"The Biblical Hebrew Verb" (John A. Cook)

TITLE: The Biblical Hebrew Verb: A Linguistic Introduction (Learning Biblical Hebrew)
AUTHOR: John A. Cook
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2024, (352 pages).

Why a book just on verbs? Why is this book important? Who can best benefit from this book? Why would anyone read this book? These questions might be good to ask before picking up this book. It is academic and technical, even for Hebrew students. It is important for students, pastors, preachers, and anyone wanting a more in-depth knowledge of the Hebrew Bible. As a linguistic introduction, this book aims to broaden our learning and understanding of the nuances demonstrated by Hebrew verbs.

From "valency" to "tense-aspect-mood/modality," students can find it challenging to deal with when, how, and where verbs manage both subjects and objects. Other nuances include the use of tenses (time-based), aspect (temporal nature), and mood (actual vs potential). The author recognizes an existing gap between scholarly treatises and textbook treatments of the topic. The former might be too technical or academic for new students while the latter lacks the space to explain the vast complexities of the Hebrew verb. In filling this "niche," it is hoped that students will develop a "linguistic framework" to connect the literal meaning with the historical contexts. This will enable one to give clearer linguistic explanations of the verb in question. This road is often uphill and requires much diligence. As an introductory book, author John Cook provides us many examples to facilitate our learning. Chapter One covers the "Linguistic Background" to show us how Latin-mindsets differ from Semitic-mindsets; various linguistic theories used; terminologies; and the differences between "text" and "language." Hebrew being a more "Internal-language" can be quite challenging for English-language speakers. This is more so when we are asked: "Which Hebrew? Biblical, Rabbinic, or Modern?" 

"The Art of Preaching Old Testament Poetry" (Steven D. Mathewson)

TITLE: The Art of Preaching Old Testament Poetry
AUTHOR: Steven D. Mathewson
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2024, (256 pages).
 

This is an excellent book about preaching from the wisdom and poetic books of the Old Testament. Filled with lots of biblical insights, historical backgrounds, and illuminating observations, preachers will be excited when reading about the many ways to approach the Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs. Written for those who preach and teach Scripture, author and professor Steven Mathewson takes us through these five books, to give us tips on teaching and preaching strategies. He typically begins with a description of what the texts are saying. He patiently elucidates the purposes of each book by ensuring that we do not put the cart before the horse. For instance, in Psalms, he shows us the emotive components of the Psalms, to ensure we are aware of the stance of each psalm and the emotional plot development. In Proverbs, he reminds us to be mindful of Proverbs 1:1-7, which shows us the purposes of the wisdom texts. In Job, he reminds us to discern the structure and flow of the arguments and counter-arguments. In Ecclesiastes, he calls us to first examine the structure, and understand its perspective, keywords, and concepts, before preaching it. He covers the general and specific structures of the book, taking care to supply the framework of the book before leading us through some powerful strategies for preaching. That is not all. He gives us helpful resources for studying and preaching, leading us to some of the most valuable resources for the Bible book concerned. For instance, in Proverbs, he recommends Bruce Waltke's monumental work on Proverbs. For Job, he highlights John Walton's NIV Application Commentary and Daniel Estes's Teach the Text series, etc. For Ecclesiastes, he takes guidance from Iain Provan, Craig Bartholomew, etc. Many pointers can also be gleaned from "The Big Idea Companion for Preaching and Teaching." Mathewson uses Dr. Haddon Robinson's Big-Idea expository Preaching throughout the book. This is no surprise given that the late professor was his mentor. (Dr. Robinson was my mentor too!) At the end of the book, Mathewson gives us six sample sermons, two from Psalms and one from each of the other Bible books concerned to illustrate his points. 

"The Church in Dark Times" (Mike Cosper)

TITLE: The Church in Dark Times: Understanding and Resisting the Evil That Seduced the Evangelical Movement
AUTHOR: Mike Cosper
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2024, (208 pages).

