Journal: Central Bible Quarterly
Volume: CENQ 14:2 (Summer 1971)
Article: Book Reviews
Author: Anonymous

Book Reviews

Marriage: Duet or Discord by John W. Drakeford (Zondervan Publishing House, 1965, 128 pp., 95¢) The chapters (which the author calls “sermons”) deal with the home as a laboratory of life. The writer discusses the love life, sex, marriage, facts of life for fathers, the significance of conversation and attitude at the family meal, the relationship of the church to the home, and some of the problems of “mobile” families. The author is professor of psychology and director of the counseling center at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He conducts conferences (usually week-end affairs) in churches on home and family life. His basic education was gained in Australia, with graduate degrees from three American schools. The book will be stimulating to the pastor and can be recommended for husband-and-wife reading. The price is such that the book may be given to couples in need of counseling. It is not the usual involved book in psychology.

- Dr. Charles R. MacDonald

Expository Sermons on the Book of Daniel, Vol. 2, by W. A. Criswell (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1970, 147 pp., $3.50), covers Daniel chapters 1 to 3. The major contribution in this book is in the practical application of the principles governing Daniel’s life. It is not a commentary, and the value of the sermons varies.

(This second half was originally found on page 31. We have moved it here in order to keep the book reviews under one contiguous article.)

(Some appear to be written in great haste.) The author often digresses from the text of Daniel to integrate appropriate Scriptures and illustrations into his sermons. For a pastor looking for refreshing preaching from Daniel, this book should fill that need. Two criticisms are in order: (1) It is questionable whether Daniel’s heart was warmed during the mighty revival under Josiah (p. 17), since he probably was not born until after that time. (2) Dr. Criswell’s eschatology seems to be slipping when he declares that the stone (Jesus Christ) will suddenly come striking that image … “this means it could be now, today, for the prophecy has for long been fulfilled” (p. 76). This is not the view of a dispensationalist and a pretribulationist.

— Gordon H. Lovik

Isaiah by W. E. Vine (Zondervan, Grand Rapids, 1971, 221 pages, $3.95), is a concise commentary from the premillennial point of view. The author holds that Isaiah was indeed the human author of the prophecies and rejects the attempts of critics to destroy the unity of the book. Each chapter of Isaiah is divided into sections for comment, with each section ending with a paragraph of practical application for today. Vine takes prophecy with consistent literalism and thus finds a great future for Israel and the earth in the Millenni...