History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

The Book of Ezekiel: Chapters 25-48 (New International Commentary on the Old Testament)

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A must have work on the book of Exekiel.

The Book of Ezekiel: Chapters 25-48 (New International Commentary on the Old Testament)
Daniel I. Block
Manufacturer: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0802825362

Customer Reviews:

A must have work on the book of Exekiel........2001-10-24

This is a must have for every serious student of the Old Testament. Dr. Block has written the best work yet on the book of Ezekiel. He combines solid Biblical exegesis with practical devotional application.

The New American Commentary: Judges, Ruth (New American Commentary)

Average customer rating:

standard work for any serious student of judges and ruth
Judge for yourself...probably the best commentary on Judges
Best commentary on Judges available

The New American Commentary: Judges, Ruth (New American Commentary)

Manufacturer: B&H Publishing Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0805401067

Customer Reviews:

standard work for any serious student of judges and ruth .......2006-03-07

Very broad, very thourough, very nice to work with, very clear, very relevant for lay people, textually and theologically strong although not dogmatically overstressing. The author dates the book after 721 BC and it is interesting, if not always convincing, how the theodicee questions influence the points of the stories Block examins (e.g. Judges 16). The book is over 760 pages (the figure on this site is not right). dr.Block is indeed to be commended for his achievement.

Judge for yourself...probably the best commentary on Judges.......2005-02-19

This is a particularly fine example of evangelical scholarship which also interacts with both Jewish and liberal scholarship in a significant way to produce a very usable commentary for both the specialist and the informed layman.

His work in the NICOT on Ezekial is heralded by many (Tremper Longman among them) as simply the best OT commentary in print. The constraints in this series might be a bit more restrictive, but Block has managed to produce what is probably the best commentary on Judges available. (Lawson Younger's work in the NIVAC series is good too but the goal of that series is even more modest.)

Block's introductory material is almost worth the price of the book. And the commentary portion, while working verse by verse, includes an awareness of the literary, poetic and narrative concerns. He also shows an awareness of the text-critical issues when appropriate without getting bogged down, he always displays a high view of inspiration, and his footnotes are a wealth of information for the student wishing to go deeper and interact with scholarly sources.

The primary drawback to the commentary is that often after writing a page or two about one particular verse Block often fails to draw some fairly obivious conclusions on what the narrator is actually communicating. For example, he spends nearly 2 pages on the place and person names of 4:2 and suggests various possibilities concerning the issue of how Jabin could oppress the Israelites from Hazor (which had recently been decimated by Joshua), and yet he does not draw any conclusions about the narrator's characterization of Israel's request for the Lord's help being due to political oppression (that is, rather than repentance.)

Best commentary on Judges available.......2002-04-05

It isn't simply that I buy everything Daniel Block publishes. I do. But, apart from the fact that he is a fine scholar, a clear-headed exegete and a solid communicator, this commentary is a must-buy for any student of the OT simply because it represents one of the few works out there on Judges. Until recently, Judges suffered from a drought of commentators. The last thorough treatment on Judges was written by Robert Boling for the Anchor series and that was back in 1975.

Block's commentary gives the reader both balanced and well-informed comments on the text's meaning as well as philological notes on the Hebrew (kept conveniently in the footnotes). It delves deeply for the more scholarly concerns, yet can be accessed by an informed layperson. Block's familiarity and usage of secondary sources, which are also listed in the footnotes, are invaluable for further study. While some quite commendable commentaries on Judges have recently appeared since Block's work, none have come close to eclipsing his fine contribution.

Average customer rating:

an okay commentary

A Masterwork

The Book of Ezekiel: Chapters 1-24 (New International Commentary on the Old Testament)
Daniel I. Block
Manufacturer: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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The Book of Ezekiel: Chapters 25-48 (New International Commentary on the Old Testament)

The Book of Jeremiah (New International Commentary on the Old Testament)

The Book of Isaiah: Chapters 40-66 (New International Commentary on the Old Testament)

The Book of Isaiah, Chapters 1-39 (New Intl Commentary on the Old Testament)

Song of Songs (New International Commentary on the Old Testament)

ASIN: 0802825354

Customer Reviews:

an okay commentary.......2006-03-14

I've worked through the first twenty or so chapters of this commentary alongside those of Zimmerli (Hermeneia series) and Leslie Allen (WBC series).

