All Articles For Book Reviews

Normally we do not use editorials for the purpose of reviewing and promoting a book. In this case we gladly make an exception, not only because of who authored the book, Prof. David J. Engelsma, who was granted emeritus status at this year’s synod following 45 years in the active ministry, the last 20 years of which were devoted to our seminary in the Dogmatics department, but especially because of the book’s subject matter, namely, God as God triune, and that in connection with the truth of the covenant. What is more basic to the unique identity of the Christian...

What the Bible Teaches About Marriage. Anthony Selvaggio. Evangelical Press. 2007. Pp. 240, paperback. $14.99. [Reviewed by Douglas J. Kuiper]. The cover of this book contains a picture of a young couple in a Volkswagen van, on the front of which hangs a sign: “Just Married.” It appears at first glance that the woman is in the driver’s seat. Exactly the problem with many marriages today. A closer look, however, indicates that the picture was taken in Great Britain. The van is driving on the left side of the road. And under the young man’s right arm, on the right...

A Concise History of Christian Thought, by Tony Lane (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2006). Pp. x-336. $19.99 (paper). [Reviewed by Prof Herman Hanko.]   The author, professor of historical theology and director of research at the London School of Theology, has given us a very worthwhile book. It can best be called a biographical history of doctrine. It is unique in that it traces the development of doctrine from the early church to today by means of biographical sketches of the church’s theologians and what they taught. The description of their teachings is enhanced by pertinent quotes from their writings....

Son of Secession—Douwe J. VanderWerp, by Janet Sjaarda Sheeres (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2006). Pp. xxii+209 (paper). [Reviewed by Prof. Herman Hanko.] The biography of Douwe VanderWerp by Janet Sheeres is a gem. It is difficult, having begun to read it, to lay it down unfinished. It is one of those books that keeps a man up at night. The book is No. 52 in “The Historical Series of the Reformed Church in America, in cooperation with Origins Studies in Dutch-American History.” Some excellent books have been published in this series, this one not an exception. The book...

The Confessions and the Church Order of the Protestant Reformed Churches. Published by the Protestant Reformed Churches in America, 431 pp. (hardcover). $9.00. [Reviewed by Prof. Russell Dykstra.] (The book may be ordered from the Protestant Reformed Churches in America, 4949 Ivanrest Ave., Grandville, MI 49418 U.S.A. E-mail: catechism@prca.org.) The long anticipated study edition of the confessions and church order is off the press and now available. This is a significant and valuable book for those who love and honor the Reformed confessions, the Reformed liturgical forms, and the church order of Dordt. The preface of the book recounts the...

A Study Commentary on I Corinthians, by Peter Naylor. Evangelical Press, 2004. 543 pp. (hardcover). [Reviewed by Rev. Doug Kuiper.]   As its name indicates, this commentary is astudy commentary. It will benefit the pastor in his sermon preparation; but even more it will benefit the Christian believer who is studying I Corinthians in a Bible study, or for his own private devotion. This is a “popular” commentary—a commentary for the people. Several facts about this commentary underscore the previous statement. First, Naylor’s expositions are not wordy, but usually brief, and almost always to the point. Second, Naylor’s references to the...

We and Our Children: The Reformed Doctrine of Infant Baptism. Herman Hanko. Second Edition Grand Rapids: Reformed Free Publishing Association. 2004. xviii + 165 pages. $7.25 (Paper). [Reviewed by Russell J. Dykstra.]   We and Our Children, first published by the RFPA in 1981, was a compilation of a series of articles in the Protestant Reformed Theological Journal. In those articles, Professor Herman Hanko answered a book entitled Children of Abraham? by David Kingdon. Kingdon rejected infant baptism from the standpoint of a Reformed Baptist. We and Our Childrenanalyzed and refuted the arguments of Kingdon’s book, and then set forth the Reformed position....

Reformed Dogmatics. Herman Hoeksema. Second Edition. Grand Rapids, MI: Reformed Free Publishing Association. Volume I, 2004. xxi + 621 pages. Volume II, 2005. xv + 719 pages. Each $55.00 (Cloth). [Reviewed by Russell J. Dykstra.]   In Reformed circles, Herman Hoeksema is well known as a clear, exegetical, Reformed theologian. His Reformed Dogmatics is the most concise expression of his theology. The original work was published in 1966, a year after Hoeksema died. The original preface, written by the author’s son Homer C. Hoeksema, points out that the Dogmatics is the fruit of more than thirty years of teaching and writing in the area...

Doctrine according to Godliness: A Primer of Reformed Doctrine. Ronald Hanko. Grand Rapids: Reformed Free Publishing Association. 2004. xiii + 338 pages. $28.95 (Hard cover). [Reviewed by Prof. Russell Dykstra.] Doctrine according to Godliness is a significant publication by the Reformed Free Publishing Association. I would describe it as a Reformed Dogmatics for the common man. As such it complements the other solid doctrinal and biblical studies published by the RFPA. It is a valuable book with the potential for benefiting the broader Reformed church world and beyond. Doctrine according to Godliness sets forth the truth of Scripture, that is...

Come and Welcome to Jesus Christ, by John Bunyan (1628-1688). Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth Trust, 2004 (first published in 1681, and republished in Bunyan’s Works, Volume 1, Banner of Truth, 1991). 230 pp. (paper). $8.99. [Reviewed by Prof. Barrett Gritters.] The Calvinistic Puritan John Bunyan, best known for his Pilgrim’s Progress, wrote a fine exposition of John 6:37, which the Banner of Truth has recently republished in a small paperback. If the reader is hesitant to pick up a Puritan work because of expected tedium, he may find himself happily surprised at the sound exegesis, pointed applications, and non-tedious reading....