What are dark times? What are the risks facing the evangelical churches today? How do ordinary churches fall down the path of shame? What are the signs of seduction? What are the social and cultural influences that we need to be aware of? What ideological, spiritual, or structural factors are involved in scandals? These questions are dealt with in depth by Mike Cosper who had previously produced and hosted the podcast, "The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill." Writing with Hannah Arendt's insights on human behaviour and experiences of abuse, he defines dark times under the umbrella of totalitarianism, and how totalitarian ideology is seductive to the modern mind. Churches need to discern and resist the temptation toward evil within their organizations. Anchored on the Bible verse to "Resist the devil, and he will flee from you," (James 4:7), author Mike Cosper exposes the telltale signs of abuses, conspiracies, denials, violence, and the infiltration of devilish ideologies that sought to hide the Truth. Using the defunct Mars Hill Church as a backdrop to the book, Cosper seeks to extend Arendt's reflections on her experiences with the evil Nazi regime. Dark times are not simply about totalitarianism. It includes how the world becomes disconnected from goodness and purpose. 

"Becoming by Beholding" (Lanta Davis)

TITLE: Becoming by Beholding: The Power of the Imagination in Spiritual Formation
AUTHOR: Lanta Davis
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2024, (240 pages).
 

When young, our parents tell us fairy tales and other bedtime stories. In school, we learn through play and imagination. At home, we love watching cartoons with happy endings. Tales often begin with the familiar words "A Long time ago..." and end with that memorable phrase "... And they lived happily ever after." As we grow, imagination seems to take a backseat. Life then becomes a crazy rat race that leaves little room for imagination. Fantasies dissipate. Realities mandate. Imagination stagnate. Author Lanta Davis asserts that it is time to restore a healthy sense of imagination, in particular, to Christian Spiritual Formation. This is done by learning from our forefathers of the faith through tradition and the historical expressions of the faith. If we unearth the treasures of Christian artistic tradition, we can rediscover the rich legacies of the past. We can renew a fresh imagination to breathe creativity into our present world. We can also restore our understanding of identity and beyond. From an archeological dig into history and tradition, the author develops for us a three-pronged approach: "Right Belief," "Right Practice," and "Moral Character." 

"Ezekiel" (Daniel A. Keating)

TITLE: Ezekiel: (A Catholic Bible Commentary on the New Testament by Trusted Catholic Biblical Scholars - CCSS) (Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture)
AUTHOR: Daniel A. Keating
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2024, (352 pages).
 

Compared to the New Testament, fewer people read the Old Testament. Those who read the Old Testament tend to avoid the prophetical books. Those who read the prophets tend to avoid the more "difficult" books. They prefer Isaiah, especially during Advent, or Jeremiah in times of lamentation.  Books like Ezekiel are not as popularly read or preached on. One reason might be due to the book not referenced directly or indirectly by the New Testament. Another reason might be due to the challenges of linking the ancient book to modern relevance. This commentary combines scholarship with practical applications based on Vatican II principles. One such principle is to use historical and literary methods to discern authorial intent. Another principle is to apply the meaning within the contexts of the whole Bible, tradition, and what it means for living faith. Written for pastors, teachers, ministry workers, and laypersons, this commentary checks out many boxes. It focuses on the meaning of the text for faith and Christian living. It minimizes the use of technical terms to benefit a wider readership. Instead of a verse-by-verse methodology, the commentary treats the book on a passage-by-passage basis. With clearly marked segmentations using the RSV (Second Catholic Edition, Ignatius) as a default translation, it is easy to use the book as a reference. Each chapter begins with the complete Bible text of the passages before the commentary. Some commentaries might save space by excluding biblical texts. However, I believe that including the text in the commentary is a subtle reminder to readers to read the text before the commentary. 

"Discipleship for Every Stage of Life" (Chris A. Kiesling)

TITLE: Discipleship for Every Stage of Life: Understanding Christian Formation in Light of Human Development
AUTHOR: Chris A. Kiesling
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2024, (216 pages).

What have life stages got to do with discipleship? How do human sciences affect spirituality? Is it legitimate to connect Christian formation with human development? These questions should pique the interest of Christians who want to see discipleship expand and be applied beyond the regular youth and adulthood age groups. By bringing together curiosity about human sciences and the theology of Christian Spirituality, author and professor Chris Kiesling has given us a compelling work that engages the development of Christian discipleship for every stage of life. Using his thirty years of learning about human sciences, he maintains that discipleship strategies should adapt to the person's human development stage. It is hoped that not only will that help cultivate the path toward human flourishing, but it also opens up gospel-sharing moments at all stages of life. From birth to the end of life, readers learn about the stage of human development and the needed discipleship strategy. The purpose of this book is to allow the "wholistic, redemptive vision of salvation" to shine through each of the described human stages.

