Since I heard about N. T. Wright’s new book on the Psalms I have been waiting for it to come out. While I have my differences with Wright, I am glad to hear him speaking on this important issue. He recently did an interview with Christianity Today on the topic of the Psalms which is …
Recently the first ever press interview with Christopher Tolkien, son of J. R. R. Tolkien and the official executor of J.R.R. Tolkien’s estate, was published (the link takes you to an even more recent translation of the interview into English). The headline makes much of Christopher Tolkien’s displeasure with Peter Jackson’s movie interpretations, but what …
My poem of the week last week was this great gospel declaration by Joseph Hart: “O Ye Sons of Men Be Wise” O ye sons of men be wise, trust no longer dreams and lies, Out of Christ, almighty pow’r can do nothing but devour. God you say is good. ‘Tis true. But he’s pure …
One of my favorite poems about books was my “poem of the week” last week. Robert Southey (1774-1843) “His Books” My days among the Dead are past; Around me I behold, Where’er these casual eyes are cast, The mighty minds of old: My never failing friends are they, With whom I converse day by day. …
“The role of the priest is to proclaim the truth and suffer for the truth, and if necessary, even die for the truth.” – Polish priest-martyr Jerzy Popieluszko Jim Kushiner from Touchstone Magazine has written a powerful essay interacting with a new documentary on the life and death of Jerzy Popieluszko, a Polish priest in …
I am really enjoying Thomas Foxcroft’s little book, The Gospel Ministry. It is a sermon he preached in 1718 on the nature of gospel ministry as he began a pastorate. He is particularly eloquent in urging that every sermon should be about Christ. Here is a long quote which is particularly rich. “Whatever subject ministers …
Continue reading ‘Beauty & Necessity of Christ-Centered Preaching’ »
I recently came across this comment from Luther scholar, Gordon Rupp. It contains a valuable challenge to any who are involved in biblical study and pastoral ministry. “In the National Gallery there is a Flemish landscape. The artist, Patinir, had never seen real mountains, and he practiced with shards of rock which jut grotesquely from …
Continue reading ‘Luther: ‘the souls of men and women were a charge which came upon him daily’’ »
I have recently finished this year’s survey of new study Bibles and Bible reference works for Preaching Magazine (links to most of the previous years’ installments can be found on the “Publications” page of this site). The photo above shows most of the books which are dealt with in the article which is scheduled to appear …
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Last week I spent some time in Lectures in Old Testament Theology, by Dennis Kinlaw (with John Oswalt). This is a very useful summary of Old Testament teaching. It is essentially the transcripts of oral addresses and thus it reads very easily. Though aware of the academic issues, these addresses are pitched at a level …
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I am not typically pleased or impressed with guides to the Psalms. The Psalms are examples of engagement with God meant to be used and most study guides treat them as objects of analysis. While the guides often make true statements, they end up with abstract categorizations rather than helps for making use of these …