In my opinion, Block's commentary does not match up well with either commentator. He consistently reads the text synchronically, displaying no awareness of how the book was updated over time to make it relevant for new audiences.

For example, in his discussion of chapter 3, Block fails to account for the inconsistency in vv. 16-21 when compared to v. 27. In the former, the people seem to have an opportunity to repent, while in verse 27 Ezekiel's preexilic message is seen to be one of judgment.

This seeming inconsistency is best explained by arguing that Ez. 3:16-21 is an insertion of a later message of Ezekiel's that updates the book.

In other words, the promised judgment has come, and a new message-- the one that characterizes chapters 33ff.-- is now given to the people. This new message of one of hope, but in this hope the people need to remember that God's former message of judgment is still relevant, in so far as his expectations are the same.

This may seem like a minor point, but the view one takes on this strongly influences the interpretation and application of the book.

The other problem I have with Bock's commentary is that when given the choice of two interpretive possibilities, he often seems to take the wrong one. I consistently found Allen to be the more convincing interpreter.

The greatest strength of Bock's commentary is the section on theological reflections with which he concludes each section. It is for this alone that I have kept his commentaries, after going back and forth several times on whether or not to keep them.

However, Allen also displays theological sensitivity throughout, and if I were to preach through the book I believe Allen's commentary would generally be adequate.

Zimmerli's 2 volume commentary set was an instant classic in the field, and is worth owning. He, too, displays theological sensitivity. The main drawback of his work is that he tends to consider later redactional activity, like the example above, to be unimportant and delete it as unnecessary.

In order, I would buy Allen, Zimmerli, Block, Hals (Forms of Old Testament Literature series), Greenberg (Anchor Bible Commentary), and Blenkinsopp (Interpretation).

A Masterwork.......2002-12-27

A commentary that does not skim over texts, but goes into detail of each verse (1,400 pages for the two volumes). The two volumes have been my companion now for several months in my morning Bible study, and will be for a few months more.
Though the detail of Hebrew words is gone into, it is done in such a way that the non-Hebrew-scholar can understand. And the "Theological implications" sections at the end of each portion are a mine of spiritual treasures.
Though I am possibly not well placed as a layman to judge, for me it is THE study on Ezechiel to study.

One Anothering: Biblical Building Blocks for Small Groups

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One Anothering: Biblical Building Blocks for Small Groups
Richard C. Meyer
Manufacturer: Augsburg Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0806690550

Biblical Blocks: Inspired Designs for Quilters (That Patchwork Place)

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Super faith inspired design.
Biblical Blocks
BIBLICAL BLOCKS

Biblical Blocks: Inspired Designs for Quilters (That Patchwork Place)
Rosemary Makhan
Manufacturer: Martingale and Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1564773906

Book Description

Biblical Blocks Inspired Designs for Quilters

Stitch this stunning sampler quilt and discover the special meaning behind 21 traditional, time-honored block patterns. Inspired by the world's most beloved biblical themes, this beautiful quilt features geometric-style designs that represent several stories from the Bible, block by block.

· Block themes such as Solomon's Puzzle, Job's Tears, Joseph's Coat, and Garden of Eden will inspire you to celebrate favorite Bible passages in fabric

· Choose from a variety of unique design options with 20 pieced blocks, one paper-pieced block, and a glorious Tree of Life center medallion

· A dramatic, appliquéd Rose of Sharon border will help you attractively frame and finish your quilted treasure

First published in 1993 and long unavailable, Biblical Blocks now includes a full-color gallery of gorgeous quilts. With the help of award-winning quilt artist Rosemary Makhan, you can create an heirloom quilt to cherish for generations to come!

