Every so often, I get stuck into reading some systematic theology. The best books I've found include Wayne Grudem's
Systematic Theology in which he discusses most issues an evangelical would be interested in, and he fairly presents the views of those he disagrees with.
I like his questions and hymns at the end of each chapter. It is also helpful that he tells you explicitly where he is coming from in his introduction.
This book is a terrific start if you want to explore Christian theology. There is also a shorter version of the book, but I think you would be cheating yourself if you didn't buy the whole shebang. [You don't have to read it all!]
Grudem's theology is Reformed and Baptist, but also lightly Pentecostal and Premillennial.
His views on bible translation, with which I have some concerns, do not get a hearing in this book. I find his views on women's ministry to be scriptural, though he can be a little too enthusiastic to press the point on this issue, at times.
But I have also been finding Robert Reymond's
A New Systematic Theology of the Christian Faith very helpful. Both Reymond and Grudem write clearly and simply. The section on the cross and all its implications is worth the cost of Reymond's book.
Saturday, April 02, 2005
Monday, February 21, 2005
Comparing English bible versions
This is a copy of my response to a question about the English language bible versions, included in BibeWorks.
The venerable King James Version, actually an 1800s edition of the original 1611 bible. This one has had the widest influence, both on the English language and its spread, and on Christian thinking.
It is based entirely on versions of the Hebrew-Aramaic Old Testament from around 1000 AD, and on a few late manuscripts of the New Testament available in the 1500s.
The New King James Version is easier to read, but is mainly based on these same manuscripts.
The New American Standard Bible is based on the same OT manuscripts, but the New Testament is based on a wider and older range of manuscripts. This version aims to bring out the form of the original, as much as possible. It is not easy to read in big chunks.
The English Standard Version is an update of the RSV, which you are familiar with. These versions use the same variety of NT manuscripts as the NASB, but also look at ancient versions of the OT in other languages, such as the Septuagint, the first Greek translation of the OT.
The ESV changes a few renderings in the RSV which some folk saw as unorthodox, in passages such as Isaiah 7:14 and 1 John 2:2, but it also sometimes modernises the English by using more contemporary language, and by using generic language where the original does not contain masculine language.
If you compare the New Revised Standard Version with the ESV, you will see that the translators have more frequently updated the language to be inclusive of both sexes. But some people feel that the NRSV has at times done this inappropriately, and possibly with a feminist agenda. But it does not go bananas like the few feminist versions which are squeamish about calling God "Father" and Jesus "Son" for fear of being sexist!
The New Jerusalem Bible was originally French and is interesting to compare, because it is independent from the KJV/RSV/NASB/ESV tradition. One example of this is its use of "Yahweh" where these versions have "the LORD."
The New Living Translation began as an attempt to make the rather loose Living Bible more accurate. It is based on the same variety of texts as the NRSV/ESV [and most modern translations], but the language is more conversational and contemporary. If you have downloaded the update to the NLT, known as the NLT2, you will have a version which has distanced itself even further from the Living Bible. It is a substantial revision of the NLT and is much more different from the NLT than the TNIV, the upgrade to the NIV, is different from its predecessor.
I don't suppose you need me to say much about the NIV. It stands between the RSV and NLT in its effort to be accurate, but also understandable, I think. You can download the update to the NIV, the TNIV from www.tniv.info . This version is only a little different from the NIV, but updates that 25 year old version with contemporary language, use of gender inclusive language [standing between the ESV and NRSV in its willingness to do this] and in the light of contemporary scholarship.
Going beyond BibleWorks, you can also access the Good News Bible and the Message in the free and terrific e-sword program, which you can download from http://www.e-sword.net .
The venerable King James Version, actually an 1800s edition of the original 1611 bible. This one has had the widest influence, both on the English language and its spread, and on Christian thinking.
It is based entirely on versions of the Hebrew-Aramaic Old Testament from around 1000 AD, and on a few late manuscripts of the New Testament available in the 1500s.
The New King James Version is easier to read, but is mainly based on these same manuscripts.
