From Mary Eberstadt's essay in the latest issue of the Hoover Review:

Today’s prevailing social consensus about pornography is practically identical to the social consensus about tobacco in 1963: i.e., it is characterized by widespread tolerance, tinged with resignation about the notion that things could ever be otherwise. After all, many people reason, pornography’s not going to go away any time soon. Serious people, including experts, either endorse its use or deny its harms or both. Also, it is widely seen as cool, especially among younger people, and this coveted social status further reduces the already low incentive for making a public issue of it. In addition, many people also say that consumers have a “right” to pornography — possibly even a constitutional right. No wonder so many are laissez-faire about this substance. Given the social and political circumstances arrayed in its favor, what would be the point of objecting?

Read the whole thing.

Audio From the Gospel Coalition Conference

from Between Two Worlds by JT

The audio and video from The Gospel Coalition conference are now available online for free. Most of them are expositions of 2 Timothy:

• Tim Keller, "The Grand Demythologizer: The Gospel and Idolatry" (Acts 19:21-41)
• John Piper, "Feed the Flame of God’s Gift: Unashamed Courage in the Gospel" (2 Timothy 1:1-12)
• Phil Ryken, "The Pattern of Sound Words" (2 Timothy 1:13-2:13)
• Mark Driscoll, "Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth" (2 Timothy 2:14-26)
• K. Edward Copeland, "Shadowlands: Pitfalls and Parodies of Gospel-Centered Ministry" (2 Timothy 3:1-9)
• Bryan Chapell, "Preach the Word!" (2 Timothy 3:10-4:5)
• Ajith Fernando, "Gospel-Faithful Mission in the New Christendom"
• Panel Discussion: Tim Keller, John Piper, Ligon Duncan and Crawford Loritts (chair: Stephen Um)
• Ligon Duncan, "Finishing Well" (2 Timothy 4:6-22)
• Don Carson, "That By All Means I Might Win Some': Faithfulness and Flexibility in Gospel Proclamation" (1 Corinthians 9:19-23)

Spurgeon: Yet He wanted books

from Between Two Worlds by JT

In Ligon Duncan's TGC address he assumed (as I would have) that most of the audience already knew Spurgeon's sermon on 2 Timothy 4:13 where Paul asks Timothy to bring him his books/parchments. But most had never heard of this sermon. Here's a section from it:

We do not know what the books were about, and we can only form some guess as to what the parchments were. Paul had a few books which were left, perhaps wrapped up in the cloak, and Timothy was to be careful to bring them. Even an apostle must read. . . . A man who comes up into the pulpit, professes to take his text on the spot, and talks any quantity of nonsense, is the idol of many. If he will speak without premeditation, or pretend to do so, and never produce what they call a dish of dead men's brains—oh! that is the preacher. How rebuked are they by the apostle!

He is inspired, and yet he wants books!

He has been preaching at least for thirty years, and yet he wants books!

He had seen the Lord, and yet he wants books!

He had had a wider experience than most men, and yet he wants books!

He had been caught up into the third heaven, and had heard things which it was unlawful for a men to utter, yet he wants books!

He had written the major part of the New Testament, and yet he wants books!

The apostle says to Timothy and so he says to every preacher, "Give thyself unto reading." The man who never reads will never be read; he who never quotes will never be quoted. He who will not use the thoughts of other men's brains, proves that he has no brains of his own.

Brethren, what is true of ministers is true of all our people. You need to read. Renounce as much as you will all light literature, but study as much as possible sound theological works, especially the Puritanic writers, and expositions of the Bible. We are quite persuaded that the very best way for you to be spending your leisure, is to be either reading or praying. You may get much instruction from books which afterwards you may use as a true weapon in your Lord and Master's service. Paul cries, "Bring the books"—join in the cry.

Soveriegn Grace Pastor's conference

from C.J. Mahaney's view from the cheap seats & other stuff

Audio and PDFs from the 2009 Sovereign Grace Ministries Pastors Conference (April 6-8) are now available for download.



Here is a list of the conference messages:



General Sessions

• The Pastor’s Charge, Part 1 (C.J. Mahaney)


• The Pastor’s Teaching (Jeff Purswell)


• The Pastor’s Mission (Dave Harvey)


• The Pastor’s Legacy (Jared Mellinger)


• The Pastor’s Charge, Part 2 (C.J. Mahaney)

Seminars for Men

• The Pastor and Christian Liberty (Craig Cabaniss)


• The Pastor and College Ministry: Compelling Reasons to Take the Gospel to the Campus (Bill Kittrell)


• The Pastor and His Community: How the Gospel Informs Our Mission beyond the Church (Mark Dever)


• The Pastor and His Older Children: The Possibilities and Perils of Parenting Teens (Bob Kauflin)


• The Pastor and Preaching: How to Start a Sermon, End a Sermon, and Prepare the Middle of a Sermon (Mike Bullmore)


• The Pastor and Small-Group Leaders (Jim Donohue)


• The Pastor and the Counseling Process (Andy Farmer)


• The Pastor and the Priority of Plurality (Dave Harvey)


• The Pastor and the Spirit: An Exposition of 1 Corinthians 12–14 (Jeff Purswell)


• The Pastor and Titus 2 (Aron Osborne)


• The Pastor and Youth Ministry: The Priority of Teaching for Parents and Teens (Steve Whitacre)

Seminars for Women

• The Pastor’s Wife and Culture: What Feminism Has Done to Femininity (Carolyn McCulley)


• The Pastor’s Wife and Ministry Opportunities: Five Great Deals She Won’t Want to Miss (Carolyn Mahaney)

Visit the Pastors Conference page to download the audio recordings and all available PDFs.

Theology of Big Words

from Parchment and Pen by C Michael Patton

My two year old son Zach has just entered that stage where he says a new word or phrase just about every day. It is wonderful to watch, listen, and laugh. The other day he said “Batman” perfectly. I was so excited. I assured my wife (even though I am the world’s biggest superhero fan) that I did not know where he got it from. He just picked it up somewhere—seriously. Tonight at the church while we were eating, he put his blanket over Will’s (my 5 year old) head and said “Where’s Will?” That was awesome. New word every day. No kidding.

Switch gears…

I remember when I first started teaching, fresh out of seminary, I was going to really shake things up. No matter where I taught or what I taught, I was determined not to dumb things down. If people did not understand the language of theology, they would just have to learn it. Like playing tennis with someone much better than you, just weather the storm and you will raise to new heights. This did not last long. While I am staying the course, determined not to dumb things down, I now know that I have to be more strategic.

One of the most difficult assignments I have as a teacher of theology is to convince people of the need to be familiar with and engage in theological discourse. People simply are not used to it. In all our ministries, from Parchment and Pen, Theology Unplugged, to The Theological Word of the Day, I am attempting to be intentional in the ways we bring a timid and intellectually insecure culture to a place where true learning can become a reality. I am still learning—a lot.

One of the most difficult things that I have to convince people of today is the need to learn a new language. No, it is not something other than English, but it is a sub-set of technical terminology that exists in Biblical and Theological studies. For the most part, people don’t expect nor (think they) desire to engage in such a learning experience. In church, we are told that people don’t understand this word or that phrase so you have to speak in such a way where all difficulty in comprehension is removed. When speaking about the “atonement,” don’t use that word. Replace it with “What Jesus did on the Cross.” When speaking about “redemption,” change it to “What Jesus accomplished.” When speaking about “predestination,” change the topic all together. No one is ready for that!

On and on I could go. We live in a time when people are “seeker-friendly” to such a degree that unless you dumb things down to the point where everyone can handle the serve, you are going to run them off. In this, we are saying a couple of things: 1) Even though my two year old boy can learn a new phrase in passing everyday, once people get out of college the have exhausted their ability to learn something new. 2) People don’t come to church or lessons to learn new concepts and ideas, but to take what they have already learned and have it restructured and/or be reminded of it. Therefore, we are limited in how we can communicate.

These presuppositions are completely unjustified and unfounded. I have never heard anyone defend this mentality outside of a desire not to offend people with “bid words.” But the problem is when we take this to its logical conclusion. Why stop at adults? Why not bow to the least common denominator. Let’s include Zach. Sometimes my wife brings him into the service and we don’t want to offend him, right? Therefore, let us preach “goo, goo” and “gaa, gaa” with an occasional “Batman” thrown in. That way we are sure not to offend anyone.

Here are reasons why I still use big words:

1. God created big words. Words are the basic building blocks of language. There is a reason why God created language. It was not so that people could communicate through a minimalistic paradigm, but so, as language is understood, concepts and truth can be further communicated.

2. Big words work. Have you ever had an abstract concept in your mind only to find out later that there was word associated with that concept? I have. In fact, I am continually searching for a verbal articulation of what I am thinking. I remember having an epiphany (i.e. a sudden realization) when I learned what the phase “irenic theology” (i.e. taking a peaceful approach to theological matters in order to stimulate learning in a non-threatening environment). I had this concept in my mind as I often thought about how much better I learn when opposing positions are presented in a persuasive yet peaceful manner. I just could not articulate it. But when the word “irenic” was applied to this, I could communicate it more tangibly to myself and others.

3. Big words legitimize. I often say that when you have a theological word or phrase that comes from the Reformers and you can say it in Latin, the concept that the word represents is de facto (i.e. as a matter of fact) true! In reality, there is a grain of truth to this. Not that the concept is true, but that words and phrases are legitimized to some degree because of longevity.

I taught tonight on the problem of evil. Many of the students had never heard of the words or concepts that I was talking about. However, all of them had thought deeply about the subject as evil affects all of us. One concept that I chose to include and not dumb down in wording was “privatio boni.” This word describes the idea popularized by St. Augstine that evil is not a tangible thing, but a privation of righteousness. Like darkness is simply the absence of light, so evil is simply the absence of righteousness. The reason I chose to use this Latin phrase instead of its English translation was because I wanted it to be legitimized in people’s minds. In other words, using the technical term helped people to understand that this was a real concept that did not originate from me. You see this happening from your doctor all the time. For example, what if your doctor was scared that you would be offended by big words and therefore diagnosed your condition as “blood hurt” rather than “Leukemia”? You would not think too much of his or her diagnosis would you? The doctors use big words. They know that when they use the technical terms associated with your ailment, you will understand the accuracy and seriousness of the problem as well as the legitimacy of their diagnosis. This same principle holds true in every area, including theology.

(Ironically, today’s Theological Word of the Day is a word I made up because I have not found a better or more traditional way to communicate the concept.)

When and how to use “big words”

We have all been in situations where the speaker talks way over our head. He does not speak to where we are. This is simply bad teaching. You have to know your audience. However, this is not the same thing as what I am talking about. To use big words does not have to mean that you are speaking over people’s heads.

1. Be wise in what words you choose to use. Of course some people could get up to the pulpit and read the Bible in the original Hebrew or Greek. This may provide for a more accurate reading of the Scripture, but, unless you are teaching a bunch of seminary professors, you are going run everyone off as you are wasting their time. When you use big words, make sure that you do in a way that is expedient to your audiences learning. In other words, when there is a word that communicates a concept in a particular way, having a rich tradition or a unique nuance to the concept, use it.

2. Don’t use big words to show off. I was at a seminar where J.P. Moreland was speaking. He could have spoken in a philosophical language that would have wowed everyone, causing us all to say “Boy, this guy is really smart . . . but I don’t know what he is saying.” But he did not. He was very strategic in his use of words. However, there was one gentleman who stood up to ask a question which amounted to a very antagonistic challenge to J.P.’s authority of the subject. The questioner used big words to show off how much he knew, it was easy to tell. It was very interesting how J.P. handled it. For a thirty second period, J.P. joined this gentlemen on the turf he had presented, spoke in a very technical language that only the questioner (maybe) could understand, definitively made his case, and the antagonist was silenced. The reason why J.P. did this, I believe, was to answer the challenge and move on. It was for the audience, even though most the audience did not understand what was said. This was to regain his command of the subject in the eyes of the listener, but it was not to show off. We need to very careful and strategic with the way we speak.

3. Always define the words. When you follow the first two, this is not enough. You can’t assume that people will eventually just catch on. It is not like tennis. If the big word or phrase is significant enough for you to use, then make sure you define it every time you use it until people get adjusted. Even though we live in the age of computers and iPhones (sigh . . .), you can’t expect everyone to have a dictionary out and ready.

4. Don’t assume too much (related to the last). This is going to be audience oriented, but one of the biggest perils of teachers and preachers is the assumption of understanding. When I was teaching tonight, I used the word “apologetics.” This is simply a (wonderful) word that means “defending the faith.” I use it so often and in so many ways that I am continually assuming that my audience, no matter where I am, has to be acquainted with this. But this is simply not the case. There may be about half that are, but what about the other half? You will lose this with too many assumptions.

In short, words are a gift from God. We could not communicate without them. They help us to understand, articulate, and believe more deeply and accurately. I thank God for big words. Don’t get offended by people who use them in a stategic way. They are simply being faithful to the Gospel message and, by using them, are pushing you to stretch in your understanding and love of God. Yes, it is like a new language, but it is wonderful and life changing. Besides, we can at least keep up with Zach can’t we?

Readers Guide For the Christian Life

This Monergism Books Readers' Guide to the Christian Life (.pdf) looks really helpful:

New Testament Exegesis Bibliography

Exegesis Bibliography

Prepared by and Copyright © January 2008

William W. Klein, Craig L. Blomberg, and Susan M. Hecht

of the New Testament Department of

DENVER SEMINARY

Items marked with an asterisk [*] are top priority for acquisition. Others would be good to have if and when finances allow. (All are selected as excellent out of a much larger list that could have been compiled.)

1. Textual Criticism

Aland, K. and B. The Text of the New Testament. G.R.: Eerdmans, 1989.²

Black, D. A. New Testament Textual Criticism: A Concise Guide. G.R.: Baker, 1994.

Greenlee, J. H. Introduction to New Testament Textual Criticism. Peabody: Hendrickson, 1995.²
*Metzger, B. M. A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament. London & N.Y.: United Bible Societies, 1994.²
Omanson, R. L. A Textual Guide to the Greek New Testament. Stuttgart: German Bible Society, 2006.
*Wegner, P. D. A Student's Guide to Textual Criticism of the Bible: Its History, Methods and Results. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2006.

2. Grammar

*Black, D. A. It's Still Greek to Me. G.R.: Baker, 1998.

Blass, F., A. Debrunner, and R. Funk. A Greek Grammar of the New Testament and Other

Early Christian Literature. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1961.

Mounce, W. D. The Morphology of Biblical Greek. G.R.: Zondervan, 1994.

Porter, S. E. Idioms of the Greek New Testament. Sheffield, UK: Sheffield Academic Press, 1992.

Wallace, D. B. The Basics of New Testament Syntax. G.R.: Zondervan, 2000.

*Wallace, D. B. Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics. G.R.: Zondervan, 1996.

Young, R. A. Intermediate New Testament Greek. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 1994.

3. Introduction

Achtemeier, P. J., J. B. Green, and M. M. Thompson. Introducing the New Testament: Its Literature and Theology. G.R.: Eerdmans, 2001.

Brown, R. E. An Introduction to the New Testament. N.Y.: Doubleday, 1997.

*Carson, D. A. and D. J. Moo. An Introduction to the New Testament. G.R.: Zondervan, 2005.²

Burge, G. M., L. H. Cohick, and G. L. Green. The New Testament in Antiquity. G.R.: Zondervan, 2008.

*deSilva, D. A. An Introduction to the New Testament: Context, Methods and Ministry Formation. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2004.

Elwell, W. A. and Yarbrough, R. W. Encountering the New Testament and Readings from the First-Century World [with CD-ROM]. G.R.: Baker, 2005.²

Gundry, R. A Survey of the New Testament. G.R.: Zondervan, 2003.⁴

Guthrie, D. New Testament Introduction. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1990.⁴

Wenham, D. and S. Walton. Exploring the New Testament, vol. 1: A Guide to the Gospels & Acts. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2001; Marshall, I. H., Travis, S. and Paul, I., vol. 2: A Guide to the Epistles and Revelation (2002).

4. Historical Background

A. Lexical Analysis

Balz, H. and G. Schneider, ed. Exegetical Dictionary of the New Testament, 3 vols. G.R.: Eerdmans, 1990-93.

*Bauer, W. (Danker/Arndt/Gingrich). A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2000. ³

*Brown, C., ed. The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology, 3 vols. G.R.: Zondervan, 1975-1978.

Kittel, G. and G. Friedrich, ed. Theological Dictionary of the New Testament, 10 vols. G.R.: Eerdmans, 1964-76.

Kittel, G. and G. Friedrich; ed. and abridged by G. Bromiley. TDNT, 1 vol. edition. G.R.: Eerdmans, 1985.

Liddell, H. G. and R. Scott. A Greek-English Lexicon, 9th ed. Oxford: Clarendon, 1925-40; repr. 1968 [for classical Greek].

*Louw, J. P. and E. A. Nida. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament Based on Semantic Domains, 2 vols. New York: United Bible Societies, 1988.

Marshall, I. H., ed. Moulton and Geden Concordance to the Greek New Testament. New York: Continuum, 2002.⁶

Mounce, W. D., ed. Mounce's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words. G.R.: Zondervan, 2006.

Verbrugge, V.D. The NIV Theological Dictionary of NT Words. G.R.: Zondervan, 2000 [abridgment of C. Brown]

B. History and Religion

Barnett, P. Jesus and the Rise of Early Christianity. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1999.

Evans, C. A. and S. E. Porter, eds. Dictionary of New Testament Background. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2000.

*Ferguson, E. Backgrounds of Early Christianity. G.R.: Eerdmans, 2003.³

Jeffers, J. S. The Greco-Roman World of the New Testament Era. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1999.

*Keener, C. S. The IVP Biblical Background Commentary: New Testament. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1993.

Skarsaune, O. In the Shadow of the Temple: Jewish Influences on Early Christianity. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2002.

*Witherington, B., III. New Testament History: A Narrative Account. G.R.: Baker, 2001.

Wright, N. T. The New Testament and the People of God. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1992.

C. Primary Source Material

DeSilva, D. A. Introducing the Apocrypha. G.R.: Baker, 2002.

*Evans, C. A. Ancient Texts for New Testament Studies: A Guide to the Background Literature. Peabody: Hendrickson, 2005.

Helyer, L. R. Exploring Jewish Literature of the Second Temple Period. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2002.

Holmes M. W. The Apostolic Fathers. Greek Texts and English Translations. G.R.: Baker, 2007.³

Jobes, K. H. and M. Silva. Invitation to the Septuagint. G.R.: Baker, 2000.

VanderKam, J. C. An Introduction to Early Judaism. G.R.: Eerdmans, 2001.

5. Theology

Caird, G. B. (Completed and edited by L. D. Hurst). New Testament Theology. Oxford: Clarendon, 1994.

Goppelt, L. Theology of the New Testament. 2 vols. G.R.: Eerdmans, 1981-1982.

