Does God exist, and if so, what is He like? Has God revealed Himself, and can we know Him? The answers to these perennial questions are vitally important for every human being to understand. Since the time of creation, believers have contemplated the nature and attributes of God, not in...

Continue Reading Doctrine of God: Recommended Reading...

Last July, Ligonier Academy of Biblical and Theological Studies welcomed its inaugural class of D.Min. students. One of the first courses offered, on the subject of preaching, was taught by Dr. Steve Lawson. Dr. Lawson is the Senior Pastor of Christ Fellowship Baptist Church in Mobile, Alabama and the author...

Continue Reading Interview With Dr. Steve Lawson About the Ligonier Academy D.Min. Program...

Ligonier Academy of Biblical and Theological Studies is accepting applications from qualified candidates for admission to the Doctor of Ministry degree program. Our inaugural courses were held in July 2009, and the response of our first students has been overwhelmingly positive. We are very pleased to announce the following upcoming classes.     2010...

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Our understanding of the nature and authority of Scripture is key to our theology. What we think of the Bible will have ramifications on what we think of everything else. What then are some helpful books for those seeking to understand the issues involved? While by no means exhaustive, here...

Continue Reading Doctrine of Scripture: Recommended Reading...

Recently, I posted a blog on the nineteenth century debate between Charles Hodge and John Williamson Nevin regarding the Lord's Supper. In that blog, I posted links only to the documents related specifically to the Lord's Supper debate. It was suggested that it might be helpful to provide the links...

Continue Reading Princeton vs. Mercersburg: Some Primary Sources...

Recently, I completed a series of posts listing what I believe to be the most helpful commentaries on each book of the Bible. What I would like to do now is something similar with other biblical, theological, and historical topics. This will be, Lord willing, the first in a series...

Continue Reading Systematic Theologies: Recommended Reading...

In 2002, I published a book entitled Given For You: Reclaiming Calvin's Doctrine of the Lord's Supper. On page 136, I made the following statement:One of the most fascinating theological debates to occur in nineteenth-century antebellum America was the eucharistic debate between John Williamson Nevin and Charles Hodge that resulted...

Continue Reading Charles Hodge vs. John Williamson Nevin on the Lord's Supper...

I recently had the privilege of reviewing the three top Bible study software programs available today: BibleWorks, Logos, and Accordance.It may be helpful at this point to provide a brief summary of my thoughts on how these three compare.All three software programs have strong original language capabilities. I don't think...

Continue Reading BibleWorks, Logos, and Accordance: A Comparison...

Ligonier Academy is pleased to announce the names of its first two Certificate program graduates. We would like to congratulate Mr. Ryan Ausmus for completing the Introductory Certificate in Apologetics and Mr. Mark Salmon for completing the Introductory Certificate in Biblical Studies. We pray that these men will be able...

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For those of us over the age of 40, reviewing today's Bible study software can cause conflicting emotions. It's exciting to learn all of the capabilities of these great time-saving tools, but it is sometimes difficult to keep oneself from thinking, "I wish this had been available back when I...

Continue Reading Logos Scholar's Gold - A Review...

One of the great needs of the church today is a renewed commitment to expository preaching and teaching based on a careful study of the Bible in its original languages. Many pastors, however, are pressed for time and find it difficult to dig into the text as deeply as they...

Continue Reading BibleWorks 8 - A Review...

Ligonier Academy is pleased to announce the courses that will be offered in 2010 as part of our Doctor of Ministry program. For more information on this new program, please visit the Ligonier Academy Doctor of Ministry website.The Winter 2010 D.Min. course schedule is:January 11-15: Reformed Philosophy of Ministry -...

Continue Reading Announcing 2010 Doctor of Ministry Courses...

When I started seminary in 1990, I wrote all of my papers on a typewriter. Personal computers were available at that time, but they were expensive and out of my price range. In fact, I didn't own a personal computer until 1996. Like everyone else at that time, I did...

