Book Reviews Archives - Page 4 of 11

September 26, 2012

The Church-Friendly Family

After three years of editing, The Church-Friendly Family is finally available for purchase.

You can purchase the book from Covenant Media:

Of the making of books about marriage and the family, there is no end. The family is in trouble today―and has been since the sin of our first parents. But the rescue of the family requires more than just good advice, helpful as that can be. It requires more than just a focus on the family. It requires that the family be brought into the church of Jesus Christ. In The Church-Friendly Family, Randy Booth and Rich Lusk set marriage and family in the context of the church, showing how putting the church first enables the family to bear a rich harvest in culture, education, missions, and more.

Essays Include:

The Family and Culture –Randy Booth

The Family and Worship –Randy Booth

The Family and Education –Randy Booth

The Family Table –Randy Booth

Missional Parenting –Rich Lusk

What is Marriage For? –Rich Lusk

The Blessed Family –Rich Lusk

March 1, 2012

Study on the Book of Revelation

Welcome once again to our study of David Chilton’s Days of Vengeance. I am Uri Brito and I blog at apologus.wordpress.com.

We are going to delve briefly into Chilton’s introduction. There are two important elements in understanding Revelation, and they are to know the author and the date of the book. Concerning the author there is virtually unanimous testimony that it was the same John who wrote the Fourth Gospel (1). John, according to Chilton, writes in an “authoritative, “apostolic” style, not to individuals merely, but to the Church” (1). There is little to no dispute John wrote this letter. In fact, Revelation uses Johannine language like the expression Lamb of God, which is distinctly used by John in his gospel.

The same question is a lot more complicated. When did John write Revelation? This is a highly disputed question, because once you come to a conclusion on the date, you will most likely be led to a particular hermeneutic; and that hermeneutic will drive your view of the entire book. Chilton’s premise is that Revelation was written before the destruction of the temple in AD 70. This position is typically called Preterism. Preterism means past. That is, the events of Revelation are not primarily futuristic–though there are many principles we can apply to our context– but primarily, Revelation has the first century audience in mind. If you have the energy to pursue this topic further, Kenneth Gentry has written a lengthy and scholarly work entitled Before Jerusalem Fell, which makes a strong case for a pre-AD 70 reading of this book.

David Chilton offers a few reasons as to why he believes John, the Apostle, wrote this letter to his first century audience:

First, as we referenced in our first video, Chilton argues that Revelation is a book about worship. Naturally, the book is full of liturgical allusions; and it actually contains minute details. Who could have known of these details unless he were intimately familiar with the actual service in theTempleitself. John fits the bill. John, as Chilton argues, was a priest. If this is the case, John was writing about aTemplestill in existence, which would lead to a pre AD 70 letter.

Second, Chilton argues that there is an a priori teaching from Scripture that all special revelation ended by AD 70. The argument is that Daniel’s prophecy in chapter 9:24-27 of the seventy weeks would end at the destruction ofJerusalem. And what would happen then, according to Daniel? That period would seal up the vision and prophecy. In other words, the sealing up of vision and prophecy referred to the Word of God, which would be completed before the destruction of the temple. Revelation was not a late first century book, but actually written closer to the other books in the New Testament canon.

Finally, there are time references in chapter one that lead us to conclude that the book is an early book. John says these things will happen “soon,” “quickly,” etc. These are time indicators proving that John was intentional about his language. Soon meant within that generation, not two thousand years later. For John, Revelation was the final judgment on apostateIsrael. It would mark the transition from an old world to a new world with a new Lord, Jesus Christ.

We will stop here, but feel free to leave a comment or any question both here on the youtube page or on my blog apologus.wordpress.com. We will continue our look at Chilton’s introduction next time. Peace be with you.

February 28, 2012

Days of Vengeance by David Chilton, Review, Part I

Welcome to Ressurectio et Vita. You can find my blog at apologus.wordpress.com.

