Christian Perspective 1960 by VAN RIESSEN, FARRIS and RUNNER, Pella Publishing Inc., Pella, Iowa, 1960. 159 pp.
This book, published by the Association for Reformed Scientific Studies in Canada, is both a result of the Association and one of its programs. Here we have a fine beginning setting forth the aims and principles of the Association.
The book contains the lectures given at the first Study Conference in the first part of September 1959 at Unionville, Ontario. This indeed is a very important first step for the Association established some three years earlier on June 16, 1956. The purpose oJ the organization is eventually to establish an institution or university for Reformed Scientific Studies.
The aim of the conference and the series of lectures was “to introduce to the Canadian public, and especially to students in various colleges and universities, qualified scholars to explain the meaning and significance of the Christian faith for education, history and science” (p. vii f.). TIle speakers have done this in A masterful way: Van Riessen to Science, Farris to History, and Runner to Learning. Van Riessen sets the tone of his lectures when he says, “The general goal of science is to know God’s creation through the laws by which God reigns and which enable every creature to walk on earth with trust” ( p. 50). Tile Christi.1n does not lit all oppose science but the “erroneous belief in an objective, neutral, self-sufficient and unlimited science” (p. 28). In summary we may say that the conviction that pervades the entire work is that Jesus Christ is King in every field and endeavor of Learning and, to quote the words of the preface, consequently “that scientific studies must be based upon the Word of God, an must be accomplished in the light of God’s revelation, because, according to the witness of Jesus Christ Himself, only in God’s Light can we see the light” (p. i).
The only exception we fed constrained to take with Van Riessen is his statement Oil page 48: “T he Bible is not a book of science. Therefore it does not supply us with scientific knowledge.” The first statement is obvious. The second is a lion sequitur and docs not “therefore” follow. Many books that are not books of science nevertheless supply people with scientific knowledge within and among some of its statements. When the Bible speaks about the world of nature or “science”, even though it may speak in popular or nonscientific language, it nevertheless is still the Word of God and of truth and speaks truthfully and infallibly.
One wonders about Prof. Farris’ distinction in history between the “notion of God” and the “concept of necessity” (cf. pp. 58, 59, and 63). “The Christian understanding of history involves all three factors: necessity, human initiative and God” (p. 63). How can a Christian distinguish between God and necessity, or speak of necessity over against and apart from God? What is the difference and why the distinction? The whole thrust of the book is to stress the necessity of standing for the truth over against error (the antithesis) and the impossibility of neutrality. The reviewer feels that the issue is made very confused and is beclouded when Prof. Farris ends his lectures by quoting with approval the World Council of Churches: “Thus the Christian historian wilt add his fervent, ‘Amen!’ to the message of the Evanston Assembly of the World Council of Churches” (p. 82).
Prof. Runner’s lectures are by far the longest and comprise almost half the hook. They clearly show, as did those of Van Riessen, that the Christian position is definitely opposed to the non-Christian position anJ must not be synthesized with it. One fears that in his treatment of “body” and “soul” he is first coming to an a priori philosophical position and in effect then denying the clear teaching of Scripture (cf. pp. 113, 123ff). He asserts that a Christian theologian speaking of man having or being a body and a soul is not Christian and Biblical but is a pagan Greek concept. Undoubtedly any Greek concept of these things that is not Scriptural must be rejected as Runner does. But nevertheless one must not therefore completely reject speaking of body and soul as the Scripture does. This has led to problems in this school of philosophy concerning what happens to the Christian immediately upon death and before Christ returns. Although we, and also this reviewer, may not speak as accurately as possible and as Biblically when using the terms body and soul, nevertheless the Bible does use them as designating separate and component aspects of man, and we in patterning our theology and our thought after it should and must do the same (cf. Micah 6;7, esp. Mt. 10:28, 1 Cor. 7:34, 2 Cor. 5:8, James 2:26 ). Therefore this must not be denied or imputed to theologians as mere influence of Greek thought. This is of course not to deny the unity of man. The Bible affirms his unity and that he is body and soul, and we must also do both.
