In the Box: New Titles from Hendrickson & IVP

“In the Box” posts highlight new books I’ve received in the mail.

I periodically showcase new titles that arrive at my doorstep in posts like this. Today’s post highlights two books that will be of special interest to those interested in Reformed theology. The other book will be appreciated by those who know Koine Greek and Hebrew. So this is a post for armchair theology geeks like me!

The Sacrifice of Praise by Herman Bavinck, translated and edited by Cameron Clausing & Gregory Parker Jr. (Hendrickson)

Bavinck is a Dutch Reformed theologian who died about one hundred years ago. This book is an updated English translation of the Dutch original. I believe it is taken from exhortations given at communion and stresses the importance of a public confession of faith. It comes with recommendations from Kevin DeYoung, Carl Trueman, David F. Wells and others. I’m looking forward to interacting with Bavinck directly thanks to this handy little volume.

To learn more about this book, check out the product page at Hendrickson. This book is currently 50% off at Westminster Bookstore (now through June 4, 2019). You can purchase this book at Amazon, Christianbook.com, Westminster Bookstore, or direct from Hendrickson Publishers.

The Complete Hebrew-Greek Bible (Hendrickson)

I love the idea of the Greek and Hebrew together in one volume and this volume provides this handy feature. The text is somewhat dated however. The Greek text is Brooke Foss Westcott’s and Fenton John Anthony Hort’s ground-breaking work from 1881. The critical study of the Greek text has progressed since their day however. This is reflected in a helpful apparatus that compares Robinson Pierpont and Nestle Aland’s texts with Westcott and Hort’s. The Hebrew text is Biblia Hebraica Leningradensia (BHL) and not the current standard BHS text. But there are helpful appendices that discuss the Hebrew text (the work of professor Aron Dotan). I am eager to dive in and see how helpful the tools are that accompany this text as I plan on reviewing this work in the near future.

To learn more about this volume, check out the book’s product page at AmazonChristianbook.com, or direct from Hendrickson Publishers.

The Reformation and the Irrepressible Word of God: Interpretation, Theology, and Practice edited by Scott M. Manetsch (IVP Academic)

This book is a collection of essays offered in celebration of the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. Contributions come from such authors as Michael Haykin, Kevin DeYoung, Michael Horton, and Timothy George. The focus is on the Word of God and the essays “consider historical, hermeneutical, theological, and practical issues regarding the Bible” (quote from the publisher’s description). The title of Haykin’s chapter has me especially intrigued: “‘Meat, Not Strawberries’: Hugh Latimer and Biblical Preaching in the English Reformation.” I look forward to delving into this title sometime this summer.

To learn more about this book, check out the product page at IVP Academic. This book is currently 50% off at Westminster Bookstore (now through June 4, 2019). You can purchase this book at AmazonChristianbook.com, Westminster Bookstore, or direct from IVP Academic.

Disclaimer: My thanks go out to both Hendrickson Publishers and IVP for review copies of these titles.

In the Box: New Titles from Crossway Books

“In the Box” posts highlight new books I’ve received in the mail.

In this post, I want to showcase two of the new titles that at arrived at my doorstep in the last few weeks. I’m truly blessed to be able to read so many great books, and Christian publishers seem to never let up in their race to get high quality materials out the door. We are truly blessed with an abundance of Christian resources to help us in our walk with Christ.

The Love of Loves in the Song of Songs by Philip Ryken

This book is a meditation on Song of Solomon, and helpfully includes the entire biblical text (ESV) of that book. Ryken’s style is easy to read and he shares a wealth of insight from others on this fascinating (and often troubling) book. I appreciate that from the start he does not shy away from appreciating the parallels between Christ and the Church that have historically dominated the interpretation of this book, even as he rejects outright allegoricalism. He also does not eagerly proclaim the book as a manifesto on sexual liberation either, finding its instruction on marital love appropriately muted by the poetic nature of the book, and not as graphic or explicit as quite a few modern writers envision.