I have been tweeting about doing a series of posts on David Chilton’s commentary on Revelation called Days of Vengeance. Chilton died in 1997, but Gary North put out another edition in 2007, which includes a lengthy preface by North himself on the history of the book, and an introduction to postmillennial thinking. North claims that Chilton’s commentary in many ways began this modern revival of biblical optimism. The preface is worth the read.

At the heart of Chilton’s exposition is his premise that the book of Revelation teaches that Christians will overcome all opposition through the work Jesus Christ. It is certainly filled with all sorts of mysteries; mysteries, which even the great expositor John Calvin did not dare to tackle, but central to it is the victory of Jesus’ kingdom on earth before the Second Coming.

Chilton has five main assumptions about this book, and they are:

First, that Revelation is the most Biblical book in the Bible. That is, it is bathed in Old Testament quotations. And because it is so rich with Old Testament theology, one can only begin to understand the book when he knows the Bible well.

Second, Revelation has a system of symbolism. In fact, it contains a particular language. The goal for the interpreter is to learn this language. Symbols in Revelation are not disconnected from the rest of Scriptures, but rather fully dependent on the Hebrew Scriptures.

Third, Revelation is about imminent events. If one accepts this premise, it will un-do virtually the entire evangelical eschatology industry. Revelation has primarily in mind those events in the first century; specifically, the destruction of the Temple in AD 70.

Fourth, Revelation is a worship service. The worship of God, says Chilton, “is central to everything in life.”[1] So, Revelation is highly ecclesiastical and liturgical.

Finally, Revelation is a book about dominion. Revelation is not about the terror of anti-Christ, but about the glory of Jesus Christ; He is the beginning and the end; the victory and Lord of all creation. Revelation spells victory for those united to the Son of God.

For those new to David Chilton’s Revelation commentary, I welcome you to this journey. Chilton argues that the Bible is more than a mere textbook, but it is a life-changing story about a King whose kingdom will endure forever.

Feel free to comment on the blog, and we will delve into the Introduction in the coming days. Pick up and read!

[1] Xii.

February 14, 2012

Andrew Sandlin and Westminster Seminary’s Breezy Response

Andrew Sandlin writes a devastating response to WTS’s (West) response to John Frame’s extensive analysis of the theology espoused by the WTS faculty. Sandlin’s soberly concludes:

Young scholars and students, let this be a lesson to you: if you ever have the fortune of having your book reviewed by a world-renowned scholar, and you don’t like what he says, don’t respond by saying, “He didn’t understand a thing I said, and he perverted everything I said into its very opposite.”

Not, at least, if you wish to be taken seriously.

But implicitly accusing reviewers of either massive ignorance ormalevolent intent seems to be quite acceptable at WSC. That’s not the way actual scholars interact with one another in the real world.

I myself am no great scholar and never claimed to be. But I have read great scholarship for many years. I know scholarship when I see it.

And, boys, this ain’t scholarship.

December 29, 2011

The New American Militarism by Andrew Bacevich

Front Cover I first heard of Andrew Bacevich about two years ago. I came across one of his interviews with Bill Moyers. Moyers always asked the right questions. His liberal bias was so obvious that it actually made for good television. I was so fascinated by his style that I bought one of his books and reviewed it. But it was that lengthy interview with Bacevich that consolidated my allegiance with the Old Right. Here was a Vietnam Veteran who laid out his presuppositions with intense vigor and who had personally lived the pain of the Iraq war in the death of his son. It has now been several years since that interview and recently I ordered a copy of Bacevich’s The New American Militarism: How Americans are Seduced by War.

The preface to the book is quite stimulating since Bacevich lays out his background and what led him to interpret America’s wars through these lenses. After years, as a conservative political writer for Weekly Standard and National Review (both ardent neo-conservative voices), Dr. Bacevich began to dissolve his relationship with the conservative literary establishment (xi). In the end, Bacevich came to realize that “the Republican and Democratic parties may not be identical, but they produce nearly identical results (xi).”

