In today’s post, I reflect on some recent books that I have read for graduate classes (as well as one additional book). As some readers may know, the last year or so I have been taking courses in biblical studies and the more classes I take, the more I realize how much more there is to know. If you are interested in deepening your knowledge of Scripture, some of these books may be of interest to you.
Grasping God’s Word by J. Scott Duvall and J. Daniel Hays – Hermeneutics is probably an intimidating word for many people, but in laymen’s terms it is the process of engaging in biblical interpretation. However, even with that definition, many people may be scared to participate in the hermeneutical task because they feel ill-equipped to do so. Grasping God’s Word helps readers develop a reliable and easy-to-understand way of applying the Bible to their lives. Although written by biblical scholars, you do not have to be an academician to understand the process that the writers describe and to begin taking steps to faithfully interpret Scripture and appreciate what it means for your life. For those called to publicly teach the Bible and those who aren’t, this book will enrich your study of Scripture.
A Survey of the Old Testament by Andrew E. Hill and John R. Walton – This book is exactly what it sounds like – it gives an overview of the first 39 books of the Bible. What I love about it is that for each book, the authors articulate key ideas to help the reader consider how to think about the book in light of the whole canon of Scripture. Because it is reviewing the entire Old Testament, this book is by necessity lengthy, but it is not a difficult read. Too often Christians today neglect the left side of their Bible, but rightly understanding Christ’s work of redemption in the New Testament, requires an understanding of God’s work through the nation of Israel in the Old Testament. I think this book may be most helpful if a person committed to read one chapter a day, rather than plowing through the entire thing in one or two sittings. Take time to learn the purpose and key concepts from each Old Testament book knowing that as you do so, you are deepening your understanding of the work that our Heavenly Father has been doing throughout history.
40 Days in the Psalms by T. J. Betts – I love the Psalms, so spending time reading about them is something I enjoy. In this collection, Dr. Betts picks 40 Psalms and helps the reader understand both the context that surrounds the writing as well as the substance of what is written. If you are looking for a book to read this summer as your regular Bible Study group is on break, this may be the one for you. You will read the Psalms differently and with greater appreciation because of the 40 days spent with this book.
Matthew: Disciple and Scribe by Patrick Schreiner – As the title of this book implies, this publication examines the first book in the New Testament. However, the author does not just stay in the New Testament, but intentionally draws connections between Matthew’s account of Jesus’ life and what was recorded in the Old Testament. This book is scholarly in focus, but unlike many academicians, it appears to me that Dr. Schreiner is a visually oriented person and that comes through in his writing. Dr. Schreiner sees echoes of Jesus throughout the Old Testament and his words help “paint a picture” of the richness and fullness of who Christ is – not just for the modern Christian, but for the nation of Israel who was waiting for their Messiah. Although I am not convinced that all the echoes that are observed are as significant as the author portends, I can appreciate his enthusiasm and his desire to deeply value how the work that God was doing in the Old Testament period is tied to the work that He is doing in the New Testament era. Reading this book will give you much to think about, and regardless of whether you agree with all the connections the author makes, you will be more attuned to seeing God’s hands in all recorded history as a result of spending time examining Matthew’s Gospel through Dr. Schreiner’s lenses.
This last book was not required for a seminary class, but my family and I have been enjoying going through it this summer:
Bible Survey for Kids by Pastor Mike Fabarez – Give your kids an understanding of the entirety of the Bible in this book-by-book study of God’s Word. There is a brief overview of each biblical book, interactive questions to engage your kids in the lesson, and a directed drawing activity to help reinforce key concepts. Along with this, Bible Survey for Kids helps children understand how the books of the Bible “fit” together by helping them develop an understanding of the timeline of the biblical narrative, something that even “church kids” can miss from the weekly Sunday School lessons. In our house, as we go through a book of the Bible, each kid has also been identifying either what they have learned about God from that portion of Scripture or how they can apply the key concepts of that biblical book to their lives. It generally takes less than 10 minutes to cover one book of the Bible and complete their directed drawing, and it is one of the most spiritually productive ways that we are using our summer time.
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