Book discounts
May 26, 2012
CBD has some great deals on books which should be of interest:
Thinking about Christ with Schleiermacher
By: Catherine L. Kelsey
Westminster John Knox Press / 2003
$5.99
Prayer
By: Karl Barth
Westminster John Knox Press / 2002
$4.99
Fifty Prayers
By: Karl Barth
Westminster John Knox Press / 2008
$4.99
The Early Preaching of Karl Barth: Fourteen Sermons with Commentary
By: Karl Barth, William H. Willimon
Westminster John Knox Press / 2009
$3.99
Reformed Confessions of the Sixteenth Century
Edited By: Arthur C. Cochrane
Westminster John Knox Press / 2003
$4.99
Calvin’s First Catechism: A Commentary
By: I. John Hesselink
Westminster John Knox Press / 1997
$4.99
Covenant and Salvation: Union with Christ
By: Michael Horton
Westminster John Knox Press / 2007
$7.99
Infant Baptism in Reformation Geneva
By: Karen E. Spierling
Westminster John Knox Press / 2009
$4.99
Those are some of the more recently discounted books. They still have Eberhard Busch’s Karl Barth & the Pietists on sale, along with Joseph Mangina’s brilliant survey of Barth. Also, Lesslie Newbigin’s Signs amid the Rubble is still only $2.99.
James K.A. Smith reviews The Evolution of Adam
April 26, 2012
James K.A. Smith (Calvin College professor and blogger) has written an excellent review of Peter Enns’ latest book. This review is one of the all too few instances where light is shed on the exegesis involved in the historical Adam debate. There is no attempt to resolve the issue at hand, but Smith asks the right questions about Enns’ method, with its curious lack of theological grounding. I haven’t read The Evolution of Adam yet, but the problems which Smith detects can be found in Enns’ articles at the Biologos webpage. This goes to show that even those of us who are sympathetic to Enns can and should work toward better formulations of a complicated issue, the complexities of which go back at least to Augustine on original sin. As Smith rightly notes, there is a lot of hard theological work still to do.
Also, C. John Collins has his review up at TGC. Collins is an Old Earth guy who, along with John C. Lennox, is among the better defenders of Adam’s historicity.
My year end favorites
December 29, 2011
I’m finally joining the rest of the blogging world and doing a year end list of favorite books, films, and such. Thus, [tongue in cheek] others can benefit from my impeccable tastes and standards!
Books:
The Assurance of Faith: Conscience in the Theology of Martin Luther and John Calvin by Randall Zachman (Fortress, 1993). A gracefully written and fascinating historical monograph. Can assurance truly have an objective ground? His conclusions are basically in line with Barth.
The Theology of Schleiermacher by Karl Barth (Eerdmans, 1982).
The Theology of the Reformed Confessions by Karl Barth (WJK, 2002). These lectures, and those on Schleiermacher, were delivered in Göttingen during his first major academic post, following his pastorate at Safenwil. These early lectures are immensely interesting for anyone with even a remote interest in Barth. They have shed a lot of light on my reading of the CD.
Reformed Theology by R. Michael Allen (T&T Clark, 2010). For those who want a higher level introduction to Reformed theology, respecting both the classical and modern strands, Allen will be my first recommendation. A much-needed book.
The City of God by Augustine (Modern Library, 1993). At times, I really wished that Augustine would just condense the material and move on. The choice morsels are spread throughout.
Seven Days that Divide the World by John C. Lennox (Zondervan, 2011). Lennox is Professor of Mathematics at Oxford and Fellow in Mathematics and the Philosophy of Science. This is one of the very few books that I have read with a satisfied sense that the author actually respects both Scripture and the work of scientists. Unlike John Walton (The Lost World of Genesis One), Lennox believes that material, not just functional, claims are being made by the creation narratives, which thus limits the reach of evolutionary explanations, especially in regard to the origin of humans.
Music:
Lonesome, On’ry and Mean by Waylon Jennings (RCA Victor, 1973). I’ve been collecting country albums from the sixties and seventies. So far, this has been my favorite. If you have never given country music a chance, start here.