Hurtado, L. Lord Jesus Christ: Devotion to Jesus in Earliest Christianity. G.R.: Eerdmans, 2003.

Ladd, G. E. A Theology of the New Testament. G.R.: Eerdmans, 1993.²

*Marshall, I. H. New Testament Theology. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2004.

Matera, F. J. New Testament Theology. Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2007.

Schreiner, T. R. New Testament Theology: Magnifying God in Christ. G.R.: Baker, 2008.

*Thielman, F. New Testament Theology. G.R.: Zondervan, 2005.

6. Dictionary / Encyclopedia

Bromiley, G. W., ed. The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, revised, 4 vols. G.R.: Eerdmans, 1979-86.

Evans, C. A. and S. E. Porter, eds. Dictionary of NT Background. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2000.

Freedman, D. N., ed. The Anchor Bible Dictionary, 6 vols. New York: Doubleday, 1993.

*Green, J. B., S. McKnight, and I. H. Marshall, eds. Dictionary of Jesus and the Gospels. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1992.

*Hawthorne, G. F., R. P. Martin, and D. G. Reid, eds. Dictionary of Paul and His Letters. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1993.

Martin, R. P. and P. H. Davids, eds. Dictionary of the Later New Testament and Its Developments. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1998.

Ryken, L. et al., eds. Dictionary of Biblical Imagery. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1998.

*Sakenfeld, K. D., ed. New Interpreter's Dictionary of the Bible, 6 vols. Nashville: Abingdon, 2006- .

Vanhoozer, K. J., ed., Dictionary for Theological Interpretation of the Bible. G.R.: Baker, 2005.

7. Criticism

Bock, D. L. and B. M. Fanning, Interpreting the New Testament Text. Wheaton: Crossway, 2006.

Carson, D. A. and J. D. Woodbridge, eds. Hermeneutics, Authority, and Canon. G.R.: Zondervan, 1986; repr. Baker, 1995.

*Dockery, D. S. and D. A. Black, eds. Interpreting the New Testament. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2001.²

Green, J. B., ed. Hearing the New Testament. G.R.: Eerdmans, 1995.

*McKnight, S. and G. R. Osborne, eds. The Face of New Testament Studies. G.R.: Baker, 2004.

Porter, S. E. and D. Tombs, eds. Approaches to New Testament Study. Sheffield, UK: Sheffield Academic Press, 1995.

8. Hermeneutics

*Beale, G. K. and D. A. Carson, eds., Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament. G.R.: Baker, 2007.

Bray, G. Biblical Interpretation: Past and Present. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1996.

Brown, J. Scripture as Communication: Introducing Biblical Hermeneutics. G.R.: Baker, 2007.

Dockery, D. S., K. A. Matthews and R. B. Sloan, eds. Foundations for Biblical Interpretation. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 1994.

*Klein, W. W., C. L. Blomberg and R. L. Hubbard, Jr. Introduction to Biblical Interpretation. Nashville: Nelson, 2004.²

Longman, T. and L. Ryken, eds. A Complete Literary Guide to the Bible. G.R.: Zondervan, 1993.

Osborne, G. R. The Hermeneutical Spiral. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2007.²

Vanhoozer, K. J. Is There a Meaning in this Text? Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1998.

9. Jesus and the Gospels

*Bauckham, R. Jesus and the Eyewitnesses: The Gospels as Eyewitness Testimony. G.R.: Eerdmans, 2006.

Blomberg, C. L. The Historical Reliability of the Gospels. Downers Grove: IVP, rev. 2007.

*Blomberg, C. L. Jesus and the Gospels: An Introduction and Survey. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 1997.

Bock, D. L. Studying the Historical Jesus and Jesus according to Scripture. G.R.: Baker, 2002.

Bock, D. L. and G. J. Herrick. Jesus in Context: Background Readings for Gospel Study. G.R.: Baker, 2005.

Dunn, J. D. G. Jesus Remembered. G.R.: Eerdmans, 2003.

Eddy, P. R., and G. A. Boyd. The Jesus Legend: A Case for the Historical Reliability of the Synoptic Jesus Tradition. G.R.: Baker, 2007.

Meier, J. P. A Marginal Jew, 4 vols. N.Y.: Doubleday, 1991- .

Stein, R. H. Studying the Synoptic Gospels. G.R.: Baker, 2001.²

Strauss, M. L. Four Portraits, One Jesus: An Introduction to Jesus and the Gospels. G.R.: Zondervan, 2007.

*Wright, N. T. Jesus and the Victory of God. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1996.

*Wright, N. T. The Resurrection of the Son of God. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2003.

10. Paul

Bruce, F. F. Paul: Apostle of the Heart Set Free. G.R.: Eerdmans, 1977.

Capes, D. B., R. Reeves and E. R. Richards, Rediscovering Paul. Downers Grove: IVP, 2007.

Dunn, J. D. G. The New Perspective on Paul, rev. ed. G.R.: Eerdmans, 2008.

*Dunn, J. D. G. The Theology of Paul the Apostle. G.R.: Eerdmans, 1998.

*Gorman, M. J. Apostle of the Crucified Lord: A Theological Introduction to Paul and His Letters. G.R.: Eerdmans, 2004.

Horrell, D. An Introduction to the Study of Paul. N.Y.: Continuum, 2000.

*Polhill, J. B. Paul and His Letters. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 1999.

Ridderbos, H. Paul: An Outline of His Theology. G.R.: Eerdmans, 1975.

Schreiner, T. E. Paul: Apostle of God's Glory in Christ. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2001.

Wenham, D. Paul: Follower of Jesus or Founder of Christianity? G.R.: Eerdmans, 1995.

Witherington, B., III. The Paul Quest. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1998.

*Wright, N. T. Paul: In Fresh Perspective. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2005.

11. Major Commentaries

The lists of top eleven commentaries for each N.T. book are divided into three sections: the first contains those we consider the best detailed, critical commentaries using the Greek text; the second lists more mid-level works using the English text (some with references to the Greek in footnotes); and the third consists of commentaries that are briefer and/or have a special focus on application. At least one priority title is asterisked for each level.

Abbreviations for series:
AB = Anchor Bible
BECNT = Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament

BNTC = Black's New Testament Commentary

BST = Bible Speaks Today

EBC = Expositor's Bible Commentary

EC = Epworth Commentaries

ECC = Eerdmans Critical Commentary

ICC = International Critical Commentary

Int = Interpretation

NAC = New American Commentary

NCB = New Century Bible

NCBC = New Cambridge Bible Commentary

NIBC = New International Biblical Commentary

NICNT = New International Commentary on the New Testament

NIGTC = New International Greek Testament Commentary

NIVAC = NIV Application Commentary

NTC = New Testament Commentary

NTinC = New Testament in Context

NTL = New Testament Library

NTR = New Testament Readings

PNTC = Pillar New Testament Commentary

SP = Sacra Pagina

THNTC = Two Horizons New Testament Commentary

TNTC = Tyndale New Testament Commentary

WBC = Word Biblical Commentary

MATTHEW
Davies, W. D. and D. C. Allison, Jr. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Gospel according to St. Matthew (ICC, rev.), 3 vols. Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1988-97.
*Hagner, D. A. Matthew (WBC), 2 vols. Dallas: Word, 1993-95.
Nolland, J. The Gospel of Matthew (NIGTC). G.R.: Eerdmans, 2005.
Turner, D. L. Matthew (BECNT). G.R.: Baker, 2008.
-----
Blomberg, C. L. Matthew (NAC). Nashville: Broadman, 1992.

Carson, D. A. "Matthew." In EBC, ed. F. E. Gaebelein, vol. 8. G.R.: Zondervan, 1984.

*France, R. T. The Gospel of Matthew (NICNT). G.R.: Eerdmans, 2007

Keener, C. S. A Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew. G.R.: Eerdmans, 1999.

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Green, M. The Message of Matthew (BST). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2000.

Keener, C. S. Matthew (NTC). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1997.

*Wilkins, M. J. Matthew (NIVAC). G.R.: Zondervan, 2004.

MARK
Collins, A. Y. Mark (Hermeneia). Minneapolis: Fortress, 2007.

France, R. T. The Gospel of Mark (NIGTC). G.R.: Eerdmans, 2002.

*Guelich, R. A. Mark 1-8:26 (WBC). Dallas: Word, 1989; and Evans, C. A. Mark 8:27-16:20 (WBC). Nashville: Nelson, 2001.

Gundry, R. H. Mark: A Commentary on His Apology for the Cross. G.R.: Eerdmans, 1993.

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*Edwards, J. R. The Gospel according to Mark (PNTC). G.R. Eerdmans, 2002.

Lane, W. L. The Gospel according to Mark (NICNT). G.R.: Eerdmans, 1974.

Marcus, J. Mark 1-8 (AB). NY: Doubleday, 2000.

Witherington, B., III. The Gospel of Mark: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary. G.R.: Eerdmans, 2001.

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Culpepper, R. A. Mark (SHBC) Macon: Smyth & Helwys, 2007.

*Garland, D. Mark (NIVAC). G.R.: Zondervan, 1996.

Kernaghan, R. J. Mark (IVPNTC). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2007.

LUKE

*Bock, D. L. Luke (BECNT), 2 vols. G.R.: Baker, 1994-96.

Bovon, F. Luke, vol. 1 (Hermeneia). Minneapolis: Fortress, 2002.

Marshall, I. H. The Gospel of Luke (NIGTC). G.R.: Eerdmans, 1978.

Nolland, J. Luke (WBC), 3 vols. Dallas: Word, 1990-93.

