Book Review: Charts on the Life, Letters, and Theology of Paul

Charts on the Life, Letters, and Theology of Paul (Kregel Charts of the Bible). By Lars Kierspel. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Kregel Publications. pp. 288. 2012. (List Price $26.99 Paperback)

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3 out of 5 stars

Information is powerful, you just have to know how to use it. Lars Kierspel has a trove of information on Paul in this installment of the Kregel Charts of the Bible series. It’s up to readers to make use of it. Charts on the Life, Letters, and Theology of Paul is unlike most books because it is made up primarily of tables of organized data. To the analytical ones among us, this is a book that’s been longed for. For everyone else, it’s a novel idea that is worth looking into.

Whereas biblical commentaries are very helpful in providing background information on a book, passage, verse, or individual word, they can be quite verbose and limit the ability of the reader to come to his own conclusions. This book offers charts with information that help readers understand the life of Paul and the cultural and historical background of his time, as well as his letters and teachings, but does so in a way that allows the reader to do his own research.

Charts 45-49 all deal with Paul’s quotations of and allusions to the Old Testament, giving the passages in both the New Testament order and the Old Testament order. These charts could be used in a number of different ways, such as considering Paul’s use of the Old Testament in Ephesians, or Paul’s use of the Psalms in his letters. His charts on the parallels or similarities between some of Paul’s letters, such as between Ephesians and Colossians (62), 1 and 2 Thessalonians (67), or Colossians and Philemon (75), would all make for some interesting studies. In addition to these, some of my favorite charts included:

• Parallels and Differences between Acts and Paul’s Letters (11-12)
• Parallels between Jesus in Luke and Paul in Acts (13)
• Paul’s Missionary Journeys (18)
• Speeches of Paul in Acts (24)
• Paul’s Prayers (27)
• Key Texts and Their Interpretations (77) | A listing of key passages in Paul’s letters and a brief summary of the various ways those passages are understood.
• The “Already”and the “Not Yet” (91) | A comparison of verses where Paul considers something as being part of the present experience of believers and then considers it as something which we will experience after Christ’s appearing.
• Paul and Jesus (108) | A comparison of verses where Paul either says something very similar to what Jesus said in the Gospels, where he quotes or alludes to something Jesus said or did that is not mentioned in the Gospels, or where he speaks on the same subject as Jesus.

One of the charts lists the various groupings of Paul’s letters, such as the prison letters, the pastorals, etc. He includes in this list “pseudepigraphical,” which means “written by others in the name of Paul.” After reading the comments on this section, I believe Kierspel is solidly orthodox and accepts the letters of the Paul as authentic, but included references to liberal scholars and their teachings so as to inform his readers of the various positions and teachings that are out there.

The main drawback I found had nothing to do with the style of the book, but rather it’s typos and formatting errors at the beginning of the book. I didn’t find as many later on, but I’m not sure if that’s because I stopped looking as hard or if the errors were all up front. I’ve included a few photos below to illustrate what I mean. Although a book of charts may not immediately appeal to non-analytical people, it is definitely worth perusing.

I received this book for the purposes of writing a review. The opinions expressed are my own.

The Case for the Unity of Luke-Acts (Review: A Theology of Luke and Acts)

A Theology of Luke and Acts: God's Promised Program, Realized for All Nations. By Darrel L. Bock. Biblical Theology of the New Testament Series. Ed. Andreas J. Köstenberger. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan. pp. 496. 2012. ($39.99 Print)

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Zondervan is bringing out a new eight-volume series on biblical theology, which looks at a given book or books from the New Testament in light of the theology it contains in light of the whole New Testament. It’s somewhat thematic in its approach and aims to identify the unique contributions of each biblical writing to the canon of Scripture and the doctrines we hold to.

Since reading through and reviewing a work of this size is better suited to a multi-page report, I’m going to touch on one chapter, share my thoughts on it, and give my general impression of this work. The full table of contents and a few pages from chapter two are available online for viewing.

Chapter 3, The Case for the Unity of Luke-Acts and Reading the Volumes as Luke-Acts and as Luke and Acts

In chapter three Bock makes an argument for viewing Luke and Acts as a unified literary and theological message. Much debate has arisen in recent years over Luke’s original intention regarding the two books. Did he intend to write a two-volume work from the outset, or did Acts come about later? Ultimately, what was going on in the mind of Luke is something we will never know, but Bock suggests there are enough links between the two books to show Luke was planning Acts from the beginning.

