Bible Versions

NOTE: The views expressed here are my personal opinion. Selecting and using a bible version for bible study is important but it is mainly based on personal preference.

I grew up with using the King James Version (Scofield). I still have my favorite one that's a compact size and it's older than my oldest daughter (it's well worn too). I still have a Scofield in KJV, NKJV and ESV. I would call the Scofield Study Bible - study bible lite. It really doesn't have many study notes. Since I've grown up with it I am well aware of it's bad points which is one reason I still use it from time to time.

I have been using NKJV and NASB (New American Standard Bible) for decades. They are both somewhat similar. The NASB is viewed in a lot of academic circles as the more accurate translation of the two. My personal preference is NASB over NKJV and I'm not sure I could tell you why specifically.

So lets get to the present. We have had several new translations since the year 2000. The two in particular that I will be talking about are the ESV (English Standard Version) and the NET (New English Translation) bibles.

The ESV has been quickly adopted by a lot of the Reformed churches. We have the Reformation Study Bible (ESV) which John Piper's church uses (although I'm sure the ESV Study Bible is used as well since it is now released). The new ESV Study Bible is quite frankly the best Study Bible produced to date. It's thick and heavy but well worth it. The ESV bible is a very excellent reading bible. I love to listen to Max McLean read the ESV it just sounds better than other versions when read for whatever reason.

The NET bible is the first bible ever to be translated and put together using the Internet. The bible has over 60,000 translator's notes. The translator's notes are a gold mine of information. It has quickly become one of my favorte translations.

Now there are a lot of other translations available (some I have and some I don't).

So, here is what I use pretty much on a daily basis. The MacArthur Study Bible (NASB) and the ESV Study Bible. When I have a deeper bible study I add in the NET Bible.

If you ask me to choose between the first two, I can't (which is why I usually have both at church on Sunday and you'll see me switch back and forth).

If anyone decides to buy the NET, the best place to buy it is from CBD. Please make sure you get the one with the Translator's notes (you'll be glad you did).

My main advise is for you to find a bible that you like reading and understand. If it's hard for you to read or you have some trouble understanding it then your more likely to not read it like you should. So find one that you like*, and then read and grow and enjoy your life in Christ!!

* You should try and find the version you like from one of the one's listed above. There are other easier to read versions out there but I would not recommend them to anyone.

Reading

Yes, I do my part in keeping bookstores in business!

I have read so much in the last year because I watch virtually no TV anymore.
It used to be the other way around. I used to come home and watch nothing but TV.

God has changed my desires in the last year. He has strengthened a lot of them to a higher degree than they ever were before. I believe this is due to that I actually feed on the word each and every Sunday as well as the support and encouragement I receive from my brothers and sisters in Christ!

Tom, your class was all I got pretty much before. We need it all, the preaching of the word, the fellowship (of like minded worshipers) and the encouragement of the brethren.

We now get a 5 course meal each Sunday thank God!!

Now that I'm hearing the Word I want even more of the Word. I desire the Living Water that only Christ can give!

Update to last Post

My statement "I know some folks wonder why I read some of the books I do." was about the folks I work with. Not any of my brothers or sisters at church.

I usually read when I go to lunch. The other day I was getting ready to go to lunch and I had one of my books out (upside down). I thought he was going to fall over trying to read the title to it.


Just wanted to make sure no one took it wrong.

Grace and Peace

Christian History

I know some folks wonder why I read some of the books I do.
Here is why.

I was brought up in Southern Baptist Churches (I'm a preachers kid). I have attended SBC churches the majority of my life. I was even a religion major at a Baptist school for a while.

Until a couple of years ago I had never even heard of Pelagianism or Semi-Pelagianism.
The Synod of Dort? What is a synod? Regeneration?

As they say in Texas I was like a cow looking at a new gate!
Since I really enjoy reading some forms of History and Theology, off I've gone.

I have just been totally fascinated with reading Reformation history and theology. I started with R. C. Sproul's book What is Reformed Theology?. That just made me want to read more. David Wells No Place for Truth was also very good (although it is more about how we have drifted since our country was founded). I also love reading Spurgeon or anything about him!

Well I think I've struck gold now. I've started reading Richard Muller's Post-Reformation Reformed Dogmatics (4 Vols). It is an analysis of the Rise and Development of Reformed Orthodoxy from 1520 to 1725. This is like reading a Tom Clancy novel (at least it is to me).