One other small but important friendly criticism. It is true that some Christians emasculate the message that “Jesus saves” in all its fullness of scope and meaning. Nevertheless, even that form of stating it itself or that message itself is not an emasculated message. “No Synthesis; not even in the form of the emasculated message: Jesus saves” (p. 157). On behalf of the truth and honor of Christ and Christianity, and in order not to offend even the least of Christ’s people, this statement must not stand as it is.
These observations must not in any way detract from the splendor of the Christian aim and fulfillment of that aim in these lectures. They are made only to point to unbiblical and questionable elements that must be cast off in seeking to maintain and apply the truth of God’s Word to all of life. This book is most heartily recommended as a very vital step in formulating a Christian World and Life View for and in Canada, and in and for all North America.
Prof. Gcorge W. Knight, III Frederick College Portsmouth, Virginia
Hoofdlijnen van Lucas 2 door DR. H. MULDER Uitgeverij Van Keulen, Den Haag, 1959. 68.
This book is the third volume of the third series of the outstanding Dutch monographs entitled Exegetica, Oud-en NieuwTestamentische Studien under the editorship of Prof. Dr. W. H. Gispen, Prof. Dr. F. W. Grosheide and Dr. H. Mulder, the author. The entire series seeks to present monographs that are of central significance for Bible study and also timely and up to date.
As the title of the work indicates, the study is concerned with the main lines, concepts and ideas of the 2nd chapter of Luke’s Gospel. It therefore does not deal in detail with textual or linguistic questions. Dr. Mulder seeks to sec the significance of the 2nd chapter in the light of the whole of Luke’s GospeL He evaluates the purpose of Luke’s Gospel primarily from a consideration of the recipient, Theophilus (p. 9 fF.). He judges Thcophilus to have been a “Godfearing” Gentile (p. 11 ) in a high civil p0sition (p. 9) . The purpose and main lines of the 2nd chapter are tllen ascertained and understood by determining what Luke intendt.”‘:! to convey to Theophilus, and how this was done by composing the chapter in the way it is done and with tile contents it has (p. 13). Dr. Mulder thinks that Luke is consciously contrasting Jesus’ life with that of John the Baptist (pp. 5,7). This is perhaps one of the most stimulating parts of his study, even though it is only introductory and not very extensive. Dr. Mulder thinks also that what Luke has included or omitted in his selective writing has been done to show particularly that Jesus was the one who fulfilled all that was taught in and required by the Old Testament, and yet that Jesus was the one who provided salvation for those who aren’t Jews (pp. 7, 9, 61 ff.). His treatment is continually illuminated by recent archaeological findings that bear upon our understanding of the main points of Luke 2. Compare for example his treatment of the “enrollment” under Quirinius (pp. 13 ff.). Dr. Mulder’s handling of the dating problems in regard to this “enrollment” and the “reign” of Quirinius is excellent (cf. p. 17 esp.).
This is indeed a noteworthy contribution to the understanding of Luke 2. We hope that the author will continue to give the public such stimulating works.
Prof. George W. Knight, III, Frederick College, Portsmouth, Virginia
Seven Words TO the Cross by ROBERT F. JONES John Knox Press, Richmond, VA, 89 pages, Price $2.00.
No, the title is not a mistake. This is not another book on the Seven ‘Words from the Cross spoken by Jesus. They arc seven words directed TO Him by bystanders . However, even then the term “word” is used rather loosely. For instance, there is a chapter on Joseph of Arimathea who begged the body of Jesus. But there was no “word” from Joseph to Jesus while on the cross.
These seven chapters are Lenten talks delivered at vesper services in the First Presbyterian Church of Fort Worth, Texas. From the biographical sketch on the jacket we learn that Dr. Jones is university trained and a very prominent church man.
