Glen Menzies, Commentary on Romans

First, my brother has produced an exceptional commentary on Romans (of course, I’m entirely objective here). This book is a member of the “Pentecostal Commentary Series” and I am confident that it will serve the church well by stimulating reflection and discussion on a host of important theological themes.

To order, click on this link: https://amzn.to/4mmOP20

Publisher’s page: https://wipfandstock.com/9781532610240/a-pentecostal-commentary-on-romans/

Timothy Dresselhaus, The Crimson Thread

Second, Dr. Timothy Dresselhaus, a gifted medical doctor (Professor Emeritus at the UCSD School of Medicine) and a dedicated teaching elder of the church, has produced a wonderful resource for Christians at every stage of their spiritual development. This book, The Crimson Thread: Tracing the Story of Jesus from Genesis to Revelation, offers a sweeping overview of the biblical narrative.

To order, click on this link: https://amzn.to/4of4u5a

Robert Menzies and Craig Keener, Commentary on Acts

Finally, the commentary on Acts that Craig Keener and I have written for Baker’s “Word and Spirit” NT Commentary Series is now available! This commentary uniquely highlights Luke’s missiological purpose, his understanding of the church as a community of prophets called to be “a light for the nations” (Isa 49:6), and his invitation for every disciple of Jesus to minister in the power of the Spirit (Luke 11:13; Acts 1:8).

To order, click on this link: https://amzn.to/3HcvWjk

Publisher’s page: https://bakerpublishinggroup.com/books/acts/417270

Bob with the Acts commentary he and Craig Keener have produced.

PneumaReview.com: Underground Publishing House is a new book label, please tell our readers when and where it started.

Bethany Hope: At the end of 2022, we were doing some speaking engagements in the UK with our ministry, Back to Jerusalem—a ministry which works with the underground house church of China to take the Gospel to the nations between China and Jerusalem. The first leg of our tour was in Wales. Standing at the book table, we were approached by someone who asked us if we knew the name Griffith John. Somehow, we did not. We went away and began looking into him, eventually realising he was a key pioneer of protestant missions to China more than 100 years ago.

As we began to read his writings, we were so profoundly moved and inspired that we felt it imperative to share the writings with as many people as possible. Thus, Underground Publishing House was born.

PneumaReview.com: The company website says that it is involved in “Publishing books with a Buried Legacy.” Please tell us a little bit about what that phrase means.

Bethany Hope: There is so much Christian literature published today, perhaps more now than at any other time in history. It is easy to think that we exist independent of church history before us and that all that matters is here and now. The truth is, we stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before us. This is especially true for us with our work in China. The successes we see and experience today are the result of the sacrifices and endurance of the missionaries who went before us and laid the foundations that we today now build on. Unfortunately, so many of these people have been forgotten to history.

There are countless buried legacies lost in the passing of time, and we feel that the Church today would be spiritually richer in every sense if we took heed of the lessons these buried voices have to share.

PneumaReview.com: How, or where, are the buried legacy books that are published discovered?

Bethany Hope: The great benefit we have of taking up this vision to rediscover buried legacy in 2023, is the wealth of information available to us through the internet. The books we are looking for are usually found in faded, skewed scans uploaded online by small libraries. Our small team researches for hours, often hitting dead ends, until suddenly we stumble upon gold. Then we work on transcribing these scans and making any necessary edits to enable to work to be as accessible to a 2023 reader as possible. We also visit archives and libraries around the world, which are often treasure troves for these books.

PneumaReview.com: The first two books that Underground Publishing House released were about missionaries to China. Please tell us briefly about those two books.

Bethany Hope: Our first book was A Voice in the Darkness: Lessons from 60 Years in Ancient China by Griffith John. The book was written in the early 1900’s when China was first opening up to the foreign missionary. The Boxer Rebellion shook the foundation of China just before this book was written and led to the single largest slaughter of missionaries in the history of Christianity.

Against the backdrop of fear and death, Griffith John, the dedicated missionary from Wales, did not flee. Instead he planted his feet in the heart of the enemy’s territory and refused to leave. God flung the doors of China wide open; missionaries came flooding in, Bibles were printed and distributed throughout the nation, the Gospel message was preached, and the Chinese came running to Christ.

