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by David L. Tiede
Product Group: Book
Publisher: Augsburg Fortress Publishers (1988-09)
ISBN: 0806688580
EAN: 9780806688589
Dewy Decimal #: 226.407
Paperback: 457 pages
SKU: 121608010
Condition: Used: Good
Comments: ...No noticeable Underlining or Highlighting...shelf wear on cover
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by Albert Barnes
Product Group: Book
Publisher: Baker Books (1983-01)
ISBN: 0801008344
EAN: 9780801008344
Dewy Decimal #: 225
Hardcover: 10724 pages
SKU: 082308064
Condition: Used: Acceptable
Comments: these look like the 1952 or older edition. (COLLECTORS EDITION)???pages are normally yellowing or tanning with age. I ONLY HAVE A PARTIAL SET. SOME OF THE VOLUMES ARE MISSING. BINDING ALL PRETTY GOOD FOR AGE. I HAVE THE FOLLOWING VOLUMES: III,II, VI, IV, V, VIL,IX, L, XL,X,VIII AUG
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Editorial Reviews
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Product Description
Straightforward, verse-by-verse exposition of and thorough introductions to each book of the Bible. For preachers and laity.
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Customer Reviews
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A good Commentary
Rating  (4)
Date: 2007-07-06
3 out of 3 customers found this reveiw helpful
This is a good buy for anyone who is studying the bible. I personally do not think one should just judge on the element of atonement, whether Jesus died JUST for the elect as most reformers think or that He died for ALL but many refuse His salvation. I personally think that this is a good commentary with a very good perspective in his conjecture. Salvation is salvation. Whether we believe in limited or unlimited atonement should not be the focus. Jesus did die for all and anyone who approaches Him can be saved. Let Him decide who He has elected and let us persuade the unbelievers to salvation through Christ.
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God is not partial
Rating  (5)
Date: 2007-07-04
3 out of 6 customers found this reveiw helpful
God is not partial in revealing his Word to people after the apostles time. Textus receptus in which KJV based on is very accurate. God has preserved his Word for centuries tru churches. The new discoveries of MSS in modern time which were rejected by early church fathers are fake. The older the MSS, the less reliable they are. God would never had hidden his Word for more than 1800 years before they were revealed by modern day schloras. The old time commentators were candid, spiritual minded christians and devotional in writing style. Nothing can be added to God Word from outside. The old commentary sets such as of Matthew Henry's, Matthew Poole's, John Gill"s and Barne's notes are all reliable and very safe to read. I love these commentary sets so much
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Arminian
Rating  (1)
Date: 2003-04-04
8 out of 34 customers found this reveiw helpful
Barnes is an Arminian, i.e. He does not believe in protestant reformed theology, as taught by Martin Luther, John Calvin and all the great names of the reformation. As such I can't recommend this book, I consider the commentary very biased against the truth.
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Best General Commentary
Rating (5)
Date: 2001-11-05
28 out of 29 customers found this reveiw helpful
It has been over 20 years since I finished my studies, but a few books still hold fond memories. Of the many different commentary authors I've read, Barnes' Notes has always stood heads above all others. His writing is mellow, easy to read, not prone to unsubstantiated conjecture, reasonably thorough, and was obviously written by a person more interested in what the Bible said, not in pushing some belief. I highly recommend this set of commentaries for everyone interested in studying the Bible. I have a personal enjoyment for Calvin's works, but Barnes is not to be skipped over. A must-have.
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The Next Step
Rating (5)
Date: 2000-01-27
16 out of 18 customers found this reveiw helpful
Barnes' Notes is both an incredible and essential tool for the serious Bible student. Barnes sometimes overtranslates the Bible, but those times are few and far between. Barnes' Notes is a comprehensive reference that is difficult to put down. Barnes provides historical information at the beginning and an occasional note within the notes on the text itself about the people to whom the book was originally adressed. Barnes is not confined by the historical perimeters though. He still teaches that we are to apply the lessons to our lives and not seclude them to the times at which the documents were orignially written. In short, if you love Matthew Henry, you'll love Barnes. Barnes is definitely the next step.
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by Gregg Easterbrook
Product Group: Book
Publisher: William Morrow (1998-10-07)
ISBN: 0688160654
EAN: 9780688160654
Dewy Decimal #: 220.6
Hardcover: 320 pages
Release Date: 1998-09-23
SKU: 071708028
Condition: Used: Good
Comments: ...No noticeable Underlining or Highlighting...minor wear on cover 333
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Editorial Reviews
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Product Description
"Fascinating, elegant . . . [Easterbrook] invests the timeless question of life's meaning with distinctly contemporary pertinence."--George Will, NewsweekYes, says Gregg Easterbrook in this provocative and probing new book. In the tradition of Jack Miles's God A Biography and the work of Karen Armstrong, Beside Still Waters ponders the question "Is there anything left to believe in?" Gregg Easterbrook persuasively argues that rationality and outright doubt are inevitable and indeed vital elements of spiritual faith. Other new and important ideas about spiritual thought include the challenging observation that the Bible never actually proclaims God omnipotent -- a concept, Easterbrook suggests, that arose through the sociology and politics of religion, nor Scripture. Bucking the current trend to undermine the Bible's historical value, he affirms that it is neither simple myth nor mere literature, but rather it records many genuine events that can be seen to chart a spiritual journey not only of man but also of God. A thought-provoking book for anyone who believes that true faith can and should accommodate sincere doubt, Beside Still Waters addresses some of the central spiritual issues of a profoundly skeptical age.
