Lutheran Book Review

  Menander Rhetor and Dionysius of Halicarnassus. Edited and translated by William H.   Ars Rhetorica (Loeb Classical Library 539).  Cambridge/London: Harvard University Press, 2019. 539 Pages. Cloth. $28.00.  https://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674997226

Duguid, Iain M., James M. Hamilton, Jr., and Jay Sklar, Editors.   Contributions by W. Brian Aucker, Eric Ortlund, and Douglas Sean O'Donnell.   ESV Expository Commentary (Volume IV, Ezra-Job) . Wheaton: Crossway, 2020. 576 Pages. Cloth. $45.00.  https://www.crossway.org/books/esv-expository-commentary-premiumhc/

  Sire, James W.  Foreword by Jim Hoover. The Universe Next Door: A Basic Worldview Catalog (Sixth Edition). Downers Grove: IVP Academic, 2000. 312 Pages. Paper. $32.00.  https://www.ivpress.com/the-universe-next-door Allen, Michael and Jonathan A. Linebaugh, Editors. Reformation Readings of Paul: Explorations in History and Exegesis. Downers Grove: IVP Academic, 2000. 280 Pages. Paper. $30.00  https://www.ivpress.com/reformation-readings-of-paul

Giertz, Bo. Translated by Bror Erickson. Faith Alone: The Heart of Everything. Irvine: 1517 Publishing: 2020. 271 Pages. Paper. $14.95. https://www.amazon.com/Faith-Alone-Everything-Bo-Giertz/dp/1948969351

Aristotle. Translated by J. H. Freese. Revised by Gisela Striker. Art of Rhetoric (Loeb Classical Library 193, Aristotle XXII). Cambridge/London: Harvard University Press, 2020. 528 Pages. Cloth. $28.00.  https://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674997325 Schreiner, Patrick. Michael F. Bird, Series Editor.  The Ascension of Christ: Recovering a Neglected Doctrine (Snapshots).  Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2020. 127 Pages. Paper. $15.99. ebook available.  https://lexhampress.com/product/189139/the-ascension-of-christ-recovering-a-neglected-doctrine

Keating, Ray.  Behind Enemy Lines: Conservative Communiques from Left-Wing New York.  Long Island: Keating Reports, 2020. 732 Pages. Paper. Kindle Available. $26.99.  https://raykeatingonline.com/products/behindenemylines Senkbeil, Harold H.   Christ and Calamity: Grace and Gratitude in the Darkest Valley.  Ashland, OH: Lexham Press, 2020. 151 Pages. Paper. $9.99. ebook available.  https://lexhampress.com/

Beitler, James E.  Seasoned Speech: Rhetoric in the Life of the Church . Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2019. 243 Pages Paper. $25.00.  https://www.ivpress.com/seasoned-speech Burgess, John P., Jerry Andrews, and Joseph D. Small.  A Pastoral Rule for Today: Reviving and Ancient Practice . Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2019. 208 Pages. Paper. $20.00.  https://www.ivpress.com/a-pastoral-rule-for-today Dodson, Joseph R., and David E. Briones, Editors. Foreword by John M. G. Barclay.  Paul and the Giants of Philosophy: Reading the Apostle in Greco-Roman Context.  Downers Grove: IVP Academic, 2019. 183 Pages. Paper. $22.00.  https://www.ivpress.com/paul-and-the-giants-of-philosophy Mattes, Mark. Edited by Rick Ritchie. Foreword by John T. Pless.  Law and Gospel in Action: Foundations Ethics Church . Irvine: 1517 Publishing. 396 Pages. Paper. $22.95.  https://shop.1517.org/products/law-and-gospel-in-action-foundation-ethics-church?variant...

