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The Asbury Journal 76/1: 123-144
© 2021 Asbury Theological Seminary
DOI: 10.7252/Journal.01.2021S.08
Book Reviews
An Exploration of Christian Theology, 2
nd
Edition
Don Thorsen
Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic
2020, 448 pp., paper, $39.99
ISBN: 978-1-5409-6174-7
Reviewed by Benjamin P. Snoek
Among the ever-widening sea of introductory systematic theology
texts is Don Thorsen’s An Exploration of Christian Theology, which has
become one of the more prominent books in evangelical circles. Now in
its second edition, Thorsen has updated his text and included two new
chapters on apologetics (ch. 5) and the fate of the unevangelized (ch. 29).
The Exploration follows a typical systematic structure, roughly patterned
after the logic of the Apostles’ Creed. It treats prolegomena, God, creation,
humanity, sin, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, salvation, the church, and the future.
Each chapter follows an overall predictable arrangement: an opening
illustration from scripture, a historical survey of the doctrine’s development,
and a sweep of contemporary perspectives on the doctrine (with special
attention given to evangelical views). This reviewer nds it notable that
Thorsen opens each chapter with a scripture reference—a strategic move
that grounds his doctrinal exposition in the biblical text.
In his writing, Thorsen expresses a warmly evangelical yet
decidedly Wesleyan perspective. While he teaches at a Wesleyan-Holiness
institution, Thorsen also engages in ecumenical work, a labor that is clearly
reected in his generous treatment of Catholic, Orthodox, Reformed,
Holiness, and Charismatic perspectives. He dedicates more attention to
Wesleyan and Pentecostal views, to be sure, especially in his discussion of
sanctication and charismatic gifts. Thorsen openly and unapologetically
advocates for an egalitarian inclusion of women in ministry (329), for
instance. Furthermore, he is obviously writing with John Wesley in the
124 The Asbury Journal 76/1 (2021)
fore of his mind; at one point, he unnecessarily injects Wesley’s opinion
into a discussion of Reformation-era soteriologies (247). While remaining
cognizant of his American Wesleyan bias, Thorsen seeks to “explore the
full Christian tradition by providing an ecumenical sketch of its beliefs,
values, and practices as they developed in history,” an approach that “does
not seek church unity so much as it seeks a unity of understanding and
appreciation for the varieties of church traditions” (10).
Thorsen’s Exploration has many laudable strengths. Each chapter
is very short and digestible, ideal for introductory students who may
be overwhelmed with foreign theological vocabulary. Whereas many
systematic theologies are cool and didactic, Thorsen writes with a friendly
and conversational tone, using plain yet profound language. Thorsen’s
precedent writings advocate for the Wesleyan Quadrilateral as the sources
for theology; however, he does not openly state his proclivity in this
book. Nonetheless, the structure of his chapters is clearly inuenced by
this method, with an opening introduction from scripture, a description of
historical developments of the doctrine (tradition), a conclusion that appeals
to reason, and a set of reection questions that appeal to experience.
Another strength is found in the design and layout of the book
itself. Although some may nd its size to be unusual and clunky, its design
is actually a strategic way of accommodating two-column text throughout.
Other comparable systematic theologies look more like monographs
than introductory textbooks. For instance, Daniel Migliore’s Faith Seeking
Understanding (Eerdmans) uses roughly the same dimensions but uses
one-column text and no pull quotes or call-out boxes. Beth Felker Jones’
Practicing Christian Doctrine (Baker Academic) is smaller than Thorsen’s
book but feels more cluttered with its many call-out boxes on a small page.
With prominent (but not distracting) pull quotes and helpful headers that
organize key points, and generous space for reading, the layout of Thorsen’s
Exploration makes it easy to quickly identify information.
Given the panoply of introductory systematic theologies, why
choose this book? It is this reviewer’s opinion that Thorsen’s text has a
place for many venues of theological education. Thorsen’s Exploration,
in particular, is a suitable text for undergraduate theology courses and
perhaps an introductory seminary course. Even a church adult education
class would benet from this resource. The short chapters are appealing for
students who are unfamiliar with theological language or are not majoring
in theology. The back matter contains dense indices and a handy glossary
Book reViewS 125
of key theological terms—useful reference material for any student. Some
systematics lean toward praxis (Felker Jones), while others lean toward
theory (Migliore). Thorsen, however, attempts to nd a via media and does
so with relative success, given the sizeable weight of this task. The reection
questions at the close of each chapter help bridge doctrine and practice and
could be used as reading journal assignments in a classroom setting.
To be sure, there are some who shouldn’t adopt this book. Those
aiming for deeper theological study, or who already have basic theological
education, may be disappointed by this book, nding it insufcient for their
needs. Moreover, those who are seeking a distinctly evangelical introduction
to theology may be distracted by the ecumenical urry of Thorsen’s attention.
A more tting resource might be Daniel Treier’s Introducing Evangelical
Theology (Baker Academic), released in the same catalog year as this book.
Treier’s book may be similar in content but nds its structure in a Trinitarian
frame. Although both are writing within the evangelical tradition, Thorsen
may have a more generous eye for his intended audience, while Treier is
advancing decidedly evangelical theologies.
In short, Don Thorsen has gifted students with a revamped
Exploration of Christian Theology, continuing the legacy of an already
strong text. As far as introductory systematic theologies go, this book is
a viable contender for any classroom. Students will enjoy Thorsen’s
perspicuity, readability, and practicality. Moreover, instructors will nd that
this book is comparable in content to “competitive” texts but is presented,
both logically and physically, in a much more appealing manner. For these
reasons, An Exploration of Christian Theology merits inclusion in the course
booklist or, at the very least, in the course bibliography.
Honor, Shame and the Gospel: Reframing Our Message and Ministry
Edited by Christopher Flanders and Werner Mischke
Pasadena, CA: William Carey Publishing
2020, 252 pp., paper, $17.99
ISBN: 978-1-64508-280-4
Reviewed by Bud Simon
Honor, Shame and the Gospel: Reframing Our Message and
Ministry is a compendium of essays presented at the 2017 Honor-Shame
126 The Asbury Journal 76/1 (2021)
Wheaton conference. The theme of the book addresses the intersection of
honor-shame (HS) with gospel, mission, praxis, and theology. The book
provides an admirable addition to the dialogue on HS through fteen essays,
each of which is a standalone article, and enriches the conversation. The
compendium offers a diversity of contributions written by different authors
on a range of topics. The editors provide reection questions at the end of
each chapter which points the reader to deeper engagement with the topic.
A list of ten statements concerning honor-shame claries
assumptions which provide structure to further the conversation and is
found in the introduction of the book (xxi-xxiv). These statements highlight
established assumptions as a framework to catalyze fruitful conversation
and are worth mentioning here: HS is a foundational cultural dynamic, there
is no culturally neutral gospel, humanity longs for honor as part of God’s
design, HS is both ancient and contemporary, Shame can be honorable
(healthy), HS is one among several cultural values as well as interwoven
into all cultural values, the Bible speaks of many facets of HS, toxic shame
is a global epidemic, the gospel is fundamentally honoric, and HS reveals
a hermeneutic for scripture as well as relevance for culture.