UPDATE: Read my review of this book here.

For more about this book, check out the book’s product page at Westminster Bookstore, Christianbook.com, Amazon or Crossway Books.

Note: This book is currently 50% off at Westminster Bookstore.

Parenting with Loving Correction: Practical Help for Raising Young Children by Sam Crabtree

The next Crossway title I received is by Pastor Sam Crabtree of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis (where I was a member for several years). Knowing Pastor Crabtree personally, I am eager to dig into this work. Like the title of his other book Practicing Affirmation, Pastor Sam is warm and encouraging, and I expect his parental advice to be refreshing and uplifting – while also insightful.

To learn more about this book, check out the book’s product page at Westminster BookstoreChristianbook.com, Amazon, or Crossway Books.

Note: This book is currently 40% off at Westminster Bookstore through Feb 28.

Great Deal on 2 Excellent Guides to Understanding & Applying the Bible

Westminster Bookstore has a great deal on a pair of highly recommended resources for Bible study. How to Understand and Apply the Old Testament by Jason S. DeRouchie and How to Understand and Apply the New Testament by Andrew D. Naselli are new titles from P & R Publishing.

This pair of books both include forewords by D.A. Carson, and each author is a professor at Bethlehem College and Seminary, Minneapolis, MN, founded by John Piper. DeRouchie is Professor of OT and Biblical Theology, and Naselli is Assistant Professor of NT and Theology.

These tools cover everything needed to go from biblical text to Bible lesson or Sunday morning sermon: understanding genre and literary units, delving into textual variants and Bible translation, diagramming/bracketing the passage looking for semantic relationships, word and concept studies, understanding historical and literary contexts, and reviewing biblical and systematic theology implications. The books are written with lay church leaders in mind, avoiding technical jargon wherever possible.

Here is a full description of the books with many of the numerous book endorsements from church leaders. The sale is 45% off individual volumes ($22) and 50% off the set ($40). This fantastic deal ends April 11, 2017.

Two Great Books on Preaching, One Great Price

Preaching_Keller    Him We Proclaim: Preaching Christ from All the Scriptures by Dennis E. JohnsonAny book by Timothy Keller is worth reading! His books communicate well, are designed for a wide audience, and have the weight of years of pastoral ministry in the heart of New York City behind them. So I am eager to get my hands on his new book on preaching (Viking, 2015). It’s subtitle practically sells the book: “Communicating Faith in an Age of Skepticism.”

Westminster Bookstore has the book available at almost half off: $17, now through June 16.  And they have a special deal on this book paired with another helpful book on preaching: Him We Proclaim: Preaching Christ From All of the Scriptures by Dennis Johnson (P & R, 2007).

For just $30, you can get both books, along with a smaller booklet of one of Keller’s sermons.

For more on Dennis Johnson’s book, check out my review. I highly recommend that title. Together, the two books should help provide a crash course on effective preaching and bless many pastors and lay teachers. Take advantage of this special, now through June 16!

Huge Sale on Important New Book: “What Does the Bible Really Teach about Homosexuality?” by Kevin DeYoung

What Does the Bible Really Teach about Homosexuality? by Kevin DeYoungThere ia a new book on the difficult contrvoersial subject of the Bible and homosexuality which is making a lot of buzz. Kevin DeYoung’s book has garnered a host of endorsements.

Right now, Westminster Bookstore has a great sale on this book. You can learn more about the book at Crossway (where you can also check out a couple video clips from the conference where this book was birthed). Or you can check out the resources collected at Westminster Bookstore for this title.

The sale has individual copies of the book for $9, but the price for cases brings it down as low as $6 each (more than 50% off). Ebooks are also $6. to get the discount click here.

I’m going to reproduce the book blurbs for this title below and encourage you to consider picking up a copy at this great price.

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Disclaimer: This book was provided by Crossway Books via Westminster Bookstore. I was under no obligation to offer a favorable review.