Bible and Bible Reference Survey 2007...Continued from page 2

The IVP Introduction to the Bible, ed. by Philip Johnston (hb., 292 pp.) gathers an impressive group of scholars writing brief introductions and overviews for each section of the Bible as well as an overall introduction to the Bible and a section on the history between the two testaments.  There is much helpful material here nicely summarized.  Of course brevity means there is a limitation to what can be covered and that certain viewpoints will be assumed without much defense or discussion of other views.

Language Studies/Helps

If you are looking for new copies of original language texts this is a good year.  Hendrickson has the new revised edition of the standard Septuagint text, as well as new wide margin editions of the Nestle-Aland Greek text and BHS.  The wide margins allow for more personal notes.

If your language skills have become rusty and you doubt their value a few new books can help.  Calvin And the Biblical Languages, by John Currid (Christian Focus; pb., 106 pp.), provides a good reminder of the importance and usefulness of the biblical languages for pastoral ministry and church life.  Jerry Sumney’s Philippians: A Greek Student’s Intermediate Reader (Hendrickson; pb., 161 pp.) can help you refresh your knowledge.  The title may not sound very attractive for pastors, but it is a good resource for studying Philippians and refreshing language skills.  He walks through the text making syntactical observations.  Similarly Gary Long’s Grammatical Concepts 101 for Biblical Greek (Hendrickson; pb., 239 pp.) is helpful.  Kregel has produced iVocab: Biblical Greek (by D. Hoffeditz and M. Thigpen) which allows you to see and hear flashcards on an MP3 player, cell phone or computer.  This will be helpful for the technologically up to date.

Rodney Whitacre’s A Patristic Greek Reader (Hendrickson; pb., 279 pp.) provides another way to practice one’s Greek and also learn something about the writings of key leaders in the first several centuries of the church (“Patristics”).  He provides selected Greek texts along with helps and an introduction to each text or author.

Old Testament

 Preaching the Old Testament

This year has been a rare blessing to preachers in providing several excellent books on interpreting and preaching the Old Testament.  This is such a common area of struggle for preachers that I am especially excited about the books in this section.  First, three new books expound the idea that all of Scripture points to Christ and his gospel.  Graeme Goldsworthy’s Gospel-Centered Hermeneutics (IVP; hb., 341 pp.) has finally appeared, and is one of the more significant books of the year.  Goldsworthy articulates how we should interpret the whole Bible in light of the gospel.  This is a readable book (unlike many others on hermeneutics) that is concerned first and foremost with the pastoral situation.