The author, Eric Metaxas, is well known as a #1 New York Times bestselling author, in part, because of his thorough treatment of the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer in another book. Besides his prolific writing and appearance on numerous media outlets, Metaxas is a senior fellow and lecturer at the King’s College in New York City and a graduate of Yale University.

The life and achievements of Martin Luther have been the subject of many authors, films, and discussions on social media. Eric Metaxas’ account is not merely one of the many, but it uniquely covers the historical account as do few other authors. The reader is made to feel as if he or she is walking through Luther’s life alongside this reformer rather than being instructed   in a lecture hall.

Metaxas clearly expresses one of his agendas for writing; that he would put to rest “the five centuries of myths” (page 11) surrounding this historic religious giant. One such myth dispelled by Metaxas has to do with the facts regarding the familiar story of the lightning bolt that caused a wayward son to commit his life to God. Luther’s life, according to the author, has been clouded because “what the world has come to ‘know’ about him is fiction” (page 3). Again and again, the author cuts through the fabric of Luther’s life and separates truth from hearsay. But in each case, he carefully offers documentation for his findings. The book is filled with footnotes and references.

The author is very thorough when accounting for every location, person, and detail of Luther’s life. It would be well to read the entire book in one or two sittings, else the reader might lose track of each of the persons involved in the narrative. Metaxas’ detail goes so far as to discuss at length the physical condition of constipation that Luther had to deal with while at Wartburg Castle, devoting three pages to the private malady (pages 244-246). He also makes a clear connection between the Church and the Empire, showing how German nationalism further escalated the reform movement.

The author offers maps, photos, sketches, and a chronology of Luther’s sixty-three-years. In addition to the twenty-two chapters, the epilogue alone stands as a monument to Luther’s legacy; including topics such as: The Free Market of Ideas, Problems with Pluralism, Conscience and Dissent, Democracy and Freedom, and Social Reforms.

Overall, Metaxas work is extremely scholarly both in content as well as in writing. It is rich in specifics, offering many personal letters, and exceedingly informative. No matter the number of other biographies that have been read, I would highly recommend this brilliant publication by the author.

Reviewed by Nat J. Saginario

Publisher’s page: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/530335/martin-luther-by-eric-metaxas/

Eric Jonas Swensson’s paper, “The Petersens and the Silesian Kinderbeten Revival,” was originally presented at the 2011 Society for Pentecostal Studies convention held in Memphis, Tennessee.

Eric Redmond, Where Are All the Brothers?: Straight Answers to Men’s Questions about the Church (Wheaton: Crossway, 2008), 112 pages, ISBN 9781433501784.

Where Are All The Brothers? Growing up in the Black church, I asked myself the question, more than once. The follow-on question is just as hard: “If there aren’t any men here, why am I here?”

Both questions should echo and reverberate through all Christian churches in America. There are not enough men in the pews. The men who are present should be more active for the Kingdom of God.

Where Are All The Brothers? is focused on the questions and concerns of African-American men, peering through the doors of African-American churches. It’s tone and purpose aims at men who have already been (at least somewhat) “snared” by the church. Pastor Eric C. Redmond makes a strong play to send questioning men down the road to becoming pillars of the congregation.

This book has a specialized audience and purpose. Where Are All The Brothers? specifically addresses the issues of Black men and Black churches. While not being a panacea for every American church, this book can be put to good use by other Christian traditions.

No church leader should expect to adopt a book or concept carte blanche. Still, make the effort to glean any kernel of truth or wisdom available. There is much wisdom and truth in this book.

Eric C. Redmond is senior pastor of Reformation Alive Baptist Church in Temple Hills, Maryland, and assistant professor of Bible and theology at Washington Bible College.

Where Are All The Brothers? includes thorough scriptural references and ample bibliographic citations. Still, the questions have deep and complex circumstances, and the answers are potentially explosive. It is a good book, but it should come pinned-to-the-shirt of a mature and prepared saint of God.

My impression is that the book is intended to be used as a soul winning tool or pressed into the hands of a new Christian. It is my suggestion that a Pastor or Men’s Leader lead men through this book as evangelism or discipleship training. This book is full of great ammunition, but it needs to be in the hands of spiritual veterans.

If used in this way, Where Are All The Brothers? serves the two-fold purpose of equipping men to be effective soul winners, and reminds Gospel-soldiers of the Kingdom work they should be pursuing. Any book capable of simultaneously equipping evangelists and empowering disciples is valuable indeed. I strongly encourage church leaders to pursue properly deploying this work in local ministry.

Why do we need to ask, and answer, the questions of this book? Because the questions are real to new converts and seasoned saints. The need to understand is valid for winning the lost and building the church.