Review: God's New Society: The Message of Ephesians

God's New Society: The Message of Ephesians by John R.W. Stott
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This commentary appears to deviate away from Stott’s usual high quality titles that are epitomised by clear exposition, engaging illustrations and deep theological reflection. Published in 1979, this book has blessed many generators of students, pastors and preachers prior to the publication of newer commentaries. An updating of the illustrations and language would be helpful in capturing the attention of modern readers and assisting in their comprehension of the biblical text. It would also be more useful if Stott transposed what he perceives to be poor translation choices against more popular modern translations such as the ESV, NLT or NIV – as compared to the older AV, RSV and NEB translations as found in the book. On the same note, the title’s age renders it unable to interact with modern scholarship that has since been published, and references are made to scholars whose names the present day reader would probably not be familiar with.

Before the advent of the excellent commentaries by Walter Liefeld's 1997 and Clinton Arnold's 2010 excellent commentaries utilise modern analogies and cite present world events. Liefeld’s IVPNTC commentary is superior in brevity and clarity – teachers and pastors would find it useful for lesson/sermon preparation. Arnold’s ZECNT commentary is superior in depth and theological reflection – advanced readers and scholars would find it useful. R Kent Hughes' 1990 title from the Preaching the Word Series is also superior exposition and has surpassed Stott’s title.

Amidst the book’s various issues, there are some timeless truths and reflections that are still relevant and helpful to reflect upon today. Looking back in time, this reviewer is heartened that in his exposition of Eph. 3:7, Stott extends grace to a movement he did not agree with or endorse, thereby effectively illustrating the point of the passage – that “the unity of the church is due to charis, God’s grace having reconciled us to himself; but the diversity of the church is due to charismata, God’s gifts distributed to church members”:

From this word charismata that the adjective ‘charismatic’ is derived. The so-called ‘charismatic movement’, although controversial in a number of its distinctive emphases, has without doubt been used by God to bring spiritual renewal to many churches and individual Christians. Nevertheless, we should register a biblical protest against the designation ‘charismatic movement’, whether its adherents themselves chose it or were given it. ‘Charismatic’ is not a term which can be accurately applied to any group or movement within the church, since according to the New Testament the whole church is a charismatic community. It is the body of Christ, every single member of which has a gift (charisma) to exercise or function to perform. (Pg. 155-6)

Furthermore, the Pentecostal and Charismatic churches today would do well to pay heed to and prevent much abuse from Stott’s timeless advice regarding God’s raising up of prophets and prophetesses (4:11) by “carefully test[ing] by Scripture and by the known character of the speaker, and that the regular, systematic, thoughtful exposition of the Bible is much more important for the building up of the people of God.” (Pg. 162-3).

This reviewer suggests that much of the abuse and misuse of the gifts of the Holy Spirit, especially regarding words of knowledge and ‘commands’ from church leaders, could be avoided if Holy Scripture is the lens by which all such words are examined by. A church would perhaps enjoy the best of the charismatic and reformed worlds – when they are fed a diet of faithful exposition of Scripture in the environment of expectant supernatural faith-expanding operation of the Holy Spirit in ministry of the lost and of the congregation.

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