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Amazon.com Review
Gregg Easterbrook says the ideal readers of Beside Still Waters: Searching for Meaning in an Age of Doubt are "those who seek the spiritual center--whose hearts are open to higher purpose but whose heads are aware of the many valid objections." To these readers, Easterbrook offers the gift of his contemplative, witty, well-informed essays on questions such as "whether the wars and repressions staged in the name of religion invalidate the ideals that arise from faith; whether our increasing knowledge of history demonstrates spiritual thought to have begun in mythology or superstition; [and] whether faith is on balance an advantageous force for society." Easterbrook is a reporter, not a religion expert, but he's managed to float an extraordinary amount of erudition on his fluid journalistic style. Because his learning is passionate rather than professional, he's able to explore his questions with openness and zeal. Beside Still Waters concludes with a startlingly scriptural refutation of God's omnipotence and a strong, smart argument that monotheism is inherently opposed to rigid denominationalism. Yet with equal strength and good sense, he defends the value of denominations. Maybe you're a good Christian, or a good Jew, or a good atheist. The balanced, vigorous, loving thoughts contained in Beside Still Waters can help you become something better than all of those, and necessary for being any of them--a good person. --Michael Joseph Gross
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Customer Reviews
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Disappointing
Rating  (2)
Date: 2003-08-11
14 out of 22 customers found this reveiw helpful
Having become aware of Gregg Easterbrook through his writing on, of all places, espn.com, I looked forward to reading this book for two reasons. First and foremost, it seemed perfectly suited to me, based on the editorial review comment, "those who seek the spiritual center--whose hearts are open to higher purpose but whose heads are aware of the many valid objections." Perfect. Second, I have found Easterbrook to be a good read in forums as diverse as the aforementioned espn.com and in the National Review, for which he is a senior editor.
However I was very disappointed in this book. I had hoped to learn about a way to "bootstrap" faith in this overtly secular world. What I found was a series of old arguments, mostly based on the argument from design. The argument from design, if you are not familiar with it, proposes that God must exist since we are so incredibly well-suited to our environment. This ignores the obvious issue that we evolved in our environment, so clearly are well-suited to it. We evolved to fit the environment; the environment was not created to suit us.
So I got little out of this volume. I'll continue to read Easterbrook on espn.com, but I'll skip his spiritual musings in the future.
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Provocative and intriguing
Rating (4)
Date: 2001-11-19
17 out of 17 customers found this reveiw helpful
Written in a conversational, "non-preachy" style, this book explores the question of what it means to have faith (or to look for a reason to believe) in the modern world. The author limits himself to the Judeo-Christian tradition, exploring obstacles to belief that may arise from the more problematic parts of the Bible -- particularly God's wrathful "smiting" of his enemies (and even, sometimes, his friends). The heart of the book is an extended discussion of the possibility of an evolving God who is neither all-knowing nor all-powerful. Much of this material parallels Jack Miles's GOD: A BIOGRAPHY (written, apparently, at around the same time), though Easterbook's treatment is more concise and focused, and covers the New Testament along with the Old. The development of God from vengeful warrior-king to peaceful redeemer is certainly a story of great interest, although one could (perhaps more plausibly) see it as a record of the moral improvement of human beings whose writings reflect God in their own image. (Edith Hamilton's excellent SPOKESMEN FOR GOD, out of print but worth finding, presents the issue from this perspective.) Easterbrook's thesis is provocative, and he states it in a clear, readable style, with wit and subtlety. A worthwhile book that leaves you feeling that you've just had an extended philosophical conversation with an intelligent and sympathetic friend.
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From Raging Storm to Pacific Stillness
Rating (5)
Date: 2000-05-22
5 out of 8 customers found this reveiw helpful
This book is a spiritual journey. It begins with some of the many valid reasons for questioning Faith, including the history of thoughts and concepts, the current state of scientific knowledge about how the Universe was created. It continues on into what the Bible says and what it does NOT say about some important Faith concepts which we generally assume are supported in the Bible because they are repeated so often today, but were actually created by people for the convenience and sanctioning of church and state leaders politics and power. It continues on to show how God evolved in relating to humans from the Genesis through the early and middle Old Testament where God was very jealous of other gods, greatly interested in religious rituals, and regularly used miracles to accomplish God's work, much of which was savage in killing of thousands of people, including even appearing in and leading battles for the Nation of Israel. (This is NOT a pretty story, but it is the HIStory of the same God we worship and adore today for unbounded love for each of us.) In the late Old Testament, culminating in the New Testament, God, and Jesus, as God's voice on Earth, evolved to using only healing miracles and messages of God's love and Need for love from all people.
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Not entirely persuasive, but....
Rating (5)
Date: 2000-02-10
A somewhat selective reading of the Bible that perhaps doesn't properly explain the import of some of the passages cited, this book is nevertheless fascinating and well written. Most important for me as a reader was Easterbrook's enthusiasm for his subject and his intelligent and moving description of what is so compelling about Jesus. So, although I can't agree that it makes sense to say that "God is slooowww ...." I read the book in only a few nights, learnt a lot and came away with plenty of questions about a lot of received wisdom. For all of which I am thankful...
