TheosGuy

A great quote by John Flavel on the necessity of good theological books.

Objection. If any say, the world is even cloyed with books; and therefore, though the discourse be necessary, yet the publication is needless.

Solution. I answer, There are multitudes of books indeed, and of them, many concern not themselves about root-truths, and practical godliness, but spend their strength upon impracticable notions and frivolous controversies; many also strike at root-truths, and endeavor to undermine the power of godliness; and some there are that nourish the root, and tend to clear and confirm, to prepare and apply the great truths of the gospel, that they may be bread for souls to live and feed on: now, though I could wish, that those who have handled the pen of the scribe, had better employed their time and pains than to obtrude such useless discourses upon the world; yet, for books of the latter rank, I say, that, when husbandmen complain of too much corn, let Christians complain of too many such books.
2. And if you be so highly conceited of your own furniture and ability, that such books are needless to you; if you let them alone, they will do you no hurt, and other poor hungry souls will be glad of them, and bless God for what you despise and leave.

From: A Saint Indeed or the Great Work of a Christian in Keeping the Heart in the Several Conditions of Life (in the “Epistle Dedicatory”).

Tags: Books, Flavel

God’s Greater Glory by Bruce A. Ware is one of my favorite theological books. Seemingly written as a response to Open Theism, I found it much more profound. I enjoyed very much the discussion on libertarian freedom versus freedom of inclination. In addition, the discussion of compatibilist middle knowledge versus libertarian middle knowledge was thought provoking.

I also enjoyed his discussion of spectrum texts (p. 69 ff) demonstrating God’s comprehensive sovereign control.

These are passages that indicate in sweeping language that God controls both sides of the spectrum of life’s occurrences, both those actions and events considered pleasant and good and those considered harmful and evil.

Here are some of the spectrum texts that Dr. Ware lists in the book.

“See now that I, even I, am he,
and there is no god besides me;
I kill and I make alive;
I wound and I heal;
and there is none that can deliver out of my hand”
(Deut. 32:39).

“The LORD kills and brings to life;
he brings down to Sheol and raises up.
The LORD makes poor and makes rich;
he brings low and he exalts” (1 Sam 2:6-7).

Consider the work of God: who can make straight what he has made crooked? In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him (Eccles. 7:13-14).

“I am the LORD, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know me, that people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the LORD, and there is no other. I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the LORD, who does all these things.” (Isa. 45:5-7).

Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that good and bad come? (Lam. 3:37-38).

Let all the earth fear the LORD;
let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him!
For he spoke, and it came to be;
he commanded, and it stood firm.

The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing;
he frustrates the plans of the peoples.
The counsel of the LORD stands forever,
the plans of his heart to all generations.
Psalm 33:8-11

for his [God’s] dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; all the Inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, ‘What have you done’? (Dan. 4:34b-35).

“And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place” (Acts 17:26).

Tags: Books, Free Will, Sovereignty, Ware