"Claiming the Courageous Middle" (Shirley A. Mullen)

TITLE: Claiming the Courageous Middle: Daring to Live and Work Together for a More Hopeful Future
AUTHOR: Shirley A. Mullen
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2024, (200 pages).
 

"The nation is divided." "Society is broken." "Why can't we all just get along?" These are common phrases heard these days. From politics to religious matters; human rights to social justice; systemic racism to various inequalities; people are becoming more vocal about their stand. This has led to a host of problems never seen before in the previous century. Largely driven by social media's ease and speed of public expression, people are arguing not just in public places but also on private platforms. In such a polarized climate, there is a tendency for all sides to drag people and opinions either to the left or to the right. Diversity can be divisive. What about the middle? Up comes the notion of a "courageous middle." Seeing the deep divisions across America today, author Shirley Mullen sees the need for this position more than ever. As the world gets pulled apart by binary mindsets, it becomes a challenge to find a middle ground for all. Mullen urges the expansion of the middle space that sees the common good and also does not necessarily take sides. She aims directly at three groups of people. The first group includes those that stereotype the middle position negatively. The second group is for those who want to play the role of peacemakers and reconciliation. The third group is for those who tend to lament but seem helpless to do anything about it. Driven by her concern for the rising levels of polarization in society, media, and churches, she recognizes a sizable number of undecided people; who are on neither end of the poles; or unwittingly caught up in the middle. Mullen argues that taking the middle is "one form of faithful witness" for Jesus. 

"Deep Reading" (Rachel B. Griffis, Julie Ooms, & Rachel M. De Smith Roberts)

TITLE: Deep Reading: Practices to Subvert the Vices of Our Distracted, Hostile, and Consumeristic Age
AUTHOR: Rachel B. Griffis, Julie Ooms, & Rachel M. De Smith Roberts
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2024, (240 pages).
 

Recently, there has been a swath of books about reading, good reading. Since Mortimer Adler's classic on "How to Read a Book," there has been various additions from various authors like Robert Alter, Jeffrey Bilbro, Harold Bloom, Susan Gallagher & Roger Lundin, Alan Jacobs, Karen Swallow Prior, Jessica Hooten Wilson, etc. This book is a compelling addition to this library of excellent perspectives on reading. It is a treasure to behold. The key thesis in this book is that reading is a powerful mechanism for spiritual formation. Before embarking on this journey, there are three major impediments to overcome: Distraction, Hostility, and Consumerism. The way to achieve deep reading is to adopt practices to subvert these three vices. Otherwise, we become vulnerable to the ills of technology, adopt superficial reading, and lose the opportunity to grow the virtues of good reading. This book asks and probes not just the things we read but also questions surrounding who we are, why we read, and how we are reading. In other words, readers will not only be reminded about the need for deeper reading skills, they will recognize how modern culture is impacting general reading habits. These are warnings to be heeded wisely. We ignore them at our peril. The authors ask some poignant questions such as:

"Christian Academic Writing" (Benjamin L. Merkle & Adrianne Cheek Miles)

TITLE: Christian Academic Writing: Twelve Practices and Principles for Becoming a Successful Writer
AUTHOR: Benjamin L. Merkle & Adrianne Cheek Miles
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2024, (pages).
 

Is academic writing only for academics? No. Is it limited only to people with writing experience? Not really. Is it difficult to even write to publish? Difficult but not impossible. Writing is hard work. Getting it published is even harder. Yet, we should not be deterred by anything difficult. Let our passion for sharing our knowledge and experiences inspire us to write. One cannot be a successful writer without first becoming a writer. Read widely but also write frequently. Just like the title says, this book looks at 12 "practices and principles" to encourage Christian writing as an academic writing. Although both authors come from different backgrounds, their purpose for writing this book is similar: To encourage Christians to write and share their knowledge and expertise with the public. It is not a how-to-write book. It is a book that gives "practical and proven advice" to encourage writers to write. Professors, pastors, teachers, anyone with advanced degrees, or those with lots of working experience can benefit from this resource which aims to bring more people into the writing fold. They do not mince their words when they say writing is hard work. Indeed it is. Sometimes, becoming too distracted by any perceived difficulty can put off any aspiring writer. 

