Book Reviews

Review by Paul V. Harrison, PhD

Dr. Paul Harrison serves as senior pastor at Madison Free Will Baptist Church in Madison, Alabama. He earned his PhD from Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary in Memphis, Tennessee.

John MacArthur has served as pastor of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, CA, since 1969. Currently chancellor of The Master’s Seminary and University, he has authored many books and articles.

Essential Christian Doctrine is a condensed version of his 1,000-page Biblical Doctrine, published by Crossway in 2017. MacArthur calls that volume a “reference work” and says this shorter one should be read cover to cover.

The ten chapters cover the expected systematic theology subjects. It opens with a 35-page introduction, explaining approaches to doing theology and handling “major motifs of Scripture.” Helpful here is the treatment of how theology should impact the mind. He warns against anti-intellectualism and hyper-intellectualism (42), seeking a middle way that properly employs both general and special revelation.

Discussing “Bibliology,” he takes a traditional evangelical stance: “As one can draw a straight line with a crooked stick, God produced an inerrant Bible using imperfect men” (59). For Jesus, “God says” and “Scripture says” mean the same thing (63). Material on canonicity and textual criticism rounds out this chapter.

MacArthur’s examination of “theology proper” begins with proofs of God’s existence and then moves to biblical names for God and divine attributes. After focusing on the Trinity, he gives an analysis of predestination and election, assuming a traditional Calvinistic position. He defends creation ex nihilo and says the creative days were 24-hours.

The chapters on christology and pneumatology offer good surveys, including relevant heresies. He carefully works through Jesus’ preexistence, incarnation and death, and resurrection and glorification. Embedded here is analysis of the baptism and filling of the Spirit, along with blasphemy against him. The author’s survey of spiritual gifts asserts that some were temporary (e.g., prophecy, tongues, and healing).

Chapter six examines “Man and Sin.” Along with the expected topics, MacArthur discusses gender and sexuality. There is “an objective reality of gender,” he states, and “deviating from God’s plans for gender and sexuality is rebellion against God” (233). As to hereditary sin, the author asserts that God imputes Adam’s sin to all mankind based on his position as representative head of the race.

The nearly 100-page treatment of soteriology follows common Calvinistic themes. The author unambiguously embraces the “five points.” He says, “the priest’s sacrifice is identical to the scope of his intercession,” which he asserts is limited. He includes an examination of biblical texts that appear to contradict a particularist position on the atonement. Limited atonement, he asserts, does not negate the need for a universal proclamation of the gospel.

After the doctrine of angels, MacArthur plunges into ecclesiology. Embracing congregational church government, he examines the roles of elder and deacon in some detail. For a Baptist, he is quite brief in his discussion of baptism. He also argues for a memorialist position on the Lord’s Supper.

The book concludes with a 40-page presentation of eschatology. After summarizing the broad outlines of various end-time viewpoints, the author defends a premillennial, pretribulation return of Christ to rapture the church.

This work provides a crisp survey of theology, explaining words and concepts. It shows fidelity to Scripture and makes clear that theological inquiry is a personal exercise and should result in worship. MacArthur’s emphasis that faith is trust and that repentance is essential to salvation is much appreciated, reminding the reader of his earlier The Gospel According to Jesus. MacArthur writes with clarity, rarely leaving the reader wondering what is being asserted. The work is also well-edited, with few mistakes in its five hundred pages, though the editor should have insisted on more than one page devoted to assurance of salvation, an inherent weakness in Calvinism.

With that said, the book has several notable weaknesses. The cover lists MacArthur as “General Editor,” but the reader is left wondering who wrote what. Occasional footnotes pointing to original sources do not remove this ambiguity. With almost seventy pages of indices, the table of contents needs some breakdown beyond simple chapter titles. Additionally, the outline scheme for chapters using bold print, italics, and all caps for various levels sometimes leaves the reader wondering if a heading is a main one or subordinate.

