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Exalting Jesus in Isaiah – A Review

February 21, 2018 by Barnabas Piper Leave a Comment

By Andrew Spencer

As we recently celebrated the 500th anniversary of the start of the Protestant Reformation, we have also been celebrating the recovery of the authority of Scripture within Christianity. Technology and scholastic influences combined to create a cocktail of circumstances that enabled the spread of Scripture in common languages and an eruption of preaching of the Word of God in the church. To read the history of the early Reformation is to read a love story of Christ’s bride for the Bible.

That fervent affection for Scripture is alive and well in our day, particularly among those who practice expositional preaching. The Christ-Centered Exposition Series of commentaries from Holman Reference is both the product of and a contributor to the renaissance of expositional preaching. The series also encourages the conviction that all of Scripture tells about Christ: He is anticipated in the Old Testament and more clearly revealed in the New Testament. The whole Bible is a story of redemption, with Christ as the central hero.

The latest volume in this series – Exalting Jesus in Isaiah – is by Andrew M. Davis, pastor of First Baptist Church of Durham, NC. Davis is well-known for his love of Scripture, most clearly demonstrated by his faithful practice of memorizing whole books of the Bible. He has even previously memorized the entire book of Isaiah, which is the subject of this volume. Davis has also recently completed the arduous task of preaching through Isaiah in his local church; those sermons help give shape to this volume.

All of the volumes in this series of commentaries are intended to be preaching commentaries. That is, the authors emphasize the sorts of information that are most helpful to the pastor as he is shaping his sermons. For example, instead of a lengthy introduction about the various theories of scribal interjections and textual composition of Isaiah, Davis jumps right into illustrations, background, and textual outlines that are helpful for giving a congregation a sense of the main point of the text.

Davis wrote this book in approximately sixty short, easy to manage chapters. Each chapter is designed to cover a passage of Scripture that is about the right length for a sermon. Within each chapter, Davis highlights a key verse, provides a textual outline, and then offers commentary according to that outline. This makes it an invaluable resource for someone preparing a series of sequential expository sermons or those preaching a stand-alone sermon from the book of Isaiah. The chapters are self-contained, making it useful for a consecutive preaching through the book or occasional sermons on a particular text.

Although this volume is closely connected to Davis’ own preaching of the book of Isaiah, it is not a collection of his sermons. Davis habitually manuscripts his sermons, and the page total would be much greater had he simply compiled those manuscripts into a single volume. Instead, the reader is given the gift of a distillation of Davis’ careful study of Scripture, with insightful examples and illustrations scattered liberally throughout.

The greatest strength of this volume are the intertextual connections that Davis makes as he outlines the contents of Isaiah. Since he has memorized so much Scripture, his mind is alive with allusions and cross-references in and to books through the entire canon. For example, in his commentary on Isaiah 6, Davis explains how Christians can know that Isaiah’s vision of the glory of God in the throne room of heaven is, in fact, a vision of Christ himself. John 12:41 makes this plain. Other commentaries may make the connection, but Davis shows how that revelation fits into the exegetical flow of a sermon on the passage.

Davis also provides a number of helpful illustrations throughout the volume, which are insightful for sermon preparation, and also reflect Davis’ unique personality. Readers are offered references to Luther, Calvin, Bunyan, and even poets like Robert Frost to illuminate points. Davis, a former engineer, even uses the recycling of metal from the World Trade Center into the keel of an amphibious transport ship, the USS New York, to illustrate how redemption can come through destruction to introduce Isaiah 3-4. Or, perhaps more characteristically, Davis cites a report on port activity to make a connection between the vanity of seeking economic domination and God’s judgement, which helps bring Isaiah 23 into focus for the modern reader. These detailed, fact-based illustrations are useful resources for sermon preparation.

This entire series of commentaries is an excellent tool for pastors. The structure of these volumes makes them easy to use as a reference during sermon preparation. The tone of the volumes is formal, but not stuffy, which makes them accessible to pastors with a wide range of academic preparation. The content has been adequately resourced to be reliable, but does not fall into the trap that some academic commentaries do of engaging with every divergent perspective to the detriment of clarity and flow. These volumes are preaching commentaries as they are meant to be: tools to assist the people on the front lines of exposition as they seek to rightly divide the word of truth.

Andrew J. Spencer (PhD, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary) writes regularly at EthicsAndCulture.com. He lives with his family in Monroe, Michigan.

Filed Under: Commentaries Tagged With: Commentaries, Reviews

Interview with Andreas Kostenberger: Commentary on 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus

June 21, 2017 by Barnabas Piper Leave a Comment

What follows is an interview with Andreas J. Köstenberger about the recently released commentary on 1-2 Timothy and Titus from the Biblical Theology for Christian Proclamation series.

