The People, The Land and the Future of Israel: Israel and the Jewish People in the Plan of God

Anything involving the Middle East tends to be a hot topic in politics and theology. Much of the interest in the events transpiring in Iraq and Israel can be traced back to dispensational theology which claims that God will eventually restore the Jewish people to their land in a physical kingdom. This theology stands in contrast to covenant theology which argues that the church has replaced Israel and, as a result, the covenants made in the Old Testament have either been fulfilled or are spiritualized in some way. This has the effect of making the promises of God no longer literal. For example, the land promise given to Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3 was really a promise made to the church that God would one day claim the entire earth as here (Matthew 5:3 is often argued in support of this).

With that as background, The People, The Land, and the Future of Israel (published by Kregal Publishing), emerges as a collection of essays (originally given as speeches in 2013) centered around what Israel's future actually is. Let me be upfront: this is a work written by dispensational thinkers (and progressive dispensational thinkers) for dispensational thinkers. This work functions as an abridged rebuttal to covenant theology's insistence that the church has replaced Israel.

The work is divided into four sections: Old Testament evidence, New Testament evidence, hermeneutics and theology and church history (all one section), and practical theology. Each section contains about two to three chapters, written by different authors, approaching various issues concerning Israel's future. So how does the book stack up?

As you might imagine from a work composed by different authors, some chapters are better than others. For instance, Bock and Vanlaningham's chapters on Luke-Acts and Romans, stand out as two of the better essays. They argue cogently and persuasively that Israel does in fact have a plan in God's future. Further, I found Craig Blaising's chapter entitled "Israel and Hermeneutics" to be a stimulating read where he shows the inconsistencies present in much Covenant theology.

Other chapters were much more disappointing. For instance, Craig A. Evans writes an extremely disjointed and confusing chapter on "Israel according to the Book of Hebrews and the General Epistles." I was left wondering if he was actually arguing AGAINST Israel having a future! Baffling indeed!

The practical theology section has some shining moments (such as Michael Rydelnik's chapter on "The Jewish People: Evidence for the Truth of Scripture) but as a whole it just feels like a bunch of sermons put together. It fails to really fit the scholarly tone the book presents itself as. On the topic of scholarly, I can't help but feel a bit irritated that we were left with endnotes in this book. I get that Kregal was trying to appeal to a wider audience but I just found it super annoying that I had to keep flipping back and forth to read any citation. Many critical arguments are made within those notes and it just became so taxing to read each chapter after awhile.

One oddity that I both like and am unsure of (yes, I know, I am conflicted) is that at the end of each chapter they give a QR code where you can watch the conference video and an interview with that author. I think this is a cool way to get the reader connected with the author and the conference. However, I can't help put think that this also will date this book. Five years from now, will this book be relevant (will QR codes even be used?)? I don't know, but it does add a certain amount of interaction between the reader and the book. I like that.

So should you buy it? Honestly, I don't think so. The good articles don't justify the price of the book. You can find blogs and other websites that will essentially give you the same material. There is nothing new here. I don't think that this book actually advances the Israel conversation very far. Rather, it is just a distillation of many of these author's larger works. The condensing of their thinking doesn't do much. As a result, I just can't recommend this book.

*Thanks to Kregal Academic for providing me a free review copy in exchange for a fair, unbiased review*

"Interpreting the General Letters" Review

Kregel Academic has been releasing a set called "Handbooks for New Testament Exegesis." This set is designed for pastors with a working knowledge of Greek to more ably exegete the New Testament. The newest volume Interpreting the General Letters by Herbert W. Bateman IV continues the purpose of this series by focusing on in-depth exegesis of the General Letters (Hebrews, James, 1 &2 Peter, 1, 2 & 3 John, Jude). So is this volume worth a spot on your shelf?

