Who Loves Bible Study? I DO!

Professor Rob Plummer has declared the month of May  “Read a Historical Theology text month.” What is historical theology? Plummer describes it as, “the academic discipline that looks at the development and articulation of Christian doctrine throughout church history.” He has decided to read about 30 pages a day from Gregg Allison’s “Historical Theology.” This book has been on my radar for a few months now, so I’ve decided to read along with Prof. Plummer. I ordered the book from CBD, which has it on sale for $28.99. I should get it next Thursday, and I’ll probably start it right away to give myself a little extra time as I am also using other textbooks right now to help in my Bible study.

Today I will finish the last assignment in Chapter 3 of “Grasping God’s Word,” a textbook that helps you learn how to really dig into the Biblical text, drawing out the meaning that was actually intended instead of reading meaning into the text. I also plan to read through Chapter 4 and do at least one assignment from that chapter. I’m using the second edition (which I also purchased from CBD), mostly because I got impatient and couldn’t wait for the third edition that is being released in May. There is also a workbook that goes along with it, which I highly suggest to you get if you use the textbook. So far, the material has been about practice, practice, practice… but I’m loving it, and I can’t wait to get to the deeper stuff.

I’ve also started over with Greek. I’m actually pleasantly surprised that I have retained even a little bit of what I had learned before. I am using Bill Mounce’s Greek Grammar and workbook (second edition… there is also a third edition available now) which I purchased a couple of years ago. I really want to learn this, but it’s very hard doing it alone. One of my goals for this year was to pick this up again, and I have… and I’m determined to stick with it.

I’m all-in right now. I purchased a few other resources as well, but I may not get to those for a while as I’m still doing other reading as well. Busy, busy, busy. But loving it!

Night by Elie Wiesel

     The picture to the left is the cover of a 3-in-1 collection of Elie Wiesel’s Night Trilogy. Night, the first of the trilogy, is a memoir. Elie Wiesel, a holocaust survivor, tells of his time at Auschwitz. From his home, to the ghetto, to the camps and the separation of his family… he and his father had only each other to help each other survive.

I will never understand the depths of human cruelty. Wiesel’s account will leave you feeling almost as if you were there. His words are simple and straightforward, but they have such an impact. I have no words to even begin to express my feelings when reading this. Is this a classic? Most definitely. This book captures a moment in time when men showed ultimate evil, and yet others showed ultimate strength – surrounded by death, knowing that the same fate would soon be their own. It is most definitely a classic, though I (and I’m sure Elie Wiesel) wish history had never given it the opportunity to be so. I will always consider this to be one of my top five, must read books.

I have removed accuracy from the rating. As Wiesel’s personal account I have no way to verify, yet absolutely no reason to doubt, that his words are true.

1) Is it understandable? = 5
2) Presentation of Information = 5
3) Accuracy
4) Quality of Writing = 5
5) Overall Enjoyability = 5

Average of  score 5
Overall grade = A

For more on Elie Wiesel and his humanitarian work, please go to his foundation’s website.

Where to buy the book: CBD | Amazon | B&N

This was book 52 in my 52 Books in 52 Weeks challenge.

This was book 12 in my Classics challenge.

Eusebius: The Church History by Paul L. Maier

     Eusebius served as the Bishop of Caesarea. He has been called the “Father of Church History.” His ten books of Church History are some of the earliest surviving documents of the history of the Christian Church, with Eusebius often providing eyewitness accounts. His work also served in keeping the words of other great historians and Christians alive. He cites many works by others, as support for his history, which have no survived. These are words we would never know existed, except through Eusebius’ Church History.

     I don’t even pretend to attempt to review a work of this importance. What I will review briefly is this particular translation by Paul L. Maier. Maier opens by showing examples as to how his new translation is both accurate and easier to read. Throughout the text there are footnotes to help cite the quotations used by Eusebius and to add notes. Some notes add additional information that has since been discovered. Other notes show where history and research have shown things to be incorrect (though not in any way that would taint the work… mostly regarding dates) or unproven. At the end of each Book (chapter) Maier gives us a brief commentary both summarizing the Book and adding more information when needed. There are several pictures and maps to help the reader gain a better understanding. And Maier’s translation is very easy to read.

Again, the following rating and grade are not of Eusebius’ work, but of Maier’s translation.

1) Is it understandable? = 4.5
2) Presentation of Information = 5
3) Accuracy = removed from average
4) Quality of Writing = 4.5
5) Overall Enjoyability = 4.5

Average of  score 4.625
Overall grade = A-

Where to buy the book: CBD | Amazon | B&N

I checked this book out through my local library’s Interlibrary Loan program.

This was book 33 in my 52 Books in 52 Weeks challenge.

The Constantine Codex by Paul L. Maier

     When a dig in Pella turns up less-than-stunning finds, Shannon Jennings Weber decides to visit the archives of a nearby church. She discovers brown leaves of parchment being used as a bookmark in Eusebius’ Historia Ekklesiastica. She brings the pages to her famous husband, Dr. Jonathan Weber, a professor at Harvard. What they discover is that these few brown pages could lead to the biggest discovery in Christianity since the Dead Sea Scrolls. Problems arise, and the Webers face more than their share of dangers as events unfold. Will this be the discovery of the century?

     First let me say, I loved this novel! Paul L. Maier is a professor of Ancient History. He has done translations and commentaries on the historical works of both Josephus and Eusebius. While The Constantine Codex is a work of fiction it contains many historical facts regarding Christianity. I have been interested in church history for some time now, though I by no means admit to knowing much. But I am willing to bet that if you’ve never been interesting in the history of Christianity this book may make you curious. The story is fascinating and I actually learned a lot about manuscripts that scholars truly believe could exist. The story has a couple of sub-plots that keep everything moving along. As a whole, this is a very interesting and entertaining novel. Easily in my top 3 for the year.

1) Overall Plot = 5
2) Characters = 5
3) Flow/Pace of the story = 5
4) Is the story easy to follow? = 5
5) Overall Enjoyability = 5

Average of  score 5
Overall grade = A

Where to buy the book: CBD | Amazon | B&N

I earned a copy of this book from Tyndale’s Summer Reading Program. A review was not required.

This was book 31 in my 52 Books in 52 Weeks challenge.

Galileo by Mitch Stokes

     One of the books in the Christian Encounters series published by Thomas Nelson, Mitch Stokes’s Galileo is a thorough biography of the career and personal life of Galileo Galilei. Drawing upon several historical sources, Stokes separates fact from legend and gives us insight into one of the most important figures in the world of science. We see him not only as scientist and mathematician, but as father, friend, and lover of God.

     This is the first book I’ve read from the Christian Encounters series, and I think it’s a wonderful idea. Galileo is a wonderful addition. I’ve always loved science and astronomy, and I knew about Galileo, of course, from various science classes over the years, but I learned a lot about Galileo that I didn’t know. Especially in regards to his personal life, an area in which I knew nothing about him. Mitch Stokes tells Galileo’s story in an interesting and captivating way. I never thought that I’d say a biography is a page-turner, but this one is.

1) Is it understandable? = 5
2) Presentation of Information = 5
3) Accuracy = removed from average
4) Quality of Writing = 5
5) Overall Enjoyability = 5

Average of  score 5

Overall grade = A

Where to buy the book: CBD | Amazon | Thomas Nelson

I currently have no video review for this book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book for review purposes from BookSneeze.

This was book 14 in my 52 Books in 52 Weeks challenge.