"The Lost World of the Prophets" (John H. Walton)

TITLE: The Lost World of the Prophets: Old Testament Prophecy and Apocalyptic Literature in Ancient Context
AUTHOR: John H. Walton
PUBLISHER: Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2024, (192 pages).
 

What comes to mind when we hear the words, "prophets," "prophecies," and "prophetic word?" For many, prophets are seen as "predictors" of the future, and "prophecies" are like future events waiting to be fulfilled. Such an understanding has unfortunately crippled the original meaning of what biblical prophecies mean. Calling this situation a "lost world of the prophets," esteemed author-professor John Walton helps us to recover the original meaning according to the Bible and to rediscover a deeper understanding of the different types and forms of prophecies. The author laments how prophetic books have been misunderstood by so many people. The "potential misuse" includes the unhealthy focus on end times (eschatology) and the use of prophetic texts merely to prove Jesus' deity (apologetics). He says that both of these are paths toward "fulfillment" theology. Using "cultural rivers" as a metaphor, he reminds us that if we want to understand the biblical prophecies, we need to soak ourselves in the biblical cultural river. At the same time, we need to avoid superimposing our modern cultural rivers on the Bible. This book is essentially about helping us swim and rediscover the lost world of the prophets. Walton guides us through five parts, each part leading us through the history, the process, and the ways to interpret the events based on the original authorial intent. The whole process is detailed and informative. Each part delineates various aspects of understanding the ancient cultural rivers. Using sixteen propositions as titles, Walton supports each proposition with examples and alternative readings. 

"Hear Ye the Word of the Lord: What We Miss If We Only Read the Bible" (D. Brent Sandy)

TITLE: Hear Ye the Word of the Lord: What We Miss If We Only Read the Bible
AUTHOR: D. Brent Sandy and John Walton
PUBLISHER: Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2024, (192 pages).
 

We often think of the Bible in terms of a Holy Book. So we encourage people to "read" the Bible like a text, study the Scriptures like an ancient document, and interpret each verse with careful eyes. If we limit ourselves to such a view, we would have missed the very essence of God's message to us. The Word was first delivered to human ears rather than eyes. Right from the beginning, the standard form of communication was oral. The receivers were listeners. Plus, it was noted that, unlike today, ancient people had fewer authors and more speakers; more hearers than readers. How the world has changed. The key premise of this book is that if we want to read the Bible well, we need to remember the original contexts of the Bible given to us to listen rather than to read. It is ok to read texts but do not miss out on the importance of listening to the Word. So convicted is author Brent Sandy that he puts forth 18 propositions about the what, the why, and the what then. Categorized in four parts, Sandy urges us to understand the original stage of communications, understand God's agenda, learn about the implications of oral scripture, and practice listening on top of mere reading. 

"How to Read and Understand the Psalms" (Bruce K. Waltke and Fred G. Zaspel)

TITLE: How to Read and Understand the Psalms
AUTHOR: Bruce K. Waltke and Fred G. Zaspel
PUBLISHER: Wheaton, IL: Crossway Publishers, 2023, (608 pages).
 

The Psalms is the most if not one of the most beloved books in the Bible. Many preachers love to preach from the Psalms. Containing a rich compendium of praise, poetry, prayer, theology, and worship, many people identify deeply with the Psalms as they go through the ups and downs of life. Many New Testament writers have also referenced the Psalms. The Psalms have inspired many songs. They are the official Prayer Book of the Jews. They teach us how to pray. They encourage us to be completely honest with God. The five major sections of the Psalms parallel the Pentateuch. In that sense, they mark out a brief history of Israel. While it is one thing to read and cherish the Psalms, interpreting and preaching on it can be tough. That is why it is also one of the most difficult to understand. The intent of this book is to equip readers, preachers, and laypersons with some fundamental skills in reading and understanding the Psalms. The content is mostly credited to the highly respected Dr. Bruce Waltke, who has spent the bulk of his life as an Old Testament scholar. In this book, readers are treated to a rich collection of fundamental tips to remember when reading the Psalms. Covering many important segments of the 150 Psalms, we learn about the Psalter in broad terms. We learn the different interpretive frameworks for understanding the Psalms. this is in line with the type of psalms. While many people would follow the Psalms in a chronological manner, or refer to them by their psalm numerical notations, there is a better way to interpret the Psalms. That is via the nature of the psalm concerned. For instance, there are the didactic psalms (of instruction), those that instruct us on the righteous way of life. There are various forms of praise psalms that teach us the power of worship. There are the psalms of trust which inspire us to be assured in the promises of God. There are also the lament psalms that show us how much God understands our human conditions. There are the royal psalms of David as well as the Psalms of Ascents which are also pilgrimage psalms. Apart from the genre concerned, there are the superscripts and postscripts that tell us about the composition and intent of the psalm. 