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Nothing new, but very refreshing
Rating (5)
Date: 1999-10-15
12 out of 12 customers found this reveiw helpful
I would strongly recommend this book to anyone who like myself has always had an urge to believe that there was a God and that life is not as meaningless as many modern scientists seem to think it is but are unable to believe in the God presented in most conservative and even mainline protestant churches. Although the author doesn't elude to it in the title, this book is definitely written from a very Christian(liberal Christian) perspective, which is what I was looking for. Especially of interest to me was Easterbrooks proposed explanations for some of the appauling events in the Old Testament that had always been a stumbling block to my belief in Christianity. Also facinating was the possibilities he raised regarding the omnipotence of God. Of course there is probably nothing in this book that could not be found in other volumes by other authors but I quite liked the way that Gregg Easterbrook put it all together and made it very accesible. Although I don't quite agree with all of the authors propositions I would definitely recommend this book highly.
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by Tau Malachi
Product Group: Book
Publisher: Llewellyn Publications (2005-01-01)
ISBN: 0738705918
EAN: 9780738705910
Dewy Decimal #: 299.932
Paperback: 432 pages
SKU: 121808012
Condition: Used: Good
Comments: ...no markings or highlighting...curled cover
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Product Description
The noble idea of the Christian Kabbalah is not so much the worship of Jesus Christ, but rather a conscious evolution toward a divine or super-humanity. In this regard, Christian Kabbalah is quite different from its Jewish roots, and Gnostic Christianity is very different from orthodox Christianity. Both are about experiencing God and evolving toward God, rather than just studying theology.
This groundbreaking work is the first to present the Christian Gnosis of the Kabbalah in a practical and deeply esoteric way. It takes the reader from the basic ideas of the Kabbalah to in-depth explorations of the Tree of Life. Gnostic legends and myths of the Holy Mother, St. Lazarus, St. Mary Magdalene, and Jesus are woven into the study of the Holy Sefirot as well as commentaries on the Ten Commandments and The Beatitudes of the Sermon on the Mount.
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Customer Reviews
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Gnosis for a New Christos
Rating (4)
Date: 2008-10-08
Gnosis of the Cosmic Christ - A Gnostic Christian Kabbalah by Tau Malachi
Published by Llewellyn Worldwide
This lengthy work is well researched and written by someone who has been an initiate and a devotee and has been a practicing Gnostic Christian and Kabbalist for well over 30 years, and that alone should tell you that this is a work for someone who is searching on a much deeper level than someone else just interested in a quick overview of the subject.
What sets this book ahead of other works of similar nature is that the work is presented in the light of intense study of the Old Testament and the source works of the Jewish Kabbalah. There has always been the attempt to connect the two - Christian Mysticism and the Kabbalah, but they have always fallen more than a bit short of achieving that goal. However, Malachi eben Ha-Elijah has done a tremendously commendable job of not just connecting, but building a solid structure that is bound to exist for some years to come.
However, due to the depth of research, this is not a book that can be read just once, and the meaning understood, or the finer points discerned. This is a book that will have to be read, noted, contemplated and read again at a later date. I myself have gone through it at least three times and I am continually amazed that I find yet another aspect if this subject brought to light, I tend to like such books, as they seem timeless...what was meant to be discerned at one point of my life is now something else down the road, and another reading brings out yet another point. A very useful tool for the true seeker.
One other way that I determine the usefulness and authenticity of a work, newly published, is to peruse the bibliography and see if the author has indeed `done their homework' insofar as the number of works and the depth of the titles utilized, and one could spend a lifetime of reading just the bibliography. That alone tells me that this is a work that will be referred to for decades to come by those wishing to delve deep into the study of the Gnosis of the Cosmic Christ.
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A must read for a seeker of the spiritual side of Christianity
Rating (5)
Date: 2008-03-31
This book is excellent, and I would highly recommend it. It can sometimes be a little hard to follow if you are not familiar with Gnostic terminology, but it is well worth learning it for the benefits of this book.
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A Bridge is Forming
Rating (4)
Date: 2007-10-30
3 out of 3 customers found this reveiw helpful
This is one of those rare books that starts bridging the gap between seemingly different worlds.
Kabbalah (with Tantra) is probably one of the most important concepts forgotton by modern man. It is an ancient wisdom that could open so many doors to our inner selves.
Gnosis of the Cosmic Christ - although a difficult read at some stages - is an important book, as it brings Kabbalah, Gnosticism and Christianity togeteher, as it should be.
Highly recommended.
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Phenomenal Book, Wonderfully Written
Rating (5)
Date: 2007-10-09
4 out of 4 customers found this reveiw helpful
Finding myself - like so many others - not completely satisfied with contemporary Christian teachings, and left with a feeling that "there must be something more", I recently began undertaking a study of mystical traditions, including Kabbalah.
When I first began reading "Gnosis..." I found the material very heavy and a bit much to absorb, but even then there were passages that stood out to me and resonated with a deep, emphatic 'YES!'.
I explored a number of similarly-themed books, but none left me with a feeling of having experienced profound spiritual truths as I had with "Gnosis...", so I returned to Tau Malachi's book. I believe the brief departure was exactly what I needed. Having time to absorb the concepts of the Sephirot, Olamot, and a number of other elements, I've been able to continue my reading with greater ease. I believe that this book warrants this type of earnest study and reflection - especially for one like myself who is just beginning their journey. I am, once again, experiencing the 'YES!'
I cannot possibly recommend this book enough...it is simply incredible!
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Truly magnificent introduction to the Sephirot!
Rating (4)
Date: 2007-08-06
3 out of 3 customers found this reveiw helpful
This is probably the best book I've read so far for an overview of the Kabbalah and the emanations of the Sephirot.
As you read it, you can feel the wisdom on each page. Tau Malachi is a modern master who shares the truth of the Kabbalah without getting all "new-agey" and wandering far from the ancient truths that have been passed down from true disciples.
