Matthew Through OT Eyes

As one studies any book of the Bible, it is always beneficial to include knowledge of the background information of that book. It will always enhance the understanding and appreciation. And, if that book is part of the New Testament, it is highly advantageous to understand how the Old Testament might have influenced the writing of that book. It is also vital to understand that background information can include a wide range of subject areas.

This is the point at which Matthew Through Old Testament Eyes is so valuable. This volume explores one aspect of the background information field – the rich influence that the Old Testament contributed to the first Gospel. It answers the question of what was Matthew thinking when he compiled his account of the life of Jesus.

This volume is the fifth in a series published by Kregel Academic and is written by David B. Capes, a former professor and current Executive Director of the Lanier Theological Library. Capes’ knowledge of the subject area is extensive and comes to the forefront as he guides us through the influence of the Old Testament within the Gospel of Matthew.

To give an example, consider this: Why did Matthew open his gospel with a genealogy of Jesus Christ? Capes presents some scriptural facts and personal thoughts on this question. And what about the Sermon on the Mount? Did Matthew simply take notes and then transfer them into his gospel? Capes examines this in detail.

This is not a typical or “stock” commentary in which one finds each and every verse dissected and explained. Rather, the author leads us back into the Old Testament to help us understand what the author was thinking when compiling his Gospel. It is a fascinating journey and one would be well equipped to have a Bible at the ready.

Matthew Through OT Eyes may not be for every Christian but it is certainly for all pastors and teachers of the Word. At the same time, any believer who desires a deeper understanding and appreciation of Matthew should engage with this commentary. It will definitely enhance one’s knowledge and understanding of Scripture and contribute to the teaching environment.

This book was provided to me by Kregel Academic for a fair and honest review.

Have You Heard from God Lately

It is seldom that we at The Christian Book Review Blog present books from outside the realm of academic publishing. However, when requested to review Keon Lindsey’s latest, Have You Heard from God Lately: 30 Messages from Heaven to You, we readily accepted.

Lindsey is not a biblical scholar in the purest sense. Yet, he has well-respected academic credentials. He is simply a man who loves the Lord, studies the Scriptures with great determination and purpose, and likes to write about what God has taught him. One can easily tell that this book follows that pattern.

First a word of reassurance. Don’t be put off by the title. This volume is not about a new revelation that Lindsey has received from God. All of Lindsey’s comments are heavily supported by Scripture and Scripture alone. Furthermore, they are theologically conservative.

Have You Heard from God Lately falls into several classifications. First, and foremost, it is evangelistic. Whether you are a born-again Christian or not, one cannot read this volume without making a self-examination of one’s relationship with God. As alluded to the book has a heavy dependence on Scripture with Lindsay’s thoughts pertaining to that Scripture, all of which are theologically conservative.

Second, with thirty short chapters (most are 4-6 pages), this book is an ideal devotional. It does not take a great period of time or involve extensive mental gymnastics to read and digest Lindsey’s thoughts. It would serve well as a family devotional or perhaps even a volume for a Sunday School class.

Third, it is theology light. The theology focuses mainly on the doctrine of God and His characteristics and attributes. But don’t be frightened by the word “theology.” There is no heavy-duty theological impetus. Lindsey simply explains who God is and why He loves us, supporting all of his beliefs with Scripture.

I would highly recommend this book for all Christians. I found it ideal for new believers who desire to engage with the Bible without getting overloaded with theology.

Check this out on Amazon.

Disclaimer: This volume was provided to me by Keon Lindsey for a fair and honest review.

40 Questions About Bible Translation

What is Bible Translation? Do we even think about it when we pick up our Bible and begin to read? Do we even realize how much care and effort has been put into the translation that we hold in our hands? The bottom line is that the translation which we rely on should be reliable. And the way that we get that reliability and confidence is to have knowledge of the translation process.

That is exactly what what 40 Questions About Bible Translation does. The book is authored by Mark L. Strauss, PhD, Professor of New Testament at Bethel Seminary. The list of his scholarly works is voluminous. These forty questions are a brief course on the science and art of Bible translation.

Strauss covers virtually all aspects. One might think that Bible translation is as simple as going from one language to another, but we learn that it is way more than that. And Strauss explains the nuances of the process using a multitude of scriptural examples along the way. Regardless of what one may think he knows about this subject, this volume will be highly instructive.

Strauss educates us on all aspects of Bible translation not just the intricacies of going from one language to another. And this is not a technical volume. There are eight questions on the history of Bible translation into English. He follows that subject area with six questions on contemporary English versions and four on international Bible translation. With this organization in mind, one does not have to begin with question #1, but can move to a particular subject area of interest.

40 Questions About Bible Translation is one of the more informative and valuable volumes in the 40 Questions Series from Krhttps://www.kregel.com/egel. It is a must-read for all pastors, teachers and really all believers. It is so well documented that it could quite easily serve as a textbook for a Bible College or seminary.

Disclaimer: This volume was provided to me by Kregel Academic for a fair and honest review.