How to Read the Bible through the Jesus Lens by Michael Williams

How to Read the Bible through the Jesus Lens by Michael Williams. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2012. Pp. 267. $18.99 paper.

With his new book, Michael Williams, Professor of Old Testament at Calvin Theological Seminary, has given the church a wonderful tool to facilitate her following Jesus’s command: “teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matt. 28:20 ESV).

With refreshing simplicity, Williams’s Jesus Lens takes seriously Jesus’s own interpretation of the Bible’s ultimate unity: the Scriptures testify of me (John 5:39). Thus he aims to teach Christians how to read the Bible as Jesus did—not as a discombobulated collection of random stories but as a single story whose climax and scope is Jesus Christ. “Reading the Bible through the Jesus lens is reading it the way it was intended. It keeps our reading, understanding, teaching, and preaching properly focused on God’s grand redemptive program that centers on his own Son” (p. 9).

“The goal of this book,” continues Williams, “is parallel to that of Christ for the disciples he joined up with on the road to Emmaus” (p. 10): “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself” (Luke 24:27 ESV). This is why this book is a wonderful gift to the church: it facilitates a basic understanding of the Bible’s overarching story line in every book of the Bible, and it does so in a clear, concise, and non-technical way.

For example, in treating Genesis, Williams highlights God’s activity of separating throughout the book. This separation culminates in the call of Abraham, which, when viewed through the Jesus lens, ties in directly to Jesus’s fulfillment of the Abrahamic promise (see, e.g., Galatians 3:7–8). “Jesus is the one to whom all God’s separating was always meant to lead, and Jesu is separate from all others in his ability to bring the promised divine blessing to the nations” (p. 15; see Acts 4:12). God continues his work of separating in his church today (2 Corinthians 5:18–20), and he calls us to pass on the Abrahamic blessing we have received in Christ (pp. 15–16).

Because this book is written for normal readers (not scholars), it can be used in many ways. You can give it to a non-Christian who wants to know what the Bible is all about. You can give it to a new Christian who is seeking to grow in understanding God’s Word. You can use it to teach a Sunday School class. Additionally, if you want to attend a class on this book, you can take an online class taught by the author himself.

Related Media

• Read Contents and Ch. 1: Genesis of Jesus Lens
• See Zondervan’s accompanying blog tour
• Watch Williams describe what his book is and why he wrote it:

• Read one of Professor Williams’s other books:

   

Free Classic Commentaries on the Psalms

Someone wrote me today (presumably following up on my review of the Essential Guide to the Psalms) and asked if I could recommend some free commentaries on the Psalms. However, the e-mail address bounced back with an error (a typo, I presume); so, I have decided to post my reply here.

For non-technical commentaires, see:

• Matthew Henry
• John Calvin
• David Dickson

For technical commentaries, see:

• Henry Ainsworth
• Hengstenberg (3 vols.)
• ICC, vol. 1, vol. 2

Review: Essential Bible Companion to the Psalms — by Brian Webster and David Beach

The Essential Bible Companion to the Psalms: Key Insights for Reading God’s Word
By Brian L. Webster and David R. Beach
Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2010
ISBN: 9780310286899 (WorldCat, Google Books, Book Mole)

Summary: This book provides a beginner’s guide to several basic literary features of the Psalms and to the basic message of each individual Psalm.

What is this book?

This book attempts to fill a unique niche: it is neither a full-blown commentary nor a detailed study bible. Rather, the authors explain the purpose of this book as even more basic than these standard tools:

While we do not aim to explain every poetic line, we do hope to help you select where to visit and to provide a basic orientation as you read each psalm. We point out essential elements and shed light on occasional phrases or identify relevant information about the setting. (p. 11)

In the main section of the book, each psalm is evaluated succinctly (i.e., in one page) according to the following schema (p. 12):

• Theme (the main idea)
• Type (genre). The authors provide a brief overview of the following psalm types that they employ throughout the book (pp. 15-18):
• Hymns
• Hymns of praise
• Hymns of thanksgiving
• Hymns of praise/thanksgiving
• Hymns of the Lord’s kingship
• Hymns: Zion songs
• Laments/cries for help (individual and communal)
• Psalms of confidence
• Royal psalms
• Liturgy psalms
• Instructional and wisdom psalms
• Author
• Background
• Structure (the stanzas and basic thought flow)
• Special explanatory notes
• Reflection (the significance of the psalm for today)

For whom is this book?

The authors do not specify their target audience. In my estimation this book would be useful to any Christian, junior-high-school age or above, who has never studied the Psalms before and who would like a very basic introduction to each Psalm. The two most helpful features of this book for new students of the Psalter are its basic introductions to

• the different types or genres of psalms (pp. 15-22)
• and how Hebrew poetry is represented by indentation in English Bibles (pp. 23-24).