The book is divided into two sections - general and mission
contexts. The section on general context primarily addresses honor-shame
in theology and biblical studies while mission context focuses on culture
and ministry. Each essay makes a distinctive addition to the honor-shame
discussion and three of these essays are highlighted.
Chapter one (by Steven C. Hawthorne) discusses the metanarrative
of God’s glory in scripture and God’s plan of honor for humanity. Honor
ows from humanity to God as well as from God to humanity. The invitation
from God is to share in his glory with Christ and fullls the innate longing
for honor found in every human. The theme of honor runs from Genesis
to Revelation and demonstrates how HS plays a role in all cultural value
systems. This chapter sets the stage for the rest of the book.
Chapter seven (Steve Tracy) discusses the transformative power of
the cross to remove the shame of abuse. This is a pivotal perspective because
it appropriates the grace of the cross not only for the sins committed by the
recipient, but also for the shame of sins committed against that person. The
cross provides an encounter in which shamed people share in the honor
of Christ, just as he did not suffer because of his own wrongs. This chapter
appropriates HS positively against the stigma victims often suffer, especially
victims of rape and sexual abuse, by using concrete experiences from the
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Congo. Understanding how Christ honors those who are victims brings
healing. The chapter also invites the church to be a safe and healing place
for those who have been victimized by others.
Chapter eight (Lynn Thigpen) delves into orality, illiteracy, poverty
and HS. Too often those who have low or no literacy are treated as inferior
in their culture and, sometimes, by those who minister to them. The church
needs to transform this shame by providing an open, welcoming place
where the poor and illiterate can nd community and connection. When
the church creates such a space it removes the shame placed by others
on these vulnerable populations. Presenting the gospel through orality
communicates honor through kindness and allows the church to become
the light of Christ to the marginalized.
Each chapter holds a meaningful message for the church and
those who minister. The rich insights in this book are highly recommended
for academics and practioners because it elucidates honor-shame as a lens
for understanding scripture and doing ministry. The perspective of honor-
shame through multiple lenses allows readers to realize the extent to which
these values impact their world.
The Psalms as Christian Praise: A Historical Commentary
Bruce K. Waltke and James M. Houston
Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans
2019, 354 pp., paper, $35.98
ISBN: 978-0802877024
Reviewed by Wesley D. Custer
The Psalms have been prayed, sung, preached, and studied for
millennia and we still nd ways to plumb the depths of this ancient Hebrew
poetry. The Psalms can be examined as Christian worship generally, and
lament and/or praise more specically. Waltke and Houston engage psalms
of praise in their latest work on the Psalms engaging the text critically
and contextually within Christian practice throughout history focusing on
Christian praise.
Waltke and Houston take the Psalms as the hymnbook of Jesus
and an integral part of the worshipping core of the Christian Church.
Conceptually, the goal is to examine a selection of psalms exegetically and
128 The Asbury Journal 76/1 (2021)
also examine the church’s use and application of these same psalms through
the lens of historical gures of the church up through the 19
th
century.
Waltke writes the section of exegesis and Houston writes the section on
the church’s response or use of the same psalm. The dialectic of these two
approaches engages the whole life of God’s people throughout history and
gives the reader several perspectives through which to address the present-
day situation of God’s people.
Waltke and Houston have both distinguished careers in their
respective elds and are now emeritus faculty at Regent College, Vancouver.
Waltke is also a distinguished professor emeritus at Knox Theological
Seminary, Fort Lauderdale.
The commentary covers Psalms 90, 91, 92, 93, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99,
100, 103, 104, with chapter 1 introducing their concept and approach to
the commentary. Waltke and Houston do not consider these only psalms of
praise but they are chosen as exemplars for study from the perspective of
praise by God’s people. Their overall scholarship is well founded and the
dialectic between quality exegesis and historical interpretation is uniquely
beautiful.
The exegesis is accepting of traditional views of authorship and
does not engage some of the late authorship theories of the Psalter. However,
these discussions are mentioned in footnotes so as not to dominate the
commentary. The historical interpreters are generally presented uncritically
but fairly, meaning that the presentation of historical uses or expositions
of a particular psalm is not engaged from an evaluative perspective to
determine the quality of the witness. Rather, the source/historical gure’s
writing is chosen because their use and interpretation of the psalm is worth
noting and considering.
It seems as though it is two books placed into the same binding.
That is to say, while the authors write transitions between the critical exegesis
and the voices from church history there is no space given to interaction
between the two. It is left to the reader to full work of the dialectic and
provide their own synthesis.
I would recommend this volume to anyone interpreting the
Psalms for scholarship, preaching, or group Bible study. It is accessible
to the seminary student and the clergy. It will widen the perspective of
the reader and challenge them to dig deep as they seek to move between
critical exegesis and historical interpretation toward modern or localized
application of the Psalms.
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Hebrew for Life: Strategies for Learning, Retaining, and Reviving Biblical
Hebrew
Adam J. Howell, Benjamin L. Merkle, and Robert L. Plummer
Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic
2020, 240 pp., paper, $22.99
ISBN: 9781540961464
Reviewed by Nicholas J. Campbell
Adam Howell is assistant professor of Old Testament interpretation
at Boyce College and Benjamin Merkle is professor of New Testament and
Greek at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Robert Plummer is the
Collin and Evelyn Aikman Professor of Biblical Studies at Southern Baptist
Theological Seminary. The authors designed Hebrew for Life to help current
and former Hebrew students to continue or reignite their study of the
language. Howell has also revised Greek for Life by Merkle and Plummer.
He applied the principles of language development to Hebrew and added a
chapter on Aramaic (x). Each chapter typically begins with a personal story
to introduce the material and ends with reection questions and a short
linguistic insight provided by a Hebrew scholar.
Much of the information is basic to language learning, or perhaps
memory retention, in general but the detail of the chapters increases as one
moves through the book. One of the most insightful sections presents ways of
reading the text (which unfortunately is in the Wisdom of Resources chapter
not the Read, Read, Read chapter). Some of the options discussed are: slow
grammatical reading, slow exploratory reading, and slow contemplative
reading (146-47). The second option is especially signicant because it
encourages Hebrew learners to explore wildly while reading. Instead of
considering lexical rabbit trails and wild goose chases through online
grammatical resources as wasting time, the authors argue that this type of
reading can occasionally be fruitful and perhaps even lead to important
insights. Most teachers advocate grammatical reading and, occasionally,
contemplative reading in Hebrew but rarely do they consider reading the
Hebrew Bible and following whatever information peaks the readers interest
in their online resources as benecial. Afrming this as a legitimate, though
denitely not the only, way to read is greatly encouraging to students who
feel they must block out all distractions and maintain serious focus every
time the Hebrew Bible is opened.
130 The Asbury Journal 76/1 (2021)
The second point of value is the scholarly discussion at the end
of each chapter. Though these are sometimes unrelated to the chapter
to which they are appended, the insights they provide are worth the
price of the book. Two particularly noteworthy excurses are Dominick
Hernández’s discussion of Job’s repentance (ma’as in Job 42:6) and Peter
Gentry’s discussion of asyndeton in Genesis 6:1-4. These bring academic
grammatical discussions into biblical interpretation questions and show the
value of biblical languages.