"Gender as Love" (Fellipe do Vale)

TITLE: Gender as Love: A Theological Account of Human Identity, Embodied Desire, and Our Social Worlds
AUTHOR: Fellipe do Vale
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2024, (272 pages).
 

One of the biggest contentions today in the Church has to do with gender. In the past, there used to be constant debates about what it meant to be male or female, and what roles they were supposed to be playing. Then we have the feminist movement that pushes back against male dominance. Those issues remain active in many parts of society but are increasingly eclipsed by debates surrounding multi-gendered definitions and nuanced multi-dimensionally. Today, the line between male and female is increasingly blurred. The core issue is not sexuality but what it means to be human. Realizing that gender issues are becoming more divisive each day, we need to have a way to talk about these matters rationally and theologically. Thus, this book probes the biblical understanding of gender sexuality and tries to make sense of it in an increasingly complex social construct today. Simply put, it is to shed light on the question: "What is gender?" and How do we understand gender theologically? With so many different theological interpretations today, how do we do "theological theology?" Author-Professor Fellipe do Vale kicks off by laying out the categories in terms of two "bifurcations":

1. Divisive Philosophy: Between proponents of gender as "Essence" vs that as "Social Construct."
2. Divided Theology (Methodological): One anchored on modern academic discipline and the other on traditional beliefs.

"Numbers" (Mark A. Awabdy)

TITLE: Numbers (Baker Commentary on the Old Testament: Pentateuch)
AUTHOR: Mark A. Awabdy
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2023, (672 pages).
 

Despite its dated content, the Old Testament continues to be revered and cherished by many people, especially believers. The challenge for modern readers is how such ancient writings relate to contemporary times. Most people would know Genesis as the first book of the Bible. Many might also know about Exodus, given the popularity of the classic movie "The Ten Commandments" usually screened during the Easter and Christmas seasons. As one moves further down the Pentateuch, so does familiarity. This series of Baker commentaries focuses on the Pentateuch of which the book of Numbers is the fourth. The intent is to provide a reliable resource for modern readers to understand "the nature of God, creation, humankind, sin, salvation, atonement, sacrifice, holiness, and righteousness." This is done through multiple bridging of the old and the new. The author helps bring to life the ancient meaning and contemporary relevance of the texts; to help modern readers dialogue through themes that flow consistently throughout the Bible. One important aspect of this commentary is how the author addresses the issue of reader boredom or reader confusion when reading Numbers.  Sharing the "grief" that many people might have experienced in this fourth book of the Pentateuch, author-professor Mark Awabdy guides us through each chapter with the help of primary Hebrew manuscripts, Qumran/Dead Sea scrolls, Samaritan fragments, Early and Modern Translations, and many other exegetical tools. He laments how the title Numbers is a misnomer which often misleads readers into downplaying its importance. After all, only four out of 36 chapters contain statistics. Instead, he prefers the Jewish title "In the Wilderness." I concur as that is a lot more representative than mere "Numbers." Why the misleading label? The reason is partly historical reliance on the translators of the Septuagint which results in a literal translation of the Greek word "Arithmoi" into its title. That said, the numerical sections of the book are deemed "theological," not simply statistical facts. He calls the book an "unfolding story" of literary forms that consists of one whole story and a series of individual units embedded within it. The challenge is to try to interpret it as coherent as possible, according to the literary Hebrew narratives and cultural uniqueness. 

"A Basic Guide to the Just War Tradition" (Eric Patterson)

TITLE: A Basic Guide to the Just War Tradition: Christian Foundations and Practices
AUTHOR: Eric Patterson
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2023, (176 pages).
 

In wars, there are generally no winners. All parties involved would have suffered losses regardless of the numbers. How can anyone quantify suffering? How do we measure the emotional trauma we bring back home after a war? How can we even justify the loss of a single human being? The costs of war go far more than mere soldiers and machinery. It involves many conflicts ranging from ethical dilemmas to mental distress. At a theological level, making justification for wars could be breaking the Sixth Commandment in some way. How then can we justify any war? CS Lewis believes that it is a Christian duty to fight evil. In order to preserve peace, order, and justice, states need to be vigilant against evil, for doing nothing is worse. According to author Eric Patterson, a just war is basically a means to achieving peace and justice. Ironically, just war is a quest for peace. Governments need to uphold their duty to protect and defend their people, and sometimes this means going to war. This book explains, describes, and defends the use of just war in the quest for peace and upholding justice. 

