Biblical Studies and Theology from Crossway

As a P.S. to my entry the other day I figured I would share a few other things I've been reading. Today my entire pile of books is from one publisher: Crossway. They are pretty much my preferred publisher; though there are others whose new releases I will give some attention to, Crossway most consistently publishes thoughtful, solid volumes which fill a need.

Take the below four titles as a good sampling: none of them light reading but no matter your theological preferences or background, they make for good information from scholarly sources. So...today I present what I will call, "Books I am very glad to have on my shelf--and which I will be reading and referencing in the future."

Reasons for Faith: Making a Case for the Christian Faith edited by Norman Geisler and Chad Meister
This is good stuff. Far more than "just" another book giving information and basic arguments for religious movements, this 400 page resource begins with an "Apologetic for Apologetics" and goes on to cover many cultural and theological issues in this arena. (Especially check out "Aslan in the Public Square" and "Abortion, Research Cloning, and Beyond.")

The third part of the book is devoted to defending Christianity and finally we can examine six major religious groups alongside some brilliant authors. One thing I looked for in this book is a newer trend. Thankfully it is addressed by Chad Meister himself: open theism.

Not something you can read in one sitting, but this will get to keep prime real estate on the shelf closest to my desk.

Chad Meister and Norm Geisler have delivered a tour de force for apologetics in Reasons for Faith, a treasure trove of rich apologetical information addressing a myriad of relevant subjects. - R. Philip Roberts

The Word of God in English: Criteria for Excellence in Bible Translation - by Leland Ryken
Confession time: I'm one of those strange people who adored my class on introductory textual criticism and the history of Biblical translations. I'm one of those people who actually reads all 60,000 plus notes in the NET Bible as I'm doing my daily quiet time. I've begun a section of my library just for books on these topics--and this is a great addition.

Probably controversial, but far too well-researched and knowledgeable to ignore, The Word of God in English provides a great introduction to this topic for the lay person--or good review for someone who's a bit rusty.

Quo Vadis Evangelicalism? Perspectives on the Past, Direction for the Future: Nine Presidential Addresses from the First Fifty Years of the Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society - edited by Andreas J. Kostenberger
This one is definitely a hefty read. Not as many of you will probably be interested enough to pick it up, but I personally think that students of theology should read about all the denominations and branches they can--from each of their best defenders and scholars. This is that for evangelicalism.

For those who think evangelical Christians are intellectually blinkered when they uphold the infallibility or inerrancy of Holy Scriptures, this book should give genuine pause. It constitutes a veritable treasure trove [we heard that before, didn't we?] of insights and reflections upon the meaning, import, and biblical warrant of the doctrine. - John Woodbridge, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School

Preach the Word: Essays on Expository Preaching edited by Leland Ryken and Todd Wilson
Yes, Leland Ryken is becoming one of my favorite authors--I have my eyes out for more of his books, particularly his ones on literature and the arts! We'll see if I can keep this one out of my dad's hands...not likely. I probably won't have it on my shelf for a few months.

One essay is by D.A. Carson, one of, if not the greatest expositor of the New Testament alive today. Dad and I are still using his For the Love of God for Bible study (my dad is still borrowing volume two!). Contributors also include Wayne Grudem (his sys theo is a classic), John MacArthur, Bruce Winter, and Duane Liftin.