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....from my blog site:
10 on a scale of 1-10
I have very recently put a stipulation on myself to not read any author's work who is still living (physically that is). Thank goodness in the case of Wayne Grudem I made an exception! In fact I wish I would have read this book before I developed an interest in John Calvin, Martin Luther, Jonathan Edwards, the writings of the puritans, etc. The reason for that is because Grudem does an excellent job of taking a difficult subject to grasp and to make it easy to understand. I would have really been able to grasp the concepts and ideas of the reformers better had I read this great introductory work into theology first. I've already made it a priority to re-read Calvin's "Institutes of the Christian Religion" since reading this fine work.
Wayne Grudem is a highly credentialed professor who is currently teaching at the Phoenix Seminary in Arizona. He is probably most notably known for his continuationist stand in regards to the gifts of the spirit today - but he has gained wide acceptance and support from many on the cessationist side of the coin. He was a major contributer amongst the scholars who put together the ESV standard version of the Bible and I noticed that in my own "Spirit of the Reformation Study Bible" (NIV) that he contributed and added many notes to that as well. He is also a top dog at the Center for Biblical Womanhood and Manhood organization.
The single best aspect of this book is Dr. Grudem's commanding use of scripture to lay out his points of discussion. He lays out a solid reformed doctrine that is supported fully and logically by scripture. It is also quite obvious to me that he knows his Greek - and puts it to good use in areas that need added clarity for understanding.
I also like how well documented the book is. He references many, many others from all different facets of Christianity - while all the while maintaining a solid representation of Calvinism. Grudem does this in a very respectful manner and he does a fine and fair job in representing other views from within Christianity that run contrary to many of the Reformed Doctrines that he supports.
In my own journey through the book I have either changed my position on certain things or had a particular stand that I was already making solidified through his clear explanation of scripture. Part of this was because not long after reading this book I realized I had better seek to understand scripture for what it says - and NOT for what I WANT it to say. Once you adopt that attitude and then (coincidentally) dive into a book that is so scripturally solid in regards to explaining things - you are bound to have something like this happen.
One area in which this has occurred is in the area of the "gifts of the Spirit." I am now solidly convinced that the gifts of the Spirit have not ceased and that they are still in use today. Grudem lays out the scripture and particularly clarifies through the Greek language used at the time to support this position - and because it is so scripturally solid I cannot deny the truth of this doctrine. Whereas before I was "Open but Cautious" I am now a solid "Third Wave" Charasmatic of the Reformed Faith. Since embracing this I have already seen a tremondous change (for the better) in my walk with God.
One other note of particular interest is that each chapter concludes with questions for reflection, a memory verse, and a hymn. This made for a very edifying experience in reading the book. Also, the appendix at the end of the book contains many of the confessions such as the Westmintser Confession of Faith and the London Baptist Confession.
I highly recommend this awesome book!
10 on a scale of 1-10
I have very recently put a stipulation on myself to not read any author's work who is still living (physically that is). Thank goodness in the case of Wayne Grudem I made an exception! In fact I wish I would have read this book before I developed an interest in John Calvin, Martin Luther, Jonathan Edwards, the writings of the puritans, etc. The reason for that is because Grudem does an excellent job of taking a difficult subject to grasp and to make it easy to understand. I would have really been able to grasp the concepts and ideas of the reformers better had I read this great introductory work into theology first. I've already made it a priority to re-read Calvin's "Institutes of the Christian Religion" since reading this fine work.
Wayne Grudem is a highly credentialed professor who is currently teaching at the Phoenix Seminary in Arizona. He is probably most notably known for his continuationist stand in regards to the gifts of the spirit today - but he has gained wide acceptance and support from many on the cessationist side of the coin. He was a major contributer amongst the scholars who put together the ESV standard version of the Bible and I noticed that in my own "Spirit of the Reformation Study Bible" (NIV) that he contributed and added many notes to that as well. He is also a top dog at the Center for Biblical Womanhood and Manhood organization.
The single best aspect of this book is Dr. Grudem's commanding use of scripture to lay out his points of discussion. He lays out a solid reformed doctrine that is supported fully and logically by scripture. It is also quite obvious to me that he knows his Greek - and puts it to good use in areas that need added clarity for understanding.
I also like how well documented the book is. He references many, many others from all different facets of Christianity - while all the while maintaining a solid representation of Calvinism. Grudem does this in a very respectful manner and he does a fine and fair job in representing other views from within Christianity that run contrary to many of the Reformed Doctrines that he supports.
In my own journey through the book I have either changed my position on certain things or had a particular stand that I was already making solidified through his clear explanation of scripture. Part of this was because not long after reading this book I realized I had better seek to understand scripture for what it says - and NOT for what I WANT it to say. Once you adopt that attitude and then (coincidentally) dive into a book that is so scripturally solid in regards to explaining things - you are bound to have something like this happen.
One area in which this has occurred is in the area of the "gifts of the Spirit." I am now solidly convinced that the gifts of the Spirit have not ceased and that they are still in use today. Grudem lays out the scripture and particularly clarifies through the Greek language used at the time to support this position - and because it is so scripturally solid I cannot deny the truth of this doctrine. Whereas before I was "Open but Cautious" I am now a solid "Third Wave" Charasmatic of the Reformed Faith. Since embracing this I have already seen a tremondous change (for the better) in my walk with God.
One other note of particular interest is that each chapter concludes with questions for reflection, a memory verse, and a hymn. This made for a very edifying experience in reading the book. Also, the appendix at the end of the book contains many of the confessions such as the Westmintser Confession of Faith and the London Baptist Confession.
I highly recommend this awesome book!
