson Taylor) are very good. Much the same holds for Kevin Belmonte (Wilberforce, Chesterton, Moody), although I can’t recommend all his stuff.

There are several good biographies of C. S. Lewis by Roger Lancelyn Green, George Sayer, and Alan Jacobs.

I close with Christopher Catherwood’s fine Martyn Lloyd-Jones: A Family Portrait. I know there are many volumes I could and probably should have included, but I must end somewhere. I shall pick things up when I do the list for “Advanced” readers.

A “Must-Read” Booklist For Those Who Want To Study Theology (2)

Part One

I said in the last post that I would continue where I left off, so let me say something about books covering other aspects of Systematic Theology first.

The doctrine of man and sin require some strong representation in these days. Since the books by Ryrie, Stott. Lightner and Boice already mentioned treat these issues well I shall not add any other books to the list with the exception of Martyn Lloyd-Jones’s The Plight of Man and the Power of God, and Jeremiah Burroughs’s The Evil of Evils. Yes he’s a Puritan, but he is one of the easiest Puritans to read so there’s no excuse. Thomas Watson (another Puritan!) wrote a small book called The Mischief of Sin which I also recommend. For those who want to think through the craziness that is gender and body politics today and want to be grounded in truth I recommend Nancey Pearcey’s Love Thy Body.

What about the Church? I don’t much care for Mark Dever, but his little book on The Church is good. If a person wanted one book on the doctrine of the church I would direct them to Robert Saucy, The Church in God’s Program.

Now we get to the End Times!!! I am a Dispensational premillennialist so my bias is towards books which teach a literal seven-year Tribulation followed by a literal thousand-year reign of Christ, after which comes the Great Judgment and then the New Heaven and Earth. I also believe that Israel and the Church are distinct entities or peoples, who together with the Nations will comprise the one and many people of God in eternity. That was a mouthful, but the following works aren’t. Robert Lightner’s The Last Days Handbook and Paul Benware’s Understanding End Times Prophecy both fit the bill very well.

I said last time that I would include some books on the Christian Life, Biblical Studies, and Apologetics, and so I shall. My picks for the Christian Life are C. H. Spurgeon’s Morning & Evening , Arthur W. Pink’s Practical Christianity or Life of Faith. J. C. Ryle’s Holiness or Practical Religion and William Wilberforce’s Practical Christianity. I do not recommend everything Pink wrote because of his early habit of emphasizing things like types and ‘law of first mention’, and also his overly strident Calvinism and sometime tendency to criticize, but he is a great author. Perhaps balance him with J. Sidlow Baxter’s His Part and Ours. Ryle is brilliant and practical; Wilberforce is fervent and sensible.

There are many other great books on the subject, but there are a truckload of plain awful ones too. one more I would put in there for those who experience struggle in their sojourn is Martyn Lloyd-Jones’s ill-titled Spiritual Depression. None of these books are particularly easy reading, but neither should they be. All are read-able.

Up next are a few books in the broad category of biblical studies. Here are several books on diverse subjects: first I think Michael Vlach’s He Will Reign Forever is a must. It is a grand tour through the storyline of the Bible. It will repay your effort. Then there is Creation and Change by Douglas Kelly, which is an excellent defense of six day creation. Of course, one must add to that a work like Thousands not Billions edited by Donald DeYoung. but I’m getting into Apologetics now, so let me briefly draw back long enough to recommend Peter Lewis’s The Glory of Christ, Understanding Spiritual Gifts by Robert Thomas. and, believe it or not, 40 Questions About Heaven and Hell by Alan Gomes.

And so to Apologetics or the defense of the Christian Faith. I think the first thing I want to say is that it is wise to watch out for the perspective of the apologist. What I mean is that you should ask yourself whether the author is writing from the position where the divine nature or Scripture is presupposed or not. As a Christian you have been saved from the darkness and transferred to the light. It is unwise to think as though that has not happened to you. Therefore, while commending them, I will indicate below by an (<) where the author steps out of a Biblical outlook to argue back into it. Anyway, here goes:

