Recently, Christian historian Stephen J. Nichols whose books have been particularly helpful to me has published his attempt at presenting the biblical story and how to understand it in Crossways Welcome to the Story: Reading, Loving, & Living God's Word.
Nichols follows the basic storyline of the Bible presented as Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Restoration. Each section receives its own separate chapter and the author shows how each effects the biblical story and, really, our story. Throughout these sections, the author weaves in biblical theology with insights from history (his bread and butter) guiding the reader through the Story itself.
For the most part the author manages to stay away from controversial theological issues. This was rather surprising to me especially since Nichols is an distinguished Christian scholar. He has already written books on Christology, Bibliology, Martin Luther, and other topics and thus is quit competent to speak on some of the issues that are naturally raised when discussing the meta-narrative of Scripture.
For example, in the chapter on Creation, little to nothing is said regarding the various views regarding how to interpret the Biblical record. What about evolution? How old is the Earth? Surely these views affect our understanding of the Story. But one helpful part of the creation discussion was hos suggestion borrowing from Karl Barth that "image" means relationship. Like the Trinity, we are relational beings.
One shortfall here is common among such projects. It is amazing how easily Christians skip from Genesis 3 (the Fall) to Matthew 1 (the Incarnation) or later (the crucifixion and resurrection). A lot happens in between those events to say the least. What does the giving of the Law, the rise of the Judges, the monarchy, the captivity, and the rebuilding of the Temple have to do with God's Divine Story? Though Nichols quotes from the prophets and other Old Testament texts later in the book, at this point he virtually skips them and he is not alone. This is a serious challenge for Christians who tell the Story of Scripture. We cannot dismiss God's dealings with Israel so easily.
But the book is not just a summary of the biblical narrative. Much of the book helps the reader understand Scripture subjectively. He guides the reader through how not to miss the point (a reference to Brian McLaren and Tony Campolo?), the affect that Scripture has on us, how to draw the right interpretation and meaning of Scripture, etc. One of the things I love about Nichols and his books, writings, lectures, etc. is that he is not just an ivory tower academic, but a person who tries to make the complex understandable to the average believer. He takes on soteriology, christology, and bibliology not to display his writing abilities, but to help Christians better understand his faith and that is what he does here.
Overall this is a helpful book worth considering but in comparison to his other books, this is not Dr. Nichols best book. Nichols is at his best when he is discussing history and those who changed it. That does not mean that this is a terrible book, it isn't, but only to offer an honest critique. The book stands on its own as a helpful introduction to the Story of Scripture and how to love and live it (as the title and subtitle suggests).
For readers wanting to understand this story and to know how it all fits together, this may be a helpful tool for you. But for those wanting details, perhaps you should look elsewhere.
This book was given to me free of charge for the purpose of this review.
For more:
Reviews - "For Us and Our Salvation" by Stephen Nichols
Reviews - "Jesus Made in America" by Stephen Nichols
Reviews - "Ancient Word, Changing Worlds"
Reviews - "King Solomon" by Philip Graham Ryken
Reviews - "God's Word in Human Words": Full Series
Reviews - "How to Read the Bible as Literature . . . and Get More Out of It"
Reviews - "Am I Really a Christian?" by Mike McKinley
Reviews - "Life's Biggest Questions" by Erik Thoennes
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