I was fairly convinced already of Bock’s position prior to reading the chapter, and I find the arguments regarding the parallel structures of Luke and Acts. Bock points out such things as the prominence of Rome at the beginning of Luke and the end of Acts, parallels between the miracles of Jesus and those of Peter and Paul, and the development of theme surrounding the inclusion of the Gentiles in the believing community as evidences for their unity.

Yet even if one does not agree, Bock makes a strong case for reading Luke and Acts as unified and also as distinct. Structurally, thematically, and theologically, there is a lot of overlap. Thus it is not inappropriate to swing back and forth from Luke to Acts while discussing topics such as Israel, Gentiles, women, or persecution. Each supports and builds upon the other. Yet the longstanding history of separating the books in the arrangement of the New Testament reminds us that there are two volumes for a reason. The first describes the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord. The second describes the birth and growth of the New Covenant community by means of the proclamation about Jesus. There is value in both approaches, so neither one should be abandoned.

Why not a commentary?

Since there are many commentaries available on both Luke and Acts, what is the value of this book on the theology of Luke and Acts? For one, this book treats the two books together in order to trace out the themes common to both, thus bringing special emphasis to topics such as the inclusion of the Gentiles in God’s covenant community (which Bock obviously sees as one of the most important themes). Secondly, this book gives us a better look at the place of Luke and Acts in the canon of Scripture and their unique contribution to our theology.

I am encouraged by what I’ve read thus far, and I believe works like this will help us to more faithfully grasp and apply the truths of Scripture. Anything that gives us a better understanding of the purpose and message of a book of the Bible will make us better at understanding and applying the Bible’s message as a whole to our lives rather than emphasizing only what strikes a chord with our own emphases instead.

I received a copy of this book from Zondervan for the purpose of review.

Book Review: From the Resurrection to His Return

From The Resurrection to His Return: Living Faithfully in the Last Days. By Don Carson. Ross-shire, Scotland: Christian Focus, 2010. ($4.99 Print, $3.99 Kindle—Amazon)

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««««« (five out of five)

This little book is a superb example of powerful and biblical exposition of Scripture, specifically 1 Timothy 3:1-4:8. The book is based on his sermon notes from a message titled “How Should We Live Responsibly in the Last Days?” and a PDF version is available on The Gospel Coalition website as well.

This is not a how-to guide to go along with the Left Behind series. This is practical and godly instruction for living in the last days, which extends from the first century until Christ consummates His reign on the earth.

I found this book to be helpful and encouraging to me on many levels. Let me indicate just two:

•       Preaching. Though not a pastor myself, I get the opportunity to preach fairly regularly and my main goal is to be faithful to the author’s meaning. It is easy to sermonize, taking my own preconceived ideas and then finding passages of Scripture that I can use to back them up. Carson presents a helpful example of solid text-based preaching, first identifying what the passage says and then drawing out the implications for modern-day readers.
  
  
•       Practicality. As Carson points out from the beginning, we are living in the last days. That means a message on how we are to live in the last days is immediately practical. I didn’t read the book feeling like I knew what was going on in Paul’s day but wondering what that means for me in my day. The book is not an academic exercise, but a real aid to the Church. Carson hasn’t forgotten what it’s like to shepherd the people of God.

The book description reads in part,

“To live in the last days is not to hang on in quiet desperation but to boldly take the word of God and apply it to every situation knowing that it will meet every need just as it has throughout the two millennia since Jesus promised to return again. That is how to live in the last days!”

Amen to that! This is a great resource for those who take the Bible seriously.

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I received a Kindle version of this book from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Work Matters

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Work Matters: Connecting Sunday Worship with Monday Work by Tom Nelson is a welcome addition to my digital bookshelf. I have a pretty good job, but sometimes, either due to deadlines, interpersonal relationships, or other factors, Monday mornings can weigh heavy on me after a weekend doing some of my favorite things.

Nelson, a pastor, believes it’s time for us to develop a good theology of work, reminding readers that it should be an act of worship, not a four-letter word we mutter under our breath when the alarm clock sounds on Monday morning.

I once teased my wife when she was asking me about my plans for after the weekend and said, “Don’t talk about Monday as if it’s already a foregone conclusion.” The truth is, work already is a foregone conclusion, for her as a stay-at-home mom, and for me as an employee of a very large accounting organization.

