Featured Discernment with christian books..

:thumbsup: :wavey:

 

By direct revelation, mostly. Walked and talked with Jesus for three years. Worked along side His apostles and their disciples.

The fact of the matter is, ordinarily a good commentary is a very good help, and many reject them to their peril. I think Van's and Winman's posts would be enough to warn anyone. Yours might be as well, but don't see too many of yours.

 

"There are none so blind as those who will not see."

 

And many rely on commentaries to their own peril.

You don't see many posts from me because few topics shove me out from under my rock. This one managed the work for some reason.

 

You have to make sure it is a biblically-based commentary, and you determine that by checking its conclusions against what the Holy Spirit is telling you in your own personal study. If it disagrees, cast it aside. It's not valid.

 

So true.

I do my own study, then read 20-30 commentaries on the verse and such plagerism, false assumption and out of context points - so as to amaze. I do find good application from time to time and now and then a good line of thought but often just the same o same o that they all see.

A preacher I used to know used to say - don't know if it was original with him or not - Chew and spit. Chew what you hear and spit out the junk and keep the good.

 

Pick a few good authors to read, such as a John MacArthur, Erickson, Schaffer, CS lewis . JI packard, John Stott etc, and read their materials!

Also, look to read some historical books, by authors such as a calvin, Luther, Spurgeon etc...

Don't have to agree with all they wrote, ONLY the Bible fits that bill, but good to read some theological, some practical, some on prayers etc!

 

Speaking as a non-Calvinist you make that absurd claim. I maintain that the best representative of most of Calvin's theology in the 20th century was Aurthur W. Pink. Spurgeon and AWP wouldn't think much of your theology I dare say.

Pardon me,but you are entirely out of place. You,in the main do not know whereof you speak. Four months ago you said :

"John Calvin drew his inspiration for outlining his concept from the Council of Dort."

Of course the above is bunk since Dort was some 55 years after Calvin's death! It's hard to draw inspiration from something that has not yet transpired. LOL!

You also had intimated that Calvin's progeny at Dort had misrepresented what he taught. Just a bare assertion on your part with no substance behind the charge.

 

C S. Lewis is certainly out of place in that line-up.

And get his name right. It's not Packard ( a car company from 1899-1958) but Packer!

 

How'd your '99 run? :laugh: :smilewinkgrin:

 

Here is a snippet of what CHS who you profess to admire said about commentaries:
"It seems odd,that certain men who talk so much of what the Holy Spirit reveals to themselves,should think so little of what he has revealed to others...It has been the fashion of late years to speak against the use of commentaries...Usually,we have found the despisers of commentaries to be men who have no sort of acquaintance with them;in their case,it is the opposite of familiarity which has bred contempt...who will deny the preeminent value of such expositions as those of Calvin,Ness,Henry,Trapp,Poole, and Bengal,which are as deep as they are broad?"

 

"How many who now speak of him eulogistically,and refer to him as 'beloved Spurgeon',would gnash their teeth and execrate him were they to hear his faithful and plain-spoken preaching." (A.W. Pink)

Check out Free Will --A Slave and Human Inability for starters.

 

This is a great quote and truth that I always enjoy seeing posted.many of the puritans shared these thoughts in their works.thanks for this fine post:thumbsup::thumbsup:

 

:thumbs::thumbs:

 

I've read that, Rip. It's a great read. Good quote from Pink, too. :thumbsup: