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New Books You Should Know About

 By Matthew Barrett–

Barber, Dan C., and Robert A. Peterson. Life Everlasting: The Unfolding Story of Heaven. Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R, 2012.

It is not too often that you see a book written on heaven. Here is what the book is all about:

Life Everlasting is about Heaven – our final salvation – but in looking forward to our participation in the new heavens and new earth, however, we often seek information in the wrong places . . . so what does the Bible reveal?

This book seeks, on the basis of Scripture, to inform believers about heaven (the new heavens and the new earth), to form them further into the image of Christ, and to assure them of their place in heaven. it establishes a biblical-thoelogical framework through which we can better understand heaven — and shows how it produces changes in our everyday lives, not simply when we face death or experience suffering.

And here are a few commendations worth considering:

“What a delight to read. . . . This book carefully unfolds the biblical teaching on heaven in all of its depth, breadth, and wonder.” Stephen J. Wellum,

“What makes this book so appealing and powerful is that it is grounded in a biblical view of heaven and the afterlife, rather than the personal speculations of those who claim to have gone there.” —Sam Storms, Senior Pastor, Bridgeway Church, Oklahoma City

 

Hill, Andrew E. Haggai, Zechariah and Malachi. Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2012.

Here is the most recent addition to the Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries series by IVP. If you are preaching through the prophets then you may want to get your hands on Hill’s commentary. Hill also provides a bibliography to begin the book, which may be helpful if you are looking for other resources as well.

Here is the description:

Despite the return of the Hebrews from the Babylonian exile, selfishness, apathy and despair crippled their community spirit. In response to this distress, God raised up three prophetic voices in Jerusalem. Haggai rallied the people to rebuild the Second Temple. Zechariah was given visions of the return of the glory of the Lord to Zion. Malachi preached repentance, covenant justice and restoration of proper temple worship. Andrew Hill’s excellent commentary on these oracles shows how they remain timely for the Christian church’s worship and mission in the world.

 

Blackburn, W. Ross. The God who Makes himself Known: The Missionary heart of the book of Exodus. New Studies in Biblical Theology. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2012.

D. A. Carson continues to produce authors for his series, New Studies in Biblical Theology. In this latest volume, W. Ross Blackburn takes an angle that will likely generate much interest, namely, the missionary emphasis in the book of Exodus. Here is the description:

The Lord’s commitment to make himself known throughout the nations is the overarching missionary theme of the Bible and the central theological concern of Exodus.

Countering scholarly tendencies to fragment the text over theological difficulties, Ross Blackburn contends that Exodus should be read as a unified whole, and that an appreciation of its missionary theme in its canonical context is of great help in dealing with the difficulties that the book poses. For example, how is Exodus 6:3 best understood? Is there a tension between law and gospel, or mercy and judgment? How should we understand the painstaking detail of the tabernacle chapters?

From a careful examination of Exodus, Blackburn demonstrates that

(1) the Lord humbled Pharaoh so the world would know that only God can save

(2) the Lord gave Israel the law so that its people might display his goodness to the nations, living in a state of order and blessing

(3)  the Lord dealt with Israel’s idolatry severely, yet mercifully, for his goodness cannot be known if his glory is compromised

In the end, Exodus not only sheds important light on the church’s mission, but also reveals what kind of God the Lord is, one who pursues his glory and our good, ultimately realizing both as he makes himself known in Christ Jesus.

Kolb, Robert. Luther and the Stories of God: Biblical Narratives as a Foundation for Christian Living. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2012.

Now here is a fascinating and intriguing study of Luther’s ministry to the every-day person, with a particular focus on Luther as story-teller.

Martin Luther read and preached the biblical text as the record of God addressing real, flesh-and-blood people and their daily lives. He used stories to drive home his vision of the Christian life, a life that includes struggling against temptation, enduring suffering, praising God in worship and prayer, and serving one’s neighbor in response to God’s callings and commands. Leading Lutheran scholar Robert Kolb highlights Luther’s use of storytelling in his preaching and teaching to show how Scripture undergirded Luther’s approach to spiritual formation. With both depth and clarity, Kolb explores how Luther retold and expanded on biblical narratives in order to cultivate the daily life of faith in Christ.

Here are a few commendations:

“We think of Martin Luther as a great reformer, preacher, theologian, and writer of oceanic breadth and depth. But he was also a compelling master of the spiritual life. In this engaging study, Robert Kolb shows how Luther’s spirituality is rooted in the metanarrative of God’s words and deeds conveyed through the sacred Scriptures. A major contribution both to Luther studies and to spiritual theology.”
Timothy George, Beeson Divinity School; general editor, Reformation Commentary on Scripture

“Martin Luther was a great church leader and storyteller. Robert Kolb is a great Luther scholar and churchman. Here we have the dream combination, as Kolb offers an interpretation of Luther’s theology which brings the Reformer’s thought into dialogue with contemporary theology and church life. A must read for all who, like me, have learned so much from both men over the years.”
Carl R. Trueman, Westminster Theological Seminary

“Robert Kolb has once again written a superb study of Martin Luther that opens new avenues for understanding of the thought of the Reformer. The book is sensitive to current analyses of narrative theology and profoundly immersed in the thought-world of Luther, adding significant insight to the discussion of themes in Luther’s theology such as Law and Gospel and the two kinds of righteousness.”
Richard A. Muller, Calvin Theological Seminary

Block, Daniel I. Deuteronomy. The NIV Application Commentary. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2012.

I appreciate how this series by Zondervan seeks not only to have its authors comment on the biblical text and historical context, but also apply the biblical text to contemporary Christian living. Block adds to the series a large commentary on Deuteronomy.

Arranged as a series of sermons, the book of Deuteronomy represents the final major segment of the biography of Moses. The sermons review events described in earlier books and challenges Israel to faithful living in the future.

The theological significance of Deuteronomy cannot be overestimated. Few books in the Bible proclaim such a relevant word of grace and gospel to the church today. At its heart, Deuteronomy records the covenantal relationship between God and his people. God graciously has chosen Israel as his covenant partner and has demonstrated his covenantal commitment to them. Moses challenges the Israelites to respond by declaring that Yahweh alone is their God and by demonstrating unwavering loyalty and total love for him through obedience.

Daniel Block highlights the unity between the God depicted in Deuteronomy and Jesus Christ. Christians who understand the covenantal character of God and who live under the grace of Christ will resist the temptation to retreat into interior and subjective understandings of the life of faith so common in Western Christianity.

Matthew Barrett (Ph.D., The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) is Assistant Professor of Christian Studies at California Baptist University (OPS). He is also the founder and executive editor of Credo Magazine. Barrett has contributed book reviews and articles to various academic journals, and he is the editor of Whomever He Wills: A Surprising Display of Sovereign Mercy, as well as the author of several other forthcoming books. He is married to Elizabeth and they have two daughters, Cassandra and Georgia.

Read blog posts by Matthew Barrett here.

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