Chapter One defines what just war is and what it is not. Going back to the roots of WWI and WWII, Patterson uncovers the deficiencies of a pacifist or non-aligned policy that emboldened countries like Germany to invade other territories. The just war foundational premise is: "legitimate political authorities have a responsibility to protect and defend those in their charge (just cause) and should do so with restraint in motivation and action (right intent)." Once the decision has been made, the next set of criteria is about "military necessity, proportionality, and discrimination." Just war advocates include people like Augustine, Aquinas, Calvin, Luther, and Wesley. 

"Dictionary of the New Testament Use of the Old Testament" (G.K. Beale, D.A. Carson, Benjamin L. Gladd, and Andrew David Naselli)

TITLE: Dictionary of the New Testament Use of the Old Testament
AUTHOR: G.K. Beale, D.A. Carson, Benjamin L. Gladd, and Andrew David Naselli
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2023, (992 pages)

The Old Testament and the New Testament are related in more than verbatim references by Jesus or any NT writers. Philip Yancey calls the Old Testament the Bible that Jesus read. The Scriptures pointed out in the New Testament are all (if not most) from the Old Testament.  Jesus too quotes regularly from the Old Testament during his ministry on earth. It is quite surprising that only in recent years do we hear more about scholarship that examines the New Testament use of the Old Testament. Better late than never. According to the editors, this field of study is "blossoming." Following the highly successful commentary as well as the handbook, author GK Beale has teamed up with prominent Old and New Testament scholars, theologians, and researchers to compile a dictionary of terms used in this field.  The editors anticipate greater interest in this area of study and research. Written to complement the commentary edition (CNTUOT), this specialized dictionary consists of entries that focus on five categories:

1. Surveys of Biblical Books (55 entries)
2. Biblical-Theological Topical Essays (54 essays)
3. Jewish Exegetical-Traditions Essays (25 entries)
4. Inner-Biblical Exegesis (26 essays)
5. Systematic Theology (5 essays)

"Exegetical Journeys in Biblical Greek" (Benjamin L. Merkle)

TITLE: Exegetical Journeys in Biblical Greek
AUTHOR: Benjamin L. Merkle
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2023, (288 pages).

One of the challenges of learning any language is the frequency of usage. The old adage "Use it or lose it" is particularly true for languages. Even for those who grow up in their native languages, lack of usage will impact fluency. Learning the ancient biblical languages is the same. Whether it is Hebrew or Greek, constant practice makes perfect. For many who had studied the biblical languages in seminary, chances are, they would have lost their learning through lack of usage in an English-speaking world. Author Benjamin Merkle calls this "linguistic apostacy." This book is about helping seminarians, and those who had learned biblical Greek at some point in their lives to practice its use over a period of 90 days. It is a follow-up to "Exegetical Gems from Biblical Greek" published in 2019. The journey is arranged from elementary (Gospel of Mark and John) to advanced (later part of the New Testament) levels of reading. Comprising three journeys labeled "Easy," "Intermediate," and "Difficult," readers have 90 lessons to work through. The hope is that this guide gives one a starting torque toward making such journeys a way of life. Each day comprises a sequence as follows:

"Eve Isn't Evil" (Julie Faith Parker)

TITLE: Eve Isn't Evil: Feminist Readings of the Bible to Upend Our Assumptions
AUTHOR: Julie Faith Parker
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2023, (224 pages).
 