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Fitzmyer, J. A. The Gospel According to Luke (AB), 2 vols. Garden City: Doubleday, 1981-85.

*Green, J. B. The Gospel of Luke (NICNT, rev.). G.R.: Eerdmans, 1997.

Johnson, L. T. The Gospel of Luke (SP). Collegeville: Liturgical, 1992.

Liefeld, W. L. and D. Pao, "Luke," in EBC, rev., vol. 10, 19-355. G.R.: Zondervan, 2007.

Stein, R. H. Luke (NAC). Nashville: Broadman, 1992.

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*Bock, D. L. Luke (NIVAC). G. R.: Zondervan, 1996.

Bock, D. L. Luke (NTC). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1994.

JOHN

Keener, C. S. The Gospel of John: A Commentary, 2 vols. Peabody: Hendrickson, 2003.

*Köstenberger, A. John (BECNT). Grand Rapids: Baker, 2004.

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Borchert, Gerald L. John, 2 vols (NAC). Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 1996-2002.

*Carson, D. A. The Gospel according to John (PNTC). G.R.: Eerdmans, 1991.

Moloney, F. J. The Gospel of John (SP). Collegeville, MN: Liturgical, 1998.

Morris, L. Commentary on the Gospel of John (NICNT). G.R.: Eerdmans, 1995.²

Ridderbos, H. L. The Gospel of John. G.R.: Eerdmans, 1997.

Witherington, B., III. John's Wisdom. Louisville: Westminster/John Knox, 1996.
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*Burge, G. M. John (NIVAC). G.R.: Zondervan, 2000.

Kruse, C. G. The Gospel according to John (TNTC, rev.). Leicester: InterVarsity, 2004.

Whitacre, R. A. John (NTC). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1999.

ACTS
Barrett, C. K. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Acts of the Apostles (ICC, rev.), 2 vols. Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1994-1998.

*Bock, D. L. Acts (BECNT). G.R.: Baker, 2007.
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Bruce, F. F. The Book of the Acts (NICNT). G.R.: Eerdmans, 1988.²

Fitzmyer, J. A. The Acts of the Apostles (AB). New York: Doubleday, 1998.

Longenecker, R. N. "Acts," in EBC, rev., vol. 10, 665-1102. G.R.: Zondervan, 2007.

Marshall, I. H. The Acts of the Apostles (TNTC, rev.). G.R.: Eerdmans, 1980.

Polhill, J. B. Acts (NAC). Nashville: Broadman, 1992.

*Witherington, B. The Acts of the Apostles: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary. G.R.: Eerdmans, 1998.

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*Fernando, A. Acts (NIVAC). G.R.: Zondervan, 1998.

Green, M. Thirty Years that Changed the World: The Book of Acts for Today. G.R.: Eerdmans, 2004.

Larkin, W. J. Acts (NTC). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1995.

ROMANS
*Cranfield, C. E. B. The Epistle to the Romans (ICC, rev.), 2 vols. Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark. 1975-79.

Dunn, J. D. G. Romans (WBC), 2 vols. Dallas: Word, 1988.

Jewett, R. Romans (Hermeneia). Minneapolis: Fortress, 2007.

Schreiner, T. R. Romans (BECNT). G.R.: Baker, 1998.

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Fitzmyer, J. A. Romans (AB). New York: Doubleday, 1993.

*Moo, D. J. The Epistle to the Romans (NICNT, rev.). G.R.: Eerdmans, 1996.

Witherington, B., III, with D. Hyatt. Paul's Letter to the Romans: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary. G.R.: Eerdmans, 2004.
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Moo, D. J. Romans (NIVAC). G.R.: Zondervan, 2000.

Stott, J. R. W. The Message of Romans (BST). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1994.

*Osborne, G. R. Romans (NTC). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2004.

Talbert, C. H. Romans (SHBC). Macon: Smyth & Helwys, 2002.

1 CORINTHIANS

*Garland, D. E. 1 Corinthians (BECNT). G.R.: Baker, 2003.

Thiselton, A. C. The First Epistle to the Corinthians (NIGTC). G.R.: Eerdmans, 2000.

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Collins, R. F. First Corinthians (SP). Collegeville, MN: Liturgical, 1999.

Fee, G. D. The First Epistle to the Corinthians (NICNT, rev.). G.R.: Eerdmans, 1987.

Keener, C. S. 1- 2 Corinthians (NCBC). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005.

*Thiselton, A. C. First Corinthians: A Shorter Exegetical and Pastoral Commentary. G.R.: Eerdmans, 2006.

Witherington, B., III. Conflict and Community in Corinth: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary. G.R.: Eerdmans, 1995.

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*Blomberg, C. L. 1 Corinthians (NIVAC). G.R.: Zondervan, 1994.

Hays, R. B. First Corinthians (Int). Louisville: John Knox, 1997.

Johnson, Alan F. 1 Corinthians (NTC). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2004.

Vander Broek, L. D. Breaking Barriers: The Possibilities of Christian Community in a Lonely World. G.R.: Brazos, 2002.

2 CORINTHIANS

*Harris, M. J. The Second Epistle to the Corinthians (NIGTC). G.R.: Eerdmans, 2005.

Martin, R. P. 2 Corinthians (WBC). Waco: Word, 1986.

Thrall, M. E. A Critical & Exegetical Commentary on the Second Epistle to the Corinthians (ICC, rev.), 2 vols. Edinburgh:

T. & T. Clark, 1994-2000.

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Barnett, P. The Second Epistle to the Corinthians (NICNT, rev.). G.R.: Eerdmans, 1997.

*Garland, D. E . 2 Corinthians (NAC). Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 1999.

Furnish, V. P. 2 Corinthians (AB). Garden City: Doubleday, 1984.

Keener, C. S. 1- 2 Corinthians (NCBC). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005.

Matera, F. J. II Corinthians (NTL). Louisville: Westminster/John Knox, 2003.

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Barnett, P. The Message of 2 Corinthians (BST). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1988.

*Belleville, L. 2 Corinthians (NTC). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1996.

Hafemann, S. J. 2 Corinthians (NIVAC). G.R.: Zondervan, 2000.

GALATIANS
Betz, H.-D. Galatians (Hermeneia). Philadelphia: Fortress, 1979.

Bruce, F. F. The Epistle to the Galatians (NIGTC). G.R.: Eerdmans, 1982.

*Longenecker, R. N. Galatians (WBC). Dallas: Word, 1990.

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Dunn, J. D. G. The Epistle to the Galatians (BNTC). Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1993.

Fung, R. Y. K. The Epistle to the Galatians (NICNT, rev.). G.R.: Eerdmans, 1988.

George, T. Galatians (NAC). Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 1994.

Martyn, J. L. Galatians (AB). N.Y.: Doubleday, 1997.

*Witherington, B., III. Grace in Galatia: A Commentary on Paul's Letter to the Galatians. G.R.: Eerdmans, 1998.

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Braxton, B. R. No Longer Slaves: Galatians and African American Experience. Collegeville: Liturgical, 2002.

*Hansen, G. W. Galatians (NTC). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1994.

McKnight, S. Galatians (NIVAC). G.R.: Zondervan, 1995.

EPHESIANS

Best, E. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on Ephesians (ICC, rev.). Edinburgh: T. & T. Clark, 1998.

*Hoehner, H. Ephesians: An Exegetical Commentary. G.R.: Baker, 2002.

Lincoln, A. T. Ephesians (WBC). Dallas: Word, 1990.

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Barth, M. Ephesians (AB), 2 vols. Garden City: Doubleday, 1974.

Bruce, F. F. The Epistles to the Colossians, to Philemon, and to the Ephesians (NICNT, rev.). G.R.: Eerdmans, 1984.

*Klein, W. W. "Ephesians." In EBC Revised, ed. T. Longman III and D. E. Garland, vol. 12, 19-173. G.R.: Zondervan, 2006.

*O'Brien, P. T. The Letter to the Ephesians (PNTC). G.R.: Eerdmans, 1999.

Witherington, B. , III. The Letters to Philemon, the Colossians, and the Ephesians: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary on the Captivity Epistles. G.R.: Eerdmans, 2007.

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*Snodgrass, K. Ephesians (NIVAC). G.R.: Zondervan, 1996.

Stott, J. R. W. The Message of Ephesians (BST). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1984.

Talbert, C. H. Ephesians and Colossians (Paideia). G.R.: Baker, 2007.

PHILIPPIANS

Hawthorne, G. F. Philippians (WBC). Waco: Word, 1983; rev. R. P. Martin. Nashville: Nelson, 2004.

*O'Brien, P. T. The Epistle to the Philippians (NIGTC). G. R.: Eerdmans, 1991.

Silva, M. Philippians (BECNT). G. R.: Baker, 2005.²

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Bockmuehl, M. The Epistle to the Philippians (BNTC). Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1998.

*Fee, G. D. Paul's Letter to the Philippians (NICNT, rev.). G. R.: Eerdmans, 1995.

Fowl, S. E. Philippians (THNTC). G. R.: Eerdmans, 2005.

Garland, D. E. "Philippians." In EBC Revised, ed. D. E. Garland and T. Longman III, vol. 12, 175-261. G. R.: Zondervan, 2006.

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Motyer, J. A. The Message of Philippians (BST). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1984.

Fee, G. D. Philippians (NTC). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1999.

*Thielman, F. Philippians (NIVAC). G. R.: Zondervan, 1995.

Witherington, B., III. Friendship and Finances in Philippi: The Letter of Paul to the Philippians (NTinC). Valley Forge: Trinity, 1994.

COLOSSIANS AND PHILEMON

Dunn, J. D. G. The Epistles to the Colossians and to Philemon (NIGTC). G. R.: Eerdmans, 1996.

Wilson, R. McL. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on Colossians (ICC, rev.). London: T. & T. Clark, 2005.

*O'Brien, P. T. Colossians, Philemon (WBC). Waco: Word, 1982.

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Barth, M. and Blanke, H. Colossians (AB). New York: Doubleday, 1994.

Barth, M. and Blanke, H. The Letter to Philemon (ECC). G.R.: Eerdmans, 2000.

Fitzmyer, J. A. The Letter to Philemon (AB). New York: Doubleday, 2000.

*Moo, D. J. The Letters to the Colossians and to Philemon (PNTC). G.R.: Eerdmans, 2008.

Thompson, M. M. Colossians & Philemon (THNTC). G. R.: Eerdmans, 2005.

Witherington, B. III. The Letters to Philemon, the Colossians, and the Ephesians: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary on the Captivity Epistles. G.R.: Eerdmans, 2007.

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*Garland, D. E. Colossians/Philemon (NIVAC). G. R.: Zondervan, 1998.

Talbert, C. H. Ephesians and Colossians (Paideia). G.R.: Baker, 2007.

1, 2 THESSALONIANS

Bruce, F. F. I and II Thessalonians (WBC). Waco: Word Books, 1982.

*Wanamaker, C. The Epistles to the Thessalonians (NIGTC). G. R.: Eerdmans, 1990.

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*Green, G. L. The Letters to the Thessalonians (PNTC). G.R.: Eerdmans, 2002.

*Malherbe, A. J. The Letters to the Thessalonians (AB). New York: Doubleday, 2001.

Marshall, I. H. 1 and 2 Thessalonians (NCB). G. R.: Eerdmans, 1983.

Martin, D. M. 1, 2 Thessalonians (NAC). Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 1995.

Richard, E. J. First and Second Thessalonians (SP). Collegeville, MN: Liturgical, 2007.

Witherington, B., III. 1 and 2 Thessalonians: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary. G.R.: Eerdmans, 2006.

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Beale, G. K. 1-2 Thessalonians (NTC). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2003.

*Holmes, M. W. 1 & 2 Thessalonians (NIVAC). G. R.: Zondervan, 1998.

Stott, J. R. W. The Message of 1 & 2 Thessalonians (BST). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1991.

PASTORALS

Knight, G. W., III. The Pastoral Epistles (NIGTC). G. R.: Eerdmans, 1992.

Marshall, I. H. with P. H. Towner. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Pastoral Epistles (ICC, rev.). Edinburgh:

T. & T. Clark, 1999.

*Mounce, W. D. Pastoral Epistles (WBC). Nashville: Nelson, 2000.

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Johnson, L. T. The First and Second Letters to Timothy (AB). New York: Doubleday, 2001.

Kelly, J. N. D. A Commentary on the Pastoral Epistles (BNTC). San Francisco: Harper and Row, 1968.

Quinn, J. D. The Letter to Titus (AB). New York: Doubleday, 1990

Quinn, J. D. and W. C. Wacker, The First and Second Letters to Timothy (ECC). G.R.: Eerdmans, 2000.

*Towner, P. H. The Letters to Timothy and Titus (NICNT). G.R.: Eerdmans, 2006.

Witherington, B., III. Letters and Homilies for Hellenized Christians, vol. 1: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary on Titus, 1-2 Timothy and 1-3 John. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2006.

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Liefeld, W. 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus (NIVAC). G. R.: Zondervan, 1999.

*Towner, P. H. 1 - 2 Timothy and Titus (NTC). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1994.

HEBREWS

Attridge, H. The Epistle to the Hebrews (Hermeneia). Philadelphia: Fortress, 1989.

Ellingworth, P. The Epistle to the Hebrews (NIGTC). G. R.: Eerdmans, 1993.

*Lane, W. L. Hebrews (WBC), 2 vols. Dallas: Word, 1991.

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Bruce, F. F. The Epistle to the Hebrews (NICNT). G. R.: Eerdmans, 1990.²

deSilva, D. A. Perseverance in Gratitude: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary on the Epistle to the Hebrews. G.R.: Eerdmans, 2000.

Hughes, P. E. A Commentary on the Epistle to the Hebrews. G.R.: Eerdmans, 1977.

Johnson, L. T. Hebrews: A Commentary (NTL). Louisville: Westminster/John Knox, 2006.

*Koester, C. R. Hebrews (AB). New York: Doubleday, 2001.

Witherington, B., III. Letters and Homilies for Jewish Christians: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary on Hebrews, James and Jude. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2007.

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*Guthrie, G. H. Hebrews (NIVAC). G.R.: Zondervan, 1998.

McKnight, E. V. and C. Church. Hebrews-James (SHBC). Macon: Smyth & Helwys, 2004.

JAMES

*Davids, P. H. The Epistle of James (NIGTC). G.R.: Eerdmans, 1982.

Martin, R. P. James (WBC). Waco: Word, 1988.

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Brosend, W. F. II. James and Jude (NCBC). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2004.

Hartin, P. J. James (SP). Collegeville: Liturgical, 2003.

Johnson, L. T. The Letter of James (AB). New York: Doubleday, 1995.

Laws, S. The Epistle of James (HNTC). San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1980.

*Moo, D. J. The Letter of James (PNTC). G.R.: Eerdmans, 2000.

Witherington, B., III. Letters and Homilies for Jewish Christians: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary on Hebrews, James and Jude. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2007.

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*Baker, W. R. and T. D. Ellsworth. Preaching James. St. Louis: Chalice, 2004.

Nystrom, D. P. James (NIVAC). G.R.: Zondervan, 1997.

Stulac, G. M. James (NTC). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1993.

1 PETER

Achtemeier, P. D. 1 Peter (Hermeneia). Minneapolis: Fortress, 1996.

*Jobes, K. H. 1 Peter (BECNT). G.R.: Baker, 2005.

Michaels, J. R. 1 Peter (WBC). Waco: Word, 1988.

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Davids, P. H. The First Epistle of Peter (NICNT). G.R.: Eerdmans, 1990.

*Elliott, J. H. 1 Peter (AB). N.Y.: Doubleday, 2000.

Green, J. B. 1 Peter (THNTC). G.R.: Eerdmans, 2007.

Kelly, J. N. D. A Commentary on the Epistles of Peter and Jude (BNTC). San Francisco: Harper, 1969.

Schreiner, T. R. 1, 2 Peter, Jude (NAC). Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2003.

Witherington, B., III., Letters and Homilies for Hellenized Christians, vol. 2: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary on 1-2 Peter. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2007.

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*Marshall, I. H. 1 Peter (NTC). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1991.

McKnight, S. 1 Peter (NIVAC). G.R.: Zondervan, 1996.

2 PETER AND JUDE

*Bauckham, R. Jude, 2 Peter (WBC). Waco: Word, 1983.

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Charles, J. D. "2 Peter," "Jude." In EBC Revised, ed. D. E. Garland
and T. Longman III, vol. 13, 357-411, 539-69. G.R.: Zondervan, 2006.

*Davids, P. H. The Letters of Second Peter and Jude (PNTC). G.R.: Eerdmans, 2006.

Green, E. M. B. The Second Epistle of Peter and the Epistle of Jude (TNTC). G.R.: Eerdmans, 1990.²

Kelly, J. N. D. A Commentary on the Epistles of Peter and Jude (HNTC). San Francisco: Harper, 1969.

Neyrey, J. H. 2 Peter, Jude (AB). New York: Doubleday, 1993.

Reese, R. A. 2 Peter and Jude (THNTC). G.R.: Eerdmans, 2007.

Schreiner, T. R. 1, 2 Peter, Jude (NAC). Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2003.

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Horrell, D. G. The Epistles of Peter and Jude (EC). London: Epworth, 1998.

*Moo, D. J. 2 Peter, Jude (NIVAC). G.R.: Zondervan, 1996.

Lucas, D. and C. Green. 2 Peter & Jude (BST). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1995.

1, 2, 3 JOHN

Schnackenburg, R. The Johannine Epistles. New York: Crossroad, 1992.

*Smalley, S. S. 1, 2, 3 John (WBC). Waco: Word, 1984.

Strecker, G. The Johannine Letters (Hermeneia). Minneapolis: Fortress, 1993.

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Akin, D. L. 1, 2, 3 John (NAC). Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 2001.

Brown, R. The Epistles of John (AB). Garden City: Doubleday, 1982.

*Kruse, C. G. The Letters of John (PNTC). G.R.: Eerdmans, 2000.

Marshall, I. H. The Epistles of John (NICNT). G.R.: Eerdmans, 1978.

Stott, J. R. W. The Epistles of John (TNTC). G.R.: Eerdmans, 1988.²

Witherington, B., III. Letters and Homilies for Hellenized Christians, vol. 1: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary on Titus, 1-2 Timothy and 1-3 John. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2006.

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*Burge, G. M. The Letters of John (NIVAC). G.R.: Zondervan, 1996.

Thompson, M. M. 1- 3 John (NTC). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1992.

REVELATION

Aune, D. E. Revelation (WBC), 3 vols. Dallas: Word, 1997; Nashville: Nelson, 1998.

Beale, G. K. The Book of Revelation (NIGTC). G. R.: Eerdmans, 1999.

*Osborne, G. R. Revelation (BECNT). G.R.: Baker, 2002.

Smalley, Stephen S. The Revelation to John. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2005.

