THE INCARNATION: A STUDY OF PHIL. ii. 5-11, AND A UNIVERSITY SERMON ON PSALM cx., by the late E. H. Gifford, D.D., sometime Archdeacon of London, and Canon of St Paul’s.
Edited by Henry Wace, D.D., Dean of Canterbury, The Church Book Room, Dean Wace House, Wine Office Court, Fleet Street, London, E.C.4. Price 1s 6d net.
This is one of the finest pieces of exegetical scholarship produced in recent times. It is recognised as a classic by competent authorities in New Testament Greek, and the late Dr Gifford has earned the gratitude of all those who hold the doctrine of the true Deity of Jesus Christ in His incarnate state. The consummate ability with which the author proceeds from point to point establishing his contention that the very text on which the Kenoticists rely for their doctrine of the Kenosis does not give any countenance to that doctrine, but, on the other hand, convincingly asserts that our Lord did not lay aside or empty Himself of any of the divine attributes when He became incarnate is arresting. The first part of the book deals with the exegesis of the well-known passage in Philippians, and the second part gives notes on the history of its interpretation. If Dr Gifford had done nothing more than this splendid piece of work, his place among students of New Testament Greek would be assured. All who have any knowledge of Greek should procure a copy of this excellent little book. Its value is further enhanced by a sermon on the authorship of Psalm cx. Dr Gifford has not much difficulty in showing, in opposition to modern critical learning, that the Psalm was written by David. This, all true followers of Jesus Christ willingly accept, and it is gratifying to read Dr Gifford’s conclusion after a careful study of the Psalm:—”For if the Holy Spirit of prophecy wrought through the natural faculties of man, not by suppressing but by strengthening and exalting the characteristic impulses of mind and heart, then we must look for the author of this Psalm in a man whose personal experience and mental history tended towards the development of the sublime and mysterious thoughts which here find expression. And I know of none whose character and circumstances answer to these conditions so well as David’s . . . [when] he received the gracious promise of a Son in whom his house and his kingdom should be established for ever.”
EPHESIAN STUDIES AND COLOSSIAN STUDIES, by H. C. G. Moule, D.D.
London: Chas. J. Thynne and Jarvis, Ltd., Whitefriars Street, Fleet Street, London, E.C.4. Price 3s 6d net each.
These fine expository studies by the late Dr Moule on Ephesians and Colossians have been reissued in well-printed and well-bound volumes by Messrs Thynne and Jarvis. The publishers deserve credit for their enterprise in issuing the volumes at such a low price. Dr Moule’s reputation as a scholar is well known, and his sympathy with the Pauline theology is evidenced in his expository works on the outstanding Epistles of the Apostle. In the above works his method is to give a summary of the Apostle’s thought, and then to follow this up with more detailed exposition. The rich spirituality of Dr Moule and his fine scholarship seldom meet to such a marked degree in expositions of the New Testament writings.
THE NEW MISSIONARY SERIES. London: Morgan and Scott, Ltd., 12 Paternoster Buildings, London, E.C. Price 1s 6d net.
This is a very interesting series of missionary biographies specially intended for the young, and we can say for those we have read of the series—David Livingstone, William Carey, John Williams, William C. Burns, and Heroes of Madagascar—that they are eminently suitable for the purpose in view. In these days it is becoming more and more difficult to get really instructive and sound little books for the young, and it is a pleasure to come across a series so suitable for them, in which an account is given of these great heroes of the Cross who carried the tidings of salvation to heathen lands. The books are attractively bound in white, with a coloured picture on the outside of each. We commend this series to our young readers and those interested in them as suitable books for gifts or prizes.