Since I'm reading Calvin's Institutes daily (at least trying) I have a whole new respect and deep admiration for him. I don't know of another man in history that had his drive for Christ. Do you know that he wrote a 100 page book in one week? He also preached daily every other week as well as teaching and his other pastoral duties. This is just a tip of the iceberg of what Calvin accomplished for God.

I just thank God that I am now able to read about these great men of God and their history.

Passion for the Word

Here are some reflections on Famine in the Land by Steven Lawson.

How did the early church receive the apostles' teaching?
Look at Acts 2:42

They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

They were hungry for the word. A quote from Martyn Lloyd-Jones about the desire for the word of God says "Wanting to listen to the Word is inevitable if men and women are born again and have become Christians ... One simply cannot be a Christian and have no desire for a knowledge of this truth - it is impossible."

What are some results of the word being preached? (The following are quotes from the book.)

Energized Fellowship
As believers grow in the truth, they grow in the Lord, and, in turn, they grow closer to each other. As God's Word purges and purifies our hearts, the quality of our love for one another grows even stronger. A Word-fed church will be a fellowshipping church.

Elevated Worship
Never occurring in an intellectual vacuum, authentic praise and worship is always a heartfelt response to biblical truth. Theology leads to doxology.
The more truth about God one learns and personally applies, the more clearly he or she will see, submit to, and worship Him.
A Word-filled church will be a worshiping church.

Empowered Prayers
The more believers learn about God, the more they recognize their dependency on Him in prayer.
Biblical preaching should always lead to bold praying. As the Word goes out, prayer should go up.
A preaching church will be a praying church.

These are three things that I see at my own church each and every Lord's Day. It seems at each new Lord's Day they get stronger. Today was no exception. I thank the Lord that I attend such a church!

Soli Deo gloria

God's Redemptive Plan

I was reading in Ephesians and I am always awe struck when I read the following passage in chapter 1:

³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, ⁴ even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love ⁵ he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, ⁶ to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. ⁷ In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, ⁸ which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight ⁹ making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ ¹⁰ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

¹¹ In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, ¹² so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. ¹³ In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, ¹⁴ who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

What is always amazing to me is that I don't see that "my" will is mentioned anywhere in this passage. "I" had absolutely nothing to do with my coming to Christ it was ALL God's doing. In fact I was chosen before the foundations of the world. How AWESOME is that!!

Grace and Peace

How to know what books are good to read

I have come across an excellent reference that might help some of you.

Joel R. Beeke has published A Reader's Guide to Reformed Literature - An Annotated Bibliography of Reformed Theology published by Reformation Heritage Books. This is a very excellent reference.

The bibliography is divided into 36 sections that correspond with the titles of the articles of the Belgic Confession of Faith.

Review of Christless Christianity by Michael Horton

I was going to post his review several weeks ago and I ended up forgetting to post it.

Christless Christianity by Michael Horton

There is no sugar coating in this book about the current problems with the Church-at-large.
It is to the point and hard hitting and is a wake up call.
If you like to read this type of book then it is well worth reading!

The book consists of 7 chapters and is 259 pages in length.

1. Christless Christianity: The American Captivity of the Church
2. Naming Our Captivity: Moralistic, Therapeutic Deism
3. Smooth Talking Christless Christianity
4. How We Turn Good News into Good Advice
5. Your Own Personal Jesus
6. Delivering Christ: The Message and the Medium
7. A Call to the Resistance

Review of John Calvin - A Heart for Devotion Doctrine & Doxology Edited by Burk Parsons

Wow, this book is just excellent!

The book consists of 19 chapters each written by some of the best authors teachers and pastors in our present day. The book is 242 pages in length.

Here is a list of the chapters and their authors:

1. The Humility of Calvin's Calvinism - Burk Parsons
   
2. Who was John Calvin? - Derek W. H. Thomas
3. Calvin's Heart for God - Sinclair B. Ferguson
4. The Reformer of Faith and Life - D. G. Hart
5. The Chruchman of the Reformation - Harry L. Reeder
6. The Preacher of God's Word - Steven J. Lawson
7. The Counselor to the Afflicted - W. Robert Godfrey
8. The Writer for the People of God - Phillip R. Johnson
9. The Supremacy of Jesus Christ - Eric J. Alexander
10. The Transforming Work of the Spirit - Thabiti Anyabwile
11. Man's Radical Corruption - John MacArthur
12. Election and Reprobation - Richard D. Phillips
13. Redemption Defined - Thomas K. Ascol
14. Transforming Grace - Keith A. Mathison
15. A Certain Inheritance - Jay E. Adams
16. The Believer's Union with Christ - Philip Graham Ryken
17. The Principal Article of Salvation - Michael Horton
18. The True Christian Life - Jerry Bridges
19. The Communion of Men with God - Joel R. Beeke

This book was published in Celebration of John Calvin's 500th birthday.
It is a very worthy volume to be read and taken to heart.