Hebrew for Life is primarily directed at seminary students and
those in ministry. The ministerial focus is shown by Howell’s frequent
urging to study Hebrew because Christians are called to faithfully study
scripture and his discussions of the benets of using the original languages
in sermon preparation (19). Though many of the insights could be found in
numerous books on language learning and memory retention, the practical
application of these insights through Hebrew reading plans, an annotated
Hebrew resource list, and the academic excurses makes this book a
valuable resource. A current or former Hebrew student would benet from
this text even if only to use the reading plan suggestions (96-103).
A History of Christian Conversion
David W. Kling
New York, NY: Oxford University Press
2020, 852 pp., hardcover, $150.00
ISBN: 978-0195320923
Reviewed by Zachariah S. Motts
“God breaketh not all men’s hearts alike” - Richard Baxter (quoted
on 283).
There have been many books that study the phenomena of religious
conversion from various angles. One that immediately comes to mind is,
of course, the psychological approach of William James’s The Varieties of
Religious Experience. One could also quickly point to sociological studies
by Émile Durkheim or Peter Berger. What, though, does a history bring to
the task of understanding religious conversion?
David Kling’s History of Christian Conversion is denitely a work
of history. For those who have taken a church history course or are well-
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read in the history of Christianity, much of the ground covered and many of
the people encountered will be very familiar. Kling ambitiously attempts to
lead the reader on a tour of conversion through much of Christian history.
Although the book’s major divisions are divided by region and loosely
by chronology (Rome, Europe, the Americas, China, India, Africa), the
order and ow of the narrative means that the rst 400+ pages follow the
typical arc of Western Christianity with glances toward Orthodox churches.
Writing a comprehensive and completely fair history is impossible (and
Kling openly acknowledges the limitations of his history, xii), but this
structure that places China, India, and the entire continent of Africa within
a little over 200 pages at the end of the book was a concern. One is led
to question whether these parts of Christian history are properly integrated
into the narrative or whether they have been added on as an afterthought.
While there probably could have been more integration and representation
outside of the Western narrative, in Kling’s defense, the sections on China,
India, and Africa do not come across as an afterthought. In fact, because
the people and stories encountered in those sections do not usually get
much time in the traditional Western church history texts, there is much that
is fresh and insightful.
Throughout, Kling brings the conversion experiences of individuals
and groups to the fore and spends time exploring the context of these
conversions. This is done especially through studying written conversion
narratives, but also through other sources like hymns and associated
artifacts. Kling is a careful and critical historian, noting the strengths of
these accounts and the places where skepticism is warranted. This placing
of people into their context and sketching the contours of what conversion
meant in that context is what A History of Christian Conversion brings to
the larger conversation surrounding religious conversion. Richard Baxter’s
quote above speaks to the idea that he did not believe Christians should
expect conversion to follow an orderly, predictable pattern even within
his own time period. Kling shows that the meaning, patterns, reasons,
and forms of Christian conversion have shifted from era to era, location
to location, and culture to culture. While some may think that their
experience of conversion is basically the same as other Christians through
history, Kling draws out the reality that, while there are continuities, careful
study shows that the conversion experience has changed as it has moved
through cultures and time periods. To use Charles Taylor’s vocabulary,
the social imaginaries of these groups and the history-bound nature of
132 The Asbury Journal 76/1 (2021)
human beings has meant that the understanding of conversion, which has
been taken as such an important and obvious concept in Christianity, has
varied quite widely through history. Kling especially adds careful detail
to the phenomenon of mass conversion, which can be easily overlooked
or disregarded by those from modern, highly individualistic paradigms of
conversion.
In the end, A History of Christian Conversion succeeds as a history
and digs into the specic contexts which shaped the conversion experience
of individuals and groups. The writing is consistently clear and eminently
readable, with content suitable for a seminary student but accessible for the
church history novice.
The Last Adam: A Theology of the Obedient Life of Jesus in the Gospels
D. Brandon Crowe
Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic
2017, xviii +264 pp., paper, $32.00
ISBN 978-0801096266
Reviewed by Joseph Kiluda
Brandon D. Crowe is associate professor of New Testament
at Westminster Theological Seminary in Glenside, Pennsylvania. He is
the author of numerous books and serves as the book review editor for
Westminster Theological Journal.
In The Last Adam, Crowe mounts a exegetical and biblical
theological case that the Gospels present Christ as a “representative gure,”
especially “the last Adam” (16). As such, the obedience of Jesus outside
the passion narrative is vicarious and carries a saving character. After the
introductory chapter, Crowe develops his work in six substantive chapters.
In chapter 2, Crowe argues that the four canonical Gospels present Jesus
not only as the new Israel, but also as the Last Adam. Luke’s genealogy
represents Jesus’ sonship as expressly Adamic in character, while Matthew’s
genealogy presents Jesus’ ministry as covenantal and in the context of
Genesis’ creation account. The title “Son of Man” also presents Jesus as the
Last Adam.
Book reViewS 133
In chapter 3, Crowe argues that the title Son of Man does more
than denote Jesus lial obedience to God. That title carries in its background
not only Israel but also Adam. Jesus is the obedient son that Adam and Israel
failed to be. This obedience is brought to the fore early in Jesus’ ministry,
particularly in the baptism and temptation accounts. Chapter 4 takes up
passages in the Gospels in which Jesus is said to bring scripture to fulllment.
Particular attention falls upon Matthew 3:15, in which Jesus declares his
intention to fulll all righteousness. Chapter 5 argues that the fourth Gospel
presents Jesus’ lifelong, lial obedience necessary for salvation. It is John’s
passion narrative, in particular, that offers suggestive indications that this
obedience is that of the Last Adam. Chapter 6 concentrates on the motif
of the Kingdom in the Gospels. The authority of Jesus to implement the
kingdom of righteousness, Crowe claims, is often portrayed in Adamic
terms.
In his book, Crowe attempts to highlight how the Gospel narratives
themselves, in parallel with the other New Testament writings, uniquely
show Jesus as the Last Adam and that it is his obedient life that reverses
the disobedience of the First Adam and secures salvation for God’s people.
Crowe begins building his argument by drawing the reader’s attention to
the idea that Adamic Christology is not simply an idea found in Pauline
theology or a feature in other New Testament letters, but that Jesus is clearly
portrayed as the perfect and obedient Adam throughout the Gospels as
well. In the New Testament, an Adamic Christological framework is evident
in Pauline passages such as Romans 5:12–21 and 1 Corinthians 15:1-58.
These key texts show that even from an early date, Christ-followers have
interpreted the salvic nature of Jesus’ life, ministry, and death in a way that
highlights the Adam-Jesus connection.
Crowe’s central argument is that the Gospel narratives of Jesus’
life and ministry actually mean something and serve a more signicant
purpose than simply to be extended introductions of the passion narratives.
Jesus’ active obedience is demonstrated in every part of his life from his
dedication at the temple, to his baptism and temptation in the wilderness,
to his ministry of preaching, teaching, and healing.
His passive obedience is wrapped up in his suffering and death.