"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:

"40 Questions about the Text and Canon of the New Testament" (Charles L. Quarles and L. Scott Kellum)

TITLE: 40 Questions about the Text and Canon of the New Testament
AUTHOR: Charles L. Quarles and L. Scott Kellum
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Academic, 2023, (352 pages).
 

Where are the original manuscripts of the New Testament? If all the original manuscripts were lost, how then do we verify the authenticity of the copies? Are the copies we have today reliable? How many manuscripts are there? What is Textual Criticism? How do we know if the New Testament is accurate? What about the Canon and the canonization process? How did the Bible get canonized? What about the gospel of Thomas? How do we deal with claims that there are more books that ought to be added to the canon? These questions and more are part of the 40 questions to deal with the text and canon of the New Testament. For the authors, they simply condense all of these into one question: "What is the New Testament?" Charles Quaries is the key person answering the questions about "The Text of the New Testament" (Part One) while Scott Kellum deals with questions pertaining to "The Canon of the New Testament" (Part Two). 

"Galatians" (Kathryn Greene-McCreight)

TITLE: Galatians (Brazo's Theological Commentary on the Bible)
AUTHOR: Kathryn Greene-McCreight
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos Press, 2023, (204 pages).
 

If one is asked to summarize what the letter to the Galatians is about, many people might conclude that it is all about justification by faith. Yet, there are many alternative interpretations that range from freedom in Christ to anti-semitic accusations. How do we practice discerning which best approaches the Truth for such a range of interpretations? Humbly speaking, we need help. The commentators in this series of commentaries believe that this help comes from interpreters from the Nicea-Constantinople tradition. They might not give us the full revelation of Truth but they can surely clear the way for us to approach it. 

Dogmas clarify rather than obscure. This is the conviction behind this series of theological commentaries. Based on the Nicene tradition, the authors in this series affirm the Scriptures amid a tide of modern scholars who insist that ancient doctrinal persuasions are barriers to the "purity" of the biblical text. The intent of these modern interpreters is noble but it masquerades the fact that such modernist thinking is also a form of "doctrinal persuasion" in itself. The underlying belief is that the Nicene tradition "provides the clarifying principles" to guide our understanding of the Scriptures. After all, these ancient fathers are definitely closer to biblical times than we are. If Bible reading is communal, why not include these Nicean fathers in our interpretive process? Adopting a Both-And framework has more benefits compared to an Either-Or option. Preferring to engage theologians instead of biblical scholars, the commentary is essentially one that resembles "systematic theology" style instead of  "biblical theology." 

"Wisdom for Faithful Reading" (John H. Walton)

TITLE: Wisdom for Faithful Reading: Principles and Practices for Old Testament Interpretation
AUTHOR: John H. Walton
PUBLISHER: Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2023, (248 pages).
 

The Bible is not simply a book of good advice. Neither is it just a book of archaeology, cultural, or historical discourse. It is the Word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit, recorded for the world through many human authors, and fully revealed to us in the person of Jesus Christ. Written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, the Bible has consistently been a bestseller. With modern electronic Bibles, the Word of God has also gone digital. Whatever the medium or the language used, we need wisdom in order to read, interpret, and understand the Word. With genres ranging from apologetics to history; narratives to proverbs; genealogies to parables; prose to poetry; etc, the Old Testament alone can prove challenging to interpret. We need not mere techniques or methods of interpretation. We need wisdom even to read the Old Testament properly. What better way than to learn from one whose life's work is all about learning from the Old Testament, and teaching us from the fruit of his labor. Professor Walton begins with a general overview of the interpretive process, giving us one quest, two caveats, three essential commitments, four fundamental concepts, and five principles for faithful interpretation. The "quest" is about "faithful" interpretation. The caveat explains the need for faithful rather than "absolutely right" interpretation, simply because imperfect persons cannot claim to be absolutely right. The commitment is toward basic accountability, consistency, and controls. The four concepts are about the need to recognize the four basic contexts (linguistic, literary, cultural, and theological); the need for interpretation; the awareness of gaps; and while acknowledging the complicated nature of interpretation, one also needs to see the clear big picture of the Bible. The five principles revolve around the authors' audience, background, contexts, intent, and how to find our place in God's story.

