Book Reviews
Extracted from Ordained Servant vol. 5, no. 2 (April 1996).
Selected Writings of John Knox: Public Epistles, Treatises, and Expositions to the Year 1550, Kevin Reed, editor, Presbyterian Heritage Publications, P.O. Box 180922, Dallas, Texas 75218, 1995. Hard cover, $34.95. Reviewed by the editor.
In this day in which an increasing number of voices can be heard calling for a new reformation, it is a distinct pleasure to welcome this reprint—in improved format—of some of Knox’s most important statements. Though not a stranger to Knox’s writings I was impressed all over again with his utter fearlessness and integrity. Here was a man who, like the Apostle Paul, “did not shrink from declaring anything that was profitable” (Acts 20:20 NASB) even when it was dangerous to do so and when it was by no means certain that the truth would be accepted even by his friends. What a difference there is between the militant spirit of this great Reformer, and the temporizing spirit we so often see today.
It would be a great mistake, however, to think of John Knox only in terms of his fearless denunciation of error. He was, at the same time, a devoted and caring pastor. Among the items selected for this book are letters of warning and admonition to the faint of heart, answers to questions submitted to him concerning baptism, the Jerusalem Synod’s decree concerning food and the collection of tithes. Knox was faithful in his ministerial office to the high and mighty but he was just as faithful to the weak and lowly.
The material is organized according to the time sequence in Knox’s career in which each was written. And then, to further facilitate the reader’s understanding, each chapter is introduced with a historical note prepared by the editor. There is also, inside the front and back covers, a handy dated time-line guide to the life of John Knox. The book also has full list of the scripture texts that Knox deals with and a good subject index. It should also be mentioned that the quality of this publication is excellent in every way.
Heartily recommended.
Savior or Servant? Putting Government in Its Place by David W. Hall. The Covenant Foundation, 190 Manhattan Ave. Oak Ridge, TN 37830, 1996. Hard cover $23.95, paperback $18.95. Orders should be made via the Covenant Foundation, as above.
This is an excellent book. It is, in fact, the best thing I’ve ever seen in showing how the Church of Jesus Christ is to derive valid principles of divine authority for present-day civil government from the Word of God. David Hall is not on the Theonomic bandwagon. But neither does he have a knee-jerk reaction to it. In fact, I—as one who has very much appreciated Greg Bahnsen’s efforts to apply the whole counsel of God to the area of civil government—I make bold to call this “theonomy the way it ought to be.”
What does the book contain? It contains a wonderful survey of (1) what the Bible teaches about civil government, (2) what the Church has learned from the Bible down through the ages to this present time, and (3) what the “certain principles” are that cannot be ignored or denied in civil government without the most serious consequences. It offers no simplistic solutions to the myriad of problems and issues we face today. But time after time, as I read this formidable survey of the whole history of Christian thinking on these matters, I could see how much these principles could benefit our nation today if they were only heeded.
Let me also say that book is in no way either tedious or boring—not if you have any interest in or concern about things going on in the political realm. There was much in the founding of this nation that came—directly or indirectly—as a fruit of the historic Christian religion. The other major world religions simply do not have the life-giving power. Read this book and you will understand as never before why this is so.
George Grant calls this “the single best volume of Christian thinking on the issue of the increasingly intrusive state.... Theology at its very best: orthodox, comprehensive, relevant and provocative.” With this I fully agree.