Torrey Gazette is the combined work of everyday Christians blogging on books, family, art, and theology. So pull up a seat and join us. Family Table rules apply. Shouting is totally acceptable.
All in Art
Election of the Lesser Son: Paul’s Lament-Midrash in Romans 9-11 is incredibly valuable as a theological work as well as a commentary on these important chapters of Paul’s writing. Pastors, students, and theologically minded laymen will benefit greatly from Wallace’s work.
Sam Storms’ Kingdom Come does not top Kim Riddelbarger’s A Case for Amillennialism in defense of the amillennial “alternative” but it is certainly a more comprehensive work on eschatology and better suited for individuals questioning their premillennial background.
The thesis of Generous Spaciousness does not promote a specific position/viewpoint on homosexuality and Christianity. Instead it is a thesis that demands grace throughout discussions, questions, hermeneutics, and particular texts when they occur within the church.
The Books of the Bible is truly a delight to read. Lacking reference materials make this unsuitable for study and congregational use. However, it is well suited for personal study and extensive reading. While leaving room for improvement, The Books of the Bible remains the gold standard on “reader Bibles.”
Much like God’s Great Creation, I am surprised and increasingly satisfied with the accuracy and focus of Moses Leads the People.
Like all parts of the liturgy, music is both unavoidable and massively impactful. Whether we like it or not the words and rhythms we sing as a congregation are shaping us into a teleological people (a people facing a certain kingdom). Considering the weight of this proposition we should be increasingly concerned with which kingdom our songs are pointing us.
The Bible Tells Me So is a valuable example of hermeneutical criticism with an equally faulty hermeneutic. Enns, alongside the conservative Christians who refuse to commune with him, remains a puzzling example of enlightenment thinking that continues to tell people what the Bible must say and do.
Our daughter, who is familiar with the creation account, loved the story. Aware of the Heidelberg Catechism’s answers concerning “Adam and Eve in paradise” she instantly recognized the depiction of “our first parents” and their fall and disobedience. Admittedly, she calls it her “coronation book” (thanks Frozen) but God’s Great Creation has been an excellent addendum to our family worship and Biblical education.
There is nothing contained in this volume that is not found in a higher criticism commentary on the book of James. Even the “messianic focus” of the material seems timid in its depth and will prove to be short on insights for those familiar with technical scholarship on James.
Wisdom incarnate (Jesus), spoke in parables and hid the things of the kingdom of God from the wise and revealed them to innocent babes (Luke 10). Again, as the apostles went out into the kingdom of Rome armed with the story of the Gospel their ultimate aim was a subversive one. Everywhere they went they started a riot because of the story they were telling: "Jesus is Lord, not Ceasar." & "You are now citizens of Heaven, not Rome." To us these often serve as empty words on the pages of an ancient text. In the first century these words were telling the story of a conflicting narrative to the story so many inhabited. Moreover, these words were telling the story of the emergence of a new world (the world of the New Adam) and the decaying of an old one (the world of the Old Adam).
“Yet the question remains: Why include a Roman Catholic in a series of biographies on Reformational heros?”
I finished reading James K.A. Smith's book Desiring the Kingdom: Worship, Worldview, and Cultural Formation a couple weeks ago. I would have to say that it is the best book I've read this year (so far). The book does a wonderful job at challenging the popular conversations surrounding "Christian Worldview" talk without being over critical while at the same time offering an attractive alternative. Smith argues throughout the book that centering the Christian faith around something like a "worldview" has many pitfalls. Again, it should be noted that Smith is not advocating that we abandon the concept of developing a "Christian Worldview" but suggests that such a center cannot hold.
Thankfully, Simonetta Carr and Reformation Heritage Books are providing introductory level biographies that are engaging. The latest in their “Christian Biographies For Young Readers” series, Jonathan Edwards focuses on the theological and pastoral giant of the 18th century.
Our daughter absolutely loved the book and our reading it during family worship. The Christmas Story for Children is an excellent little book for the advent season.
Fans of the KJV will be hard pressed to find a more stylish and efficient edition. Individuals seeking a more literal translation will thoroughly enjoy the KJV Skinii Bible as well.
It's important to understand that the scriptures (specifically the New Testament in this sense) were written in space & time to a certain people in space and time. None of this means that what was written then is no longer applicable to the modern reader, rather, Wright contests that in order to obtain a modern application from the text would depend on obtaining the ancient application. Our approach should not be to divorce the scriptures from the place and time they were written in order to acquire their "higher meaning." Instead we should look to understand exactly what scripture was addressing so that we may see how it does (and does not) apply to us today.
Jesus, the Temple and the Coming Son of Man is a focused effort to re-acquaint readers of the Scriptures with the meaning of Christ as recorded by Mark. Stein provides a scholarly, yet condensed, approach that laymen and pastors will find extremely valuable.
Future of Israel is simply a repackaging of old evangelical theology for a generation that has already become disenchanted with these roots. Ryrie’s Dispensationalism Today or scholarly works by Dr. Bock, Dr. Saucy or Dr. Blasing would better serve individual interested in studying the Biblical pro-Israel arguments.
In conclusion, Alistair Stewart does a magnificent job of laying out his case in The Original Bishops. This is a highly technical work and much of it was well past my knowledge or ability to render scholarly judgment.