"Asking Better Questions of the Bible: A Guide for the Wounded, Wary, and Longing for More" (Marty Solomon)

TITLE: Asking Better Questions of the Bible: A Guide for the Wounded, Wary, and Longing for More
AUTHOR: Marty Solomon
PUBLISHER: Colorado Springs, CO: Tyndale House Publishers, 2023, (240 pages).

The Bible has been the bestselling book in the publishing industry for many years. It is the most read, researched, studied, and referred to book since the invention of the printing press. Even today, it continues to be the book of books of all time. Despite the best intentions, many people still find it difficult to read and understand the Bible, especially parts of the Old Testament. Desiring to understand the Bible better is a good thing. That is why this book has been written to help those who genuinely want to learn and obey its teachings. With his passion for teaching the Bible, author Marty Solomon writes this book to help readers ask better questions in order to learn and follow the teachings of the Bible. He begins with an affirmation of the divine inspiration of the Bible. This is a crucial presupposition because it differentiates the types of questions thrown at it. Some skeptics cast stones for the purpose of discrediting the Bible. Others manipulate questions and twist the Bible to fit their purposes. Academics can sometimes use textual criticism mechanisms that make the analysis cold and impersonal. Some laypersons comb the Bible for soundbites to pacify their fear and insecurities. However, people with a genuine desire to understand the Bible better will let the questions guide their learning and curiosity. This book is written for this group.

"A Short Guide to Reading the Bible Better" (George H. Guthrie)

TITLE: A Short Guide to Reading the Bible Better
AUTHOR: George H. Guthrie
PUBLISHER: Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing, 2022, (176 pages).
 

Christians believe in the Bible. They declare it in their creeds. They study it in small groups. Many would spend their devotional time with an open Bible. Some would also be inspired to go to Bible School. For the layperson, while the spirit is willing, the know-how is weak. Many of us can read but not many know how to appreciate the different genres, interpretive methods, or basic reading skills. God's Word is life-giving but do we know how to receive this life-giving Word? Whatever it is, all if not most of us would agree on one thing: Whatever our stage of expertise, we all need to take our Bible reading to the next level. This short book helps us to do just that. Author and professor George Guthrie is a well-known teacher of the Bible. Having been involved in several Bible translations, he knows the nuances and skills necessary to read the Bible well. He starts off the book with an invitation to consider and ponder the power of words. Subtly, he hints at the following: If words can be such powerful tools to move the human heart, what about God's Word? Surely, that would move not only human hearts but inspire them to do greater things that no ordinary mortal being could do. Guthrie focuses on:

"Blessed" (Nancy Guthrie)

TITLE: Blessed
AUTHOR: Nancy Guthrie
PUBLISHER: Wheaton, IL: Crossway Publishers, 2022, (272 pages).
 

The book of Revelation is one of the most mysterious and some say difficult books to understand. With the many numeric signs, images, symbols, visions of wars, and destruction, people tend to be intimidated into avoiding the study of the book altogether. Author and popular Bible teacher Nancy Guthrie know it personally. This is especially when she was called to teach a class on Revelation at her church. After pushing aside initial reservations, she was struck by the way the apocalyptic text begins: "Blessed." That sparked her interest and laid the foundation for this Bible Study guide on Revelation. From this inspiration, she aims to help others in overcoming their fears about this letter. She deals with fears of not understanding it enough; concern about controversial interpretations; misguided views about the letter merely about the future without existential relevance; and other uncomfortable reasons for not studying the text at all. She then goes on to describe the reasons why we should be studying Revelation. Using one of the most popular words to hook our interest, she chooses the lens of Blessing to uncover 12 promises in Revelation. 

