Recommendation: Pierced for Our Transgressions

Jeffery, Steve, Michael Ovey & Andrew Sach. Pierced for Our Transgressions: Rediscovering the Glory of Penal Substitution. Forward by John Piper. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2007. Trade Paperback, 373 pages. $25.00.

reviewed by Doug Smith (This review originally appeared at SharperIron.)

(Review copies courtesy of Crossway Books.)

Purchase: Crossway | WTS | CBD | Amazon | Moody (Kingsport, TN)

ISBNs: 1433501082 / 9781433501081

Special Features: Bibliography (pp. 337-351), Index of Names, and Index of Biblical References

Table of Contents

Excerpts (includes ten pages of Endorsements, Forward by John Piper, Acknowledgments, and Chapter 1: Introduction)

Subjects: Theology, Soteriology, Atonement

Steve Jeffery is a pastor at Holy Trinity, Lyonsdown, in North London. He has a M.S. and Ph.D. in experimental physics from Oxford University. He is married to Nicole, and they have three children: Ben, Becki and Abi.

Mike Ovey is principal-elect and lecturer in Doctrine and Apologetics at Oak Hill Theological College. He has a Ph.D. in Trinitarian Theology from King’s College, London. He is married to Heather, and they have three children: Charlie, Harry and Anastasia.

Andrew Sach studied theology at Oak Hill Theological College and is now on the staff of St Helen’s, Bishopsgate, in central London. He has a Ph.D. from York University.

The word controversy does not usually suggest pleasant thoughts. We often associate division, harsh words, and even confusion with the concept of controversy. But controversy can have its benefits. Some serious controversies in church history have actually been great blessings to the church. They sharpened fuzzy thinking on the deity of Christ and on the Trinity. These controversies resulted in clarity, making clear the distinction between false teaching and sound doctrine. The controversy over the Bible doctrine of Christ’s penal substitutionary death has brought to light such works as Pierced for Our Transgressions: Recovering the Glory of Penal Substitution. This book is a blessing because it not only brings clarity to the controversy but also edifies in its tone (as opposed to being harsh as some would expect in a polemical work), evangelistically useful, and theologically sound.

Description

Two sections compose Pierced. Part one makes the case for the doctrine, and part two answers its critics. The chapters are complemented by a short but substantive foreword by John Piper and an appendix for preachers with cautions about illustrating the doctrine.

Part One

The authors make their case after setting forth the need for it. They recognize that foundational doctrines have always been attacked, but assert that “[t]he more disturbing thing is that some of the more recent critics of penal substitution regard themselves as evangelicals, and claim to be committed to the authority of Scripture” (p. 25). They wisely lay a good, positive foundation for the doctrine before proceeding to overturn critics’ objections.

The book takes a four-pronged approach in arguing the case “that God gave himself in the person of his Son to suffer instead of us the death, punishment and curse due to fallen humanity as the penalty for sin” (p. 21). The biblical foundations, theological framework, pastoral importance, and historical pedigree of penal substitution are presented in a helpful survey. In chapter 2, the authors zoom in on key passages to examine the doctrine as found in Exodus 12, Leviticus 16, Isaiah 52:13-53:12; the books of Mark, John, and Romans; and Galatians 3:10-13. Chapter 3 explores the place of penal substitution within the big picture of the Bible and finds it central to our understanding of doctrines, such as creation, the fall, sin, the Trinity, and redemption. Chapter 4 details the relationship the doctrine has with pastoral concerns, such as assurance of God’s love, confidence in His truthfulness, passion for God’s justice, and realism about our sin. Chapter 5 embarks on a jet tour through church history, showing that the doctrine has been embraced and articulated not only by the biblical authors but also from the second century to the present; in other words, it is not a new teaching.

Part Two

Chapter 6 introduces the debate over penal substitution, arguing that it is important to engage and thoughtfully answer critics’ objections. The authors proceed to directly answer a cadre of objections, many of which are quite serious. The objections Pierced answers include the following: that penal substitution is not taught in the Bible or, if so, that it is not a significant part of it (chapter 7); that it is a product of our culture or that it is irrelevant to it (chapter 8 ); that it encourages violence, that it can be characterized by terminology like “cosmic child abuse,” and that it contradicts Jesus’s message of peace and love (chapter 9); that it is unjust, that it undermines true divine forgiveness, and that it implies universal salvation (chapter 10); that it is contrary to the character of God (chapter 11); and that it cripples true Christian living (chapter 12).

Evaluation

A 373-page book on doctrine does not sound appealing to many in an age of sound bites and light devotional reading. But this book is thoroughly doctrinal, interesting, and devotional. It has much potential to be useful for the church. In addition, it could be a good book to give to someone who has no acquaintance with the gospel or a poor understanding of it.

The authors are aware of recent scholarship on this doctrine, including Leon Morris (The Apostolic Preaching of the Cross), John Murray (Redemption Accomplished and Applied), and John R.W. Stott (The Cross of Christ). But the fresh onslaught against the doctrine certainly merits a fresh treatment in our day, and in Pierced we find a clear articulation of biblical doctrine that refutes false teaching. Allegations such as those of “cosmic child abuse” by Steve Chalke and Alan Mann in The Lost Message of Jesus must be answered, and they are answered in Pierced.

And lest we think that these false teachings are not in our own circles, let us remember that the doctrine of penal substitution is contrary to our sinful nature, and we should therefore never take the doctrine for granted. Some fundamentalists have looked to Charles G. Finney as a hero of the Christian faith, but his denial of penal substitution would actually be just cause to warn others about him.

Pierced is scholarly yet readable and useful for the average church member as well as the trained pastor or scholar. It is edifying and would also make a good textbook. The table of contents is helpfully organized with subtopics for each chapter, making the material easy to outline. Chapters 2, 3, and 4 could easily be adapted for teaching in a context like Sunday school. Preachers might consider preaching a series on the cross by expounding texts like those covered in chapter 2. A seminary professor teaching on this doctrine would profit from mining the riches of the entire book (which includes a good bibliography and extensive footnotes).

Before the publicizing of this book, I had never heard of the authors. I had a minor concern that the writing would be stilted with three authors sharing the responsibilities (and no clear distinction of who wrote what), but their labors blended well into a clear and flowing read. The book is marked by good illustrations, making a large work easier to digest. For example, they view the doctrine in relation to the rest of Scripture as a key piece in the puzzle, apart from which the pieces do not connect.

The book also gives a good warning about illustrations in its appendix. Some inadvertently teach the following by using ill-thought illustrations of penal substitution: denial of the active, consenting involvement of the Father and the Son; conflict between God’s law and God’s will; that God is unjust to avert our punishment; a conflict between God’s wrath and God’s will; a conflict between God’s attributes; that God did not foreordain Christ’s work; and that no one actually benefits from Christ’s saving work. One of the most serious offenders is the illustration of the railroad switchman who opts to sacrifice his son who has wandered onto a clear main track rather than the multitude on the train who would perish by crashing into parked freight cars if the switch were thrown to save the son. While realizing that no analogy will correspond to every point in reality (they cite Isaiah’s comparison of Christ to a sheep that is silent before its shearers, but understand that Isaiah is making one point and not saying Christ is like a sheep in every respect), we must take care to not accidentally teach false doctrine by the illustrations we choose to employ. Good illustrations illuminate truth and make clear the point(s) of comparison.

