Tag: Philosophy

Book Review: IVP Pocket Reference Series

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The IVP Pocket Reference Series is a great way to build an excellent reference library without having to spend a lot of money. The entire series of 13 books costs $130 ($117 through IVP) and individual pocket dictionaries retail for just $10 ($9 through IVP – less than on Amazon.com and Christianbook.com).

The series includes:

  • Pocket Dictionary of  Theological Terms
  • Pocket Dictionary of Theology
  • Pocket Dictionary for the Study of Biblical Hebrew
  • Pocket Dictionary for the Study of New Testament Greek
  • Pocket Dictionary of Biblical Studies
  • Pocket Dictionary of Ethics
  • Pocket History of the Church
  • Pocket Dictionary of Church History
  • Pocket Guide to World Religions
  • Pocket Dictionary of Liturgy Worship
  • Pocket Dictionary of the Reformed Tradition
  • Pocket Dictionary of Apologetics & Philosophy of Religion
  • Pocket Handbook of Christian Apologetics

Since FaithandSelfDefense is primarily an apologetics ministry, I’ll review the two IVP books about apologetics.

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Street Epistemologists – On Guard 8

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Street EpistemologyIn our last post in this series about street epistemologists, we looked at the Second Step in Faith Defense. We introduced the idea of a ‘complete’ model of biblical preaching which includes ‘warning’ and ‘teaching’ every man ‘in all wisdom.’ The purpose of this complete model of biblical preaching is that we ‘may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.’

“Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.” Colossians 1:28

The word ‘warning’ is a translation of the Greek word noutheteo, which means ‘to put in mind, warn, admonish, exhort.’ The word ‘teaching’ is a translation of the Greek word didaskontes, which means ‘teach, direct, give instruction, admonish.’ The word ‘perfect’ is a translation of the Greek word teleion, which means ‘mature, having reached its end, finished, complete in all its parts, full grown, of full age.’

Let’s expand our view of Paul’s warning to the Colossian Christians to see how it can help parents and church leaders deal with the many challenges our children face today.

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The Gospel in the Marketplace of Ideas (Book Review 1)

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Paul Copan and Kenneth D. Litwak, The Gospel in the Marketplace of Ideas: Paul’s Mars Hill Experience for Our Pluralistic World (IVP Academic, 2014). Paperback – Kindle 

Gospel in Marketplace of Ideas

I remember hearing as a young Christian that the Apostle Paul made one glaring mistake in his ministry and that was his sermon on Mars Hill in Athens. Even though that seemed to be the majority opinion of Christians I knew at the time, I had a hard time understanding how a man chosen by Jesus Christ as the Apostle to the Gentiles and called and sent out by and filled with the Holy Spirit would have made such an error.

Drs. Copan and Litwak make the point very well that what Paul did was approach the philosophers in Athens on their own turf, using their rules, and demonstrated the superiority of the Christian worldview. Isn’t that what every Christian is called to do?

I love the way the authors use Paul’s experience in Athens to demonstrate both the need for meeting non-believers in the marketplace and God’s supply of wisdom for sharing the good news of Jesus Christ.

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