Andy Naselli

Thoughts on Theology

Systematic Theology

The Doctrine by Which the Church Stands or Falls: Justification in Historical, Biblical, Theological, and Pastoral Perspective

by

This book releases this month:

Barrett, Matthew, ed. The Doctrine by Which the Church Stands or Falls: Justification in Historical, Biblical, Theological, and Pastoral Perspective. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2019.

I contributed the essay on Romans.

Here are the contents:

Foreword (D. A. Carson)

Introduction: The Foolishness of Justification (Matthew Barrett)

Part One: Justification in Biblical Perspective

1. “He Believed the Lord”: The Pedigree of Justification in the Pentateuch (Stephen Dempster)

2. Singing and Living Justification by Faith Alone: The Psalms and the Wisdom Literature (Allan Harman)

3. Salvation Is the Lord’s: Prophetic Perspectives (Willem VanGemeren)

4. Setting the Record Straight: Second Temple Judaism and Works Righteousness (Robert J. Cara)

5. What Does Justification Have to Do with the Gospels? (Brian Vickers)

6. The Righteous God Righteously Righteouses the Unrighteous: Justification according to Romans (Andrew David Naselli)

7. By Grace You Have Been Saved through Faith: Justification in the Pauline Epistles (Brandon Crowe)

8. An Epistle of Straw? Reconciling James and Paul (Dan McCartney)

9. The New Quest for Paul: A Critique of the New Perspective on Paul (Timo Laato)

10. What’s Next? Justification after the New Perspective (David A. Shaw)

Part Two: Justification in Theological Perspective

11. “Behold, the Lamb of God”: Theology Proper and the Inseparability of Penal-Substitutionary Atonement from Forensic Justification and Imputation (Stephen J. Wellum)

12. Raised for Our Justification: The Christological, Covenantal, Forensic, and Eschatological Contours of an Ambiguous Relationship (Matthew Barrett)

13. The Theology of Justification by Faith: The Theological Case for Sola Fide (Mark Thompson)

14. The Passive and Active Obedience of Christ: Retrieving a Biblical Distinction (Brandon Crowe)

15. A Contested Union: Union with Christ and the Justification Debate (David VanDrunen)

16. Faith Works: Properly Understanding the Relationship between Justification and Sanctification (R. Lucas Stamps)

17. Justification, the Law, and the New Covenant (Jason Meyer)

Part Three: Justification in Church History

18. Reformation Invention or Historic Orthodoxy? Justification in the Fathers (Gerald Bray)

19. The Evolution of Justification: Justification in the Medieval Traditions (Nick Needham)

20. Can This Bird Fly? The Reformation as Reaction to the Via Moderna’s Covenantal, Voluntarist Justification Theology (Matthew Barrett)

21. The First and Chief Article: Luther’s Discovery of Sola Fide and Its Controversial Reception in Lutheranism (Korey Maas)

22. The Ground of Religion: Justification according to the Reformed Tradition (J. V. Fesko)

23. Not by Faith Alone? An Analysis of the Roman Catholic Doctrine of Justification from Trent to the Joint Declaration (Leonardo De Chirico)

24. The Eclipse of Justification: Justification during the Enlightenment and Post-Enlightenment Eras (Bruce P. Baugus)

Part Four: Justification in Pastoral Practice

25. Justification and Conversion: Attractions and Repulsions to Rome (Chris Castaldo)

26. The Ground on Which We Stand: The Necessity of Justification for Pastoral Ministry (Sam Storms)

Theistic Evolution: A Scientific, Philosophical, and Theological Critique

by

This 1007–page book releases this month:

J. P. Moreland, Stephen C. Meyer, Christopher Shaw, Ann K. Gauger, and Wayne Grudem, eds. Theistic Evolution: A Scientific, Philosophical, and Theological Critique. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2017.

Check out this 79-page PDF excerpt. It includes …

  • the endorsements
  • the Table of Contents
  • Stephen Meyer’s scientific and philosophical introduction
  • Wayne Grudem’s biblical and theological introduction

I recently spent about twenty hours surveying the book. I micro-read the introduction, macro-read or surveyed the sections on science and philosophy (each article has a helpful short summary at the beginning), and more carefully read the section on theology.

My take: The book is impressive, comprehensive, and compelling. [Read more…] about Theistic Evolution: A Scientific, Philosophical, and Theological Critique

Systematic Theology Study Bible

by

This new study Bible releases tomorrow:

Morgan, Christopher W., Robert A. Peterson, and Stephen J. Wellum, eds. Systematic Theology Study Bible: Theology Rooted in the Word of God. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2017.

This graphic highlights the book’s features:

Here’s a 20-page PDF excerpt from Genesis.

The book’s introduction highlights its four features: [Read more…] about Systematic Theology Study Bible

Eureka! Discovering Gold in God’s Word

by

That was the title of a conference Bethlehem College & Seminary hosted last month. It featured new books on how to read the Bible by three of our professors.

Here are the five videos from the conference (three talks, two Q&As): [Read more…] about Eureka! Discovering Gold in God’s Word

No Quick Fix: Where Higher Life Theology Came From, What It Is, and Why It’s Harmful

by

My latest book attempts to survey and analyze “let go and let God” theology:

No Quick Fix

Andrew David Naselli. No Quick Fix: Where Higher Life Theology Came From, What It Is, and Why It’s Harmful. Bellingham, WA: Lexham, 2017. xi + 123 pp.

(The book’s “Acknowledgments” page should mention three Faithlife employees: Elliot Ritzema for shepherding the book through the editorial process, Bryan Hintz for designing the clever cover, and my friend Mark Ward for writing the title’s black letters by hand.) [Read more…] about No Quick Fix: Where Higher Life Theology Came From, What It Is, and Why It’s Harmful

Special Discount on the Books “How to Understand and Apply the Old/New Testament”

by

P&R Publishing recently released these two books:

P&R Publishing has partnered with Bethlehem College & Seminary to offer a special discount: for a limited time (until August 4), my school’s bookstore is selling these books at 30% off for one or 40% off for both, and all orders contribute proceeds to my school ($11.20 when buying one book and $19.20 when buying both). Details here.

Complete in Him: A Guide to Understanding and Enjoying the Gospel (2nd ed.)

by

The second edition of this book recently released:

Michael P. V. Barrett. Complete in Him: A Guide to Understanding and Enjoying the Gospel. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Reformation Heritage, 2017.

My endorsement:

Barrett correlates what the whole Bible teaches about the gospel in a way that is organized, clear, faithful, and edifying. As he says over and over, right thinking about the gospel produces right living in the gospel. The better you understand the gospel, the better you can enjoy it.

40 Questions about Church Membership and Church Discipline

by

This book releases this week:

Jeremy M. Kimble. 40 Questions about Church Membership and Church Discipline. 40 Questions. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2017.

My endorsement:

This handbook concisely explains the why and how of church membership and church discipline. Jeremy Kimble, who serves as a pastor and who wrote his PhD dissertation on church discipline, is a faithful guide.

I read this book twice—first last summer as a prepublication draft and then last month as the final version. I mostly agree with how Jeremy answers the 40 questions, and on a few minor issues where I might differ a bit (e.g., age of baptism), I appreciate his calm, generous tone.

The book’s most impressive endorsement comes from Jonathan Leeman, editorial director of 9Marks and an expert on ecclesiology:

Every pastor needs this resource, which is sound exegetically, theologically, and pastorally. The 40-question format makes it so readable and easy to use. I’ve written a few things on church membership and discipline, yet still found myself learning throughout. An excellent work.