Constructive criticism

Given that

1. the Psalms are the most frequently referenced OT book in the NT (e.g., Acts 1-2; Hebrews 1-2, etc.),
2. Jesus said the Psalms were written about him (Luke 24:44),
3. and Protestants have a long history of interpreting the Psalms in light of Christ and the NT (e.g., Martin Luther, David Dickson, the Puritans, etc.),

it is disappointing that the authors make almost no attempt whatsoever to connect the Psalms to either Christ or the New Testament. For example, the reflection for Psalm 2 invites the reader to reflect abstractly upon the “freedom and security” that “are found under the authority of God” (p. 38) without any thought to how God has exercised his authority concretely by exalting his Son, Jesus Christ, to king David’s throne (see Acts 13:33 and Heb. 1:5, both of which cite Psalm 2:7; cf. Rom. 1:4).

Without such connections, the section, “Personalizing the Psalms” (pp. 25-26) in the introduction and the “reflection” sections within the overviews of all 150 Psalms risk subjectivity. If any respect is to be given to how the NT itself uses the Psalms, then the Psalms ought not be treated merely as an invitation to abstract, generic, subjective spirituality–a spirituality with no connection to Christ; or, a spirituality that is quick to “add lines [to the Psalms] that are specific to our situation” (p. 26) without first looking to how Christ himself has fulfilled several of the Psalms in his own humiliation and exaltation. The subjective finds its truest and fullest freedom when it is grounded in the objective, rather than vice versa; the redemption accomplished by Christ always precedes and grounds the redemption that Christ applies to his church by his Spirit.

Additionally, the pictures–all of which are cheesy stock photographs culled from online databases such as istockphoto.com–add zero value to the book. Hebrew poetry does not need “help” from such trite modern illustrations as:

• a muddy hand from someone presumably drowning (or already drowned?) in a river (p. 76),
• an angry, old white man in a suit (p. 144),
• a female jogger in a spandex suit hunched over in a field (p. 177).

Related reviews

Read more reviews at the Zondervan blog tour for The Essential Bible Companion to the Psalms.

Sermon: Psalm 36

On 5 December 2010 I delivered the following sermon on Psalm 36 (with Genesis 6-9 and Romans 3) at Trinity URC in Caledonia, MI: “Sin’s False Sight vs. The Lord’s Faithful Light.”

(Download MP3 or OGG via Internet Archive.)

Introducing Galatians and the Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament

Galatians
By Thomas R. Schreiner
Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2010
ISBN: 0310243726 (WorldCat, Google Books, Book Mole)

With so many different commentary series on the market today (e.g., ACCS, BECNT, BST, EPSC, NIBC, NICNT, NICOT, NIGTC, REC, WBC, etc.) one may rightly ask: Why the ZECNT? According to the general editor, Clinton, E. Arnold, the answer is simple: to be “useful to the church” (p. 10). He explains that this series will appeal to you if:

• you know basic biblical Greek and would like to use your language skills in studying a commentary without needing to be a linguistics super-scholar,
• you appreciate concise summaries of the main points of each passage,
• you would like to see the thought flow of each passage displayed visually,
• you are seeking to be guided through the main interpretive issues of each text by a solidly evangelical scholar who engages the latest scholarship,
• you would find it useful to read a brief summary of the main theological points of each passage with brief suggestions toward the relevance of these points for today’s church (see the full list at p. 9).

Every volume in the series employs seven exegetical tools to facilitate interpretation of each passage:

1. Literary context
2. Main idea
3. Translation and graphical layout
4. Structure
5. Exegetical outline
6. Explanation of the text
7. Theology in application

Perhaps the most innovative of these tools is the translation and graphical layout. The grammatical function of every phrase is indicated next to the authors’ translation. For example, Schreiner’s translation of Galatians 3:7a is labeled as an inference of v. 6a-b, and v. 7b is marked as an appositional phrase of v. 7a. Then, the translation itself is arranged hierarchically according to the thought flow so that the reader can visualize the logical arrangement of the phrases. These visual arrangements allows the reader to quickly grasp the structure of a passage, say, for example, Paul’s contrast between the works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:16-24 (p. 341).

Turning to the Galatians volume in particular, I want to make just three brief observations:

First, note that Professor Schreiner writes for a specific audience and a specific purpose: “This commentary is written especially for pastors and students who want some help with the Greek text” (p. 13). Thus this exegetical commentary is not designed to be an exhaustive treatment of Galatians, polemically, theologically, or otherwise. Nonetheless, Schreiner does briefly engage other views on select points, such as, the interpretations of “justification” and “the works of the law” and “the faith of Jesus Christ” vis-a-vis the New Perspective on Paul (pp. 155-66).

