The Reformation Study Bible

The Reformation Study Bible is a goldmine of information, commentary, random observation, and quick reference. Before I added my two-cents’-worth to the review pile, I wanted to spend a number of weeks using it as a both a study tool and devotional aid. In order to facilitate this, I actually purchased the digital version from Nelson rather than the print version. My Bible study is primarily done within the Libronix Digital Library System (logos.com), so this was the most useful format for me. Therefore, my comments relate to content and not presentation in the book format.

First off, I am glad that the Reformation Study Bible is offered with the ESV translation of the Bible based on both readability and a good attempt at being a translation that seeks to expose the underlying Greek text. This is my personal favorite translation, and I am happy with the large number of resources being quickly released to help me use this version.

My favorite feature of this study Bible is the short essays throughout called “Theological Notes.”  In my opinion this Bible is worth its purchase price for these notes alone. Let me give you a flavor of what they cover by listing some titles:
    -The Image of God
    -Body & Soul, Male & Female
    -The Fall
    -God’s Covenant of Grace
    -Infant Baptism
    -The Baptism of Jesus
    -The Unpardonable Sin
    -The Transfiguration of Jesus
    -Hell

Next, a very large number of in-text maps are provided which make for excellent resources. Since they are presented in the context of a certain passage of Scripture, they are much more useful than the maps often provided at the end of Bibles or in Bible Atlases. The editors’ hard work is obvious in making the maps easy to use to understand the text with which they are presented. Great work here.

Many charts are also included which help get a birds-eye view of the text, especially when large amounts of information are presented throughout a number of chapters or when a logical progression of thought is particularly important or difficult to follow. The ones that are included are very useful, but I do wish that more charts had been created.

I have seen a number of negative reviews based on individual issues with which reviewers disagree with this Bible. I will say that I have come across a number comment with which I mildly disagree or would have wished had been stated differently (discussion of creation). And there are a few topics with which I greatly disagree (infant baptism). Nevertheless, the historical Reformed position is presented, and on controversial issues, the opposing positions are mentioned. This is not a downfall of the Bible, in fact, I think that it is a strength. Positions are offered and defended rather than simply presenting innocuous historical fact or some inoffensive application as many other study Bibles do. Nevertheless, for that reason, if I was looking for a Bible as a gift to a learning believer which I would agree with on a wider-breadth of issues I would choose the MacArthur Study Bible. But as a great study tool and a more in-depth Study Bible than MacArthur's I would go with the Reformation Study Bible.

Keywords: Reformation,Study,Bible,Sproul,Mathison

Rescuing the Bible from Fundamentalists: Is Christ Subjective Because Our Views Are?

Based on some negative comments that I have made on the writings of John Shelby Spong in the past, I have received a few emails both lambasting and congratulating me on my thoughts. Already getting a glimpse of it in Here I Stand, I decided to read his Rescuing the Bible from Fundamentalists. The I just wanted to warn my readers about what is out there, being passed off as mainstream Christian thought, and is being eaten up.

Chapter 14 is a great example of what Spong stands for, and I cannot for the life of me understand how this logic appeals to, much less makes any ounce of sense to anybody. I'll quote from p. 227, where Spong rips a question of Bonhoeffer's from its context and makes one of the most blunt relativistic statements I've seen. And the fact that he is thought of as a great thinker is beyond me: "[Bonhoeffer's] question was not 'Who is Christ?' but rather, 'Who is Christ for us, for our day?' Bonhoeffer recognized, as so many religious people fail to do, that anything we say about Christ is subjective. We do not capture Christ...Our words point to Christ. Our images interact with Christ. But our words and our images are products of our world, of our cultural realities. They are not objective. They will not endure forever."

I think many think that he is brilliant because they cannot follow his flow of thought. Let's break this down: "We should not seek to find out who Christ really is. That is a mistake because our perception will be subjective. And because our perception is subjective (not objective) therefore it is wrong to seek an objective reality of who Christ is." First off, there is an implicit assumption here which Spong will not make explicit--he even explicitly denies this assumption--that the existance, the attributes, the actions, and the power of Christ must be objective. IF we are to view anything subjectively, there must be something to view. My perception of Christ may not be perfectly accurate, just as your perception may not be either, but that does not change the fact that an objective reality exists.

Take the following example: I am walking down the street with my iPod in my ears and I see a man fall down dead in front of me. I did not hear anything because the only reality that I could hear was the music blaring in my ears. I did not see a cause for the man's death, so I assumed that he must have had a heart attack. Another person heard a gunshot and saw a group of teenagers running down the street. That individual's perception is that he was shot by teens. A third person saw a sniper take aim and pull the trigger. That person's assumption is that the sniper shot the man. Three perceptions. Maybe one of them is correct. Maybe none of them are. But it does not eliminate the fact of an objective reality. And we don't live in this world like Spong suggests. No, we conduct an investigation to try to bring our subjective reality as close to in-line with objective reality as possible. Granted, our perception limits us, but the quest should not be ignored.

That is why I do not ask first and foremost, "who is Christ to me?" I want to take the evidence presented in God's word and in the testimony of the lives of the witnesses to his life, death, and resurrection and say "Who is Christ?" I want to read his own testimony of himself. Then, trying to mold my view of him as close to that truth as possible, then and only then do I ask the question "Who is Christ to me?" And the answer then becomes, "My only Hope. He's my Savior. He's my Treasure. He's my King!"

On my own, I could turn Christ into whoever I want. Given free territory in which to roam, unchecked by the truth of Scripture, my imagination can and does redefine God constantly. Therefore, I must believe the Word when it says of God, "You are the LORD, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you. (Neh 9:6)" Because if I don't I tend to think that my perception defines reality. "My thought creates truth," I tell myself. What utter lies. God alone is Lord.

But that isn't a message that my sinful heart likes to hear and it isn't a message that Spong wants to hear. Therefore he has written the book, "Rescuing the Bible from Fundamentalism" and told us that the Bible isn't God's word, objective truth is a foolish aim, God is whoever we make him, and the ultimate goal and aim of our life and religion is good works and our contentment. Please take your eyes off yourself and turn them to Christ. He has existed for eternity as God, humbled himself and became a man for our sake, died the death we deserve on the Cross, and now he is interceding at the right hand of the Father on our behalf. How do I know that? The Bible tells me so. So please don't listen to these lies and pick up your Bible and read it. Start with Matthew and read straight through to Revelation and then start from Genesis and do the whole thing over again. Don't take my word for it, don't let Spong's attempt to Rescue the Bible ruin it, but read it and let God do the rest as he changes your heart and saves you from your sins.