The author
has presented an organic view of the Holy Scriptures in a very lucid
and interesting way. Great doctrines of the faith appear in a
germinal form in the Old Testament. All is seen as equally inspired,
but the acorn develops into the oak tree. Thus, truth shines
brightest in the New Testament! This digest of the history of the
Bible shows the progressive revelation of the kingdoms of Christ and
Satan. Mrs. Kendall presents these truths in a non-technical manner,
often illustrating them by personal and family references.
The
hermeneutical principle of moving from the physical and external to
the spiritual and internal, as is done with types and antitypes, is
well founded. The formation of Israel as a chosen nation leads
to its deliverance from Egypt and its possession of the Land of
Promise. As the author deals with the Kingdom of David and its
later division into the Northern and Southern Kingdoms, salient
features of the major and minor prophets are presented in a gripping
manner. As apostacy increases among the Children of Israel,
the importance of the faithful remnant appears. The addition
of believing Gentiles (Amos 9:11) will expand this chosen group.
So the chosen nation serves as the source and model of the Kingdom
of God.
Following
this survey of the Old Testament we have an interesting sample of
the uninspired Jewish literature of the 400 years of silence.
We see how it encouraged the expectation of deliverance from
political oppression. It gave little thought to a divine
Saviour who would emancipate from sin.
Next, the
author gives a concise survey of the four Gospels. The Kingdom
is at hand with the arrival of the Messiah and the antagonism of
Satan becomes more apparent from the nativity scenes onwards.
Two kingdoms are in conflict and things are moving to a showdown.
John the Baptist calls Israel to repentance. According to
Christ, even Nicodemus, "the teacher of Israel," needs to be born
from above. The Sermon on the Mount reveals the spiritual
nature of the Kingdom of God. It is not of this world. A
superior righteousness to that of the Scribes and Pharisees is
essential for entry. His followers are the true seed of
Abraham. Parables explain the slow but sure growth of Christ's
Kingdom. The mighty miracles which He performs indicate His
divinity, but this arouses charges of blasphemy. Following
Peter's great confession, that Jesus is the Messiah, the Lord gives
more specific predictions of His coming trials and death in
Jerusalem. The trial and crucifixion of the Saviour are seen
as the heart of the redemptive plan to which the prophets had long
borne witness. Here, predictions of the destruction of that
guilty city are linked with the final judgement at Christ's Second
Coming.
In her
chapter on the book of Acts, Mrs. Kendall leads us through the birth
of the church, as thousands of Jews recognized Jesus as the true
Messiah. After the conversion of Saul of Tarsus, the
missionary movement lept forward. The young church gradually
separated from Judaism. The gospel's power had reached both
Jew and Gentile.
A chapter on
"Letters To The Churches" gives us a careful summary of various
epistles and their doctrinal emphases. A review of the Book of
Revelation follows. The triumph of the Son of God over the
infernal trinity brings the canon of the Scriptures to a glorious
climax. The closing chapter gives a digest of the prophetical
views and representative Church Fathers.
Pastors,
Sunday School Teachers and Bible students will all find this book a
great tool to assist them in rightly expounding the Holy Scriptures.
Mrs. Kendall presents “Points to Ponder” at the end of each chapter
which enhances its use as a devotional guide.
GUARDIAN BOOKS, ISBN
1-55452-003-7, 446 PGS.
COPIES AVAILABLE FOR $22.95 AT
THE JBSC BOOKSTORE
