Victor P. Hamilton

A Compact Guide to the Whole Bible

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“It is notoriously challenging to write a brief, thoughtful, one-volume introduction to the Bible. I commend the editors and chapter writers for succeeding admirably in facing such a challenge. They have written an exceptional text whose primary (but not exclusive) target audience will be undergraduate students enrolled in an introduction to the Bible class. Were I to teach such a course, this would easily be the volume I would use in such a class.”

Judgment and Salvation

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“In my judgment, Dustin Burlet has succeeded admirably in demonstrating beyond question that the intent of the author(s) in this passage is not primarily on God’s annihilating judgment of humanity and the rest of his creation; rather, the primary emphasis is on everything Yahweh did to preserve the life of lost humanity and his spoiled creation, humanity’s addiction to violent living notwithstanding. Thank you, Dustin.”

Reading the Historical Books

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“Professor Dutcher-Walls has given us an excellent treatment of the principles of history writing that guided the historians of this corpus of biblical literature. A judicious examination of texts from ancient Near Eastern literature reveals that these same principles may be found in that larger body of texts as well. Further, she has demonstrated ably that an awareness by the contemporary reader of how these ancient historians told their stories will greatly assist one in engaging the biblical text. Numerous examples from modern media such as family histories, film, and Facebook show that even yet we tell our own stories, mutatis mutandis, in very similar ways to the ancient historiographers. I am happy to recommend Reading the Historical Books.”

Salvation in Fresh Perspective

Theology

“We are indebted to Matt Ayars for taking the recent, and sometimes heated, conversation on the 'New Perspective' on Paul and especially his Roman Epistle, to a novel but necessary level. That novel level is to move the discussion beyond one that is confined to the Pauline take on justification by faith, and reflect on how the contributions of the 'New Perspective' may shed light and insight on the New Testament's reading of what the Wesleyans call the sanctified life. In the process Matt helps us to see that the doctrine of penal substitution as an explanation of Christ's Calvary death, while deeply enshrined in evangelical tradition, is on target but does not reflect the whole of biblical truth on this epochal event. Specifically, Matt demonstrates, magisterially in my judgment, that the penal substitution theory ends up emphasizing individual salvation (get saved and then you will go to heaven) to the exclusion of emphases such as salvation understood as also involving the reestablishment of Christ's reign on earth. Also, he observes correctly that any understanding of salvation, using the term in its broadest sense, must emerge from a reflection not only on Christ's priestly office (as in the penal substitution construct), but also from a reflection on Christ's prophetic and especially his royal office. I highly recommend this text.”

The Dance Between God and Humanity

Biblical Studies & Commentaries

“I am happy to recommend as highly as possible this collection of thirty-plus articles gleaned from Bruce Waltke’s writings. . . . Waltke brings intellectual acumen and rigorous scholarship to all his writings. His well-established reputation as an Old Testament scholar notwithstanding, I am impressed with the tone of humility and modesty and restraint that pervades his writings. Bruce writes not to make Bruce look better, but to make Bruce’s Lord look better. And in this he succeeds admirably.”