Customer Reviews:

Super faith inspired design........2006-01-18

After quilting for several years, this was my first attempt at hand applique. Rosemary's instructions were clear and concise. This faith based quilt pattern was amazing, with blocks that went from simple to VERY challenging. Your choice of 16 out of 20 blocks to make a queen sized quilt. If you are looking for a book of patterns to use to express your faith in God and the Bible, then look no more. You could easily expand on her ideas of a queen sized quilt, and use your favorites to make a wall quilt, or just utilize the lovely center medallion. My Biblical Blocks quilt has been in 10 quilt shows, and 1 special exhibit so far. It has been the quilt I am most proud of. YOU GOTTA GET THIS BOOK!

Biblical Blocks.......2002-03-09

The instructions for block construction in this book are very good. This could be a very complicated quilt to make, and Rosemary has made it easy. Our new quilt group at church did this as a first project. Except for two of us, all were first time quilters. They were all able to cut and assemble blocks at home with ease. We chose other fabrics than what Rosemary suggests and the quilts turned out beautiful!

BIBLICAL BLOCKS.......2001-06-14

Although the quilt blocks were pretty, I found the choice of fabrics required rather restrictive. Also the alternate squares were not what I personally like.

More Biblical Quilt Blocks: New Inspirational Designs

Average customer rating:

Just A Retread
More biblical Quilt Blocks
Includes a lot of material from first book

More Biblical Quilt Blocks: New Inspirational Designs
Rosemary Makhan
Manufacturer: Martingale and Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 156477581X

Book Description

Comforting, breathtaking, inspiring—these are just a few words that fans use to describe the popular book Biblical Blocks. Now Rosemary Makhan returns with all-new blocks that celebrate favorite Bible passages in fabric.

· Discover the special meaning behind 32 time-honored quilt blocks

· Feature blocks in six projects, including large samplers and quicker one-block quilts

· Stitch designs such as Job's Troubles, King David's Crown, and Road to Paradise

Customer Reviews:

Just A Retread.......2006-01-21

I have the first book this author wrote, and was extremely disappointed to find out that at least half the blocks in her new book are repeated from her first book. I feel that the title is misleading. Several of the authors of multiple volumes on the same subject are in my library. Examples would be Bethany Reynolds, Marsha McCloskey, Sharyn Craig, and Carol Doak. In each and every case, the blocks or techniques do not repeat the items that appeared in their earlier books. Therefore, it's logical to expect that a book entitled "More Biblical Blocks" would have additional blocks to the ones you already have.

Have you ever bought a CD of an artist you liked to find out that half or more of the songs were repeats from one you already owned? Well, this is the equivalent. Since the book isn't cheap, it's doubly disappointing.

Whereas I do agree that the directions are guite good, they are no better than those contained in many other books on the market by other authors, so there is nothing remarkable in that arena. If you have this author's "Biblical Blocks" book, I'd recommend skipping this one. If you're considering buying one of her books, buy only this one and skip the first, so it can have value to some. I, however, feel ripped off.

More biblical Quilt Blocks.......2005-11-18

I have been quilting for almost 20 years and this is one of the best books I've ever used. The directions are concise and understandable, the measurements are accurate and precise allowing an ease of construction and finished block that fits into the overall quilt. I am in the process of making every . block detailed in the book. I would certainly recommend this book .

Includes a lot of material from first book.......2005-04-21

This book hasmany beautiful quilt squares. However, be aware that if you have the authors first book on quilt squares you may want to think about buying this one. About half of the squares are repeats from the first book.

Hell Under Fire: Modern Scholarship Reinvents Eternal Punishment

Average customer rating:

from a somewhat disappointed fence-sitter
Hell is Balanced and Fair.
Evangelical, Traditional and Biblically Faithful

Hell Under Fire: Modern Scholarship Reinvents Eternal Punishment

Manufacturer: Zondervan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0310240417

Book Description

Of all the teachings of Christianity, the doctrine of hell is easily the most troubling, so much so that in recent years the church has been quietly tucking it away. Rarely mentioned anymore in the pulpit, it has faded through disuse among evangelicals and been attacked by liberal theologians. Hell is no longer only the target of those outside the church. Today, a disturbing number of professing Christians question it as well. Perhaps more than at any other time in history, hell is under fire.

