What is it? John Stott, Piper, MacArthur, RC Sproul, Paul Washer, and many others have written books. Which one is the best or which ones are the best? Presently I am reading through God is the Gospel by Piper and the Gospel Call and True Conversion by Washer and finding the Washer book far superior. Although I believe this Washer book is more on Conversion/regeneration, I am thinking about getting his first book which is on the Gospel. So what say you?
Thats not what I meant. I also find it odd that you would say that and at the same time promote a book in your icon. Yes the scripture is the only inspired word of God, but God has gifted the church with teachers that can equip and teach the saints (Ephesians 2).
The gospel is no joke and no I will not laugh with you. I did not post this as a joke. If you do not have anything to say why do you even post in a thread? There is a board here called "clean Humor" perhaps you are better off there.
A GUIDE TO THE GOSPELS by Scoogie was a favorite in years past.
Just an aside, if we all took you as seriously as you do yourself we would have to practice bowing.
Give people a break, humor appears everywhere and rightly so - it is the stuff of life and enjoying life.
His comment would have been mine had I gotten up earlier today.
The best books on the gospels are the gospels themselves, preceded by prayer that the Holy Spirit reveal all truth to you as you read, and followed by a careful study of the rest of the New Testament, which amounts to application of the gospel lessons. You don't need man's interpretation of God's word. You need God's interpretation of God's word!!
I get lots of good humor and cracks when I watch the Three Stooges. However I do not carry that over to Theology discussions. But yes I don't want to end up an ascetic and deny myself all pleasure and focus only on the sacred.
In other words there is no use for counselors, teachers, pastors, and preachers? Just interpret the Bible anyway I please even it says I can pick up snakes and drink poison? Why do you need man's interpretation so I better go and grab a rattle snake today.
I think the best possible book on the Gospel is Romans 1:-12:1.
I know you are not asking for inspired books, but it would seem that the best uninspired books on the gospel would be those dealing with Romans 1-12:1.
I also think a great misunderstanding and often neglected truth about the gospel is that there never has been and never will be any other gospel of redemption but one.
The same gospel preached prior to the cross as summarized by Peter in Acts 10:43 and Paul in Hebrews 4:2 is the same gospel preached by John the Baptist and Christ as summarized in John 3:16 and John 3:36 and is the very same gospel found in the Great Commission
until the end of the world (Mt. 28:19; Mk. 16:15).
This is why Abraham, a pre-Mosaic Law person as well as a pre-cross person is selected by Paul to be the Biblical example of all who are justified by faith - Rom. 4:11-12; Gal. 3:6-8.
That is why prior to the cross Jesus limited salvation to ONE WAY (Mt. 7:13-14; Jn. 14:6) and why Peter said no other name has ever been given under heaven whereby we must be saved - Acts 4:12.
The name of "Jesus" = Jehovah our Savior or Jehovah Saves is the "Messiah" = Anointed One = The Christ and has been the one and only name from Adam to Revelation that men have believed in to obtain remission of sins - Acts 10:43.
So whethere we speak of the summarized gospel (1 Cor. 15:4-5) or the further condensed gospel (Gal. 3:8) it always can be further reduced to merely His name "Jesus Christ" or "Jehovah our Savior, The Christ."
I am empathizing w/ evangelist####.
You guys keep saying the same stuff over and over again when you know his intent.
Some of you who speak of authorial intent and literal interpretation... shameful.
The man is trying to get a discussion going, and it turns into a Pharisaic debate.
You might check this one out... it kind of hits on multiple issues w/ the Gospel at its core.
And Goldsworthy is always good: Gospel-Centered Hermeneutics.
Here is his classic Trilogy.
Seriously lighten up. You should probably log off for a while and take a break from here if you are going to react like that. No reason to bite my head off. No one said the Gospels were a joke. I certainty didn't. So don't put words in my mouth. I posted in this thread because I can. Not sure what your issue is, you didn't have one with me before.
As to your question, Paul does a good job in his letters on the gospels. As far as non-inspired books, I like MacArthur's commentaries. I'm talking about his main commentary. Lots of good information. I only have Matthew 1-7, but it's really good.
If you are looking for something more along the lines of the gospels as a whole, like how they work together, I think I have something like that. I'll have to check
There is a new Study bible out by Crossway, the Gospel Transformation Bible.
The purpose is to show the Gospel in every book in the Bible.
I believe they would have done better to show the Grace of God in every book in the Bible but I don't publish Bibles!