Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #623876 in Books
• Published on: 2002-01-01
• Released on: 2002-01-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 360 pages

Customer Reviews

The Death of False Dichotomies
This is Horton's Ph.D dissertation finally come to light. It is a thick and enlightening piece of scholarship.

Horton brings in the greats of the Christian Faith in support of his thesis that theology need not be torn assunder by so many false dichotomies. We have the answers to some of theology's most difficult "tensions" right at our finger tips in the writings of the Scholastic Post-Reformation theologians of the 16 and 17th century as well as in the 20th century's Reformed biblical-theological tradition in the writings of Gerhardus Vos, Herman Riddrbos, and Richard B. Gaffin; especially as they set forth the biblical view of covenant.

For this reason this book is a breath of fresh air. Too often modern scholarship neglects, in her ever present desire for the new and the modern, what has already been written. Horton draws from the greats of the past while interacting with (and exposing the weaknesses of) contemporary scholarship (in the evangelical, liberal, and postmodern contexts).

This book needs to be broadly read. And today's scholars would do well to follow its example of consulting sympathetically with the theologians of the past, upon whose shoulders we must stand.

Monumental Work on Theological Formulation
For those who want an intermediate-advanced level book on theological formulation should start here. Horton, who also wrote and edited more "easier" books like "Putting Amazing Back to Grace", "The Agony of Deceit", and "Christ the Lord" writes a book that is possibly the most important work on theological-method written in the last decade from a conservative Reformed perspective. Horton examines the problems with modernists and postmodernists interpretations of the Bible and the type of world-view they extract and put onto it. I agree with his assessment of 20th century theological developments and how the Bible and theology are being used to satisfy secular and "individualistic" interests. As a result, theology is being accommodated to the surrounding culture and world-view rather than being formulated and expressed with faithfulness to the Word of God. Horton suggests that a "covenantal hermeneutic" will cure this problem that has infected not only liberal/mainline churches but conservative evangelical churches as well. The covenant hermeneutic will make believers see the future eschatological reign already present and "individualistic tendencies" replaced with the corporate nature of God's gracious covenant with believers. This book is a good corrective to the many hokey and unbiblical views regarding redemption, ethics, and worship that has sprung up in the last century within so many churches. Horton has done a service for the Body of Christ by writing this book. It is a difficult read and will take some effort, but it is worth it.

Not for the beginner
This book is not for the beginner. The reader needs a classical undergraduate education to follow this author's many references. However, you'll find the author thoroughly biblical and historically assimilated. A great read.