-

Kim Riddlebarger.  The Lion of Princeton: B.B. Warfield as Apologist and Theologian.  Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2015. 

B.B. Warfield was a theologically conservative professor at Princeton in the late 19th century.  Riddlebarger discusses the life and thought of this remarkable and daunting theologian. This book is a great read for anyone wanting to dig into the life and times of Warfield.  The book explores a lot of topics, but the most prominent topic concerns Warfield’s thoughts about the relationship between apologetics and grace.   

Warfield was an advocate of classic apologetics, particularly in his defense of the historicity of Jesus’ resurrection.  For certain Calvinist critics, classic apologetics presumes that the truth can be ascertained by people on the basis of reason and evidence, which nullifies the importance of transforming grace in enabling people to accept the Gospel.  These people think the Reformed understanding of conversion and classic apologetics run in opposing directions.

This book is a great read and explains Warfield as an apologetic theologian and heavyweight of his era.  The book is a heavy and deep read.  This book is certainly informative, and it makes a contribution to scholarly discussions about Warfield.  The book was somewhat dispersed. A glossary would have been helpful.  Overall, it is a fantastic read and introduction to Warfield. It covers a lot of deep and treacherous ground including his apologetics, systematic theology, and more. If you like homing in on specific figures in Church History, you will very much enjoy this book. If you are a big Warfield fan you will also enjoy this book.

I received a complimentary review copy of this book from the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

-
 James Crossley and Chris Keith’s work called  The Next Quest for the Historical Jesus represents an ambitious, thought-provoking addition to the evolving field of historical Jesus studies. The editors gather a diverse array of scholars who not only re-evaluate traditional methodologies but also probe the ideological underpinnings of the so-called “quests” for the historical Jesus. This text, with contributions from scholars such as Helen Bond, Rafael Rodríguez, and Anthony Le Donne, moves beyond the well-trodden territory of historicity debates to address broader issues within the field’s methodological and epistemological frameworks. The volume opens by framing itself as a response to the question of whether the “quest” metaphor remains relevant or necessary for historical Jesus studies. This concern is emblematic of the broader intention of the collection: to unsettle comfortable assumptions and push the field toward innovative approaches that reflect contemporary shifts...
Read more
-
  John of History, Baptist of Faith offers a substantive exploration of one of the most enigmatic and influential figures in Christian history. The author embarks on a dual quest, aiming to uncover both the historical figure of John the Baptist and his theological significance within the Christian tradition. This study balances historical rigor with theological inquiry, making it a valuable contribution to scholarship on early Christianity and Second Temple Judaism. The strength of this work lies in its meticulous historical analysis. The author draws upon a wide range of primary sources, including the Synoptic Gospels, the writings of Flavius Josephus, and other ancient texts, to reconstruct a historically grounded portrait of John the Baptist. The book takes care to place John within the social, political, and religious milieu of first-century Judea, exploring how his message of repentance and his practice of baptism resonated with and challenged the Jewish communities of hi...
Read more

Fundamental Biblical Hebrew and Aramaic

-
Dr. Andrew H. Bartelt is a professor emeritus of the biblical languages at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. He retired in 2020 after 42 years of professional service.   Dr. Andrew Steinmann studies Hebrew, Aramaic languages, apocalyptic literature, and biblical studies. These two professors are biblical language scholars.   Fundamental Biblical Hebrew and Aramaic, Second Edition is a textbook and Biblical study resource for university and seminary students, pastors, and scholars alike. This is well written and approaches learning Hebrew a bit differently than other grammar textbooks.   This textbook is outstanding in every way. The straightforward methodology combines the best elements of format and pedagogy. This makes it beneficial for both students and teachers. The format of the book is easy to understand and moves at a pace that is easy to grasp, unlike other beginners’ books. This book is designed for individuals who have a grasp of the basic tools...
Read more