Book Reviews -- By: Anonymous

Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 141:563 (Jul 1984)
Article: Book Reviews
Author: Anonymous


Book Reviews

Makers of the Modern Theological Mind: Carl F. H. Henry. By Bob E. Patterson. Waco, TX: Word Books, 1983. 179 pp. Paper, $8.95.

This study of Carl Henry is the latest in the series “Makers of the Modern Theological Mind.” It is the only treatment of an evangelical in a series that now numbers 18. This represents slightly more than 5 percent of the series. Yet self-professed evangelicals comprise almost 30 percent of the American population (p. 14) and far outnumber liberals in the American churches. These figures suggest either that Henry has had an inordinate impact on the modern theological mind or the series has had a myopic focus on liberal theologians.

The author confesses in his Preface that he “deliberately” chose “to write this book on Carl Henry…to educate myself about the whole evangelical tradition” and “to expose myself to Henry’s first-rate theological mind” (p. 10). In his survey of “The Evangelical Heritage,” he reveals that his education in evangelicalism was either slightly inadequate or slightly biased. For example, he says that “fundamentalism chose to defend itself by withdrawing and institutionalizing” (p. 34). To some degree that is correct, but Machen and others were dismissed from their communions by liberally controlled ecclesiastical bodies. Fundamentalists became exclusive primarily as a result of being excluded.

The author’s analysis and evaluation of Henry’s apologetics and theology is helpful and valid. His assessment is that Henry “far surpasses most other American evangelicals in contemporary philosophy and theology” (p. 162). The work is amply documented from Henry’s writing as well as other sources. It is basically an accurate and

informative statement of the life and thought of one of America’s leading evangelical theologians.

J. A. Witmer

Let the Bible Speak…About Tongues. By Richard C. Schwab. Portland, OR: Herren Printing Co., 1983. vi + 130 pp. Paper, $4.95.

The author is also the publisher of this book. A veteran pastor of more than 30 years, Richard Schwab, senior pastor of the Minnehaha Community Church, Vancouver, Washington, writes out of many contacts with contemporary tongues-speaking and years of studying the Scriptures on the subject. He also writes with a pastor’s heart of love for the spiritual welfare and growth of those to whom he ministers.

The book is well organized. First, the author surveys the history of the phenomenon of tongues-speaking. Then he studies the historical New Testament occurrences of the phenomenon in Acts. Then he considers Paul’s discussion ...

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