Our second release was The Lame Shall Take the Prey: How a One-Legged Missionary Transformed China. George Stott was not the missionary society’s first choice; at nineteen his leg was amputated and he went through life with a wooden leg. In the mid-1800s, traveling through China with only one leg was just shy of impossible. When Hudson Taylor asked Stott why he was going to China, he confidently replied, “I do not see those with two legs going, so I must.”

Rejected, attacked, persecuted, chased, stoned, and at one point even accused of cutting the hearts and liver from small Chinese children to grind up into medicine, George and Grace Stott did not stop preaching the Gospel. George, the one-legged Scotsman, limped from village to village preaching the Good News of Jesus Christ. In his own words: “the lame shall take the prey.”

PneumaReview.com: Will all of the books that are published be focused on missionaries to China?

Bethany Hope: Though our first two releases were about missionaries to China, this will not be a pattern followed by all our releases. Our focus is missionaries who went out to the nations between China and Jerusalem—considered to be the most unreached area of the world.

PneumaReview.com: Can you tell us about some of the books that will be forthcoming from Underground Publishing House?

Bethany Hope: We have 2 more exciting releases for the end of 2023. The first called The Terrible Red Dwarf. Tracts looked very different a hundred years ago on the mission field than we might imagine today. It was common for missionaries to write and publish fable-like stories with moral messages embedded that lined up with Christian principles, detailed with amazing illustrations. These were not just written for children, but the general population. The Terrible Red Dwarf is a story which shares the danger of our words and the importance of guarding our tongue. This will be available October 31st.

Image: Robert Morrison by John Richard Wildman. WikiMedia Commons.

The final release of the year is our biggest project yet. Many have never come across the name Robert Morrison, yet if you have any interest in China or missions, he should be a name we all know. Robert Morrison was the first Protestant missionary to China and the first to produce a fully translated Bible in the Chinese language. Amazingly, there is almost nothing written about him! We have written down his story, from the miraculous way the first Chinese Bible translation came to be in the face of immense adversity and the sacrifices it required of Morrison. This book honours a man who gave so much for the Chinese to have access to the Word of God. Bury Me in China will be released November 16th.

PneumaReview.com: Is there a particular audience that you are trying to reach with the books that you publish? What do you hope the books that you release will accomplish?

Bethany Hope: Our aim is that these books end up in the hands of as many people as possible. For those interested in missions, these books have an obvious attraction and will provide much encouragement and inspiration when we see how God has moved through missionaries throughout history. However, these books also provide lessons with much spiritual richness for any believer seeking to strengthen their faith.

PneumaReview.com: Where can people purchase Underground Publishing House books, and where can they learn more about your publishing house?

Bethany Hope: You can visit our website at www.undergroundpublishing.co.uk

If you would rather purchase the hard copy version of the books, you can find all of our releases on Amazon where you can purchase a print version.

Publisher Wipf & Stock interviews Amos Yong about his background and introduction to his books they have partnered to published. In his own words, Amos Yong explains what these books mean to him and why he thinks them significant to his own development.

Originally published in January 2017. Length: 18:33 minutes.

Seeking all books written by Pentecostal scholars.

The Foundation for Pentecostal Scholarship is seeking titles of theological books by Pentecostal/charismatic scholars to consider as nominees for its 2016 Book Award of Excellence. The books should have a publication date of 2014 or 2015. Please email all title nominations to admin@tffps.org.

Randy J. Hedlun receiving his award from Robert Graves during the 2014 annual meeting of the Society for Pentecostal Studies.

PneumaReview.com editors: What books by Pentecostal/charismatic scholars should all of us know about? Please tell us in the comments section below.

Ever been looking for a hard-to-find book? Whether you find it or not, you’re sure to learn something.

In a recent conversation, I wrote to Darrin Rodgers with a question about some hard-to-find titles by early charismatic authors. Just like the abundant research resources of the Flower Pentecostal Heritage Center where he is the director, Darrin often surprises me with ready information about something I assumed to be too obscure for anyone to find.

Here is the note I sent to him:

Greetings, Darrin.

We have someone writing to PneumaReview.com asking about publications by the Full Gospel Businessmen’s Fellowship. He is looking for a series of books or pamphlets published in the 60s and 70s with titles like, Catholics and the Baptism in the Holy Spirit, Baptists and the Baptism in the Holy Spirit and other denominations.