"Colossians and Philemon" (Adam Copenhaver and Jeffrey D. Arthurs)

TITLE: Colossians and Philemon: A Commentary for Biblical Preaching and Teaching
AUTHOR: Adam Copenhaver and Jeffrey D. Arthurs
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 2022, (336 pages).
 

The Word of God is God's Message to us, which is one reason why a popular Bible paraphrase is entitled "The Message." The Greek word, "Kerux" is translated as "messenger or herald" of the message. With this as the main theme, the Kerux Commentary series aims to help us see the big idea of God's message in each passage of the Bible text. Written by two experts in their fields, this commentary combines the best of exegesis and homiletics, so as to benefit anyone seeking to do expository preaching of Paul's letters to the Colossians and to Philemon. These are two of the most important things needed for any teacher or preacher: Bible exegesis and homiletics. The former is for diligent study while the latter is for effective delivery. The two exercises need to go hand in hand. Good delivery requires adequate study of the text. A diligent study needs to consider how to deliver the message more accurately and clearly. 

Some of the other features include:

• Overview of Preaching Passages
• Detailed Introduction and Outline
• Literary structure and themes
• Preaching Pointers linking the ancient with modern times
• A thorough exposition of the text
• Sidebars of interesting and pertinent information for further background understanding
• Appropriate charts
• Theological focus
• Contemporary ideas
• Questions for study groups
• etc.

"The Parables" (Douglas D. Webster)

TITLE: The Parables: Jesus's Friendly Subversive Speech
AUTHOR: Douglas D. Webster
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Academic, 2021, (352 pages).

Storytelling is one of the most powerful ways of spreading a message. Jesus used lots of them. Parables communicate. They disarm. They clarify. They also rebuke. Used appropriately, they transform lives. There are 2 Old Testament parables and 35 in the New Testament. How and why do we study the parables? For author Douglas Webster, he discovers that the parables are transformative strategies rather than merely an alternative way to teach. After many years of teaching and preaching, while trying to help students make sense of the Sermon on the Mount, he realizes that Jesus uses parables not to teach but to use parables to "penetrate people’s defenses, circumvent the opposition, extend his gospel ministry, and creatively train his followers." In other words, parables are not just another way of telling gospel truths. They are there to prick the conscience and to open hearts up for the message of the kingdom. They reveal the truth that sets people free. Jesus uses ordinary characters from common life. He bridges heavenly truth with earthly objects. Concentrating on the parables in Matthew and Luke, the author deals with each of Luke's parables individually to paint the gospel story. He organizes Matthew's parables according to the Passion Week narrative. He structures the book dealing with the 22 parables in a chronological fashion. Beginning with the Parable of the Sower (Matt 13:1-23), and ends with the end of the world judgment parable. 

"How to Read Daniel" (Tremper Longman III)

TITLE: How to Read Daniel (How To Read Series)
AUTHOR: Tremper Longman III
PUBLISHER: Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2020, (190 pages).

This is the sixth book of the "How to Read" commentary series. Bible books of the apocalyptic genre are generally more challenging for the layperson to read and to comprehend. There are visions, dreams, and multiple symbols that pose some level of difficulty when it comes to interpretation. What can we make of these ancient visions? What do they mean then and now? How can we understand the message of Daniel for today? These questions and more are covered in this volume. Part One deals with the literary structure of the book such as the genre, the structure, the language, history, background, and the main theological messages. In Part Two, readers could dive into the six stories and four visions; and the lessons Daniel had experienced from. In Part Three, we read Daniel to learn about applications for our modern context.

Some people avoid the apocalyptic books simply because they think it is too difficult to understand. They might have thought about studying it but shy away for lack of guidance and background information. Others study it but due to the lack of foundation about biblical theology, they might miss the forest for the trees. For both categories, this book can fill in the gaps. It is easy to read as far as the layperson is concerned. While not as technical as some other commentaries, this book can provide compelling guidance for scholars and seminarians. In other words, this book is not too difficult but do not let the simplicity of the language used deceive us. Some of the terminology and concepts used in the book are what biblical scholars would be most familiar with. "Apocalyptic" is one. "Chiasm" and the interpretation of numerology are others. These are however kept to a minimum.

