Book Review: "Reading the New Testament for the First Time"

Reading the New Testament for the First Time by Ronald J. Allen (Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2012), paperback, 216 pages

For over a century, Gideons International has placed millions of Bibles in hotel rooms around the world and has distributed countless others, particularly pocket New Testaments, on college campuses, in prisons, and elsewhere.  Part of the rationale for the effort is to evangelize, believing that some might become Christians simply by reading through the Bible on their own.

The practicality of this approach, though, is questionable, which may come as a surprise to those who learned Bible stories from parents and Sunday School teachers before they ever tried to read the scriptures on their own.  For those who approach the Bible, especially the New Testament, without much religious background, it can be an intimidating text to read and understand.

Ronald Allen, a professor at Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis, tries to offer an encouraging introduction in Reading the New Testament for the First Time.  Clearly he believes that some people, at least in the American culture, will read the New Testament out of curiosity and might appreciate some help in understanding the ancient writings.

Personally, I find it rather odd to imagine there is much market for this book.  While I'm sure there are people who would like to read the New Testament without pushy church folks scrambling to get them to join their congregations or tell them exactly what they're supposed to believe, I can't imagine them reaching for this book.  Maybe they might seek out some form of The Bible for Dummies, but probably not a book from a religious publisher.

This is just as well.  Whatever Reading the New Testament for the First Time might be, it is not a book for first-time readers of the Bible.  It starts off reasonably well, with a brief and inviting introduction followed by a chapter explaining what a reader will encounter in the New Testaments (divisions into books, chapters, and verses; kinds of writings; how the New Testament was transmitted from ancient times to the present).  After this, though, it quickly develops into a book that will likely confuse a new reader more completely than trying to read Matthew 1 in the King James Version.

Frankly, this was surprising, as I know that Allen has an excellent reputation for good teaching and writing.  (Also, my colleagues who know him tell me he is a genuinely kind person.)  But as a pastor, I found his approach consistently baffling, raising issues that seem mostly tangential, especially for first-time readers, and overlooking helpful context (maybe to keep the book short?) all too often.  Worse, although Allen claims to write in a conversational way, "avoiding technical language," too often he seems more worried about colleagues criticizing him for oversimplification than offering clear (if oversimplified) entry points for new readers.

This is most apparent in Allen's persistent talk about "the Realm of God," in place of the Kingdom of God.  While there are certain reasons to appreciate an attempt to use non-gendered language, and while it is also clear that American readers have little understanding of what a kingdom is, I find it inconceivable that this is the time and place for such language adjustment.  If we are trying to make someone comfortable reading the New Testament for the first time, it is important to use the actual words they will find in their reading, especially something so often mentioned as the Kingdom of God.  Allen's unwillingness to adjust his preferred language to meet his readers where they are is troubling; worse, this unwillingness furthers the presumed first-time reader's assumption that the New Testament might be too challenging to even begin.

Allen's ill-conceived intended audience makes Reading the New Testament for the First Time unhelpful for another group that seems more likely to purchase such a book -- a church study group seeking some friendly help in learning to read the Bible better.  Most such readers would decide the book is not for them in the first chapter that explains things they already know; few would likely make it beyond chapter 2, which includes one of the oddest synopses of the Hebrew Scriptures that I have ever encountered.

Unfortunately, this book is a maddening, disheartening mess.  While it is clear that Allen knows his subject matter, too often he has no real audience to share that knowledge with.  He goes from defining seminary to asking his reader "to take a moment and write down what you think was at the core of Jesus' message" before beginning his introduction to the story of Jesus.  If someone is looking for help in reading the New Testament for the first time, he or she is unlikely to find much here.

Prayer for Mission in East Timor

This week, we pray for the mission to East Timor, the Asian country where Carlos Madrazo has served for the past six years.  Carlos worked with the Protestant Church of East Timor.

You can read more about the mission to East Timor here, including a reminder about the power of photographs in building relationships.

There are Christian missionaries serving on our behalf in 70 countries around the world.  Each week, Global Missions highlights one of these missions and asks the wider church to pray for its continued vitality in spreading the Gospel.

Why Do We Wish for Peace?

Over the past several months, I have been reading Karl Barth's extensive, and theologically influential, commentary on The Epistle to the Romans.  The argument is usually fairly dense, so I tend to read a few short sections a week.

Karl Barth was a Swiss theologian who offered a significant challenge to conventional Western theology in the early 20th Century.  A student of John Calvin (among others), Barth consistently emphasizes the complete glory and power of God -- God who must necessarily be kept distinct from sinful human beings.

