How Many Isaiahs Were There & What Does It Matter, Prophetic Inspiration in Recent Evangelical Scholarship, Richard L. Schultz

   Did Isaiah the prophet write the book that bears his name? Were there two, three, or four "Isaiahs?" Did Isaiah the prophet even exist? Is the book of Isaiah simply a compilation of writings from other scribes? A troubling trend is afoot in Evangelical scholarship. As evangelicals gain acceptance in the academy there has with this acceptance comes the temptation to yield and to use, the higher- critical methods that have plagued liberalism from its inception. Respect can be a powerful draw that leads to a perversion of the historic and traditionally accepted doctrine of the inspiration of the Scriptures. And lest we minimize the danger, we must remember that to forsake the biblical doctrine of inspiration or to pervert it is to lose the Scriptures themselves. Schultz's concern is that "One of the primary threats today to a traditional understanding of biblical inspiration and inerrancy is the unrestricted employment of historical-critical tools by evangelical biblical scholars."
    How Many Isaiahs... is actually an excerpt from the larger book, Evangelicals & Scripture: Tradition, Authority, and Hermeneutics; a book that will henceforth be on the Sorry, I'm Booked "must-read" list. This is good for the reader. Making How Many Isaiahs...a stand-alone book makes it small enough for the average person. Since this is a subject that the typical Christian might shy away from reading, IVP Academic has performed a great service to the church by publishing it. The issues of this book, especially to the book of Isaiah, are of vital importance. "Contemporary evangelical approaches to the book of Isaiah illustrate vividly how historical-critical approaches to the book entail a changing doctrine of Scripture," Schultz writes. Church members mustn't ignore this book because, as the saying goes, what begins in the classroom ends on the street. Pastors go to seminaries to learn the Word and the skills of ministry and godliness but if what they learn is wrong then they will be as well. How can a local church pastor preach Isaiah with conviction when he is not confident that Isaiah is a trustworthy book or if his belief in the traditional understanding of inspiration and inerrancy has been shaken? Issues such as these are not simply scholastic past-times but have profound implications for the growth and vitality of the local churches. 

Post tenebras lux,
Scott 

Biblical Eldership, An Urgent Call to Restore Biblical Church Leadership, Alexander Strauch

   Is leadership in the church about popularity? Should churches simply find those individuals that have done well for themselves in the community? What makes for good and, more importantly, godly leadership? Do pastors have authority? Should they? What does this authority look like and who gave it to them? Churches should be asking these and like-minded questions. Unfortunately, many churches do not ask such questions until they are faced with a problem in the body or the failure of a shepherd. "Who can calculate the damage done during the past two thousand years to the churches of Jesus Christ because of inattentive, naive, and prayerless shepherds?", writes Strauch.
    Biblical Eldership by Alexander Strauch is already a classic on the subject. I'm tempted to skip it and not blog about this particular book because of its rapid and deserved rise to the must-read list on the topic of church order. On the other hand, one suspects that taking such worthy works for granted is how they often fall into disuse. Perhaps there are church members, elders, deacons, and pastors who are yet to benefit from this work. My concern specifically is for the younger ministers that are building their libraries and constructing their understanding of biblical church order.
    Solomon wrote that to the making of books there is no end. Speaking as one who blogs on the joy of books and reading, I'm perfectly happy with Solomon's observation. In the spirit of Solomon's great wisdom, it behooves us to be selective about our reading. Research what are the best works on a given subject and read them first then if there are time, money and energy to read more, do so. It is my observation that most people read. That is not the question. What makes the difference in us is that we are reading deep, Scriptural works that transform our minds and lives in conformity to God's Word. Such is Biblical Eldership. This is not a "church growth" book so if you are looking for the latest and greatest on how to grow your church to be the talk of the religious stratosphere then this is not the book for you. But if you want to build godly, servant-leaders that uphold the sound doctrine and spiritual vitality in your congregation then this book is most certainly in the must-read list.
    Biblical Eldership is written with balance and clarity. Strauch has made great effort to build upon solid and thorough exegesis of pertinent Scripture. Furthermore, he has researched broadly on the implementation of the Bible's teaching on elders, which is often a gap not bridged. In fact, I am comfortable saying that for Strauch these are one and the same. It is clear that he is working from a firm belief in the sufficiency of the Scriptures. Strauch expounds the Scriptures then explains how this is to be worked out in relation to other passages and in light of church history, as it relates to church order. It is worth mentioning, as well, that his style is warm and winsome. Strauch never comes across as if he were on the attack. He believes in and defends his position but in an engaging way so that even if you do not agree with the concept of elders in the church you will benefit from making this book a part of your research. Practically speaking, this would be an excellent "required reading" for all church leadership for teaching how to care for the Lord's flock. It is my prayer that all shepherds will take time to digest this book and implement its wise counsel. 

Post tenebras lux,
Scott

The Quest for the Historical Adam, Genesis, Hermeneutics, and Human Origins, William VanDoodewaard

The Quest for the Historical Adam, Genesis, Hermeneutics, and Human Origins, William VanDoodewaard

   Does the Bible teach a hardline creation ex nihilo? Must we believe that the world was created in six days? Did mankind exist before the creation of Adam? Does it matter if we believe that God created? Does a modified view of creation coincide with a biblical view of the gospel? What has the church believed and taught for two millennia? If these questions are meaningful to you, then you are asking the right questions. You need answers, biblical answers, that undergird the faith rather than undermine it. 

    Few know the history behind the debate about origins. Though it is surprising, not many pastors are familiar with it either. Charles Darwin didn't start the discussion nor will he have the final word. VanDoodewaard has given a gift to our day in, The Quest for the Historical Adam. Here is a thorough but never tedious expose of the church's struggle with the question of whether to take the Bible literally when it says that God created the heavens and the earth in six days or to find some other hermeneutic that will save face for us before the world. 

   Written with a clear mind and a patient heart The Quest for the Historical Adam interacts with the patristic fathers of the church, the medieval scholars, the reformers, the Enlightenment era, the nineteenth century and early twentieth-century greats as well as the current era. This may well be one of the most important books written in the last fifty years. Evangelicals must land biblically on this matter. It is an issue of utmost importance for the health of the church and her faithfulness to the gospel. Unless we stop being embarrassed over God's Word we will never have the Spirit's power to face the onslaught of neopaganism that surrounds us. Pastors must cherish the Word more than scholarly recognition. Faithfulness to the complete message of God's Word is not optional. 

    Regarding how we have arrived at the current hermeneutical (how to interpret the Bible) dilemma in the church VanDoodewaard writes with succinct accuracy, 

"The rise of enthusiasm over new natural philosophies, their growing sophistication, and the popular blurring of the philosophical constructs and the categories of hypothetical models with aspects of genuine growth in scientific knowledge, meant the revival of and increase in the pressures previously felt by Origen, Augustine, Eriugena, Aquinas, La Peyrere, Burnet, Whiston, Le Clerc, and others (p. 143)." 

In this statement, there is a congealed insight that characterizes VanDoodewaard's research and writing. He has obviously given himself to the task of reducing this mammoth topic and its history to a manageable size. The result is a book to which every Christian may resort for understanding and confirmation in God's Word. My word to you - get it; read it; buy it for your pastor and neighbor who takes such questions seriously. 

Post tenebras lux,
Scott