Review: Salvation to the Ends of the Earth: A Biblical Theology of Mission (New Studies in Biblical Theology)

Salvation to the Ends of the Earth: A Biblical Theology of Mission (New Studies in Biblical Theology by Andreas J. Köstenberger
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This title is targeted at intermediate and advanced readers, for the deep theological content is difficult to skim through quickly without engaging into time to digest and reflect. For the tens of books I utilised for a research paper on the biblical theological perspective on missions, this was the one I found the most insightful. It was also really easy to read and its thickness is due to the breadth of issues discussed. It is a pity that this book is out of print (and I did notice many ideas from various other authors being quoted without acknowledgement).

Nevertheless, I recommend obtaining a copy because of its usefulness. It would still be a good investment for sermon or bible study preparation, especially for the last chapter (concluding synthesis) provides a "light" and easily comprehensible summary of the topic. If you find that a certain subsection in the concluding summary that seems potentially useful, you can tend leaf your way into the in-depth corresponding chapter.

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Review: Women in the Church (Third Edition): An Interpretation and Application of 1 Timothy 2:9-15

Women in the Church (Third Edition): An Interpretation and Application of 1 Timothy 2:9-15 by Andreas J. Köstenberger
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

While I thoroughly enjoyed the 2nd edition (see my review at http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...), I was honestly disappointed with the quality of the 3rd edition. I felt that the 2nd edition was a trailblazer in setting the parameters of the modern debate in Western theological academic circles, the 3rd edition has been reduced to a slightly pitiful defensive posture. If I could borrow terminology from debating, the 3rd edition contributes more negative material (rebuttals) than positive matter (substantives).

Thomas Schreiner is one of my favourite theologians and commentators. But even his new chapter seemed to be too long winded and off focus. (Even though I resonated strongly with his chapters in Two Views on Women in Ministry (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...) and in the 2nd edition). Perhaps there is not much new material to put forth on the table, and instead of reiterating the old substantives, the authors (and editors) to engage lengthy interaction with dissenting scholarship. My primary criticisms of the book's long-windedness and excessive (but often weak) interaction with other theologians does not render it useless. Most students would still find the 3rd edition useful for academic research, as the title represents a collection of the scholarship from the premier complementarian theologians.

Thankfully, S M Baugh's revised chapter on the background of Ephesus (where most scholars affirm Paul had written the epistle of 1 Tim. from) is a vast improvement from the 2nd edition. I enjoyed the chapter throughly. The roundtable discussion (Application) chapter is a great idea, though most readers would probably not give much weight into the opinions of "normal" or lay people. But if it were a group of pastors from established churches (like how the Gospel Coalition would video an interview with three pastors), or a group of theologians (maybe even the authors themselves), that would make the book worth many times its retail price.

The 3rd edition has 150 pages more (and in my opinion often longwinded) content than the 2nd, and I hope that in the 4th edition, presumably in 10 years time, would be edited with more brevity and be sharp to the point. If your seminary/church or public library has this book, borrow it! But I am hesitant to recommend this book to be purchased as an essential reference tool on one's bookshelf.

I received this ebook from the Crossway's Beyond the Page Program in exchange for this review.

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Review: Women in the Church: An Analysis and Application of 1 Timothy 2:9-15

Women in the Church: An Analysis and Application of 1 Timothy 2:9-15 by Andreas J. Kostenberger
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I specially ordered this book for the purposes of writing a paper on 1 Tim. 2:9-15 as part of course requirements for a Systematic Theology course. I sought to give the text a fair treatment, and as best as I can, resist the inclinations of allowing my presuppositions to influence my understanding and interpretation.

This book should get a more stars by complementarian reviwers and less stars from the egalitarian reviwers. Therefore I would like to disclose that my view of women in ministry is close to Blomberg's position of "Neither Complementarian nor Egalitarian" (see the Appendix of the Two Views on Women in Ministry that he co-edited - http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19...).

Hence, while I do not hold a strict complementarian view like the authors (and editors) do, I was overwhelmed and inspired by their dedication and passion they have for interpretation God's Holy Word. Their love for God and his Bible is ever so evident across the multiple authors. Of the 30-40 other books and commentaries** on 1 Tim. 2, this title stood out as one that achieved a beautiful mix of positive matter/substantives being put forward with a lively interaction with (egalitarian) scholarship that was published after the first edition in 1995.

At no part of the book did I sense any bigoted or sexist agenda. What matched the most rigorous of academic scholarship, was an equally enormous amount of grace and pastoral care. I would like to echo Schreiner's call to “bend over backward to love those with whom we disagree, and to assure them that we hope and pray that God will bless their ministries, even tough we believes that it is a mistake for women to take on a pastoral role.” (p85-86).

I heartily recommend this book! If like me, you would like to embark on a study of 1 Tim. 2 to attempt to find out what the bible actually affirms, I would recommend this book, alongside Stanley J. Grenz and Denise M. Kjesbo's Women in the Church: A Biblical Theology of Women in Ministry. In my opinion, these two are the best in the respective camps (in the defence of their position in the rebuttals of the other).

UPDATE: The 2016 Edition has been released. See my review of it at https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

**See my goodreads review for the list of sources I consulted for my 1 Tim. 2 exegetical paper.

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