Let me start off by saying that I theologically differ from the author. He holds to a dispensational view of biblical theology while I lean toward a New Covenant perspective. Disagreement aside, I still think this is a solid volume full of excellent advice and is full of help for pastors who want to hone their exegetical abilities. The first chapter is devoted to exploring the genre of the general letters. I particularly enjoyed the charts that Bateman included. This is not thrilling reading but it is necessary for a proper interpretation of the text.

The second chapter is devoted to the background of the General Letters. This chapter was actually pretty interesting. It involved a fairly intensive look at some of the influences of the General Letters. I learned several new things (including a plausible background of the rebellion in Jude [see pages 84-87]). The author spends a great deal of time focusing on the Greco-Roman background of the text.

Chapter three, in my opinion, is my favorite chapter in the book. Again, I disagree with the theological position of the author, but I still found is discussion of covenants and the fulfillment in the book of Hebrews enlightening. The chart on Hebrews on pages 111-113 is just fantastic. There are a number of other visuals in this chapter that really help bring to life the General Letters. 

Chapters four through seven, involving the actual process of exegesis all the way to preaching. There are numerous examples and charts that really help the exegete. I would actually suggest that this section is fairly exhaustive. I must also be honest: this is dry reading. I found it was best to read this section with my Greek New Testament open and a product of caffeine by my side.

Which makes me ponder a deeper question: why do so many exegetical works make the actual task of exegesis so dull? Chapters four through seven read like a textbook. Authors such as Michael Bird have made works of theology and exegesis interesting. Is there nothing to remedy this? I know I leave myself open to the charge of being immature or unprofessional but I will wager this: if I find this section unbelievably dull, the pastors it was intended for will to.

Let me go one step further: the pastor who is busy with his day to day work will not only struggle to make it through this text, he will become increasingly disenfranchised with the entire process of in-depth exegesis. That is tragic and frustrating. So how do I sum all this up?

I think the information here is valuable. I think it is helpful. I just do not like most of the way it is presented. It is dense. It is technical. It is not thrilling to get through.

Yet...

yet...

yet...

I think pastors should buy this. I think they should struggle through it. I think they should endure the difficult and technical nature of this work. Why? Because our churches need sound exegesis. The method laid out in this work is incredibly beneficial (albeit time consuming).

So it is worth a buy. Be aware this is not an easy, breezy text. You make disagree with elements of it. Yet ministry leaders need works like this because exegesis is an art. This book is a reminder of it.

*Thanks to Kregel Academic for the free book in exchange for a fair review*

Review of "A Commentary of Judges and Ruth" by Robert Chisholm Jr.

Kregel Academic has done us a great service by releasing A Commentary on Judges and Ruth, by Robert Chisholm Jr., professor at Dallas Theological Seminary. Much like Zondervan's new exegetical commentary set, Kregel aims to present academically rigorous commentaries that are beneficial for pastors, who posses knowledge of Hebrew. For the pastor coming out of seminary who is hoping not to lose his knowledge of the languages, this is truly remarkable.

 There is space given on themes and application (helpful for any pastor laboring through how to apply tough passages to his congregation). Each section is also outlined and major exegetical issues involving Hbrew words is also given. The Hebrew is untransliterated (but honestly, how many people use the transliteration?) so knowledge of the language is a must to truly appreciate this series.

So the question is this: how does Chisholm Jr.'s contribution on Judges and Ruth hold up? Having spent some time in this fairly large volume, I can report that it is an excellent addition to the current list of Evangelical commentaries. It stands along side Block's work as my new go to commentaries. It is thorough (almost exhaustingly so) and heavily footnoted. It leaves no stone unturned and provides good insight into all of the controversial texts I looked up. For instance, in Ruth 3 (where an abundance of sexualized metaphors are used to discuss the encounter between Ruth and Boaz) Chisholm rightly notes that the language is used to highlight exactly what did NOT happen-there was no immorality involved.

My one issue with this series in general is the layout; it is just not a fun series to read. The font just screams, "fall asleep."  I also want to point out that the style of Chisholm Jr. is not the most engaging to read. It is fairly dull. Make no mistake: this is a reference work, not an evening read.