The Taker/Tulsa by Waylon Jennings (RCA, 1971). This is the beginning of Waylon’s “outlaw” break with Chet Atkins, the famed Nashville producer who created the “Nashville sound” of smooth, pop-sensible country. Despite this fact, Atkins was really quite brilliant, but Waylon needed to expand and produce his own material. It begins here, and it is amazing.
Mama Tried by Merle Haggard (Capitol, 1968). A good place to begin with the great Merle Haggard. The title track, “Mama Tried,” is a favorite.
I’m a Lonesome Fugitive by Merle Haggard (Capitol, 1967). More proof that Haggard was doing outlaw country long before it gained a moniker.
Barton Hollow by The Civil Wars (Sensibility, 2011). These are two of the loveliest voices I’ve ever heard. Even if the songs sucked (they don’t), I would still listen.
Actus Tragicus by J. S. Bach (a long time ago). This has become my favorite piece from Bach. Haunting. Strikingly similar to Jar of Flies by Alice in Chains — I’m probably the only person who makes that connection.
Film:
Forget movies. Television has dominated for the last decade as Hollywood continues to lose all the best writers to the TV networks. I have watched more television series than I care to admit (thanks to Netflix). My favorites this past year have been Dexter and, of course, Friday Night Lights. On the surface, these are two completely different shows with completely different demographics, but it is hard to name any other show with better personalities and character depth than Dexter and FNL. Truly remarkable and utterly addicting. Also, The Tudors was surprisingly well done. Based on the first couple episodes, I thought it was just soap opera and eye candy, but it quickly becomes a nuanced account of civil strife and personal turmoil, with great sensitivity to the religious and moral struggles of the characters. Jonathan Rhys-Meyers is captivating in every single episode. His performance is worth the price of the DVD set.
Visual Arts and the Calvinist Tradition
November 8, 2011
Until I find the time to actually do a substantive post, I will just continue pointing-out stuff like this:
CBD has a great deal on Living Beyond the Word: Visual Arts and the Calvinist Tradition, ed. Paul Corby Finney (Eerdmans, 1998). It’s currently only $9.99. It’s a very nice volume, with a variety of essays and great illustrations throughout, similar to a coffee table book. For those interested in the topic of Reformed aesthetics, I really enjoyed William Dyrness’ Reformed Theology and Visual Culture. For theological aesthetics in general, you obviously must go to Hans Urs von Balthasar’s The Glory of the Lord.
If you are buying from CBD, you should also check-out Lesslie Newbigin’s Signs amid the Rubble at only $2.99. I’ve never read it, but it’s Newbigin — he’s only ever amazing.
The Modern Theologians Reader, ed. David Ford et al.
October 22, 2011
This new publication will be of interest to readers of this blog: The Modern Theologians Reader, edited by David F. Ford and Mike Higton. This can be a stand-alone text or serve as a companion volume to Ford’s celebrated, The Modern Theologians. Here is the table of contents:
Introduction.
Part 1: Classics of the Twentieth Century.
Chapter 1: Karl Barth.
1. The Theme of the Epistle to the Romans.
2. Jesus Christ, Electing and Elected.
Chapter 2: Dietrich Bonhoeffer.
1. Ultimate and Penultimate Things.
2. Letters and Papers from Prison.
Chapter 3: Paul Tillich.
1.The Actuality of God: God as Being and Living.
2.The Meaning of Salvation.
Chapter 4: Henri de Lubac.
1.Surnaturel: Divine Exigence and Natural Desire.
2.Allegory, Sense of the Faith.
Chapter 5: Karl Rahner.
1. God of My Life.
2. What Does It Mean to Say: ‘God Became Man’?.
Chapter 6: Hans Urs von Balthasar.