The vigor and thoroughness of the authors’ defense of particular redemption may disturb some readers (pp. 268-278). The writers believe that the doctrine of penal substitution and the teaching of the Bible itself clearly imply that Christ died for a specific group of individuals to actually secure their redemption. They may convince those who have struggled with such a teaching to finally see it in the Bible. But those convinced otherwise can still profit much from this book while being reminded that every theory limits the atonement in some way (by extent or design) except for universalism.

Pierced takes us back to a fundamental doctrine, proving it from the Scriptures and showing its implications. Penal substitutionary atonement is at the heart of the gospel. The cross is the centerpiece of the Bible and human history, and a better understanding should help us live a life worthy of the gospel and point sinners to the Savior.

The book’s website provides primary documents from church history and writings related to the present controversy over penal substitution.

Conclusion

Pierced makes a thorough, airtight case for the glorious doctrine of penal substitution and convincingly answers the critics. The book gives us a better understanding of the teaching and how to share it, should motivate us to faithful evangelism and preaching, and should result in worship of the Lamb who was slain and redeemed us by His blood.

The authors model Titus 1:9, where Paul says that an elder “must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it” (ESV). They give us a good example of how controversy can result in clarity. I heartily and unreservedly recommend Pierced for Our Transgressions.

Recommendation: The Big Picture Story Bible

David Helm, The Big Picture Story Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2004). Illustrated by Gail Schoonmaker.

reviewed by Doug Smith

Many of us have read children’s Bible stories that focus on individual stories in the Bible in a disconnected and disjointed way. However, not all such resources approach the Bible in that way! Having just read The Big Picture Story Bible to our family over the last several weeks (thanks to being a winner in a contest Tony Kummer hosted), I can heartily recommend it to you as one that helps you see the forest of the Bible, not just individual trees. Comprised of 26 chapters (11 cover the Old Testament, 15 cover the New), the 456 pages of this hardcover book go by fast. One can easily read one or two chapters in a brief time of family devotions. Although the book is written simply, it is substantive and edifying for adults as well as children.

The chief strength of the book is that it is a mini-biblical theology. Graeme Goldsworthy (Gospel and Kingdom; According to Plan) has contended that the Bible is all about the Kingdom of God, which he defines as God’s people in God’s place under God’s rule. David Helm acknowledges Goldsworthy’s influence and does an excellent job showing the unfolding of this theme throughout the Bible. It is exciting to see the story unfold. You learn that neither David nor Solomon is God’s perfect King, and continually wait for Him until you are presented with Jesus Christ, who is the centerpiece of Scripture and fulfills all the promises about the Kingdom of God. The book makes the Gospel and its implications plain (something that many story Bibles overlook!). It helps us see God's sovereignty and holiness, our sin, and the Savior who suffered in the place of those who believe in Him, that He might make them into God's people, in God's place, under God's rule.

Because of the “big picture” perspective, many favorite Bible stories are overlooked. You won’t find anything about King Saul or the feeding of the 5,000. But The Big Picture Story Bible is not meant to be exhaustive – it is meant to be an overview. As a resource that helps us see “the forest,” it must be selective, especially if it is to be of a suitable length to fulfill its purpose. The bird’s eye view of the book gives readers/listeners a good foundation to see the individual stories within the context of the whole Bible. It’s a great place for children to start and was quite profitable for this adult to read as well!

The only caution I would give about the book regards the illustrations. My children (all under 4) love the colorful cartoonish pictures. But some potential readers may have a problem with any pictures of Jesus and whether this violates the second commandment. I’m not necessarily convinced that this is always true (I believe it can be), and it is certainly not an issue to dismiss lightly. So, if this is a matter of conviction for you, be advised that there are pictorial representations of Jesus in the book.

The Big Picture Story Bible is a great resource to have for your child’s bookshelf as well as for family devotions. It would also be great for young children in a Sunday school, pre-school or Christian school context. Its short chapters make it easy to finish in a month. Its substance makes it easy to want to read it again and again. I hope to read it at least two or three times a year to my family to make sure we don’t miss the forest for the trees when learning the small units of the Bible. It reminds us that the whole Bible is about God's Kingdom, being His people, in His place, under His rule, which is only possible through what our Lord Jesus Christ has done by His perfect life, death, and resurrection for all who trust Him.

Learn more and check it out:

• Description
• Table of Contents
• Excerpt: Part 1: The Very Good Beginning - 4,538K PDF
• Excerpt: Part 23: God's Promise Is Explained - 2,804K PDF

Book Review - The Literary Study Bible

(I considered reviewing this resource, but why re-invent the wheel when someone else has already said well what you would have said? Jason Button recently reviewed the Literary Study Bible at SharperIron and on his blog and he gave me permission to post his review here. I heartily agree with his assessment and highly recommend this resource for all students of God's Word. - DS)

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The Literary Study Bible. Edited by Leland Ryken & Philip Graham Ryken. Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway Bibles, 2007. Jacketed Hardcover, 1,913 pages. $49.99.

reviewed by Jason Button

(Review copy courtesy of Crossway Books.)

Purchase: Crossway Books | CBD | WTS | Amazon

ISBNs: 1581348088 / 9781581348088

Download a 16-page brochure (1.3MB PDF) with sample pages and a longer explanation of features. Browse the notes and learn more at the official website.

The English Standard Version (ESV) of the Bible is being adopted by much of Evangelicalism, and some fundamentalists are beginning to use it, too. I have used this text for about five years now and have come to prefer it for a number of reasons. I realize that the issue of translations is important, and I must admit that the ESV is not a perfect translation. As all translations have their own peculiar strengths and weaknesses, even so the ESV has its strengths and weaknesses. All in all, the ESV is a very readable translation. In my opinion, it is an improvement over the NASB when it comes to memorization. However, it is beyond the scope of this review to present a thorough evaluation of the translation philosophy of the ESV. Rather, I would like to focus on the structure and content of the ESV Literary Study Bible edition.

Personally, I’m not much of a fan of study Bibles. I have hundreds of commentaries in my study to help me with interpretational issues, and I’d rather they be separate from my Bible. My preferred Bible is one that has plenty of margin space and cross-references. However, I realize that most people are not like me and that study Bibles are very useful to the general populace of Christians.

As useful as study Bibles are, there are a few things that concern me. First, they tend to be bulky and heavy. Second, many are extremely cluttered—some being “overcooked” with graphics and pictures. Third, the notes, as good as they may be, tend to distract the reader from the text.

The publishers of the Literary Study Bible have had to address these issues and others, and it is worth discussing the direction they have decided to take.

Content

The text of this study Bible is a combination of the English Standard Version (Crossway Bibles, 2001, ESV Text Edition: 2007) of the Bible and selected content from Ryken’s Bible Handbook (Tyndale House Publishers, 2005). These two have been edited together by the father-and-son team of Leland and Philip Graham Ryken.