As with any system of thought, there are strengths and weaknesses to this perspective.  Barth, I think, has a significant challenge explaining the purpose and nature of God's creation, as described in Genesis.  On the other hand, Barth consistently insists that we must recognize God not through human imagination (with its limitations and distorted ego-centrism), but as the transcendent Being whose ways are not human ways and whose purposes are not human purposes.

In this season of Advent, I was intrigued to come across a discussion of the nature of peace.  (Historically speaking, it is also interesting to note that this commentary was published in the early 1930s, just as the Nazis were coming to power in Germany.)  Like the best of Barth, he encourages us to move beyond our common assumptions, and he forcefully redirects the meaning of peace toward his understanding of God.

There is no such thing as a 'good conscience' either in war or in peace.  Even the most sturdy defender of peace knows that we are always in the position of being unable to see the One in the other.  He knows, too, that we must always abhor the evil which is in the other.  The One in the other has no concrete, visible existence.  In relation to the problem of war the knowledge of God means that we must descend from every warlike high place; but this does not mean that we must then proceed to ascend at once to some high place of peace.  The knowledge of God directs us to God; it does not direct us to some human position or to some human course of action either in time of war or in time of peace.  A Church which knows its business well will, it is true, with a strong hand keep itself free from militarism; but it will also with a friendly gesture rebuff the attentions of pacifism.  The earnestness of the command that we should be at peace lies in its capacity to illustrate the first commandment; it directs us, that is, to God. (Barth, The Epistle to the Romans, trans. Edwyn C. Hoskyns, Oxford University Press, 1933, p. 471)

I know that this kind of thinking challenges our cherished notions that we are trying to "do good" in this world, especially when we pray for peace.  But I wonder if it might just perfectly accord with the promise of Christ, spoken by the angels: "Glory to God in heaven, and on earth, peace...."  The peace promised the first Christmas is not created by human hands, but is given by God alone, through the incarnation of Jesus Christ. If this is so, then our hope for peace should ultimately be a desire for God's peace.  It certainly is food for thought this holy season.

Coming Up Sunday, December 16

This Sunday, we will enjoy the Eastgate Choir's annual Advent cantata.  "Lead Me Back to Bethlehem," with words and music by Pepper Choplin, invites us to hear the familiar Christmas story again and to find our place within it.  The music incorporates some well known melodies, traditional and modern, into the fabric of the overall piece, which should be memorable and enjoyable.  It should be another wonderful piece of our Advent celebration.

December 9 Worship: "Memories"

We continued our Advent season with a full service on Sunday.  Several people from Linaje Escogido, which met at Eastgate for more than two years before moving into their new sanctuary in September, joined us to offer their thanks for our support of their young church.  In addition to presenting us with photographs, their dance team offered a song of praise.  In this season of newness, it is good to celebrate the new opportunities that God gives Christian communities.

The sermon was another installment of "Looking for Home: Faith in the Holiday Season."  This week, drawing on Paul's encouragement to Timothy to remember his faith heritage, we considered "Memories," and especially how the heart of our holiday traditions can remind us of the meaning of Jesus Christ and his birth.

If you missed Sunday's sermon, if you'd like to listen to it again, or if you'd like to share it with others, you can find an audio recording here.

Prayer for Mission in Hong Kong

This week we pray for Bruce Van Voorhis, our missionary in Hong Kong.  Bruce coordinates interfaith programs for the Asia and Pacific Alliance of the YMCAs in Hong Kong.

You can read more about the mission to Hong Kong here, including a project to build relationships of cooperation and trust in the Indonesian community of Poso, which has experienced violence between Muslims and Christians.

There are Christian missionaries serving on our behalf in 70 countries around the world.  Each week, Global Missions highlights one of these missions ans asks the wider church to pray for its continued vitality in spreading the Gospel.

December 2 Worship: "You Can't Go Home Again"

We entered into the Advent season on Sunday, greeted by a beautifully decorated sanctuary.  We marked the season by lighting the first candle on the Advent wreath.  And the Bell Choir played several selections throughout the service, brightening the mood.

The sermon was the first in the Advent and Christmas series, "Looking for Home: Faith in the Holiday Season."  Considering one of Jesus' most famous statements about home, during his underwhelming return to his hometown, we looked at why some people feel uncomfortable during the holidays in "You Can't Go Home Again."  Sometimes our expectations are too closely joined to the past, and we don't see people as they are today, which means that we often miss out on the gifts that people can offer today by only seeing them as they were long ago.

If you missed Sunday's sermon, if you'd like to listen to it again, or if you'd like to share it with someone, you can listen to an audio recording here.