More important, the title is misleading. “Essential” points to the essence of something, and MacArthur presents much more than essence. Is Calvinism essential? Is premillennialism? The title smacks of “mere Christianity,” but the book goes well beyond what almost anyone would call essential. Why this mistake? Perhaps the author sees the struggle to interpret Scripture correctly to be easier than it is, and obvious conclusions are easier to insist upon. He repeatedly indicates that the biblical evidence “clearly” points to his conclusions, on occasion even saying differing viewpoints result from “superficial reading” of Scripture (e.g., 278). He states: “The truths of eschatology are neither vague nor unclear” (33). Really?

Coupled with the author’s dogmatism is the feeling he has not adequately digested all his subject matter. The text and footnotes suggest considerable reading in the last two centuries but not much beyond. The work therefore lacks the “clean sea breeze of the centuries,” to use a C. S. Lewis expression. So, while the volume has much to offer, before picking it up, read Millard Erickson,Thomas Oden, and Wayne Grudem. Personal Evangelism. By

B. Gray Allison,

edited by Michael

R. Spradlin. Collierville, TN: Innovo Publishing, 2021.

Review by A. Timothy Hight, PhD

Dr. Timothy Hight serves as senior pastor at GraceLife Baptist Church in Christiansburg, Virginia and as adjunct instructor in Homiletics at Liberty University School of Divinity in Lynchburg, Virginia.

The late B. Gray Allison (1924–2019) dedicated his life to sharing the Gospel and teaching others how to lead people to Christ. An Army Air Force veteran of WWII, he followed God’s call to ministry and soon became a professor of missions at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. In 1972, he founded and became first president of Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary, located in Memphis, where he taught personal evangelism to thousands of students for the next forty-five years. This reviewer had the wonderful privilege of being one of Gray Allison’s students and hearing firsthand his passion for evangelism and missions.

Michael R. Spradlin, the editor of Personal Evangelism, succeeded Gray Allison as president of Mid-America where he has served for nearly twenty-five years. Spradlin has written numerous scholarly articles on evangelism, missions, and church history. He edited and revised Roy O. Beaman’s Commentary on the Gospel of John and R. David Skinner’s Studies in Genesis: A Creation Commentary

Few works have been published in the area of personal evangelism in the last twenty years. If there is a single graduate-level textbook with the sweeping practical application of Allison’s Personal Evangelism, the reviewer has not discovered it. This dearth makes this undertaking by the editor to assemble the personal course notes of Gray Allison collected from his decades of teaching experience all the more timely. Within the first few pages, the reader immediately recognizes Allison’s lifetime of teaching, practice, and success in the field.

The book organizes around fourteen chapters and five appendices. The opening sentences of the Introductory chapter state that the book’s objective is “to motivate believers in Jesus Christ to practice biblical obedience to Him by sharing their faith with unbelievers on a regular basis. The plan of the book is to inform, motivate, train, and do personal evangelism.” The editor appropriately reminds the reader that Allison made the Bible the focal centerpiece of any personal witnessing opportunity. He urged his students to have a New Testament on hand at all times, dedicated solely to witnessing opportunities.

Gray Allison commonly referred to someone engaged in personal evangelism as a “soul-winner”, based on the exhortation of Proverbs 11:30, “ …he who wins souls is wise (NKJV).” Hence, the heart of the book, chapters 3–8, combines Allison’s vintage designation with his love of alliteration as he examines the soul winner’s mission, milieu, motivation, musts, method, and message.

The chapter four overview of spiritual darkness around the world insightfully explores the great need for a world-wide evangelistic witness. While many of the statistics given from Allison’s notes are considerably outdated (e.g., an Associated Press release on American suicides is dated November 27, 1962), the reader nevertheless will be disturbingly aware that thousands of people die each day around the world who have never had an opportunity to hear the Gospel of Christ. Until one fully comprehends what it means to be dead in sin, there will never be a strong desire to win others to Christ.

Beginning with chapter seven and continuing through the rest of the book, Allison provides some of the most practical advice one ever encountered in a study of personal evangelism. One immediately recognizes the timelessness of his helpful admonitions such as claim God’s promises, watch for opportunities, avoid arguments, and show patience. A question often asked by those considering sharing the Gospel is, “How do I begin an evangelistic conversation with an unbeliever?” Allison not only explains some simple questions to ask (e.g., “Have you been thinking about spiritual things?”), but also suggests a number of “object methods” to employ in most types of casual conversation.