Veith, Gene Edward, Jr.  Post Christian: A Guide to Contemporary Thought and Culture.  Wheaton: Crossway, 2020. 320 Pages. Paper. $24.99.  https://www.crossway.org/books/post-christian-tpb/ I had hoped to be spending this week in Casper, Wyoming hearing Dr. Veith expound upon this new book. Instead, concerns about COVID-19 led to the cancellation of that conference.  We still get to rejoice in a book for our time, Post Christian: A Guide to Contemporary Thought and Culture , Dr. Gene Edward Veith's new book from Crossway.  Undaunted Hope in a Post-Christian World We live in a post-Christian world. Contemporary thought—claiming to be “progressive” and “liberating”—attempts to place human beings in God’s role as creator, lawgiver, and savior. But these post-Christian ways of thinking and living are running into dead ends and fatal contradictions. This timely book demonstrates how the Christian worldview stands firm in a world dedicated to constructing its own know...

Gabb, Sean.  Acts of the Apostles: A Greek, Latin, and English Parallel Text Being an Aid for Adults to the Easier Learning of the Classical Languages.  Deal, England: Center for Ancient Studies, 2014, 2018. 82 Pages. pdf. Paper available.  https://www.seangabb.co.uk/   Purchase on Amazon UK The editor of this edition generously shared a digital copy of  Acts of the Apostles: A Greek, Latin, and English Parallel Text Being an Aid for Adults to the Easier Learning of the Classical Languages,  over a year ago. We apologize for the lateness of this review. It would appear to be enormously useful for schools and individuals who love classical languages and the Biblical text. If I had one critique of the volume it would be this: Please identify the source of the Greek, Latin, and English texts in the Preface of future editions so that readers don't have to do it for themselves. I believe that potential buyers would more confidently buy the print edition if they ...

Mary Moerbe’s Ecclesial Poetry is churchly poetry, by a Christian, about the Church, and for Christ’s Church. We Christians usually sing our poems, our hymns. Singing poems allows us to ponder texts in a deliberate way, giving our eyes, brains, mouths, ears, and hearts an opportunity to ponder the Gospel as members of the body of Christ. The rare appearance of a collection of (largely) un-sung churchly poetry like this is a similar opportunity to deliberately ponder. Take a poem like "Tabernacle to Temple" and read it aloud. Post "May I Be an Altar" on your mirror for a week or two to live with it. Perusing Ecclesial Poetry is no speed-read, no sprint, but a pleasant journey of faith with many rewarding returns. https://smile.amazon.com/Ecclesial-Poetry-Deac-Mary-Moerbe/dp/1987524616 https://www.maryjmoerbe.com/

Packer, J. I., Joel Scandrett, and Anglican Church in North America, Editors.  To Be a Christian: An Anglican Catechism (Approved Edition) . Wheaton: Crossway, 2020. 160 Pages. Cloth. $29.99  https://www.crossway.org/books/to-be-a-christian-hconly/ We didn't have Episcopalians in my small town in Nebraska. I probably first encountered that Christian tradition in fiction or on TV before I met a real-life person of that confession in Lincoln during my university years. It was notable to me that he attended our LCMS campus ministry instead of a congregation of the PECUSA.  The Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America is no longer "the Republican Party at prayer" as one used to hear. You've heard about the changes in leadership and eligibility for leadership in that body for in the news for over twenty years. The 1979 Book of Common Prayer and Hymnal 1980 are still official for that church body, but used less in many parishes based on my own (limited)...

Keating, Ray.  Warrior Monk: A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel (Second Edition. New Epilogue and Author Introduction).  Manorville, NY: Keating Reports, 2019. 447 Pages. Paper. Kindle available.   http://www.pastorstephengrant.blogspot.com /  Keating, Ray.  A Discussion Guide for Ray Keating's Warrior Monk, A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel.  Manorville: Keating Reports, 2019. 26 Pages. Paper.   http://www.pastorstephengrant.blogspot.com /  Keating, Ray.  Root of All Evil? (A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel), Second Edition.  Manorville, NY: Keating Reports, 2012, 2020. 314 Pages. Paper. $17.99.  http://www.pastorstephengrant.blogspot.com /  https://raykeatingonline.com/products/root-of-all-evil-second-edition Keating, Ray.  Deep Rough : A Pastor Stephen Grant Novel.  Manorville, NY: Keating Reports, 2019. 437 Pages. Paper. $18.99 Kindle available for $8.99.  http://www.pastorstephengrant.blogspot.com / Keating, Ray....