Continue Reading Accordance 8: A Review...

In 1991, Phillip Johnson published Darwin on Trial. In 1996, Michael Behe published Darwin's Black Box. In 1998, William Dembski published The Design Inference. While numerous other books on the subject have been published, these three books are considered landmark works in the discussion over intelligent design. Now there is...

Continue Reading Signature in the Cell...

Dr. Sproul has often remarked that his study of philosophy in college was crucial in helping him to counter the liberal theology he encountered in seminary.  Having studied philosophy, he was able to recognize the underlying ideas that shaped the thinking of his professors.  Our culture has been shaped by...

Continue Reading Study Philosophy at Home with Ligonier Academy...

Preparing a "Top 5" list of commentaries on the book of Revelation is extremely challenging in a number of ways. Commentators differ on many basic issues, from the structure of the book (recapitulation, chronological ordering, telescoping, etc.) to the basic interpretive approach (futurist, preterist, historicist, idealist, eclectic) to its date...

Continue Reading Top 5 Commentaries on the Book of Revelation...

The book of Malachi is the last of the twelve Minor Prophets, and little is known of the author himself aside from what may be inferred from the contents of his book. Unlike Haggai and Zechariah, Malachi prophesied some time after the completion of the temple in 515 B.C. In...

Continue Reading Top 5 Commentaries on the Book of Malachi...

The three epistles of John were likely written from Ephesus between A.D. 80 and 85. This would make them among the last New Testament books to be written. The recipients of these letters were likely members of regional churches associated with the church in Ephesus, which itself was under the...

Continue Reading Top 5 Commentaries on the Epistles of John...

Scripture exhorts us to always be ready to make a defense to anyone who asks us for a reason for the hope that is in us (1 Peter 3:15). Are you ready? What would you say if challenged by an atheist or agnostic? What would you say if challenged by...

Continue Reading Study Apologetics at Home with Ligonier Academy...

The book of Zechariah is the lengthiest of the so-called Minor Prophets and one of the most difficult books in the Old Testament. The historical context of the book is identical to that of Haggai. The first eight chapters of Zechariah contain date references ranging from October of 520 B.C....

Continue Reading Top 5 Commentaries on the Book of Zechariah...

All Scripture is inspired and profitable, but Scripture does not profit us if we do not read and understand it. Many of us as Christians have been confused at times when we tried to understand the Bible. As believers, we know that Scripture is the Word of God, but what...

Continue Reading Study Scripture at Home with Ligonier Academy...

The epistles of 2 Peter and Jude are among the most neglected books in the Bible. Both books are dealing with the same problem. 2 Peter and Jude were written to combat the rise of false teachers in the Christian churches. These books are, therefore, extraordinarily relevant, even today. There...

Continue Reading Top 5 Commentaries on the Books of 2 Peter and Jude...

Every Christian is a theologian. Not all Christians are professional theologians, but we are all theologians because we are all thinking and learning about the things of God. The question is not whether we are theologians or not, but whether we are good theologians or bad theologians. Because our theology...

Continue Reading Study Theology at Home with Ligonier Academy...

The exile was a major turning point in the history of Israel. Judah and Jerusalem had fallen to the armies of Nebuchadnezzar. Many of the people of the land had been taken captive to Babylon, while others had fled to Egypt and parts unknown. A small number of the poor...

Continue Reading Top 5 Commentaries on the Book of Haggai...

It appears that the first epistle of Peter was written by the apostle from Rome sometime around A.D. 62-63, immediately before severe persecution began under Nero. The letter was written to Christians in Asia Minor (1:1) who were already suffering for their Christian faith. Peter writes to encourage these embattled...

Continue Reading Top 5 Commentaries on the Book of 1 Peter...

The nineteenth-century Roman Catholic theologian George Tyrrell once criticized Adolf von Harnack's liberal view of Jesus in these now famous words: "The Christ that Harnack sees, looking back through nineteen centuries of Catholic darkness, is only the reflection of a Liberal Protestant face, seen at the bottom of a deep...

