The Genesis Flood by JOHN C. WHITCOMB Jr., Th.D. HENRY M. MORRIS, Ph.D. Published by The Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Co., Philadelphia, PA., 1961, 518 pp.

The co-authors of this book are Dr. John C. Whitcomb Jr., professor of Old Testament, Grace Theological Seminary, Winona Lake, Indiana and Dr. Henry M. Morris, professor and head of the Department of Civil Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Diacksburg, Virginia. The background and special interests of the former lie in the fields of Old Testament interpretation and Biblical criticism, those of the latter in the fields of hydraulics, hydrology and geomorphology. “It is hoped (by the authors) that this combination will serve as well as any for a preliminary study of the Genesis Flood and its implications.” It is therefore not intended to be the final word on this subject but a defense of what the authors call a theory of Biblical catastrophism as opposed to the generally accepted uniformitarian view of historical geology and related subjects.

The purpose of the book, as stated in the introduction, is twofold: first, “to ascertain exactly what the Scriptures say concerning the Flood and related topics,” and second, “to examine the anthropological, geological, hydrological and other scientific implications of the Biblical record of the Flood, seeking if possible to orient the data of these sciences within this Biblical framework.” In seven chapters and two appendices the authors defend the idea of a universal flood and a “real” or special creation. They give evidence of wide reading and extensive study. The hook is replete with quotations from theologians and modern scientists. There arc twenty-eight illustrations and diagrams.

In trying to harmonize scientific facts as they are known today with a more literal interpretation of the creation and flood accounts in Genesis the authors present ideas and conclusions which run counter to the present day trends of thought. Their ideas, however, deserve most serious consideration.

Dr. John C. McCampbell, professor and head of the department of ecology at the University of Southwestern Louisiana, Lafayette, Louisiana, who wrote the foreword to this volume, has this to say:

“From the writer’s viewpoint, as a professional geologist, these explanations and contentions arc difficult to accept. For the present at least, although quite ready to recognize the inadequacies of Lyellian uniformitarianism, I would prefer to hope that some other means of harmonization of religion and geology, which retains the essential structure of modern historical geology, could be found.

“Nevertheless, the authors have made a strong case and this volume offers a serious challenge to the uniformitarian position. They have in no way distorted this position, but have opposed it in a courteous, fair and scholarly manner. I would suggest that the skeptical reader, in like fashion, before he dismisses the Biblical-literal viewpoint of this book as unworthy of notice, should at least give it a careful reading and evaluation. He will find that the essential differences between Biblical catastrophism and evolutionary uniformitarianism are not over the factual data of geology but over the interpretation of those data. The interpretation preferred will depend largely upon the background and presuppositions of the individual student.”

EDWIN Y. MONSMA

What I Confess: A Manual of Basic Biblical Truths by ALEXANDER C. DE JONG Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, 1960. 83 pp. $.85

Basic Beliefs of the Reformed Faith: A Biblical Study of Presbyterian Doctrine by FELIX B. GEAR John Knox Press, Richmond, Virginia, 1960. 80 pp., %.60.

Here are two handy paper bound books prepared by their authors especially for the church member or prospective church member.

The first is written by a Christian Reformed pastor who is a graduate of Calvin, Westminster, and the Free University. It is a very able and clear presentation of basic Biblical troths, as the sub-title indicates. It presents popularly the doctrinal teachings of the Scripture for use with or by an inquirer, a new convert or a new member. In twelve lessons Dr. De Jong covers the basic and fundamental teachings needed in such an introduction to Biblical truths. Following each lesson, consisting of well executed expositions of the Scriptures, the writer summarize  the lesson with several statements given in the first person singular, indicating what the believer confesses as a result of obedient Bible study. This is followed by a section of questions entitled “digging deeper.” Although the lesson itself is oriented to the Dutch confessional standards, several, although not all, of these questions particularly ask about statements in these standards or refer the reader to them. With the exception of a few questions, the only explicit reference to the Christian Reformed Church as such is found in the chapter on the church entitled “The New Life in Fellowship” (pp. 54–58). Here the structure or organization of this denomination is explained to the reader. With this one major conception, which is no great obstacle or hindrance, the manual may be used by pastors and people in any Reformed denomination.