Highly recommended!
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by Frederick Fyvie Bruce
Product Group: Book
Publisher: InterVarsity Press (1983-06)
ISBN: 0877849277
EAN: 9780877849278
Dewy Decimal #: 232.954
Paperback: 265 pages
SKU: 041708018
Condition: Used: Good
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Editorial Reviews
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Product Description
F.F. Bruce examines seventy of the hard saying of Jesus to clear away the cultural and historical difficulties which keep us from grappling with the real challenge of Jesus' message. Evident is Bruce's keen evangelical scholarship and pastoral insight.
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Customer Reviews
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The REAL JESUS is LORD.
Rating (5)
Date: 2008-08-29
0 out of 1 customers found this reveiw helpful
Want a REAL look at JESUS of NAZERETH? These sayings give us an insight as to WHO HE IS.ALL GOOD and FORGIVING!! these are TRUTH,LIFE,LOVE. something we can REALLY sink our teeth into.GOD of ALL CREATION.
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Solid Interpretations of Hard Sayings
Rating (4)
Date: 2008-04-04
2 out of 2 customers found this reveiw helpful
I believe this book provides solid interpretations of the hard sayings of Jesus. The material is written from a perspective I share and find most important: that the Bible's recordings of Jesus' words are accurate and trustworthy, and that Jesus is who he said he was. From that perspective, one has to then deal with Jesus' teachings seriously, and they call those who believe in him to a radically different life than most of the world. Each chapter gives contextual information from the time in history of Jesus' earthly ministry, and also the context of what Jesus is saying within the particular Bible story being told.
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Extremely enjoyable, if not flawed, book
Rating (4)
Date: 2007-11-25
5 out of 6 customers found this reveiw helpful
"The Hard Sayings of Jesus" is a well written & edited volume that is an enjoyable, if not slightly flawed, book. It is a nice gateway to begin the journey into the more difficult teachings of Jesus, from those with confusing meanings due to linguistic, historical, and cultural barriers to those with all to clear of meanings that challenge our own comforts.
While Jesus and his teachings are the focal point of the New Testament it must be noted with a touch of irony that the sayings of Jesus are not only the most challenging texts to follow as a disciple but can also be the most difficult ones to properly interpret. "The Hard Sayings of Jesus" by the late F.F. Bruce addresses both of these issues by introducing the reader to a host of problematic passages, providing a concise survey of the major points of debate, and then offers his best suggestion(s) to resolve the issue(s).
The format of the book is excellent and engaging, selecting 70 sayings almost exclusively from the Synoptic Gospels in roughly chronological order. The chapters average about three and a half pages so they are quite digestible, leaving you time to ponder and debate what you just read or squeeze in one... or two or three!... more chapters. Between the breadth of knowledge Bruce brings into his surveys, the intrigue of the sayings of Jesus, and the format of the book I found this short tome difficult to put down.
The strength of the book is Bruce did an ample job of surveying the most commonly acknowledged difficult or divisive sayings and concisely touches on a number of issues surrounding the saying before offering his own take on the issue--which are frequently quite good.
While the format of the book is to be praised it would have been helpful to the reader if each chapter ended with a bibliography of current research to continue further study. While it is unfair to demerit the excellent format of the volume the audience, which seems to be aimed at serious Bible students and undergraduate Seminarians, would have benefited significantly if the volume was presented as a gateway to deeper study. Bruce is obviously well versed in all the relevant material and is a master on the topic, an extended bibliography for further study would have been an excellent addition. As it stands, the current volume finds itself as a meager gateway to engaging the topics at a superficial level and left to hunt down the relevant works in other resources.
The target audience is confusing. Above I noted that it appears to be aimed at serious students of the Bible and undergraduate Bible students. Bruce does not hesitate to dialogue on issues like Gospel Source Theories (Q and the like), reference the Aramaic background of Jesus' sayings, and [infrequently] engage liberal-critical scholarship about the "originality" of certain sayings. Yet, due to the format, this is all done at a fairly superficial level--which is begging for thorough documentation. Yet the current format is a dead end in this regards, leaving the reader no direct way to further engage these issues. Furthermore, the book contains very little Greek which is surprising considering the audience and the helpfulness it could offer at times. Instead the reader is typically treated to arguments like, "The AV says... but the RSV renders better". Considering the audience it would have been worthwhile to dig directly into the Greek of the sayings. Those caveats noted, the book still remains accessible to the lay reader. While some concepts may be foreign and readers will have to take Bruce at his word, the writing is excellent and Bruce does a nice job of presenting ideas without assuming the reader will be formally acquainted with such concepts.
Which leads me to some of my major grinds with this book. In many ways I feel the book should be re-titled, "A Modern Christian Perspective on the Difficult Sayings of Jesus". The book dabbles just enough in difficult ideas -- Jesus spoke Aramaic, logia and source theory, Jewish background of the sayings, critical assessment of the originality of sayings -- without thoroughly engaging these issues when they not only offer significant contributions to the topic of discussion but also are deserving of a more thorough response and interaction. While a more thorough bibliography would have alleviated this issue, the current form of the book feels like a treaty aimed to engage these issues just enough to bypass them on the way to the conclusion. This is a disservice to the reader as they come away with the impression that these issues are resolved and have been adequately been addressed. I applaud Bruce for broaching these topics, but the current format doesn't lend itself to a very balanced treatment of every saying.
This leads further into the one area I found significantly lacking in this volume: The Jewishness of Jesus.