Review: Famine in the Land by Steven Lawson

If you are interested in reading about preaching then Steven Lawson's book Famine in the Land is definitely worth reading.

It consists of an Introduction and four chapters and is 126 pages.

Introduction: Days of Drought
1. Feast or Famine?: The Priority of Biblical Preaching
2. The Need of the Hour: The Power of Biblical Preaching
3. Bring the Book! The Pattern of Biblical Preaching
4. No Higher Calling: The Passion of Biblical Preaching

The third chapter was preached at a past Shepherds Conference and at last years NCCT Conference. He is very passionate about Biblical Expository Preaching, it shows in the book and his preaching.

What would be in your Library?

Question for the day:

You are going to another country for the next 10 years. You can take your favorite Bible and only three other books.

What would be the three other books that you would take? Why?

I look forward to the answers!

Grace and Peace

Open Theism

I have been reading about the "New" idea of Open Theism. It is really a rework of Socinianism. I have been reading back and forth through Bruce Ware's book God's Lesser Glory and John Frame's book No Other GOD both addressing Open Theism. Here are the main contentions of Open Theism:

1. Love is God's most important quality.
2. Love is not only care and commitment, but also being sensitive and responsive.
3. Creatures exert an influence on God.
4. God's will is not the ultimate explanation of everything. History is the combined result of what God and his creatures decide to do.
5. God does not know everything timelessly, but learns from events as they take place.
6. So God is dependent on the world in some ways.
7. Human beings are free in the libertarian sense.

The above list is from John Frame's book.

Here is a part from Bruce Ware's book.

If, for example, a believer's response of faith in conversion is the result of God's effectual drawing of this blind sinner to see the glory of Christ and to respond (as the doctrine of irresistible grace advocates), God is guilty, in the words of John Sanders, of "divine rape because it involves nonconsensual control; the will of one is forced on the will of the other."

The words that the Open Theists use are designed to evoke an emotional response. Which in fact does evoke an emotional response from me, righteous anger. They are trampling on God's precious Grace.

Since mankind refuses to believe the Bible (and in God for that matter) which is the revelation that God has given us of himself these heresies continue to resurface through out history. Mankind either wants no god at all or one of his own making.

The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." they are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none who does good.

Psalm 14:1

for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying 'My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,

Isaiah 46:9-10

Living for God's Glory

Do we really believe Romans 8:28?
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

We must live for his glory and fight the fight of faith to be holy.
Consider the following quote form John Calvin:

I call "piety" that reverence joined with love of God which the knowledge of his benefits induces. For until men recognize that they owe everything to God, that they are nourished by his fatherly care, that he is the Author of there every good, that they should seek nothing beyond him -- they will never yield him willing service. Nay, unless they establish their complete happiness in him, they will never give themselves truly and sincerely to him.

It's our sinful nature that tells us that "we" are the only one who knows how to run our own life. A lie from the prince of darkness himself. God knows ALL. Remember "I AM WHO I AM"? When God said that He already knew ALL about His children in Egypt and He also knew how it would end as well.

So who would you rather live for? Yourself, who has a proven track record of failure?
Or, would you rather live to the Glory of the God of the universe and let him help direct your paths?

Living Your Best Life Now

Well Joel Osteen is right about one thing, we should be living our best life now! The only problem is that his methods are all wrong!!

I like the first question of the Westminster Shorter Catechism (and the response).

Q1. What is the chief end of man?
Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.

The following is the first resolution that Jonathan Edwards wrote:

1. Resolved, That I will do whatsoever I think to be most to the glory of God, and my own good, profit, and pleasure, in the whole of my duration; without any consideration of time, whether now, or never so many myriads of ages hence. Resolved, to do whatever I think to be my duty, and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. ...

Here is a preamble that he wrote that goes with the resolutions:

Being sensible that I am unable to do anything without God's help, I do humbly entreat him by his grace to enable me to keep these Resolutions, so far as they are agreeable to his will, for Christ's sake.

Here is an entry from Jonathan Edwards diary Tuesday, Jan 15.