How can an understanding of, and experience engaging in, the discipline of biblical theology (BT) help a pastor edify and encourage those to whom he regularly preaches?

AJK: An appreciation of the value of BT will help the pastor get closer to the original meaning intended by the author. This originally intended meaning constitutes the actual meaning of the text and is alone authoritative. So, engaging in BT will help the pastor attain greater authority in preaching than merely asking how a given passage of Scripture is relevant for his audience today. Seeking to discern the meaning of a given passage inductively, historically, and descriptively, as BT is aiming to do, will also be a vital discipline in distancing the pastor from the questions people are asking today which may not necessarily be addressed in those terms in Scripture. Thus, rather than imposing an alien grid or set of questions onto the text, the pastor will more likely be entering the world of the text and be engaged by it, and in this way a two-way conversation will develop where not only we are asking questions of the text but the text itself can challenge cultural, traditional, and personal beliefs or practices that are not in keeping with Scripture.

What are some examples of biblical-theological themes to which Paul’s letters to Timothy and Titus (LTT) make a significant contribution?

AJK: One of the most important contributions of the LTT to BT is the depiction of the church as God’s household. In Paul’s earlier letters, the characterization of the church as the body of Christ is prominent, with Christ serving as the head and individual believers being members of his body with different gifts and contributions. In the LTT, Paul uses a different metaphor, that of a household, with the man as the head and the household consisting of different groups of people with varying needs and concerns. I believe an understanding of this metaphor for the church has the potential of revolutionizing people’s conception of the pastoral ministry, including pastors’ self-understanding of their role. Just as in the natural household, pastors and elders should understand themselves as heads of households who protect the members of the household (especially those who are vulnerable, such as widows and children) and provide for the needs of the various groups in the church. I believe an understanding of this metaphor is also vital in the complementarian-egalitarian debate because both Jewish and Greco-Roman households were patriarchal, which makes the egalitarian argument extremely unlikely that Paul held and advocated an egalitarian view of gender roles.

The LTT make another vital contribution to BT with their unique blend of eschatology and ecclesiology. Rather than viewing the last days as still future which will occur at the very end of time, the LTT reflect the understanding that we already live in the last days. Specifically, the fact that we already live in the last days is shown by the presence of false teachers who operate in the church, or seek to infiltrate it, and who are used by Satan to lead people astray. This, incidentally, speaks decisively against the theory that the LTT are an exemplar of bourgeois Christianity (bürgerliches Christentum) at a time when a delay of the second coming of Christ led to increasing institutionalization and a fading of the eschatological hope (a highly influential theory popularized by Martin Dibelius and others). To the contrary, the LTT indicate that Paul in fact looked at the church’s condition from an eschatological vantage point and saw the end times as casting a long shadow forward in the form of Satan-sent and -inspired false teachers who must be firmly resisted by vigilant pastors and teachers in the church.

In the LTT, what are some ways in which Paul grounds his apostolic mission in the Old Testament?

AJK: When you think about the mission of the early church, you think about books like Acts or perhaps some of Paul’s other letters such as Romans (not to mention the Great Commission at the end of Matthew). But the LTT, perhaps surprisingly, make a vital contribution to the NT’s mission theology. Howard Marshall, in his NT theology, has characterized the LTT as “the documents of a mission,” and I would certainly concur. Not only this, Paul significantly grounds his missional teaching in the LTT in the Hebrew Scriptures. In 2 Tim 4:17, written at the very end of his life, Paul describes as the desired outcome of his ministry “so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it.” Poignantly, the phrase “all the Gentiles” or “all the nations” harks back to the Abrahamic promises which culminate in the Great Commission (Gen 18:18; 22:18; 26:4; Matt 28:19). Also, when in 1 Tim 2:8 Paul urges men “in every place” to pray, he alludes to Mal 1:11, which envisions a time when God’s “name is glorified among the nations, and in every place incense is brought to my name.” In this way, the churches Paul plants become a sign that God’s promise of salvation for all nations is being fulfilled. So, as far as Paul is concerned, his apostolic mission was not a brand-new initiative; it had deep roots in the OT, though it was only now after Jesus had provided salvation that the gospel could go out to all the nations.

How do the LTT contribute to our understanding of how local churches ought to function?