Jesus was born a Jew and lived a Jewish life. He is well acquainted not only with the Hebrew Bible but the Jewish teachings of his day -- of which he interacts with regularly and form and central theme in his conflicts with the Jewish sects of his time. Authors like Brad Young, E.P. Sanders, David Flussner, and David Daube among others have penned significant contributions in this field of study over the last four decades yet this volume only lightly engages these issues. This is not to say Bruce completely ignores this area of study, but I found the treatment in this volume completely lacking. Part of the difficulty found in Jesus' sayings is they are part of an inner-household conflict. Without fully understanding the positions Jesus disagreed with, and notably the many issues he agreed with his contemporaries, the reader isn't given a full appreciation of the thoroughness of Jesus' teachings. This is a significant aspect of understanding Jesus in his historical perspective: Jesus the Jew, not Jesus the Christian.
An example to illustrate this point is found in chapter 8 (Matthew 5:17ff) where the difficulty isn't with the saying, but with Christian theology and Pauline interpretation (p.42). Unfortunately Bruce mischaracterizes Jesus relationship to Rabbinic teachings (p.44) when he says, "It is plain that Jesus did not accept the Rabbinical interpretation of the law. Indeed, he charged the scribes, the acknowledged students and teachers of the law, with 'transgressing the commandment of God for the sake of their tradition'". This is followed by a reference to Matthew 15:2 and Matthew 24:4. While this typecasting fits quite well with traditional Christian views of Jesus and his conflict with his contemporaries, it is quite out of place with the historical Jesus. Ironically, the context of the passages in which Bruce is commenting (Matthew chapters 5-7, the Sermon on the Mount) are full of teachings that are paralleled in Rabbinic literature. Chapter 5 Brad Young's recent book, "Meet the Rabbis" is dedicated to the parallels in the Sermon on the Mount. While no one would argue that Jesus agreed with the Rabbis on every point, it is inaccurate to say that Jesus diverged radically with Rabbinical interpretation of the Law. For the same Jesus who sharply criticizes the Pharisees is also found engaging them in dialogue frequently, expressing common teachings found about the Rabbis, and even saying, "The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach" (Matthew 23:2f). Of course, back the chapter 8 of the book, Bruce uses his general argument to put Jesus against the Jews and the Law, ethical versus ceremonial, and dismissing the "least of the commandments" on the basis of, "I desire mercy, not sacrifice". Yet was it not Jesus who said, "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices-- mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law-- justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former" (Matthew 23:23).
Jesus is a complex person and his teachings, like those on the Law above, aren't always concisely identified as either/or. As in the above example (truly, "Jesus and the Law" is a topic unto itself) Bruce's approach is outmoded and inaccurate. His initial frustration isn't with Jesus, but with his understanding of Paul, and gravitates towards Jesus tension with the religious leaders of his time, and not the law himself. His dismissal of Jesus connection with the Judaism of his time is quite flippant (and incorrect), and his approach to the issue is cast in traditional Christian apology and "either/or" rhetoric.
The difficult say of Jesus wasn't addressed in its proper historical setting but instead sidestepped with traditional Christian dogma.
On rare occasion Bruce's discussion boarders on the absurd. Chapter 10, "Adultery in the Heart" (Matt 5:28) is an example where Bruce overreaches in his conclusion (to score political correctness points?). Bruce is correct in using this as an example of where Jesus looks "inward" to intensify the demands of the Law, and he dutifully notes that the 10th commandment broaches the topic of coveting/desire of another person's spouse in the broader sense (Job 31:1 covers the lust of the eyes as well). But the conclusion, where he references the Pope with the provocative suggestion that one can commit adultery with ones own wife is laughable. While few would disagree with his point about treating women as sex objects (and Jesus did have an elevated and respectful view of women compared to society), the emphasis Bruce places on "woman" misses the point that the word Jesus chooses in "adultery" (instead of fornication or another word of the like) is defined as relations with the spouse of another individual. Further, what is "lust" in one context is frequently "desire" in a positive context in other passages--and is translated appropriately. While his attempt at nuance is appreciated, it is lost in the bigger picture in the use of "lustfully" in the New Testament as well as the distinction between fornication and adultery. All the while making a point which distracts from the thrust of Jesus argument: adultery is a condition of the heart long before it sprouts forth in the flesh (a process Jesus' brother James elaborates on in James 1:14f). Desire for a woman other than your wife is the root of adultery and it must be addressed there. While some may see this complaint as overly critical, the reality is Christianity, and notably Catholicism, has had a slanted view toward the holiness of sex and chapters like this do little to address this issue properly and, instead, create more artificial barriers. Bruce's conclusion falls well outside the primary domain of what the words of Jesus were intended to convey.
In the end this nifty little volume by the late F.F. Bruce is an enjoyable read that offers a solid starting point to engage some of the more difficult texts in the New Testament. It isn't exhaustive nor conclusively resolve many issues, but it does broaden the readers appreciation for the time & place of the original events as well as identify some of the baggage historical interpretations often bring to the text. If you enjoy wrestling with the teachings of Jesus you should enjoy this book--just remember to use it as a springboard for further study and not a final authority on the issue.
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Not the best for confronting cultists
Rating (1)
Date: 2005-09-21
8 out of 17 customers found this reveiw helpful
If you are looking for "Short and Snappy Answers to Defeat the Cultist on your Doorstep", this is not the book you want.
While each Saying is considered in a brief page or two, the style of this book is to discuss and analyze the text very closely, but so closely that the discussion bogs down into such things as transitive vs intransitive verbs, etc. Yes, it explains the subtlety of the text but in such detail that the answer can only be appreciated by a Believer. Unfortunately, I find that it does not answer my questions about the Hard Sayings of Jesus very well either.
Nothing in this book equps me to answer the Hard Questions of the Cultist who stands on the street corner passing out tracts or comes to my door offering "The Truth". On such occasions, which often degenerate into a theological streetfight, I need to use the Word as a sword. Therefore, I want a big sword not a magnifying glass.
As a Christian, I appreciate this book as it requires me to ponder the depth and richness of God's Word. But this is not the book to present to a skeptic who needs simpler, more direct, less obtuse answers to his or her questions.
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An excellent book to determine personal dedication to Christ.
Rating (5)
Date: 2005-07-12
12 out of 13 customers found this reveiw helpful
I have used this book as the basis for more than one study on personal commitment to Christ. This is where "the rubber meets the road." Are you willing to accept Jesus' way of living, or are you content to offer him lip service and slog along in the muck of worldliness? As Bruce says, "Any attempt to soften the meaning of Christ's words is probably wrong" (my paraphrase). My only problem with the book is that it brings me up against myself,...and I am often found wanting.
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by George G. Hunter
Product Group: Book
Publisher: Abingdon Press (1992-01-23)
ISBN: 0687179300
EAN: 9780687179305
Dewy Decimal #: 269.2
Paperback: 196 pages
Edition: 1st
SKU: 032408AC04
Condition: Used: Good
Comments: lots of writing on pages...minor creases in cover
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Editorial Reviews
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Product Description
"Should be required reading for everyone who wants to communicate the gospel effectively to unchurched persons". --Robert H. Schuller, Founder, the Crystal Cathedral.
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Customer Reviews
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Lacking in Logic
Rating (1)
Date: 2008-10-27
In his book entitled How to Reach Secular People, George Hunter profiles the different groups of people and the different church related activities that are involved in evangelism to the post-enlightenment, western world. He begins by suggesting an explanation for how Christianity's influence over people in the West is no longer as prominent and effective as it was before the Enlightenment. He understands secularization to mean "the withdrawal of whole areas of life, thought, and activity from the influence of the Church" (26). With the rise of humanism, nationalism, and urbanization, the breakup of Christendom resulting from the Protestant Reformation, and the increasing impact of science and human reason, the momentum of secularization stripped the Church of its influence and impact on the world. Because the West was lost to secularization, Hunter thinks that "Christianity must now compete on its merits if it is to rewin the West" (32).
Hunter then spends three chapters describing the characteristics of what he calls "secular people," and describing strategies for reaching out to and communicating with these types of people. Among other things, he suggests that secular people are ignorant of basic Christianity; they seek life before they seek death, and they have a negative image of the church (52). He describes strategies for reaching secular people ranging from meeting people's basic needs to empowering people by giving them meaning and self-worth. Hunter then shifts the focus of his book to the characteristics of Christians who are good at reaching secular people. These kinds of Christians are effective communicators who are honest and credible and they understand the power of secularization on the secular mind. They have a set of core convictions that drive their reasoning and they realize that secular people have doubts. Apostolic churches should be concerned with the lost and not with self-maintenance. They should have congregations that are accepting of people unfamiliar with church culture and should use "music that secular people understand" (151).
I find Hunter's book to be confusing, lacking in logic, and unchristian on many fronts. . I get the idea that Hunter believes that before the Renaissance Christianity was doing really well because it had such dominance over public life, cultures, traditions, and thought. Hunter's purpose for writing this book is to help Christianity win back influence over these public structures because Christianity has become "private, problematic, marginal and. . . eccentric" (31). Does he want Christianity to be public, unproblematic, at the center of the world stage, and normal? The logical groundwork for his argument collapses when he advocates for a Christian society, in which everyone is influenced by Christian forces of culture and thought, and then supports Kierkegaard in his Attack Upon Christendom in which Kierkegaard writes "when everybody is a Christian, nobody is a Christian" (33). He makes odd, sweeping generalizations suggesting that religions other than Christianity have truth claims that are negotiable (33), that Buddhism and Communism are atheistic (37). In the introduction, he is unchristian in his suggestion that Christianity should exercise control over people, so as to shape their minds and lives without allowing them to have a choice in the matter (21-39). I find his association of Christianity with democracy to be dangerous (30), and problematic and illogical when he later condemns the deification of political ideologies such as Communism (42). He condemns secular people's concern for life before death (45) and yet calls the church to cater to such a position by bringing meaning to people's lives (57), thereby implying that Christians do not need meaning in their lives because they are not concerned with the present life. Hunter ignores the negative aspects of pre-enlightenment Christianity and does not discuss the impacts of secularization on Christianity. Hunter's book would be more helpful if he displayed an awareness of the complexities of defining the secular person and offered a critique of current Christian witness.
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Valuable - but don't use it as a prescription!