The author leaves no chapter unturned. Through helpful citations and interesting observations throughout, readers will not find this book dull at all.

"7 Feasts" (Erin Davis)

TITLE: 7 Feasts: Finding Christ in the Sacred Celebrations of the Old Testament
AUTHOR: Erin Davis
PUBLISHER: Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2020, (192 pages).

Food brings people together. Whether it is breakfast, lunch, dinner, or any other time, it is always a good opportunity to meet people. In times of celebration, we feast and enjoy the lavish food. Across all countries, cultures, and communities, if there is any one timeless tradition, eating and drinking would be it. One of the best ways to understand the roots of this tradition is to learn from ancient cultures. Such historical surveys will inform the modern mind that there is really nothing new under the sun. Author Erin Davis takes the reader through seven Jewish feasts over an eight week period. For each week, there are five daily studies that we can accompany with a Bible, a pen, and some friends to ponder over the message. Instead of jumping straight into the feasts, Davis dedicates the first week to teaching some basics of how to rightly handle the Word of God. By providing some guidelines on how to read the Bible, readers are reminded to learn to handle the Word with care, before jumping into the text. Such reminders are necessary to warn us against spiritual amnesia. Gradually, she encourages us to change our pattern for living, in order to live out biblical principles in all that we do. After the first week of preparing the heart and mind, readers will then be ready to plunge into the study of the sacred celebrations of the Old Testament.

"Seeking Him" (Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth and Tim Grissom)

TITLE: Seeking Him: Experiencing the Joy of Personal Revival
AUTHOR: Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth and Tim Grissom
PUBLISHER: Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2019, (275 pages).

Do you want to restore your first love for Jesus? How can we deal with our conflicts and repair our relationships? What does it take to remove bitterness? What are the things needed to rekindle a desire for God? What about refreshing our spirit for a deeper experience of God? These and many more are some of the topics covered in this book under one goal: Seeking God earnestly. Before jumping into that, the authors give us a clearer definition of what kind of "revival" they are talking about. It is not a series of religious meetings that comprise all kinds of activities, including motivational seminar types we see in the corporate world. Neither is it outreach evangelistic campaigns nor seasons of fervour. Rather, it is a planned, intentional, and sustained process of seeking God from the inside out. It can also be used as a group study. Over a 12-week period, this book helps readers do just that. Each lesson comprises a common framework. The typical week comprises:

• Day 1: Faith-Builder Story
• Days 2-5: Truth Encounter / Making It Personal
• Days 6-7: Seeking Him Together.

"A Guide to Bible Basics" (Tyler D. Mayfield)

TITLE: A Guide to Bible Basics
AUTHOR: Tyler D. Mayfield
PUBLISHER: Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2018, (288 pages).

One of the biggest challenges among many Christian communities is the Bible literacy rate. People are not only unable to read their Bible well, many are not even reading it on a regular basis! The reasons for such unwillingness to read the Bible could also be due to the sheer volume of books. Reading through the Bible is a daunting task, given that many of the books come from an ancient era totally foreign to many of us. This is where Bible handbooks come in useful. With brief overviews, introductions to each Bible book, what its themes are, maps, charts, and various illustrations to illuminate the background for reading, it is hoped that not only will this make the Bible clearer for the modern mind, it also makes it more enticing for more readers to plunge into the Word for themselves.

Author Tyler D Mayfield takes pains to categorize the Bible books according to popular literary genre, to give us a birds-eye view of how the Bible is arranged. While they are not necessarily in chronological order, the Bible books are arranged in a mix of chronological and genre perspective. Some of the other highlights include:

"Soaring Through the Bible" (Skip Heitzig)

TITLE: Soaring Through the Bible: A Travel Guide from Genesis to Revelation for Kids
AUTHOR: Skip Heitzig
PUBLISHER: Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2019, (224 pages).