Those minor quibbles aside, I heartily recommend this work. It will, I trust, be truly valuable for those seeking to teach and preach through this complex and brilliant literary works.

Thanks to Kregal Academic who provided this book to me for free in exchange for a fair review.

"A Reader's Lexicon of the Apostolic Fathers" Review

"A Reader's Lexicon of the Apostolic Fathers," published by Kregel Academic is a really useful tool when it comes to interpreting the early church fathers. The lexicon is accurate, provides a useful range of semantic meanings, and helps the student interpret the words used 30 times and less. When used in conjunction with Michael Holmes’s third edition of the Apostolic Fathers (Baker, 2007), this becomes an indispensable resource for the student of church history (or those wanting to advance their Greek training).

Does the price make sense? I think so. It is well-bound, well laid-out, and useful. I found the words I was looking for quickly and received the gloss I needed. I think those who would be interested in this would be willing to shell out the money either way.

So is it a buy? Again, it all depends how into interpreting the apostolic fathers you are. I like it. I am glad I have it. The layout looks good and I know I am going to use it more in the future. In my mind it is an excellent source that is a must buy for all serious students of church history (and those looking to brush up on their Greek).

*Thanks to Kregel Publishing for providing a free review copy of this book in exchange for a fair review*

Apostle of the Last Days Review

C. Marvin Pate's "Apostle of the Last Days: The Life, Letters, and Theology of Paul" is a book I wanted to really love. Eschatology really is a key element in Paul's thinking and a book-by-book analysis of Paul's eschatological thought would be wonderful to have.

Pate, to be fair, delivers this. But the product delivered strikes me as questionable. The reason why is because I feel that Pate relies too heavily upon mirror-readings of Paul's argument. In other words, Pate argues that Paul is responding to various eschatological groups that offered differing perspectives on the end times. While that is no doubt true in certain circumstances, Pate uses this as a model for every single one of Paul's letters. I am not convinced and there are times when I feel that Pate has to really stretch his argument.

What also troubles me is the lack of care given to the editing of this book. There are several pages in the introduction that repeated and there are a few spelling and verse mistakes I found throughout. Finally, (and perhaps this is just an issue of preference on my part), there is no works cited or bibliography at the end. There were a few times I wanted to find the exact work cited and was unable to.

However, do not think that this work is useless. By no means! There are some treasures here. I particularly like the synthesis of Paul's eschatological thought with systematic theology (the last chapter). Also, his chapter on Romans is really good.

So how do I summarize this work? It is a book that is useful, beneficial but not perfect. It could have been absolutely fantastic. I love the premise of it. In the end, however, it fails to completely convince. Further, it strikes me as fairly rushed and poorly edited.

For the price, I am not sure it is worth a spot in your library. If you can find a good deal on the book, however, pick it up. It does have some really good chapters.

*Thanks to Kregel Academic for providing a free review copy in exchange for a fair review.*

Words!

Not all spoken words are equal. Several factors play an important role in language:

1) Your tone

2) What you want to accomplish with your words (command, question, statement).

3) Who you are.

This third point often gets overlooked but it shouldn't because it is absolutely vital to grasp. Two people can say the SAME thing but the statement can carry different weight. I can tell someone with cancer, "You will get through this" and yet the words will be so much more meaningful if a cancer survivor says the exact same thing.

Of course, it also works in reverse. I can say something mean as a teacher and completely demolish a student's self-esteem. Why? Because I am in a position of authority and influence. A fellow student can say the same thing and it not matter. Who you are loads your words with weight.

Which is where the problem lies with this whole Duck Dynasty fiasco.

Fellow Christians, please be aware of this: the problem the world often has with us is not our stance against gay marriage. The problem is with the way we express that stance. Often those in great positions of influence say outlandish, unqualified statements that undermine the truth of what is being said.

This is why the Pope can be on the front cover of Time and Phil Robertson can be in hot water for holding to the same view. Phil's statement, I believe, is true: the Bible speaks clearly against homosexuality. However, Phil's statements didn't come across in a loving manner (at least not in print) and some of his statements were vulgar.