Rating  (3)
Date: 2001-05-10
8 out of 8 customers found this reveiw helpful
George G. Hunter III is Dean of the School of Evangelism and World Mission at Asbury Theological Seminary in Kentucky and has written such books as "The contagious congregation" and "Leading and managing a growing church". Hunter's stated aim in this book is "to draw together and systematize what is known about effective apostolic ministry to secular people in the West" (p. 18). He combines his own field research with the findings of other "reflective practitioners", a select group of individuals who have both worked at the apostolic task amongst secular people in Western societies and reflected on the process and outcomes in an organised way. Hunter confidently claims that there is sufficient insight contained in his book to help 99 percent of churches to triple the number of people they bring into the Christian faith.After an introduction in which he outlines the process of secularisation in the West, Hunter goes on to compile a profile of secular people in chapter 1 followed by chapters on themes and strategies for reaching secular people and communication principles and models. The final two chapters outline the kind of Christians and churches respectively that help secular people come to faith. Given that the book is more a compilation of information than a developed argument, the chapter divisions and the extensive use of point form help to organise the data into a somewhat logical and accessible format. The result is a mine of information, analyses and practical insights, many of which are new and groundbreaking, some of which are not. Almost inevitably though, Hunter is caught between the general and the particular, between limitations of scope and cohesive presentation of data. That his sources are all white, English-speaking males is a limitation Hunter readily acknowledges (p. 17). On the other hand, this cast is sufficiently diverse in time and place to make the attempt to conflate the data into a cohesive portrait appear artificial at times. After all, it is a long way from Soper's soapbox to Schuller's Crystal's Cathedral, from Alan Walker and urban mission to Bill Hybels and seeker services. Approaches which unleash the truly prophetic role of the church sometimes stand alongside those which surrender to the secular world's agenda and values. Many readers will tend to warm to certain "reflective practitioners" and their insights, while downplaying the contributions of others. Moreover, Hunter himself at times presents his Wesleyan theology almost as if it was a common factor. As is the fate of all such books, "How to reach secular people" has an air of datedness about it. It was published nearly a decade ago and Hunter's sources are often considerably older. More reflection will have to be done on the impact of postmodernism and the New Age in Western society. This book is intensely practical and virtually prescriptive in format but will probably not be entirely successful if applied in a formulaic way. Rather, if it is used to help churches understand the people around them better, to infect Christians with the genuine heart for reaching secular people that Hunter clearly has, and to inspire and motivate congregations to become reflective practitioners themselves and try different things in outreach without reducing the "apostolic task" to technique and management, it will be a successful and valuable book.
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Profiles secular people very well
Rating (4)
Date: 1999-07-24
8 out of 8 customers found this reveiw helpful
Hunter effectively pinpoints and labels the different personality catorgories that "secular people" typically fall into. He then explains where their concerns with the Christian church originated. I was ultimately unsatisfied with his sections that profiled successful churchs. Those sections for the most part seemed to be common sense and lacking in any new important insights. Though something could be said for putting it down on paper. Worthwhile for anyone in ministry.
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by Jay E. Adams
Product Group: Book
Publisher: Zondervan (1986-06-02)
ISBN: 0310511119
EAN: 9780310511113
UPC: 025986511111
Dewy Decimal #: 234.165
Paperback: 128 pages
SKU: 090408007
Condition: Used: Good
Comments: ...no markings or highlighting...light shelf wear on cover
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Editorial Reviews
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Product Description
Many pastors, counselors, and theologians consider this book the most helpful on the issue of marriage and divorce.
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Customer Reviews
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Divorce and Remarriage
Rating (5)
Date: 2008-08-16
This is the best book on divorce and remarriage from a Biblical perspective that I have ever read.
It is neither to legalistic or to liberal. It gives good balance to encourage marriage for a lifetime and to give hope to those who have experienced divorce.
This is a good read for pastors trying to form an opinion for themselves and also wanting to be the most helpful to the hurting.
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Unsound Doctrine
Rating (1)
Date: 2006-03-27
26 out of 41 customers found this reveiw helpful
I have read Jay Adams book and will make a full review later (I want to read John Murray's book first), but came across a review that I agree with. I will have more to critique than this reviewer does, but it is a good start.
Book Title: Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage In the Bible
Book Author: Dr. Jay E. Adams
Our Rating: Poor
Book Theme
Taking a concept-by-concept approach, Dr. Adams examines the fundamentals of marriage, then divorce, and ultimately, remarriage. Relying heavily on the Scriptures, Dr. Adams avoids using traditions as a basis for establishing the doctrines of matrimony and marriage dissolution.
Analysis of the Book
Reading this book and writing this review was a personal disappointment. Dr. Adams is one of my personal spiritual role models whom I hold in the highest regard. Sadly, this book fails to achieve a proper understanding of the nature of divorce and remarriage based upon a faulty interpretation of Scripture.
Dr. Adams does a genuinely thorough biblical evaluation of the question, "what is a marriage?" The principles of marriage as outlined by God in His Word are well documented. Additionally, the concept of engaged men and women in both the Old and New Testament being called "husbands" and "wives" is convincingly extracted and described from the Bible by Dr. Adams.
Even the bulk of Dr. Adams' treatment of the subject of divorce is keenly derived from the Scriptures. God certainly hates divorce and has established considerable warnings to men from initiating such proceedings. While controversial, this reviewer found that much of the chapter dealing with the "exception clauses" was consistently and properly handled.
With so much of the book being biblically acceptable, why is such a harsh disapproval applied to this book by the reviewer? Primarily because of a simple misinterpretation of one passage: 1Corinthians 7:25-28. Dr. Adams commits a fundamental exegetical fallacy (to borrow a term from D.A. Carson) by taking verses 27 and 28 out of context, interpreting them as stand alone verses, and then issuing sweeping doctrinal statements that contradict uncounted passages of scripture that state the opposite.
Simply stated, 1Corinthians 7:25-28 refers to virgins who are engaged to be married. Engaged virgins are properly referred to as "husbands and wives" in the New and Old Testaments. Verses 25-28 state that virgins may end their engagements and remain single, may marry each other as planned, or may end their engagements and marry other people--and all without sinning or without their actions being labeled "adultery".