This book has many commendable features. In tile main the author recognizes the centrality and the biblical meaning of the Cross. The first chapter is based on Matthew 27:39, 40, and is entitled; “The Word of Those Who Wanted Religion Without a Cross.” Evidently the author holds to an absolute universalism when he says, “The truth of the gospel is that God loves every man and woman and child and has a plan for every life” (p. 37) . The book breathes a devotional spirit which is inspiring. And there arc flashes of literary brilliance here and there. Speaking of those who want religion to be dramatic he says, “At every dawning there is a change of rulers when the night quits her ebony throne and resigns her empire to the day, and all is done so quietly that the sleeper is not awakened in his bed,” p. 46. The book can be read with profit.
However, there are disturbing things in this book. Because the author is a recognized churchman, and admittedly a scholar, this reviewer finds it difficult to be charitable when such a one evidences an inexcusable carelessness with plain facts. On page 42 we are told that Naaman came to Elijah. That should be Elisha, and the context makes it perfectly plain that the error is not typographical, for even the scriptural reference is given. But what is far worse is that throughout the book Jones refers to Jesus’ three hours on the cross. But even our Sunday school pupils know that it was six hours, not three.
There are other incidents where we have a strange mixture of fact and fiction. Take the chapter on Joseph. The author says “We must always he fair to Joseph,” p. 70. But is it fair then to say, “But the crowning mockery of it all was that this dead body of our Lord was claimed by a man who would not claim Him while He was living,” p. 71. Or, “This delivers us from being a ‘twilight disciple’ who did nothing for Jesus until he was dead and then not until after dark, and found that what he did was too little and too late,” p. 78. It simply is not true that this happened after dark. Just one more, “Atoning for their stunted loyalty while Jesus was alive, they (Joseph and Nicodemus) sought to smother His body with myrrh and aloes and give Him a kingly burial,” p. 76. A similar loose play upon fact is presented in the reference to Mary Magdalene. She is presented as recognizing Jesus by the scars on his feel. “But it was not until she saw on those foot the red, livid reminders of Calvary and heard his voice, that she recognized her Lord and cried out, ‘Rabboni!’”—Master!” p. 80.
These things, the strange mixture of fact and fiction, and an inexcusable carelessness with plain scriptural data, mar what could have been a beautiful book.
C. HUISSEN
Preaching and Biblical Theology EDMUND P. CLOWNEY 124 pp., Eerdmans, price $2.50
The praises of this volume, in many respects a worthy companion to the preceding, are not quickly sung in too lofty a key. Prof. Clowney seeks to bridge the gulf which often seems to yawn between study and pulpit. He is convinced that to enrich our preaching we must return 10 a serious study of biblical theology. It opens new vistas to the student of God’s Word and thus can immeasurably enrich current preaching, which in many quarters has fallen upon very evil days.
The first chapter discusses the true nature and fruils of biblical theology. Here needed warnings are sounded against both fundamentalism and liberalism (neo-orthodoxy I which all too often distort preaching. While acknowledging the many valuable contributions made especially under Barth’s influence, he proves that in these quarters there is no room for normative and authoritative proclamation. The positions of Bultmann and C. H. Dodd are sharply contrasted with the Biblical doctrine of the Word. Especially illuminating and instructive is the section 011 the Word of God and the Covenant. The authority, reliability and objectivity of the word-revelation are convincingly set forth in contrast to modem attacks on the “paper pope.” In the third chapter we are reminded of the time and place in which preaching occurs. Only then will we avoid trite moralizing and display in the pulpit something of the richness of God’s word in Christ Jesus. The last chapter deals more specifically with the content of preaching. Here the reader is introduced to the place and purpose of symbolism, used by God to declare to us his counsel and will.
Although a work of excellent scholarship, this book never reeks of a musty library or a cloistered classroom. Too long has Prof. Clowney been a preacher to fall into this trap. Many of the pressing problems which of late have occupied the attention of preachers and professors are treated in an illuminating way. Here is not only a safe guide for preachers; it is a challenging study for every intelligent church member who longs to know more specifically what God expects preaching in his church to be. Careful and prayerful reading of the volume will be eminently rewarding. The reader’s eyes will be opened the more to marvel lit the treasure which we have in God’s written word. His heart will rejoice with renewed assurance that through this written word God speaks effectively and savingly to the sons of men today.
PETER Y. DE JONG