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Boxall, I. The Revelation of Saint John (BNTC). Peabody: Hendrickson, 2006.

Johnson, D. E. Triumph of the Lamb: A Commentary on Revelation. Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian and Reformed, 2001.

*Mounce, R. H. The Book of Revelation (NICNT). G.R.: Eerdmans, 1997.²

Witherington, B., III. Revelation (NCBC). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2003.

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*Keener, C. S. Revelation (NIVAC). G. R.: Zondervan, 2000.

Michaels, J. R. Revelation (NTC). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1997.

Peterson, E. H. Reversed Thunder: The Revelation of John and the Praying Imagination. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1988.

from Between Two Worlds by JT

Touchstone editor James Kushiner passes along a list of 10 books recommended by Mars Hill Audio's Ken Myers for understanding culture:

Five “Thinner” Books:

1. C. S. Lewis, The Abolition of Man (1943)


2. Wendell Berry, Life Is a Miracle: An Essay Against Modern Superstition (2000)


3. Colin Gunton, Enlightenment and Alienation: An Essay Towards a Trinitarian Theology (1985)


4. George Parkin Grant, English-Speaking Justice (1985)


5. Richard Weaver, Ideas Have Consequences (1948)

Five “Thicker” Books:

1. John McWhorter, Doing Our Own Thing: The Degradation of Language and Music and Why We Should, Like, Care (2003)


2. Jacques Barzun, The Use and Abuse of Art (1974)


3. David Thomson, The Whole Equation: A History of Hollywood (2004)


4. Julian Johnson, Who Needs Classical Music?: Cultural Choice and Musical Value (2002)


5. Langdon Winner, Autonomous Technology: Technics-out-of-Control as a Theme in Political Thought (1977)

Preaching as Worship

from Between Two Worlds by JT

Dr. Hughes Oliphant Old--Dean of the Institute for Reformed Worship and the John H. Leith Professor of Reformed Theology and Worship

at Erskine Theological Seminary--has been delivering the E.Y. Mullins Lectures this week at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary on "Preaching as Worship." Here are his three Mullins lectures:

• Preaching as Telling the Story of God’s Mighty Acts of Redemption


• Preaching as Remembering the Sabbath to Keep it Holy


• Preaching as Communion

Young Pastor

from Between Two Worlds by JT

The latest 9Marks eJournal (available also in PDF)is now available online. It's devoted to young pastors, and seeks to answer four questions: (1) Where do you begin? (2) What did you
inherit? (3) How do you lead change? (4) How do you persevere?

Here's the table of contents:
Editor's Note

Young Pastors: Where Do You Begin?

A Pastor's Priorities For Day One
So you're a brand new pastor. What do you do when you show up at the office on Monday?By Bob Johnson

The Goals and Benefits of an Installation Service

More than a formality, an installation service gives you a chance to set the
tone for your pastorate and begin the work of shepherding. By Aaron Menikoff

Young Pastors: What Did You Inherit?
8 Steps for Dealing with Difficult Leaders

What do you do when influential members of your church are—shall we say—less than helpful? By Ken Swetland

Dealing with Bad Documents

You're the pastor now, but the church constitution is clunky and the statement of faith is almost heretical. What do you do? By Greg Gilbert

Young Pastors: How Do You Lead Change?

Is This a Hill Worth Dying On?

Some pastors make every dispute a hill to die on; others wouldn't fight to
save their grandmother's life. Schmucker offers some guidance. By Matt Schmucker

What I CAN and CANNOT Live With as a Pastor

What issues are worth fighting—or leaving—over? Are there any criteria? By Mark Dever

Love the Church More than its Health

Pastors need to love the people in their church more than their dream of a healthy church. By Jonathan Leeman

Should Pastors Change Anything in the First Year?

An old maxim says, "If you don't change something in the first year you
never will; and whatever you change in the first year will be a mistake." Is that right? By Phillip Jensen

One from the Vault: Mark Dever's classic article from 2000, How to Change Your Church

Young Pastors: How to Persevere

WWJD—What Would Jim Do?

James Montgomery Boice's successor shares a few lessons he learned from watching a master. By Philip Graham Ryken

Shepherding and Trust

A church doesn't learn to trust its pastors overnight; he better be in it for the long haul. By Robert Norris

A Pastor For Now

Why Mark loves the pastorate, but will be happy to proceed to what’s next.
By Mark Dever

Miscellaneous Book Reviews

Book Review: Evangelism: Doing Justice and Preaching Grace, by Harvie M. Conn

Reviewed by Greg Gilbert

Book Review: Jesus the Evangelist, by Richard D. Phillips

Reviewed by Byron Straughn

Book Review: The Heart of Evangelism, by Jerram Barrs

Reviewed by Geoff Chang

Book Review: Vibrant Church, by Thom S. Rainer & Daniel L. Akin

Reviewed by Jonathan Leeman

Book Review: Simple Church, by Thom S. Rainer and Eric Geiger

Reviewed by Graham Shearer

Between Two Worlds: Lectures on Worship

Between Two Worlds: Lectures on Worship

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Lectures on Worship

The other day I came across the audio files from Southern Seminary's Institute for Christian Worship. Go to the site for all the lectures, but below are a number of ones that looked interesting to me. If the speaker has a related book, I've included some info after the links to his lecture.

David Peterson:

• What Really Is Worship?
• The Worship That Pleases God
• Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs: Does the Bible Direct Us in the Choice of Musical Styles?
• Meeting God in the Gathering of His People
• Worship That Jesus Makes Possible

D.A. Carson thinks that Peterson's book, Engaging With God: A Biblical Theology of Worship (1992), is one of the very best treatments available.

John Frame:

• Worshiping God’s Way (Part 1)
• Worshiping God’s Way (Part 2)
• Christian Worship Music: Is It Postmodern?

Frame's two books on worship are Worship in Spirit and Truth: A Refreshing Study of the Principles and Practice of Biblical Worship (1996) and Contemporary Worship: A Biblical Defense (1997). These books make some in the Reformed camp uncomfortable, but I found both of them to be very helpful.

Harold Best:

• Music for, by, and Toward the Church
• The Glory of God in Contemporary Worship: A Shared Burden
• Text and Music: Content and Context for Music in Ministry

• The Arts in Worship: Can’t Art Just Be Art?
• Authentic Multiculturalism and High Culture
• Authentic Multiculturalism and High Culture: What of Quality?

Best's two books on worship are Music Through the Eyes of Faith (1993) and Unceasing Worship: Biblical Perspectives on Worship and the Arts (2003). Music Through the Eyes of Faith has had a significant impact on John Piper, and he highly recommends the book.

Michael Card:

• The Lost Language of Lament
• Worshiping the God Who Takes Everything Away

For Card on lament, see A Sacred Sorrow Experience Guide: Reaching out to God in the Lost Language of Lament (2005) and The Hidden Face of God: Finding the Missing Door to the Father Through Lament (2007).

Keith and Kristyn Getty:

• World Music for the Universal Church
• Irish Hymns: A Singing Faith for the Worshipping Church
• A Musical and Poetic Vernacular for Worship: Finding a Heart Language for the Modern Church

• The New Hymns
• The Making of Worship Songs for the Modern Church
• The Songs That Jesus Said: Singing the Bible for Young Worshipers
  

Stuart Townend, Keith Getty, and Kristyn Getty:

• Hymns, Worship, and Christian Thought (Part 1)
• Hymns, Worship, and Christian Thought (Part 2)
• Modern Hymns: Christian Congregational Song for the 21st Century

Bob Kauflin:

• What Is Word-Centered Worship?
• Visuals in Worship: How Do We See God?
• Worship and the Presence of God
• Worship Leadership: Gift and Craft

• Piano Stylings for Effective Leadership in Contemporary Worship
• Arranging the Rhythm Section for Contemporary Worship
• Vocal Arranging for Effective Leadership in Contemporary Worship

• Healthy Tensions in Corporate Worship
• Congregational Worship as Pastoral Care

• Why the Cross Is Crucial in Corporate Worship
• Worship Music or Music Worship: The Meaning of Music in Congregational Worship
• Making the Most of the Modern Worship Movement

• Music in Worship: Divine or Divisive?
• Creativity in Worship: Novelty or Necessity?

• Worship: What Really Matters
• Biblical Worship in a Postmodern Age

Kauflin's book is Worship Matters: Leading Others to Encounter the Greatness of God (2008). See also his blog, Worship Matters. If you lead others in worship, this is probably the first book to get your hands on.

Kevin Twit:

• Exploring the ‘Why’ behind the Modern Hymn Movement (Part 1)
• Exploring the ‘Why’ behind the Modern Hymn Movement (Part 2)
• Engaging the Emerging Church with Hymns

• My Grandmother Saved it, My Mother Threw It Away, and Now I’m Buying It Back: Why We Still Need Hymns in a Postmodern World
• Hymns as Passion, Story, and Community: Exploring Connections with a Postmodern World
• New Music in the Christian Community: An Apologetic for Popular Musical Styles

Jason Harms:

• Lessons in Jazz from the Book of Daniel (Part 1)
• Lessons in Jazz from the Book of Daniel (Part 2)
• Jazz as a Means of Growing in the Knowledge of God

See Jason's writings and music at JasonHarms.com.