While he could probably get by with that in a one-on-one conversation in the woods, it isn't going to fly in front of millions.

Nor should it.

The reality is that while many are screaming, "Freedom of speech" few are acknowledging this reality--Scripture does not give us freedom of speech as is traditionally understood in America.

Paul outlines several biblical injunctions for us on this premise:

1) "And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, ¹³ until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, ¹⁴ so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. ¹⁵ Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, ¹⁶ from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love." (Ephesians 4:11-16)

Three things to notice briefly: First, this is a Gospel-centered command. We are to speak the truth in love and the truth is nothing short of the Gospel. Second, we are to speak the truth. This prevents us from falling into doctrinal error (v. 14). Third, we are to speak the truth in "love." I have a suspicion that Paul is building us toward a cross-centered way of speaking by defining love as what Christ did for us at the cross (Eph. 5:1-2). Thus our language should demonstrate the love of Christ at the cross.

2)  ^"Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. ²⁶ Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, ²⁷ and give no opportunity to the devil. ²⁸ Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. ²⁹ Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear." (Ephesians 4:25-29)

Notice again the close parallel between truth and grace. We are called to avoid corrupting speech and are called to use speech that builds up and gives grace to the hearers. Again, the language here is rich is in "cross-centered" speech.

3) "Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving." (Ephesians 5:3)
In a matter of just a few verses Paul has encouraged us to be careful with our speech. We should make sure our language is neither crass or inappropriate. Rather, we should speak in such a way that it is filled with thanksgiving and glorifies God as a result.

So as a Christian, what can we summarize about how we should speak?

Simply put, we are called to speak in such a way that makes beautiful the reality of sin, the glory of the Gospel and the scandal of grace. Anything less is a failure to speak rightly.

Therein lies the dilemma of Phil's statements. They do not make beautiful the Gospel. They crush the hearer. They offend, not so much because of their truth, but because of the ugliness of the language. They have dropped like a bomb in America, not because of the scandal of grace and the reality of sin, but because the package that message was delivered in was very, very ugly. It was delivered by a man that many people looked up to. It was careless. It has caused a crisis. It could have been different.

I fail in this too. Chances are you do too. But let us never forget our calling as Christians is to be cautious with how we speak. It should be cross-like. The world will state hate us for that. But let the world hate us for the same reasons it hated Christ...not because of the package we deliver the glorious message in.

Finally...an O.T. Survey book that WON'T put you to sleep

Two facts:

1) I like charts because I am visual and also slightly ADD. I need them to process what you are saying.

2) What the Old Testament Authors Really Cared About: A Survey of Jesus’ Bible has a bunch of charts and visuals.

Therefore, What the Old Testament Authors Really Cared About edited by Jason S. DeRouchie made me very happy. It satisfied my longings for an Old Testament survey book that didn’t put me to sleep. Let me hit the high points for you…

• The book places each book in its redemptive-historical context, allowing you to easily see how this book fits into the grand narrative God was/is working out within the world.

•  It doesn’t devote a bunch of time to less interesting topics such as dating the books and authorship issues. It is included but it is not extensively looked at. Normally a page is devoted to such topics.

• The book is focused on the theology of each book of the Old Testament. The term “a survey of Jesus’ Bible” is appropriate to some extent but to be honest, it reads more like an book by book O.T. Theology (which I like).

• There is a focus on Christ as the fulfillment of the Old Testament and it keeps God’s glory central which is a big win.

• A lot of charts and pictures to keep you happy and interested.

• This book has a broad range of appeal: the student, the interested layperson, and the pastor. For me personally, I have already integrated a fair amount of this book into my lecture material for my students.

In my opinion, this is absolutely the best Old Testament survey book available. I loved it. I actually sat down and wanted to read through it. Any book “textbook” that can do that is a winner. Pick it up!

*Thanks to Kregel Academic for the free review copy in exchange for a fair, unbiased review*