All Articles For Book Reviews

Church History, by P.K. Keizer (Translated by T.M.P. VanderVen); Inheritance Publications, 220 pp. (paper). [Reviewed by Prof. H. Hanko.] This book, written by a minister of the Reformed Churches of the Netherlands (Liberated), who also taught church history in a Reformed high school in Groeningen, is intended as a textbook for high school students. In the preface we are told, however, that the book assumes a certain amount of knowledge of church history which is taught in elementary and junior high classes. And this is true. 

THE ROAD AHEAD: A Theology for the Church in Mission, John H. Piet; Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1970; 103 pp., $1.95 (paper). That there is room in present day literature coming from the ecclesiastical press for a book on the theology of missions is almost a truism. Such a book could be important and would be welcome. But one qualification for such a book would have to be that it set forth the truths of Scripture on this subject. This book lacks this major characteristic.

D. Martyn Lloyd -Jones: The Fight of Faith 1939-1981, by Iain H. Murray. Edinburgh: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1990. pp. xxiv-831. $36.95, cloth. [Reviewed by Prof. Robert D. Decker.] This massive work is volume two of a biography of the late great preacher of Westminster Chapel in London. D. Martyn Loyd-Jones: The First Forty Years 1899-1939, the first volume of the biography, was published in 1982, about a year after Lloyd-Jones’ death. The doctor himself authorized his long-time friend and former assistant pastor at the Chapel (1956-1959), Iain H. Murray, to write the biography. The two volumes present a...

First Corinthians, by Gordon H. Clark; The Trinity Foundation, 1991 [1975]; 349 pp., $10.95, (paper). [Reviewed by Prof. H. Hanko. ] Gordon Clark has written a short, but orthodox, commentary on Paul’s first epistle to the Corinthians. It is a worthwhile work and is helpful in a study of this difficult part of Scripture. It can be used with profit by ministers who are preaching from this book, but also by any of God’s people who are studying I Corinthians in their societies, their homes, or their personal Bible study. 

Call the Sabbath a Delight, by Walter Chantry. Edinburgh: The Banner of Truth Trust, 1991. 112 pp., $5.95 (paper). [Reviewed by Prof. R. Decker.] This little paperback is must reading for Reformed believers in our day. It maybe true that our Reformed fathers were a bit legalistic in their views of the proper observance of the Lord’s day. Father would shave on Saturday evening and mother would peel the potatoes and bake the roast for Sunday’s dinner on Saturday evening. On the Lord’s day itself the children were not allowed to play either in the house or outside. The two...

An Introduction to the New Testament, by D. A. Carson, Douglas J. Moo, & Leon Morris; Zondervan Publishing House, 1992; 537 pp., $24.95 (hard cover). [Reviewed by Prof. Herman Hanko.] Books on “Introduction” deal with background material on Scripture. Usually they deal with the individual books of the Bible. A good book on “Introduction” will examine the question of the authorship of an individual Bible book; it will try to discover when the book was written; it will examine the question of the addressee of a book, i.e., to whom a book was addressed; it will attempt to learn the...

The Gospel According to John, by D.A. Carson. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1992. 715 pp., $34.95. [Reviewed by Prof. Herman Hanko.] Dr. Carson’s commentary on the Gospel According to John is one of the best commentaries I have read on this beautiful and important part of Scripture. I recommend it to all our readers. Ministers and teachers can find in it a wealth of material to aid them in understanding what is a difficult book But those with no formal education in college or Seminary can also easily read the book. It is true that it...

Divorce and Remarriage: Biblical Principles and Pastoral Practice, by Andrew Cornes. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1993. 528 pp. $24.99 (paper). [Reviewed by the Editor.] This is a careful, thorough treatment of Scripture’s teaching on marriage, divorce, and remarriage. Although concentrating on marriage, the book does justice to the single life as a blessed, preferable way of life for some Christians. Following the 300- page section of biblical exposition is a 200-page section devoted to instruction of officebearers and congregation concerning pastoral practice. Anglican minister Andrew Cornes demonstrates that it is the doctrine of Christ and Paul, that...

In the Company of Angels: What the Bible Teaches What You Need to Know, by Andrew J. Bandstra. Grand Rapids: CRC Publications, 1995. 133 pp., no price given (paper). [Reviewed by Prof. Robert D. Decker.] In general this book by Andrew Bandstra, Professor of New Testament Emeritus of Calvin Theological Seminary, contains many helpful insights into the subject of Angels. The points made are tightly argued and based on careful exegesis of Scripture. This is a very welcome contrast to the speculation one finds in so much of what’s written on the angels. Upon reading this little book one will...

Blame It on the Brain: Distinguishing Chemical Imbalances, Brain Disorders, and Disobedience, by Edward T. Welch. Phillipsburg, New Jersey: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Company, 1998. 204 pp.$12.99, (paper). [Reviewed by Prof. Robert D. Decker.] This is a good book on a difficult subject, a subject which continues to occupy the attention of practical theologians, pastors, Christian psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and educators. The difficult subject is this: Is what we call mental illness sin or sickness, or does it partake of both? Our ministers and Christian school teachers ought to read the book carefully. They will find help in dealing...