The Bible is one big book to read through. Adults often have trouble even trying to understand what the Bible is saying. Many have spent years studying it and still find it mysterious. It is not easy to read the Bible cover to cover, partly because of its length and many genres. The ancient contexts are not easily understood. Thus, there are many commentaries, Bible dictionaries, and biblical helps for people wanting to know more about the Bible backgrounds. Many of these resources however are not easily translated into a manner suitable for kids. This book helps teachers, parents, and youth leaders in giving a Bible overview to kids. Using the metaphor of flying in an airplane and looking down on earth, author and Bible teacher Skip Heitzig gives us a bird's eye view of the Bible from Genesis to Revelation. The main idea is this: "the higher up you go into the air and look down, the more you can see of the earth than you can from the ground." Heitzig takes us through a three part framework for every book of the Bible.

1. Check Your Location (Context)
2. Plot Your Course (Content)
3. Enjoy Your Trip (Practice)

"Bible Workbook Vol 2 New Testament" (Catherine B. Walker)

TITLE: Bible Workbook, Volume 2 -- New Testament
AUTHOR: Catherine B. Walker
PUBLISHER: Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2019, (72 pages).

For those who have used the first volume on the Old Testament, this workbook brings a familiar look and feel. Like the predecessor, this workbook was written for high school Bible classes that meet every day for a semester. Thus, the workbook can be used as a common text to help students work through the New Testament and learn its major themes. Readers ought to pay attention to the first page "Note to the Teacher" so as to know how to optimize the use of this workbook. Walker gives us a good idea on what parts of the New Testament to begin with and when to go more in depth. The purpose is to urge students to read the Bible more regularly and frequently. Highlights include:

• Author;
• People;
• Occasion;
• Theme;
• Outline;
• Key Verse(s);
• Things for you to do;
• Reasons for Studying the Bible book;
• Things to Watch For.

"A Lens of Love" (Jonathan L. Walton)

TITLE: A Lens of Love: Reading the Bible in Its World for Our World
AUTHOR: Jonathan L. Walton
PUBLISHER: Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2018, (208 pages).

Reading the Bible has always been a challenge. Some would open the texts with the question: "What does the Bible mean for me?" Others would rely on their traditions to understand the texts. Still others would use the Bible to resolve some pressing issues in life. With 66 books in the Old and New Testaments, the Bible can be intimidating, which leads some toward simplistic readings and selective applications. The problem with such approaches is that people would miss out the forest for the trees. Using a socio-historical interpretive approach, author Jonathan Walton seeks to address these problems with two key objectives. First, he aims to engage the four major sections of the Bible to give us a big story context. These sections are the "Dynastic Literature, the Pentateuch, the Gospels, and the Epistles." The Dynastic Literature gives us the backdrop to the Old Testament. The Pentateuch provides the narrative origins while the gospels shine on the life of Jesus. Finally, the epistles show us the early life of the Christian communities. The second objective is to build a bridge from the ancient to the modern world, to "promote ethical and responsible biblical interpretation among nonspecialists." This second task would be appealing to those who are concerned about the complex political, ethical, and social justice issues happening in contemporary times. Issues such as racism, rich-poor divide, gender discrimination, immigration, sexual discrimination, and so forth.

"Interrupting Silence" (Walter Bruggemann)

TITLE: Interrupting Silence: God's Command to Speak Out
AUTHOR: Walter Bruggemann
PUBLISHER: Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2018, (108 pages).

We must speak out. We must not sit back and let chaos and injustice run amok. There is a time to be silent and a time to speak out. Alas, many are guilty of keeping quiet when there is a need to speak up; and speaking up when there is a need to be silent. This book about interrupting silence is a call to all to bear the arms of vocal activism in the midst of unholy forces seeking to silence our witness. As one who has consistently spoken out against the excesses of powers and the abuse of the weak. There are many quotables about many different things:

• "The church at its most faithful is allied with artistic expression from the margin that voices alternatives to dominant imagination."
• "Prayer—beyond conventional polite prayer—is an act of breaking the silence."
• "In the institutional life of the church, moreover, the breaking of silence by the testimony of the gospel often means breaking the silence among those who have a determined stake in maintaining the status quo."
• "Prayer is a refusal to settle for what is."
• "The parable exhibits the relentlessness of refusing silence, the unwavering resolve to continue to speak and to ask."
•