Notable Features

At the outset, the reader will notice that the text block is not the “standard” double columns, but a single column. This was a challenge to get used to, at first, but I was more than willing to work with it for the simple fact that this is ideal when you come to poetical passages. I’ve been studying the book of Psalms and have been overjoyed to have a full view of each Psalm in poetic structure with room enough for full lines.

One feature I missed, at first, was the lack of cross-references. To me, I expected this to be a staple feature for a study Bible. However, without the cross-references, the reader eyes are kept on the text block which is a major goal of this study Bible.

The back of the Bible lacks a concordance, index, and maps. Rather, there is an extensive glossary of literary terms and genres, a list of weights and measures, and daily reading plan charts.

To these features (or lack thereof), one will notice a lengthy introduction to each book of the Bible. Each introduction begins with “The book at a glance.” This is an overview, which gives a number of chapters and verses, summarizes the genre, purpose, and theme(s) of the book. Following this initial paragraph are a handful of sections that deal with topics such as “Genres,” a chart indicating the major divisions in the book, “Inferred Literary Intentions,” and “Theological Themes.” The introduction always concludes with a discussion of the book’s position in “the master story of the Bible.”

As you begin to read, you’ll find a shaded box of notes to introduce the section to follow. The notes include a simple title to the section, simple explanation of the storyline and/or the progression of the argument. Subsections are identified, and varying genres and literary devices are noted so that the reader is made ready to read with alertness and anticipation. It must be noted that these notes, at times, will advance a particular interpretation. This cannot be avoided, even when trying to identify genres and explain figures of speech. However, the notes are minimal and, just as you should consider the notes in a typical study Bible, these should be taken for what they are in contrast to the authoritative Word of God. They are merely men’s thoughts. Most of the notes are very helpful; few may have to be excused or amended.

Purpose

So, why these features and not others? What’s the purpose of yet another study Bible? I’m tempted to say that the plan for this edition is ingenious. It is, and then again it isn’t. Either way the purpose is RIGHT ON! The major purpose of this study Bible is to encourage people to read the Bible. Yes, TO READ THE BIBLE. Now you see why I think this purpose is ingenious or clever. Who would have thought of producing a study Bible that emphasizes the text rather than the notes? Well, that’s what I’ve found this study Bible to be.

From the introductory notes to the sectional notes; to the single column text; to the color of the paper; to the font size; to the lack of cross-references, concordance, indices, and maps; to the inclusion of a Bible reading plan—the reader is encouraged and helped in the task of reading the Bible. Really, this is what many of us struggle with and what many of us need help doing.

A new year has come, and this is the time when many Christians make a new resolution to do more Bible reading. One-year Bibles are nice, but limited in their usefulness. Here’s a better solution! Begin the New Year with The Literary Study Bible. It has rejuvenated my interest in reading the Bible like I had not imagined. The ESV text alone rejuvenated my interest years ago. Now I have a copy that is attractive, well-planned, and well-laid out. It also includes plenty of space to jot notes and cross-references.

The literary notes are extremely helpful in breaking open difficult passages. The more you read and the more you pick up on the literary elements of each passage, the better a reader you will become and the more you will enjoy what you are reading. What better Masterpiece of literature to enjoy than the eternal Word of God!

Book Review - Gospel-Centered Hermeneutics

Goldsworthy, Graeme. Gospel-Centered Hermeneutics: Foundations and Principles of Evangelical Biblical Interpretation. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2007. Jacketed Hardcover, 341 pp. (Review copy courtesy of InterVarsity Press.) Table of Contents Excerpts: Introduction: Can hermeneutics be saved? 1. The necessity for hermeneutics Graeme Goldsworthy (Th.M. & Ph.D., UTS Virginia) is a retired lecturer at Moore Theological College in Sydney, Australia. His other books include Prayer and the Knowledge of God (IVP, 2005), According to Plan (IVP, 1991; 2002), Preaching the Whole Bible as Christian Scripture (Eerdmans, 2000), Gospel & Kingdom, The Gospel in Revelation, and The Gospel and Wisdom. These last three titles have been reprinted as The Goldsworthy Trilogy (Paternoster, 2001) Is there a key to interpreting the Bible? What should our basic presuppositions for hermeneutics be? What do we need to take into consideration when we approach the exegesis and interpretation of the Bible?

Description

Graeme Goldsworthy argues that the gospel is the hermeneutical key to the Scriptures and reality. In this book, he considers the basic foundations of proper biblical interpretation. His book is divided into three major sections. He lays some ground rules, shows faulty structures that deserve to be torn down, and suggests how we should rebuild in their place.

Section one, “Evangelical Prolegomena to Hermeneutics” (chapters 1-4), looks at the foundations of hermeneutics, particularly the basic presuppositions that support a proper approach. In this section, the author stresses the importance of the doctrines of grace alone, Christ alone, Scripture alone, faith alone, and the Trinity. He also deals with the effect of the fall upon the human mind and the significance of the role of the risen Christ as mediator.

The second section, “Challenges to Evangelical Hermeneutics” (chapters 5-12), surveys the history of interpretation and the problems of faulty presuppositions and approaches. The author admits that he relied on secondary sources for this section, in order “to show some of the reactions and evaluations occurring in recent scholarly comment, particularly by evangelicals” so that we can “see how the various trends in hermeneutical theory have troubled and exercised the critical judgment of evangelicals” (p. 87). From allegorical interpretation in the early church to Enlightenment rationalism, postmodern “reader-response” approaches, and even evangelical pragmatism, the author relentlessly sifts through approaches that have eclipsed the gospel. He shows that liberals do not have a monopoly on the eclipse of the gospel, but many approaches adopted in conservative quarters have also obscured its clarity, including literalist and subjective approaches. He argues that a “proper grammatico-historical exegesis stems from the fact of the incarnation” (p. 99).

The final section, “Reconstructing Evangelical Hermeneutics” (chapters 13-19), gives Goldsworthy’s prescription for a hermeneutical approach that is faithful to the Bible and therefore centered upon the gospel. Goldsworthy advocates “typology as a method of relating the Testaments” that underlines “the perspective of both their unity and diversity” (p. 238) by asking every text “how it testifies to Jesus” (p. 252). An extensive chart demonstrates how a macrotypology of the Bible works (pp. 253-256). He deals with the literary, historical, and theological dimensions of gospel-centered interpretation and takes a look at the concept of contextualization, including considerations relevant for Bible translation. He includes practical suggestions for Bible study (such as reading plans, taking notes, and prayer) and lists resources for teaching sound hermeneutics to children.

Evaluation

I found this book to be stimulating and fascinating. At least three strong points distinguish this book. The book is stellar in focusing on Christ as the hermeneutic of Scripture and reality, whereas many standard (even “evangelical”) hermeneutics texts neglect the scriptural idea that Christ is the hermeneutical key (Luke 24:27, 44). It seems so obvious, but it has been so obviously forgotten: “the principles of hermeneutics are to be found within the Scriptures themselves” (p. 22). Goldsworthy also persuasively argues that our hermeneutical approach is part of our sanctification, the renewing of our minds, made possible by the gospel. The fall affected our minds and ability for correct interpretation, but Christ even died for this—to justify and sanctify us from our faulty hermeneutics. Finally, the author’s analysis of how the gospel has been eclipsed by flawed hermeneutical approaches is no pedantic exercise but a helpful warning of how quickly we can move from the approach to the Bible advocated by Christ Himself and that displays His gospel in all its clarity. Neither historical proximity to the time of the apostles nor an accumulation of centuries of knowledge are fail-safe measures to ensure proper interpretation; only a renewed mind submitted to the Scriptures will protect Bible-believing Christians from alien influences that undermine the gospel in their hermeneutics.