If one were to remove verses 27 and 28 from their context of verses 25-28 and then interpret them, one might be tempted to believe that this was a blanket permission for all married people to get a divorce, then remarry other people, and be free of having committed any sins, including adultery. Such an outcome would directly contradict many Bible passages, but none so blatantly as Jesus' own words, "whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery" (Matthew 5:32b).
Having made a doctrinal left turn, the good work done earlier in the book is systematically dismantled by the author. Since the out-of-context interpretation of 1Corinthians 7:27,28 seemingly permits everyone who gets a divorce for any reason at all to be remarried without it being called a sin: all people can be divorced (without sin), all divorced people can be remarried to others (without sin), divorce loses all stigma, and Jesus was mistaken to teach that one who marries a divorced woman commits adultery. The outcome then, is that a divorce ends a marriage, all obligations of the marriage, and the person can claim to be free to remarry whomever they wish just as if they were a virgin.
Scripturally this is not appropriate. Jesus' words still stand, divorced people who remarry others are committing adultery, and it is engaged virgins who may break their commitments to marry without it being considered a sin. Proper biblical interpretation is critical to the development of sound doctrine, and regrettably this book does not meet that standard.
As a result of this error, the book becomes all but incomprehensible, lost in a maze of discussion about legitimate divorces and illegitimate divorces, all divorces ending a marriage thereby releasing all parties from all obligations of marriage-but maybe not all, reconciliation being preferred albeit optional as is remarriage, and so on. It becomes nearly impossible to determine who would ever be guilty of committing adultery by the act of remarriage, if in fact, anyone would be using this text. Such a conclusion to this study makes a complex subject even more difficult.
Conclusion
In spite of his track record of writing truly outstanding biblical treatises, this book is not up to the typical quality of Dr. Adams' other works. Though much of the book is indeed well developed from the Scriptures, a poor interpretation of one key passage causes Dr. Adams to draw numerous incorrect conclusions about the permanence of marriage and the permissibility of divorced persons to be remarried without incurring a label of adultery.
As a definitive work on divorce and remarriage, this book is best left on the shelf. If one were to read only for the sections on marriage there would be some benefit. Using this book as a basis for marital counseling would not be wise.
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Biblical is Foundational
Rating (5)
Date: 2006-03-22
5 out of 8 customers found this reveiw helpful
In this book Jay Adams addresses a topic that could not be more practical in the Church. Marriage, divorce, and remarriage are topics that have been debated and quarreled over since the inception of the Church, but especially so in the last 50 years with Feminism becoming what it has and postmodernity influencing the moral framework by which people examine what is right and true.
Dr. Adams does a faithful job of presenting a Biblical perspective on these issues; mind that Biblical does not always line up with what is stereotypical of Christianity in some conservative circles, it means the view is drawn directly from scripture as best as Adams knows how with the presupposition that it is scripture itself which contains the truth by which we are to live and pursue godliness.
Essentially it is Biblical, but it might be surprising for some. It surprised me, but upon examining the text, it true to a biblical worldview.
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Biblically the best answers
Rating (5)
Date: 2006-02-20
7 out of 10 customers found this reveiw helpful
You already respect Jay Adams. This little book should be a brief but required course of study for any Bible-believing church leader or pastor. Too much damage is being caused in Christ's church by well-meaning but misinformed leaders. Read, study and even repent where necessary. Go after those branded second-class Christians who have been turned off and shelved. Reflect the Glory of a just and merciful Savior.
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excellent summary; with one flaw
Rating (4)
Date: 2005-09-25
5 out of 14 customers found this reveiw helpful
Competent to Counsel was epoch making for kicking off the Biblical Counseling movement, and his manual on church discipline is very good. But otherwise I find his writings sometimes a tad narrow. And I think he seems to fail to see the irony in the ways his own Biblical readings are shaped by psychology (esp. Behavorialism). The contemporary CCEF authors are better, I think.
But this book on marriage is about the best short summary of the key texts and applications I've found. The only major flaw: in chapter 1 (pp.8-20) he wisely asks what the most foundational purpose of marriage is. He rightly refutes certain cultural answers -- procreation, happiness, sex, etc. These are important but secondary. But then in the end he chooses an equally problematic answer -- marriage is primarily a 'covenant of companionship.' Doesn't Gen. 1-2 say that?
But, I wonder, if companionship is the foundation of marriage, then what if one partner is not being a loving companion? Can the other partner freely leave? Adams would say no, but he's being inconsistent. I think the Bible teaches in Gen. 1-2, read in light of Eph. 5, COl. 3, Rev. 21 etc., that marriage's primary purpose is to make us image bearers of God. Then Gen. 1-2 ('not good to be alone') is saying that a male-female couple together bear the image of God better than one person can alone.
Anyway, if you cut that section out, this is an excellent book.
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by Donald Bolen, Gregory Cameron
Product Group: Book
Publisher: Continuum (2006-08-10)
ISBN: 0826481558
EAN: 9780826481559
Dewy Decimal #: 232.91
Paperback: 288 pages
Edition: 2nd
SKU: 032608AC05
Condition: Used: Good
Comments: ...no markings or highlighting......minor wear on cover...
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by Gwilym H. Jones
Product Group: Book
Publisher: Harpercollins/STL (1984-12-31)
ISBN: 0551011602
EAN: 9780551011601
Paperback: 376 pages
SKU: 082308035
Condition: Used: Good
Comments: ...no markings or highlighting...minor wear on cover
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