For the right apologetics approach I recommend Greg Bahnsen’s book Always Ready. It is invaluable. I ought to include here that Bahnsen’s lectures are all now available for free through Covenant Media Foundation. While I do not subscribe to his Covenant Theology or his views on the Law, I think Bahnsen’s skills as a Christian apologist and philosopher are first rate. Get busy! Two books by J. P. Moreland (<) are Scientism and Secularism and Scaling the Secular City. Then the British publications Genesis For Today by Andy MacIntosh and Hallmarks of Design by Stuart Burgess are warmly recommended. J. Warner Wallace’s (<) Cold-Case Christianity and James R. Edwards’ (<) Is Jesus the Only Savior? are both good (Edwards’s book is somewhat challenging), and James Spiegel’s (<) The Making of An Atheist is very good. Speaking of Jesus, it may be written by a Roman Catholic but I really like The Case for Jesus by Brant Pitre (<). Something like Ron Rhodes’s (<) Big Book of Bible Answers is a worthwhile compendium of “facts.”

To finish off this post I want to put in a punt for Jason Lisle and his book The Ultimate Proof of Creation; a first class orientation to thinking from the Bible while defending it.

Next time I shall say something about Worldview, including thoughts on Francis Schaeffer and C. S. Lewis. I shall then end the proceedings by turning to Church History and biography.

Part 3

A “Must-Read” Booklist For Those Who Want To Study Theology (1)

I received this question recently:

“Thank you for all the material you put out. I have benefitted quite a bit. Do you have a list of books/reading that you would recommend as “must read” for someone wanting to grow theologically? I am a part-time worship pastor and full-time elementary music teacher. Previous experience as lay/part-time church planter, youth pastor, and young adult pastor. No seminary, relatively studied, conservative theologically.”

As it’s nice to receive such requests (I remember doing the same thing many years ago) and I want to encourage study I thought I would respond in full.  I intend to split my lists between “Introductory” and more “Advanced.”  I know that not everyone is drawn to study or even read theology (there is a difference). I am pretty useless at many things, but it appears I have some ability to do Theology. I love it, my bookshelves are full of it, and I have taught it at various levels from Sunday School to Graduate level for years.  But how to write a decent list of books for those interested in it? I have already provided some help on Systematic Theology here (but that list badly requires updating), and Biblical Theology here (I need to add a few more volumes), and I did a booklist for Dispensationalism too.

What I have decided to do is jabber. I hope that decision is not the wrong one, but here we go. Naturally, there are books that could be in the list but aren’t, either because I have to be limited or because I have forgotten them (I am writing this away from my library). I will give my selections on the various topics with a little banter added.

For Those Beginning Their Theological Journey:

The first book any believer ought to be studying constantly is of course THE BIBLE!  Get to know it. That means you will have to be discipled to read a lot every week. When I started out I was blessed to be challenged by a missionary by the name of Dean McClain to read ten pages of the Bible per day. That came out as going through the Word of God about four times a year. There is no substitute. Commentaries won’t do it. Seminary won’t do it (since when did students read the Bible constantly at Seminary?). I don’t know how many graduate students (yes, Masters degree students) I have asked about their Bible reading who put their hands down once I reached “5 times” reading it through. I don’t think anyone has any business doing a Masters in Bible or Theology until they have read the whole Bible at least 10 times. You will have to do it. Not only will your soul be fed and your mind properly furnished, you will develop a sense of whether what you read elsewhere has any merit. It won’t turn you into a great theologian, but there is nothing like it for honing your theological chops.

Be careful which Bible you choose. Don’t have anything to do with paraphrases. Neither mess around with dynamic equivalence translations like the NIV. I recommend the NKJV or the NASB or the old KJV. The ESV is alright, although it has its problems, particularly in various prophetic passages. As far as Study Bibles go, there are several good ones if you wish. For a start, as a budding theologian you want one which will give you the cross-references that help you link the doctrines together. For this reason I personally don’t recommend the Scofield Bible. It is good, but it is geared toward Dispensationalism, not so much for Theology, which means that it often fails to provide the cross-references to study Systematic Theology. Better is the Ryrie Study Bible, and the MacArthur Study Bible. But I don’t want to get into Study Bibles here, so I will move on. I’m actually not a big fan.

After the Word of God itself there is one other book you must read: The Pilgrim’s Progress by John Bunyan. This book hardly needs a recommendation from me, but it should be read and reread. There are many good editions. My favorite is the one edited by C. J. Lovik.  There’s a really well done Study Guide by Maureen Bradley.  

