Plowshares & Pruning Hooks, Rethinking the Language of Biblical Prophecy and Apocalyptic, D. Brent Sandy

   "The moon turning to blood,""a beast with seven heads and ten horns," "giant scorpions stinging men during the last days." What are we to make of such disruptions? How do we interpret them? Of course, those of us who believe the Bible through and through are compelled by our faith to make every effort to allow Scripture to say what God intends it to say. That being said, we must never approach Scripture with a simplistic attitude. The doctrine of the perspicuity of Scripture declares that the knowledge of salvation through Jesus Christ is plainly presented through the overarching storyline of the Old and New Testament. On the other hand, there are things in God's Word that the world's most profound minds have labored to understand. 

   In Plowshares & Pruning Hooks D. Brent Sandy helps us begin to understand the linguistic peculiarities of the hardest genre in Scripture, prophecy and the apocalyptic. The Reformers were adamant that Scripture interprets Scripture and Sandy's book seeks no variance with this interpretive principle. On the contrary, Sandy quite thoroughly shows that the only way to interpret biblical prophecy and apocalyptic literature is to apply the Bible's own definitions to metaphorical and symbolic passages. 

   This is a book expressly for pastors and those who handle the Word. Do not pick up this book and think you will understand it without hard work. But to all those who toil over Plowshares & Pruning Hooks there is great interpretive reward. It was such a profound blessing to me that I read it twice! And though Plowshares & Pruning Hooks is probably not for many laymen, it is for some. Sandy has written a classic in the discipline of biblical hermeneutics. Every seminarian should digest this book before pontificating upon biblical texts that fall into the prophetic and apocalyptic genre.

Post tenebras lux, 

Scott

The Unquenchable Flame, Discovering The Heart Of The Reformation, Michael Reeves

EVERYONE SHOULD READ THIS BOOK.

   The Unquenchable Flame is a thrilling 198-page account of one of the most pivotal events in the history of man, the Protestant Reformation. Author and theologian Michael Reeves is a master storyteller. Even if you are not very familiar with the specifics of the Reformation or the key people involved, you will be able to follow Reeves as he unfolds one amazing event after another. Who needs a novel when history is this exciting!

   In this account, Reeves has intentionally made the material accessible to the popular audience. You will learn about Martin Luther, the medieval, German, Roman Catholic monk who through studying the Bible came to believe that a person is justified before God by faith alone in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. You will learn about how this discovery set in motion a movement of God the world had not witnessed since the early church. You will also learn how important these truths are for today. 

   Not only does this short book give the fascinating tale of days gone by, but it also carries a critical message for today. Dare we boast about the state of churches today? It would not be wise. Much understanding about how to restore churches to faithfulness to God's Word can be found in how these men lead the churches of their day. Of these men Reeves writes, "...The Reformers were not after progress but regress: they were never mesmerized by novelty as we are, nor impatient of what was old, just because it was old; instead, their intent was to unearth original, old Christianity, a Christianity that had not been buried under centuries of human tradition." 

   Churches should purchase this book by the case! Churches should draw strength from those faithful to the Word in days long past. These men met the challenges to the gospel in their day with a thoroughly biblical response. From their example and teaching churches might well do the same. Currently, B&H Academic is giving a free copy of this book to everyone who signs up to receive their blog! Take advantage of this generous offer. You may also purchase the paperback from their site as well at the link provided above. 

Post tenebras lux, 

Scott