Barrett’s Book Notes

While it may be true that “of the making of books there is no end” (Ecclesiastes 12:12), at Credo we are thankful for the publishing of many good books. Without the tireless efforts of authors who research and write and publishers who bring those words to life, the church would be missing out on a vital ministry opportunity. Below you will find a few new titles with endorsements by Dr. Matthew Barrett, executive editor of Credo Magazine.

Amidst Us Our Beloved Stands: Recovering Sacrament in the Baptist Tradition (Lexham, 2022) by Michael A. G. Haykin

The Protestant, sacramental understanding of baptism and the Lord’s Supper is absent from countless Baptist churches today. Baptism is entirely focused on the individual’s experience and the Lord’s Supper—when celebrated at all—has become nothing more than a memorial, one that strangely prides itself on Christ’s absence. Sadly, the true meaning of the sacraments has been lost. Praise God for Michael Haykin, whose new book opens our eyes to the myriad of ways our Baptist forefathers established and cultivated the sacraments, convinced as they were that these sacraments were a means of grace. May this book return the church to its sacramental roots, sacraments that God has given to his church for her nourishment, sacraments indispensable to communion with the risen Christ.

Natural Theology (Reformation Heritage, 2022) by Geerhardus Vos. Translated by Albert Gootjes and introduced by J. V. Fesko.

We have the unfortunate curse of living in a day that is all too quick to criticize or abandon natural theology. Thankfully, we also live in a day when we have the fortunate blessing of retrieving works of natural theology by biblical theologians like Geerhardus Vos. With the full support of scripture, Vos showcases the significance of God’s general revelation in nature for understanding God’s existence, his divine attributes, and wise providence. This book has a secret weapon: J. V. Fesko’s priceless Introduction, which demonstrates the Reformed traditions continuity with the church fathers and medieval scholastics in its affirmation and use of natural theology. Recovering natural theology today will not be easy, but it will not be a lonely endeavor either, for we stand on the shoulders of a well-established Christian tradition, one that includes the sacred scriptures. From Augustine to Aquinas to Calvin to Turretin, Vos is but another voice bearing witness to God’s existence through the natural order and human reason, yet always in a way that is confirmed by special revelation. Praise God for biblical theologians like Vos who defended natural theology!

Covenantal and Dispensational Theologies: Four Views on the Continuity of Scripture (IVP, 2022) edited by Brent Parker and Richard Lucas

What could be more critical to both biblical and systematic theology than the concept of covenant? And yet, few concepts have proved so controversial in the last century. Divided by rivalry camps, many evangelicals remain confused by a whirlwind of debates over continuity and discontinuity between the testaments. But at last, this book is a beam of clarity. Not only must each theologian put forward his position, but the reader is pressed to decide which position best represents scripture’s relentless witness to God’s unfolding plan of salvation. Best of all, this book summons every Christian to wrestle with real consequences today, pressing us all to ask whether our view can substantiate our future hope in a God who keeps his covenant promises. Whether we get the kingdom of God right for the next generation may just depend on debates like this one.