Through submission to the will of God, Jesus passively attains salvation for
his people. According to Crowe, this passive type of obedience completely
satises the righteous requirement of the Messiah, and so there is no need
to argue for or concern ourselves with the active obedience, which is the
134 The Asbury Journal 76/1 (2021)
righteous life, lived out in the esh by Jesus prior to his passion. Crowe
contends that Jesus’ life demonstrates both aspects of obedience and does
so perfectly, in such a way that in his passive and active obedience humanity
receives salvation vicariously through both Christ’s life and his death. The
Gospel narratives show Jesus connecting his actions in ministry with what
he reveals as necessary for salvation to occur.
The creation narratives shows Adam as created sinless, in the
image of and as a son of God, and crowned with authority and dominion
over God’s creation. In giving into temptation, Adam forfeits his relationship,
status, and calling. It is his disobedience that must be attuned for because
it is his disobedience that leads to death, not just for Adam, but for all
humankind. Jesus, in his incarnate state, serves as a representative for all
people. Humanity is condemned because of the disobedience of Adam, but
salvation is wrought through the radical obedience of Jesus in every aspect
of his life.
In the Gospels, “Son of Man” is Jesus’ favorite self-designation,
and this title, not only connects Jesus to prophecies in Ezekiel and Daniel,
but in his application as the Son of Man, Jesus connects himself to the
very rst man, Adam. Again, Crowe seeks to show that Jesus becomes
the perfectly obedient representation of humanity in order to reverse the
disobedience of Adam and secure salvation. Jesus proves himself faithful
to the task of Messiah and provides a pattern, indeed a substitution for his
people, in a way that points to his full-edged obedience. As the Messiah
works on the earth through his ministry in the esh, Crowe postulates that
he is the reconstituted Adam - born sinless and thus able to forgive sins,
overcoming temptation and thus providing a pattern for humankind to
follow, and calling his disciples to “rest” in him from the toil and hardships
of the world.
Crowe’s other contribution to his argument comes in his
discussion of how Jesus is portrayed in the Gospel of John. Crowe believes
that a Johannine Christology begins with Jesus being “sent” by the Father.
This idea points to two realities: 1) the divinity of Jesus is established
from the very beginning of John’s Gospel, and 2) if Jesus is “sent” then
there must be a purpose for his life and mission. Jesus fullls his purpose
through completing the work that the Father sent him to accomplish. Crowe
highlights three specic chapters in John (John 4, 5, and 17) where Jesus
explicitly states that his mission is to complete the work the Father has given
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him. Again, the obedience of Jesus makes a relationship with the Father a
reality, for the life of Jesus and for all humanity.
For me, this is a fascinating book. Crowe sets out to show that the
Gospels do indeed portray Jesus as The Last Adam - the perfectly obedient
Son of God that secures salvation for humanity in his incarnation, life,
ministry, death, and resurrection. The Last Adam is a ne scholarly work
and Crowe writes with deep passion and a strong knowledge surrounding
this issue. However, the book comes across as more of an extended
bibliography and a repository for all works that may allude to this Adam-
Christ connection. Crowe does one thing extremely well, and that is to
clearly state his objectives for each chapter, deliver on that promise, and
then wrap up the chapter with a nice conclusion.
Indeed the author demonstrates to his readers the purpose of his
book which is in twofold: 1) to show in the Gospel narratives that Jesus is a
representative gure and stands as The Last Adam for Israel and humanity,
and 2) that the life of Jesus cannot be divorced from his death because
the redemptive work of Jesus, as portrayed in the Gospels, shows that it is
Jesus’ full obedience, in life and in death, that reverses and overcomes the
disobedience of Adam. For the preacher, this book will certainly aid one
in seeing Jesus’ vicarious and salvic obedience in a multitude of Gospel
pericopes. Crowe imported a reformed theme in theology into his book
hence doing eisegesis rather than exegesis, thus convincing us that Jesus
ful
lled the covenant of works and that his active and passive obedience
before his death is a significant part of the fulfillment of scripture.
The Genealogical Adam & Eve: The Surprising Science of Universal
Ancestry
S. Joshua Swamidass
Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press
2019, 265 pp., hardcover, $27.00
ISBN: 978-0-8308-5263-5
Reviewed by Logan Patriquin
Recent data from population genetics has obfuscated traditional
accounts of human origins tied to a historical Adam and Eve in the recent
past. In the face of the current theological trend to mythologize the early
136 The Asbury Journal 76/1 (2021)
Genesis narrative, Dr. Swamidass swims upstream to present an alternative
view in which “…Adam and Eve, ancestors of us all, could have been de
novo created less than ten thousand years ago” (201). His Genealogical
Hypothesis reclaims theological space by moving out of the realm of
genetics proper and towards a genealogical framework for understanding
human ancestry. This move, he hopes, will recover a traditional account
of human origins that is neither anachronistic nor reductionistic. Without
denying evolutionary biology, his model purports to, “…[rebind] many
splintered [ecclesial] traditions together” (155).
The Genealogical Adam and Eve consists of ve parts though
the reader will likely only perceive two. The opening section lays out the
science behind his claim that genealogical ancestry trumps genetic ancestry.
In fact, he imagines it is perfectly plausible to believe that Adam and Eve
are our genealogical ancestors even though they are now “genetic ghosts”
(69 & 84). Page after page of graphs and charts begin to numb the senses
as he unfolds his admittedly ‘nonintuitive’ argument that computational
models show a likely universal genealogical ancestor to all textual humans
as recent as six thousand years ago—let’s call this premise X (46-47 &
64). His convoluted presentation does manage to advance his point that
contemporary science does not challenge that Adam and Eve could (he
would say must) be “’ancestors of everyone to the ends of the earth from at
least AD 1 onward” (64).
The second half of the text couples premise X with a theological
claim, Y, that Adam and Eve were de novo created in the recent past.
Swamidass always carefully posits premise Y in the subjunctive mood but
the theological hoops he jumps through to afrm Y suggest anything but
a shaky presupposition. How does one account for biological humans
produced through evolutionary means that are outside the garden? A
philosophical twist does the trick. Our author suggests that people outside
of the garden are biological though not textual humans. As such, “historical
theology and Scripture itself has been largely silent [author emphasis]
about them” (134). In his model, biological humans are “coextensive” with
textual humans until such a point that the genealogical ancestors of the de
novo Adam and Eve have subsumed the whole. This must have taken place,
of course, by AD 1 so that Christ may be a second Adam to all, not simply
some.
Theological questions abound due to the coupling of X and Y.
For instance, what provokes God to break his time-honored evolutionary
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means of producing human beings, however one denes them? If there are
people outside the garden before, concurrent with, and after the miraculous
de novo creation, and subsequent Fall, of Adam and Eve then how does one
understand the origin of sin? How would one dene sin proper with eons
of pain, suffering, and death in advance of this Augustinian conception of
the Fall?
Swamidass does not dodge such questions, most of them anyway.
Chapters proceed in increasingly speculative fashion as he constructs an
account of special creation, a Fall event, and then wades into the theological
quagmire that is Original Sin. Adam and Eve’s special creation is defended
vocationally. Though not biologically distinct, the author argues, “They had
a special purpose, one that require them to be created entirely sinless, with
a clean slate” (205). One is right here to inquire, a clean slate from what
exactly?