While some personal evangelism methods require a great deal of memorization and practice, one will find Allison’s “Evangelism Outline” biblically centered, refreshingly straightforward, and easily committed to memory. It is logically organized around three headings: salvation needed, salvation provided, and salvation accepted. The outline concludes with a candid invitation to accept Christ and six simple steps for a new Christian in following Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Chapters eleven and twelve deal with a limited treatment of “issues” in evangelism and some brief (two pages) words of advice concerning witnessing to Muslims. Allison saw several “dangerous” theological views which he believed would undermine successful efforts in sharing the Gospel. His responses to these errant views such as universalism and the modern faith movement are thoroughly biblical and a sound repudiation of the false methodologies to which they lead.

The reader notices that a professor’s personal notes from a course taught over a forty-five-year span have a measure of outmoded expressions and data. Yet, one quickly affirms that Gray Allison’s work will be a timeless classic. Those who knew Dr. Allison or had the personal privilege of sitting under his teaching or preaching will have his contagious passion for evangelism and missions stirred once again in their minds and hearts. The helpful and encouraging tone along with the pragmatic “how to” approach of Allison’s Personal Evangelism inspires both the new believer and the seasoned Christ-follower toward a life of obedience in telling others about Jesus. This book stands as an indispensable resource for a pastor, professor, or Bible student. It is equally important in an academic environment or a local church venue. The reader finds Personal Evangelism to be saturated with the Scripture and deeply persuasive towards a dynamic lifestyle of personal testimony to others of the lifechanging power of the gospel of Christ.

The Church: An Introduction. By Muriel I. Elmer and Duane H. Elmer. Downers Grove, Illinois: IVP Academic, 2020.

Review by Zachary Sandiford, PhD

Dr. Zachary Sandiford serves as the director of operations and assistant professor of Practical Theology, Missions, and Church History at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary in Memphis, Tennesee.

Gregg R. Allison serves as professor of Christian theology at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, secretary for the Evangelical Theological Society, and a book review editor of the Journal of the Evangelical Society. He has authored numerous books, including Sojourners and Strangers: The Doctrine of the Church, a comprehensive study of ecclesiology from which Allison draws for The Church: An Introduction. This book is an installment of the five-part series, Short Studies in Systematic Theology.

In this work, Allison proposes, “We know the church.” However, following a description of a myriad of church styles, practices, congregational types, rituals, beliefs, and architecture, it is clear that some do not know the church. The Church: An Introduction is a compact and concise study of what churches believe and practice. The author approaches the study through a dual lens—the mere church and the more church. The mere church is an examination of what all churches have in common in the area of ecclesiology. Allison bases the terminology on C.S. Lewis’ Mere Christianity. The term is not to minimize any belief but to distill the belief to essential components. The more church is an examination of the different practices one discovers in the mere church.

After the explanatory introduction, the author divides the book into two parts comprising eight chapters. Chapters one and two create the first section and examine two foundations for ecclesiology, the Triune God and the church according to Scripture. The church consists of redeemed people who have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, the head of the Body of Christ. The church is indwelt and empowered by the Holy Spirit to work, serve, and go on mission. Allison gives a detailed description of the church according to Scripture. The author references many Old and New Testament passages and explains the relationship between the Hebrew qahal (“assembly”), the Greek ekklesia, and the English church. Six chapters make up the second part of the book and survey the prominent themes of ecclesiology. Each chapter holds to the mere and more motif by describing the common beliefs of the particular ecclesiological subject followed by the different practices of churches. Allison addresses such topics as the church’s identity, leadership, government, ordinances, ministries, and future.