The implications of the historic view of hell make the popular alternatives, annihilationism and universalism, seem extremely appealing. But the bottom line is still God’s Word. What does the Old Testament reveal about hell? What does Paul the apostle have to say, or the book of Revelation? Most important, what does Jesus, the ultimate expression of God’s love, teach us about God’s wrath?

Upholding the authority of Scripture, the different authors in Hell Under Fire explore a complex topic from various angles. R. Albert Mohler Jr. provides a historical, theological, and cultural overview of “The Disappearance of Hell.” Christopher Morgan draws on the New Testament to offer three pictures of hell as punishment, destruction, and banishment. J. I. Packer compares universalism with the traditional understanding of hell, Morgan does the same with annihilationism, and Sinclair Ferguson considers how the reality of hell ought to influence preaching. These examples offer some idea of this volume’s scope and thoroughness.

Hell may be under fire, but its own flames cannot be quenched by popular opinion. This book helps us gain a biblical perspective on what hell is and why we cannot afford to ignore it. And it offers us a better understanding of the One who longs for all people to escape judgment and obtain eternal life through Jesus Christ.

Customer Reviews:

from a somewhat disappointed fence-sitter.......2007-09-14

The reason I ordered this book was because I thought I would get a book that provided exegetically-driven counter-arguments to the arguments for annihilationism / conditionalism, as I have recently gone through Fudge's "The Fire that Consumes," with presents some impressive arguments for this view. Here's the chapters:

1. Modern theology: the disappearance of Hell (Albert Mohler Jr)
2. The old Testament on Hell (Daniel I. Block)
3. Jesus on Hell (Robert W. Yarbrough)
4. Paul on Hell (Douglas J. Moo)
5. The Revelation on Hell (Gregory K. Beale)
6. Biblical Theology: Three Pictures of Hell (Christopher W. Morgan)
7. Systematic Theology: Three Vantage Points of Hell (Robert A. Peterson)
8. Universalism: Will Everyone Ultimately be saved? (J. I. Packer)
9. Annihilationism: Will the Unsaved Be Punished Forever? (Christopher W. Morgan)
10. Pastoral Theology: The Preacher and Hell (Sinclair. B. Ferguson)

As one may conjecture based on this (I couldn't see the table of contents when ordering), this book is diffuse, with repetition of material by different chapters. For someone seriously concerned (and not confident) about the truth of the matter on this issue, like me, there have been some irritating moments in reading, because certain Scripture and issues would be, in a given chapter, passed over very quickly, which would not happen if the book was more focused in is content / organization. Another aspect of the broad scope of the book is that it deals with history and philosophical and emotional objections to the traditional view, whereas I was looking mainly for biblical exegesis. I'll just give some feedback about the chapters on Scripture vis-a-vis the argument against annihilationism

Bock's "Old Testament on Hell" - He says that "We find hints of the netherworld and the afterlife as a place/time of eternal torment (in contrast to a beatific afterlife for the righteous) as we know it from the New Testament in only two Old Testament texts: Isaiah 66:24 and Daniel 12:2" (59). But in proceeding to discuss these two passages, Bock does not argue for the traditional view at all, does not deal with annihilationist arguments, but just asserts his view! I'm not at all faulting Bock's intelligence or scholarship here; it seems to me, rather, that he simply wasn't thinking about arguing against annihilationism when he wrote this, but was giving a more general informative article on the Old Testament's view of the netherworld.

Yarbrough's "Jesus on Hell" - Yarbrough clearly takes it upon himself to argue against annihilationism, however in my opinion the argumentation is lacking. Everyone is entitled to his own opinion about the soundness of Yarbrough's anti-annihilationist arguments, but I think a less disputable point would be that the chapter was organized in such a way that little space was allocated to rebutting annihilationist exegetical arguments; and for a reader such as me, that's where I was itching. He for some reason spent 4 pages on the reliability of the gospels as testimonies to Jesus' words. 6 pages were given to rebutting Fudge's views on certain verses in the gospels.

