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Acts – A Commentary (The New Testament Library)

Nov 22, 2020 | 2017 - Summer, Book Reviews, Free Summer 2017

Acts – A Commentary (The New
Testament Library)

Author Carl A. Holladay
Publisher WJK Books £60
Format hbk
ISBN 9780664262815

This is an extensive commentary, over 600 pages long, but quite readable despite its length. It is, however, one that is intended for the theological student rather than the general Christian reader. It considers that the author of Acts, whom Holladay does not consider to be a former companion of Paul, had access to some historical documents of the early church as well as traditions concerning Paul and others. Holladay treats Acts as a historical novel with the text shaped more by the Septuagint, by literary tradition, and by the author’s evangelistic intent than as a historical record. As a result, one ends up with a history of the early church where it is unclear as to what might actually have happened. This is an academic commentary concentrating on literary style over devotional content.

TIM WHITTLE

New Testament Commentary

 

 

Companion to the Old Testament

Nov 22, 2020 | 2017 - Summer, Book Reviews, Free Summer 2017

Companion to
the Old Testament

Author Ed. Hywel Clifford
Publisher SCM Press £19.99
Format pbk
ISBN 9780334053934

The aim of this admirably concise and focused ‘companion’ is to propose and put into practice ‘a fresh model for approaching the Old Testament… explicitly Christian’, but ‘…not written in a religiously or denominationally partisan manner.’ A chapter is devoted to each of the five divisions of the Old Testament – Pentateuch, History, Poetry & Wisdom, Prophets and the Apocrypha – each sub-divided into Introduction, Interpretation and Application summaries (which defines this ‘fresh model’). These summaries further sub-divide into insightful and accessible perspectives of Early, Reformation and Modern Christian thought and understanding. The Conclusion is one of most comprehensive listings of paper and virtual resources this reviewer has seen, covering thematic and theological subjects with thoughtful commentary on their strengths, weaknesses and denominational bases/biases.
In concert with Drane’s Introducing The Old Testament and the Alexander’s Lion Handbook to the Bible, you will have ‘a cord of three strands…’ (Ecc 4:12) to begin confidently navigating the pools, streams, rivers and seas of the Old Testament. Highly recommended.

ANDREW CARR

Old Testament Analysis

 

Money and Possessions

Nov 22, 2020 | 2017 - Summer, Book Reviews, Free Summer 2017

Money and Possessions

Author Walter Brueggemann
Publisher WJK £27.99
Format pbk
ISBN 9780664262808

In a market-propelled society, dominated by the power of money, preachers may be reluctant to tackle attitudes to money and possessions as too culturally sensitive. In this survey of scripture, Brueggemann invalidates any such reluctance as Biblically unsupported. In this incisive, elegant, and counter-cultural interpretation he argues cogently that the entire Bible has more to say about money and possessions than many other topics. He reveals a consistently urgent narrative message throughout scripture that all money and possessions are a gift from God, meant for the benefit of neighbours, albeit a gift marred by predatory economics that result in economic inequalities, oppression of the poor and vulnerable, and persistent exploitation of the ‘have-nots’ by the ‘haves.’ His exegesis is peppered with brief contemporary parallels to underline this core scriptural theme. A few social justice parallels might raise some readers’ eyebrows but this very readable, not highly technical book would be a very useful resource for Bible study and for preachers willing to tackle the topic.

PETER WRIGHT

Biblical Analysis, Social Policy

 

The gift of leadership: according to the Scriptures

Nov 22, 2020 | 2017 - Summer, Book Reviews, Free Summer 2017

The gift of leadership: according to
the Scriptures

Author Steven Croft
Publisher Canterbury Press £9.99
Format pbk
ISBN 9781848258655

True leadership is a difficult gift to define and systematise; and it is a relief that this slight book (92pp) despite its title, is not yet another volume that attempts to do so. Nevertheless, here are some valuable pages that will encourage, restore, and feed well those who find themselves both knowingly and surprised to be in such roles.

Rich in real-life experience and embedded well in scriptural example, Croft takes various characteristics of leadership (e.g. hope, pain, chaos, change, covenant etc.) and insightfully reflects on them in ways that will invoke further self-reflection.

Not a textbook then, but self-described as a ‘companion’ for the journey of leadership; a book to dip into and be deeply refreshed by when facing the challenges and joys of leadership – not only for those who exercise leadership in church situations, but enriching for all Christians who exercise such roles in their everyday living.

MARK PULLINGER

Leadership

 

Parable and Paradox

Nov 22, 2020 | 2017 - Spring, Book Reviews, Free Spring 2017

Parable and Paradox

Author Malcolm Guite
Publisher Canterbury Press £10.99
Format pbk
ISBN 9781848258594

Malcolm Guite, chaplain, poet and theologian, has produced an absorbing and rewarding series of poems, characterised by simple but beautifully precise vocabulary. He is a careful and adept wordsmith and, while using biblical language, is not afraid to make it more effective by adding modern idiom where appropriate. All the poems are competent and well-wrought and many have memorable lines and cadences. Like the poems of Rowan Williams (whose influence may perhaps be detected), Guite’s work evokes emotion and careful reflection. For example in the highly topical sonnet, Christ Among the Refugees, we join ‘that fearful road of weariness and want/Through unforgiving heat and hate…’ knowing at the end that Christ has ‘pitched his tent’ among us – an allusion to John 1.14. At the heart of the book are fifty sonnets based on the words of Jesus and, in particular, his most challenging sayings: the ones that make us all uncomfortable. In this respect some of the poems are as effective as a hard-hitting sermon. This is an excellent book and is highly recommended for Christian teaching. It could be used by ministers and Christian leaders to supplement private prayer and devotion, for quotations in sermons, or for small group teaching and discussion.

PETER CLOUGH

Poetry

 

Instruments of Christ’s Love

Nov 22, 2020 | 2017 - Spring, Book Reviews, Free Spring 2017

Instruments of
Christ’s Love

Authors Phillip Tovey, Sally Buck and Graham Dodds
Publisher SCM £14.99
Format pbk
ISBN 9780334054351

Three people, one of them a Reader herself, all engaged with Readers and training Readers in some way write a book about ‘The Ministry of Readers’. Significant bits of it are descriptive – what some Readers do and what Readers say about their ministry in their own words. In Chapter 2, Phillip Tovey asks the perennially fascinating question ‘What is a Reader?’ and gives us a useful overview of the answers, set in the context of reflection on lay ministry in general. He also shows, in ‘Readers in History’, that Reader-like persons were very active and effective in the American colonies, pre-dating the revival of Reader ministry in 1866 by 150 years. (I was surprised, though, that there was no mention of the Elizabethan experiment.) A view ahead is opened up by Graham Dodds in ‘Readers as pioneers?’ There is no doubting the commitment of the authors to Reader ministry and their appreciation of its importance and potential. This book may be useful for those exploring Reader ministry or in training, wanting a reasonably concise overview of all things Reader.

GERTRUD SOLLARS

Reader Ministry

 

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