First, the church’s mere identity anchors on the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed’s statement, “We believe in one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church.” The church is characterized by unity, holiness, catholicity (universal), and adherence to the Apostle’s teachings. The author then addresses the more identity of the Roman Catholic Church and the Protestant church. This section provides a description of how they identify themselves by their attributes rather than specific practices. Second, the church’s mere leadership generally offers that all churches have some leadership. The author spends ample time describing more leadership. Churches practice various leadership types, such as bishoprics, eldership, pastorates, presbyteries, and deacons. Allison gives the biblical qualifications and responsibilities of the leaders of the church. Also, the diaconate is explained. Third, the mere government, or polity, of the church is based on the New Testament. The early church’s government mirrored Christ as the head of the church, the apostles as (temporary) rulers, bishops/pastors/ overseers as leaders of local churches, and the deacons as servants. However, churches hold to a variety of more governmental structures. Allison provides descriptions of Episcopalian, Presbyterian, and Congregationalist governments.

Fourth, a very detailed chapter presents the ordinances of the church. The mere ordinances of the Lord’s Supper and baptism are what Allison called, “the two marks of the church.” The more ordinances include the broad spectrum of beliefs and practices regarding the Lord’s Supper (transubstantiation, consubstantiation, memorial view, and spiritual presence) and baptism (immersion, pedobaptism, and credobaptism). Fifth, the mere ministries of the church reveal the use of spiritual gifts for ministry. The more ministries detail the use of spiritual gifts in the church. Also, Allison outlines the complementarian and egalitarian (or variants of each) views of ministry and the different beliefs of sign gifts. The final chapter examines the church’s mere future (eschatology) and its continuous look for the Lord’s return. The more future projects differing beliefs of amillennialism, postmillennialism, dispensational premillennialism, and historic premillennialism. The book ends with a single-page conclusion.

Allison presents a brief and concise description of ecclesiology. The book stands structured, orderly, and easy to follow with the mere and more arrangement. The author employs numerous Scripture passages to bolster his work. The book is an unbiased ecclesiology, and Allison presents the material to inform the reader of the churches’ various beliefs and practices, not solely his belief. The book’s weakness comes in the inclusion of the Roman Catholic Church in the chapters on the identity and the ordinances of the church (curiously absent in other chapters). The overall thrust of the work focuses on Protestant churches, and this inclusion parades a broad and confusing message as if the Roman Catholic Church and Protestant churches are the same—just another mere church with a different more practice. Otherwise, this book appeals to a wide audience because of its broad description of churches.

By

Muriel I. Elmer and Duane H. Elmer. Downers Grove, Illinois: IVP Academic, 2020.

Review by Quezia

Uaene

Quezia Uaene is a PhD Student at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary. He serves as academic coordinator at the Center for Development of Leadership in Maputo, Mozambique.

Muriel Elmer, PhD and Duane Elmer, PhD have many years of experience in education and learning as well as cross-cultural research and teaching. Duane Elmer’s books include Cross-Cultural Conflict, Cross-Cultural Connections, and CrossCultural Servanthood.

The authors draw from their teaching experiences and are determined to impact teaching and learning and help other educators do the same. The book seeks to help educators better equip their students. The Elmers believe that anyone can teach as a result of scientific developments in teaching and the learning process. They state that anyone involved in education—parents, teachers, mentors, formal, and non-formal educators—can benefit from this book.

In addition to drawing knowledge from the Bible and theology, they also gather from neuroscience and educational theory, believing that all truth is God’s truth. The Learning Cycle gives a holistic biblical perspective, and its major function is to integrate the three aspects of learning: cognition, emotions, and behavior.

Duane Elmer conceived The Learning Cycle in the process of writing his dissertation. His goal was to help integrate teaching with life, and he and Muriel Elmer tested it, having used the Learning Cycle throughout their long careers. The Learning Cycle has informed all their curriculum design decisions and has been built on a solid foundation of educational theory and research. Recent research on how the brain learns has only reinforced the validity of the Learning Cycle.

The Learning Cycle comprises seven parts: 1. Recall (remembering the information); 2. Recall with appreciation (valuing the findings); 3. Recall with speculation (pondering how to use the data); 4. Barriers to change (anticipating barriers); 5. Recall with practice (beginning behavior change); 6. Recall with the habit (doing consistently); 7. Christlikeness (developing character, integrity, and wisdom).