When Adam and Eve fall, physical and moral corruption, as well
as an imputation of debt, are unleased. According to Swamidass: physical
corruption spreads instantly, moral corruption spreads contagiously,
and imputed guilt spreads via genealogical descent (189-190). Such are
the three legs that also support his understanding of Original Sin. In the
end, Swamidass opts for one major theme to weave the whole narrative
together—Exile. God substitutes exile for execution in the Fall story as well
as in many other places throughout scripture. Consequently, all of us inherit
the mercy of exile that we cannot repay. This is his map to the theological
afrmation of universal human sinfulness and the universal need of a savior,
one who can end our exile (197-198).
The Genealogical Adam and Eve achieves its aim of carving out
space for theological dialogue. His presentation afrms, “The traditional
account [a literalist reading of Genesis 2 and 3] was not false. It was part
of this larger narrative [one preceded by Genesis 1 and continuing in us
today]” (201). Readers will enjoy the sketched out theological framework
and ought to appreciate the scientic rescue job that rediscovers the
potential for a historical Adam and Eve without forsaking evolutionary
science. All that being said, in the same way that science can’t disprove a de
novo Adam and Eve, it says nothing to afrm it either. Sure, a genealogical
ancestor of humans within the last six-to-fteen thousand years is probable,
if not mathematically certain. That truth does not necessarily entail that
Adam and Eve of the scriptures. Christian theology would do better with
a model for understanding origins, the Fall, and Original Sin that works
138 The Asbury Journal 76/1 (2021)
within a non-historical Adam and Eve framework as well as within the
broader spectrum of literal/literalist renditions of early Genesis.
Teaching Across Cultures: Contextualizing Education for Global Mission
James E. Plueddemann
Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press
2018, 168 pp., paper, $20.00
ISBN: 978-0-8308-5221-5
Reviewed by Matthew Haugen
James E. Plueddemann in Teaching Across Cultures develops
a framework on how to teach nearly anything to anyone, anywhere by
utilizing sociology, theology, and education theory. Teaching Across
Cultures is organized into twelve chapters in which Plueddemann develops
his paradigm of a pilgrim rail-fence approach to teaching. Each chapter ends
with a story from or about a teacher from the global south exemplifying the
chapter’s content in the form of a story.
Chapter 1 begins the conversation of education theory by
discussing metaphors of teaching from Edward T. Hall (i.e., production,
growth, travel) and Plueddemann’s pilgrim metaphor of teaching, which
is a nuanced approach to Hall’s metaphors. Chapter 2 introduces one of
Plueddemann’s unique contributions: the rail-fence paradigm. The fence
posts represent the work of teachers to facilitate the connection between the
rails, which are theory and practice. Chapter 3 addresses the deciencies
of twenty-rst century education (i.e., to overemphasize content at the
expense of context). He advocates for teachers to become students of
students in order to mitigate this tendency.
Chapter 4 addresses the complexity of differences of human beings.
This section included topics such as glocality, personality differences, and
combating stereotypes, but each of these topics deserved more attention
given the nature of the subject and that he is a developmentalist. Chapters
5 and 6 address the complexity of teaching a high-context learner versus
a low-context learner. Each type of learner has varying tolerances toward
ambiguity as well as differences in power distance between teachers and
students.
Book reViewS 139
Chapter 7 denes the aim of teaching as the promotion of holistic
growth: wisdom, physical, social, and spiritual, in which the rst three
form and inform the last. Chapters 8 and 9 describe possible educational
objectives (i.e., behavioral, problem-solving, and expressive) based on
one’s teaching and learner context.
Plueddemann claims in chapters 10 through 12 that the pilgrim
metaphor best harmonizes Hall’s teaching metaphors as well as high- and
low-context cultural contexts. The pilgrim metaphor integrates the cultural
context, teaching method, and perceived goal.
One of the strengths of Teaching Across Cultures is Plueddemann’s
critique of online education. Online education has made education more
accessible and affordable; however, it is not positioned well to form
people. Formational opportunities on online mediums are available insofar
as they do not supplant local and embodied practices and community
(cf. Meadows, Philip. “Mission and Discipleship in a Digital Culture.” In
Mission Studies. 29 (2012). 163-182).
One of the weaknesses of Teaching Across Cultures is that
Plueddemann does not spend enough time explaining how teachers might
facilitate bridge-building between content and context. For instance, how
might teachers become students of students? How might this endeavor of
becoming a student of students function differently based on the medium
of communication? How might places of education collaborate with local
places of formation (e.g., churches) to facilitate the holistic growth of
students? However, Teaching Across Cultures contributes to the elds of
education and discipleship studies, and as such I recommend this book to
those in higher education, missionaries, and pastors.
Peace Love Yoga: The Politics of Global Spirituality
Andrea R. Jain
New York, NY: Oxford University Press
2020, 224 pp., paper, $24.95
ISBN: 978-0-1908-8863-3
Reviewed by Zachariah S. Motts
For fans of well-researched dissections of cultural phenomena
where all of the pieces are laid out with scholarly precision and care,
140 The Asbury Journal 76/1 (2021)
Peace Love Yoga: The Politics of Global Spirituality is a worthwhile read.
From the beginning, Andrea Jain is open about the angle from which she is
approaching what she calls a “neoliberal spirituality.” Hers is a feminist-
socialist stance, which provides a framework for looking at manifestations
of yoga and popular spirituality throughout this work. Owning that stance
and giving the reader a chance to understand yoga from that perspective is
part of the strength and draw of Jain’s writing. One does not have to be a
practitioner of yoga or particularly identify as a feminist or socialist to gain
from the rich descriptions and sharply argued content of Peace Love Yoga.
One of Jain’s major concerns in this book is the question of
whether popular practitioners of yoga, those who buy the merchandise,
are vocal about a certain package of issues (like environmentalism), and
would describe themselves as “spiritual,” are more likely to be involved
in movements for structural societal change. What she nds is that those
who are participants in this sort of spirituality might spend large amounts
of money buying items which claim to be environmentally friendly or yoga
products that support one of their favorite issues, but these actions are
individualistic and largely “gestural.” This consumerism that focuses on the
individual being disciplined, doing their part by “buying green,” but does
not push for larger collective action is what Jain means when she labels this
as neoliberal spirituality. It does not escape the system around it in a way
that can meaningfully challenge that system. In that way, she sees it as a
conservative, not revolutionary, practice.
Another main theme is the way that power is used by teachers and
promoters of yoga. While many in the West would see International Yoga
Day as a positive celebration and an act of cultural respect, Jain points out
the ways that Yoga Day in India was actually exclusionary. There, Narendra
Modi’s promotion of yoga as part of the Indian identity was not welcomed
by many in the minority Muslim population who do not practice yoga.