Moo's "Paul on Hell" was a very good chapter; I don't have any gripes with Moo; unfortunately I think the main controversial verses in this dispute are not Pauline. Moo does however provide some considerations that he believes favor the traditional view.

Beale's "The Revelation on Hell" - this is an excellent chapter, and the main reason I'm still glad I bought this book. Beale is very rigorous exegetically, and he explicitly takes up the annihilationist position and argues against it by arguing about the Scriptural data and not appealing to intuitions or "it seems to me that..." This is the chapter that I'll continue to work through in my own studies on this issue.

Christopher Morgan's "Annihilationism..." chapter was very short on exegetical counter-arguments to annihilationist's arguments (most of the chapter is on history, and broader theological/philosophical issues). Two short paragraphs constitute the attack on annihilatonist views of "eternal" as it pertains to passages on hell, and two more paragraphs on the annihilationist view of "destruction."

Hell is Balanced and Fair........2006-08-13

I thought the book was honest and fair. Having read other views on Hell and having studied the topic of Conditional Immortality, the authors did a good job critiquing, answering challenges, and exegeting the truth in my humble opinion.

Evangelical, Traditional and Biblically Faithful.......2005-01-20

Having already read the first book in what I hope is to be a continuing series, God Under Fire (Zondervan), and having read other works by most of the contributors to the present volume under review, I expected to gain from reading Hell Under Fire. I was not disappointed, and the essays contained in the book were all of a consistently high standard.

The first essay was by Albert Mohler, and outlined the modern demise of the doctrine of hell from the 17th century onwards. His article outlines how hell began to be questioned in mainline denominations, gradually moving to a doctrine repellent to many in the church by the Victorian Era, and eventually being regarded as nothing more than a myth in the 20th century. Mohler then outlines how these attitudes have recently been entering even evangelical circles, with annihilationist leanings in the writings of such prominent theologians as John Wenham, John Stott, and of course, Clark Pinnock.

Following Mohler's historical review are four essays on the teaching of certain parts of the Scripture: Daniel Block on the Old Testament, Robert Yarborough on the teaching of Jesus, Douglas Moo on Paul's teaching and Gregory Beale on Revelation. Block's essay is an interesting read for those who are unacquainted with the way in which the Old Testament lays the backdrop for the teaching of Christ and the apostles on hell in terms of imagery, and I especially appreciated his discussion of the Netherworld, in the OT, and Daniel 12:1-3. The essay's by Yarborough and Moo met the high expectations I had of them from reading some of their previous works. Yarborough summarized the large amount of Gospel teaching on Hell very well, as well as including an interesting section refuting the charge that His teaching came from Plato, and concluding with a reflection on the teaching in light of September 11th, while Moo excelled in his discussion of Paul's teaching on the issue of eternal punishment and the justice of God (Paul never uses the term `hell'). Beale's essay was good, but was the most disappointing to the reviewer (all things are relative!), but still argued powerfully against the annihilationist teaching that is becoming ever more prevalent in evangelical circles.

The next two essays covered hell in Biblical Theology and Systematic Theology. Christopher Morgan (the only author the reviewer had not come across before, but whose two essays were not out of place in the book) commented briefly on the doctrine from each of the New Testament authors, concluding with a discussion of hell pictured as punishment, destruction and banishment. Robert Petersen (who has written on thee subject more fully elsewhere) presented a very interesting and rewarding paper on the theology from three vantage points: those of the trinity, human responsibility and divine sovereignty, and the `no' and `not yet' tension on the Bible.

Two essays followed on universalism (by J. I. Packer) and annihilationism (by Morgan again). Both essays were useful, and showed the flaws in these approaches according to the clear teaching of the Bible, though Morgan's is most useful in the context of modern evangelicalism as universalism is not really proposed by many serious theologians who label themselves as evangelicals. The final essay was, in this reviewer's opinion, the finest, with Sinclair Ferguson discussing the pastoral implications of the Biblical doctrine of hell. Ferguson's pastoral heart was obvious throughout as he wrestled with the reality of hell in preaching and evangelism, and his essay is the most important contribution of the volume I would say, as the other material is covered in other volumes elsewhere, though the reviewer has not come across another essay quite like Ferguson's.