The authors use the taxonomies of learning as depicted by Krathwohl and Bloom’s three domains—cognitive, affective (emotion), and psychomotor (behavioral) as the model that provides the foundation for the Learning Cycle. They also refer to David Kolb and the transformation experience of learning, where an individual has a concrete experience, followed by reflective observation, abstract conceptualization, and finally, active experimentation.

In contrast, the authors’ Learning Cycle model attempts to put content, truth, and facts as the driving force for learning while incorporating life experience, including reflection, analysis, and revision. The Educational Cycle includes Mezirow’s learning theory of transformative learning, which corresponds with the Learning Cycle. The authors explain that neuroscience is only employed to describe the critical implications of the teaching and learning process.

Recall of information is the beginning of learning; it is not the end. Deeper learning relies on more than recall; it takes rehearsal and retention. The authors explain how short-term memory, working memory, and long-term memory function. Long-term memory is the locus where basic assumptions, values, beliefs, and foundational truths about life are stored and through which behaviors emerge. Meaning will make a connection with existent information. As these networks are strengthened through repetition, discussion, debate, reading, writing, rehearsal, and other learning tasks, learning is crystalized. What one values, elevates his optimism because valuing connects content remembrance known as “recall with appreciation.” Teachers must help students see the purpose of the information, speculate, and thenconnect the new information with the old in order to be able to apply it in future action.

Cognitive dissonance, a situation involving conflicting attitudes, beliefs, and behavior, \produces a feeling of mental discomfort leading to an alteration of the attitude, beliefs, or behavior to create distress and restore balance. Dissonances also occur when beliefs and values are challenged. Dissonances are about making choices where someone must adopt, adjust, reject, or confirm a belief or assumption.

In the process of learning, barriers will occur. The key to managing barriers is to identify them immediately and plan to solve them strategically. With barriers identified, educators can help students with the reasoned action approach to predict the antecedents of behavioral change—a theory known as the theory of planned behavior.

Another step of the Educational Cycle is to recall with practice, which is the beginning for behavioral change, leading people to practice a new behavior.

Systematic practice strengthens the behavior repetition connects it to the brain causing a strong habit. Supportive community is vital for the transformation.

Mezirow’s learning theory of transformative learning corresponds to the Learning Cycle as the disoriented dilemma causes the learner to reexamine their assumption (recall) through the feelings that come with disequilibrium (appreciation) to the new possibilities of lifestyle (speculation). Educators will conclude that the student has learned when the learner understands the relationship between the truth and living and then starts to practice it.

The authors show that debriefing simulations connect truth and action, content and behavior, and the cognitive and the psychomotor. Simulations can create disoriented dilemmas triggering a new cycle of transformative learning stages, as described by Mezirow. Once practice becomes a habit, it becomes much easier to sustain as a new behavior. Habits are created by consistent routine, but belief is essential for brain change. Without it, the brain will not provide the resources required to accomplish change.

In summary, each step of the Learning Cycle describes the learning process from recalling new knowledge, reflection, speculation, simulation and rehearsal, overcoming obstacles, and creating new habits that culminate in Christlike character. This book is very helpful for educators to lead students to a transformative life.

By Joel R. Beeke and Paul M. Smalley. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2021.

Review by Daniel Wiley, PhD

Dr. Daniel Wiley earned his PhD from Baptist Bible Seminary in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania.

Joel R. Beeke, president and professor of systematic theology at Puritan Reformed Seminary, and Paul M. Smalley faculty teaching assistant at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary, have released the third entry of the four-volume Reformed Systematic Theology series, a project originating from Beeke’s seminary lectures (19). Having presented the doctrines of revelation and theology proper in volume 1, and man and Christ in volume 2, Beeke and Smalley now move to the doctrines of the Spirit and salvation for volume 3. For the authors, the Spirit’s work in salvation creates a natural grouping of the two doctrines (19).

