The Apostolic Fathers, Vol. 1

Posted in
The Apostolic Fathers, Vol. 1. Translated by Kirsopp Lake. Vol. 24 in The Loeb Classical Library. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1912. 409 pp. Cloth, $15.50. When the Journal of the Grace Evangelical Society was started in mid-1988, the book and periodical reviewers were faced with the question of how far back in time one
read more

The Good Old Gospel Train

by in
We used to sing a chorus in Sunday school that went like this: Oh, I’m traveling on the “hallelujah Line” On the good old Gospel Train, I am on the right track, And never will go back To the station of sin again!   The refrain went on to spell out what the Gospel is
read more

The Words of the Gospel: Believe/Faith

by in
Near the beginning of Sir Walter Scott’s classic novel Ivanhoe, the fool Wamba discusses the difference between good old Anglo-Saxon words (like swine and sheep) and the (then) new-fangled French words (like pork and mutton) that had been making headway in England since the Norman conquest of 1066. Many centuries later we still use Wamba’s
read more

The Words of the Gospel: “BORN AGAIN”

by in
Have you ever heard or had a conversation something like the following? “Are you a Christian?” “Well of course I’m a Christian! Do you think I’m a heathen? I’m an American!” “Well, I mean do you believe–” “I believe in God.” “But I mean have you ever put your faith in Christ; are you saved?”
read more

The NIV Reconsidered: A Fresh Look at a Popular Translation

Posted in
The NIV Reconsidered: A Fresh Look at a Popular Translation. Earl Radmacher and Zane C. Hodges. Dallas: Redención Viva, 1990. 155 pp. Paper, $8.95. This is an important book on a major topic for English-speaking Christians. It is also long overdue. First of all this is neither a “chain saw” review nor a nit-picking one.
read more

We Believe In: The Lord’s Supper

by in
I. Introduction Several years ago I was invited to a Saturday dinner that ended in a doctrinal debate. I have never liked religious arguments or debates, and I feared that the dramatis personae of this dinner—four members of our church and two active ultra-dispensationalist gentlemen1—could only lead to our locking horns. The hostess was the
read more

The Words of the Gospel: “SAVED”

by in
“Are you saved, sir?” the Salvation Army lassie asked the very distinguished-looking clergyman. The time was the late 1800’s. and the scene was a railway carriage in England. The bishop (for she had dared to witness to one of England’s most learned bishops!) answered, “Do you mean esothen, sozomai, or sothesomai? (He was throwing the
read more