Muslim Conversions to Christ: A Critique of Insider Movements in Islamic Contexts
Muslim Conversions to Christ: A Critique of Insider Movements in Islamic Contexts. Edited by Ayman S. Ibrahim and Ant Greenham. New York, NY: Peter Lang, 2018. 532 pp. Hardcover, $77.17. Ibrahim was raised in Egypt and is a professor of Islamic studies at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Greenham is a professor of missions and Islamic […]
Myths and Mistakes in New Testament Textual Criticism
Myths and Mistakes in New Testament Textual Criticism. By Elijah Hixson and Peter J. Gurry, Editors. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2019. 372 pp. Paper, $40.00. While in seminary, I became very interested in NT textual criticism. Initially I held to the eclectic approach, which is basically a Critical Text (CT) approach. Later I became […]
50 Core Truths of the Christian Faith
50 Core Truths of the Christian Faith. By Gregg R. Allison. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2018. 426 pp. Paper, $29.99. This is a condensed book on systematic theology. Its purpose is to guide in teaching theology to others. Each chapter contains an outline to help in that goal. The audience in mind is the […]
A Review of Richard J. Foster’s Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth, Part 1
Brad Doskocil Chairman GES Board I. INTRODUCTION Richard J. Foster has written numerous books and is founder of Renovaré, a Christian non-profit organization dedicated to promoting spiritual formation through the use of spiritual disciplines. Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth1 was first published in 1978 with subsequent versions published in 1988, 1989, and […]
Review of Craig L. Blomberg’s The Historical Reliability of John’s Gospel: Issues & Commentary
Edwin Ediger I. INTRODUCTION As Craig Blomberg notes, the content of John’s Gospel is distinctive, was likely written after the Synoptic Gospels, and has been used and misused through the centuries.1 Blomberg provides a helpful list of distinctives of John’s Gospel under five headings: 1) selection of material; 2) theological material, particularly the affirmation of […]
Colossians and Philemon
Colossians and Philemon. By G. K. Beale. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2019. 514 pp. Cloth, $54.99. This commentary is well laid out, making it easier to find the discussion of a particular verse. The publisher has put the start of a discussion of a new verse in the margin in bold font. So, the […]
A Victorian Dissenter: Robert Govett and the Doctrine of Millennial Reward
A Victorian Dissenter: Robert Govett and the Doctrine of Millennial Reward. By David E. Seip. Eugene, OR: Pickwick Publications, 2018. 253 pp. Paper, $32.00. As the subtitle states, A Victorian Dissenter (AVD) is about Robert Govett (1813–1901), who lived in England during the Victorian Age. He was a dispensational dissenter against the Church of England. […]
Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God: The Scandalous Truth of the Very Good News
Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God: The Scandalous Truth of the Very Good News. By Brian Zahnd. Colorado Springs, CO: Waterbrook, 2017. 209 pp. Paper, $14.99. This book gives no indication of any theological education by Zahnd. A website search indicates that he is self-taught. Regardless of education, Zahnd is a very good […]
The Confession of the Centurion in Luke 23:47
Kenneth W. Yates Editor I. INTRODUCTION In the Gospel of Luke, Luke tells us that when the centurion at the cross of Christ saw Jesus die, “he glorified God, saying, ‘Certainly this was a righteous man’” (Luke 23:47, NKJV). Both Matthew and Mark say that the centurion proclaimed that Jesus was “the Son of God” […]
Seculosity: How Career, Parenting, Technology, Food, Politics, and Romance Became Our New Religion and What to Do About It
Seculosity: How Career, Parenting, Technology, Food, Politics, and Romance Became Our New Religion and What to Do About It. By David Zahl. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2019. 211 pp. Hardcover, $26.99. Every page of this book hit a nerve. David Zahl demonstrates how salvation by works has been rebranded and promoted by secular culture. To […]