Volume 3: Spirit and Salvation divides into three sections. The first of these examines the Spirit’s role in salvation history. Here, the authors evaluate the Spirit’s role in creation, His ministry to Old Testament Israel and Christ in the Gospels, His work on Pentecost, spiritual gifts, and the new creation. Of note, Beeke and Smalley take a strong continuity position on the ministry of the Spirit in the Old Testament and cessation of the miraculous gifts. The second section examines the Spirit’s role in the ordo salutis. The authors defend the traditional reformed position on the doctrines of salvation (regeneration logically proceeds conversion, perseverance, and so on). The third section examines the Spirit’s role in the Christian life. The topics of the indwelling and filling of the Spirit lead the discussion, but the text also examines the doctrine of assurance, Christian graces (examined through the Beatitudes and Fruit of the Spirit), the application of the Ten Commandments to the Christian life, and other relevant issues such as backsliding. Each chapter concludes with a discussion of the content’s implications for Christian practice, a hymn thematically related to that content, and questions for further study.

With their third volume, Beeke and Smalley offers a solid defense of the Reformed positions on the Spirit and salvation. As with the previous entries in the series, one of the greatest benefits of Spirit and Salvation is its willingness to address the contemporary significance of each doctrine. I especially appreciated their discussion of preparatory grace (328–331). There is a notable lack of mention of sin in evangelicalism’s pulpits, but as the author’s write, “The Holy Spirit uses the gospel to reveal the Savior of sinners, but no one will count himself a helpless sinner without the application of the law” (329). Theology matters, and Beeke and Smalley show the reader why. The reader will also note the authors’ awareness of the Evangelical theological landscape with addresses of, for example, Free Grace theology (cf. 463), Second-Blessing theologies (665–668), Federal Vision theology (561), and the New Perspective on Paul (e.g., 568–572); thus, the text is not just simply a remanence of historic Reformed debates. These considerations benefit the text’s contemporary value.

Of course, the doctrines of the Spirit and salvation contain plenty of controversial issues. While Beeke and Smalley are not afraid to address such challenges with grace (this is to their credit), the issues discussed herein create opportunity for extensive dialogue. While it is impossible to examine every topic in a short review, a few observations are worth noting.

Concerning spiritual gifts, the authors do an excellent job summarizing the arguments for cessationism (192–205). I especially admire the inclusion of the nature of the miraculous gifts themselves as a key argument for cessationism (203–205, cf. 164–165, 168–171, 174–178). The biblical definition of the miraculous gifts is essential to the debate, yet it sometimes disappears in discussions of other prominent issues (e.g., the coming of the “Perfect” or the baptism of the Spirit in Acts). I also appreciate the evaluation of James 5:14–15 with a corresponding openness for miracles today (205–208). Although James 5 is used too commonly (and wrongly) by continuationists as a proof-text for the gift of healing, believers should always trust that the Lord could perform miraculous deeds in the present, though not as a response to the miraculous gifts. However, one will have to review volume 1 of the series to review Beeke and Smalley’s response to the continuationist argument for “fallible prophecy” (cf. RST 1:426–428, 441–455).

Concerning the work of the Spirit, the authors take a strong continuity position, affirming that the Spirit both regenerated and indwelt Old Testament believers (101). There are many perspectives on this topic, and Beeke and Smalley present one of the clearest defenses of a stronger continuity position. However, the continuity view requires one to interpret John 7:37–39 as describing the intensity of the Spirit’s work after Pentecost (cf. 93) rather than a new ministry of the Spirit in fulfillment of Old Testament eschatological hope (e.g., Isa 32:15; Ezek 39:29; Joel 2:28). Granted, there are many nuances to this debate, but there is paucity of discussion of John 7:37–39 to make the author’s continuity position convincing. Doctrinal dialogue notwithstanding, at 1,000+ pages, Spirit and Salvation is a massive work, even with an accessible typesetting. At this size, the text could fit in a theology curriculum that includes a course on the subjects addressed, and seminary students would certainly enjoy working through its content (Spirit and Salvation is very readable and contains solid footnotes throughout). However, it would be challenging to take full advantage of the text for any class addressing topics broader than this.

The final verdict? Spirit and Salvation is a great read for those who love theology and would serve well as a textbook for certain seminary classroom settings. Beeke and Smalley have offered a solid contribution to the ongoing renaissance of systematic theology, and I look forward to reviewing the final volume in the series.