Throughout the ages, biblical interpretations are often influenced by their respective cultural changes. Such changes involve situations like new archeological discoveries, philosophical inclinations, political alignments, social norms, and religious affiliations, just to name a few. Christians too have to constantly grapple between biblical faithfulness and cultural relevance. In this day and age, several movements have taken over mainstream cultural perceptions. Movements like Black Lives Matter, Feminism, #MeToo, etc. are becoming commonplace. As far as the Bible is concerned, there has been pushback against the patriarchal culture that was so predominant in the ancient texts.  Some modern interpreters are taking the bold step to fight against any form of interpretation that leads to modern justifications for male superiority. This book is written as a way to promote an alternative interpretation to conventional patriarchal ones. Author-Professor Julie Faith Parker offers this alternative to the "traditional (read: male-centered) eurocentric" approaches we can find in many libraries. Parker is aware of the negative connotations behind the word "feminist,"  so she carefully qualifies her use right from the beginning. Her intent is to help readers understand that there are broader alternatives to the traditional views of the patriarchal nature of the Bible. She does so on the basis of helping us increase our knowledge of the Bible, appreciating "cutting-edge scholarship," and forming a less judgmental spirit in interpretation. She demonstrates this by dealing with seven Old Testament texts and one New Testament passage. 

"Why Evangelical Theology Needs the Global Church" (Stephen T. Pardue)

TITLE: Why Evangelical Theology Needs the Global Church
AUTHOR: Stephen T. Pardue
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2023, (208 pages).
 

If one reads a typical newspaper in America, one would notice how skewed the mass media is toward American issues and perspectives. One might mistakenly assume that America is the world! The Church in the West also parallels this trend. A lot has been written about the Western Church. Relatively fewer talks about matters outside of the Western hemisphere. Sometimes it feels like all the experts happen to reside in the West. As the Church in the North-West continues to decline, churches in the  Southern and Eastern parts of the world are seeing remarkable revivals. In spite of this trend, many missionaries and ministry workers continue to be sent from the West to the East, and from the Northern Hemisphere to the South. One wonders, why then is the perception that the best professors and lecturers are from a place where the Church is declining and waning in influence? Perhaps, after zooming in on the Western influence for so long, it is time to zoom out into the wider world to gain a better perspective of reality. Based on his work and interactions with his Asian counterparts, Philippines-based Pardue helps us expand our minds beyond the West toward the global Church. He acknowledges the challenges that prevent the Western Church from learning from the rest of the world. These include the barriers of contexts, culture, language, philosophy, and theology. There are five theses in this book with regard to evangelical contextual theology. First, any evangelical contextual theology must be based on the authority of Scripture. Second, culture needs to be seen as a gift from God for the Church. Third, the ecclesiology of the Church should be a uniting factor for the diverse expressions of faith in the real world. Fourth, theology should incorporate Christian witness everywhere, both locally and globally. Fifth, the theology should engage the "Great Tradition of the Church." Each chapter will deal with a particular thesis and ends with a practical engagement with a global Church.  

"Composition as Conversation" (Heather M. Hoover)

TITLE: Composition as Conversation: Seven Virtues for Effective Writing
AUTHOR: Heather M. Hoover
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2023, (176 pages).
 

In general, there are four ways in which we can communicate. We can read and write. We can also hear and speak. All of these ways help us to better comprehend and converse with others. However, academic writing is a different beast altogether. It can be dry or downright boring. As the author points out: "academic writing should cultivate lively discussion and promote critical and creative thinking." How do we do that? Author-Professor Heather Hoover poses this to her students, whose feedback led to this book. The purpose is to utilize the power of words to inspire others. She highlights seven ways in which writing leads to "conversational virtues." She begins with the basic task to "Be Curious" by asking appropriate questions. These questions are often open-ended and need to demonstrate a genuine desire to want to connect with others. Asking good questions can help but its effectiveness can be limited. It requires a kind of asking that shows forth a genuine interest to hear the responses. Such a task requires some level of "humility, risk, and commitment." She lists various ways to help us build our vocabulary of interesting questions. The second virtue is that of attentiveness. She points out the difference between writing for writing's sake versus writing for others' sake.

"Isaiah " (J. Gordon McConville)

TITLE: Isaiah (Baker Commentary on the Old Testament: Prophetic Books)
AUTHOR: J. Gordon McConville
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2023, (800 pages).
 