Goldsworthy addresses several practical concerns with helpful warnings. He warns that separating biblical theology from systematic theology puts one “on the road to liberalism” (p. 271). He warns that the more dynamic Bible translations tend to iron out its metaphors, obscuring the way the text was originally communicated (pp. 290, 293). He writes that “recourse to commentaries and other helps is best left until later rather than sooner in the process of dealing with a text” (p. 313).

Despite the strengths of the book, one should use this book with much discrimination.

First, this book is not a handbook on hermeneutics for the average person.

Its best use would be at the seminary and graduate level. Even then, it may not be a good choice for an introductory hermeneutics class. Its lengthy treatment of matters related to hermeneutical theory is helpful. The author gives some advice about putting theory to work, but the book lacks a comprehensive method for hermeneutics. I point this out, not to denigrate the book, but to help people like me who might assume by its title that it would contain a comprehensive method for its approach. I recommend reading it in thinking through hermeneutical theory, but if you must choose one book to help you interpret the Bible, this is not the one. To see a work designed more for the purpose of equipping one to practice the gospel-centered interpretation the author advocates, see his introduction to biblical theology titled According to Plan: the Unfolding Revelation of God in the Bible (IVP, 2002) or the shorter summary by Vaughan Roberts, God’s Big Picture: Tracing the Storyline of the Bible (IVP, 2002 -- see my review here). (He does provide a brief overview the role of biblical theology in chapter 4 of this book.) The purpose of these works is to help one interpret the parts of the Bible in light of its big picture (something often neglected in hermeneutics texts), but are insufficient to equip one to deal with the various literary genres of Scripture.

Second, the reader should be aware of the author’s view on “literal” interpretation.

Goldsworthy classifies literalism as one of the culprits for the eclipse of the gospel in evangelicalism (p. 169ff.). While conceding that the incarnation required some literal fulfillment, he argues that the New Testament does not support a literal interpretation of Old Testament promises for the restoration of Israel, Jerusalem, and the temple (p. 170). He asserts that the “one great hermeneutic divide that separated Jesus from the unbelieving Jews concerned this very issue of prophetic fulfillment . . . That the Old Testament Scriptures are, as he says, about him (John 5:39-47; 8:39-47, 56-58) must seriously qualify literalism, since Jesus (as Jesus) is not literally in the Old Testament” and adds that “the hermeneutical principle of the Old Testament could only be understood Christologically” (p. 170). As convincing as his arguments appear, some may counter that New Testament events do not decisively rule out a future literal fulfillment, particularly since the prophets often saw events of Christ’s first and second coming together, like peaks of a mountain range that look side by side from afar.

Related to these views on literal interpretation is Goldsworthy’s amillennial eschatology. “Instead of the expected glorious reign of the Christ in a renewed Jerusalem, we learn that the scepter of the risen Christ is the preached word that will be the focus of the worldwide missionary endeavor of the church . . . Pentecost is the demonstration that the millennium has begun, Satan is bound, and Christ reigns through his gospel” (pp. 224-225, cf. p. 82).

Third, the author should probably give more caution in his advice about utilizing critical scholarship.

He suggests that Fundamentalism desires a return to pre-critical exegetical methods (p. 138, cf. pp. 181-182), although he may be painting with a bit of a broad brush, as some fundamentalist seminaries do engage critical works and even recommend critical commentaries as resources. While Goldsworthy recognizes the problem “of the extent to which we can plunder the Egyptians without returning to the leeks and the garlic” (p. 138), it seems that a further caveat should be given. There is a time and place to engage such scholarship, but it is probably best done—with much caution—by the trained scholar or pastor.

Conclusion

In this book, Goldsworthy addresses key issues in regard to hermeneutics. It is a challenging and worthwhile read for the serious student (although a subject index could have increased its usefulness), but may not be the best choice for a stand-alone guide to hermeneutics.

Reviewed by Doug Smith

This review is revised from its original appearance at www.sharperiron.org.

Tuesday Miscellanies - 1/15/2008

Locally, I have added two resource pages – links on the KJV Only Controversy and Advice for Bloggers and Blog Readers.

Some other things of note around the web and blogworld:

Thad Noyes has some good advice for you if you are "Already Behind in Your Bible Reading" for this year.

Dustin Benge pleads with pastors to mentor.

Phil Johnson has some thoughts on preaching from 1 Corinthians 1:21-22.

David Prince preached a challenging message in chapel at Southern Seminary on November 15, 2007, entitled, “When the Glory of God Becomes and Idol: Ministry in the Kingdom of Christ” (.mp3 format) and argues that those truly committed to the glory of God will do more than just talk about it with their buddies – they will talk to the kind of people Jesus talked to and be fervent in evangelism. Highly recommended listening!

Thabiti Anyabwile posts a list for reading on evangelism in 2008.

Tom Ascol supplies an excellent quote from John Newton on “zeal blended with benevolence and humility.”

Kevin Bauder is writing a series on “Fundamentalism and Scholarship.” Read: Part 1 - Part 2

Jason Button helpfully interacts with John Piper’s chapter, “Brothers, Bitzer Was a Banker,” (click here for the chapter from the book and here for the original article it was based on) from Brothers, We Are Not Professionals. This resource calls us to be diligent students of the Scriptures, encouraging original language study.

Tim Challies has started a series on the inerrancy of the Bible (see here, here, and here).

Phil Johnson and Dr. Bob McCabe (here, here, and here) have been posting on total depravity.

John MacArthur reminds us that spreading the gospel, not politics, should be our primary concern.

Allen Mickle issues a call for more scholarship in the realm of Baptist history and gives a good example.

Dr. Albert Mohler talks about a change of pronouns in speaking of abortion

Said at Southern has posted an audio message of Martin Luther King speaking at Southern Seminary in 1961.

Owen Strachan shares some reflections on his last day working in the office of Dr. Albert Mohler.

Books

Albert Mohler has a new feature on his blog – “The Reading List” – and one of his earliest posts is a brief but worthwhile review of Mark Dever’s The Gospel and Personal Evangelism.

Trevin Wax gives a brief review of an excellent resource, J. Gresham Machen’s Christianity and Liberalism. Although close to a century old, it is still quite relevant. In it he shows that liberalism and Christianity are two completely different things. This book would be especially helpful for those in nominally Christian colleges and seminaries to read.

Douglas Brown gives a helpful review of Bruce Waltke’s commentary on Genesis.

Is the recently published Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament (edited by Carson/Beale) worth getting? (I certainly hope so, as I just ordered it the other day!) Here are some opinions:

• Paleoevangelical
• TheoSource

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Tomorrow, look for the conclusion of Dr. Jim Hamilton's article on "Spiritual Formation and the New Media: Making Good Use of the Mammon of Unrighteousness" (Part 1 and Part 2). Have a great day!