Continue Reading Viewing Calvin at the Bottom of a Deep Well...

Ligonier Academy is pleased to announce the courses that will be offered in January 2010 as part of our Doctor of Ministry program. For more information on this new program, please visit the Ligonier Academy Doctor of Ministry website.The Winter D.Min. course schedule is:January 11-15: Reformed Philosophy of Ministry -...

Continue Reading Announcing Winter 2010 D.Min. Courses...

The book of the prophet Zephaniah indicates that he ministered during the reign of Josiah (640-609), the last of the godly kings of Judah (cf. Zeph. 1:1). He likely prophesied sometime between 622 and 612 B.C. Just as Amos had prophesied about the imminent coming of the Day of the...

Continue Reading Top 5 Commentaries on the Book of Zephaniah...

Ligonier Ministries is pleased to announce that we are now taking registrations for the Certificate Program of the Ligonier Academy of Biblical and Theological Studies.  The Certificate program of Ligonier Academy of Biblical and Theological Studies is a non-degree distance education curriculum designed for laypeople, ministers, and educators who...

Continue Reading Introducing the Certificate Program at Ligonier Academy...

Although books related to the never-ending discussion of the pros and cons of Darwinism are constantly rolling off the presses, there are only a few that have the potential to mark a major turning point in the debate. James Le Fanu's new book Why Us?: How Science Rediscovered the Mystery...

Continue Reading Another Doubter of Darwin Goes Public...

The book of James is possibly the earliest writing found in the New Testament canon. It was likely written after Paul began to bring the Gospel to the Gentiles but before he and James met at the Jerusalem Council (cf. Acts 15). In short, the book of James was likely...

Continue Reading Top 5 Commentaries on the Book of James...

The prophet Habakkuk lived at the end of the seventh century during the period of time when the Assyrian empire was faltering and the Babylonian empire was on the rise (625-605). He likely prophesied between 609 and 605, during the reign of the Judean king Jehoiakim in the last days...

Continue Reading Top 5 Commentaries on the Book of Habakkuk...

The book of Hebrews was likely written sometime before the destruction of Jerusalem in A.D. 70. The author of Hebrews wrote this book to warn the recipients about the peril of apostasy. In order to guard the hearts of his readers against falling away, the author of Hebrews makes an...

Continue Reading Top 5 Commentaries on the Book of Hebrews...

The prophetic oracles found within the seventh century B.C. book of Nahum concern Nineveh, the capital of the Assyrian empire. Approximately a century before Nahum, Jonah had been sent to the Ninevites, and they had repented upon hearing the prophetic word. Their repentance, however, was apparently short lived because Nahum...

Continue Reading Top 5 Commentaries on the Book of Nahum...

The three letters commonly referred to as the "pastoral epistles" (1 Timothy, 2 Timothy, and Titus) are labeled as such because they are the only letters Paul addressed to fellow workers with pastoral responsibilities. All but one of Paul's other letters were explicitly addressed to churches, and that one letter...

Continue Reading Top 5 Commentaries on the Pastoral Epistles...

The ministry of the prophet Micah began during the reign of the Judean king Jotham (750-732) and lasted until the reign of Hezekiah (729-686). His ministry, unlike that of Amos or Hosea, overlapped the fall of the northern kingdom. He prophesied the fall of Israel and lived to witness it....

Continue Reading Top 5 Commentaries on the Book of Micah...

The historical context of Paul's epistles to the Thessalonians is found in Acts 17:1-10. This narrative recounts Paul's work in the city of Thessalonica during his second missionary journey. While there he spoke in the synagogue, persuading some Jews and even more God-fearing Gentiles that Jesus was the promised Messiah....

Continue Reading Top 5 Commentaries on the Books of 1 & 2 Thessalonians...

One of my favorite songs is "Caledonia" by Dougie MacLean. Dougie is from Scotland, and he refers to the song as a "wee homesickness song." Before reading further, click on the video clip below and listen to the song.I've thought about this song and often wondered why it strikes such...