Here is one title I found: https://kindle.amazon.com/work/catholics-baptism-spirit-jerry-jensen/B004235XLW/B004235XLW

Would you happen to know any more about these? Do you happen to have any of these in the archives?
Thanks,
Raul

By the way, if you are interested in more about the Full Gospel Businessmen’s Fellowship, I recommend the article by historian William De Arteaga, “Demos Shakarian and His Ecumenical Businessmen.”

Darrin wrote back:

Hi Raul!

I hope you are doing well.

Yes, we hold that series of booklets, published by FGBMFI in the 1960s and 1970s.

They were relatively common and consist of testimonies of people from various religious traditions and professions (attorneys, physicians, etc.) who were baptized in the Holy Spirit.

Does he want to read the booklets? The cheapest way to obtain them is through Interlibrary Loan through a local library. He can probably get them on loan for free. If we make copies from our collection, then we charge by the page. Gary Flokstra has a large Pentecostal used book store here in Springfield if he wants to purchase the original booklets.

Darrin J. Rodgers, M.A., J.D.

Director, Flower Pentecostal Heritage Center

Editor, Assemblies of God Heritage

I asked Darrin more about Gary Flokstra’s bookstore and he pointed me to his ministry, For the World Resource Distributors (also known as 4WRD). Darrin said, “He primarily supplies books to overseas Bible college libraries. However, he has a very large collection of used Pentecostal titles for sale.”

Are you a Bible school struggling to put good books on your library’s shelves? Are you a church that wants to help train pastors around the world? Maybe you should consider connecting with For the World Resource Distributors.

We have put together our latest list of books for which we are seeking reviewers. Please use the Editor contact information to write to me to request it. We invite you to pass the document or this notice on to friends and colleagues whom you think would be interested in writing for PneumaReview.com.

I also invite you to read my short Get Involved article on PneumaReview.com: “Looking for Good Writers: Have Something to Say?”

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Since our last bulletin in April, we have continued to see good growth as we enjoy some of the new opportunities that digital publishing has made available to us. We have already brought the majority of the articles and reviews from our past issues online. We are still, however, learning how to make the best use of this site and we deeply appreciate your prayers and your patience with us.

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What interests you?

If one or more of these titles interests you, please visit the respective publisher’s website for a brief description of the book. To assist with these searches, ISBN numbers are included in this list when available. If you cannot locate the publisher’s web address, please let me know.

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The editors know that there are many, many books not listed here that should be. If you are aware of a book that should be reviewed by PneumaReview.com that is not mentioned here (including your own work), please search for it on PneumaReview.com and if it is not found, send the Editor a note to tell us about it. Do let me know if you are interested in reviewing it yourself or if you know someone that would be interested.

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A style guide is available upon request. However, the PneumaReview.com editorial committee is more interested in writers using their own style consistently than following our guide like a rulebook. We prefer reviews with a length of 500 – 1200 words, ideally at 700 words. Once reviewers have received books from the publishers, we prefer to see a review within six months and each additional within three months. However, one of the wonderful things about going from print to digital is that we have done away with our need for copy dates. Our objective is to be flexible with our writers.

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In the love of the Father,

Raul Mock

Ronald J. Sider, Just Politics: A Guide for Christian Engagement (Grand Rapids: Brazos Press, 2012), xvii + 249 pages, ISBN 9781587433269.

Ronald J. Sider, Fixing the Moral Deficit: A Balanced Way to Balance the Budget (Downers Grove: IVP Books, 2012), 171 pages, ISBN 9780830837953.

Ronald J. Sider, ed., The Early Church and Killing: A Comprehensive Sourcebook on War, Abortion, and Capital Punishment (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2012), 216 pages, ISBN 9780801036309.

Paul Alexander and Al Tizon, eds., Following Jesus: Journeys in Radical Discipleship – Essays in Honor of Ronald J. Sider (Oxford: Regnum Books International, 2013), xiv + 235 pages, ISBN 9781908355270.

Some readers of this journal will think of Ron Sider, founder of Evangelicals for Social Action, as being on the left side of the Christian theological and political spectrum. Many others will recognize this longtime Distinguished Professor of Theology, Holistic Ministry and Public Policy at Palmer Theological Seminary – now related to Eastern University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – as being centrally evangelical in his commitments to biblical and Christ-centered engagements with the important social issues of the present age like poverty, war, and public policy. Over his career, he has published over thirty books and hundreds of scholarly and lay-accessible articles devoted to mobilizing evangelical believers, especially, to not only think but also live faithfully as Christ-followers in the public square.

