Theology

Updated Gift List

Twice a year, my wife gets asked what I would like for a present.  To make life easier for her, and for anyone else who may want to buy me something, here is a list of books that I am looking to add to my library.

60262: Doctrine of the Knowledge of God Doctrine of the Knowledge of God

By John M. Frame / P & R Publishing

“We tend to forget how often in Scripture God performs His mighty acts so that men will ‘know’ that He is Lord,” writes John M. Frame in this incisive volume. “We tend to forget how often Scripture emphasizes that although in one sense all people know God, in another sense such knowledge is the exclusive privilege of God’s redeemed people and indeed the ultimate goal of the believer’s life.” Frame explores our relationship with God as a knowing relationship. Reflecting his conviction that theology is the application of Scripture to life in all situations, Frame combines trenchant analysis of theological, apologetic and epistemological issues with refreshingly practical insights for living in the knowledge of God.

950491: The Reason for God: Belief in God in an Age of Skepticism The Reason for God: Belief in God in an Age of Skepticism

By Timothy Keller / Dutton Adult

How could a loving God send people to hell? Why does he allow suffering? Can one religion be “right” and the others “wrong”? Responding to the questions of open skeptics and ardent believers, Keller draws from literature, philosophy, reason, and real-life conversations to explain how faith in a Christian God is a soundly rational belief.

05222X: Reformed Confessions Harmonized Reformed Confessions Harmonized

By Joel R. Beeke / Baker

Despite the acknowledged importance of confessional statements throughout church history, the most significant of these documents have never before been published in a single volume. Now Drs. Beeke and Ferguson have harmonized seven important Reformed confessions into a convenient parallel arrangement. 288 pages, softcover from Baker.

20142: Amos, Obadiah, and Jonah, New American Commentary Amos, Obadiah, and Jonah, New American Commentary

By Billy Smith / B & H Publishing Group

This is a volume on three of the minor prophet books of the Old Testament. Billy K. Smith and Frank S. Page seek to bring the message of these prophets alive and applicable to 21st century readers while also studying the context of the message to its first hearers. In congruence with other volumes in The New American Commentary series, this volume brings to light the theological significance of these seemingly insignificant minor prophets.The New American Commentary is for those who have been seeking a commentary that honors the Scriptures, represents the finest in contemporary evangelical scholarship, and lends itself to the practical work of preaching and teaching. This series serves as a minister’s friend and a student’s guide.

German for Reading Knowledge Jannach’s German for Reading Knowledge

By Richard Alan Korb / Heinle & Heinle Publishers

Learn to apply basic German grammar and vocabulary to reading and translating progressively complex texts with the sixth edition of JANNACH’S GERMAN FOR READING KNOWLEDGE. Recognized as the leading text for teaching reading skills, this text provides the tools you need to read specialized literature in your field. The Book Companion Website contains the readings that appear in each chapter, plus new comprehension questions and activities about the readings that are designed to let you practice specific reading skills.

21850: No Other God: A Response to Open Theism No Other God: A Response to Open Theism

By John M. Frame / P & R Publishing

The theological movement known as open theism is shaking the church today, challenging the Reformed doctrines of God’s sovereignty, foreknowledge, and providence. In this timely work, John M. Frame clearly describes open theism and evaluates it biblically. He addresses questions such as: How do open theists read the Bible? Is love God’s most important attribute? Is God’s will the ultimate explanation of everything? Do we have genuine freedom? Is God ever weak or changeable? Does God know everything in advance? Frame not only answers the objections of open theists but sharpens our understanding of the relationship between God’s eternal plan and the decisions or events of our lives.

