William W. Adams

Book Review: I. Biblical Studies: Many Things in ParablesMany Things In Parables. By WallaceRonald S.Edinburgh: Oliver and Boyd, 1958. 218 pages. 15 s. net.

the Twelve, learn, and furthermore that he made them learn by heart.” (Page 24) The significance of Riesenfeld’s thesis is that, if true, the forms incorporated into the gospel narrative were not Sitz im Leben der f r u e h Kirche but Sitz im Leben Jesu, viz., as the rabbi instructing or catechizing his disciples. Since this material was regarded as “holy word,” it would be handled with extreme care. Hence, the gospel material may be regarded as “historical” in a very high degree with a minimum of interpretive creation in it. The merit of Riesenfeld’s argument is that, being based on rabbinical practices of the day, it has greater historical probability than the “free preaching” basis of earlier form critics. Whether the theory outruns the evidence is a question which cannot be answered “off the cuff.” Certainly, Riesenfeld needs now to elaborate his views in a fuller and more thoroughly documented treatment. Nevertheless, his booklet is an informative, provocative and altogether fascinating presentation. E. Earle Ellis

Book Review: I. Biblical Studies: A Survey of the Old and New TestamentsA Survey of the Old and New Testaments. By JonesRussell BradleyGrand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1957. 372 pages.

The author’s purpose is to help train future Christian leaders who know, believe, practice and proclaim the Word of Life. TO achieve this purpose, the author seeks to expose the heart of each book of the Bible and all essential phases of Biblical history, SO as to emphasize one idea: “The Bible story of redeeming love.” The contents are presented in seven parts: Redemption Planned, Genesis 1-2; Redemption Required, Genesis 3:l-11:26; Redemption Prepared For, Genesis 11:27-1Malachi 4; Redemption Effected, the Gospels; Redemption Shared, the Acts; Redemption Explained, the Epistles; Redemption Realized, the Revelation. The book has strength. It shows how the Bible’s central idea, redeeming love, gives meaning to all Biblical facts. This Unifying and comprehensive idea is set fodh in one volume. It makes good use of archaeological findings. The logic and sentence structure make the book easy to read. Many will rejoice in the use of The King James Version, and in the emphatic rejection of the modern oritical approach to the study of the Bible. There are extensive bibliograghical lists at the end of each chapter. Many would question the author’s assumption that faith can live only on the traditional views of scripture-that the critical appjroach destroys faith. The issue and the situation are not that simple. For many there is no conflict between faith and all the facts of persistent, oonsecrated scholarship. For many this is the only way that faith can be clarified, justified and strengthened. Some have overworked such mitical tools as The Documentary Hypothesis and Form Criticism. Dr. Jones (head of the Department of Bible and Religious Education, Carson-Newman College, Jefferson City, Tennessee) has produced a book which will challenge critical scholars to be sure of their faots and conclusions; and it will help to effect the needed synthesis in Bible study-a combination of the solid results of constructive, critical research and the tested and abiding elements in the faith of our fathers. William W. Adams

5.95.

The strength and weakness of Roman Catholics is their uniform interpretation of Scripture and the Christian life. Their weakness, in that it is enforced, denying individual freedom in interpreting the Bible; their strength, in that they are united. The tragedy of Protestants is that, while maintaining our freedom from ecclesiastical control, we have failed to create and use a science of Biblical Hermeneutics that would result in a sane and reasonably harmonious interpretation of scripture. So that now chaos reigns everywhere in this matter, and the situation steadily grows worse.