Adults need to attend Bible Study too.\u00a0 And Sunday School is just another name for Bible Study.\u00a0 One never \u2018graduates\u2019 from studying the Bible, of that I can assure you.<\/p>\n
The book blurb on the back cover notwithstanding, this is a genuinely interesting and well written book.\u00a0 McGrath crafts an artful piece of biblical scholarship in language accessible to people who are not trained New Testament scholars\u2026<\/p>\n
Each section asks readers to think about a basic issue like the Christmas story or the notion of hell and then McGrath provides the \u2018scholarly consensus\u2019 (and I would emphasize both words here- the SCHOLARLY and not the dilettantish; and the CONSENSUS and not the extremists) for each topic broached.<\/p>\n
McGrath provides readers with a bibliography at the end of each chapter and, regarding this I am genuinely quite impressed and appreciative, in each instance save 4 he provides the name of at least one woman New Testament scholar and their work on the issue.\u00a0 McGrath includes a range of perspectives, in other words, that other New Testament studies do not.<\/p>\n
This is an interesting, informative, useful, and well written book.\u00a0 There\u2019s an index of subjects and a Scripture index as well so readers can go right to the thing they\u2019re looking for without having to go through the whole thing till they find it.\u00a0 I truly enjoyed it.\u00a0 And I am positive that you will too.<\/p>\n
One final thing worth drawing to your attention- be sure to read the acknowledgements at the end of the book.\u00a0 It contains a beautifully touching remembrance of one of James\u2019s students and you\u00a0need<\/strong>\u00a0to read it.\u00a0 Please don\u2019t skip it as an irrelevancy.<\/p><\/blockquote>\nI am\u00a0really<\/em> grateful for that last point he emphasized. The Acknowledgments explain the dedication at the beginning of the book.<\/p>\nA Facebook friend shared a quote from the book:<\/p>\n
Most religious people doubt the claims of other religions, and they critically examine the arguments that are brought by those who disagree with them. The historian cultivates and hones precisely these tools, the key difference being that they seek to apply them fairly across the board. This too is at the very least compatible with Christian values, if not indeed an expression of them. Jesus taught us to do to others what we would want done to us. We should treat the arguments and claims of others the way we want our own to be treated. Conversely, if we treat the claims of others with what we consider appropriate skepticism, we should be willing to subject our own assumptions and views to the same sort of skeptical analysis. Far from being something antithetical to faith, this rigorous analysis can be considered an expression of faith. If we take God seriously, then avoiding deception and error ought to be a high priority. If we are unwilling to allow our assumptions and views to be challenged, how will we ever discover if we are wrong about something? Historical tools are skeptical, and for that very reason Christians should embrace them, however difficult and painful the result may be.<\/p>\n
\u2013 James McGrath \u201cThe A to Z of the New Testament: Things Experts Know That Everyone Else Should Too\u201d (2023: Eerdmans), 138.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
When I asked if he is enjoying the book then he said \u201cVery much so. Around halfway through and am already thoroughly recommending others buy a copy.\u201d Such casual recommendations to friends and social media are ever bit as valuable, and as meaningful to me, as \u201cofficial\u201d reviews, and sometime more so. With each of my recent and one of my forthcoming books there have been things people have said that I love would to add onto the back cover alongside the official blurbs.<\/p>\n
I have also had some video conversations about the book. I like the image that Jacob Berman came up with (presumably AI generated but still hilarious)!<\/p>\n