In Christ Alone
by Sinclair B. Ferguson
Reformation Trust Publishing
I am biased of course. I've read many books by Sinclair Ferguson before and have both enjoyed and profited from each one. And I have heard him preach in St George's Tron on quite a few occasions and on mp3 too.
For me, Sinclair Ferguson represents all that is best and warmly heart-felt in classic Reformed, Scottish Presbyterian theology and spirituality.
So, it will come as no surprise that I think this collection of short, pithy theological articles is great. Covering material mostly from Romans and Hebrews, Sinclair Ferguson takes us through the real nitty-gritty of the Christian life. Very practical, with that warm pastor's heart and keen sense of humour everyone who has heard Sinclair preaching will recognise. This book would make excellent 'devotional' reading at quiet times, but make no mistake, it is underpinned by rock-solid Reformed theology and Puritan spirituality.
Thoroughly recommended.
Tuesday, 12 May 2009
Monday, 11 May 2009
Covenant Theology
Covenant Theology
by Peter Golding
Mentor (Christian Focus Publications)
Most entries in the Mentor series of books from CFP have proven to be worthwhile and beneficial acquisitions. This book by Peter Golding is no exception.
It seeks to serve as an introductory text to covenant theology, though to be honest I don't think it wholly achieves this purpose. The book concentrates much more on the history of covenant theology than it does on the nuts and bolts exegesis or hermeneutics through which we arrive at a consistent covenant theology.
Because of its strength - in dealing with the historical development of the doctrine of the covenant from the Reformers through the Puritans and on to 19th and 20th century theologians who further developed covenant theology, I do not think the book would be of much benefit to those who are not serious students of Reformed theology. Indeed, I expect the average Christian would give up perplexed before they reached halfway through the book.
On the other hand, the book is useful as a summary of covenant theology history and worthwhile for that reason.
For a more exegetical book, I would recommend Palmer Robertson's Christ of the Covenants and David McKay's The Bond of Love in the same Mentor imprint. The classic pamphlet by John Murray on The Covenant of Grace is also required reading in my opinion.
by Peter Golding
Mentor (Christian Focus Publications)
Most entries in the Mentor series of books from CFP have proven to be worthwhile and beneficial acquisitions. This book by Peter Golding is no exception.
It seeks to serve as an introductory text to covenant theology, though to be honest I don't think it wholly achieves this purpose. The book concentrates much more on the history of covenant theology than it does on the nuts and bolts exegesis or hermeneutics through which we arrive at a consistent covenant theology.
Because of its strength - in dealing with the historical development of the doctrine of the covenant from the Reformers through the Puritans and on to 19th and 20th century theologians who further developed covenant theology, I do not think the book would be of much benefit to those who are not serious students of Reformed theology. Indeed, I expect the average Christian would give up perplexed before they reached halfway through the book.
On the other hand, the book is useful as a summary of covenant theology history and worthwhile for that reason.
For a more exegetical book, I would recommend Palmer Robertson's Christ of the Covenants and David McKay's The Bond of Love in the same Mentor imprint. The classic pamphlet by John Murray on The Covenant of Grace is also required reading in my opinion.
Luke for Everyone
Luke for Everyone
by Tom Wright
SPCK
Reading this exposition/commentary on the Gospel of Luke was my first taste of Tom Wright's series of popular-level commentaries on the books of the New Testament and I enjoyed the light meal Bishop Tom served up here.
Leaving aside Wright's distinctive and controversial teaching on justification (as part of the New Perspective on Paul), Wright was an interesting and stimulating companion as I read through Luke's Gospel once again. Although Wright's New Perspective on Paul teaching comes through a few times, thankfully, it did not spoil the book for me. Time and again in reading this I enjoyed fresh insights and soul-uplifting material. And many's the preacher who would benefit from Bishop Tom's gift for hooking the reader before going on to explain the passage.
No-one should be under any illusion - these are slight, lightweight expositions for the most part. This is not a detailed commentary or exposition. The nearest comparison I can think of were also written by an evangelical Anglican bishop - Bishop J. C. Ryle's Expository Thoughts on the Gospels - which are very similar in style though the theology is a bit different. Ryle was very Old Perspective on Paul!
All in all, very good devotional reading. I actually read this on by daily commute to work on the bus. It was helpful and refreshing having Wright's own translation of Luke within the book.
by Tom Wright
SPCK
Reading this exposition/commentary on the Gospel of Luke was my first taste of Tom Wright's series of popular-level commentaries on the books of the New Testament and I enjoyed the light meal Bishop Tom served up here.
Leaving aside Wright's distinctive and controversial teaching on justification (as part of the New Perspective on Paul), Wright was an interesting and stimulating companion as I read through Luke's Gospel once again. Although Wright's New Perspective on Paul teaching comes through a few times, thankfully, it did not spoil the book for me. Time and again in reading this I enjoyed fresh insights and soul-uplifting material. And many's the preacher who would benefit from Bishop Tom's gift for hooking the reader before going on to explain the passage.
No-one should be under any illusion - these are slight, lightweight expositions for the most part. This is not a detailed commentary or exposition. The nearest comparison I can think of were also written by an evangelical Anglican bishop - Bishop J. C. Ryle's Expository Thoughts on the Gospels - which are very similar in style though the theology is a bit different. Ryle was very Old Perspective on Paul!
All in all, very good devotional reading. I actually read this on by daily commute to work on the bus. It was helpful and refreshing having Wright's own translation of Luke within the book.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)