With that under our belts we are ready to push off from the shore. The first two subjects to look to are the doctrine of Scripture and the doctrine of God. On the former I recommend The Inspiration and Authority of Scripture by Rene Pache. This is a superb treatment for those investigating this essential doctrine for the first time. There is also a good book with the same title by A. W. Pink. Since it is arguably the most assailed doctrine of all, another good book to read is Noel Weeks’ The Sufficiency of Scripture.

Approaching the doctrine of God I would go for the inevitable Knowing God by J.I. Packer. I am not Packer’s biggest fan, mainly because he was too willing to compromise on issues (see also John Stott below). But this is a great book. I do have to say that I was very impressed when I heard Packer lecture on Laurence Chadderton in London years ago. He was very impressive as a scholar and as a humble man.  The Attributes of God by A. W. Pink contains great thoughts on God’s majesty and perfections. Books on the Names of God by Andrew Jukes or Nathan Stone ought to be purchased.

Personal Thoughts About Commentaries (10): Daniel

As with the selections on the Book of Revelation, this list will display some bias towards Dispensational works, although I don’t want to fill it up with just those. One big reason for that is because Dispensationalists have not written many great commentaries on any book of the Bible. Often-as-not they have been content to furnish basic commentaries for the masses. The fact is that if a person wishes to go deep into an inspired author he will need to be conversant with many writers who he may not see eye to eye with. So here goes:

1. J. Paul Tanner (EEC) – I have now read this book and I believe the combination of exegesis, background, and theology in this book put it on top of the pile. This thorough analysis must now be the go-to work on Daniel.
2. Leon Wood – Thorough and very competent. Good to have on hand when preaching through the book.
3. Stephen Miller (NAC) – This is a mid-level Dispensational commentary that holds its own against the usual contenders (see below). Miller thinks through the text and asks the right questions. This is the most helpful interpretation of Daniel that I know.
4. John Goldingay (WBC) – He doesn’t believe the book was written in the 6th Century B.C. (he puts the author in the 2nd Century), and he comes up with some odd explanations (e.g. of the four kingdoms), so why have him so high on the list? Because he is an excellent exegete. Because he provides the depth one needs if the student is to know what mainline scholarship, plus much of evangelicalism, thinks about Daniel. And because it does contain a lot of insight.
5. Gleason Archer (old EBC) – Archer was a great OT scholar and linguist who wrote the still excellent A Survey of Old Testament Introduction. He makes very good use of his page limit and his work teems with insights.
6. Andrew Steinmann (CC) – Steinmann is a Lutheran scholar you ought to know. He is very conservative and practical, but also analytical. I own several of his works and he seldom disappoints. This commentary is not brilliant on the prophetic portions, but is great on the early chapters and the authenticity of the Book. Focusses on the “Son of Man” theme.
7. John Walvoord – A reliable, straightforward Dispensational commentary which does not interact much with other works. Walvoord was a top prophecy scholar.
8. Peter Steveson – A very worthwhile effort from a conservative Dispensational scholar, with good word studies.
9. Joyce Baldwin – Baldwin was well known for solid thinking and her pithy style. Again, the use of this work for the prophetic chapters is as a foil for the futurist view, but there is much helpful material in this little book.
10. E. J. Young – Old, dogmatic, staunchly conservative amillennial work from a great OT scholar. This thorough commentary should not be overlooked.

The above list will not impress those readers who must have the latest cutting edge commentaries, but I stand by it. Of other works I like Zoeckler’s contribution to the Lange set. He is liberal but he is surprisingly useful. Keil’s work in the Keil and Delitzsch set is good. J. J. Collins is an expert on “apocalyptic” (for what it’s worth) and writes clearly, but he also writes as one who doesn’t believe the text he is writing about. E. C. Lucas can’t seem to make up his mind what the Book of Daniel is about, while Sinclair Ferguson is not as good as Young. J. A. Motyer is a great scholar and his small commentary on Daniel nearly squeezed out Baldwin’s.

Finally, Tony Garland is writing a massive commentary on Daniel, which, if he isn’t careful, will remain unfinished until we’re in the Kingdom. He’s just beginning chapter 5. A wise person would get to know this work and its numerous appended studies as soon as he can.