Book Review-The Gospel and Personal Evangelism

Mark E. Dever, The Gospel and Personal Evangelism (Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway, 2007), 124 pp.

Reviewed by Doug Smith

What exactly is the Gospel? What exactly is evangelism? Whose job is evangelism? How should we evangelize? Why should we evangelize? Why don't we evangelize?

According to Mark Dever, the Gospel is such good news that Christians actually ought to share it. Of course, this idea is found in the Bible itself. This should be no surprise to us. Yet, it seems we find many excuses and reasons to neglect evangelism. At the seminary I'm taking courses through, we are required to take a course on personal evangelism. Doesn't it seem a bit odd that we are required to witness to people? Could that be because evangelism is done so little by many of us and that we also have difficulty knowing what kind of approach to take? Mark Dever is the senior pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, D. C., and founder of 9Marks Ministries. His book is a welcome help to those of us who struggle with personal evangelism and who would like to make it a regular lifestyle. In seven short chapters, he labors to present an accurate understanding of the Gospel, to press upon us the obligation of Christians to evangelize, and to equip us with practical ideas to help us obey faithfully with joy.

Description

The Gospel and Personal Evangelism is a short book filled with Biblical foundations for and vivid illustrations of personal evangelism. Dever often writes from his own experience. Early in the book, he disarms us of some anti-evangelistic weapons we might be tempted to employ: excuses, many of which stem from selfishness, apathy, and fear of man. Dever does not neglect the relevant and controversial matter of the doctrine of God's sovereignty for evangelism. He is straightforward and to the point: "It was Paul who wrote one of the clearest biblical passages about God's sovereignty (Romans 9) and then went on to write one of the most pointed biblical passages about man's responsibility" (p. 28). God's sovereignty is actually an encouragement to evangelize and should never be used as an excuse to neglect this duty. Dever clarifies what the Gospel is and isn't. While the Gospel is not simply the idea that God is love, that Jesus wants to be our friend, nor the idea that we’re all okay, it is:

[T]he good news is that the one and only God, who is holy, made us in his image to know him. But we sinned and cut ourselves off from him. In his great love, God became a man in Jesus, lived a perfect life, and died on the cross, thus fulfilling the law himself and taking on himself the punishment for the sins of all those who would ever turn and trust in him. He rose again from the dead, showing that God accepted Christ's sacrifice and that God's wrath against us had been exhausted. He now calls us to repent of our sins and trust in Christ alone for our forgiveness. If we repent of our sins and trust in Christ, we are born again into a new life, an eternal life with God.(p. 43)

All Christians are called to share the Gospel. The local church should be viewed as having an important role in evangelism. Principles and methods of evangelism are shared in chapter four, while chapter five details what evangelism isn't, reminding us that personal testimony, social and political activism, apologetics, and the results of evangelism should never be confused with evangelism. Nor should imposition be confused with evangelism, as declaring the objective truth of God and the repentance and faith that He requires of all people is not the same as imposing our own ideas and opinions on someone else.

Dever discusses the types of responses to the Gospel (negative and positive), how we should view them, and how we should handle them. The book gives us reasons and encouragements to evangelize, including obedience to God and love for Him and others. The conclusion deals with the issue of "closing the sale," pointing out bad evangelistic assumptions that tend toward making false converts and encouraging us that if we have shared the Gospel clearly, we have faithfully evangelized, regardless of the person's response.

A brief annotated bibliography and a word to pastors rounds out the book, giving suggestions for further resources and practices to be faithful evangelists.

Evaluation

This book is short, simple, convicting, encouraging, and useful. It can be read in one sitting of a couple of hours. Dever communicates clearly with simple language and helpful illustrations, making for an easy and interesting read. The book should shock us out of our apathy, selfishness, and lack of love, but it should also provide encouragement in the joyful obedience of spreading the Gospel.

This book is useful for any Christian, but busy pastors and seminarians should especially take it to heart. The Gospel and Personal Evangelism would be an excellent resource to make available in a local church, and would be a helpful book for a study in a church setting or in personal discipleship. The practical suggestions, such as frequenting businesses to build relationships and intentionally provoking people to think about spiritual things, are quite clear and helpful.

Mark Dever leaves us with no excuse for neglecting evangelism, while encouraging us to be proactive, honest, urgent, and joyful in the spreading of this good news of Christ, the Gospel. Thank you, C. J. Mahaney, for encouraging Mark to write this book, and thank you Mark for writing it. May it bear much fruit for the sake of the Gospel.

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This review first appeared at Said at Southern. A couple of other opinions to check out are Jesse Johnson’s review on the Pulpit Magazine blog and Jason Button's preliminary thoughts (I will post a link to his full review when it appears). I have posted a list of related resources here.

Book Review-God's Big Picture: Tracing the Storyline of the Bible

Vaughan Roberts, God's Big Picture: Tracing the Storyline of the Bible (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2002), 160pp. Paper.

One of the most helpful features of much modern technology is the "zoom" option. From cameras to word processors, the ability to see both small details and the big picture is helpful to understand more about what we are looking at. Vaughan Roberts' book, God's Big Picture: Tracing the Storyline of the Bible is one attempt to give students of God's Word "an overview of the main storyline of the Bible" to provide a helpful framework to keep in mind when studying its parts (20). Roberts helps readers "zoom out" to see what the forest of biblical theology looks like so we can better understand the purpose of the individual trees in the Bible and thus "get [our] bearings when [we] land in any part of it" (20).

DESCRIPTION

Roberts aims "to help Christians find their way around the Bible and to see how it all holds together and points us to Jesus" (14). Some have called this book "Goldsworthy lite," thinking of it as a simplified version of Graeme Goldsworthy's approach to biblical theology. Roberts admits as much, saying, "Anyone who has read Gospel and Kingdom [by Goldsworthy] will see its influence in these pages" (10). Both writers see Scripture as a unified and interconnected work. Roberts explains:

The Old Testament on its own is an unfinished story; a promise without a fulfillment. We must read on to the New Testament if we want to know what it really means. And the New Testament constantly looks back to the promise it fulfills. (19-20)

God's Big Picture sees the kingdom of God as the unifying theme that shows how the Bible fits together. This theme is not forced upon the Scripture but arises out it and it sufficiently encompasses the whole of Scripture in a way that allows "each part to make its own distinct contribution" (20-21). Furthermore, "God's kingdom was the dominant theme in Jesus' teaching" (21). The kingdom of God is understood to be presented throughout Scripture as "God's people in God's place under God's rule and blessing" (21).

In eight chapters, the book traces the kingdom motif throughout the Bible.

"The Pattern of the Kingdom" introduces us to elements of this unifying them by looking at Genesis 1:1-2:25. "The Perished Kingdom" (Gen. 3) shows the results of man's rejection of God's kingdom. "The Promised Kingdom" (Gen. 17:1-8; Gal. 3:6-14) focuses on God's promises of salvation. It particularly emphasizes God's covenant with Abraham, which promised a people, a land, and blessing, and shows that, from the start, the kingdom of God was intended to include Gentiles as well as Jews. "The Partial Kingdom" (a lengthy chapter in comparison with the others) covers passages ranging from Genesis 12 to 2 Samuel 7:1-17 to trace the kingdom through the history of Israel and highlights the promise of a king. "The Prophesied Kingdom" focuses on the role of the prophets in announcing the coming fulfillment of the promises of the kingdom of God.