There is an appendix consisting of “A Basic Christian Vocabulary.” The definitions of words in this listing are excellent. But surely some reference to this list should be made at the beginning of the book so that the reader might be aware of its existence and could refer to it as he reads. He might well not discover it until he came to the end of the book, as did this reader!

This manual certainly fills a great need. It is most warmly recommended as one of the best of its kind.

The other manual is the every member Bible study course for the Presbyterian Church, U.S., and is produced by that church’s press for the Inter-Board Adult Council. The author, Dr. Gear, is professor of theology at Columbia Seminary, Decatur, Ga., one of that denomination’s schools. One therefore takes the book in hand with great anticipation. On page 3 one reads, “This guide to the understanding of six basic doctrines of tIle Reformed (or Presbyterian) faith has been prepared as a Bible study…” Each of the six doctrines (not the so called five points of Calvinism, as might be expected) is divided into two study units thereby providing twelve study units. Although De Jong devotes almost two lessons to the knowledge of God and the Scriptures, Gear devotes no lesson and makes no reference to this most basic doctrine of the Reformed (or Presbyterian) faith. The general treatment is a kind of modified conservative position permeated by and mixed with criticism. A few examples will have to suffice in this brief review. On page 8 the writer assures us that the question who wrote Isaiah 40–55 “does not concern us here.” But then his whole treatment assumes the critical position, having put the reader off guard (pp. 8f.) . On page 11 we hear about popular belief and tradition in the account of Isaiah 51;9·10. “According to a well-known tradition of the day, God cut the great sea monster Hahab in pieces and killed one of his helpers, the dragon, so as to bring harmony out of the disorder and confusion of early creation…Thus popular belief expressed the creative power of God by saying He killed the sea monster and kept the sea from overwhelming all creation it threatened God’s people as the sea monster of old had threatened His creation.” This treatment of God’s Word as a fairy tale speaks for itself. One finds it strange and misleading from the Biblical perspective that the title the “Son of Man” is used by the author to refer to Christ’s

human nature and is used in contrast with the title “Son of God.” “…He is the Son of God and the Son of man; He is beyond us and also one of us” (p. 32f., cf. p. 36). Statements on pages 63 (about being “fully human”) and 75 (on most prophets expecting the reign of God to be “exclusively for Israel”) certainly are questionable, to say the least. Little reference is made to his church’s confessional statements, in contrast to the first author, and the literature quoted, used or recommended is in the main decidedly in the new-modernist school.

Here are two books by two ministers of two “Reformed” churches in America, each being about 100 years old. One may gladly recommend the fine orthodox treatment and excellent Biblical exposition of De Jong. Gear’s book shows the direction his church is going and indeed the position it is now in—away from the orthodoxy of its historical position and of its standards.

GEORGE W. KNIGHT, III Frederick College Portsmouth, Virginia

Flitsen en Fragmenten by J.H. BAVINCK J.H. Kok, Kampen, The Netherlands, 1959, f 4.95

These flashes and fragments, by the well-known professor of missions at the Free University, appeared originally in Gereformeerd Weekblad, a well-edited and popular weekly of our Reformed brethren across the sea. The author has a penchant for placing the riddles of life in the light of the Word. Some of the striking titles of his “flashes” are: “The Riddle of the Nameless”, “TheDangerous Little Thumb”, “The Theology of the Little Bird”, “Three Superfluous Words”, “The Silent Tyrdany of Unbelief”, “Faith is a Sober Business”, Enough to whet one’s appetite! Refreshing style!

HENRY R. VAN TIL

Bunyan’s Christiana’s Progress (for devotional reading) simplified by CLARA E. MURRAY Baker Book House, Grand Rapids 6, Michigan, 1960, 84 pages, $1.50)

ThiS little volume constitutes part II of Pilgrim’s Progress and deals with the experiences of Christiana, the wife of Christian. It was first published in 1684 and combined with part I in 1728, forty years after Bunyan’s death. I am happy to recommend the reading of this classic for devotional purposes.

HENRY R. VAN TIL