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The style of the book of Jonah is distinctive among the prophetic books. Aside from portions of the book of Jeremiah and Daniel, all of the other prophetic books focus primarily on the message of the prophet. The book of Jonah, on the other hand, is a biographical prose narrative...

Continue Reading Top 5 Commentaries on the Book of Jonah...

Here's a glimpse at the topics to be studied in our Doctor of Ministry program at the new Ligonier Academy. There's still time to enroll for the July courses with Drs. R.C. Sproul and Steven J. Lawson. Click here for more information.DM801 − The Doctrine of Justification − A study...

Continue Reading Ligonier Academy D.Min. Course Descriptions...

The epistles to the Colossians and to Philemon were written by Paul during the early part of his Roman imprisonment. Paul apparently wrote to the Colossian church because he had heard that false teachers had come to the city and were spreading erroneous doctrine in the young church. He writes...

Continue Reading Top 5 Commentaries on the Books of Colossians and Philemon...

The book of Obadiah, the shortest in the Old Testament, is a brief oracle against the nation of Edom. Its date is uncertain. Scholars have proposed dates ranging from the ninth century to the post-exilic period. My own view is that it is to be dated in the early exilic...

Continue Reading Top 5 Commentaries on the Book of Obadiah...

The prophet Amos ministered during the overlapping reigns of Jeroboam II in Israel (793-753) and Uzziah in Judah (792-740). His ministry occurred sometime between 760 and 755 B.C. Amos prophesied at a unique time in the history of the divided kingdom. From approximately 780 to 750, Egypt, Syria, and Assyria...

Continue Reading Top 5 Commentaries on the Book of Amos...

While most of the other prophets can be dated with some degree of accuracy, it is notoriously difficult to date the book of Joel. Suggestions have been offered ranging from the ninth century to the second century B.C. Among conservative scholars, three main views are suggested. Some suggest an early...

Continue Reading Top 5 Commentaries on the Book of Joel...

The epistle to the Philippians is the last of the four "prison epistles" of Paul. This letter was not written for one single purpose. Paul had a number of reasons for writing.  He wanted to update the church about his situation. He wanted to thank them for a gift they...

Continue Reading Top 5 Commentaries on the Book of Philippians...

Anyone who steps into a Christian bookstore or opens a Christian book catalog is immediately struck by the large number of Study Bibles available. There are specialty Study Bibles, such as The Literary Study Bible, the Apologetics Study Bible, and the Archaeological Study Bible. There are Study Bibles geared to...

Continue Reading So What Makes the Reformation Study Bible Different?...

Hosea's prophetic ministry to the northern kingdom of Israel likely began soon after the ministry of the prophet Amos (ca. 752-750). Unlike Amos, Hosea prophesied up to the point in time just prior to the destruction of Israel (ca. 725-722). His ministry, then, spanned a period of approximately three decades....

Continue Reading Top 5 Commentaries on the Book of Hosea...

The year 2008 witnessed the publication of a large number of Christian books. Deciding which to include in this list was no simple matter. I've included titles that I believe will have a lasting influence for one reason or another. I have not listed these publications in any particular order.Herman...

Continue Reading Ten Significant Christian Publications - 2008...

The book of Daniel is set within the context of the sixth century exile. The events narrated in the first six chapters date from the year Nebuchadnezzar deported Daniel and his friends (605) to the third year of Cyrus (536). This spans the entire period of the Babylonian exile. The...

Continue Reading Top 5 Commentaries on the Book of Daniel...

Like Jeremiah, Ezekiel ministered in the years immediately preceding and immediately following the fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. However, unlike Jeremiah, who remained in Judah, Ezekiel ministered primarily to the exiles in Babylon. Ezekiel, a priest of the Jerusalem temple, was one of the many Judeans taken to Babylon...

Continue Reading Top 5 Commentaries on the Book of Ezekiel...