1. Christ’s Mission and Person.
2. Dramatic Soteriology.
19th century German theology (eBooks)
June 20, 2011
One great advantage of the Kindle and other reading devices is the immense number of scanned books in pdf format, available through Google Books and Internet Archive. The Kindle, like all independent e-readers, is not ideal for pdf’s, with fairly slow page turns and lacking adequate zoom technology. The iPad and Android tablets are far better for pdf’s. The e-readers, though, still have the advantage of e-ink screens and low cost. I could discuss this further in the comments for anyone who cares (since I work in electronics retail selling computers, tablets, and e-readers). I’m thinking about creating a new page on this blog, listing categorically some important theology books you can download for free. With that in mind, here are some volumes of 19th century German theology that I have on my Kindle:
Cremer, Hermann
Dorner, Isaak August
A System of Christian Doctrine, vol. 1
A System of Christian Doctrine, vol. 2
A System of Christian Doctrine, vol. 3
A System of Christian Doctrine, vol. 4
History of Protestant Theology, vol. 1
History of Protestant Theology, vol. 2
Note: Dorner’s works are currently published through Wipf & Stock.
Frank, F. H. R. (Franz Hermann Reinhold)
Herrmann, Wilhelm
Knapp, George Christian
Lobstein, Paul
Müller, Julius
Neander, Augustus
Nitzsch, Carl Immanuel
Ritschl, Albrecht
Schleiermacher, Friedrich
The Theology of Schleiermacher: A Condensed Presentation of His Chief Work, “The Christian Faith” (by George Cross)
Tholuck, August
Various
Selected Discourses by Monod, Krummacher, Tholuck, and Müller
Ten Myths About Calvinism
June 1, 2011
Kenneth Stewart’s Ten Myths About Calvinism looks like a good book to pass along to those who have an internet-assembled comprehension of Reformed theology or for those who have had the misfortune of reading anything by Loraine Boettner. You can listen to an interview with Professor Stewart here.
Some of Stewart’s criticisms line-up with neo-orthodox criticisms, namely the overemphasis on predestination, especially the TULIP pattern that was/is popular in the 20th century and today. Like Richard Muller, he sees this corruption as a more recent phenomenon and not the product of 17th century scholasticism. Also, he stresses that Calvin is just one figure in the constellation of Reformed luminaries who shaped the broader tradition, a tradition that does differ from Calvin. In the interview, Stewart rightly notes that later confessional theology (Dort, Westminster) was the result of developments across a broad range of theologians and controversies, and, as such, these documents do not reflect Calvin’s own thinking exactly. Stewart doesn’t claim that they contradict Calvin, but simply that they are not the same thing. He is not trying to pit “Calvin against the Calvinists” but, rather, to broaden the Reformed tradition, to include and go beyond Calvin.
Other issues covered in the book include revivalism, theocracy, and missions. He is pro-revival (with proper Reformed qualifications), sympathetic to Reformation theocracy (as an appropriate measure historically), and reveals the missionary impulse of Reformed thinking. The last chapters of the book cover the arts and social issues (gender and race).
Professor Stewart teaches at Covenant College, the college of the PCA.
Two systematic theologies
May 10, 2011
I’m currently reading two rather different systematic theologies: Douglas Kelly’s Systematic Theology, vol. 1, and Michael Horton’s The Christian Faith. Both men are well-respected theologians in the American evangelical-Reformed community. Kelly teaches at RTS in Charlotte and Horton at WSC.
I was already familiar with Horton and knew what to expect from his ST. If you’ve read his brilliant Covenant theology series, you know where Horton is coming from. Like Kevin Vanhoozer, Horton has read widely in the post-existentialist 20th century philosophy of narrative, community, and linguistic studies. Thus, references to Derrida, Ricoeur, Gadamer, and Lindbeck abound in his Covenant volumes. This scholarly interaction is still present in The Christian Faith though with less detail and less obtuse reflection, since it is intended for a larger audience. The critical appropriation of narrative remains. Yet, per his covenant theology, Horton critiques such narrative approaches as failing to preserve the Creator-creature distinction, particularly an interventionist model of divine agency. The category of covenant (and “redemptive history”) provides the drama and human participation, which Horton appreciates in postmodern thinking, without sacrificing God’s initiative/sovereignty in creation and salvation.