380187: Salvation Belongs to the Lord: Introduction to Systematic Theology Salvation Belongs to the Lord: Introduction to Systematic Theology

By John M. Frame / P & R Publishing

Beginning students of theology and church leaders looking for a theological refresher or teaching tool will welcome this remarkably clear introduction to the doctrines of Scripture. In an almost conversational style, Salvation Belongs to the Lord explores all the major biblical truths, explains key terms of systematic theology, and reflects on their implications and connections under the lordship of Christ.”John Frame is not only one of the most productive theologians of our day, he is also one of the most lucid. Deceptively so, for behind every sentence in this extraordinary volume lies deep reflection. It is at once vigorously orthodox and sweetly pastoral. We can be grateful for such a powerful and clear exposition of the whole range of theology.”
-William Edgar, professor, Westminster Theological Seminary, author of Truth in All Its Glory

525083: Designed for Dignity: What God Has Made It Possible for You to Be Designed for Dignity: What God Has Made It Possible for You to Be

By Richard Pratt Jr. / P & R Publishing

Even as Christians, we can puzzle over our self-image. What has God made us? What have we made of ourselves? And what can we become in Christ? Richard L. Pratt shows from Scripture how God’s amazing design for humanity can be realized in his people. Solid biblical insights, vivid illustrations, and helpful questions for review and discussion make this a valuable resource for group study or individual use.

527963: The Doctrine of the Christian Life The Doctrine of the Christian Life

By John M. Frame / P & R Publishing

“The Christian life is not only a matter of following rules of morality, but a dynamic experience: living in the fallen world, in fellowship with the living God. So in this book I will discuss not only ethics (the normative perspective), but also the culture in which we live (the situational perspective) and the resources of redemption on which we draw daily (the existential perspective).” -from the author’s preface

French for Reading French for Reading

By Karl Sandburg / Prentice Hall

Programmed text for acquisition of reading skills for beginning courses or rapid review.

Tags: ,

Tuesday, May 26th, 2009 Books, Theology No Comments

Walden on Theology, Church and Mission

I love to follow James Walden’s blog.  He doesn’t post very often, but when he does it makes me slow down and think.  I love the fact that he isn’t posting unless he has something to say.  Sometimes I struggle to keep up with his line of thought - James is a very deep thinker - but I love having to slow down to read something deep.  I have put off reading his latest blog post for a week.  I just haven’t had time to sit down and work my way through it until tonight.

As usual it is very good stuff.  James writes about the lack of theological depth in many of today’s churches compared to Paul’s very theological teaching to the churches of his time.   James also touches on the false dichotomies between theology and mission, or theology and real life.  As I have said before, theology touches on everything and is a deep part of our lives.

Read James Walden on Theology, Church and Mission.

Tags: , ,

Monday, August 25th, 2008 Faith, Theology No Comments

Eschatalogue - Definitions

Eschatology can be theologically complex. Many of the passages that refer to the end times are in the genre of apocalyptic prophecy. These are books like Daniel and the Revelation that use complex imagery. To understand these passages requires an understanding of this imagery and the role of such prophecy in the history of Israel.

In addition, a study of eschatology uses terms that are not frequently used in interpreting other parts of the Bible. The goal of this post is to create some basic definitions as a starting point for the rest of the discussion.

› Continue reading

Tags: , , , , , , ,

Tuesday, October 23rd, 2007 Eschatologue, Faith, Theology No Comments

Eschatalogue - My Purpose

There are many reasons why someone would blog about eschatology:

  • To establish their own views as the only correct view
  • To identify the “antichrist”
  • To predict the date of the second coming
  • To prove they are smarter than everyone else
  • To further endless debate

I am sure that there are other reasons as well. However, none of these are my reasons for this series. I have a couple of reasons:
› Continue reading

Tags: , , ,

Monday, October 15th, 2007 Eschatologue, Faith, Theology No Comments

Eschatalogue - Does it Matter?

So, the first question for this series is whether it really matters what the Bible teaches about Jesus coming back, and the end of the age. To be honest, for a long time, I did not think that it mattered. My focus was on other issues, mostly my daily life, rather than the end of time. Back in high school, I went to a church with a dispensational theology — I will define that term in due course. This church put a heavy emphasis on the second coming and particularly on the concept of rapture. While I thought that the rapture sounded cool, I still wasn’t convinced that I needed to spend a lot of time on the subject.
› Continue reading

Tags: , ,

Monday, October 8th, 2007 Eschatologue, Faith, Theology No Comments