They claim that Yoga Day is another symbol of a Hindu nationalism which
marginalizes minority groups. This is the use of power to mold national
identity, but Jain also looks at the famous gurus who are the celebrities
and founders of yoga brands and styles. Here she points to uses of power
by teachers in the world of yoga to commit acts of sexual harassment and
assault. A key example is the life of Bikram Choudhury, founder of Bikram
Yoga, which is laid out as a disturbing litany of control, accusations of
sexual harassment and rape, extreme devotion from followers, and various
abuses of power which were allowed to build over time. While, of course,
Book reViewS 141
not every yoga studio is such a poisonous environment, Jain asks the reader
to look hard at the systems which have allowed these men to be revered
and praised while they continued patterns of abusive behavior.
These are, of course, very serious topics covered in an incisively
critical way. That is not to suggest, however, that Peace Love Yoga is at
all a drudgery to read. The writing ows nimbly back and forth between
real-world examples and analytical insight, which keeps the reader
engaged. There are some points where chapters cover content that overlaps
with other chapters because this book does collect material from Jain’s
previous articles on yoga, but these repetitions support the structure of the
chapters and were not wholly unwelcome. Peace Love Yoga provides an
insightful perspective on contemporary yoga and is a worthy contribution
to understanding religious practice in the world today, particularly the
practice of those who claim to be “spiritual, but not religious.”
Christian Martyrdom: A Brief History with Reections for Today
Edward L. Smither
Eugene, OR: Cascade Books
2020, xvii + 79 pp., paper, $16.00
ISBN: 978-1725253810
Reviewed by W. Brian Shelton
The subject of martyrdom remains recognizably signicant in
the formation of the early church and intermittently throughout church
history. It continues to receive attention in scholarship, the popular mind,
and the contemporary landscape of the church. In this work, the history
and theology of martyrdom provides a backdrop to understand current
martyrdom events.
Ed Smither is Professor of Intercultural Studies and History of
Global Christianity at Columbia International University. The institution
is recognized for its missions enterprise as Smither is known among
missiologists, represented by his works Christian Mission: A Concise Global
History (2019) and Mission in the Early Church (2014). In this work, mission
nds application in the meaning and motive of martyrdom.
142 The Asbury Journal 76/1 (2021)
For works like this, stories are an indispensable necessity and
the opening story captures an important prototype for this study. In 2007,
two Turkish pastors and a German missionary welcomed ve seekers to a
bible study. Once the meeting had begun, the visitors revealed their radical
Islamic values, tied up and tortured the Christian leaders, and executed
them on broadcast video. The extensive legal process was not accompanied
by a retaliatory spirit as the pastors’ wives publicly declared their forgiveness
of the murderers. Story provides a narrative quality that personalizes the
martyrdom events throughout this work, from early to modern Christianity.
Martyrdom history is woven together with martyrdom theology
to shape the identity of the church in all generations. Smither ingeniously
adopts the “suffering servant” metaphor for centering this theology.
“Christians are motivated to suffer and even welcome martyrdom because
of their love for Christ—because they worship a Suffering Servant” (9).
This ideal unfolds to recognize the biblical expectations of suffering with
examples of historical Christian suffering across eras. The central part of the
book reveals how we witness, prophesy, and worship through martyrdom.
The root of “martyr” as “witness” is expected, evidenced by early church
legal transcripts where defendants simply professed, “I am a Christian”
(31-33). Theological expansion comes when the martyrs are recognized
as prophets who not only stand against an inimical society, but they also
“rebuked the church to return to the gospel and to pursue justice as a visible
reection of God’s kingdom” (56). Bonhoeffer, Martin Luther King, and
Oscar Romero are twentieth century examples. A theology of worship also
offers a refreshing perspective to Christian martyrdom ideology, seen in the
Waodoni Mission with Jim Elliot in Ecuador and the Lord’s Table food relief
in Somalia, where worship of God surrounded the ministry and response of
Christians to their martyrs. Smither insists, “Worship is the beginning and
end of Christian mission” (67).
Reection on martyrdom here is directed along a global context.
First, the majority world must teach American and European Christians
about their suffering: “Their testimony ought to convict the western church,
which is often enamored with comfort, afuence, and a desire for political
power” (69). Second, accepting persecution does not mean that the church
no longer champions social justice. This instruction is crucial for individuals
who advocate social legitimacy—our faith perpetuates even when justice
does not prevail. Thirdly, an informed reection on martyrdom helps the
church develop a competence for suffering. Finally, “this reection on
Book reViewS 143
martyrdom should teach us that martyrdom is more of an attitude than
an act” (70). Brother Yun becomes a model for Smither, as this Chinese
house church pastor extensively wrote and sang worship songs during
his numerous imprisonments. The application of historical martyrs offers
specic and valuable application for the contemporary church and society.
Historical content initially seems displaced when non-martyrs
such as Athanasius, Anthony, Basil, Augustine, and Brother Yun provide
instruction and models for suffering rather than martyrdom. This reveals
the difculty of separating persecution from martyrdom, twin experiences
cut from the same theological cloth. Smither frequently blends non-martyr
suffering stories among the martyr stories, explaining that martyrdom is one
terminus to “a wide spectrum of persecution” (xiv). Important early church
gures and texts do not populate the historical overview section, because
they inhabit other chapters to illustrate the theological understanding of
martyrdom. For example, only Tertullian and Polycarp receive attention
in the Roman persecution section; the reader will have to search to nd
Perpetua and Felicitas, Justin, and Blandina in other chapters.
The only legitimate surprise of this work is its general omission.
While the subtitle “a brief history” lives up to its approach, the occasions
of recognized martyrs in Christian history is limited. Franciscans and
Moravians solely represent the medieval period. Latimer, Ridley, and
Anabaptists combine for two pages from the Reformation period. If one
looks for a thorough history of martyrdom, this feels like a sample set of
stories from which the contemporary church can learn. The Huguenots,
the martyrs of Córdoba and Amorium, and the Jesuits in imperial Japan are
unnamed. The contemporary martyrs nd better representation with stories
cited from Turkey, Afghanistan, Egypt, and China. Here, the details of names,
dates, and places provide credible data of illustration for the contemporary
church. The omission is redeemed by the quality of examples present. For
example, Coptic Christians sing songs about the martyred each week,
modelling how reection on suffering can live on in the consciousness of
a Christian community.
Smither’s goal is to provide a basic overview of martyrdom
episodes and theology. For an undergraduate class with martyrdom on the
periphery, this short work is a good adoption. Historical fact and theological
justication are solid in this work, evidencing the reality of martyrdom
without the myth of martyrdom proffered in contemporary scholarship. For
non-scholars who want to an introduction to martyrological history, this
144 The Asbury Journal 76/1 (2021)
work will be ideal. For all of us who are appalled by majority world martyrs
before we return to comfortable and safe lives, this book is a meaningful
reminder that our Christian faith should be one ready to be characterized
by a pathos of suffering.
145
The Asbury Journal 76/1: 145-152
© 2021 Asbury Theological Seminary
Books Received
The following books were received by the editor’s ofce since the last issue
of The Asbury Journal. The editor is seeking people interested in writing book
reviews on these or other relevant books for publication in future issues of The
Asbury Journal. Please contact the editor (Robert.danielson@asburyseminary.
edu) if you are interested in reviewing a particular title. Reviews will be
assigned on a rst come basis.
