BOOK NOTES

 

The Self-Revelation of God by Kenneth Kuntz is a most suitable book for review in a journal whose present theme is “The Quest of God,” for this is a study of deliberate self-disclosures on God’s part on man’s behalf. It is a treatment of the transcendent (beyond history and nature) and immanent (involvement in history and nature) character of God. The author believes that Israel’s conviction of being a called people was based upon the many experiences she had with God’s self-revelation. It is a study of biblical theophanies, which he defines as “a temporal manifestation of the deity to man involving visible and audible elements that signal God’s real presence.” He deals especially with the unusual experiences of Moses (the burning bush), Elijah (the still small voice) and Isaiah (who saw and heard God in the temple). The price is 7.50 in hardback. That is expensive, but it is that kind of a book.

The New Testament and Criticism by George Eldon Ladd is the kind of book our people should read. It asks, How is the Bible the Word of God?, a question we have hardly yet asked ourselves, much less answered. Mr. Ladd refers to a statement he had heard at a prayer meeting, “I am glad that we find in the Bible the Word of God, not the words of man.” He shows that this view is both right and wrong, for in a very important and vital sense the Bible is the words of men. And yet it is the Word of God, and he shows how this is. But the book is also a study of criticism-textural criticism, linguistic criticism, literary criticism, form criticism, historical criticism. The author, a conservative, concludes that those who believe in the Bible as the Word of God need have no fear of higher criticism. He says, “Evangelicals cannot be satisfied simply to recognize and defend the Bible as the Word of God; they must examine thoroughly the dimensions of the Bible as the words of men.” It is 3.95 in hardback, and it is a lot of education for that price.

The Divided Mind of Modern Theology by James D. Smart is for those interested in the recent developments in theological thought, especially of Barth and Bultmann, who represent the divided minds suggested in the title. Modern theology is terribly divided, and those of us interested in the oneness of all Christians need to be aware of this aspect of the problem. The author seeks to clarify the alternatives offered by Barth and Bultmann, thus making place for more general dialogue in theology. Those who haven’t time or inclination to plough through a lot of Barth and Bultmann will find their views clearly summarized and interpreted, thus giving the reader a fairly good picture as to what has happened in modern theology. The price is 7.50.

New Directions in Theology Today (Vol. 4): The Church, by Colin W. Williams is a study of the nature and mission of the church. In recent decades there has been a lot of radical change in the church’s thinking about itself. Ecumenicity would bring us the one great church, while the more secular thinkers are willing to strip the church of its institutional forms. In these days of “religionless Christianity” the nature of the church needs crucial study. This volume does this, with chapters on the church’s ministry as well as its mission. The traditional views are all examined in the light of the pressing demands of the modern world. Only 2.45 in paperback.

More Than a Man Can Take by Wesley C. Baker is one of those rare instances of a book that the author had to write. The Book of Job came to mean so much to Mr. Baker, and its lessons so impelling, that he could not help but tell the story as he sees it. He does, indeed, pass along many helpful interpretations, and his outline of the book, the paraphrases of the speeches, and the relevance he finds in it all for today are superbly done. The conversation between God and Satan about Job he calls “A Little Celestial Bargain,” and the role of Job’s three friends he calls “When Friends Shout Advice from Safe Ground.” He shows how the friends represented society’s best, and how Elihu represents the voice of youth with remarkable parallels to our time. He thinks the happy ending, in which all Job’s fortunes are returned, is unnecessary and even a moral disappointment, for what is really important is Job’s victory of faith. Once he acclaimed his faith it did not matter what happened to him. Mr. Wesley has done some important thinking and his book is significant. At 2.25 it is a real bargain.

While it is not a new book, we call your attention to Which Books Belong in the Bible? A Study of the Canon by Floyd V. Filson. It answers the questions people are always asking about the Bible: How did a writing become part of the Bible? Why were some books left out that might have been included? Who determined this? How about the Apocrypha? Is the Old Testament Christian scripture? It is a book that will teach you much about how your Bible came to be the Bible, and that is important. 3.50.

Again we call to the attention of C. S. Lewis enthusiasts that R. B. Cunningham’s C. S. Lewis: Defender of the Faith is available for 5.00. As the title suggests, it treats Lewis as an apologist or defender of the Christian faith.

This 1968 edition (Volume 10) of Restoration Review will be issued in bound volume, entitled “The Quest of God.” 200 pages, plus introduction and index, with colorful dust jacket, matching the earlier volumes. Only 3.00. Please place your order now, but you need not pay now. Resources of Power (1966 bound volume) and Things That Matter Most (1967) are now available at 3.00 each. Let us remind you that you can receive this journal for only $1.00 a year or six names for only $3.00. RESTORATION REVIEW, *1201 Windsor Dr., Denton, Texas 76201