I forgot to add Robert D. Culver’s fine Daniel and the Latter Days. It is not a commentary, but a study of premillennial eschatology with emphasis on Daniel.

Personal Thoughts About Commentaries (9): Revelation

I am convinced that the Book of Revelation ought to be interpreted as a prophecy and that its numbers and symbols have identifiable referents either close by or in other Books of the Bible.  I have therefore given a list of works espousing the Dispensational point of view.  Not that non-Dispensational writers aren’t useful, but accuracy of interpretation must come first.   I have made note also of some non-dispensational works.    

1. Robert Thomas (2 Vols) – This is Thomas’s most important book and the one that will insure he is remembered for many years to come.  Informative, technical (but not unnecessarily so).  Tackles all the issues, and interacts with opposing views.  A must have.
2. Tony Garland (2 Vols) – Entitled A Testimony of Jesus Christ, I came across this huge work in the library of Tyndale Seminary before it was published.  I read it (well, a good deal of it) in its dissertation garb and was mightily impressed.  Offers some unique material hard to find elsewhere.  I recommend purchasing the hard copies, but for all you tight-wads out there, Tony has it all for free here!    
3. Buist M. Fanning III – A new and impressive premillennial work with great exegesis.  Tries to please everyone and dabbles in idealism, but still good.  600+ pages, but needed more.
4. John F. Walvoord – Accurate writing and theological reflection by an expert on Biblical prophecy.  One could wish it were more detailed.
5. Arnold G. Fruchtenbaum – A book entitled Footsteps of the Messiah, this is a study of eschatology based on the Apocalypse.  Has a few questionable assertions, but it incorporates much solid exposition and should be consulted.
6. J. B. Smith – Some oddments, but this is a decent exegesis with focus on words and numbers.  Includes stimulating appendices.  Hard to find.
7. E. W. Bullinger – Hyper-Dispensationalist, although it doesn’t show much.  Takes positions few will take, but for all that well worth reading because of the exegesis.
8. Paige Patterson – I’m no fan of Patterson’s style, but this is a pretty good use of the space allotted him.  Found in the NAC series.
9. Thomas Constable – A solid compendium of the best works with reliable notes.  And it’s free!
10. G. K. Beale – By dint of sheer scholarship this should be near the top of the list.  If you want to dive into the Greek text this is great.  He’s also good at tracking down the many OT allusions in the Apocalypse.  But don’t think that this translates into accurate understanding of the Apostle.  Beale is amillennial and idealist.  In the NIGNT series.  A useful foil to Thomas.

As for other works, everyone is waiting for Michael Stallard’s contribution (EEC).  Hopefully it will surpass his Thessalonians work.  John MacArthur’s 2 volumes are transcripts of sermons.  MacArthur can be a bit black and white, but it’s good material.  Kendall Easley is pretty good but not great.  J. A. Seiss’s old set of ‘Lectures’ offer sound premillennial exposiion with challenging (and not always convincing) perspectives.  William Kelly’s old Plymouth Brethren commentary is worth perusing, even with his opaque word choices.  David L. Cooper is very brief, Henry Morris good but introductory, Clarence Larkin is useful for the beginner, as is A. C. Gaebelein and Harry Ironside.  Grant Osborne offers a well written mixture (I don’t say muddle) of the different approaches.  G. E. Ladd, George Beasley-Murray, Leon Morris, Robert Mounce, and Alan F. Johnson are worth reading, but Osborne is better (with Johnson just behind).

From the symbolic camp I like Stephen S. Smalley’s study of the Greek text and the “drama” theme.  I don’t think he’s close to being right, but his technical and background work is good, and he goes his own way.  He’s also good to compare with Beale to show just how muddled the non-literal gets.  I don’t like David Aune’s 3 volume work.  From what I’ve read of it he is more concerned with the Greco-Roman era in which Revelation was written than with the Book itself.

Good introductions to the Book overall are by W. Graham Scroggie and Merrill Tenney.  Mal Couch’s A Bible Handbook to Revelation is worthwhile.  Several authors were involved.  Finally, Steve Gregg’s Revelation: Four views, A Parallel Commentary is worth having on hand.