John Piper:

Though it's not part of the lecture series above, I'd be remiss not to mention John Piper's five-hour seminar, which I would highly recommend. With the links below you can either watch the videos, read the notes, or listen to the audio for free:

• Gravity and Gladness on Sunday Morning, Part 1
• Gravity and Gladness on Sunday Morning, Part 2
• Gravity and Gladness on Sunday Morning, Part 3
• Gravity and Gladness on Sunday Morning, Part 4
• Gravity and Gladness on Sunday Morning, Part 5
• Gravity and Gladness on Sunday Morning, Part 6

Bibliography on Union with Christ

From PhilGons.com
“Union with Christ is the central truth of the whole doctrine of salvation.” —John Murray

This is a collection of some resources that I’ve come across on the doctrine of the believer’s union with Christ. It’s far from exhaustive, so please do let me know in the comments if I’m missing anything you’ve found helpful.

Top Picks

I haven’t read all of these sources, but of the ones I’ve read, here are some of my top picks:

1. Michael P. V. Barrett, “Union with Christ: The Security of the Gospel,” in Complete in Him: A Guide to Understanding and Enjoying the Gospel (Greenville, SC: Ambassador–Emerald, 2000), 93–118. [Amazon]


2. Bruce A. Demarest, “The Doctrine of Union with Christ,” in The Cross and Salvation: The Doctrine of Salvation,^[1] Foundations of Evangelical Theology, ed. John S. Feinberg (Wheaton: Crossway, 1997), 313–44. [Amazon | Google Books | Logos]


3. Wayne A. Grudem, “Union with Christ,” in Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2004), 840–50. [Amazon | Google Books | Logos]


4. Michael Horton, “Union with Christ,” in Christ the Lord: The Reformation and Lordship Salvation, ed. Michael Horton (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1992), 107–15. [Amazon]


5. D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, “Union with Christ,” in God the Holy Spirit, vol 2. of Great Doctrines of the Bible (Wheaton: Crossway, 1997), 106–16. [Amazon | Logos]


6. John Murray, “Union with Christ,” in Redemption Accomplished and Applied (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1955), 161–73. [Amazon | Google Books]


7. Robert L. Reymond, “Union with Christ,” in A New Systematic Theology of the Christian Faith, 2nd ed. (Nashville: Nelson, 1998), 736–39. [Amazon | Logos]

Dictionary and Encyclopedia Articles

1. P. Mark Achtemeier, “Union with Christ (Mystical Union),” Encyclopedia of the Reformed Faith, ed. Donald K. McKim and David F. Wright (Louisville, KY; WJK, 1992), 379–80. [Amazon | Logos]


2. J. P. Baker, “Union with Christ,” New Dictionary of Theology, ed. Sinclair B. Ferguson, David F. Wright, and J. I. Packer (Downers Grove: IVP, 1988), 697–99. [Amazon | Logos]


3. Alan Cairns, “Mystical Union,” Dictionary of Theological Terms: A Ready Reference of Over 800 Theological and Doctrinal Terms, 2nd ed. (Greenville, SC: Ambassador–Emerald, 1998), 237. [Amazon]


4. Peter Dinzelbacher, “Mystical Union,” The Encyclopedia of Christianity,
   ed. Erwin Fahlbusch, Han Milič Lochman, John Mbiti, Jaroslav Pelikan,
   and Lukas Vischer, trans. Geoffrey William Bromiley (Grand Rapids:
   Eerdmans, 2003), 3:670–72. [Amazon | Logos]


5. Henry W. Holloman, “Union with Christ,” Kregel Dictionary of the Bible and Theology: Over 500 Key Theological Words and Concepts Defined and Cross-Referenced (Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2005), 560–61. [Amazon]


6. Robert P. Meye, “Union with Christ,” in “Spirituality,” Dictionary of Paul and His Letters, ed. Gerald F. Hawthorne, Ralph P. Martin, and Daniel G. Reid (Downers Grove: IVP, 1993), 433–36. [Amazon]


7. Peter T. O’Brien, “Being ‘in Christ,’” in “Mysticism,” Dictionary of Paul and His Letters, ed. Gerald F. Hawthorne, Ralph P. Martin, and Daniel G. Reid (Downers Grove: IVP, 1993), 624. [Amazon]


8. R. David Rightmire, “Union with Christ,” Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology, ed. Walter A. Elwell (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1996), n.p. [Amazon | Logos]


9. Mark A. Seifrid, “In Christ,” Dictionary of Paul and His Letters, ed. Gerald F. Hawthorne, Ralph P. Martin, and Daniel G. Reid (Downers Grove: IVP, 1993), 908–09. [Amazon]


10. J. F. Walvoord, “Identification with Christ,” Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, 2nd ed., ed. Walter A. Elwell (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic), 588. [Amazon | Logos]


11. Ben Witherington III, “The En Christō Formula,” in “Christ,” Dictionary of Paul and His Letters, ed. Gerald F. Hawthorne, Ralph P. Martin, and Daniel G. Reid (Downers Grove: IVP, 1993), 98–99. [Amazon]

Chapters or Sections in Systematic Theologies

1. Louis Berkhof, “The Mystical Union,” in Systematic Theology, 4th ed. (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1996), 447–53. [Amazon | Google Books | Logos]


2. G. C. Berkouwer, “‘Mystical’ Union with Christ” and “Union and Communion,” in The Church, trans. James E. Davison, vol. 14 of Studies in Dogmatics (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1976), 84–91. [Amazon | Google Books | Logos]


3. James Montgomery Boice, “Union with Christ,” in Foundations of the Christian Faith: A Comprehensive and Readable Theology, rev. ed. (Downers Grove: IVP, 1986), 388–98. [Amazon | Google Books | Logos]


4. Wilhelmus à Brakel, “The Communion of Believers with Christ and with Each Other,” in The Christian’s Reasonable Service, trans. Bartel Elshout (Morgan, PA: Soli Deo Gloria, 1993), 2:86–106. [Amazon | Logos | Monergism]


5. J. Oliver Buswell, “The Mystical Union,” in A Systematic Theology of the Christian Religion (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1962), 2:217–26. [Amazon]


6. Lewis Sperry Chafer, “The Believer’s Position in Christ,” in Systematic Theology (Grand Rapids: Kregel, 1976), 4:92–100. [Amazon | CBD | Google Books | Logos]


7. Robert Duncan Culver, “The Doctrine of Union with Christ,” in Systematic Theology: Biblical and Historical (Ross-shire, Great Britain: Christian Focus, 2005), 664–70. [Amazon | Logos]


8. Robert Lewis Dabney, “Union to Christ,” in Systematic Theology (Carlisle, PN: Banner of Truth, 1996), 634–39. [Amazon | Logos]


9. Millard J. Erickson, “Union with Christ,” in Christian Theology, 2nd ed. (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 1998), 961–67, 987. [Amazon | Logos]


10. John Gill, “Of the Eternal Union of the Elect of God unto Him,” in A Complete Body of Doctrinal and Practical Divinity; or, A System of Evangelical Truths, Deduced from the Sacred Scriptures (London, 1796), 1:290–94. [Amazon | Google Books]


11. Wayne A. Grudem, “Union with Christ,” in Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2004), 840–50. [Amazon | Google Books | Logos]


12. A. A. Hodge, “Union of Believers with Christ,” in Outlines of Theology (New York: Robert Carter, 1863), 369–74. [Amazon | Archive | Google Books |Logos]


13. Charles Hodge, “Union with Christ,” in Systematic Theology (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1960), 3:104. [Amazon | Archive | Logos]


14. Thomas C. Oden, “Union with Christ and Sanctification,” in Life in the Spirit, vol. 3 of Systematic Theology (San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 1992), 205–57. [Amazon | Logos]


15. Robert L. Reymond, “Union with Christ,” in A New Systematic Theology of the Christian Faith, 2nd ed. (Nashville: Nelson, 1998), 736–39. [Amazon | Logos]


16. Morton H. Smith, “Union with Christ,” in Systematic Theology (Greenville, SC: Greenville Seminary Press, 1994), 2:491–98. [Amazon | Logos]


17. Augustus H. Strong, “Union with Christ,” in Systematic Theology: A Compendium and Commonplace Book Designed for the Use of Theological Students (Philadelphia: American Baptist Publication Society, 1907), 3:795–809. [Amazon | Archive | Google Books | Logos]


18. Charles R. Swindoll and Roy B. Zuck, “Discovering the New You in Christ: United with Christ in Sanctification,” in Understanding Christian Theology (Nashville: Nelson, 2003), 961–70. [Amazon | Logos]

Chapters or Sections in Biblical Theologies

1. James D. G. Dunn, “Participation in Christ,” in The Theology of Paul the Apostle (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1998), 390–412. [Amazon | Google Books]


2. Herman N. Ridderbos, “In Christ, with Christ: The Old and the New Man,” in Paul: An Outline of His Theology, trans. John Richard De Witt (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997), 57–64. [Amazon | Google Books]

Chapters or Sections in Other Books

1. Michael P. V. Barrett, “Union with Christ: The Security of the Gospel,” in Complete in Him: A Guide to Understanding and Enjoying the Gospel (Greenville, SC: Ambassador–Emerald, 2000), 93–118. [Amazon]


2. Bryan Chapell, “United for Life,” in Holiness by Grace: Delighting in the Joy That Is Our Strength (Wheaton: Crossway, 2001), 39–65. [Amazon | Google Books | Logos]


3. Bruce A. Demarest, “The Doctrine of Union with Christ,” in The Cross and Salvation: The Doctrine of Salvation,^[2] Foundations of Evangelical Theology, ed. John S. Feinberg (Wheaton: Crossway, 1997), 313–44. [Amazon | Google Books | Logos]


4. Richard B. Gaffin Jr., “Union with Christ,” “Union and Justification,” and “Union with Christ and the Resurrection,” in By Faith, Not by Sight: Paul and the Order of Salvation (Waynesboro, GA: Paternoster, 2006), 35–41, 58–68. [Amazon | Logos]


