![Broadus on Boyce]()
by Bret Capranica | May 8, 2011 | Bookreviews, Pastoral Ministry, Southern Baptist Issues, Theological Education
Broadus On Boyce from Bret Capranica on Vimeo. A Gentleman and a Scholar: A Memoir of James Petigru Boyce, John A. Broadus John A. Broadus, an original faculty member, and the second President of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, writes a warm and thorough account of the life and ministry of his good friend, and the first President of Southern Seminary, James Petigru Boyce. Published in 1893, Broadus”™s biography is an excellent illustration of life in antebellum and post-Civil War America. The first third of the book is devoted to the early life and education of Boyce. It is an excellent review of the providential circumstances that prepared Boyce to be a scholar and one devoted to training others in biblical scholarship and pastoral ministry. The majority of the book, however, is devoted more to a history of the founding and early days of Southern Seminary, emphasizing Boyce”™s critical life investment. Boyce is pictured as an avid reader, intense in increasing his knowledge throughout his entire life. From boyhood to the end of his life, Broadus depicts Boyce”™s thirst to grow. He is also shown to be a icon of perseverance, as Broadus describes Boyce”™s unflagging commitment to start and sustain Southern Seminary despite the enormous set backs from the civil war which included divesting Boyce of much of his personal wealth. Even to his last days, Boyce was immersed in promoting and securing the seminary”™s future. It is a fascinating and convicting look into a life of focus, discipline, and perseverance. Broadus”™ book is also an excellent look into how Southern Baptists, like Boyce, functioned during the tumultuous...
by Bret Capranica | May 1, 2011 | Bookreviews, Christian Living, Featured Articles
The aim of Men of the Word is to paint a biblical portrait of manhood. Rather than appealing to a culturally driven, testosterone imbibed view of what makes a man”™s man, Men of the Word (MOTW) defines qualities of masculinity from biblical biographies. Nathan Busenitz, a former personal assistant to John MacArthur, and current faculty member of The Master”™s Seminary, edits the book. A staff member of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California writes each chapter. Using the lives of men such as Abraham, Solomon, Josiah, Elijah, Timothy, David, Daniel, Nehemiah, Peter, Elisha, and Paul, MOTW biblically chronicles God”™s expectations for men. While the focus of and a few of the applications within the book are primarily for men, these character studies are actually well-written expositions that would benefit anyone. The qualities highlighted in MOTW include what it means to live by faith, find satisfaction in God, treasure God”™s word, pray, worship, fight temptation, repent of sin, stand firm against compromise, lead with courage, love your spouse, shepherd your family, work hard, love your enemies, share the gospel, love the church, and pursue purity. The book also contains some brief questions related to each chapter that would make the book well suited for a small group or men”™s Bible study discussion. If readers desire quick references to biblical passages addressing any of the main subjects of the book, a “Biblical Reference Guide” is included at the end. Highlights for me include John Martin”™s chapter on worship. With John being an accomplished musician, it was refreshing to see worship defined beyond music. His chapter describes lessons from Israel”™s hymn...
by Bret Capranica | Dec 23, 2010 | Bookreviews, Ecclesiology, General Theology
Dispensationalism-Michael Vlach from Bret Capranica on Vimeo. Dr. Michael J. Vlach has written a helpful, readable, concise, yet thorough book on the subject of Dispensationalism: Dispensationalism: Essential Belief and Common Myths. In it, as the subtitle suggests, he seeks to set forth the essential beliefs and dispel some of the most common myths associated with the Dispensational system of theology. Dr. Vlach currently serves as the Assistant Professor of Theology at The Master”™s Seminary in Sun Valley, CA, where I graduated with my Master of Divinity. Though I finished my studies there before his arrival, I have found his writings helpful. He wrote his Ph.D. dissertation on the subject of the church as a replacement of Israel (Supercessionism). The book (published in 2008) is briefly (73 pages) arranged into four chapters 1) History of Dispensationalism 2) Essential Beliefs of Dispensationalism 3) Myths about Dispensationalism 4) Questions and Answers about Dispensationalsim. The aim of Vlach”™s book is straight forward, “. . . my aim is to discuss what dispensationalism is and what it is not” (3) He seeks to “highlight the foundational beliefs of dispensationalism that are truly at the heart of the system [and discuss] misrepresentations and myths about dispensationalism that have muddied the waters of understanding (3). WHAT”™S MOST HELPFUL 1. It is concise. It is not a weighty treatment of every nuance that could be discussed about Dispensationalism. It keeps to the subject at hand and is accessible reading for any interested reader who wants a jet tour of the issues related to Dispensationalism. 2. It is irenic in the way he handles the subject, especially those...
by Bret Capranica | Apr 25, 2008 | Bookreviews
My wonderful wife and I just finished reading Jerry Bridges book, The Discipline of Grace. Here is her review (and yes, we really are trying to finish the books we have begun): The Discipline of Grace: God’s Role and Our Role in the Pursuit of Holiness by Jerry Bridges – The Capranica...
by Bret Capranica | May 29, 2007 | Bookreviews, Hermeneutics
Earlier this year I finished a very good and helpful text on the subject of New Testament exegesis (I mentioned it on this blog late last year): Interpreting the New Testament Text, edited by Darrell L. Bock and Buist M. Fanning. In this post I want to provide a brief review of the book that I hope would cause those of you who are series about exegesis to pick up the book and interact with its suggested methods and approach in deepening your exegetical studies. Interpreting the New Testament Text: Introduction to the Art and Science of Exegesis (INTT) is a seminary level text-book edited by Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS) professors, Darrell L. Bock and Buist M. Fanning. The two editors collate contributions from fellow DTS professors and former students of current DTS professor Harold W. Hoehner (9, 18). The book is somewhat of a festschrift in honor of Dr. Hoehner and his years of faithful exegesis and Bible teaching ministry. The purpose of INTT is “to discuss the methods of exegesis that make it a skill that can be taught, while also giving samples of exegesis that reveal what exegesis looks like in the hands of mature practitioners” (24). Exegesis is defined in INTT most broadly as “a high-definition form of reading and studying the Bible” (17). More specifically, exegesis is defined as “setting forth the authors’/text’s meaning by interaction with the original language through the use of sound hermeneutics with a view to applying the text to the contemporary church and the world” (24). INTT summarizes the product of exegesis in three different outcomes: (1) to understand...
by Bret Capranica | Dec 12, 2006 | Bookreviews, Ecclesiology, Seeker-Sensitive
On the revamping of the church by men such as George Barna “The expectations of the postwar baby boomers have been shaped by such a therapeutic bounty and surfeit of on-demand entertainment that small, struggling, one-dimensional churches may well appear unattractive and uninviting however real and faithful their worship and service may be. In order to offer a rich array of programs to this new generation – a large selection of Sunday school classes, support groups, and specialized pastoral staff from which to choose, good child care facilities, and engaging (or even entertaining) worship services – churches have to become large. This generation is used to working and living within large bureaucratic structures, so they may well feel more at home in the corporate environs of a megachurch than in the more familial context of a small congregation. That may explain why a new megachurch emerges every two weeks in America” (74). “What is going to happen when churches meet all of the felt needs of their consumers and then realize that they have failed to meet the genuine need for meaning? Meaning is provided by the functioning of truth – specifically biblical truth – in the life of the congregation”...
