Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 115:459 (Jul 1958)
Article: Periodical Reviews
Author: James F. Rand

BSac 115:459 (Jul 58) p. 286

Periodical Reviews

James F. Rand

Bayly, Joseph T., “Iron Furnace,” His, 18:8:1–4, May, 1958.

The author probes the attitude of American Christians towards fellow believers undergoing persecution in Communist countries. “Missionary-minded Americans who are thoroughly interested in what God is doing in Africa, ‘where our missionaries are,’ seem thoroughly uninterested in reports of what God is doing behind the Iron Curtain…. If we can have an attitude of forbearance, of understanding, toward African Christians who are facing daily struggle amidst a pagan, immoral milieu—so unlike our own—can we not have a similar attitude toward Christians facing daily struggle in a godless political environment?” He cites examples from Communist China and Eastern Europe to show how God is working in these countries but warns that “to recognize the way God is working in Communistic countries is not to overlook the anti-God nature of such governments and the philosophy which underlies their existence.”

Broneer, Oscar, “Athens, City of Idol Worship,” Biblical Archaeologist, 21:1:2–28, February, 1958.

This quarterly is an excellent investment for pastors who desire to keep up with the latest developments in Biblical archaeology as well as Biblical customs and geography. The article under review is a case in point. Any pastor intending to preach on the Athenian ministry of Paul will find his study greatly enriched by the material in this article which occupies the whole issue of this magazine. The descriptive material of Paul’s progress through the city and his arrival at Mars Hill as well as the excellent pictures will enable him to grasp rather completely the scene as Paul delivered his famous address.

Cowan, George, “Your Training—or You,” His, 18:8:10–14, 25; 18:9:14–16, 33; May, June, 1958.

What is the proper attitude toward “training” on the part of those who definitely are expecting the Lord to use them and are seeking His will in the matter? This important question is analyzed by a veteran missionary in this two-part article which points out that “perhaps a large part of our trouble is that we tend to think of ‘training’ as something of itself, a period of time, certain courses to be taken, a degree gained, abilities and qualifications that can be listed and enumerated on paper, so many credit hours, rather than as something that happened to us. The emphasis should rather be on the man trained and growth in maturity and in the capacity to apply what he has learned to new situations. Of itself training is nothing. It is the trained man that God uses. And God’s own training may include both formal and informal education.” The author p...