The kingdom of God "sums up the prophetic hope" (108), according to Roberts. As the book turns to the New Testament in "The Present Kingdom," the author states:

At first sight we may feel that a genealogy is an uninspiring way to start the New Testament, but, if we remember God's promises, we will be on the edge of our seats as soon as we read the words: 'A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham' (Matthew 1:1). He is the one who fulfills the promises to Abraham in Genesis 12 and to David in 2 Samuel 7. The apostle Paul expresses it clearly: 'no matter how many promises God has made, they are "yes" in Christ' (2 Corinthians 1:20). (107)

The chapter shows how Jesus brings the kingdom of God. As for God's people, Jesus did what Adam and Israel failed to do. Jesus is the place of God's kingdom, fulfilling the purposes of the tabernacle and temple. God's rule and blessing come about through the new covenant Jesus establishes and the blessing that flows from His kingship. These things came about through the "triumphant success" of the cross (114). There was no other way for Christ to bring God's kingdom apart from His obedience to the Father and death as a substitute for sinners. His resurrection inaugurates a new age of God's blessing.

Roberts' bite-size overview of the Gospels culminates in his assertion that the kingdom has come, although it has not yet come in its fullness (119). He compares Jesus to a conductor who has returned to offer salvation to those who have refused to play God's tune. While some submit to this redeemer, they will continue to play some wrong notes and produce discord, since there is still a future aspect to the kingdom (118-119).

In "The Proclaimed Kingdom," the author says, "The promises of the kingdom will not be completely fulfilled until [Christ's] second coming" (123). He gives 2 Timothy 3:1 and James 5:3 as reasons for viewing "the last days" as the time between the first and second comings of Jesus, meaning that, according to New Testament usage, we have been in the last days for the last two millennia. God has delayed Jesus' return "so that more people will have a chance to hear the gospel and repent before it is too late" (125). Right now, God is working by His Spirit through the proclamation of the gospel to extend His kingdom. The Spirit is reversing the judgment of Babel (separation of nations along linguistic lines) and, in a way peculiar to this age, He indwells and empowers believers to bear witness to the truth before those who do not believe. The return of Jesus takes place after the gospel is preached to all nations.

The church is God's people (131). God's place is this holy people who trust Christ. God's Spirit dwells in us individually and as a Christian community (131), and helps us to enjoy God's rule and blessing by living according to His standards (132).

The present age leaves us longing for "The Perfected Kingdom." In this chapter, Roberts surveys the book of Revelation to show what God has told us about the complete fulfillment all His promises, particularly as His people are with Him in the new creation, in the new temple, enjoying His rule and blessing forever.

EVALUATION

The book has several advantages. Its brevity and ease of reading make it accessible to a wide audience, even as young as high school. Most of the chapters are short and include questions for discussion and application, making it ideal for Sunday school, classroom use, or personal study. It contains many helpful charts. It whets the appetite for further Bible study and is useful even for students advanced in their hermeneutics that may be familiar with the minutiae of Scripture but have forgotten what the view of the whole thing looks like. It is common to hear that we should interpret a text in light of its immediate context, the book that it is in, and the whole Bible, but sometimes it is difficult to see how it fits in with the rest of the canon. Vaughan Roberts has given us a resource that helps in this area.

As useful as the book is, the reader should be aware of Robert's views of the interpretation of the days in Genesis 1, the nation Israel, and eschatology. These particular concerns would keep me from recommending the book for private study to those without a good grounding in the Scriptures and Christian theology.

Roberts states the following about God's creation of the world:

Whether he completed the job in six literal twenty-four hours days or over a longer period does not really matter (Christian opinions differ over how we should interpret Genesis 1). What is important is the fact that God is the creator of all things. (27)

However, such an issue may well matter a great deal, as one's view of the days of Genesis could impact one's view of the historicity of Adam and Eve, the origin of sin, and even the events of the gospel itself. Some spiritualize the days of Genesis into long ages simply to accommodate a supposed body of scientific evidence that would render the literal interpretation nonsensical. These interpreters may well be guilty of compromising the very foundations of the gospel (albeit unintentionally).

Dispensational readers may quickly notice that Roberts' does not share their views on the nature of Israel and predictive prophecy. His amillennial eschatology surfaces frequently in the last half of the book (I write as a premillennialist).

Roberts plainly states, "The new Israel is the church" (131). As far as a future for Israel, he discourages readers from looking for fulfillment of the Old Testament promises "in the State of Israel" and says not "to expect a new temple to be build there" (108). He writes:

God made his promises to Israel in ways they could understand. He used categories they were familiar with, such as the nation, the temple and material prosperity in the land. But the fulfillment breaks the boundaries of those categories. To expect a literal fulfillment is to miss the point. (109)

It would have been helpful to see his analysis of Romans chapters 9-11 (especially chapter 11) in regard to these points.

Neither the 1,000 years of Christ's reign nor the 144,000 should be understood in terms of literal numbers, according to Roberts (145, 148). The lake of fire is seen to represent eternal death; Roberts does not clearly indicate whether he thinks this means there is an eternal conscious torment of the damned or not (144).

He also makes his amillennial views clear when he speaks about other passages in Revelation in an endnote, writing:

Revelation 20:2-3 speaks of Satan being bound and then thrown into the Abyss at the start of the thousand-year period. There is good reason to believe that those events have taken place in the past. Revelation 12:10 makes it clear that Satan has already been hurled down from heaven. He was defeated by the death and resurrection of Christ and has been bound ever since. He is powerless to stop God calling his elect into his kingdom, but he has still not admitted defeat and continues to attack God's people. Revelation 11:7 describes him coming up from the Abyss to attack the witnessing church. He could not have come up from the bottomless pit if he had not already been thrown down into it. I believe that occurred when Christ died and rose. That is when the millennium began. It will continue until just before the return of Christ.

These concerns should not result in a dismissal of Roberts' book, but they need to be pointed out. Because of them, I think the book would be most useful in a classroom setting or a discipleship/mentoring relationship where a more competent teacher can help the student when these issues arise.

CONCLUSION

Vaughan Roberts' small volume of biblical theology is useful to help us "zoom out" and see the big picture of the Bible. Despite the caveats given above, the book is still valuable to help us see what the Bible is all about so we can interpret its parts in light of it as a whole. God's Big Picture is a great starting point for encouragement to be better students of God's Word, clear proclaimers of His truth, more obedient children of God, and more faithful evangelists in spreading the good news of King Jesus.

UPDATE (12/27/07): Jason Button has posted links to some other reviews of this book, including a triple book review at 9Marks (this book and Goldsworthy's Gospel & Kingdom and According to Plan)

Book Review at SharperIron: What Is a Healthy Church?

SharperIron has published my book review of What Is a Healthy Church? here.

