The New Testament, An Introduction to its Literature and History, by J. Gresham Machen. Banner of Truth Trust, pages 386. Price £2.75.
This is the work of one of America’s leading N.T. Theologians and Scholars who was widely recognised as the successor of his old teacher and professor at Princeton Seminary, Dr B. B. Warfield, whose mantle was said to have fallen upon him. The aim of the book is stated in the Introduction: “The purpose of the present book is to ground Christian piety more firmly in historical knowledge” (p. 9). Machen held strongly that the events in the Bible are actual, historical events and that the principles of sacred history and the doctrines of God’s Word can only be understood when placed in “a framework of fact.” In carrying out this aim, Dr Machen brought to the task lucidity of thought and great powers of expression as well as wide, unobtrusive scholarship.
When on the staff of teachers at Princeton Seminary in his early years, Machen began to take part in the work of the Sabbath School of the First Church of Princeton, first as teacher and then as superintendent. He took a deep interest in the boys of his class and prepared for what others might regard as the humble work of teaching young people the truths of God’s Word, with his usual thoroughness. Arising out of this service in the Sabbath School, Machen was asked to undertake the wider programme of preparing the senior course of Sabbath School lessons for a year for the Board of Christian Education. The course of N.T. studies appeared in weekly instalments in two publications of the Presbyterian Board of Publications and Sabbath School Work in 1916. It was a gruelling task to produce on time each week’s contribution, but the book before us shows the success he achieved in this work. This material has now been gathered into a most attractive and well printed volume, the New Testament, An Introduction to its Literature and History.
The arrangement of the chapters has not been changed from the original form of graded studies, in 52 short chapters, covering the whole year. This may be called a rapid survey of N.T. times, but it is comprehensive and omits nothing nor does it deal superficially with any aspect of the Church and its work in the times of the N.T. The book is divided into six large sections which begin with the historical background of the N.T. and proceeds to the spread of the Church throughout the Gentile world, the Principles and Practice of the Gospel, the Defence of the Christian Faith, the Apostolic Church and the Church Today. Each chapter has at its head the study material, drawn from the N.T. Scriptures, and at the end are set questions on the chapter itself. There is no display of wide reading and references to works which have been consulted but everywhere is apparent deep and wide scholarship. The style is simple which makes the book pleasant to read.
Of the problem of the authorship of the Epistle to the Hebrews, Machen states his own view moderately that, while according full apostolic authority to the Epistle — “it was written, if not by one of the other apostles, at least by an ‘apostolic man’” (p. 242) — he does not give full support to the Alexandrian view of its Pauline authorship. It is heartening to read Machen’s forthright words on baptism — “The warrant for infant baptism is to be sought not so much in individual passages as in more general considerations of what the sacrament means. The family, according to the New Testament, is the unit of Christian life (Acts 16:31, 33); children have a share in the covenant relationship of their parents” (p. 315). The volume will be a source of authentic information for students, senior Sabbath School pupils and for ministers of the Gospel as well. Machen is already well known for the larger works, “The Origin of Paul’s Religion,” “The Virgin Birth of Christ,” “Christianity and Liberalism,” etc., and now the Banner of Truth Trust has earned the gratitude of all lovers of the Reformed Faith with this handsome volume which, it is confidently predicted, will become the most generally useful and influential of all his works. A. F. M.
The Child’s Story Bible — Old Testament Vol. I by Catherine Vos. Banner of Truth Trust. Price £1.95.
This is a paperback edition in large type of the Genesis-Ruth section of Catherine Vos’ Child’s Story Bible. Almost half the book consists of Bible stories from Genesis; twenty pages are stories from Exodus; two or three chapters are devoted to Leviticus; about 30 pages are from Numbers; 20 pages are from Joshua and Judges; while the last five pages are stories taken from the Book of Ruth. The illustrations are in the grotesque form of modern art. The Bible stories are put in simple form and consequently the book should prove a useful aid to parents in instructing younger children in the Bible. D. B. M.
Miracles of Jesus
This is a book for young children. It is printed in large type, and attractively produced and illustrated. The book is published by the Gospel Standard Trust at 85p, plus 25p postage. The text was written by Pastor B. A. Ramsbottom of Luton in a simple style and tells the story of eight of the miracles of Jesus. In view of the great need today of suitable books for young children we warmly recommend it. D.B.M.
God Sent Revival by J. F. Thornbury. Evangelical Press Paperback. Price £2.60.
“God Sent Revival” tells the story of the Second Great Awakening on the American Continent which took place in the early 19th century, and particularly gives an account of Asahel Nettleton’s part in it. Through the re-publication in 1975 by the Banner of Truth of Andrew Bonar’s revision of Bennet Taylor’s “Life and Labours of Asahel Nettleton” (reviewed in F.P. Magazine, Vol. 80, p. 314), readers will be familiar with Nettleton’s name. The 1740 revivals under Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield had long passed away and dearth prevailed on the religious scene, when it pleased God towards the end of the 18th century, and well into the 19th century to send showers of blessing to Connecticut and other areas of America. In the 1820’s the blessing came through the labours of Asahel Nettleton during which time many congregations in different parts of the Eastern States of the U.S.A. were revived. Nettleton, though essentially an evangelistic preacher without settled charge, worked in co-operation with the settled ministers and usually was invited by them to preach in their locality.
Thornbury’s account of these revivals is most interesting and Nettleton’s success is an encouragement to ministers of the gospel today. The Lord God of Elijah is the same God still! What He did in other days He is able to do today. The scripturalness of Nettleton’s methods is clearly brought out, also his opposition to the methods of Finney and his followers. There was no question in Nettleton’s case but that the converts brought in under his preaching stood the test of time. The same could not be said of those of the Arminian Finney and his school.
We are glad to commend this paperback. It is a pity that it follows so soon after the Banner of Truth volume on Nettleton. We hope that this will not prevent it having a wide circulation.
D.B.M.