John Macarthur How to Read the Bible
John MacArthur and Richard Mayhue, eds., 'Biblical Doctrine: A Systematic Summary of Bible Truth' (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2017). 1023 pages including General and Scripture indices. Notation: I'll refer to MacArthur as the author, or "G&Yard" (MacArthur and Mayhue).
Biblical Doctrine: A Systematic Summary of Bible Truth is John MacArthur'southward new systematic theology. It's just about all y'all'd expect – and that's a very good thing.
A number of sound and useful theologies have come out in recent years, including those by Culver, Horton, Kelly, Frame, Grudem, Reymond, and others. Is there really a call for some other?
In this case, the answer's a articulate and easy "Yes."
This piece of work occupies a unique niche all by itself. In that location are proficient baptistic theologies (Culver, Grudem), works affirming God's sovereignty in conservancy (Horton, Frame, Reymond), premillennial theologies (Culver), fifty-fifty dispensational theologies of some sort or another (Chafer, Thiessen). But no work has combined all these distinctives in 1 full systematic theology volume, as well as robustly affirming the sufficiency of Scripture (thus excluding Charismaticism).
Some kind souls urged me to endeavour such a project, only I heard that this book was in the works some years ago, and began looking forward to information technology. I'thou delighted to say that information technology ably fills that long-standing gap.
The scope of this m+ page tome is thorough, spanning 10 capacity:
- Introduction: Prolegomena
- God'south Word: Bibliology
- God the Father: Theology Proper
- God the Son: Christology
- God the Holy Spirit: Pneumatology
- Man and Sin: Anthropology and Hamartiology
- Salvation: Soteriology
- Angels: Angelology
- The Church building: Ecclesiology
- The Future: Eschatology
An Appendix titled "The Progress of Revelation" rounds out the book, listing all the Bible's books in chronological club by all-time-estimated appointment of writing. A 17-page glossary completes the text.
Folks who know MacArthur volition capeesh his distinctive marks. For instance, MacArthur loves lists, and indeed lists across number fill the volume. In the Preface alone, 1 encounters iv lists in four pages – with many, many more to come up. There are also 39 listed tables. Indeed this is MacArthur's distinctive gift: breaking down the complex into forms readily alloyed and easily remembered.
Biblical Doctrine is a pleasure, an instruction, and an encouragement to read. The intent is both to instruct and to edify, and in these M&M succeed handily. Each chapter opens with a related hymn and an outline of the contents. Afterward the text, the chapter closes with another hymn, a prayer taken from a collection by MacArthur, and ordinarily two-3 pages of bibliography.
It isn't in keeping with the volume'due south design to interact with authors at length, or to break brand new ground. MacArthur's main aim here, every bit in every aspect of his ministry, is to be faithful to the Biblical text.
That said, the decisions M&Thousand make in guiding the reader across well-trod ground are frequently refreshing. They opt to refer to God'southward characteristics equally his perfections rather than attributes, citing i Peter 2:ix'due south utilize of aretas and the fact that perfections less ambiguously point to each trait's flawless excellence.
Xx-Six Reasons Why Genesis ane:1 Is the Near Offensive Verse in the Bible
I as well peculiarly appreciated their treatment of God'south holiness. I take struggled to convey the dovetailed aspect of God's transcendence – His beingness set autonomously to Himself ontologically – and His purity – His distance from all sin. M&M become this beyond speaking (respectively) of God'due south majestic holiness and His moral holiness (pp. 183-184). I've already used it!
The Biblical text is always the focus. However, the writers do bring in a broad array of material from old masters from Calvin and Owen and Edwards, to John Murray and Alva McClain and John Piper and Sinclair Ferguson and R. C. Sproul, besides as a spread of journal articles. The stride is concise but unrushed, as major terms are explored, with occasional lengthier excursions (on, for instance, regeneration, the extent and efficaciousness of the amende, the prescript of reprobation, and a host of others).
I've often made the statement that the same grammatico-historical exegesis that leads one (broadly) to dispensationalism, applied consistently, would also lead him to Reformed theology (specifically affirmation of the five Sola's and of God's sovereignty in salvation) – and vice versa. Nonetheless heretofore, one has had to cull among theologies affirming the one, or the other. Never both.
In this volume the two should-be allies finally join forces. MacArthur establishes the proper arroyo to Scripture, and the rest follows. Before we've fifty-fifty left the Preface, we see that Scripture is to exist interpreted literally, with regard to historical context and grammatical structure, in synthesis with the whole of Scripture, employing clearer passages to explicate the rest (pp. 25-26). So when we get to issues of soteriology and ecclesiology and prophecy, those same principles are given full-throated application. M&M set out Scripture's presentation of distinctive roles for indigenous Israel and the church, the expectation of the full fulfillment of all prophecy, and a hearty and extended affirmation of Christ's monergistic, saving, effectual atonement on behalf of the elect.
Equally I said, no other systematic theology to my knowledge combines these elements at all, let lone and then well. For this reason, I see MacArthur's volume every bit sure to exist used broadly and extensively for years to come, in seminaries and Bible colleges and institutes, in elder training classes and personal use, and for hungry "laypeople." It is readable and extensive, yet very solid and very concise. All the Hebrew and Greek words are transliterated (somewhat oddly and inconsistently in the case of Hebrew). I appreciate the apply of footnotes rather than endnotes. I likewise am glad that the margins are wide enough to allow notes and observations.
All of that said, I will close by noting a few odd aspects in the book'south concluding grade.
My single biggest complaint is the lack of clarity equally to who writes what. The title page says "John MacArthur and Richard Mayhue General Editors," which led me to search for a Table of Contributors, along with a listing of their areas of responsibility. But at that place is no such table. The closest we get is in the Preface, which simply says, "Our Master'south Seminary colleagues Dr. Beak Barrick, Dr. Nathan Busenitz, Dr. Jim Mook, Dr. Bryan Murphy, Dr. Michael Vlach, and Professor Michael Riccardi supported us by producing drafts of several sections." And then, "Special thanks go to Jeremy Smith for his consultation," and "We express deep gratitude to Michael Riccardi and Nathan Busenitz for their comprehensive final edit of the entire volume." And that'south it.
But…who did what? How much was involved in the "comprehensive concluding edit"? I would have expected and appreciated the details, and I'd honey to meet information technology in futurity editions.
Another stand-out is the phrase "adjusted from," occurring nearly 100 times. Many sections come from previously published piece of work, usually by MacArthur or Mayhue. MacArthur'southward prayers are "reproduced verbatim" from MacArthur'due south book At the Throne of Grace, and four tables are said to be "reproduced from" other sources. Again, six times material is taken from the Cripplegate blog, plus two from other blogs. I of all people cannot object to the use of web log material; it'southward merely unusual.
In sum: I really can't commend this book highly enough. MacArthur and Mayhue have done the church of Christ a great service, providing a resource which will shape and deepen the faith of many for years to come. I look to see it used and referred to far, wide, and often – the more than, the meliorate!
Notation : I received a review copy from Crossway Publishing, with no obligation for a favorable review.
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Source: https://pjmedia.com/faith/daniel-j-phillips/2017/06/27/john-macarthurs-biblical-doctrine-a-review-n98900
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