In chapter one, Nelson takes us all the way back to Genesis to point out that God created Adam to work in a garden. Work is part of God’s purpose for our lives, one that is wholesome and good. When we work, we have to opportunity to worship God with our heart, soul, mind, and strength—our whole being.

Lest we assume the author must have a cushy job and no conception of how draining and frustrating our jobs can be, his second chapter deals with Genesis 3, the fall. Sin introduced a curse for us, bringing frustration and futility to our work. Yet the writer of Ecclesiastes, in all his talk on futility, says work should be something we delight in (Ecc. 3:12-13).

Though our work may be subjected to futility now, it was not always so and will not always be so. Just as Christ has redeemed us and is coming again, so too He will redeem our work. All creation groans in anticipation of His coming. That happens with our work too. But just the servant with ten talents received greater reward for his faithfulness, so we too our work on earth prepares us for greater—and more meaningful—work in eternity.

This is only the first four chapters. The book goes on to discuss the meaningfulness of our work and attacks the view that being a missionary or pastor is a high calling and other forms of work must somehow be a “low calling.” It discusses the value of our work developing Christ-likeness in us and how “common grace” and promoting the common good should be communicated by our work. Nelson’s concluding chapters address some of the challenges we face in our work, from temptations to sin to periods of unemployment. He rounds it out with a call to the reader to plug in and participate in the church and her work in the world.

Overall, the book was a helpful reminder of the value inherent in my work and the challenge to live by the axiom “The only Christian work is good work well done.” I type this in the minutes before I get ready for work on a Monday morning. I’m going to worship God through my work today. Will you?

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The opinions expressed are my own. I received a digital copy of this work from the publisher via NetGalley.

Book Review: God Gave Us So Much

From Hannah, three out of five stars:

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After reading two other God Gave Us books, I was excited to read the three-book collection called God Gave Us So Much. The stories have the same lovable bear illustrations and simple question-and-answer format, but they have some potential theological problems.

In God Gave Us Heaven, Papa bear explains how we get to heaven. He says, “God knew that our bad choices might keep us from him forever… So he sent his very own Son, Jesus, to be our bridge. All we have to do is walk across it to head toward our forever home.” There is no repentance and a child won't know what it means to “walk across” a bridge.

In God Gave Us Love, the Grandpa bear repeatedly brings up the idea that “God's love brings out the best in us.” He implies that all love shown is God’s love. The Bible teaches that we are all sinful and there is no ‘best’ in us. When God's love enters our lives through salvation, then we can show God's love.

I did thoroughly enjoy God Gave Us the World. We must be extremely careful how we teach children about God, and this collection needs parental explanation.

I received this book free from WaterBrook Multnomah as part of their Blogging for Books book review program. I was not obligated to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are mine.

What are You "Singing" about God?

"As the church’s hymnbook often serves as the theology text for the average layperson, it is instructive how much robust theology we find in the hymnbook of the ancient Israelites."

"Why, then, are the psalms absent in many modern churches? Repetitive praise choruses are substituted for the reading or singing of the psalms. When psalms are used, only short selections are read. Difficult verses and entire psalms are ignored."

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Plummer, Robert L. (2010-04-22). 40 Questions about Interpreting the Bible. Kregel Pubn. Kindle Edition.

Book Review: Dug Down Deep

Editor's note: This book was reviewed by my adorable wife (and mother-to-be), Hannah. Don't forget to rank her review (below).

Dug Down Deep by Joshua Harris covers profound doctrines of the faith in an entertaining, straightforward way. I dreaded picking up this book because theology books are often better for reference than as cover-to-cover reading material. When I finally read it, Harris peaked my interest with real-life story applications and illustrations. A distinct passion for theology comes out on every page.

Harris’s book addresses the popular idea that theology is a dry study and that we only need to know that God loves us. Actually, we need to know God in order to love and serve God. Just as the author studies his daughter to know her likes and dislikes to be closer in relationship to her, we can study God in a vibrant, enthusiastic manner. The question he always seems to imply with each chapter is, “What will we do with the knowledge of God we have?”

I especially enjoyed the chapters on the church and the Holy Spirit as these areas are sometimes overlooked or ignored in evangelical theology. This book reminded me that the church is central to God’s purpose in the world. Too often we view Christianity through our individualistic mindset, but Harris addresses belief head-on in a biblical way.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishers as part of the blogger review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."