AJK: I’ve already mentioned a couple significant ways in which the LTT can uniquely inform our understanding of the nature of the church (i.e., our ecclesiology), such as the metaphor of God’s household or the way in which eschatology ought to inform our understanding of the present location of the church. In addition, we see in the LTT some very detailed requirements for church leaders, both elders and deacons. This includes qualifications related to their marriage and leadership of their family, and possibly also qualifications for women serving as deacons (though not elders). If you want to gauge the contribution of a book or set of books by what we would be missing if these books were not included in the canon, you can see the vital contribution these letters make to our understanding of proper qualifications for church leaders. Overall, I think it’s striking how much attention Paul gave to matters of leadership. He knew that appointing proper leaders and vetting them carefully is essential for the health and flourishing of the church. Beyond this, I discuss numerous additional contributions the LTT make to our understanding of how local churches ought to function in the commentary, including matters of order and authority, various responsibilities related to different groups in the church, the vital importance of preaching and teaching the Word, and others.

Considering the teaching of the LTT, what should a pastor know about his role as a preacher and about the ministry of preaching?

AJK: The LTT are permeated by a focus on teaching and preaching the Word. A good teacher must preach and teach the gospel of Jesus Christ and healthy doctrine, that is, the apostolic message. This includes the public reading of Scripture and encouraging and exhorting God’s people based on Scripture. It also means appointing leaders who are capable, faithful teachers (1 Tim 3:2; Titus 1:9). One of my favorite verses is Paul’s command to Timothy, “Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you” (1 Tim 4:16). I believe Paul here strikes the perfect balance when he exhorts Timothy to pay close attention both to himself and to his teaching. In doing so, he will not only guard his own life and spiritual wellbeing but also be a blessing to others. Preachers today need to understand how vital it is for them to cultivate and exhibit the character and exemplary life that they urge others to pursue. In this way, godliness and mission go hand in hand.

What is your current project? Are you working on any new publishing venture?

AJK: Thanks for asking! My current research project is a book on the Holy Spirit for a new series with B&H Academic in collaboration with Gregg Allison. My task is to present a biblical theology of the Holy Spirit throughout Scripture, and then in the second half of the book Gregg will present a systematic theological treatment of the Spirit. Working on this project has already been a great blessing to me, and I have learned a lot about both how to do Biblical Theology in practice and specifically about the person and ministry of the Holy Spirit.

Filed Under: Commentaries, Interviews Tagged With: Andreas J. Köstenberger, Commentaries

Cultivating a Love that Is Pure: An Excerpt from Song of Songs (Christ-Centered Exposition Series)

April 2, 2015 by bhacademic Leave a Comment

CCE_Song_of_Songs_CVR

In the excerpt below from Song of Songs in the Christ-Centered Exposition Series, author Danny Akin discusses Song of Songs 8:8-12. Cultivating a love that is pure is, according to the author, one way the gospel shapes marriage in such a way that the love shared by husband and wife extends grace to both and reflects the love between Christ and His bride, the church. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Biblical Studies, Commentaries, Marriage

Real People—Real Gospel—Real City: An Excerpt from 1 & 2 Thessalonians (Christ-Centered Exposition Series)

March 26, 2015 by bhacademic 2 Comments

CCE_1_2Thessalonians_CVRIn the excerpt below from 1 & 2 Thessalonians in the Christ-Centered Exposition Series, author Mark Howell discusses the very first verses of I Thessalonians. Central to these initial verses is the idea that the gospel of Jesus Christ can transform a people and impact a city. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Biblical Studies, Commentaries

So­journers and Exiles: An Excerpt from Tom Schreiner’s Commentary on Hebrews

March 24, 2015 by bhacademic Leave a Comment

Biblical Theology for Christian ProclamationIn the excerpt below from his Commentary on Hebrews in the Biblical Theology for Christian Proclamation commentary series, Tom Schreiner discusses the biblical and theological theme of “sojourners and exiles” and its relationship to the warnings and exhortations throughout the book of Hebrews. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Biblical Studies, Biblical Theology for Christian Proclamation, Commentaries, Theology

An Excerpt from Tom Schreiner’s Commentary on Hebrews

January 21, 2015 by bhacademic 4 Comments

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In the Introduction to his Commentary on Hebrews, Tom Schreiner casts the vision for this inaugural volume of the Biblical Theology for Christian Proclamation commentary series. He states:  [Read more…]

Filed Under: Biblical Studies, Biblical Theology for Christian Proclamation, Commentaries, Theology

Interview with Thomas R. Schreiner: Commentary on Hebrews (Biblical Theology for Christian Proclamation)

January 13, 2015 by bhacademic Leave a Comment

BTFCP_CommentaryOnHebrews_CVR_R2.inddThomas R. Schreiner is the James Buchanan Harrison Professor of New Testament Interpretation, professor of Biblical Theology, and associate dean of the School of Theology at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He serves as one of the general editors for the new Biblical Theology for Christian Proclamation commentary series  and author of the inaugural volume: Commentary on Hebrews , which will be available on February 1. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Biblical Studies, Biblical Theology for Christian Proclamation, Commentaries, Theology

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