Back in July I posted a brief note about Christ the Center’s interview with Rev. Dr. John Fesko on his latest book, The Rule of Love: Broken, Fulfilled, and Applied. Now having had the chance to read the book myself I want to heartily commend this concise 136 page study on one of the most [...]
Archive for the ‘Book Reviews’ Category
Brief: The Rule of Love: Broken, Fulfilled, and Applied — by J. V. Fesko
Posted in Book Reviews, Ex Pacto, John Fesko, Justification, Pneumatology, Sanctification, tagged decalogue, Ethics, Love, Reformed, religion on November 2, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Announcing: The Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible, Revised ed. — eds. Moises Silva and Merrill C. Tenney
Posted in Biblical Studies, Book Reviews, John Frame, New Testament, Old Testament, tagged Christianity, religion, spirituality on September 21, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Summary: This full-color encyclopedia will be a wonderful tool, especially for families and Bible students, to learn the people, places, and historical context of Holy Scripture.
Book Info
ISBN: 9780310241362 (Worldcat; Google Books)
Publisher: Zondervan (2009; expected in October)
Genres: Reference, Biblical studies
Reading Level: high school–adult
Format: Hardcover, 5 volumes
List Price: $279.99 (Pre-order from Amazon: $176.39)
Why another Bible encyclopedia?
Zondervan’s newly [...]
Review: ESV Study Bible (Hardcover) — Eds. Wayne Grudem and Lane T. Dennis
Posted in Biblical Studies, Biblical Theology, Book Reviews, New Testament, Old Testament, tagged Bible, Christianity, religion on September 19, 2009 | 1 Comment »
Summary: 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.
Book Info
ISBN: 9781433502415 (Worldcat; Google Books)
Publisher: Crossway (2008)
Genre: Biblical studies
Reading Level: middle–high school
Worthy read? Yes
Price: $28.49 @ WTS Books (43% off [...]
Review: Redemption Accomplished and Applied — by John Murray
Posted in Book Reviews, Contra Pelagianism, Doctrina divina, Doctrine of God, John Murray, Mortification of Sin, Obedience, Sola Fide, Sola Gratia, Soteriology, Trinity, tagged Christian life, Christianity, historia salutis, ordo salutis, Reformed, spirituality on July 7, 2009 | 1 Comment »
ISBN: 9780802811431 — Worldcat; Google Books
Publisher: Eerdmans (1955)
Genre: Systematic theology
Reading Level: college
Worthy read? Yes
Price: $9.10 @ WTS Books
What is this book about?
This book is about the atonement (6, 9) as it is viewed objective and subjectively, that is, the atonement seen both from the perspective of historia salutis (i.e. Christ’s once-for-all accomplishment of redemption) and [...]
Brief Review: Reformed Theology in America – ed. David Wells
Posted in B. B. Warfield, Book Reviews, Charles Hodge, Cornelius Van Til, Geerhardus Vos, Herman Bavinck, Historical Theology, J. Gresham Machen, James Henley Thornwell, Louis Berkhof, Robert Lewis Dabney, tagged Christianity, history, Presbyterian, Reformed, religion on May 18, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Book
ISBN: 0801021480 (Google Books)
Publisher: Baker (1997; reprint 2000)
Genre: Historical theology
Reading Level: high school to college
Worthy read? Yes
Price: $28.80 @ WTS Books
Brief
These essays present historical overviews of the main streams and major thinkers of Reformed theology in America. Thus, to the student of American Reformed theology, this book is a great “reader’s guide”–if you start here [...]
Review: The Unfolding Mystery: Discovering Christ in the Old Testament – by Edmund P. Clowney
Posted in Biblical Studies, Book Reviews, Edmund Clowney, Hermeneutics, Old Testament, tagged covenant, Reformed on March 17, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
Overview
ISBN: 0875521746
Publisher: P&R (1988)
Genre: Biblical studies, hermeneutics, Old Testament
Reading Level: high school; very accessible; non-scholarly, non-dense
Worthy read? Yes!
Price: $7.99 @ WTS Books
Abstract
Dr. Edmund Clowney, former president of Westminster Theological Seminary and professor of practical theology, summarizes the main goal of The Unfolding Mystery in his own words:
The purpose of this book is not to tell [...]
Review: John Calvin: A Pilgrim’s Life – by Herman J. Selderhuis
Posted in Book Reviews, Historical Theology, John Calvin, tagged Presbyterian, Reformed on March 5, 2009 | 2 Comments »
Overview
ISBN: 0830829210
Publisher: Intervarsity (2009)
Genre: Historical theology (biography)
Reading Level: high school; very accessible; non-scholarly, non-dense
Price: $16.25 — 35% Off @ WTS Books
Worthy read? Yes!
Abstract
Dr. Selderhuis, director of the Calvin Congress and seasoned historical theologian, gives a thematic and chronological biography of Calvin’s life and ministry based upon primary sources, especially Calvin’s many letters. Selderhuis both dismantles [...]
Review: A Reader’s Hebrew Bible – eds. A. Philip Brown, II and Bryan W. Smith
Posted in Biblical Studies, Book Reviews, Hebrew, Old Testament, Preaching, Scriptura sacra, tagged biblical Hebrew on December 6, 2008 | 1 Comment »
A Reader’s Hebrew Bible
Editors: A. Philip Brown, II; Bryan W. Smith
Publisher: Zondervan; 1652 pp.; Italian Duo-Tone™ binding
ISBN: 9780310269748
Summary: 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. There is no better [...]
Review: The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith – Tim Keller
Posted in Book Reviews, Doctrine of God, Edmund Clowney, Luke, Luke 15, New Testament, Soteriology, tagged Christian life, Christianity, religion, spirituality on October 29, 2008 | 1 Comment »
The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith
Author: Timothy Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church, NYC
Publisher: Penguin Group; 160 pages; hardcover
ISBN: 0525950796
Overview
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 [...]
Review: Fools for Christ: Essays on the True, the Good, and the Beautiful by Jaroslav Pelikan
Posted in Book Reviews, Doctrina divina, Doctrine of God, Ethics, Historical Theology, Pilgrim Praxis, Prolegomena, Research Papers, Semper Reformanda, tagged aesthetics, Christianity, Dostoevsky, Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, religion on June 6, 2008 | 1 Comment »
Summary
Through colorful biographical sketches of six “fools” from Christianity’s history, Pelikan presents a poignant exhortation: unless one’s head, hands, and heart being “foolishly” committed to Jesus Christ at every point, then one’s pursuit of dogmatics, ethics, and aesthetics become idolatrous journeys into insanity.
Review/Reflection
My response to Pelikan’s book is part review and part autobiographical reflection:
On Mastering [...]


