Books Received for Review
The descriptions following are primarily from the publishers and are not necessarily the opinions of the editorial staff of this journal. These titles are currently under review that will appear in forthcoming issues of Australasian Pentecostal Studies.
B. S. J. Isserlin, The Israelites, Fortress Press, 2001. 304 pp. ISBN: 0800634268
Covering the period of the thirteenth century B.C.E. to the fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C.E., Isserling, a senior scholar, synthesizes the social, historical, geographical, and archaeological materials relevant to studying ancient Israel in its ancient Near Eastern context. Isserlin has an accessible style and brings the latest in biblical research to students and general readers. The stunning array of 85 photographs-plus maps, line drawings, and charts-make this a rich resource for scholars as well.
Walter Wink, The Human Being: Jesus and the Enigma of Modern Man, Fortress Press, 2001. 356 pp. ISBN: 0800632621
The epithet "the son of the man" (or "the Human Being") in the Gospels has been a highly debated topic. Wink uses this phrase to explore not only early Christology but the anthropology articulated in the Gospels. Jesus apparently avoided designations such as Messiah, Son of God, or God, though these titles were given by his disciples after his death and resurrection. But Jesus is repeatedly depicted as using the obscure expression "the Human Being" as virtually his only form of self- reference.
Wink explores how Jesus' self-referential phrase came to be universalized as the "Human Being" or "Truly Human One." The Human Being is a catalytic agent for transformation, providing the form and lure and hunger to become who we were meant to be, or more properly perhaps, to become who we truly are.
Hermann Gunkel, Water for a Thirsty Land: Israelite Literature and Religion, Fortress Press, 2001. 176 pp. ISBN: 0800634381
The chapters in this volume provide the general reader an opportunity to learn from one of the greatest biblical scholars of the twentieth century. Beginning with the most general and moving to focused topics, this work provides a rationale for continuing to engage the Old Testament in the modern world. Combining his research strengths in the literary history of Israel, form criticism, tradition history, and the history of religion, this volume covers narrative, prophecy, and the Psalms.
Rather than artifacts of a former generation, these essays are as fresh as ever in their perspective. To make it more helpful for students, each essay has been expanded with additional notes and bibliography to show where the discussion has continued since Gunkel. This work will provide an excellent supplementary textbook for courses in the Old Testament or Bible.
Daniel C. Maguire, Sacred Choices: The Right to Contraception and Abortion in Ten World Religions, Fortress Press, 2001. 168 pp. ISBN: 0800634330
As the world teeters on the edge of overpopulation, this new addition to the Sacred Energies series aims to show how ten major religious traditions in fact contain strong affirmations of the right to family planning, including contraception and even, when necessary, abortion.
Maquire first shows how interrelated overpopulation is with poverty, ethnic injustice, gender injustice, and the maldistribution of economic resources. Often the world's religions (most notoriously perhaps, Roman Catholicism) are thought to contribute only to the problem, rather than solutions, through their hostility to sex, education and equal rights for women, and birth control. In fact, argues Maguire, the ten scholars who consulted for several years about how these traditions treat issues of contraception and abortion find in them a true religious awe at the sacredness of life, a genuine openness to sexuality as a dimension of the sacred, and "alongside the 'no choice' position . . .a 'pro-choice' position that is too little known, even by adherents to the religion. That is the key message of this book."
Rosemary Radford Ruether and Herman J. Ruether, The Wrath of Jonah: Crisis of Religious Nationalism in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, Fortress Press, 2001. 296 pp. ISBN: 0800634799
The wrenching situation in the Middle East, recent events have shown, is as complex as it is volatile. In this immensely learned and clarifying volume—here updated and issued in paper for the first time—the Ruethers trace the tortured and contested history of Israel/Palestine from biblical times through the Diaspora, the development of Zionism, the creation of the modern state of Israel, and the subsequent conflict with Arab and Palestinian nationalism.
Magisterial in its grasp of the historical, political, economic, and religious roots of the conflict, The Wrath of Jonah also offers convincing analysis of the moral and political dilemmas facing Israelis and Palestinians today. Though they see possibilities for peace, the Ruethers are forthright about what they and others see as Israel’s betrayal of its own original mandate. Their purpose, state the Ruethers, "continues to be to make a modest contribution to truthful historical accountability that must underlie the quest for justice, without which there can be no ‘peace.’"
Barry Callen, Clark H. Pinnock: Journey Towards Renewal, U.S.A.: Evangel Publishing House, 2001. 320 pp. ISBN: 1928915027
This intellectual biography of Dr. Clark H. Pinnock is a useful resource for college and seminary courses in theological method. It describes how a leading Evangelical thinker has developed his teachings on the doctrines of God, revelation, Scripture, and salvation over the past thirty years. Although Dr. Pinnock comes from a Baptist background, his recent writings show his movement toward Arminianism.
Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen, Pneumatology: The Holy Spirit in Ecumenical, International, and Contextual Perspective, U.S.A.: Baker Book House, 2002. 208 pp. ISBN: 080102448X
This volume examines various theological and denominational understandings of the Spirit (all major Christian traditions are reviewed), assesses key contemporary theologians of the Spirit (e.g., Pannenberg, Moltmann, and Pinnock), and inquires into several contextual approaches (e.g., liberation, feminist, and green). These distinctives and the emphasis on the contemporary global scene make this a unique volume.
Clark Pinnock, Most Moved Mover: A Theology of God’s Openness, U.S.A.: Baker Book House, 2001. 224 pp. ISBN: 0801022908
Most Moved Mover, the most passionate and articulate defense of openness theology to date, begins with an analysis of the heated debate sparked by the publication of The Openness of God. Pinnock then clears up misconceptions about openness theology, points out areas of agreement between classical and openness theologians, and lays the groundwork for future discussions.
Most Moved Mover is sure to inform all evangelicals, regardless of their viewpoint, of the latest developments concerning the open view of God movement. It will be required reading in the academy and for church leaders who want to keep current with the ongoing evangelical debate about God's nature and attributes.
Ben Witherington III, New Testament History: A Narrative Approach, Baker Book House, 2001. 432 pp. ISBN: 0801022932
In this succinct yet readable narrative, Witherington carries the reader from the intertestamental Maccabean wars to the reign of Domitian and the exile of John, focusing especially upon the life of Christ. Witherington closely explores the geographical, political, social, and religious influences that shaped the leaders and social movements of the day. The inferiority complex of Alexander the Great and the stories of "Little Boots" and Nero are a few examples of such case studies.
This rich chronicle leaves readers with a better understanding of the social and political climate of the New Testament world, tackling controversies and issues with depth and clarity. Students, pastors, and interested readers will enjoy this stimulating account and appreciate its readable narrative style. New Testament History contains a number of pedagogical features, including illustrations, sidebars, "Closer Look" sections, maps, and charts.
Stanley J. Grenz, The Social God and the Relational Self: A Trinitarian Theology of the Imago Dei, U.S.A.: John Knox Press, 2001. 400 pp. ISBN: 066422203X
In this, the first of a six-volume contribution to systematic theology, Stanley Grenz creatively extends the insights of contemporary Trinitarian thought to theological anthropology. The Social God and the Relational Self is an example of theological construction as an ongoing conversation involving biblical texts, the theological heritage of the Christian tradition, and the contemporary historical/social context.
Grenz develops a communal understanding of the imago dei in the face of the demise of the centered self. He delineates the biblical/theological foundation for a new social conception of the divine image and reformulates an understanding of the self in a postmodern context, a context characterized by the loss of the self coupled with the quest for relationality in community.
Grenz concludes by identifying the basis of the Trinitarian theological foundation for Christian anthropology and opens the door for the examination of other anthropological questions to be considered in light of the postmodern condition.
Craig L. Blomberg, The Historical Reliability of John's Gospel, Intervarsity Press, 2001. 346 pp. ISBN: 0-8308-2685-8
Throughout much of the twentieth century the Fourth Gospel has taken a back seat to the Synoptics when it comes to historical reliability. Consequently, the contemporary quest of the historical Jesus has discounted or excluded evidence from the Fourth Gospel.
The question of the historical reliability of John's Gospel is well overdue for a thorough reinvestigation and reassessment. In this foundational study, Craig Blomberg sheds new light on persistent questions. The result is a thorough evaluation of the problems entrailed and a full-length commentary singularly focused on the historicity of the Fourth Gospel.
Craig Van Gelder, The Essence of the Church: A Community Created by the Spirit, Baker Book House, 2000. 208 pp. ISBN: 0801090962
Rather than beginning with successful contemporary models of what churches are doing, The Essence of the Church encourages readers to rethink the nature of the church. The author draws on three decades of experience to address the challenges facing today's church and urges readers to think deeply yet practically about the church.
Thoughtful and readable, this book integrates insight from a variety of disciplines and enables readers to root their methods and programs in sound biblical, theological, and theoretical principles.
Jack Finegan, Myth and Mystery: An Introduction to the Pagan Religions of the Biblical World, Baker Book House, 1997. 336 pp. ISBN: 080102160X
Culling the primary sources, Finegan examines nine pagan religions in existence during both the Old and New Testament times. Among them are Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Canaanite, Greek, Roman, and Gnostic religions. He carefully documents not only their beliefs, practices, writings, and history, but also their relation to the biblical world.