Paul's epistle to the Ephesians was likely written during the time of his two year house arrest in Rome (A.D. 60-62). During this same period, Paul also wrote Colossians, Philemon, and Philippians. These four epistles are now commonly referred to as the "prison epistles." Ephesians is a profound book, and...

Continue Reading Top 5 Commentaries on the Book of Ephesians...

The book of Lamentations was written soon after the fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C. It consists of five poetic songs of lament. It is not among the most popular Old Testament books, but  it repays careful study. There are a number of helpful commentaries on this book, and the...

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The prophet Jeremiah witnessed the fall of Judah in 586 B.C. Jeremiah's prophecies declare the end of one era and announce the beginning of another. The law of God given to Moses had decreed that violations of the covenant would result in the removal of God's blessings and the imposition...

Continue Reading Top 5 Commentaries on the Book of Jeremiah...

With this post, we begin to look at the best commentaries on the Old Testament Prophetic Books. For a good introductory overview of these books, I would recommend O. Palmer Robertson's The Christ of the Prophets.Of all the eighth century prophetic books, none matches the sheer scope of the book...

Continue Reading Top 5 Commentaries on the Book of Isaiah...

The book of Galatians is sometimes referred to as "the charter of Christian liberty." In it, Paul fights tooth and nail for the doctrine of justification by faith alone in Christ alone. There are a number of helpful commentaries on this epistle, and the following are five of the best....

Continue Reading Top 5 Commentaries on the Book of Galatians...

I was recently skimming a book about Cambridge University and ran across a picture of the new Divinity Faculty building completed in 2000. Having looked at page after page of pictures of the centuries-old buildings of Cambridge, I was taken aback by the design chosen for this new structure. I...

Continue Reading When an Architect Should "Take a Mulligan"...

It is somewhat difficult to recommend a "Top 5" list on the Song of Songs because one's inclusion of commentaries in the list will largely depend on whether one takes an allegorical or non-allegorical approach to the book. The list below is based on my own non-allegorical approach to the...

Continue Reading Top 5 Commentaries on The Song of Songs...

What happens when church marketing meets church history? Citizens of the German city of Wittenberg may soon find out. In honor of the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther's arrival in Wittenberg as a student and a monk, the leaders of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) have declared a "Luther...

Continue Reading Wittenberg: The Protestant Rome?...

For the last several years, I have been hearing rumors of a book project that was being developed by Dr. James T. Dennison. According to the "word on the street," Dennison was working on a multi-volume work that would include most or all of the Reformed confessions of the sixteenth...

Continue Reading A New "Must Read" for Reformed Christians...

Vanity of vanities! All is vanity. So begins the book of Ecclesiastes, one of the more difficult books of Scripture to interpret and apply. The book deals with questions of despair, suffering, and folly -- in other words, life in a fallen world. Ecclesiastes teaches us that life without God...

Continue Reading Top 5 Commentaries on the Book of Ecclesiastes...

As a result of a report from Titus, Paul wrote the letter we know as 2 Corinthians sometime in A.D. 56. He wrote the letter to express his thanksgiving for the church's renewed repentance (2 Cor. 7:15-16), to encourage them to complete their collection for the poor in Jerusalem (2...

Continue Reading Top 5 Commentaries on the Book of 2 Corinthians...

The book of Proverbs is the central wisdom book of the Old Testament. Like the book of Psalms, it is a "collection of collections." The individual proverbs were composed by different authors (e.g., Solomon, Agur, Lemuel) over a period of time and finally collected into a single book. The Proverbs...

Continue Reading Top 5 Commentaries on the Book of Proverbs...

The Book of Psalms is one of the most beloved portions of Holy Scripture. Its contents are read and sung by millions every day. The book is actually a collection of 150 individual songs composed over a period of approximately 1000 years, from the time of Moses (Psalm 90) to...

Continue Reading Top 5 Commentaries on the Book of Psalms...

