Best Reads in 08'

This year was the year of Biblical Theology. In no particular order, here are my top ten favorite reads from 2008:

• New Testament Theology - Thomas R. Schreiner: Probably the most helpful book I read this year. His thematic New Testament theology is grounded in inaugurated eschatology (the already/not yet). His chapter on the law in salvation history brought tears to my eyes.
• Surprised by Hope - N.T. Wright: Wright is at his best on resurrection and the new earth. Going to heaven is the penultimate hope, but resurrection is ultimate. Review here, and other links here and here.
• Letters Along the Way - D.A. Carson & John Woodbridge: Great fictional account of a young pastor and a seasoned theologian. Short Review here.
• Total Church - Tim Chester & Steve Timmis: This book was refreshing. Christ-centered, Word-based, with an emphasis on community and social justice.
• Salvation to the Ends of the Earth - Kostenberger & O'Brien: This is great biblical theology, but they spend minimal time on the OT which is somewhat appropriate for mission.
• The Search for Order - William Dumbrell: Dumbrell is a hero. This is a biblical theology of eschatology. He basically walks through the Bible expositing key texts. Full of exegetical insights while not losing the big picture.
• The Temple and the Church's Mission - Greg Beale: Wow! This one will require a second and probably third read. Eden was a temple-garden, and it, the tabernacle, and the temple were microcosms of the entire world. Christ is the true temple. Through the Spirit, the church is now the true temple, and we now are commissioned to expand the temple (God's presence) as we await the new heaven and new earth where there is no temple because God's unmediated presence will be there.
• Romans (BECNT) - Thomas R. Schreiner: The letter to the Romans has arguably been the most influential and life-changing letter ever written (think of Augustine, Luther, Wesley, Barth, Piper). We had to read all of this one for Dr. Schreiner's Greek class on Romans. It was a joy to read through his clear exegesis of this wonderful letter.
• He Who Gives Live - Graham Cole: I appreciated two things in particular about this one-brevity, and biblical theology informing systematic theology.
• The Reason for God - Tim Keller: Praise God for this book. If you have any unbelieving friends who are thinkers, get them this book. Keller is somewhat Van Tillian, is a pastor, has a great understanding of the human heart, and has spent many years conversing with New Yorkers. The chapters on sin and the gospel & religion are worth the price of the book.

What have you read that has been particularly helpful this year?
(Here are the best reads from 06' & 07')

Ted Haggard Documentary

This makes me nervous.

Merry Christmas!

There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. He shall not judge by what his eyes see, or decide disputes by what his ears hear, but with righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins. The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder's den. They shall not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples- of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious. In that day the Lord will extend his hand yet a second time to recover the remnant that remains of his people, from Assyria, from Egypt, from Pathros, from Cush, from Elam, from Shinar, from Hamath, and from the coastlands of the sea. He will raise a signal for the nations and will assemble the banished of Israel, and gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth.

--Isa 11.1-12 ESV

"Whoever, therefore, thinks that he understands the divine Scriptures or any part of them so that it does not build the double love of God and of our neighbor does not understand it at all."

--Augustine in On Christian Doctrine

Dever/Carson Interview Pt 1

This summer, Mark Dever interviewed D.A. Carson about evangelicalism.

Dr. Moore on the New Earth

"The point of the gospel is not that we would go to heaven when we die. Instead, it is that heaven will come down, transforming and renewing the earth and the entire universe. After the millennium, the final judgment, and the condemnation of the lost, John sees a new Jerusalem coming down from the heavens to earth (Rev. 21:2). He then describes an eternal order that, consistent with the rest of biblical eschatology, is surprisingly "earthy." Eternity means civilization, architecture, banquet feasting, ruling, work -- in short, it is eternal life. The new earth is not the white, antiseptic, hyperspiritual heaven some Christians expect as their eternal home. Nor is it simply the everlasting family reunion with the calorie-free food and super powers, as some hope."

("Personal and Cosmic Eschatology" in A Theology for the Church, ed. Danny Akin, p. 912)

Blog

School is out, and the semester was great, but there is still much to do. Blogging is not on the priority list so posts will continue to be short, mostly pointing to helpful resources once a week or so with occasional writing. Peace.

Tom Schreiner on Baptism

• Here is a couple of lectures from Oak Hill.


• Here are some links to a recent debate on the issue of Baptism.


• Here is an interview by Justin Taylor with Dr. Scheiner on Baptism.


• Here is a great book dealing with this issue.

Scott Hafemann on the Bible

"The Bible stretches forth from the creation of the world to the creation of the new heavens and the new earth, from the first coming of the Christ to his return. Its history runs from the Garden of Eden to the Garden of Gethsemane, from the exodus from Egypt to the 'second exodus' at the Cross, from the covenant meal at Mount Sinai to the Lord's Supper, from the circumcision of Abraham to the baptism of converted pagans in Corinth, from the building of Solomon's temple to the temple of the Holy Spirit. Its message unfolds from the 'letter' that kills to the Spirit who makes alive, from the golden calf to the new covenant, from the prophets to the apostles, from Mount Zion to the New Jerusalem,, from David's son to the Son of God, from Israel's exile to her promised restoration, and from the history of Israel's divided kingdom to the mission of the church united as the kingdom of God. . . . The lack of emphasis on the Bible in our churches and the death of biblical preaching in our pulpits (or now on our 'stages') have brought about a death of understanding in our pews (or folding chairs). This should not be surprising. Given the therapeutic culture in which we live, the vast majority of seminaries no longer demand that future church leaders master even the most fundamental biblical content or interpretive skills. And with the rise of 'postmodernism,' we are not sure if the meaning of the biblical text can be recovered anyway, so why bother? After all, the 'secret' to building a 'successful' church is now thought to be getting to know the new trinity of technology, psychology, and marketing, not the Trinity of the Bible."


-from The God of Promise and the Life of Faith by Scott J. Hafemann, p. 18-20