Click image to buy at Monergism Booksby Robert L. Plummer.
Last week I mentioned that I’d be adding one more book to the list of excellent books that I judge to be both accessible and valuable for every believer, and 40 Questions About Interpreting the Bible is it. I don’t know of any other introductory book on interpreting scripture that would be as useful for any Christian who desires to better understand the Bible.
Robert Plummer wrote this book with a college or seminary Bible course in mind. “Ideally,” he writes, “it would serve as a textbook…” but would also “be beneficial to any curious Christian.” His goal
was to be accessible without being simplistic and scholarly without being pedantic, while always keeping an eye to practical questions and real-life application by the Christian reader.
It sounds almost as if he had my list in mind when he wrote the book, doesn’t it?
40 Questions has 326 pages, which might sound long, but it’s made up of 40 short stand-alone chapters. It’d be perfectly fine for you to look at the list of questions and jump right in to those that interest you most and skip (but hopefully not forever) those you’re less interested in. And there are plenty of charts and lists to keep things uncomplicated and enough humour and stories to keep things unstuffy. (I started reading this book while traveling and the format makes it perfect for that.)
Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee, God of glory, Lord of love; Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee, opening to the sun above. Melt the clouds of sin and sadness; drive the dark of doubt away; Giver of immortal gladness, fill us with the light of day!
All Thy works with joy surround Thee, earth and heaven reflect Thy rays, Stars and angels sing around Thee, center of unbroken praise. Field and forest, vale and mountain, flowery meadow, flashing sea, Singing bird and flowing fountain call us to rejoice in Thee.
Thou art giving and forgiving, ever blessing, ever blessed, Wellspring of the joy of living, ocean depth of happy rest! Thou our Father, Christ our Brother, all who live in love are Thine; Teach us how to love each other, lift us to the joy divine.
Mortals, join the happy chorus, which the morning stars began; Father love is reigning o’er us, brother love binds man to man. Ever singing, march we onward, victors in the midst of strife, Joyful music leads us Sunward in the triumph song of life.
Have you posted a hymn (or sermon, sermon notes, prayer, etc.) today and I missed it? Let me know by leaving a link in the comments or by contacting me using the contact form linked above, and I’ll add your post to the list.