Review and Giveaway: Collected Writings on Scripture

At the end of this post there will be instructions on how to enter the book giveaway. Now that you’ve skipped ahead and already entered your name, I hope you enjoy the book review!

REVIEW

D.A. Carson’s latest book, Collected Writings on Scripture, is fundamentally nothing new from the author. Just as the title indicates, this is a collection of his writings on the subject of Scripture. Section one is devoted to standalone articles that the author has written on various subjects within the field of the doctrine of Scripture. Section two consists of reviews Carson has written of other books on the doctrine of Scripture. With that in mind, let me introduce my review as follows:

The Don’s latest book is split in two sections.
I shall do the same here, and I pray: No objections!

PART 1
—Summary—
Chapter one, “Approaching the Bible” presents a basic introduction to the doctrine of Scripture, addressing the questions What is the Bible? and How do we interpret the Bible? This chapter, I think, could easily be handed to any believer as a crash course on the doctrine of Scripture, and they’d be more thoroughly enriched to love and enjoy the Bible.

Chapter two, “Recent Developments in the Doctrine of Scripture” holds to its name and engages a wide range of issues stemming from postmodern affronts, addressing revisionist historyography to The New Hermeneutic and epistemological issues. Of the first section of the book, I think this might be the most immediately helpful chapter for readers, engaging a wide range of battle lines on the doctrine that are increasingly working their way into the normal life of the church, especially the younger generation as it realtes to the epistemology of postmodernism. However, if you think you’re getting out of this chapter without a word to you, dear Christian, please remain in your seat. Carson has a challenging word for Evangelicals on the diminishing authority of the Scriptures in churches today.

We are experts, and we live in a generation of experts. But the cost is high: we gradually lose our sense of indebtedness to grace, we no longer cherish our complete dependence on the God of all grace, and we begin to reject themes like self-sacrifice and discipleship in favor of courses on successful living and leadership in the church…Mere conservatism must not be confused with godliness, mere discipline with discipleship, mere assent to orthodox doctrine with wholehearted delight in the truth. (107)

This illustrates the classic, clear-eyed Carson who sees issues, not in terms of polemics, but in terms of faithfulness. And he calls you to the same.

Chapter three opens up the issue of unity and diversity in the New Testament as it relates to the development of Systematic Theology. Here Carson gives interaction to the nuances of the New Testament in biblical theology and the summarizing work of systematic theology.

Chapter four engages the issues of redaction criticism and how it can be used helpfully, in spite of all the poor ways it has been used by scholars in the past. Redaction criticism should not be seen as the churches enemy, but a tool exegetes can use in how they understand the theological structures biblical authors are presenting.

And finally, Chapter five deals with the clarity of Scripture. Is it still relevant to us today? Has the church always held to it? Yes, and yes, and thank you Carson. While there are many authors in the Bible, there is one Author behind it all, using the Bible to edify and strengthen his church through the ages.

—Who Should Read This Book—
There are two categories of people who should read this book:

1. Pastors. For those especially called to the ministry of the Word, they need material that will keep them informed on what issues are at stake in our own times. The book itself isn’t written as a comprehensive discourse on the doctrine of Scripture, but I think it is a helpful complimentary volume to those books to keep a pastor up to date and fresh in his thinking on the subject. Some articles are more difficult than others, but in typical Carson fashion, it doesn’t stay like that for long and hanging with him will pay off in helping you think about the issue more clearly. I think every pastor should have a copy of this in their library because at some point they are going to be confronted with one or several of the issues Carson addresses in this book, and they will find it a dear friend indeed.
2. Lay students. The people I have in mind here are folks who are twofold: 1) People who not pastors or professional scholars, but are readers all the same; and 2) Students in higher education especially interested in figuring out these subjects. The literary world is rift with horrible books on this subject, and I think laymen and women who have the mind to engage these issues should read this book and have the material readily on hand to help those with questions in the church. Carson’s material here will help people who enjoy scholarly commentaries that might use exegetical tools questionably be able to understand why they feel uncomfortable with the conclusions these scholars use and yet still be able to benefit from their resources.

PART 2
This section of Carson’s book includes major book reviews he’s done on works about the doctrine of Scripture. A summary here seems unnecessary since he has nine book reviews all addressing different areas. The two books that Carson does engage that I think people will find most relevant are his reviews of Peter Enn’s Inspiration and Incarnation and N.T. Wright’s The Last Word/Scripture and the Authority of God. These two have raised a lot of attention in America in the last few years, and Carson’s insights and penetrating analysis give us helpful guides in thinking through the nature of Scripture in the modern debate. It is, for example, helpful to think through how the analogy of the Incarnation of the Son of God maps on to the word of God in human words. As Carson asks:

If the incarnation is to be our model for how we think of Scripture, or even of Scripture’s humanness, how do such elementary distinctions as these play out? What might it mean to say that Scripture is composed of thoroughly human, but perfect, documents? Or does the analogy break down? If so, why and where? None of this is discussed. (269)

When it comes to addressing Wright’s book, Carson is equally helpful and penetrating in the types of questions he prompts us to ask about what is being presented.

—Why You Should Read This Part—
In addition to my thoughts on who should read this book above, I’d like to give a further observation unique to this section. In this section, Carson teaches us how to think. In how he presents each book’s material fairly and precisely, and then moves into how he picks up each issue, turns it around, and asks insightful questions, he’s showing us how to process theological issues in the presence of God. One doesn’t get the impression of arrogance or belittling. But neither does one get the impression of fluffy and easy appreciation. Carson sets out to show us what to appreciate, how to appreciate, and how to critically set aside and ask good, hard questions. What is presented in this section, I think, is a challenging and encouraging example of how a Christian mind should think through difficult issues with grace and conviction, under the authority of Scripture.

Conclusion
All in all, I think the book is an important supplementary read on the doctrine of Scripture that will keep the reader abreast of the major issues of our times in this field and give them guidance on how to think them through to the glory of Christ.

Title: Collected Writings on Scripture
Author: D.A. Casron
Boards: hardcover
Pages: 335
Volumes: 1
Dust jackets: yes
Binding: sewn
Topical index: yes (subjects and names)
Scriptural index: yes
Publisher: Crossway
Year: 2010
Price USD: $27.99 / $18.47 at WTSBooks
ISBN: 978-1-4335-1441-8

*Yes, I stole this book facts-sheet summary from Tony Reinke!

GIVEAWAY

Ok, so Crossway has graciously provided another copy for me to give away, and here’s the rules:

1. How to enter: Leave a comment on this post.
2. US addresses only.
3. You can only enter once.
4. The giveaway will end on Thursday, October 14, 2010 at 10pm Eastern Standard Time with the winner being announced Friday, October 15.