5. Richard B. Gaffin Jr., “Union with Christ: Some Biblical and Theological Reflections,” in Always Reforming: Explorations in Systematic Theology, ed. A. T. B. McGowan, 271–88. Downers Grove: IVP Academic, 2006. [Amazon]


6. Anthony A. Hoekema, “Union with Christ,” in Saved by Grace (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1994), 54–67. [Amazon]


7. Michael Horton, “Union with Christ,” in Christ the Lord: The Reformation and Lordship Salvation, ed. Michael Horton (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1992), 107–15. [Amazon]


8. Abraham Kuyper, “The Mystical Union with Immanuel,” in The Work of the Holy Spirit, trans. Henri de Vries (New York: Funk and Wagnalls, 1900), 333–37. [Amazon | Google Books | Logos]


9. D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, “Union with Christ,” in God the Holy Spirit, vol 2. of Great Doctrines of the Bible (Wheaton: Crossway, 1997), 106–16. [Amazon | Logos]


10. Robert A. Morey, “Union with Christ,” in Studies in the Atonement (Las Vegas, NV: Christian Scholars, 1989), 89–102. [Amazon | Logos]


11. John Murray, “Union with Christ,” in Redemption Accomplished and Applied (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1955), 161–73. [Amazon | Google Books]


12. Benjamin B. Warfield, “Communion with Christ: ‘Conferences’ in the Oratory of Princeton Seminary,” in Faith and Life (London: Longmans, 1916), 415–27. [Amazon | Archive | Logos]

Books

1. J. Todd Billings, Calvin, Participation, and the Gift: The Activity of Believers in Union with Christ, Changing Paradigms in Historical and Systematic Theology (New York: Oxford University Press, 2008). [Amazon]


2. Carl E. Braaten and Robert W. Jenson, eds., Union with Christ: The New Finnish Interpretation of Luther (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1998). [Amazon]


3. Mark A. Garcia, Life in Christ: Union with Christ and Twofold Grace in Calvin’s Theology, Studies in Christian History and Thought (Waynesboro, GA: Paternoster, 2008). [Amazon]


4. Michael S. Horton, Covenant and Salvation: Union with Christ (Louisville, KY: WJK, 2007). [Amazon]


5. Kye Won Lee, Living in Union with Christ: The Practical Theology of Thomas F. Torrance, vol. 11 of Issues in Systematic Theology (New York: Peter Lang, 2003). [Amazon]


6. Walter Marshall, The Gospel Mystery of Sanctification: Growing in Holiness by Living in Union with Christ, ed. Bruce H. McRae (Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2005). [Amazon | Google Books]^[3]


7. Samuel B. Schieffelin, Children of God and Union with Christ (New York: Board of Publication of the Reformed Church in America, 1896). [Amazon]


8. Lewis B. Smedes, Union with Christ: A Biblical View of the New Life in Jesus Christ, 2nd ed. (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1983). [Amazon]


9. Augustus H. Strong, Union with Christ: A Chapter of Systematic Theology (Philadelphia: American Baptist Publication Society, 1913). [Archive | Google Books]


10. Dennis E. Tamburello, Union with Christ: John Calvin and the Mysticism of St. Bernard, Columbia Series in Reformed Theology (Louisville, KY: WJK, 2007). [Amazon | Google Books]


11. J. Stephen Yuille, The Inner Sanctum of Puritan Piety: John Flavel’s Doctrine of Mystical Union with Christ (Grand Rapids: Reformation Heritage, 2007). [Amazon | RHB]

Journal and Magazine Articles

1. Craig B. Carpenter, “A Question of Union with Christ? Calvin and Trent on Justification,” WTJ 64:2 (Fall 2002): 363–86. [Logos]


2. Mark A. Garcia, “Imputation and the Christology of Union with
   Christ: Calvin, Osiander, and the Contemporary Quest for a Reformed
   Model,”WTJ 68:2 (Fall 2006): 219–51. [Logos]


3. Don Garlington, “Imputation or Union with Christ? A Response to John Piper,” RAR 12:4 (Fall 2003): 45–102. [Logos]


4. Michael S. Horton, “Union with Christ: The Double Cure,” Modern Reformation, July–August 2006, 6–11.


5. S. Lewis Johnson Jr. “Studies in the Epistle to the Colossians, Part VII: The Complete Sufficiency of Union with Christ,” BSac 120:477 (January 1963): 13–23. [Logos]


6. Kevin Woongsan Kang, “Justified by Faith in Christ: Jonathan
   Edwards’s Doctrine of Justification in Light of Union with Christ,” WTJ 65:2 (Fall 2003): 360. [Logos]


7. Paul Louis Metzger, “Luther and the Finnish School: Mystical Union
   with Christ: An Alternative to Blood Transfusions and Legal Fictions,” WTJ 65:2 (Fall 2003): 201–13. [Logos]


8. Vern S. Poythress, “Ezra 3, Union with Christ, and Exclusive Psalmody: Part 1,” WTJ 37:1 (Fall 1974): 74–94. [Logos]


9. Vern S. Poythress, “Ezra 3, Union with Christ, and Exclusive Psalmody: Part 2,” WTJ 37:2 (Winter 1974): 218–35. [Logos]


10. Donna R. Reinhard, “Ephesians 6:10–18: A Call to Personal Piety or Another Way of Describing Union with Christ?” JETS 48:3 (September 2005): 521–32. [Logos]


11. Seng-Kong Tan, “Calvin’s Doctrine of Our Union with Christ,” Quodlibet Journal 5:4 (October 2003).

Conference Papers

1. B. Dale Ellenburg, “‘In Christ’ in Ephesians” (paper presented at
   the 48th National Conference of the Evangelical Theological Society,
   Jackson, MS, November 21–23, 1996).


2. J. L. Terveen, “Union with Christ: Pauline Christological Touchstone in Colossians 2:8–15″ (paper presented at the 54th National Conference of the Evangelical Theological Society, Toronto, ON, November 20–22, 2002).


3. Robert B. Thieme III, “Union with Christ” (paper presented at the
   Northwest Regional Conference of the Evangelical Theological Society,
   Portland, OR, April 4, 1987).

Dissertations and Theses

1. J. Todd Billings, “Calvin, Participation, and the Gift: The
   Activity of Believers in Union with Christ” (ThD diss., Harvard
   University, 2005). [Proquest]


2. Farouk T. Boctor, “Union with Christ in the Work of Father Matta
   El-Meskeen” (ThM thesis, Westminster Theological Seminary, 1995).


3. Mark D. Brock, “The Relationship of Spirit Baptism to Union with
   Christ” (ThM thesis, Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary, 2005).


4. William Borden Evans, “Imputation and Impartation: The Problem of
   Union with Christ in Nineteenth Century American Reformed Theology”
   (PhD diss., Vanderbilt University, 1996). [Proquest]


5. Bruce Alan Forsee, “The Role of Union with Christ in Sanctification” (PhD diss., Bob Jones University, 1985). [Proquest]


6. Wayne D. Griffith, “The Influence of Union with Christ on the
   Relational Practice of Pastors” (DMin diss., Covenant Theological
   Seminary, 2005).


7. Kevin Woongsan Kang, “Justified by Faith in Christ: Jonathan
   Edwards’ Doctrine of Justification in Light of Union with Christ” (PhD
   diss., Westminster Theological Seminary, 2003). [Proquest]


8. Thomas L. Holtzen, “Union with God and the Holy Spirit: A New
   Paradigm of Justification” (PhD, diss. Marquette University, 2002). [Proquest]


9. Marcus Peter Johnson, “Eating by Believing: Union with Christ in
   the Soteriology of John Calvin” (PhD diss., University of St. Michael’s
   College, 2007). [Proquest]


10. Kevin Dixon Kennedy, “Union with Christ as Key to John Calvin’s
    Understanding of the Extent of the Atonement” (PhD diss., The Southern
    Baptist Theological Seminary, 1999). [Proquest]


11. Kevin E. Murphy, “The Mystical Union as Manifested by Saint John of
    the Cross and Saint Teresa of Avila” (MA thesis, University of Wyoming,
    1966). [Proquest]


12. Jonathan D. Paver, “Union with Christ in the Theology of Dr. John
    Owen (1616–1683): With Special Emphasis on Its Impact on Sanctification
    and a Christian’s Duty” (MA thesis, Trinity Evangelical Divinity
    School, 1996).


13. Robert Dean Peterson, “The Atonement as Mystical Union with Christ
    in the Thought of Horace Bushnell” (PhD diss., Saint Louis University,
    1984). [Proquest]


14. Mark Stephenson, “Clinging to God in the Night: A Reformed Critique
    of the Teachings of St. John of the Cross on Spiritual Darkness and
    Union with Christ and Applications for Ministry” (ThM thesis, Calvin
    Theological Seminary, 2005).


15. Dennis Edward Tamburello, “Christ and Mystical Union: A Comparative
    Study of the Theologies of Bernard of Clairvaux and John Calvin” (PhD
    diss., The University of Chicago, 1990). [Proquest]


16. Steven Walker, “Union with Christ and the Sacraments: Clarifying
    the Federal Vision Theology of Douglas Wilson and Peter Leithart” (MA
    thesis, Reformed Theological Seminary, 2007).

Last updated on March 22, 2009.
Footnotes

1. See my review. [↩]


2. See my review. [↩]


3. The one on Google Books is the original, entitled The Gospel-Mystery of Sanctification, 12th ed. (New York, 1811). [↩]