Second, as a correlate of the first point, Schreiner’s commentary is all about the biblical text. Aside from a brief introduction to Galatians (pp. 21-59) and a brief concluding section that summarizes important doctrinal themes in the book (pp. 387-401), the bulk of the commentary sticks to explication of the text. This is a refreshing feature since many commentaries frequently bog down the reader in technical issues that are of secondary importance to pastors.

Third, the layout of the book is attractive, and the binding is solid. The fonts in each section, including the grey asides boxes spread throughout, are large and readable.

If you have had a year or two of New Testament Greek and desire to use and further develop your language skills in service of your preaching and teaching, then the consider adding ZECNT series volumes as unique and useful exegetical tools. If the Galatians commentary is any indication, the future of the series looks promising.

(Note: This post is part of the ZECNT Blog Tour sponsored by Zondervan. Several other brief posts introducing Schreiner’s Galatians commentary and other volumes in the ZECNT series are available here, here, and here.)

Henry Ainsworth on Shadows and Types in the Torah

In the propounding of all these things [i.e., the five books of the Torah], Moses had a veil drawn over his bright and glorious face: for, in the histories [there] are implied allegories, and in the laws [there] are types and shadows of good things that were to come, the body whereof is of Christ. In Genesis (which history ends with the going down of Israel into Egypt) we have the image of a natural man, fallen from God, into the bondage of sin. In Exodus is the type of our regeneration and [of our] state [which is] renewed by Jesus Christ. In Leviticus [we see] the shadow of our mortification, while we are made sacrifices unto God. In Numbers [we see] the figure of our spiritual warfare whereunto we are mustered and armed to fight the good fight of faith. In Deuteronomy [we see] the doctrine of our sanctification and preparation to enter into our heavenly Canaan (after Moses’ death) by the conduct of Jesus the Son of God.

–Henry Ainsworth (1571-1622), Annotations upon the first book of Moses, called Genesis Wherein the Hebrew words and sentences, are compared with, & explayned by the ancient Greek and Chaldee versions: but cheifly, by conference with the holy Scriptures (Imprinted by Giles Thorp in the year 1616), fol. 2 recto. (NB: Taken from the Preface; Spelling modernized and punctuation altered.)

NICOT 2-Week Sale

From now until August 19th Westminster Books is having a sale on all 23 vols. of the New International Commentary of the Old Testament, including the latest addition to the series: Andrew Dearman’s commentary on Hosea.

The sale works like this. When you buy 2 or more volumes, take an additional 10% off the already discounted prices. Individual volumes are thus between 45-61% off! And the entire 23 vol. set is on sale for $607.99 + $1.00 UPS shipping!

These sale prices are the lowest around. Compare Amazon ($802.40 + $3.99 shipping) which does not include the new 23rd volume on Hosea. Likewise, CBD ($599.99 + $48.00 shipping) charges and arm and a leg for shipping, does not include the 23rd volume, and does not have the product in stock until 8/26.

Opposition to Scripture is Opposition to Theism

In our defense of the concept of biblical authority, then, it is of the utmost importance that it be brought into relationship with the theistic position that is presupposed by it. . . . It is not till we have shown that the anti-theistic assumption [. . .], i.e., of the independence of man from God, is the source of all the opposition to the idea of biblical authority, that we have dealt with these objections in any thorough way. This does not mean that it is of no value to show that particular objections themselves in each case rest upon misunderstanding. But it does mean that the deepest misunderstanding upon which all the objections rest is that of the assumed correlativity of God and man with which antitheistic thought starts upon its way.

– Cornelius Van Til, An Introduction to Systematic Theology: Prolegomena and the Doctrines of Revelation, Scripture, and God, ed. William Edgar, 2nd ed. (Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R, 2007), 232-33.

Books by Van Til

Review: ESV Study Bible (Hardcover) — Eds. Wayne Grudem and Lane T. Dennis

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 list price: $49.99)

Why this study Bible?

Study Bibles are tools designed to help readers understand the text. Since there are so many Bible study tools to choose from nowadays, what features distinguish the ESV Study Bible among other options for  the Bible reader’s tool belt?

1. Achieves balance and expertise with multiple scholars

The advantage of having multiple experts rather than one main voice (i.e. the “John MacArthur” Study Bible, et. al.) is twofold. First, balance; second, expertise.

On balance, the biases and limitations of a single author approach are unavoidable. What if that  man has peculiar views which skew his interpretation of particular passages–who will provide a balancing voice? How could one man be an expert on all 66 books of the Bible? These hindrances are significantly mitigated by the ESV Study Bible’s collective approach. Thus, instead of getting just one man’s reflections the ESV Study Bible employs 95 Bible scholars and teachers all of whom share a firm commitment to the truthfulness of Holy Scripture.