With this post, we begin to look at the best commentaries on the Old Testament Wisdom Books and Psalms. For a good introductory overview of these books, I would recommend Daniel Estes' Handbook on the Wisdom Books and Psalms and Derek Kidner's The Wisdom of Proverbs, Job and Ecclesiastes. Estes'...

Continue Reading Top 5 Commentaries on the Book of Job...

The letter titled First Corinthians in our Bibles was written by the Apostle Paul from Ephesus during his third missionary journey sometime around AD 55. The letter was written to address a number of problems and questions that had arisen in the church at Corinth, including sexual immorality, marriage and...

Continue Reading Top 5 Commentaries on the Book of 1 Corinthians...

In the Hebrew Bible, the book of Esther is found in the third section of the canon, the Writings.  It is the last of the five "scrolls" (Ruth, Song of Songs, Ecclesiastes, Lamentations, and Esther), and is read at the Feast of Purim. It is a deeply profound and moving...

Continue Reading Top 5 Commentaries on the Book of Esther...

With the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, the continuous historical narrative of the Old Testament comes to a close. These two books were originally a single work, and most commentaries treat them together. Ezra and Nehemiah cover an historical period of approximately 100 years, from the decree of Cyrus permitting...

Continue Reading Top 5 Commentaries on the Books of Ezra and Nehemiah...

If you randomly select 100 Christians and ask them to name their five favorite books of the Bible, it is unlikely that the books of 1 & 2 Chronicles will be found on many lists. These books are largely neglected by Christians today. They are, however, part of God's inspired...

Continue Reading Top 5 Commentaries on the Books of 1 & 2 Chronicles...

There are a handful of biblical books for which there is no shortage of commentaries. One thinks immediately of books such as Genesis, Psalms, the Gospel of Matthew, and the Book of Revelation. Paul's Epistle to the Romans, however, may very well be the one book of the Bible that...

Continue Reading Top 5 Commentaries on the Book of Romans...

The books of 1 and 2 Kings recount events that cover a period of just over four hundred years, from the death of David to the release of Jehoiachin from prison in Babylon. The books of Genesis through Samuel describe the progressive and gradual fulfillment of God's promises to give...

Continue Reading Top 5 Commentaries on the Books of 1 & 2 Kings...

The books of Samuel deal in the broadest sense with the establishment of the monarchy in Israel in fulfillment of promises found within the Pentateuch. Within this larger context, these books focus primarily on the stories of three important individuals in the history of Israel: Samuel, Saul, and David. The...

Continue Reading Top 5 Commentaries on the Books of 1 & 2 Samuel...

The book of Acts is Luke's sequel to his Gospel. It traces the first decades in the history of the church after the resurrection of Christ, focusing in particular on the work of Peter and Paul. A helpful work that places Acts in the larger redemptive historical context of Scripture...

Continue Reading Top 5 Commentaries on the Book of Acts...

After reading the story of Israel in the Book of Judges, one can be left wondering whether all is lost for Israel and for mankind. It's a terrible downward spiral of sin and judgment. The Book of Ruth reminds us that it wasn't all bad news. The Book of Ruth...

Continue Reading Top 5 Commentaries on the Book of Ruth...

The events described in the book of Judges cover a period of approximately 350 years, from the death of Joshua to the rise of the monarchy under Samuel. Unlike Joshua, however, which recounted a period of Israel's history largely marked by faithfulness to God, Judges recounts a period of history...

Continue Reading Top 5 Commentaries on the Book of Judges...

The Gospel of John is one of the most popular and beloved books in the Bible, and this fact is reflected in the sheer number of available commentaries on the book. John is so theologically rich that I have found help and insight in a large number of commentaries. Choosing...

Continue Reading Top 5 Commentaries on The Gospel of John...

With this post, we begin to look at the best commentaries on the Old Testament Historical Books. For a good introductory overview of these books, I would recommend Victor P. Hamilton's Handbook on the Historical Books and David M. Howard's An Introduction to the Old Testament Historical Books. The two...