Ron Sider speaking at “Christ at the Checkpoint” conference in Bethlehem in March 2012.
Image: Danielbannoura / Wikimedia Commons

This review focuses on three of Sider’s most recent books (all from 2012), and a festschrift published in his honor. The three volumes are of different types but each one engages perennial Siderian themes. Just Politics is actually a second edition of The Scandal of Evangelical Politics published by Baker Books in 2008. It includes a new preface that comments critically on literature published too late to be considered in the first edition plus what has appeared between 2008-2011 at the intersection of evangelical studies and the political. The hallmarks of Sider’s approach are evident: extended reflections on the Bible in order to discern a faithful Christian understanding of the polis and, from this scriptural framework, proposals for evangelical engagements with the political. Part three presents an overarching evangelical political theology and philosophy addressing nine themes, topics, and issues (in nine chapters): the state, justice, human rights (including democracy and capitalism), the sanctity of human life, marriage and family, religious freedom in connection to the church-state relationship, peacemaking in relationship to just war and nonviolence, creation care, and nation-states and international affairs. Each chapter undertakes historical, political, and social analysis and includes recommendations for faithful evangelical political praxis with an eye towards shaping public policy in these domains.

Bill T. Arnold & H.G.M. Williamson, eds., Dictionary of the Old Testament: Historical Books (Downers Grove, IL & Leicester, England: InterVarsity Press, 2005), xxiii + 1060, ISBN 9780830817825.

It is exciting to see this present work in print. Many in ministry consistently reach for reference works in the IVP dictionary series to help them in their teaching preparation. This series includes New Testament Background, Jesus and the Gospels, Paul and His Letters, The Later New Testament and its Development, as well as the Bible Background Commentary volumes for both Old and New Testaments. These were later followed by an Old Testament series beginning with Dictionary of the Old Testament: Pentateuch. Each volume has proven to be of superior quality in both scholarship and ease of use. The present volume, Dictionary of the Old Testament: Historical Books covers a wide variety of topics covering the books of Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings, Chronicles, Ezra and Nehemiah.

It should be noted that the IVP Dictionary series are written by American and European scholars who are not necessarily Pentecostal or charismatic. Because of this, some may find the articles somewhat disappointing.

Of general interest for Pentecostal/charismatics will be the biographical articles on such notables as “Caleb,” “David,” “Elijah,” “Elisha,” “Hezekiah,” “Joshua,” “Isaiah,” “Solomon,” “Zerubbabel” and others. While a general article on “Women” is included, specific articles on Deborah, Hanna and other notable women are conspicuously absent. Companion articles can usually be found to enhance the biographies. For example, in addition to the article on “David” there are also articles on the “Davidic Covenant” as well as “David’s Family.”

Of specific interest for Pentecostal/Charismatics will be topical entries such as “Anointing,” “Faith,” “Forgiveness,” “High Places,” “Prayer,” “Salvation and Deliverance,” “Sickness and Disease,” and the “Word of God.”

Those interested in theology will find beneficial insights in the articles on “Death and Afterlife,” “Ethics,” “Evil,” “God,” “Justice and Righteousness,” “Law,” as well as the article on “Sin.”

For those who profit from historical, geographical and cultural context studies the entries on “Agriculture and Husbandry,” “Archaeology,” “Canaanite Gods and Religion,” “Egypt,” “Geographical Extent of Israel,” “Hebrew Inscriptions,” “Israelite Society,” and “Trade and Travel” will be of assistance.

For readers who are more interested in Biblical interpretation, the articles on “Chronology,” “Deuteronomistic History,” “Genealogies,” “Hebrew Language,” “Hermeneutics,” “Inner-biblical Exegesis,” “Linguistics,” “Methods of Interpretation,” and “Oral Tradition & Written Tradition” will prove helpful.

While there is much to like in the DOTHB there is something that is critically absent; that being any kind of article or reference to God’s Spirit. There is no entry on the Spirit of the Lord, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit or God’s Spirit. In the subject index there is not a single listing of any of these phrases. It seems woefully inadequate for a Bible dictionary that covers a select group of historical writings which includes “Judges,” where the Spirit is present in abundance, to not make mention of that same Spirit.