With Kelly, we are in a whole other world, but a world which I appreciate even more. There’s no narrative theology here. No Ricoeur or Lindbeck. I don’t know what Kelly thinks about post-structuralism or critical theory. Instead, he is basically picking-up where Barth and Torrance left off. There are several large quotations from Thomas Torrance in Kelly’s ST, as buttresses for his revelation-centered prolegomena. The first chapter is called, “God Reveals Himself,” and the proofs for the existence of God are relegated to an appendix at the end of the chapter. Kelly treats the arguments of Anselm, Scotus, and Aquinas with great appreciation — especially Aquinas — yet he believes (rightly) that such demonstrations are not necessary for the task of theology. I was pleasantly surprised with Kelly’s treatment of prolegomena (chapter 1) and epistemology (chapter 2). As a conservative and confessional Reformed theologian, I wasn’t expecting such a positive and well-balance appropriation of Barth and Torrance. Though, this shouldn’t be too surprising since he got his doctorate at Edinburgh, and I believe he even studied under Torrance.
Moreover, I greatly appreciate Kelly’s catholic sensibilities. He begins the book with some reflections on the catholic nature of the Reformed movement, as an extension and part of the larger catholic church. He quotes from The Manual of Church Doctrine according to the Church of Scotland where the ordination and baptism of the church of Rome is affirmed as valid (e.g., “the Reformed presbyter emerged from the Roman priesthood”). The catholic creeds are likewise affirmed. Kelly subtitled his systematic theology, “Grounded in Holy Scripture and understood in the light of the Church.” As such, Kelly liberally quotes early church fathers, and his treatment of the Trinity (most of the rest of the book) is especially strong.
Johann and Christoph Blumhardt, free ebooks
March 29, 2011
I recently came across the Plough Publishing House, the publisher of Johann and Christoph Blumhardt’s few translated works. Their website generously offers these works for free to download, many in both pdf and Kindle format (and epub).
For those with an interest in 20th century dialectical theology, both Emil Brunner and Karl Barth cite the Blumhardts as major influences on their own thinking, especially their critique of institutional religion and the centrality of the personal event of the Word which extends into a protest against political forms of oppression. Here is Emil Brunner in his “Intellectual Autobiography” (The Theology of Emil Brunner, ed. Charles Kegley, 1962):
[My father] was a schoolteacher who understood his work as a calling and a service to God. From my mother, who stood at his side in this service, I learned to pray. Using an old picture Bible, she introduced me to biblical history and thereby laid the foundation on which my theology was later to be built. Through her influence, my father, descended from a family of nonbelievers, came into contact with Christoph Blumhardt. Through Blumhardt and his two important pupils, Hermann Kutter and Leonhard Ragaz, our family was drawn into the Religious Socialist Movement. [p. 4]
There was a time when the currently reigning agnostic humanism and the materialism, which was identified with Darwinism, occasioned doubts in me. The critical idealism of F. A. Lange, Geschichte des Materialismus (History of Materialism) strengthened me against these temptations, but in a very different way the biblical realism and prophetism of my teachers Kutter and the one even greater than he who stood in back of him, Christoph Blumhardt, kept my faith alive. [p. 6]
His Römerbrief (Epistle to the Romans), written in 1918, I hailed as a forceful confirmation of my own thoughts. If I am not mistaken, I was the first one, who in reviewing this book (in the Kirchenblatt für die Reformierte Schweiz), emphatically pointed to its epoch-making character. My enthusiasm was all the more understandable because Barth, as well as our mutual friend Eduard Thurneysen, came from that circle in the center of which Hermann Kutter and Christoph Blumhardt had been. [p. 8]
The evangelical Bonhoeffer?
January 18, 2011
I have not read all of Metaxas’ biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, but I did compare a few sections with Bethge’s standard biography. Without doubt, Bethge has a stronger grasp of both the socio-political currents and the theological currents. I watched an hour-long speech by Metaxas on Bonhoeffer and was not impressed. I loved his biography of Wilberforce, and he is a gifted writer. But you can’t understand as complex a topic as Bonhoeffer with a few years of study. You need to be schooled in both the European political scene and the developments in German philosophy and theology, including the fact that “liberal” or “orthodox” are scarcely adequate categories for understanding Bonhoeffer (and a large number of theologians at the time, like Brunner and Barth or even Bultmann and Tillich). Thus, I greatly appreciate (conservative Reformed blogger) Tim Challies’ recent post gathering some of the critical reactions to Metaxas’ biography.