Continue Reading Top 5 Commentaries on the Book of Joshua...

The book of Deuteronomy is one of the most frequently cited Old Testament books in the New Testament. Only Psalms and Isaiah are quoted more. Containing Moses' final messages to the people of Israel before their entrance into the Promised Land, the book is rich in theological significance. The following...

Continue Reading Top 5 Commentaries on the Book of Deuteronomy...

Of the four Gospels, Luke is R.C. Sproul's personal favorite. It is the longest of the four Gospels and the only one whose author wrote a sequel (Acts). His Gospel is addressed to one Theophilus, but it appears to have a larger and predominantly Gentile audience in mind as well....

Continue Reading Top 5 Commentaries on The Gospel of Luke...

Although the fourth book of the Pentateuch is titled "Numbers" in English, its Hebrew name bemidbar ("in the wilderness") is a more accurate description of its contents.  It is largely concerned with Israel's forty years in the wilderness as they slowly made their way from Mount Sinai to the plains...

Continue Reading Top 5 Commentaries on the Book of Numbers...

Although the Gospel of Matthew precedes the Gospel of Mark in the New Testament canon, there is strong evidence that Mark was the first of the four Gospels to be written. It is a fast-moving narrative that seeks to reveal who Jesus is. The following are five of the most...

Continue Reading Top 5 Commentaries on The Gospel of Mark...

How many Christians have resolved to read through the entire Bible and made good progress through Genesis and Exodus only to hit a wall and give up when they reach Leviticus? With all of it's different laws regarding the Old Covenant priesthood and various sacrifices, it can be quite difficult...

Continue Reading Top 5 Commentaries on the Book of Leviticus...

In a 1996 guide to the best commentaries, Derek Thomas wrote: "There is a famine of really good commentaries on Exodus."  Dr. Thomas' commentary guide has since been updated, but at that time, the best contemporary commentary one could recommend on the book of Exodus was by Brevard Childs, and...

Continue Reading Top 5 Commentaries on the Book of Exodus...

The first five books of the Old Testament, the Hebrew Torah, are often called the Pentateuch.  A helpful introduction to this part of Holy Scripture is the book From Paradise to the Promised Land by T. D. Alexander.  The first book of the Pentateuch is one of the most well-known...

Continue Reading Top 5 Commentaries on the Book of Genesis...

The last twenty years have witnessed a dramatic increase in the number and quality of biblical commentaries being published. With such a large number being published, it can be difficult to choose among them, but with the prices involved, it may also be necessary. Ligonier Ministries provides a Recommended Reading...

Continue Reading Top 5 Commentaries on The Gospel of Matthew...

A Body of Divinity.  By Archbishop James Ussher.  Solid Ground Christian Books, 2007.  467pp.  $50.00.A Foundational Text of Reformed OrthodoxyThe last several decades have witnessed the publication of a wealth of classic theological treasures.  Some of these, such as Francis Turretin's Institutes of Elenctic Theology and Herman Bavinck's Reformed Dogmatics,...

Continue Reading Book Review - A Body of Divinity...

The Holy Trinity: In Scripture, History, Theology, and Worship by Robert Letham. P&R Publishing, 2004.  551 pp.  $24.99. Our Triune GodAs Robert Letham observes in his new book, "For the vast majority of Christians, including most ministers and theological students, the Trinity is still a mathematical conundrum, full of imposing...

Continue Reading Book Review - The Holy Trinity by Robert Letham...

Charles Spurgeon referred to it as a "mountain of sound theology," and now Solid Ground Christian Books is bringing the complete works of Thomas Manton back into print in 22 volumes. The list price for this set is $1,000, but until May 31, SGCB is taking pre-publication orders at the...

Continue Reading Complete Works of Thomas Manton...

Skeptics often point to the existence of variants within the biblical manuscripts as evidence that the doctrine of inerrancy is false. Sometimes Christians who notice the effects of these variants when they compare different Bible translations can have their faith shaken. It is important that Christians have an informed understanding...

