1. Jan 02 – Reading the bible as literature
Leland Ryken
4.9oo5
2. Jan 02 – A faith to proclaim
James S. Stewart
4oo5
Ecumenical
3. Jan 06 – Desiring the Kingdom: Worship , Worldview and Cultural Formation.
James K. A. Smith.
Interesting seeking an education that is formational, that is towards a christian life. But Smith’s thesis is questionable. Worship precedes what we learn. In his words; “What Christians think and believe grows out of what Christians do.” 216
2.8oo5
4. Jan 11 – The Son who learned obedience
D. Glenn Butner Jnr.
Excellent. Polemical but educational. Academic but accessible.
5oo5
5. Feb 02 – All the fullness of God: The Christ of Colossians
Bonnie Bowman Thurston
I would call this a brief introductory commentary on Colossians. Written in a conversationalist tone, accessible and brief.
Thurston is ecumenical and Roman Catholic in here understanding of baptism.
The book is not for the series student but anyone willing to engage a basic outline of Colossians.
3oo5
6. Feb 09 – One God, One Lord: Early Christian devotion and Ancient Jewish Monotheism
Larry W. Hurtado
Schorlarly. At times polemical.
Jesus came to be worshiped as a mutation of Judaism strongly influenced by divine revelation such as visions and visitations which led to the veneration of God in Jesus.
Reserving my rating.
7. 24 Feb – living in Union with Christ
8. 28 Feb – A Mouth full of Fire.
The word of God in the words of Jeremiah. NSBT 29
Andrew G. Shead.
NSBT 29
The beginning chapter 2 41 pages are grueling in technical observations to Jeremiah’s structure. It can be skipped. However, the following chapters are excellent. The word of God is a message spoken. The words of which that word is made up are them spoken by the prophet 147.
9. 05 April – Exalted above the heavens: The Risen and Ascended Christ
NSBT – Volume 47.
Peter Orr
4.3oo5.
10. 08 April – On the road with Saint Augustine
James K. A. Smith
4oo5
11. 08 April – All things hold together in Christ
Ed. James K. A. Smith and Michael L. Gulker.
Reserving my rating.
12. 14 April – The Quest for Cosmic Justice
Thomas Sowell.
13a. 04 May – Colossians and Philemon (booklet).
Derek Tidball
4oo5
13b. 10 May – Captivated by Christ
Richard Chin
An introductory and devotional reading of Colossians.
3oo5
14. 10 May – The Mystery of God: Theology for knowing the unknowable
Steven D. Boyer
Christopher A. Hall
The construction of straw men especially on the Arminian Calvinism debate to offer a via media.
The troublesome ending propping learning from heresy or heterodoxy.
2.8oo5
15. 14 May – Known by God: A biblical theology of Personal Identity.
Brian S. Rosner.
Introductory and pastoral work on the identity of the believer.
3.1oo5
16. 19 May – The True bounds of Christian Freedom
Samuel Bolton
Excellent – the law.
The covenant
4.8oo5.
17. 28 May – The Stranger
Albert Camus.
18. 31 May – Against The Darkness: The doctrine of Angels, Satan and Demons.
Graham A. Cole
4oo5
19. 29 June – Living in God’s two Kingdoms: A biblical vision for Christianity and culture
David VanDrunen
VanDrunen conflates the Cultural mandate with the Adamic Covenant of Works. He then endorses the Noahic Covenant as a republication of the cultural Mandate. Therefore, calling the Noahic Covenant a general covenant given to all men. Hence, all humanity participate in the kingdom of this world. While the redeemed participate in both the kingdom of this world and the kingdom of God.
A finer nuanced view from Augustine’s two cities and the reformers understanding of current two Kingdom theology.
3oo5
20. True Worship: What is the nature of true christian worship?
Vaughan Roberts
His Church of England views sometimes jar the flow of the book. Such as the special miraculous gifts current fo today. Or his view of Lord’s Supper being a meal that can be lead outside the church gathering.
3.1oo5
21. Why Social Justice is not Biblical Justice
Scott David Allen
An excellent primer on how CRT/I is affecting our culture.
3.7oo5
22. The inner Sanctum of Puritan Piety
John Flavel’s Doctrine of Mythical Union with christ.
4oo5
23. 05 October – The rise and triumph of the modern self.
Carl Trueman.
4oo5
24. 13 Oct – Simply Trinity
Matthew Barrett
4.7oo5
25. 10 November – Making all things new
Benjamin L. Gladd
Matthew S. Harmon
Summary of Beale’s work
3.8oo5