But alas ! how soon do I decay! O how weak, how infirm, how unable to do anything of myself! What a poor inconsistent being! What a miserable wretch, without the assistance of the Spirit of God! While I stand, I am ready to think that I stand by my own strength, and upon my own legs; and I am ready to triumph over my own spiritual enemies, as if it were myself that caused them to flee: - when alas! I am but a poor infant, upheld by Jesus Christ; who holds me up, and gives me liberty to smile to see my enemies flee, when he drives them before me. And so I laugh, as though I myself did it, when it is only Jesus Christ leads me along, and fights himself against my enemies. And now the Lord has a little left me, how weak do I find myself! O let it teach me to depend less on myself, to be more humble, and to give more of the praise of my ability to Jesus Christ! The heart of man is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it!

We can live our best live now by living for God's Glory alone. But yet, "we" are incapable of living it ourselves. We must daily be on our knees and go before the throne of Grace and confess our sinfulness and ask for the Holy Spirit's help in living each day to Glorify God!

If we stay humble and with the Holy Spirit's help we can live our best life now to the Glory of God!! Our best life now is not a life that is lived for ourselves as Joel Osteen would suggest. We must always with the Spirit's help fight the fight of faith to look to God, read his revealed Word and humble ourselves before His Majesty and Glory!

Grace and Peace

Review of Young, Restless, Reformed by Collin Hansen

Young, Restless, Reformed, A Journalist's Journey with the New Calvinists by Collin Hansen

This book is about a journey of discovery, learning how the younger generation is discovering anew the Great Doctrines of the Christian faith. The younger generation is weary of attending churches that merely entertain rather than preach the Word. These young people long for the true meat of Scripture that changes their lives! They are pursuing true doctrine! There are youth groups and groups on college campuses that are intently studying the Word as well as the Systematic Theologies of Berkhof and Grudem. Some are also reading the Puritans (Edwards and Owen).

One humorous story is about a High School group that started reading through Calvin's Institutes and their parent's found out about it and forbid them to read it. So the youth stopped as their parents wished. They instead started reading a Puritan that their parents had never heard of, John Owen! My spirit has been greatly encouraged by reading this book!!

The books consists of a Prologue, seven chapters and a Epilogue and is 156 pages in length.

Chapter 1 - Born Again Again - Passion Conference, Atlanta, Georgia
Chapter 2 - Out of Bethlehem - Bethlehem Baptist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Chapter 3 - Big Man on Campus - Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
Chapter 4 - Ground Zero - Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky
Chapter 5 - Drug-Induced Calvinism - Covenant Life Church, Gaithersburg, Maryland
Chapter 6 - Forget Reinvention - New Attitude Conference, Louisville, Kentucky
Chapter 7 - Missional Mind-set - Mars Hill Church, Seattle, Washington

I'm not wild about some of the chapter titles but the content is good. I am also not fond of the last chapter which is about Mark Driscoll. I'm not really a "fan" of Mark Driscoll.

It's good to know about the things that are happening around the country in the Reformed world. It's easy to get discouraged when all around you is "easy believeism" and "live your best life now".

God is still Sovereign and still on His throne!!

The Three John's

The Lord has lead me to read John Calvin's Institutes. I will be reading some of it each day.
I have also been drawn to read Jonathan Edwards. The desire to read Edwards has come from several places mainly from Pastor Stephen and John Piper. My desire for John Owen has come from Derek Thomas. I have listened to Dr. Thomas's Faiths Foundations class at RTS and a class he taught at PRTS on John Owen.

I realize that if I happened to be 20 years old (which I'm not) I could easily spend the rest of my life studying God's word as well as the works by these men and yet not fully grasp all that they have taught.

I can say that one thing that draws me to these great men of God is their holiness and humility.

I will post a couple of book reviews in the next couple of days.
One for Young, Restless, Reformed by Collin Hansen and the other for Christless Christianity by Michael Horton.

Grace and Peace

Calvinistic Book Reviews Part 2

I have been saving Part 2 for today! This will be a long post today! :-)

The year 2009 marks the 500th anniversary of John Calvin's birth. There are books being published celebrating this fact. They are published under "The Calvin 500 Series".

The book that would be great for everyone to start with is The Legacy of John Calvin by David W. Hall. This book is just 100 pages long. It lists some of Calvin's accomplishments throughout his lifetime and beyond. It also has a brief biography of John Calvin.

