• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Andy Naselli

Thoughts on Theology

  • About
  • Publications
    • Endorsements
  • Audio/Video
  • Categories
    • Exegesis
    • Biblical Theology
    • Historical Theology
    • Systematic Theology
    • Practical Theology
    • Other
  • Contact
You are here: Home / Exegesis / Framing Christian Ethics: Doug Moo Reviews John Frame

Framing Christian Ethics: Doug Moo Reviews John Frame

December 28, 2011 by Andy Naselli

I was present when Doug Moo reviewed this book at ETS in 2009:

John M. Frame. The Doctrine of the Christian Life. A Theology of Lordship. Phillipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian & Reformed, 2008.

You can view the contents of Frame’s book in a 29-page PDF here.

After recently reading Frame’s book, I asked Doug if his review has been published. It hasn’t, and he gave me permission to upload it here:

Douglas J. Moo. Review of John M. Frame, The Doctrine of the Christian Life. 61st Annual Meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society. New Orleans, November 2009.

Moo’s conclusion:

The book is an admirable, biblically rich, and very satisfying exploration of the meaning, implications, and practical contemporary outworking of biblical law through the lens of the Decalogue. I learned a lot from it. I was challenged in my own too often superficial level of Christian obedience. And it is an important counterbalance to those who err on the side of turning Christian ethics into a vacuous and undefined call to love one another. But at the end of the day, by not focusing enough attention on the grand New Testament themes of Christ’s lordship, the work of the Holy Spirit, and the transformation of mind and heart in conformity with Christ, the book did not satisfy me as a whole and balanced description of the Christian life.

Share:

  • Tweet

Filed Under: Exegesis Tagged With: Doug Moo, John Frame, law

The New Logos

Follow Me

  • X

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Andrew Kuiper says

    December 28, 2011 at 5:07 am

    Does anyone have a recommendation for a more holistic treatment of this topic? Would love to read one.

  2. Craig Hurst says

    December 28, 2011 at 8:35 am

    After having read this book almost twice myself for a class I taught at my church on the Ten Commandments, I would agree with Moo’s assessment. Because it is only about the Ten Commandments it cannot be considered to be about the doctrine of the Christian life.

  3. Chris Brauns says

    December 28, 2011 at 6:33 pm

    Thanks for posting this. I respect both Moo and Frame so much. It is a great benefit to consider Moo’s reflection on Frame’s book.

  4. Brent Deedrick says

    December 29, 2011 at 12:36 pm

    It seems to me that the title is the problem. Frame doesn’t claim the book to be a holistic view of the Christian life… besides, you know, the title. Oops. It is a textbook for Christian ethics. It provides a triadic framework (no pun intended) for understanding ethical decision-making and then works through examples under the rubric of the 10 Commandments.

  5. Bryan Lopez says

    January 9, 2012 at 1:08 pm

    Thanks for posting this. I remember him presenting this and searched all over to find it.

  6. Daniel Heimbach says

    October 25, 2016 at 9:01 am

    This is to let you know I will be presenting another critical examination of Frame’s triperspectival method at ETS 2016 meeting next month in San Antonio. My paper is titled: “The Trinitarian Nature of Biblical Bioethics: A Theological Corrective to Frame’s Philosophical Paradigm.” Hope you can be there. Daniel Heimbach, Senior Professor of Christian Ethics, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

    • Andy Naselli says

      October 27, 2016 at 8:22 pm

      Thanks for letting me know, Dr. Heimbach!

Trackbacks

  1. Exegesis and Theology » Blog Archive » Review of Douglas Moo’s Review of John Frame’s Doctrine of the Christian Life says:
    January 4, 2012 at 3:01 pm

    […] Naselli recently posted a review of John Frame’s The Doctrine of the Christian Life by Douglas Moo. If Moo or Frame write a book, […]

Primary Sidebar

Subscribe via Email

God's Will and Making Decisions

How to Read a Book: Advice for Christian Readers

Predestination: An Introduction

Dictionary of the New Testament Use of the Old Testament

Tracing the Argument of 1 Corinthians: A Phrase Diagram

https://www.amazon.com/dp/1433580349/?tag=andynaselli-20

Tracing the Argument of Romans: A Phrase Diagram of the Greatest Letter Ever Written

The Serpent Slayer and the Scroll of Riddles: The Kambur Chronicles

The Serpent and the Serpent Slayer

40 Questions about Biblical Theology

1 Corinthians in Romans–Galatians (ESV Expository Commentary)

How Can I Love Church Members with Different Politics?

Three Views on Israel and the Church: Perspectives on Romans 9–11

That Little Voice in Your Head: Learning about Your Conscience

How to Understand and Apply the New Testament: Twelve Steps from Exegesis to Theology

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

Conscience: What It Is, How to Train It, and Loving Those Who Differ

NIV Zondervan Study Bible

Perspectives on the Extent of the Atonement

From Typology to Doxology: Paul’s Use of Isaiah and Job in Romans 11:34–35

Four Views on the Spectrum of Evangelicalism

Let God and Let God? A Survey and Analysis of Keswick Theology

Introducing the New Testament: A Short Guide to Its History and Message

See more of my publications.

The New Logos

Copyright © 2025 · Infinity Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

 

Loading Comments...