Book Reviews

As one who a number of years ago greatly enjoyed and benefitted from reading the biography of Benjamin M. Palmer,1 it is a great treat now to be able to read this selection of his popular writings,2 originally written for The Southwestern Presbyterian (1869-70). Palmer’s is the kind of writing that does not quickly date, […]

The Presbyterian Church in Scotland is heir to a rich theological tradition, and one of the glories of that tradition is its passion for the doctrine of the atonement. There were several reasons for this. One was that our preachers took with deadly seriousness Paul’s directive, ‘we preach Christ crucified’. Another was the nature of […]

Dr. William Robinson was a minister and theologian whose life spanned most of the 20th century. He was a professor at Columbia Theological Seminary from 1926 to 1982. As a staunch believer in the doctrines of grace as set out in the Westminster Confession of Faith, Dr Robinson fought a long but ultimately unsuccessful battle […]

Reading Benjamin Morgan Palmer is like finding a rare jewel. His gripping style, theological acuteness, pastoral brilliance, and warm sympathy with sinners combine in a way that makes his kind scarce, even among great authors. He is in the list of my top four ‘mighty men’ in the faith whom we should prioritize reading above […]

‘Murray’s writing encourages the reader to be a thinking Christian, discerning the signs of the times. As a good historian he not only educates us about the past but applies to the present. As a good preacher he not only teaches us but also challenges us. As a good author he is not only clear […]

Church historian Prof David Calhoun is well known as the author of a significant two-volume history of Princeton Seminary1, 2 and now is the biographer of Dr William Childs Robinson, a man who had a great influence for good in the Southern Presbyterian Church as Lecturer in Historical Theology at Columbia Seminary (1926-67).3 A 126-page […]

This is an excellent addition to Banner of Truth’s “Let’s Study” series. Like all the others this book seeks to combine explanation of the text with application. Mark Johnson admirably succeeds in this clear and concise commentary. He shows that Paul was writing to a relatively young church that was being destabilised by a mixture […]

Dr Nick Willborn, editor of the Trust’s recent new title Selected Writings of Benjamin Morgan Palmer, is interviewed by William Hill on the Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary podcast Confessing Our Hope.

Book Review: Beginning Biblical Hebrew: A Grammar And Illustrated Reader, John A. Cook and Robert D. Holmstedt [Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2013], 324 pages, paperback, ISBN 978 0 80104 886 9. Of the writing of Hebrew textbooks there is no end, and each new production requires explanation and justification. The authors claim that what sets […]

Sometimes a book surprises the Christian as he reads. A smallish paperback, a modest cover, an eclectic name1 might not at first glance cry: ‘Read me! Read me!’. But when the author’s name is Iain Murray, the Banner men will be eager enough to read it. They know that the modest presentation belies the strength […]

Surely the best books are those that keep close to Scripture, and we have never known a book that keeps closer than this. The Christian’s Great Enemy1 opens up, explains and applies 1 Peter 5:8-11 – Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may […]

In this small book the author makes the argument for teaching children the catechism regularly from a young age, quoting many well-known theologians as he goes along. The author discusses the history and strengths of the catechism (specifically the Westminster Shorter Catechism), but it is when he writes about its structure and the way it […]

This short booklet is reprint of an article that first appeared in the British and Foreign Evangelical Review in 1862. Having acknowledged that the work and help of the Holy Spirit is indispensable in preaching, the author concentrates on the human aspects that can lead to power in the pulpit. Three areas are discussed: the […]

‘an affordable paperback containing some of the most heavenly and sweet teaching I have ever had the pleasure of enjoying . . . You simply will not hear sermons like this today, but you can read 20 here that will move you to “wonder love and praise”.’ – David Morris was thrilled by Richard Sibbes’ […]

A review by Kenneth D. Macleod of David B. Calhoun’s Our Southern Zion: Old Columbia Seminary (1828-1927).1 The author has previously written two highly-interesting volumes on Princeton Theological Seminary, from its inception in 1812 until it was transformed into a more liberal institution in 1929.2,3 He has now turned his attention to a smaller, but […]

This book consists of five recent addresses given by Iain Murray the veteran preacher and co-founder of Banner of Truth. The messages cover a wide range of issues: evangelical holiness, the Bible, apostasy, controversy and the fourth commandment. Mr Murray shows in each message how important the subject is and carefully and clearly teaches using […]

Book Review: God in the Whirlwind: How the holy-love of God reorients our world, David F. Wells [Nottingham: IVP, 2014], 272 pages, paperback. Starting with God in the Wasteland (1994), David Wells has written four influential books exposing and critiquing Evangelicalism’s compromise with modern Western cultural norms and trends. The focus of his new book […]

This interesting volume, Pleading for a Reformation Vision: The Life and Selected Writings of William Childs Robinson (1897-1982),1 is what a Christian biography should be; not just a laudatory ‘life’ (for we should guard against the tendency to a ‘Protestant hagiography’) but a work in two halves: firstly a detailed life of the subject, and […]

This companion volume1 to The Face of Jesus Christ,2 contains 20 sermons, in which Archibald G. Brown concentrates on the Bible’s teaching on God as Creator, Judge and Saviour. Mr Brown clearly had a most fertile imagination as the titles of some of those sermons suggest, such as: ‘Noah’s Telescope’, ‘A Rough Night at Sandown’, […]

To live by faith is surely the hardest thing in the world. As Calvin put it: Our circumstances are all in opposition to the promises of God. He promises us immortality: yet we are surrounded by mortality and corruption. He declares that He accounts us just: yet we are covered with sins. He testifies that […]

Book Review: Four Views on the Historical Adam, Matthew Barrett & Ardel B. Caneday (Eds.)[Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2013], 288 pp., paperback. Few questions are more pressing among Evangelicals today than the time and the manner in which God created the world and all life within it. Did he create the world in six literal […]

Book Review: iPod, YouTube, Wii Play: Theological Engagements with Entertainment, by D. Brent Laytham [Eugene, OR: Cascade Books, 2012], x + 220 pp. A generation ago, media theorist Neil Postman feared that modern men and women, enamoured with technology and entertainment, were losing the ability to think critically. He also believed that they were erring […]

Book Review: From Heaven He Came and Sought Her: Definite Atonement in Historical, Biblical, Theological, and Pastoral Perspective; edited by David and Jonathan Gibson, with contributions by Sinclair Ferguson, Henri Blocher, Paul Helm, Robert Letham, John Piper, Thomas Schriener and others. [Crossway Books, hardback, 704pp, $50/£25-£33 (also available on Kindle).] Historically referred to as ‘limited […]

‘I would vigorously recommend Murray’s book, especially to pastors and preachers. Yes, it will convict and rebuke, but also it will instruct and encourage. If nothing else, it paints a sweet portrait of Christian humility, faithfulness, and endeavour which we would do well to emulate.’ – Jeremy Walker enjoyed Iain H. Murray’s Archibald G. Brown: […]

In his book The Bruised Reed and Smoking Flax, the Puritan preacher Richard Sibbes provides a tenderhearted, Christ-exalting exposition and application of Isaiah 42:1-3. Since its initial publication in 1630, The Bruised Reed1 has been a source of encouragement to dejected sinners and struggling saints alike. Sibbes follows Matthew’s interpretation of this text, seeing it […]