Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 100:399 (Jul 1943)
Article: Book Reviews
Author: Anonymous

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BSac 100:399 (Jul 43) p. 450

Book Reviews

The Nature and Destiny of Man. By Reinhold Niebuhr. Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York. 321 pp. and index. $2.75.

This the second in the series of Gifford Lectures delivered at Edinburgh University was preceded by Volume I on Human Nature. The theme of this the second series is Human Destiny. From the point of scholarship, penetrating thought, and leadership in contemporary thinking, Dr. Niebuhr, who writes from his position in Union Theological Seminary, New York, must be recognized, as he is, as one of the foremost influences in the theological world of today. His recognition of the great foundational truths of Christianity cannot but call many of his associates in the school of interpretation which they represent to a more worthy evaluation of Christian truth than some of these have advanced. This book is not material for uninstructed minds. One must know very much that Dr. Niebubr knows in order to follow him at all; but for those prepared for this mental exercise this work is exceedingly stimulating and revealing.

An extract from Dr. Niebuhr’s foreword will disclose quite sufficiently the thought and purpose of the author: “The thesis which underlies both the analysis of human nature and the discussion of human destiny is that the Biblical-Christian view of man and history is more unique and to be distinguished more sharply from either classical or modern alternatives than has been generally assumed in modern Christian thought. I have suggested in the first volume that the Christian faith assesses the spiritual nature of man more highly and has a lower opinion of man’s virtue than alternative doctrines, both ancient and modern. I seek to establish in this volume that the Biblical-Christian faith has a more dynamic conception of history than classicism and a less optimistic view of historical dynamism than alternate modern views. Current history seems to me to have invalidated contemporary interpretations of history and thus has given more classical

BSac 100:399 (Jul 43) p. 451

Christian interpretations of the meaning of history a new relevance.”

Whatever views a modern student may hold or wherein he may disagree with Dr. Niebuhr, he can ill afford to miss the reading of this work which from the standpoint of a lucid, balanced statement of Protestantism by a great philosopher and thinker of the modern school will hardly be surpassed.

President Lewis Sperry Chafer

The Parables and Metaphors of Our Lord. By G. Campbell Morgan, D.D. Fleming H. Revell Co., New York. 352; pp. $3.00.

Dr. Morgan is at his best in exposition and analysis of the Sacred Text and especially the four Gospels wher...

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