Anatolios, Khaled
2020 Deication Through the Cross: An Eastern Christian
Theology of Salvation. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B.
Eerdmans. ISBN: 978-0-8028-7798-7. Price: $50.00.
Andrews, Lewis M.
2020 Living Spiritually in the Material World. New York, NY:
Fidelis Books. ISBN: 978-1-64293-390-1. Price: $26.00.
Baker, Jonny and Cathy Ross
2020 Imagining Mission with John V. Taylor. London, UK: SCM
Press. ISBN: 978-0-334-05950-9. Price: $19.99.
Barclay, John M. G.
2020 Paul and the Power of Grace. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B.
Eerdmans. ISBN: 978-0-8028-7461-0. Price: $22.00.
Bauckham, Richard
2020 Who is God? Key Moments of Biblical Revelation. Grand
Rapids, MI: Baker Academic. ISBN: 978-1-5409-6190-
7. Price: $21.99.
Bird, Michael F.
2020 Evangelical Theology: A Biblical and Systematic
Introduction. Second edition. Grand Rapids, MI:
Zondervan Academic. ISBN: 978-0-310-09397-8. Price:
$59.99.
Black, David Alan and Benjamin L. Merkle, eds.
2020 Linguistics and New Testament Greek: Key Issues in the
Current Debate. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.
ISBN: 978-1-5409-6106-8. Price: $29.99.
146 The Asbury Journal 76/1 (2021)
Boccaccini, Gabriele
2020 Paul’s Three Paths to Salvation. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm.
B. Eerdmans. ISBN: 978-0-8028-3921-3. Price: $30.00.
Breimaier, Thomas
2020 Tethered to the Cross: The Life and Preaching of C.H.
Spurgeon. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press
Academic. ISBN: 978-0-8308-5330-4. Price: $35.00.
Buckwell, Brenda K.
2020 Spiritual Direction and the Metamorphosis of Church.
Nashville, TN: General Board of Higher Education and
Ministry of The United Methodist Church. ISBN: 978-1-
9459-3580-0. Price: $18.99.
Campbell, Constantine R.
2020 Paul and the Hope of Glory: An Exegetical and
Theological Study. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan
Academic. ISBN: 978-0-310-52120-4. Price: $34.99.
Campbell, Constantine R. and Jonathan T. Pennington
2020 Reading the New Testament as Christian Scripture: A
Literary, Canonical, and Theological Survey. Grand
Rapids, MI: Baker Academic. ISBN: 978-0-8010-9792-
8. Price: $54.99.
Carroll R., M. Daniel
2020 The Book of Amos. The New International Commentary
on the Old Testament. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B.
Eerdmans. ISBN: 978-0-8028-2538-4. Price: $52.00.
Cleaver, Emanuel III
2021 What is the Bible and Who is it For?: A book for Beginners,
Skeptics, and Seekers. Nashville, TN: General Board of
Higher Education and Ministry of The United Methodist
Church. ISBN: 978-1-9459-3593-0. Price: $19.99.
Cohick, Lynn H.
2020 The Letter to the Ephesians. The New International
Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids, MI:
Wm. B. Eerdmans. ISBN: 978-0-8028-6842-8. Price:
$55.00.
Cotherman, Charles E.
2020 To Think Christianly: A History of L’Abri, Regent College,
and the Christian Study Center Movement. Downers
Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press Academic. ISBN: 978-0-
8308-5282-6. Price: $35.00.
BookS receiVed 147
Creach, Jerome F. D.
2020 Discovering Psalms: Content, Interpretation, Reception.
Discovering Biblical Texts. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B.
Eerdmans. ISBN: 978-0-8028-7806-9. Price: $22.00.
Crisp, Oliver D.
2020 Approaching the Atonement: The Reconciling Work of
Christ. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press
Academic. ISBN: 978-0-8308-5197-3. Price: $22.00.
Curtice, Kaitlin
2020 Native: Identity, Belonging, and Rediscovering God.
Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos Press. ISBN: 978-1-58743-
431-0. Price: $17.99.
Dreff, Ashley Boggan
2020 Nevertheless: American Methodists and Women’s Rights.
Nashville, TN: General Board of Higher Education and
Ministry of The United Methodist Church. ISBN: 978-1-
9459-3577-0. Price: $16.99.
Duvall, J. Scott and J. Daniel Hays
2020 Grasping God’s Word: A Hands-On Approach to
Reading, Interpreting, and Applying the Bible. Fourth
Edition. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Academic. ISBN:
978-0-310-10917-4. Price: $49.99.
Duvall, J. Scott and J. Daniel Hays, eds.
2020 The Baker Illustrated Bible Background Commentary.
Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books. ISBN: 978-0-8010-
1837-4. Price: $49.99.
Farhadian, Charles E.
2020 Christianity: A Brief Introduction. Grand Rapids, MI:
Baker Academic. ISBN: 978-1-5409-6022-1. Price:
$19.99.
Flett, John G. and Henning Wrogemann
2020 Questions of Context: Reading a Century of German
Mission Theology. Missiological Engagements. Downers
Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press Academic. ISBN: 978-0-
8308-5108-9. Price: $40.00.
Garrard, Virginia
2020 New Faces of God in Latin America: Emerging Forms of
Vernacular Christianity. New York, NY: Oxford University
Press. ISBN: 978-0-1975-2927-0. Price: $99.00.
Goldingay, John
2021 The Theology of Jeremiah: The Book, The Man, The
Message. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press
Academic. ISBN: 978-0-8308-5527-8. Price: $22.00.
148 The Asbury Journal 76/1 (2021)
Green, Gene L., Stephen T. Pardue, and K. K. Yeo
2020 Majority World Theology: Christian Doctrine in a Global
Context. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press
Academic. ISBN: 978-0-8308-3180-7. Price: $65.00.
Greggs, Tom
2020 The Breadth of Salvation: Rediscovering the Fulness of
God’s Saving Work. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic.
ISBN: 978-1-5409-6195-2. Price: $21.99.
Grudem, Wayne
2020 Systemic Theology: An Introduction of Biblical Doctrine.
Second edition. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan
Academic. ISBN: 978-0-310-51797-9. Price: $59.99.
Gurtner, Daniel M.
2020 Introducing the Pseudepigrapha of Second Temple
Judaism. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic. ISBN: 978-
0-8010-4987-3. Price: $49.99.
Harink, Douglas
2020 Resurrecting justice: Reading Romans for the Life of the
World. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press
Academic. ISBN: 978-0-8308-5276-5. Price: $26.00.
Harmon, Matthew S.
2020 Rebels and Exiles: A Biblical Theology of Sin and
Restoration. Essential Studies in Biblical Theology.
Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press Academic. ISBN:
978-0-8308-5541-4. Price: $22.00.
Horrell, David G.
2020 Ethnicity and Inclusion: Religion, Race, and Whiteness in
Constructions of Jewish and Christian Identities. Grand
Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans. ISBN: 978-0-8028-7608-
9. Price: $55.00.
Jain, Andrea R.
2020 Peace Love Yoga: The Politics of Global Spirituality. New
York, NY: Oxford University Press. ISBN: 978-0-1908-
8862-6. Price: $99.00.
