Books

Review of Reformed Ethics (Vol 1) by Herman Bavinck

August 10, 2019 by wagraham Leave a Comment

Baker Academic has published the first English translation of a nearly forgotten book. For 100 years (since 1921), Herman Bavinck’s 1,100-page manuscript remained at the Bavinck Archives (Vrije Universiteit) until Dirk van Keulen rediscovered it in 2008.

As John Bolt records, “Readers of this volume are, therefore, among the privileged first group to gain access to Bavinck’s systematic reflection on theological ethics since his own students who heard the lectures in the last two decades of the nineteenth century” (ix).

As the historical level, reading Reformed Ethics represents something of a privilege to read. In terms of editing, John Bolt has done an excellent job formatting and providing explanatory footnotes throughout the work. And lastly, when it comes to the argument, Bavinck’s Reformed Ethics ably sketches out a consistent Reformed view of, as the subtitle suggests, created, fallen, and converted humanity. [Read more…] about Review of Reformed Ethics (Vol 1) by Herman Bavinck

Review of Five Proofs of the Existence of God by Edward Feser

July 31, 2019 by wagraham Leave a Comment

Edward Feser does not waste words. Here is a 330-page book dedicated to arguing line-by-line for the existence of God. At the level of clear logic and argumentation, Feser successfully conveys with persuasiveness five arguments for God; he also answers an ocean of objections. What makes this latter point so powerful is that Feser cites and refers to a wide range of scholarship that argues against him. In short, he is not afraid to engage with the best of those with whom he disagrees.

Feser’s success here also reveals a potential weakness. While Five Proofs can be read by an average reader, it will likely tax almost anyone who reads it. He does not hold the reader’s hands. He does not ease into arguments through stories or long illustrations. He argues. He illustrates. He rebuffs. As noted, he does not waste words.

As a reviewer, I am thus somewhat restrained when it comes “to whom” I would recommend this book. It is excellent. But some may find it difficult to read. I should note: I do not mean difficult because one cannot understand or follow Feser’s arguments. Far from it. I mean difficult in that Feser expects a lot from readers, and he gives a lot too.

Review of Commentary on Thomas Aquinas’s Virtue Ethics by J. Budziszewski

June 27, 2019 by wagraham Leave a Comment

Thomas Aquinas was a brilliant biblical exegete whose theological writings work outward from the Sacred Text. In Thomas’ Summa Theologiae, we find a comprehensive summation of biblical theology. Unfortunately, Thomas’ biblical commentaries have gathered dust while his Summa has become a primary textbook. This oversight not only prevents one from appreciating Thomas, but it also would shock the Angelic Doctor since his primary textbook was the Bible. [Read more…] about Review of Commentary on Thomas Aquinas’s Virtue Ethics by J. Budziszewski

Can Christians Believe in the Eternal Submission of the Son? (a Review of Trinity Without Hierarchy Edited by Michael Bird and Scott Harrower)

June 1, 2019 by wagraham 1 Comment

For centuries, Christians have confessed that God exists as a tri-unity distinguished by the personal names of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each name of a person in God expressed some implied relationship: so the Father begets the Son and the Son is begotten.

These relational properties (often called relations of origin) maintained the unity of the simple God, while distinguishing persons in God according to their biblical names: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

But recently, some evangelicals have attempted to reconceive of the Trinity by introducing notions of authority and submission into the inner-life of God. The basic idea goes like this: Jesus obeyed the Father during his earthly life. And this obedience implies an eternal relationship in which the Son of God always obeyed the Father. So authority and submission explain how persons in God relate to one another.

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Rediscovering the Gospel at the Lord’s Table (A Review of Remembrance, Communion, and Hope) by J. Todd Billings

May 17, 2019 by wagraham Leave a Comment

J. Todd Billings wagers that a renewed approach to the Lord’s Supper will deepen our experience of the Gospel. The reason why, he explains, is that “the Supper is God’s own instrument for conforming believers to the image of Christ” (2018: 1).

Yet he does not offer an unprecedented argument since he repeats and synthesizes the Reformed consensus on the Lord’s Supper. At the same time, he aims to be “catholic” in the sense of offering this theology to all Christian traditions, Reformed or not.

And this becomes obvious when we consider that, for example, even C. H. Spurgeon held to a spiritual presence view of the Supper: “We firmly believe in the real presence of Christ which is spiritual, and yet certain” (“Mysteries Visits,” 1894: 17; in Billings 2018: 3).

So the argument that Billings advances had, has, and still can find a home in various denominations of Christianity.

[Read more…]