New Attitude has made part of the book available online and plans to offer more: see here. UPDATE: Click here for the helpful list of things to think about if you're thinking of leaving a church (another excerpt from the book). (HT: Justin Taylor)

Finding Good Books: TheoSource

From the website description: "TheoSource is a place to find information on Theological Sources (i.e. bibliographical sources and recommendations). TheoSource book lists are an attempt to compile as many reputable recommendations into one place as is possible. Here you will find recommended books on theology, Christian biography, Bible commentaries (OT & NT), Bible study, church history, and more." I highly recommend this site. You can download .pdf's of recommended book lists obtained from reputable seminaries and categorized in various ways. The biographical sketches, often posted on the subject's birthday or death date, are a favorite feature. Tim Ashcraft and Jason Button (the book review editor for SharperIron - check out the book review website here) also keep readers informed about new releases and important theological issues and provide helpful links to resources from other sites (such as book reviews, tips on reading, etc.). In addition to their site being syndicated, one can also subscribe by email (a helpful feature I have taken advantage of). Click here to check out the site: TheoSource.

Bibles for Children - Some Advice from Al Mohler

Dr. Albert Mohler recently gave some helpful suggestion for children’s Bibles and for reading to children:

• For preschool age (you can also read samples at the links to the books): The Big Picture Story Bible by David Helm and The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones (http://www.albertmohler.com/blog_read.php?id=1056)
• For school age: The Child’s Story Bible by Catherine Vos (http://www.albertmohler.com/blog_read.php?id=1057)

HT: The Reformed Parishioner, Theosource

Book Thoughts: Gospel-Centered Hermeneutics

I have written a review of Graeme Goldsworthy's Gospel-Centered Hermeneutics: Foundations and Principles of Evangelical Biblical Interpretation (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2006) for www.sharperiron.org that should probably appear on their website sometime next year. I will not post the full review here until it's published there, but I did want to share a few brief thoughts.

The book has several strengths. It is strong in focusing on Christ as the hermeneutical key of Scripture (Luke 24:27, 44), and even reality. "The principles of hermeneutics are to be found within the Scriptures themselves," the author writes (22). These matters are often not considered enough in standard hermeneutics texts, and we certainly need to pay attention to these areas. In addition, proper hermeneutics are part of our sanctification. A good overview detailing the eclipse of the Gospel in hermeneutics is given. The Gospel can be obscured by alien influences and wrong presuppositions in our hermeneutics, so we should be careful to know what our foundation is.

However, the book is not a handbook on hermeneutics for the average person. (The title could mislead some to assume it is a comprehensive text on hermeneutics.) It would not be a good choice for a stand-alone guide to interpreting the Bible. It is helpful in thinking through some theory, but the reader will not find much in the way of hands-on use of that theory (although the book does have some practical helps in it, such as a chart of the macro-typology of the Bible). One won't find a comprehensive help for genres here, and for a work on the big picture of Scripture, the author's According to Plan or Vaughan Roberts' God's Big Picture would serve better. The reader should also be aware of the author's view on literal interpretation. He does not see support for a literal fulfillment of the promises of restoration of Israel and even asserts that this was an error in those to whom Jesus spoke (170). Related to this is Goldsworthy's amillennial eschatology (224-225, cf. 82). (Vaughan Roberts shares this viewpoint, as well as thinking that the interpretation of the days in Genesis as literal twenty-four hour days or long ages is inconsequential, a point I must take issue with!) Despite these caveats, the book is still a worthwhile read, but I would not recommend it for everyone. The trained pastor or scholar will be challenged and benefit from Goldsworthy's ideas. Whether or not one agrees with everything, this is a useful book for thinking through hermeneutical theory. Certainly we need to come to grips with a Scriptural philosophy of hermeneutics and a way to rightly see the relation of the Bible's unity to its diversity. However, Gospel-Centered Hermeneutics would not make a great hermeneutics textbook by itself. For other opinions on the book, check out:

• Reformation21 (Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals)
• Society of Biblical Literature

Book Review-Give Praise to God

Philip Graham Ryken, Derek W. H. Thomas, and J. Ligon Duncan III, eds., Give Praise to God: a Vision for Reforming Worship (Phillipsburg, New Jersey: P&R, 2003), 516pp. Indices: Scripture, and Subject and Names.

reviewed by Doug Smith

Give Praise to God celebrates the legacy of James Montgomery Boice, late pastor of Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia. While not a book about Boice, this book honors his commitment to the glory of God by considering various dimensions of worship. The editors present a foreword, introduction, eighteen chapters, and an afterword from eighteen respected church leaders primarily from Presbyterian and Baptist backgrounds. In addition to the editors themselves, R. C. Sproul, Edmund P. Clowney, R. Albert Mohler Jr., Mark Dever, Terry L. Johnson, D. Marion Clark, Richard D. Phillips, Paul S. Jones, Donald S. Whitney, William Edgar, W. Robert Godfrey, Nick R. Needham, Hughes Oliphant Old, and Michael S. Horton contribute to this tome. Most chapters are so helpful as to deserve their own review, but space will only permit a brief survey in comparison to what this work deserves.

This book is the fruit of much research, experience, and zeal to help Christians think more biblically about how we are to worship God. It is divided into four sections.

Part one, "The Bible and Worship," begins with a helpful consideration by Ligon Duncan of what God says about how we ought to worship. Derek Thomas defends the regulative principle of worship, concluding that it frees us from the whims of men to worship God according to the Bible. Edmund Clowney writes on "Corporate Worship As a Means of Grace," but seems to skate over the surface and not really explore exactly what he means by "means of grace."

Part two covers the "Elements of Biblical Worship" in detail. Al Mohler makes a compelling case for expository preaching and Mark Dever shows how it ought to proclaim the Gospel, no matter what text the preacher is covering. Duncan and Terry Johnson urge the public reading and praying of the Bible, something that many "Bible-believing" Christians have sadly neglected. Marion Clark's chapter on the meaning and practice of baptism is helpful and thought-provoking even to those of us who reject infant baptism. Richard Phillips thinks deeply about the Lord's Supper and the practical considerations that attend it. Paul Jones persuasively defends the use of "hymnody in a post-hymnody world," while Terry Johnson invites us to the riches of Psalm-singing, arguing for inclusive psalmody (as opposed to exclusive psalmody, which permits no hymns of human composition).

Part three focuses on "Preparing for Biblical Worship." Don Whitney calls us to worship God daily in private, while Duncan and Johnson cry for a return to family worship, both chapters providing practical suggestions for including Scripture, prayer, and song in those times. William Edgar reminds us that we are to renew our minds in order to worship God in all of life. Robert Godfrey looks at the role of the emotions in worship, briefly critiquing Jonathan Edwards while upholding the legitimacy and necessity of emotions that issue from faith in Christ.

"Worship, History, and Culture" is the fourth and final part of the book. Nick Needham gives a very helpful and fascinating overview of "Worship Through the Ages" that covers a wide spectrum of time periods and church traditions. Hughes Oliphant Old explores "Calvin's Theology of Worship." Michael Horton proposes that the answer to the "Challenges and Opportunities for Ministry Today" is a countercultural faithfulness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is so contrary and offensive to this present evil age.