Jipp, Joshua W.
2020 The Messianic Theology of the New Testament. Grand
Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans. ISBN: 978-0-8028-7717-
8. Price: $50.00.
Krom, Michael P.
2020 Justice and Charity: An Introduction to Aquinas’s Moral,
Economic, and Political Thought. Grand Rapids, MI:
Baker Academic. ISBN: 978-1-5409-6224-9. Price:
$29.99.
BookS receiVed 149
Leach, Jane
2020 A Charge to Keep: Reective supervision and the
Renewal of Christian Leadership. Nashville, TN: General
Board of Higher Education and Ministry of The United
Methodist Church. ISBN: 978-1-9459-3572-5. Price:
$32.99.
Levison, Jack
2020 An Unconventional God: The Spirit According to Jesus.
Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic. ISBN: 978-1-5409-
6119-8. Price: $24.99.
Longman, Tremper III
2020 How to Read Daniel. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity
Press Academic. ISBN: 978-0-8308-5320-5. Price:
$20.00.
Kling, David W.
2020 How God Becomes Real: Kindling the Presence of
Invisible Others. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University
Press. ISBN: 978-0-691-16446-5. Price: $29.95.
McCaulley, Esau
2020 Reading While Black: African American Biblical
Interpretation as an Exercise in Hope. Downers Grove,
IL: InterVarsity Press Academic. ISBN: 978-0-8308-
5486-8. Price: $20.00.
McFarlane, Graham
2020 A Model for Evangelical Theology. Grand Rapids, MI:
Baker Academic. ISBN: 978-0-5409-6035-1. Price:
$32.99.
McNeil, Brenda Salter
2020 Becoming Brave: Finding Courage to Pursue Racial
Justice Now.. Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos Press. ISBN:
978-1-58743-447-1. Price: $21.99.
Maddix, Mark A., Jonathan H. Kim, and James Riley Estep, Jr.
2020 Understanding Faith Formation: Theological,
Congregational, and Global Dimensions. Grand Rapids,
MI: Baker Academic. ISBN: 978-1-5409-6038-2. Price:
$24.99.
Moloney, Francis J., SDB.
2020 The Apocalypse of John: A Commentary. Grand Rapids,
MI: Baker Academic. ISBN: 978-1-5409-6177-8. Price:
$54.99.
150 The Asbury Journal 76/1 (2021)
Morales, L. Michael
2020 Exodus Old and New: A Biblical Theology of Redemption.
Essential Studies in Biblical Theology. Downers Grove,
IL: InterVarsity Press Academic. ISBN: 978-0-8308-
5539-1. Price: $22.00.
New International Version
2020 NIV Study Bible. Fully Revised Edition. Grand Rapids,
MI: Zondervan Academic. ISBN: 978-0-310-44894-5.
Price: $54.99.
Packiam, Glenn
2020 Worship and the World to Come: Exploring Christian
Hope in Contemporary Worship. Dynamics of Christian
Worship. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press
Academic. ISBN: 978-0-8308-4931-4. Price: $35.00.
Park, HiRho Y., and Cynthia A. Bond Hopson, eds.
2020 Contextual Theology: Intersectionality of Gender, Race,
and Class. Nashville, TN: General Board of Higher
Education and Ministry of The United Methodist Church.
ISBN: 978-1-9459-3579-4. Price: $34.99.
Pasquarello, Michael, III
2020 The Beauty of Preaching: God’s Glory in Christian
Proclamation. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans.
ISBN: 978-0-8028-2474-5. Price: $26.99.
Richards, E. Randolph and Richard James
2020 Misreading Scripture with Individualist Eyes: Patronage,
Honor, and Shame in the Biblical World. Downers
Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press Academic. ISBN: 978-0-
8308-5275-8. Price: $28.00.
Richter, Sandra L.
2020 Stewards of Eden: What Scripture Says About the
Environment and Why it Matters. Downers Grove, IL:
InterVarsity Press Academic. ISBN: 978-0-8308-4926-0.
Price: $20.00.
Shay, Scott A.
2018 In Good Faith: Questioning Religion and Atheism. New
York, NY: Post Hill Press. ISBN: 978-1-68261-792-2.
Price: $35.00.
Skinner, Christopher W., Nijay K. Gupta, Andy Johnson, and Drew J. Strait,
eds.
2021 Cruciform Scripture: Cross, Participation, and Mission.
Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans. ISBN: 978-0-
8028-7637-9. Price: $35.00.
BookS receiVed 151
Stetina, Karin Spiecker.
2020 How to Read Theology for All Its Worth: A Guide for
Students. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Academic.
ISBN: 978-0-310-09382-4. Price: $16.99.
Storms, Sam
2020 Understanding Spiritual Gifts: A Comprehensive Guide.
Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Reective. ISBN: 978-0-
310-11149-8. Price: $19.99.
Stubbs, David L.
2020 Table and Temple: The Christian Eucharist and Its Jewish
Roots. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans. ISBN: 978-
0-8028-7480-1. Price: $40.00.
Sumney, Jerry L.
2020 The Politics of Faith: The Bible, Government, and Public
Policy. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press. ISBN: 978-1-
5064-6699-6. Price: $16.99.
Sun, Chloe T.
2020 Attempt Great Things for God: Theological Education
in Diaspora. Theological Education Between the Times.
Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans. ISBN: 978-0-
8028-7842-7. Price: $19.99.
Taylor, Derek W.
2020 Reading Scripture as the Church: Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s
Hermeneutic of Discipleship. New Explorations in
Theology. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press
Academic. ISBN: 978-0-8308-4918-5. Price: $40.00.
Thiessen, Matthew
2020 Jesus and the Forces of Death: The Gospels’ Portrayal
of Ritual Impurity Within First-Century Judaism. Grand
Rapids, MI: Baker Academic. ISBN: 978-1-5409-6194-
5. Price: $39.99.
Williams, Thaddeus J.
2020 Confronting Injustice Without Compromising Truth: 12
Questions Christians Should Ask About Social Justice.
Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Academic. ISBN: 978-0-
310-11948-7. Price: $22.99.
Wimberly, Anne E. Streaty, Nathaniel D. West, and Annie Lockhart-Gilroy,
eds.
2020 From Lament to Advocacy: Black Religious Education
and Public Ministry. Nashville, TN: General Board of
Higher Education and Ministry of The United Methodist
Church. ISBN: 978-1-9459-3574-9. Price: $39.99.
152 The Asbury Journal 76/1 (2021)
Witherington, Ben, III and Jason A. Meyers
2020 Voices and Views on Paul. Exploring Scholarly Trends.
Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press Academic. ISBN:
978-0-8308-5231-4. Price: $30.00.
Wright, Catherine J.
2020 Spiritual Practices of Jesus: Learning Simplicity, Humility,
and Prayer with Luke’s Earliest Readers. Downers Grove,
IL: InterVarsity Press Academic. ISBN: 978-0-8308-
5226-0. Price: $25.00.
Yong, Amos
2020 Renewing the Church by the Spirit: Theological Education
After Pentecost. Theological Education Between the
Times. Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans. ISBN: 978-
0-8028-7840-3. Price: $40.00.