The following is the contents of the book:

A Chronology of John Calvin's Life

Ten Ways Modern Culture Is Different because of John Calvin
1. Education: The Academy
2. Care for the Poor: The Bourse
3. Ethics and Interpretation of the Moral Law: The Decalogue
4. Freedom of the Church: The Company of Pastors
5. Collegial Governing: The Senate
6. Decentralized Politics: The Republic
7. Parity among All Professions: The Doctrine of Vocation
8. Economics and Profit: The Invisible Hand
9. Music in the Vernacular: The Psalter
10. The Power of Publishing Ideas: The Genevan Presses

John Calvin: A Life Worth Knowing

Tributes: Measuring a Man after Many Generations

Since this year celebrates the 500th year of Calvin's birth the Foundation for Reformed Theology is encouraging everyone to read through Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion.
They have come up with a daily reading plan for the Institutes so it can be read in one year. Anyone who has a copy of the Institutes and would like to read it through in a year can email me and I will send you the PDF of the suggested reading schedule.

If you are wondering how to live out Calvinism (or more accurately, living out the christian life) then this next book is for you.

Living for God's Glory - An Introduction to Calvinism by Joel R. Beeke

The book is just over 400 pages in length and has Six Parts and 28 Chapters. I have really enjoyed reading this book. I want to read it over again sometime in the future. There is a good bit of theology in the second part of the book but I would like to suggest that we all need to fully understand it. It's not a full treatment of the theology but it should be enough for anyone to fully grasp it.

Part One: Calvinism in History
Part Two: Calvinism in the Mind
Part Three: Calvinism in the Heart
Part Four: Calvinism in the Church
Part Five: Calvinism in Practice
Part Six: Calvinism's Goal

I believe this book would be really good for family's especially those who have older children or teens. This is really an excellent book.

Soli Deo Gloria

P.S. My posts will be much slower in the future. I have started reading lager books. I have started Concise Reformed Theology (900+ pages) and the four book Reformed Theology by Herman Bavnik. So it will take me a good while to get through those. I do have some other smaller books that I will be reading a well.

Happy New Year!!

I would like to wish all my brothers and sisters in Christ a happy and wonderful New Year!!

I have three more book reviews coming (maybe four). I will post those sometime after New Years.

I have very much enjoyed my trip to Texas to see my mother. I have gone to one Baylor basketball game and will see another this afternoon. Go Bears!!

Review: Jesus - Made in America by Stephen J. Nichols

I hope everyone had a very merry and blessed Christmas!

I almost didn't buy this book but I happened to catch Dr. Derek Thomas and Dr. Nichols talking about it on the Reformation 21 blog.

Jesus Made in America - A Cultural History from the Puritans to the Passion of the Christ

I would recommend this book to everyone to read. Dr. Nichols shows that we are erring on the side of emotion and experience (with very little doctrine) in today's Christianity. While we need both orthodox doctrine and religious affections we should err on the side of doctrine. Christ has become a nice guy with good moral teachings. He is no longer the God/Man who came to die on the Cross to make atonement for our sins. Dr. Nichols uses humor to help lighten things up. This is a sad picture of what the majority of the Church has now become. It should serve to help motivate those of us who care about doctrine and true Christianity.

The book consists of 8 chapters and is 216 pages long.
Here are the chapter titles with their sub-titles:

1. The Puritan Christ - Image and Word in Early New England
2. Jesus for a New Republic - The Politics and Piety of Franklin, Jefferson, Washington and Paine
3. Gentle Jesus, Meek and Mild - Nineteenth-Century Makeovers from the Frontier to Victorian Culture
4. Jesus, Hero for the Modern World - Harry Emerson Fosdick, J. Gresham Machen and the Real Meaning of Christmas
5. Jesus on Vinyl - From the Jesus People to Contemporary Christian Music
6. Jesus on the Big Screen - The Passion for Hollywood
7. Jesus on a Bracelet - Christ, Commodification and Consumer Culture
8. Jesus on the Right Wing - Christ and Politics in America
Epilogue: Jesus and the Gospel in the Twenty-First Century

I hope all you have a good New Year!!

May we all work to further our Lord's kingdom during the coming new year!

Review - The Prodigal God

I have just finished reading The Prodigal God by Timothy Keller.

Those who have read John MacArthur's book A Tale of Two Sons will enjoy this book.
The book is a small hardback consisting of seven chapters and is 133 pages long.

Pastor Keller is concerned with the differences and similarities between the attitudes of the Younger and Elder brothers.

The Elder brother has an attitude that can be associated with religion. "Religion operates on the principle of 'I obey - therefore I am accepted by God.' The basic principle of the gospel is 'I am accepted by God through the work of Jesus Christ - therefore I obey."

Pastor Keller says that the majority of problems in churches today are caused by "Elder brothers". The younger brothers leave the church because of the "Elder brother" attitudes.

I enjoyed reading this book very much.