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Psalm 36 in The Outlook
The July–August issue of The Outlook includes my sermon on Psalm 36: “Sin’s False Sight vs. The Lord’s Faithful Light.” Continue reading
Review of Charles Hodge: Guardian of American Orthodoxy by Paul C. Gutjahr
Gutjahr’s biography is excellent and a delight to read. American Presbyterians will rejoice that Hodge has received the thorough and skillful treatment that his life and work deserve. Continue reading
Traducianism vs. Creationism: Shedd and Bavinck
In this essay I analyze Herman Bavinck’s creationist counterpoint to W. G. T. Shedd’s formulation of traducianism as presented by Oliver Crisp. Continue reading
Review: An Uncommon Union: Dallas Theological Seminary and American Evangelicalism — by John D. Hannah
John Hannah presents the story of Dallas Theological Seminary in the way that only a seasoned insider can—with critical appreciation and historical perspective. Continue reading
John Owen on the consilium Dei-pactum salutis interrelationship
An analysis of John Owen’s formulation of the divine counsel in relation to the covenant of redemption Continue reading
Meredith G. Kline’s Interpretation of rûah elōhîm in Genesis 1:2
An analysis of Meredith G. Kline’s intriguing interpretation of Genesis 1:2 in his book, Images of the Spirit. Continue reading
Review: ESV Study Bible (Hardcover) — Eds. Wayne Grudem and Lane T. Dennis
The ESV Study Bible (and accompanying web site) is a great tool for personal study and family worship; it leads the way in breadth, depth, and innovation for a new generation of study Bibles. Continue reading
Review: A Reader’s Hebrew Bible – eds. A. Philip Brown, II and Bryan W. Smith
A Reader’s Hebrew Bible is an indispensable tool for learning to read biblical Hebrew. Seminarians and ministers will love this attractive and handy reader for use in the classroom and in personal study. Continue reading
Review: The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith – Tim Keller
This easy-reading book explains Jesus’ famous parable of the prodigal son in Luke 15. However, instead of focusing on the wayward younger brother, Pastor Keller focuses upon the elder brother, the one who does not enter the feast. Continue reading
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Review of Dictionary of Christian Spirituality ed. by Glen G. Scorgie
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Dictionary of Christian Spirituality edited by Glen G. Scorgie. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011. 852 pp. $39.99 hardcover.
The Dictionary of Christian Spirituality (DCS) is an evangelical reference work for the emerging field of study that analyzes the Christian life (or “Christian formation” or “Christian spirituality”) from a globalist and ecumenical perspective.
“Broad” and “global” are fitting descriptors both for DCS’ intended audience and for its international cast of contributors. The latter is primarily comprised of Protestant scholars from a wide array of Protestant traditions. Contributions from Roman Catholic scholars, Eastern Orthodox scholars, “and even a few [scholars] who are not going to church at all right now” also appear throughout the volume, albeit less frequently (p. 11).
DCS is arranged into two parts. The first contains thirty-four short essays on propaedeutic and substantive topics such as:
- the nature of “Christian spirituality,”
- various methodological approaches to the field,
- Old-Testament and New-Testament foundations for the field,
- the history of the field,
- surveys of Christian spirituality throughout various times and places in the history of Christianity,
- liturgy and spirituality,
- spirituality and interfaith relationships,
- spirituality and missions,
- and the future of Christian spirituality.
Each of the essays conclude with a bibliography of citations and suggestions for further reading.
Part two is a dictionary with nearly 700 concise entries that cover all manner of people, places, events, and ideas that have influenced Christian spirituality from its inception in the New Testament era through its contemporary global expression. Including everything from African Christian Spirituality and Alfred the Great to Zen and Nicholas Ludwig von Zinzendorf, the dictionary’s wide scope is impressive even if its entries are modest and brief. Interested students will appreciate the suggestions for further reading that are appended to each entry.
In sum, anyone who is seeking a broadly-evangelical, contemporary introduction to the vast field of contemporary Christian spirituality that is
- biblically engaged,
- accessible and relevant to contemporary Christian practitioners,
- generous in its regard for the full range of Christian traditions of spirituality,
- attentive to otherwise neglected topics, concerns, and formative figures in the evangelical tradition of spirituality,
- global and international in both topical scope and contributors,
- reflective of interdisciplinary engagement with related fields of inquiry,
- and reasonably priced,
will benefit heartily from this fine reference work (list quoted from “Preface,” p. 8).
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