The Book of Isaiah has sometimes been called the fifth gospel. That is because of its stark references and prophecies about Jesus. Just Isaiah chapter 53 alone, with its multiple references to a servant king, can be deemed the gospel in a nutshell. It has also been called a mini-Bible because it has 66 chapters of which the first 39 chapters talk about Old Testament age while the subsequent 27 chapters point us to the New Testament era. As the largest book in the Major Prophets category, Isaiah has gained wide interest among scholars and theologians. It combines prophecy with history, narrative, poetry, and proverb. This BCOT series is written from the perspective of the book's unique rhetorical structures and historical relationships. Key to the interpretation is the text itself. Every text needs proper exegesis prior to any attempt to interpret it. Isaiah is one of the most beautiful and fascinating books in the Bible. Due to the size and the wide scope covered, commentators have adopted different ways of segmenting the book without disrupting its overall flow. It has been done chronologically, structurally, thematically, and theologically. In this new work, author and professor Gordon McConville takes the "inter-textual meaning" approach to look at patterns in the book and link them to history. For that, he considers a combination of all of these approaches before settling on the following:

"The Evangelical Imagination" (Karen Swallow Prior)

TITLE: The Evangelical Imagination: How Stories, Images, and Metaphors Created a Culture in Crisis
AUTHOR: Karen Swallow Prior
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos Press, 2023, (304 pages).
 

What has imagination got to do with evangelicalism? How far do stories, myths, and metaphors affect our lives? How connected is modern culture with the evangelical Church? Who influences who more? In a book that uses many types of symbols and metaphors, author and professor Karen Swallow Prior gives us a creative snapshot of the state of the evangelical church. More importantly, she takes us back to how we perceive the Church, the evangelical movement, and the insidious influence the world has on public perception. It is a fresh way of thinking with regard to understanding the struggles of the Church and culture today. Taking away the notion of imagination merely as a "brain function," Prior first shows us the central function of imagination beyond mere perceptions, that it heavily influences our everyday living. The second thing is to show us that the evangelical movement is connected to our "social imaginaries." As our culture changes, so do our perceptions of the evangelical movement. After comparing the academic definitions of evangelicalism from theologians David Bebbington, Timothy Larsen, John Stackhouse, and the National Evangelical Association, Prior goes to the layperson's perspective to remind readers that most people don't see evangelicalism in an academic sense.

"When the Church Stops Working" (Andrew Root and Blair Bertrand)

TITLE: When the Church Stops Working 
AUTHOR: Andrew Root and Blair Bertrand
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2023, (176 pages).
 

"The Church is in crisis." That's nothing new. "The world is influencing believers more than the Church." That's old news. "The Church should try harder, work more, develop better programs, and become more relevant to the secular world." Been there, done that, what's next? Well, what if the Church should move away from its conventional measurements of success such as numbers, more efforts, and imitation of "successful" megachurches? Now we are listening. Beginning with a frank assessment of our prevailing culture, the authors point out the influence of secular society over the church at large; dividing societies into three major dichotomies: Secular vs Sacred; Public vs Private; and Immanent vs Transcendent. Secularism now sets the agenda, not the sacred. In a culture that prefers to keep the faith as private as possible, it is now possible to not believe in God and not need God. Along with that, secularism diminishes the awareness of the transcendent. The key to understanding how to revitalize the Church has more to do with this environment instead of throwing more money, programs, and innovation into the Church. In a bold shift from a myopic focus on internal Church dynamics, authors Andrew Root and Blaire Bertrand help us understand the trajectory of ministry for the future. They first critique the conventional ministry strategies, especially those based on "rules of capitalism."  One popular way is that of acceleration in order to have more: Do more, get more, and perform more. Many churches that adopt this practice will tend to rush hastily with their plans instead of waiting for the Lord. One popular capitalist maxim is, "It is not the big who eat the small, but the fast who eat the slow." Churches swallow this whole: hook, line, and sinker. They remind us of the critical need to learn how to wait for God's timing. Unfortunately, impatience often drive human decisions through accelerated programs instead of waiting upon God through prayer and trust. Another catchy strategy is to use the popular mission-vision statement to drive the Church forward. The authors then point out the difference between a "mission statement" and "missional theology." The former put human actions at the center while the latter lets the Word of God drive any action. They call for the use of a "watchword" instead of a mission statement. In contrast to a "password" which we use to enter and forget, a "watchword" is something that shapes us to observe and discern things beyond mere results. The use of such a "watchword" helps us appreciate the relationships we have as we encounter one another, and to wait in such a way that we may encounter God. Weaving together the stories of faith, we let God speak to us in a way that blesses the relationships we have with one another.