New Books–January 2014

New Books–January 2014

Complete New Book List

January 2014

From Heaven He Came and Sought Her: Definite Atonement in Historical, Biblical, Theological and Pastoral Perspective, edited by David Gibson and Jonathan Gibson. The most comprehensive resource available today on definite (or limited) atonement, one of the five points of Calvinism. Contributors include John Piper, Alec Motyer, Thomas Schreiner, Sinclair Ferguson, Henri Blocher, and others, with Foreword by J.I. Packer.

What is Biblical Theology? A Guide to the Bible’s Story, Symbolism, and Pattern, by James M. Hamilton, Jr. The Bible recounts a single story—one that began at creation, encompasses our lives today, and will continue until Christ’s return and beyond. This book introduces us to this narrative, helping us to understand the worldview of the biblical writers so that we can read the OT and NT as those authors intended, by tracing the key patterns, symbols and themes that bind the Bible together.

What the Old Testament Authors Really Cared About: A Survey of Jesus’ Bible, edited by Jason S. DeRouchie. The editor teaches OT at John Piper’s Bethlehem College and Seminary. Arranged in the order of Jesus’ Jewish Bible, with helpful one-page snapshots of essential information, this OT survey has 13 maps, 80 charts, over 160 sidebars, and nearly 200 color photographs, with an emphasis on how the OT relates to the NT, and which Sam Storms praises as “visually stunning and distinctively Christ-centered”.

Risky Gospel: Abandon Fear and Build Something Awesome, by Owen Strachan. Accessing a real, thriving, vibrant faith, by trusting a big God and living as if He is real.

Resisting Gossip: Winning the War of the Wagging Tongue, by Matthew C. Mitchell. The book of James warns against the power of the tongue as the spark that incites numerous fires. With gossip being so prevalent in our culture, this book states that the truth of the gospel can deliver believers from this temptation.

Jesus and His Enemies, by Paul Yeulett. As soon as Jesus came into this world, He had enemies. This book examines the types of opposition Jesus encountered—demons, political, religious, emotional, physical, and spiritual. The author helps us to understand why this opposition occurred in the life of Jesus, and why it occurs in our own lives as well.

Does God Listen to Rap? Christians and the World’s Most Controversial Music, by Curtis “Voice” Allen. The author is a pastor and Reformed Rap pioneer. Reformed Rap has been a cultural phenomenon, featuring hip-hop songs with words of theological substance from a Reformed perspective from such artists as Trip Lee and Lecrae, and has been supported by John Piper and Justin Taylor. But it has also created controversy in the Christian community. A recent family integrated church conference on worship included a strong denunciation of Christian rap, provoking a strong response in defense of the music from Al Mohler, Paige Patterson, Owen Strachan, Thabiti Anyabwile, and Ligon Duncan (see The Gospel Coalition webpage of 12/2/13).

Education or Imitation? Bible Interpretation for Dummies Like You and Me, by Curtis Allen. Allen is a pastor, Reformed Rap pioneer, and author of Does God Listen to Rap (see that title above in the New Book List). Thomas Schreiner recommends this short book and its emphasis that every believer can understand the Bible, as well as its Christ-centeredness.

The Poetic Wonder of Isaac Watts, by Douglas Bond (Long Line of Godly Men series). A profile of “the father of English hymnody”.

Thy Word Is Still Truth: Essential Writings on the Doctrine of Scripture from the Reformation to Today, edited by Peter A. Lillback and Richard B. Gaffin, Jr.

This book is a comprehensive collection of writings on Scripture, from Martin Luther to the present. Philip Ryken calls it a “five-hundred year library of thoughtful, faithful reflection on the nature of biblical truth in a single, indispensable volume”. Al Mohler says it is the “comprehensive witness…we have needed for a long time”.

How We Got the New Testament: Text, Transmission, Translation, by Stanley E. Porter. In the midst of misinformation among the general public and even some scholars about how carefully the text of the NT has been preserved, copied and translated, Porter sets the record straight. It is unique in its inclusion of personal stories rarely heard and international scholarship seldom reviewed.

Paul and Me: A Journey to and from the Damascus Road from Islam to Christ, by Karim Shamsi-Basha. How this remarkable man, an award winning writer and photographer, born and raised in Syria, came suddenly to release his grip on the Muslim faith and wholeheartedly embrace Christ. Includes a narrative of the life of Paul, and selections from the writings of J. Gresham Machen, James Stalker, and B.B. Warfield.

Antinomianism: Reformed Theology’s Unwelcome Guest, by Mark Jones. An antinomian is someone who holds that under the gospel dispensation of grace, the moral law is of no use or obligation because faith alone is necessary for salvation. That issue has been hotly debated since the 16thcentury in the Reformed theological tradition. This book is the first to examine antinomianism from a historical, exegetical and theological perspective, and is commended by J.I. Packer as a “pioneering overview…by a Puritan-minded scholar” with many illuminating things to say about the issue.

Reading Genesis 1-2: An Evangelical Conversation, edited by J. Daryl Charles. Contributors include John Walton, C. John Collins, and Tremper Longman III. Brings together five prominent evangelical scholars who take on the difficult interpretive questions arising from reading Genesis 1-2.

Four Views of the Historical Adam, edited by Matthew Barrett and Ardel Canedy (Counterpoints series). Outlines the primary views on Adam held by evangelicals: Old Earth Creation View (C. John Collins); Young-Earth Creation View (William Barrick); Archtypal Creation View (John Walton); and Evolutionary Creation View (Denis Lamoureux).

Five Views on Biblical Inerrancy, edited by J. Merrick and Stephen M. Garrett (Counterpoints series). Outlines a spectrum of views held by evangelicals on inerrancy. Contributors include Al Mohler, Peter Enns, Michael Bird, Kevin Vanhoozer, and John Franke.

Peace: Classic Readings for Christmas, by Stephen J. Nichols. Beautifully designed and illustrated edition of readings for Christmas on the Incarnation, with readings from Augustine, C.S. Lewis, Spurgeon, Luther, Bonhoeffer, and others, along with key texts relating to the Scriptural promises and fulfillment.

Good News of Great Joy: Daily Readings for Advent, by John Piper.

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