By Craig S. Kenner. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2019.

Review by Michael Spradlin, PhD

Dr. Michael Spradlin serves as President of Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary in Memphis, Tennessee.

Craig Keener’s work on the Book of Galatians for Baker Academic is an enlargement of his earlier commentary written for Cambridge University Press. His intensive research over the course of writing two commentaries is readily seen in the exhaustive nature of the work under review.

One major difference, apart from the expanded size, in this new work of Keener is that he uses his own translation from the Greek instead of the New Revised Standard Version preferred by Cambridge. Also, even with the extensive footnotes, only recent commentaries are cited as sources for this work. The assumption being that if someone wanted a fuller bibliography of the Book of Galatians, they could see the recent works cited and look to them for older commentaries. Keener’s entire translation of Galatians is given after the introductory articles and makes a handy reference guide for using this resource.

While Keener may not engage in extensive textual and grammatical issues, he does cover all other matters with an encyclopedic depth. His discussion of the date of the writing of the book in reference to the Council of Jerusalem is excellent, even if you do not agree with his conclusions. The discussion of the target audience of the book, the Celts, gets extensive treatment. Also, the information of the opponents of Paul referred to in the book has been given careful attention.

This commentary is especially valuable for the introductory notes alone but, as a whole, is a valuable contribution to the literature about the Book of Galatians.

James

A. Patterson. America's Baptist,

edited by Keith Harper. Knoxville, TN: University of Tennessee Press, 2020.

Review by Michael Spradlin, PhD

Dr. Michael Spradlin serves as President of Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary in Memphis, Tennessee.

James Patterson’s insightful work examines a largely forgotten figure in the life of Baptists in America. The current work is a reprint from an earlier B & H Academic publication with updates and added revisions. Patterson lived for several years in Memphis, Tennessee, the home of the subject of the work, and therefore brings keen insight into many areas of J. R. Graves’ life and ministry. This work, and its earlier cousin, are not biographies per se. Patterson’s interest lay in the thinking of Graves and the adherents to his views, which came to be known as Landmarkism. The author is often critical of Graves’s understanding of church, and specifically Baptist, history. Much valuable attention, really the main focus of the book, is given to answering the questions that Graves’s life and ministry produced. In the process, however, the biographical details of J. R. Graves life come into focus as well.

While the work as a whole is valuable, the research is extensive and serves as the best modern source for information about J. R. Graves. Patterson often lets the key individuals speak in their own words which provides depth to these now ancient ministers.

Review by Michael Spradlin, PhD

Dr. Michael Spradlin serves as President of Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary in Memphis, Tennessee.

When approached by the editors at B & H Academic to revise Whosoever Will: A Biblical-Theological Critique of Five-Point Calvinism (2010), Allen and Lemke were encouraged to choose contributors outside of Southern Baptist life. This approach, which included theologians of the Wesleyan and Arminian traditions, was intended to give the work an even broader appeal than the highly successful original edition.

Drs. Allen and Lemke have fulfilled their mission by bringing us an incredible gift. A book that serves as a “critique” without being harsh, and is analytical without name-calling. Though some prominent theologians are named as a way of identifying philosophical views, the result is scholarly and not negative.

For those seeking a biblical way of expressing doctrine with the use of common labels and their baggage, this book serves as a model of doctrinal clarity and an example of keeping a strictly scriptural perspective. One key contributor to this new work who is a Southern Baptist is Dr. Adam Harwood of the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. His chapter, “A Critique of Total Depravity” shows a mastery of explaining complex theological concepts with lots of historical baggage in readily understood terms.

David Allen has already written extensively about the doctrine of the atonement and his chapter “A Critique of Limited Atonement” shows years of doctrinal and biblical reflection (see: David L. Allen, The Extent of the Atonement: A Historical and Critical Review, 2016). Editor Steve Lemke contributed a chapter on the doctrine of irresistible grace in addition to his other work on the volume. Although the entire book is a valuable theological contribution, the chapter by Brian J. Abasciano, “Romans 9 and Calvinism,” contains interesting exegetical insights as well.