The following is a study guide I composed in ministry at South City Church for Greg Gilbert’s What is the Gospel?
Download Study Guide for What is the Gospel? by Greg Gilbert.
Greg Gilbert, What is the Gospel? – Surveys the basics of the Gospel—the good news about how we can be saved due to what Jesus has done through his cross and resurrection; valuable for both outreach as well as gaining personal clarity on the gospel. We recommend at least working through chapters 2-5.
Christ and Culture Revisited by D.A. Carson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Helpful in unpacking the complexities of the issues. Less satisfying when it comes to a constructive project of setting forth a positive way forward (besides generalities, i.e., Biblical theology)
Divorce and Remarriage: Four Christian Views by H. Wayne House
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Good, substantive discussions (minus Richards, see below).
Laney provides a great survey of the texts, although I wish he had engaged the main “issues” more.
Heth is on point. Superb scholarly work here. (Note: Heth later changed his view, so lots of respect for this guy given his willingness to go where he thinks the text leads despite the sacrifice involved — his previously scholarly stand, e.g., his contribution here.)
Edgar is a juggernaut of destruction, ripping other authors and arguments to shreds. He’s good; but his tone is unfortunate. He also succumbs to building lots of straw man and frequently overstates his case. (Laney and Heth rightly take note of this.)
Richards… Oh, Richards. I don’t know how his piece made it past the editor. How did this guy get invited to contribute to this project? He only cites two sources… two endnotes! (compare that to Heth’s 106 endnotes). Seriously. Horrible exegesis. Loads of eisegesis.
He basically argues (and this is no exaggeration) that all divorce and remarriage is wrong, but people can do it anyway and we shouldn’t judge since that’d be legalistic. … Antinomianism would be a better title for his position!
Besides Richard’s though, lots of good stuff here.
(The following evaluation of each author’s contribution is not necessarily reflective of whether I agree or disagree with their position, but is based on the quality of their contribution, regardless of whether I agree with them.)
Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage in the Bible: A Fresh Look at What Scripture Teaches by Jay E. Adams
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Content — good.
Tone — could be improved at points, particularly when dealing with those with whine he disagrees (typical Jay Adams).
Sometimes a little simplistic in its handling of things.
Sometimes the opposite: stances were so, “If this, then that… If this, than that… If this, then…” (etc.) that things felt several levels removed from the text itself, and one began to feel suspicious of their legitimacy.
But, all in all, an impressive little treatment — cuts through a complex issue with a lot of clarity (even if being in danger of a little over-simplicity at times).
I recently published a review of David Mathis’ book, Habits of Grace: Enjoying Jesus through the Spiritual Disciplines over at Books At a Glance.
Kirk E. Miller 