Bacevich is a conservative with all the credentials, but his vast background (Historian, international relations expert and former US Army Colonel) has led him to different conclusions about the U.S. military pursuits around the world. His conclusions are bound to make both the left and the right uncomfortable.

November 30, 2011

Union with Christ by Robert Letham; First Thoughts

The UPS driver caught me right as I ventured into the cold afternoon to fetch the mail. As he parked on the street he handed me a gem. After carefully unpacking the box there emerged Robert Letham’s newest work entitled Union with Christ: In Scripture, History, and Theology. The book contains 141 pages. While giving a general perusal, I noticed Letham touches on the relationship between union with Christ and baptism (138) while interacting briefly with Romans 6 and its unending influence on the Reformational baptismal debates.

I am and have always been a fan of acknowledgments. I never go directly to chapter one without reading through what influenced the author in the book-writing process. Notably, Richard Gaffin–a statue of the Westminsterian tradition and now professor emeritus–will likely leave his mark in this sacred study (Gaffin writes that this is a “high-quality contribution” to the study of Union with Christ; Gaffin himself having done significant work already on this topic). For Letham, union with Christ “lies right at the heart of biblical soteriology (ix).” To be united to Jesus is to be partaker of his divine nature. Indeed union with Christ is the umbrella of soteriology; everything else submits to its inescapable presence.

November 30, 2011

This is Aslan’s Doing!

In C.S. Lewis’ chapter Aslan is Nearer, Lewis focuses on Edmund’s repentance. Edmund has now discovered that Turkish Delight was no delight and that the Queen is no beauty. On their journey to kill the humans–Edmund’s siblings–Edmund begins to see glimpses of life in the deathly snow-infested land of Narnia. Satyrs and a dwarf are feasting; a new sign that the tide is turning in Narnia. But the witch wastes no time in turning the festive creatures into stone. Incidentally, “for the first time Edmund felt sorry for someone besides himself.” Edmund’s rebellion is melting–as the snow–and turning to something genuine and true. Edmund is returning home. However, it is not Edmund who states the obvious. In sight of the trees coming to life, it is the Witch’s slave–the dwarf–who exclaims, “This is no thaw…this is Spring! This is Aslan’s doing!” Even the wicked declare the overturning of their own empire.

September 2, 2011

Reviewing Books

As a former student of John Frame, I saw again and again the graciousness he had when he reviewed books. He was equally gracious in class, though at time he reserved some of his intellectual wrath to theological pugilists. As someone who reviews books both on-line and on youtube, I found John Updike’s rules for reviewing books particularly helpful:

1. Try to understand what the author wished to do, and do not blame him for not achieving what he did not attempt.

2. Give him enough direct quotation—at least one extended passage—of the book’s prose so the review’s reader can form his own impression, can get his own taste. Continue reading “Reviewing Books”

August 29, 2011

Never Risk-Free

My former professor Dan Ebert writes in his introduction to Wisdom Christology (15-16) that wisdom and folly both call out to us. Ebert observes that “this should serve as a reminder that reflecting on the doctrine of Christ is never risk-free. One is always in danger of misinterpreting the biblical material or, having interpreted well, of denying the confession of life.” This goes quite well with my series on Samson where I argued recently that word leads to action (hearing to doing; word to bread). To put it in Professor Ebert’s category: Interpretation leads to embodiment of truth.

August 9, 2011

Nevin’s Importance

In the series preface to John Williamson Nevin: High Church Calvinism, D.G. Hart observes that “Nevin discerned fundamental changes in American religious life that were undermining the vitality of Reformed Christianity in the United States (10).” He elaborates further that Nevin provides a “high-church” Calvinism that responds both to religious enthusiasm (think revivalism) and the growing presence of Roman Catholicism (think sacerdotalism). Professor Nevin saw the trends of popular Protestantism in the nineteenth century. Though a controversial voice in the 19th century, Nevin’s prophetic words need to be heard again and again in our own day.