Help Along The Way

I’ve finally bought a new bible - yes, that’s what was in the big brown parcel in that last entry. What kind of bible is it, and why was the parcel so large? How will it help me to find out more about Christian manliness?

That’s how my previous blog entry ended. Above, you can see the new bible standing on the kitchen windowsill, straight out of its protective slip case, both items embossed with the burning bush logo. It’s bound in genuine Chinese mock leather, but it’s also available in hard cover or real leather, in various colours. It runs to 2534 pages, and it weighs in at 4lb 5oz.

There are more bibles around these days than you can shake a stick at, so why choose this one? Because I already have the earlier version: it's falling to pieces, but I've learned a lot from it, and I don’t want to be without the new edition now.

Some readers will already have recognised it as The Reformation Study Bible, edited by R.C. Sproul. Theologian, writer, teacher, broadcaster, and bible scholar par excellence, Dr Sproul has now gone on to glory – only a few months ago, actually – but I will be benefiting from his legacy for however many years there are left to me. 

The bible comes with a booklet entitled “Welcome To The Reformation Study Bible”, which tells you all about it, beginning with a remarkably concise account of the Reformation, the five solas, the Geneva Bible, and then: “More than four hundred years later, Ligonier Ministries introduced The New Geneva Study Bible to a new generation through the vision and editorial leadership of Dr. R.C. Sproul. This important discipleship tool was later renamed The Reformation Study Bible and has continued to be a treasured resource for Christians.” Isn’t that a little bit over the top? 

No, not in my opinion. It’s the best modern commentary (and more) that I’ve ever come across in one volume.

The booklet goes on to discuss the study notes, theological notes, topical articles, and the rest of the critical apparatus that accompanies them. Two new features are the maps at the back and the “many historical creeds and confessions that summarise Christian truth.” It’s very handy to have the latter all in the same place. You can get an idea of what the text looks like from the illustration below. No, not every page has so many notes on it – but you can see why it weighs so much!

If it has a drawback, in terms of its theology, a carping critic might say that there is a slight – a very slight – bias towards Presbyterianism; but, once you know that, then you can make allowances for it. 

And how can it help in the making of Christian manliness? Here is an extract from an article on that topic from a Christian Q. & A. website.

To know what a true man is, you need look no further than the life of Jesus Christ. As the Son of Man, Jesus is the epitome of manhood, the perfect example of what true maturity looks like. Jesus was full of the Holy Spirit and lived in complete dependence on and obedience to the will of God. Christ fully displayed the fruit of the Spirit. (Galatians 5.22-23.) A true man of God will show evidence of these works of the Spirit as well.

It goes on from there to look at other areas of God’s word to fill out the account, but you get the idea: our standards should be set by what the bible says, rather than by what contemporary culture dictates or our own peer group promotes. 

Making this change is easier said than done – but Paul tells us that this is what we really need to do, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Do not be conformed to the image of this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12.2.)

Also: for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. (1 Timothy 4.8.)

My thanks to Dr Sproul for his help along the way.