Continue Reading The Inerrancy of the Autographs...

The recent release of the movie Expelled has made the question of intelligent design a topic of water cooler conversation once again. But what exactly is "intelligent design," and why is it so upsetting to advocates of Neo-Darwinism? Since the publication in 1991 of Phillip Johnson's Darwin on Trial, a...

Continue Reading Unlocking the Mystery of Life...

Dr. O. Palmer Robertson has been a stalwart Reformed scholar for decades, and his writings have benefited countless pastors, students, and laymen. From his classic Christ of the Covenants to his recent Christ of the Prophets, he has helped many to understand the Word of God more fully.This June, P&R...

Continue Reading Essays in Honor of O. Palmer Robertson...

It's been fifteen years since the publication of David Wells' No Place For Truth.  This outstanding volume was followed by God in the Wasteland, Losing Our Virtue, and Above All Earthly Pow'rs.  The fifth and final volume in this series was published on April 14, 2008 by Eerdmans Publishing Company. ...

Continue Reading The Courage to Be Protestant by David F. Wells...

In a recent interview with World magazine, Ben Stein says that he does not expect any Oscar nominations for his new film Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed.  Instead, he says, "I think we will be mocked and belittled for this production."  This may be the understatement of the year.  The reviews...

Continue Reading Expelled the Movie Opens Today...

Seeking a Better Country: 300 Years of American Presbyterianism.  By D. G. Hart and John Muether.  P&R Publishing Company, 2007.  304 pp.  $24.99.The year 2006 marked the 300th anniversary of Presbyterianism in America.  In honor of this tercentenary, D. G. Hart and John Muether have written a critical history of...

Continue Reading Book Review - Seeking A Better Country: 300 Years of American Presbyterianism...

In 2006, four mutual friends who are also pastors with a passion for the Gospel gathered together for a conference entitled Together for the Gospel. These four pastors, Mark Dever, Ligon Duncan, Albert Mohler, and C.J. Mahaney, were joined by R.C. Sproul, John Piper, and John MacArthur. Together they exhorted...

Continue Reading Preaching the Cross (T4G'06)...

If you are a reader of contemporary theological works and you have not already encountered the name "N.T. Wright," you will. Wright is the Anglican Bishop of Durham, and he is one of the most prolific biblical scholars of our day. I first encountered Wright's name years ago while doing...

Continue Reading When Wright Is Wrong...

Augustine of Hippo: A Biography.  New Edition.  By Peter Brown.  University of California Press, 2000.  548 pp.  $19.95.St. Augustine was born in A.D. 354 in the town of Thagaste in North Africa to a pagan father and a Christian mother.  From these inauspicious beginnings, he would eventually become one...

Continue Reading Book Review - Augustine of Hippo: A Biography...

Is God a "delusion"? Is Christianity dangerous? Are science and faith incompatible? Although these questions are not new, they are being asked more often since the publication of Richard Dawkins' bestselling book The God Delusion.In October 2007, Richard Dawkins and fellow Oxford professor Dr. John Lennox were invited to Birmingham,...

Continue Reading Debating 'The God Delusion' ...

I place the books I've read into several categories.  Aside from Scripture, which of course falls into a unique category, the top category consists of great books that I read again and again.  There are a number of books I would place in this category, one of which is Neil...

Continue Reading How Television Has Transformed Public Discourse...

Embryo: A Defense of Human Life.  By Robert P. George and Christopher Tollefsen.  Doubleday, 2008.  242pp.  $23.95.The Least of TheseSince the 1973 Supreme Court decision in the case of Roe v. Wade, the question of the status of the human embryo (and fetus) has been at the center of heated...

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John Newton is best known for his classic hymn "Amazing Grace," but he wrote much more.  One of the most helpful things he ever wrote is found among his collected letters. A fellow minister had written to Newton informing him of his intention to write an article criticizing another minister...

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