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Review: The Quran with Christian Commentary

In The Quran with Christian Commentary , Gordon Nickel has provided non-Muslim readers with an opportunity to read the qur’anic text. All 114 surahs of the Quran have been translated from Arabic into English and include in-text commentaries (styled similarly to the notes of a Christian study Bible). Each Sura includes a brief introduction to orient the reader. Additionally, there are 20 articles on significant topics, including Abraham, the death of Jesus, and the Son of God in qur’anic tradition, written by a variety of experts in Christian-Muslim studies. For students of intercultural studies or theology of religion, missionaries, or those interested in Islam and interreligious dialogue, this is an important starting point. The commentary is faithful to the teachings of Islam and charitable to Muslims while presenting a Christian perspective. Nickel understands the Christian reader and guides him or her through the process of reading the Quran. This is an important and accessible int
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Review: The Way of Worship

In The Way of Worship , respected worship leaders and teachers Michael Neale and Vernon Whaley present an introduction to thinking about worship leadership. This book is divided into two parts, Precepts and Practices. Each chapter includes an analogy of leading worship alongside a river journey, biblical application, and practical wisdom. These chapters are readable, offering brief vignettes into worship ministry. To be sure, this is not a book on the specifics of leading worship. You will not learn how to plan a service or how to lead rehearsals, but this book lays the theological and spiritual foundations for worship leadership. This book is more like a devotional that seeks to grow the soul of the worship leader. The subtitle of “living and leading authentic worship” should be understood as living a Christ-like life of worship rather than “planning and executing authentic worship services.” The student workbook includes helpful reflection questions. While this should not be consider
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Review: What is Jesus Doing?

In What is Jesus Doing? (IVP Academic, 2020), Edwin Chr. Van Driel seeks to understand how the ongoing ministry of Jesus informs the ministry of the church in an anxious age. Sourcing his premise in the doctrine of the ascension, van Driel brings together a powerhouse group of research-practitioners to discuss Christ’s work in the church today. With contributors in the areas of systematic theology, missional theology, pastoral theology and pastoral care, and liturgics and homiletics, each of the contributors feeds into a rich yet incomplete answer to the question, “What is Jesus doing in the church?” This terrific book shows how practical theology is an interdisciplinary task, one that refuses to be siloed by a particular mode of theology. The contributors are leading experts in their discipline and approach this subject with the background of their tradition, education, and experience. While these chapters are seriously academic, they are written by practitioners with a heart for
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Review: Advances in the Study of Biblical Hebrew and Aramaic

In Advances in the Study of Biblical Hebrew and Aramaic (Zondervan Academic, 2020), Benjamin Noonan seeks to fill the gaps in recent scholarship in biblical languages. After briefly conducting a sweeping historical survey of linguistics and Hebrew and Aramaic studies, Noonan describes eight pertinent areas of advancement in Hebrew/Aramaic language scholarship: lexicology, stems, tense/aspect/mood, discourse analysis, word order, register/dialect, dating texts, and teaching biblical languages. Each of these topics represents a germane area of biblical Hebrew and Aramaic linguistic scholarship. Each chapter includes an introduction to the topic, a chronological and/or topical survey of representative thinkers and ideas, and a discussion of “the way forward.” Noonan’s text is an important reference for students of biblical languages, particularly those who will be conducting researching in Old Testament studies. Graduate and doctoral students will find an accessible bibliography of p
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Review: The Basic Bible Atlas

The Basic Bible Atlas by John Beck is an introductory atlas for students of the Bible. Historical geography can be difficult; thus, for those who are not interested in technical topographical discussions, Beck provides an accessible entrance into the lands of the Bible. Beck understands the Bible as a story; as such, it takes place at a very specific place in a very specific time. Beck’s goal, therefore, in writing this book is to show how the setting of the Bible elucidates and enriches one’s encounter with the redemptive narrative of the Bible. Divided into the main segments of biblical history, the author offers brief, readable explanations of the land and how geography informs the unfolding of Scripture. This slim book offers full-page maps and diagrams with rich colors. This would be an excellent tool for pastors needing a quick study reference, for Bible study leaders, or for those traveling to the Holy Land. (A complimentary review copy was given in exchange for an honest r
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Review: Basics of Hebrew Discourse

In Basics of Hebrew Discourse: A Guide to Working with Hebrew Prose and Poetry (Zondervan Academic, 2019), Matthew Patton, Frederic Clarke Putnam, and Miles Van Pelt attempt to create an intermediate Hebrew teaching grammar that focuses on discourse analysis.  For Patton and Putnam, traditional Hebrew pedagogies have neglected macro-level relationships between paragraphs and discourses, focusing instead on micro-level relationships between words and sentences. Although useful and manageable for introductory courses, one cannot neglect more significant analysis in advanced courses. This book is divided into two sections: working with Hebrew prose (written by Patton) and working with Hebrew poetry (written by Putnam). This is an excellent introduction to Hebrew syntax analysis, which is lacking in most language programs. It distills advanced scholarship into a clear, concise reference work. Examples from the Hebrew Bible are thorough, varied, and perceptive. Some of the glosses and
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Review: Cultural Engagement

In Cultural Engagement: A Crash Course in Contemporary Issues (Zondervan Academic, 2019), Joshua Chatraw and Karen Swallow Prior discuss how Christians should handle cultural issues that are not necessarily addressed in the Bible. The authors first offer a model for cultural engagement before introducing key views on major cultural issues, including sexuality, gender roles, human life, immigration and race, creation care, politics, work, arts, and war. Bringing together respected writers—both from the academy and the church, across various disciplines—Chatraw and Prior have compiled a robust volume of perspectives on current cultural issues. The essays, however, do not remain speculative but always have a view toward informing engagement with the world. Therefore, while one may not necessarily agree with every chapter, each certainly offers a new way to consider how to be a Christian in a changing world. Each chapter is short and manageable, and some are more technical than others.
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