On expertise, reading through the list of contributors is like walking down a hall of “who’s who” in Evangelical scholarship. Now, the eminence of the scholars is not the important bit; however, what is important is that multiple experts in their respective fields are contributing notes according to their areas of expertise. Thus, the scholar who has spent his or her career studying a particular book (or books) gets to contribute his or her deep, wide, and mature study of the text.

2. Explains redemption history and literary features

Two large difficulties constantly confront the reader of the Bible: (1) How does a particular book fit together? What is the storyline of, say, the book of Genesis? (2) How does the Bible as a whole fit together? Is there an overarching narrative connecting the individual books?

The ESV Study Bible presents aids on both scores: (1) On the individual book level the introduction to each book includes sections on salvation history and literary features of that book. Also, the study notes within each book contain specially-shaded notes to indicate the literary structure for the book’s large sections and individual scenes. (2) On the overall level the articles include an “overview of the Bible” and significant introductory materials to both the Old and New Testaments, including articles on topics such as: the date of the Exodus, introduction to the Pentateuch, the time between the testaments, the Roman empire and Greco-Roman world, Jewish groups in New Testament times. Furthermore, the ESV Study Bible presents surveys on the theology of the Old Testament and the New Testament.

3. Presents all new notes

Some study Bibles have notes which strikingly resemble one another. For example, the introductions to the individual books of the Bible in R. C. Sproul’s 2005 study Bible bear a very similar resemblance  to those of the 2003 Spirit of the Reformation Study Bible. Not so with the ESV study Bible. All the notes are fresh, up-to-date, and reflect current scholarship.

4. Avoids topical agendas; Lets God speak

While topical-based study Bibles (i.e. the “manly man” study Bible, the “teen” study Bible, the “spiritual renewal” study Bible, the “women’s” study Bible, et. al.) may have a useful purpose in some contexts, such topical approaches tend to favor one theme or topic to the exclusion of many others. Thus, due to nearsightedness the reader misses the richer interrelations of the wide variety of themes throughout the Bible.

The ESV Study Bible, on the other hand, does not so limit itself to a particular theme or to a specific sociological interest group; rather, it seeks to let God be heard in all that He has spoken and to all generations, young and old. Therefore, this study Bible is particularly well suited for family worship.

5. Includes useful web site

When you purchase an ESV Study Bible you are actually purchasing two products–Each Bible comes with an access code to the ESV Study Bible Website. In addition to providing all the charts, maps, articles, and study notes of the print edition, two features add value for study purposes: First, the search feature allows you to perform keyword and string searches on the biblical text; Second, the notes feature allows you to add your own notes to an individual verse or to an entire chapter. For more features try the free preview.

6. Presents beautiful, full-color charts and maps

View more examples at the ESV Study Bible web site.

Critiques

All in all I think this study Bible is a wonderful study tool. The following comments are suggestions for further improvement on a few “little things”:

1. The paper thickness for individual pages of the hardback edition is slightly too thin for my liking. (The full color maps in the back, however, are printed on heavier stock.) Nonetheless, there is no significant bleeding between pages, and the text is highly readable.
2. Due to its girth (Amazon lists the ESV study Bible at a 4.7 lbs shipping weight; compare the Spirit of the Reformation Study Bible, which weighs in at 3.2 lbs shipping weight), the hardcover edition is slightly heavy to hold and a tad awkward to carry around. Nevertheless, I have seen at least one person carrying the hardcover edition to church. I find myself using the hardcover either in my lap or on the kitchen table.
3. The search feature on the accompanying web site needs the following improvements: (a) the ability to search the study notes and (b) a larger input text box on the search form itself.

Related Elsewhere

For more information be sure to visit the official web site for the ESV Study Bible. Also, comparing a few more reviews may be helpful:

1. Evangelical author and blogger Tim Challies offers a useful review.
2. Nathan Stitt offers a thoughtful layman’s review, especially noting the balanced stance of the editors (i.e. it is not just a Calvinist or just an Arminian study Bible…).
3. Andy Naselli links to the review he published in JETS (Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society).
4. The “Scripture Zealot” blog has posted links to about 20 or so reviews of the ESV Study Bible.

For a great price, fast shipping, and great service purchase your ESV Study Bible at WTS Books.

Learn the Bible’s Literary Nature

One fantastic help to understanding the Sacred Scriptures is to grasp the literary structure of the Bible. For free instruction in this interesting area, listen to professor Leland Ryken talk about studying the Bible as literature.