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Title: The Unity of the Bible: Unfolding God's Plan for Humanity by Daniel P. Fuller ISBN: 0-310-23404-2 Publisher: Zondervan Pub. Date: December, 1992 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $27.99 |
Average Customer Rating: 4 (7 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: Now Available: The Whole Counsel of God!
Comment: Dr Fuller offers what the church today needs- a Berean investigation of the scriptures for the "whole counsel of God." Fuller's depiction of the "history of redemption" raises many questions seldom asked (i.e. relation of OT to NT, law/gospel contrast or continuum, and role of covenant). Fuller's discussion of persevering faith will convict any and every antinomian, and his chapter on the conversion of Israel will make a supralapsarian Calvinist out of anyone! On top of biblical-theological depth, Fuller exemplifies the epitome of sound hermeneutics. Read it once for the big picture. Read it again for the methodology. Read it yet again for the sheer joy of understanding God's ultimate purpose- to "go public" with His glory!
Rating: 4
Summary: Pretty Good!
Comment: As a result of many criticisms from Protestant and evangelical scholars regarding Fuller's theological points on the Mosaic Law, faith, justification, and redemptive-history I was very weary to read this book. However, after reading this book I found much exegetical and practical insights regarding the Christian faith. I also enjoyed the way he speaks to the reader in a frank and easy to understand way so that even the average layperson can gain much information from the work. Also, the work can help many people gain insights into God's character and works, Christ's redemption, and man's responsibility. For Christians, there are many valuable reflections to scan over in order to gain a much more stronger faith and walk with God. Fuller's discussion on the unity of the Bible can help see through our own theological grids and challenge our own interpretive viewpoints (as a progressive dispensationalists I was very challenged by some of the arguments made by Fuller). He makes a pretty good case why the Bible must be seen as a unity rather than as a dichotomy (Marcionism?). The second part of the book dealing with God's nature and His work throughout salvation-history is an excellent argument for Calvinism. Many non-Calvinists always ask why a good and loving God would allow sin to permeate creation and only select a remnant from mankind for His blessings. Fuller answers these hypothetical questions by focusing on God's nature and work as a Trinity. His nature demands that He work in creation to increase His glory even if it means bringing sin and suffering into the world. Without the fall God's glory and mercy cannot be shown. The third section is about Israel's experiences throughout the OT as an example of what happens to people who receive God's mercy or reject Him. Those who receive His mercy are saved; those who reject His mercy are damned. Also, God is not a client that He needs humanity to work for Him--He is a patron willing to bestow grace upon sinful humans when they come to him in faith. This strikes a blow against any "church" that preaches a legalistic Gospel from self-made regulations. The last section deals with how Christ's first coming is the start of God's Kingdom program predicted in the OT. Fuller makes a good case why God's Kingdom has already come even though it still has a future element. Also, his argument for the mass conversion of Israel before the Parousia is outstanding. However, I must say that there are some negatives in this book. Fuller believes that the OT Law and NT Gospel are a continuum rather than a contrast. Critics of Fuller are right to argue that the Law has no place when it comes to receiving God's salvation through faith. To say that the Law must go alongside the Gospel is to wander into the path of Romanism, Arminianism, nomism, and works-salvation. His whole argument on the nature of the Mosaic Law is not persuasive. For most Christians, practically speaking, there is no difference between the "law of faith" and the "law of works." A Christian who is told to see the Law as a means of receiving the promises will fall into a works-salvation mentality. This can be very dangerous to those who are just "babes" in Christ. Works are the result of saving faith; not saving faith itself. This is where Fuller fails
in his theology. Overall, though, I would recommend this book to those who want to understand how and why God works with humanity.
Rating: 5
Summary: Catching On To What the Bible Is Up To
Comment: Building on his path-breaking study Gospel & Law: Contrast or Continuum?, the former Dean of the School of Theology and Professor of Hermeneutics at Fuller Theological Seminary offers the Church a non-technical, highly accessible exposition of God's redemptive plan for humanity. The fruit of his 40+ years of study, reflection and interaction with generations of students, The Unity of the Bible is organized into relatively short chapters, each having review questions to help the reader catch on to what Fuller is up to. Thus the book is very well-suited for use in adult Sunday School classes, provided that both facilitator and students are willing to do the close, careful reading Fuller's book deserves and requires.
Unity of the Bible provides a thoroughly biblical presentation of God's controlling purpose in human history. Introductory chapters set forth Fuller's inductive, presuppositionless approach to the Bible, an approach he believes mirrors the practice of the early Church, and which best positions Christians today to persuasively communicate the message of the Bible in a diverse, multi-cultural context. Fuller then proceeds to an inductive study of Genesis 1-3 in order to discover God's purpose in creation. As the middle sections of Unity unfold, Fuller deftly argues that in all of the redemptive history set forth in the Old Testament, God is unerringly working out this single purpose, a purpose finally fulfilled in Jesus' life, ministry and death. In the final section Fuller shows how the Church now fits into God's redemptive plan to bring His single purpose to its consummation.
Along the way the attentive reader will be rewarded with challenging and life-transforming insights into the Law as a law of faith, how saving faith necessarily entails the obedience of faith, and that God is our Patron Lord and not a client lord. These "aha" experiences are more than worth the effort required to follow his exegesis and arguments. Though Fuller critiques the reigning theological paradigm of Reformed Protestantism at places, he is always careful in his analysis of theologians with whom he disagrees. Throughout his writing evinces a docility of spirit before the biblical text which ought to serve as a model for any who wish to understand and align themselves with the "whole purpose of God."
Thus, those who claim that Fuller sees no discontinuity between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant (cf. the review posted 12/13/99 by a reader in Minneapolis), or who detect "cynicism and error" in this book (cf. the review posted 12/8/99 by another reader in Minneapolis) have in my opinion not read Fuller carefully. Since Fuller forthrightly challenges some of the theological formulations of the Protestant paradigm, it is understandable that those fully committed to that paradigm might balk at some of his judgments and conclusions. But disagreement with an author does not justify such a gross mis-reading of his work. Unity of the Bible may be "dangerous," but the peril is only that it will shake us out of our settled religious traditions. The promise is that God may use this book to awaken the reader's thirst for the living water Who alone will satisfy.
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Title: Validity in Interpretation by E. D., Jr. Hirsch, E. D. Hirsh ISBN: 0300016921 Publisher: Yale Univ Pr Pub. Date: December, 1973 List Price(USD): $19.00 |
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Title: The Life of God in the Soul of Man by Henry Scougal, J. I. Packer ISBN: 1857921054 Publisher: Christian Focus Publications Pub. Date: March, 1996 List Price(USD): $6.99 |
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Title: How to Read a Book by Charles Van Doren, Mortimer J. Adler ISBN: 0671212095 Publisher: Touchstone Books Pub. Date: 15 August, 1972 List Price(USD): $15.00 |
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Title: Don't Waste Your Life by John Piper ISBN: 1581344988 Publisher: Crossway Books Pub. Date: May, 2003 List Price(USD): $12.99 |
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Title: Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ by John Piper ISBN: 1581342659 Publisher: Crossway Books Pub. Date: May, 2001 List Price(USD): $12.99 |
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