book reviews
by D onald G. D avis
ffAnd in Samaria ” By M ildred W . Spain
The Christian View of Science and Scripture By Bernard Romm
This is the second, revised and extended edition of a history of the Central American Mission, founded by C. I. Scofield in 1890. It is a thrill ing story of the triumph of God’s grace in the Republics of Costa Rica, Honduras, San Salvador, Nicaragua and Guatamala. Those who love mis sions and pray and give for the work will find this a most satisfying work. 328 pages; The Central American Mission, Dallas, Texas; art cover, $1.50; cloth, $2.00. An Introduction to the Study of Christian Missions By Harold R. Cook A former missionary under the Orinoco River Mission in Venezuela, the author taught at Westmont Col lege before taking the responsibilities of teaching Missions at Moody Bible Institute, where he edits the Missions Department of Moody Monthly. He takes up in this book the background of missions in the Old and New Testaments and goes on to discuss the motives and aims of missions and the responsibility of the church. There are chapters on the mission ary’s call, preparation and qualifica tions. Choosing a mission board and the actual work of the missionary are fully treated. One of the most valu able features of the book is the last five chapters, which are devoted to “A Church Missionary Program.” Here is a book for missionary candi dates, mission boards, lovers of mis sions and pastors. 256 pages; cloth; Moody Press, Chicago, 111.; $3.00. The Messianic Prophecies of Bantel By Edward J. Young These discussions by the Professor of Old Testament at Westminster Theological Seminary are marked by a reverence for the inspired Word of God but an avoidance of any consid eration of the possibility that Mes sianic prophecies in Daniel will be fulfilled literally in a millennial age. The stone which grew into a great mountain filling the earth after striking the toes of the image in
thet for those who would place the literal statements of Scripture above the dicta of science as to authority. He seeks to initiate in this work a return to the “noble tradition” of an evangelicalism which would seek to harmonize both, with the Bible rein terpreted to conform to science. The author’s view that “ the lan guage of the Bible employs the cul ture of the times in which it was written as a medium of revelation” allows him to reject the idea of a universal flood in Noah’s day and the destruction of “ all flesh,” even while the Bible record distinctly affirms this. He takes a median position be tween creation and evolution. This work will be discussed and discussed. Its derogatory references to the Scofield Reference Bible and other outstanding evangelical works will not be well received by many. To accept Ramm’s thesis will be to forsake many landmarks in Biblical interpretation — perhaps verbal in spiration itself. 368 pages; cloth; Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., Grand Rapids, Mich.; $4.00. The Church in the Roman Empire Before A.B. 170 By W illiam M . Ram say The Co-Operative Reprint Library has added this work, out of print for some years, on the early Christian Church by the famous archaeologist of Asia Minor, a liberal who was brought back to the conservative the ological position by the corroboration of the scriptural account of the activ ities of the Apostle Paul in his exca vations. Many topics in the apostolic and post-apostolic church are pre sented with all of the author’s force ful style. 510 pages; cloth; Baker Book House, Grand Rapids, Mich.; $4.20.
Here is a book which will call for more than one edition. The author, generally held to be a conservative evangelical, seeks to restore congenial relationships between science and evangelical scholarship. This review er is reminded of G. P. Fisher’s statement that the new movement in theology which began in the eight eenth century aimed “ to conform the theological system to the conclusions of scientific inquiry and criticism, or to bring into unity and harmony the knowledge derived from revelation and that ascertained through man’s natural powers.” Ramm feels that the nineteenth century “noble tradition in Bible and science” was supe r s eded in the twentieth century by the “ ignoble tradition which has taken a most un wholesome attitude toward science, and has used arguments and proce dures not in the better traditions of established scholarship.” This “ igno ble tradition,” hostile to science, he attributes to “ a narrow Biblicism, and the Plymouth Brethren theol ogy.” “Hyperorthodoxy” is his epi A commentary in one volume on all of the epistles of Paul will neces sarily be brief in treatment, but this fault is balanced by the care with which the author has done his work. The printed text in each section is from his own New Testament in the Language of the People, originally published in 1937. The introductions, while brief, are well done. Outlines, key words and phrases, suggested sermon topics and occa sional sermon outlines add to the value of the verse by verse commen tary. Suggestions on Greek words and expressions, so written that the Eng lish reader can make use of'them, are characteristic of the work. Dr. Williams completed this book just before his death. 507 pages; cloth; Moody Press, Chicago, 111.; $5.95. A Commentary on the Pauline Epistles By Charles B. W illiam s
All recommended books may be obtained from the Biola Book Room, 560 South Hope Street, Los Angeles 17, Calif.
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