Book Notes: Adam, the Trinity, and Grace
By Matthew Barrett–
J. P. Versteeg. Adam in the New Testament: Mere Teaching Model or First Historical Man? Translated by Richard B. Gaffin Jr. Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R, 2012.
It is always fascinating to me how debates tend to recycle themselves from one generation to another. While the debate over the historical Adam is on the front burner of evangelical discussions today, the issue was also very real in the middle of the twentieth century outside of America, as evident in J. P. Versteeg’s book, Adam in the New Testament. Versteeg lived from 1938 to 1987 and was New Testament professor at the Theological University of the Christelijke Gereformeerde Kerken in Nederland (in Apeldoorn) and a minister in that church as well. Richard Gaffin from Westminster Seminary has done us the favor of translating Versteeg’s work into English. The book is short but Versteeg exegetes the major texts (e.g., Romans 5) and makes the case for the historical Adam, as well as explains what is at stake should this belief be rejected. Here is what others had to say about the book:
“Many thanks for reissuing this helpful work. Among its many virtues let me mention two. First, Versteeg stresses clearly that Paul’s arguments in Romans and 1 Corinthians depend on historical sequence: Adam did something, and as a result something happened, and then Jesus came to deal with the consequences of it all. In this process both Adam and Jesus acted as representatives. Second, our view of Adam is bound up with our view of sin: is it an intruder into God’s good world (the traditional position), or is it a necessary part of the creation (which denial of historical Adam entails)? Anyone reading this will appreciate that contemporary discussions of Adam are still treading the same ground.”
– C. John Collins, Professor of Old Testament, Covenant Theological Seminary“Denying the historicity of Adam or his significance for our own original sin is not just an issue of science versus the Old Testament. For the New Testament, as in Romans 5, deals with Adam as well, in an important theological context. For the apostle Paul, our sin begins in Adam, as our redemption begins in Christ. Theologians cannot escape this teaching merely by saying that Adam is a myth or legend; they must also account for his role in Paul’s doctrine of salvation. So a number of theologians, such as H. M. Kuitert, have postulated that Adam is a ’teaching model’ in the New Testament. Versteeg’s remarkably cogent and concise book tells us why this view is impossible. It was a great help to us when it was first published in 1979. But it is even more helpful now. Recently, some have claimed that analysis of the human genome forbids us to believe that the human race began with a single couple. In the face of such arguments, it is important to remind ourselves why the church has maintained that Adam is the first man and the source of human sin. I do hope this book gets a wide readership.”
– John M. Frame, Professor of Systematic Theology and Philosophy, Reformed Theological Seminary, Orlando“What an important book this is for today! Sane, clear and thorough, it offers a stout answer for those questioning the historicity of Adam, and lucidly shows why it remains non-negotiable. All thinking Christians need to read this.”
– Michael Reeves, Head of Theology, University and Colleges Christian Fellowship
David F. Wells. What is the Trinity? (Basics of the Faith Series) Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R, 2012.
In this little book Wells introduces us to the basics of the doctrine of the Trinity. Never miss a chance to read a book by David Wells, especially on such an important doctrine as this. I like how Wells begins this book: “This much is certain. Had the Christian faith merely been a human invention, Christians would never have come up with the doctrine of the Trinity. This doctrine is too thorny to understand and too difficult to explain for anyone to have deliberately fabricated it. There is no other religion that has anything remotely like this. No, this is not the fruit of our imagination but a doctrine of the way things are. God is triune. Knowing him in his triunity is central to Christian faith. Indeed, without this truth, that faith is not Christian at all.”
Phil Ryken. Grace Transforming. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2012.
This little book consists of 9 chapel messages Ryken gave on the grace of God at Wheaton College. Ryken explains why he gave these messages at a place like Wheaton: “Wheaton is a performance-oriented place, so in my first year as president I wanted to speak as often as I could about the grace of God. Instead of being defined by who we are and what we do, we are defined by who Jesus is and what he has done for us in his death and resurrection.” What an excellent, God-centered, gospel-centered approach for a new president! Here are the chapters:
1 Grace’s Humbling Necessity
2 Grace’s Costly Provision
3 Grace’s Justifying Righteousness
4 Grace’s Santifying Power
5 Grace’s Clarifying Perspective
6 Grace’s Perpetual Abundance
7 Grace’s Precious Testimony
8 Grace’s Endless Kindness
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 is the author of Salvation by Grace: The Case for Effectual Calling and Regeneration
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