The New American Standard Bible is based on the same OT manuscripts, but the New Testament is based on a wider and older range of manuscripts. This version aims to bring out the form of the original, as much as possible. It is not easy to read in big chunks.
The English Standard Version is an update of the RSV, which you are familiar with. These versions use the same variety of NT manuscripts as the NASB, but also look at ancient versions of the OT in other languages, such as the Septuagint, the first Greek translation of the OT.
The ESV changes a few renderings in the RSV which some folk saw as unorthodox, in passages such as Isaiah 7:14 and 1 John 2:2, but it also sometimes modernises the English by using more contemporary language, and by using generic language where the original does not contain masculine language.
If you compare the New Revised Standard Version with the ESV, you will see that the translators have more frequently updated the language to be inclusive of both sexes. But some people feel that the NRSV has at times done this inappropriately, and possibly with a feminist agenda. But it does not go bananas like the few feminist versions which are squeamish about calling God "Father" and Jesus "Son" for fear of being sexist!
The New Jerusalem Bible was originally French and is interesting to compare, because it is independent from the KJV/RSV/NASB/ESV tradition. One example of this is its use of "Yahweh" where these versions have "the LORD."
The New Living Translation began as an attempt to make the rather loose Living Bible more accurate. It is based on the same variety of texts as the NRSV/ESV [and most modern translations], but the language is more conversational and contemporary. If you have downloaded the update to the NLT, known as the NLT2, you will have a version which has distanced itself even further from the Living Bible. It is a substantial revision of the NLT and is much more different from the NLT than the TNIV, the upgrade to the NIV, is different from its predecessor.
I don't suppose you need me to say much about the NIV. It stands between the RSV and NLT in its effort to be accurate, but also understandable, I think. You can download the update to the NIV, the TNIV from www.tniv.info . This version is only a little different from the NIV, but updates that 25 year old version with contemporary language, use of gender inclusive language [standing between the ESV and NRSV in its willingness to do this] and in the light of contemporary scholarship.
Going beyond BibleWorks, you can also access the Good News Bible and the Message in the free and terrific e-sword program, which you can download from http://www.e-sword.net .
Wednesday, January 05, 2005
Keeping Safe on the Net
Keep Your Kids Safe is not only a great site for parents: it has information that will help everybody enjoy the benefits of the internet, while being alert to the problems it poses. This website also tells you about Simon Johnson, its developer's brand new and up-to-date book, which will almost certainly give you some information and tips you had not previously been aware of, and he has generously given one of the book's most important chapters as a free download at the site.
Tuesday, January 04, 2005
Christian Book Summaries
If you would like to get the gist of some well-known, mostly current Christian books, check out Christian Book Summaries, which has maybe 30 summaries of books such as The Purpose-Driven Life, Boundaries in Marriage and What's So Amazing About Grace?
The summaries can be downloaded in very attractively laid-out pdf files, or you can read them online.
In view of Jim Beale's T-shirt
So many books,
so litle time
this site is a boon.
It is also helpful that you can read books that everyone's talking about, but about which you have reservations, without further increasing the author's bank balance.
Each summary is very well written, easy to follow and about 8 pages long.
But ... I'll still buy stuff!
The most valuable one I've read so far is the summary of
The Doctrines of Grace, by Boice and Ryken.
The summaries can be downloaded in very attractively laid-out pdf files, or you can read them online.
In view of Jim Beale's T-shirt
So many books,
so litle time
this site is a boon.
It is also helpful that you can read books that everyone's talking about, but about which you have reservations, without further increasing the author's bank balance.
Each summary is very well written, easy to follow and about 8 pages long.
But ... I'll still buy stuff!
The most valuable one I've read so far is the summary of
The Doctrines of Grace, by Boice and Ryken.
Interpretation article follow-up
Ahem [clears throat]. In the following issue of Interpretation Journal, Edgar Goodspeed, veteran bible translator, criticised the view of the writer in the previous issue, and also ticked him off for his intemperate language about hard-working bible translators. He argues that translating John 2:4 is not easy, and there is a reason for the variety in the translations.
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