Overall, a fine volume on a difficult topic, and perhaps the best summary the reviewer has read on the topic (though find also Robert Petersen's other books, and John Blanchard's `Whatever Happened to Hell'). As stated at the beginning, I hope Zondervan will continue to release more books in this series...perhaps Justification Under Fire may be a good one, edited by Don Carson!

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Sure to become a Classic

What Did Jesus Do?
Michael Lindvall
Manufacturer: Sterling
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1402740883

Book Description

Although one-third of people today consider themselves Christians, and millions of words have been written about the meaning of Jesus, many of Christ’s followers don’t know the basic facts of His life: the parables He taught, the miracles He performed, and the remarkable circumstances surrounding both His birth and His death. Using the four Gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—as his primary source material, minister and author Michael Lindvall not only lays out the rough chronology of Jesus’ life, but he places it within a rich historical context and reveals the major influences that directly affected the early tellings of Christ’s story. This is an invaluable reference for anyone—of any religious persuasion—who wants to understand this most important and influential figure.

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Sure to become a Classic.......2007-04-30

A wonderful question about how to live a life of faith is summarized in the popular initials WWJD: "What Would Jesus Do?" We want to respond to life situations in ways that are congruent with the way Jesus would respond. Yet, it is hard to know what Jesus WOULD do if one does not know what Jesus DID do. We want to know before we act. Knowing what Jesus did is the premise behind this volume.

This is a primer on the Christian faith by Michael Lindvall, who is the senior pastor of Brick Presbyterian Church in New York City and an author of depth and sensitivity.

For those who are just beginning their Christian journey and want to have some signposts as to where they are headed, and for those who are a bit further along and seeking to center in on Christ, this book is invaluable. It brings together the record of the four Gospels in a succinct and lively style and offers much more than a biography of Jesus.

You see, Lindvall has read further a field than the Gospels. From the record of the entire Bible as well as from the insights of great theological of the past, he presents an excellent portrait of the most important figure of history.

Sergeant Friday wanted "Just the facts, Ma'am" and the facts are all here. But along with the facts are the central convictions about Jesus. So we find not only an account of His life and teachings, His miracles and message, but also a well-reasoned and theologically centrist view of the significance and meaning of each of these. Lindvall is especially good in helping people understand Jesus' death and resurrection.

I could see this book serving in local congregations in many ways. It could be a text used for confirmation classes, for instance, or for new members who, having joined a church for the first time, want to know more about Jesus. It is also a good refresher course for long-time Christians who want to see a complete portrait of Jesus (as so often the lectionary readings jump about and have us focus on details, but not the whole picture).

As for practical matters about the book: The cost is low; the quality is high. The print is large and clear. The format is small enough to be a bedside companion book; yet the margins are large enough that one can add notations easily.

Simply put, every Christian should read this book

(P.S. This book should not be confused with the children's book by Mary Manz Simon and Anne Kennedy nor with the books by New Zealander Ray Comfort, by F. Scott Spencer, and by W. A Poovey, all of which bear the same title.)

If you find this review helpful you might want to read some of my other reviews, including those on subjects ranging from biography to architecture, as well as religion and fiction.

The Scandal of the Gospels: Jesus, Story, and Offense

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The Scandal of the Gospels: Jesus, Story, and Offense
David McCracken
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
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Binding: Hardcover

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This book argues that the gospels are in an important sense "occasions for offense." The Jesus of the gospels is a scandal (skandalon, in the original Greek) and he is never more scandalous than when he is speaking in parables. Interpreters of the gospels over the centuries have consistently labored to domesticate the offense or to eliminate it entirely. David McCracken, focusing on parables, Matthew's narrative contexts, and the gospel of John, seeks to recover the gospels' sense of Jesus as skandalon. To this end, he enlists the help of Kierkegaard, the philosopher of offense, and to a lesser extent that of Bakhtin, both of whom prove to be surprisingly apt conversation partners for the evangelists.

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