This book is a refreshing and relevant contribution to the literature of the church and worship. It is refreshing and relevant for the same reason: it prescribes faithfulness to the Bible, not a desire to cater to the whims of culture and marketing gurus, as the driving force in defining our philosophy and practices. It reminds us that worship is centered on God, not man, and that this God has spoken and made matters very clear about how He is and is not to be worshiped. Expositional preaching, substantive Scripture readings and prayers, biblically based songs, and obedient observance of baptism and the Lord's Supper should characterize our local churches. We should be regularly engaged in worshiping God as individuals and families. We need to apply His Word to all of life, loving Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Attention to the issues discussed in this book should deepen our sense of awe and wonder at the majesty of God. It serves to instruct our minds with truth so glorious that reverence, joy, and praise should be the inevitable results.

This book certainly belongs in the hands of church leaders, particularly pastors and music ministers. Church members would also profit from considering the material in many of these chapters, because this book calls us all to think rightly about how we approach and interact with God. It reminds to look to God's Word for instruction on worshiping Him, helping us to avoid the idolatry we are so prone to. A welcome antidote to the man-centered, market-driven ideas that masquerade as wisdom on worship, this book shows us why and how we should Give Praise to God.

This review has been submitted to www.discerningreader.com. RELATED RESOURCES: Robert G. Spinney wrote a booklet (free .pdf) to "highlight the key points" of Give Praise to God: “Looking for God in All the Wrong Places: an Appeal for Word-Based Corporate Worship.” Hartsville, TN: Tulip Books, 2006. An adaptation of the chapter by Ligon Duncan and Terry Johnson, "A Call to Family Worship" (free .pdf download accessible from the link) A lesson from Don Whitney: "How to Pray Through Scripture"

Book Review-What Is a Healthy Church?

Mark Dever, What Is a Healthy Church? (Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway, 2007), 126pp.

Reviewed by Doug Smith

This book is new, but it's not really new. What Is a Healthy Church? first appeared in public as a series of articles in a church newsletter. It then became a booklet ("9 Marks of a Healthy Church" – free .pdf), and later a full-size book ( Nine Marks of a Healthy Church). Now it is a small book. And it seems to get better each time. So, what is a healthy church?

Summary

Mark Dever is the senior pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, D. C., and founder of 9Marks Ministries. His prescription for a healthy church is provided here in a very useful format. The book is divided into three sections: 1) What Is a Healthy Church?; 2) Essential Marks of a Healthy Church; and 3) Important Marks of a Healthy Church. In part 1, he explains how Christians are to relate to a church and how the church's purpose is to display the glory of God. Parts 2 and 3 give the nine marks, with the first three considered essential (expositional preaching, biblical theology, and a biblical understanding of the good news) and the last six designated as important (a biblical understanding of conversion, evangelism, and church membership; biblical church discipline, discipleship and growth, and church leadership). One should probably not be a part of a church that is defective in the essential marks, whereas more patience, love, and instruction may be what are needed to develop the other six marks.

The book challenges us to think seriously about the church, and not consider it an "option" for Christians, but part of who we are. It reminds us that the diet of a healthy church is faithful expositional preaching, where God's Word is exposed constantly, so that hearers are not limited by a proclamation of what the preacher already knows. Biblical theology helps us in knowing the full counsel of God and not avoiding controversial yet important teachings such as election, man's depravity, and the nature of the atonement. The Gospel message is clear, as is the nature of true conversion and faithful evangelism, which proclaims the good news and calls for repentance and faith in the Savior. Church membership is a serious matter, as it entails commitment and responsibility on the part of members and an affirmation of their salvation by the church to which they belong. Church discipline is important to protect the purity of the church and its testimony. While discipline "is fraught with problems of wisdom and pastoral application," that is no excuse for its neglect, as the message sent by a lack of discipline is that the unrepentant church member is okay, when, in reality, the church should not be able to honestly affirm their salvation. Discipleship and growth lead to increasing self-denial and personal holiness in believers. Church leadership should be modeled after the plurality of elders seen in the New Testament, while the final authority lies in the congregation. Church leaders are to be mature men who have the ability to teach God's Word.

Dever gives caveats to church members and pastors encouraged by this material: don't try to see change happen too fast; pray, wait, set a good example, and love the people of your church. Extras include tips for those thinking of leaving a church, how to find a good church, and what a typical church covenant of a healthy church could look like.

Evaluation

What Is a Healthy Church? is an easy, fast read that challenges much modern thinking about the church (even among conservative Christians). It is simple, helpfully provocative, and to the point. Church members as well as pastors and seminarians would profit from this resource, which has fertile soil for further reflection. Whether you have Dever's materials already or have never read him, this little book is well worth picking up (only $5 from 9Marks). It is recast in such a way that I find it helpful to have along with the more detailed Nine Marks of a Healthy Church book.

While substantive, the book is an introduction to these ideas, and not a handbook for fleshing them out in great detail (Paul Alexander and Dever wrote The Deliberate Church for that purpose). By no means a full ecclesiology, this book deals briefly with matters such as baptism and the Lord's Supper as they relate to the nine marks set forth. It is written with the understanding that a healthy church will celebrate the ordinances, and live out other normal practices of the church, such as praying together.

The book reminds us of the importance of the church as God's vehicle for displaying His glory to the nations. His Word is central from creation to consummation, and ought to be preached faithfully, not neglecting any part of the Bible. Therefore, preachers ought to, in some way, preach systematically and regularly through the Bible. It is a necessity for a healthy church.

It is important for the health of the church to understand what a true Christian is. Therefore, we should not idolize numbers. Regularly having attendance far below a church's membership should be a scandal and shame to us. We should not simply see the praying of a prayer as the evidence of "successful evangelism." Rather, we should proclaim the Gospel and its demands clearly and pray that the lost will come to Christ in faith and follow Him. We certainly need to be obedient in evangelism, but we also need to trust God for the results as we share the good news as He has revealed it in His Word. We should make the true nature and value of membership known, both in taking in new members and disciplining those who refuse to repent of known sin. We ought not to give testimony, even implicit affirmation, that people are Christians when their lives loudly and consistently proclaim otherwise.

The view of biblical eldership set forth in the book may be hard to swallow for some. But Dever makes a convincing case by the usage of the word in the Scriptures. He also shares personal benefits he has derived from being one of a group of elders. A plurality of qualified, godly leaders would do much toward improving and maintaining a healthy church, particularly in circles where churches often center around a strong personality. It can be a protection for the preaching pastor as well as for his people. Dever writes of biblical eldership, "If implemented in our churches, it could help pastors immensely by removing weight from their shoulders and even removing their own petty tyrannies from their churches."

This book presents old truths in a fresh way. These are foundations that are easily assumed or neglected. What Is a Healthy Church? confronts us lovingly and clearly with the meat and potatoes of what it takes to begin displaying God's glory to the world as His church.

Read the Table of Contents, the Introduction, and Chapter 1 (.pdf files) online for free.

For more on discipline and church government, see Polity, edited by Mark Dever, and available as a free download here.

Here is another review (Trevin Wax).