Book Reviews -- By: Anonymous

Journal: Journal of Dispensational Theology
Volume: JODT 12:36 (Aug 2008)
Article: Book Reviews
Author: Anonymous


Book Reviews

What Does Jesus Say About…, by Cecil Price, Chattanooga: AMG, 2008. Xvii + 1899 pp., cloth, $29.99.

Price is senior research fellow with Christian Information Ministries of Richardson, Texas. The subtitle to this reference work is Christ Speaks to Us Today. It is a masterful concordance endorsed by scholars such as Don Campbell, Robert Jeffress, Jack Graham, Charles Dyer, Kerby Anderson, and Darrell Bock. The book lists every significant noun (and a few verbs, such as “hate”) appearing in the four Gospels. However, it does more than just list them, it also provides the setting for that particular occurrence (Sermon on the Mount, Jesus accused by the Pharisees, etc.), presents the passage in question using the updated NASB, and provides cross references, some of which are found outside the Gospels. This volume makes an excellent supplement to any concordance.

Charles Ray,
Tyndale Theological Seminary

The Gospel of Matthew, by R. T. France. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2007. 1233 pp., cloth, $60.00.

This volume is the most recent in the New International Commentary on the New Testament series. France is honorary research fellow in the department of theology and religious studies at the University of Wales. He is generally conservative in his views (the Apostle Matthew is the author; written in the 60s; etc.). The bibliography lists many commentaries, other books, and articles. The translation of the Greek is the author’s own. He purposely had little interaction with historical or form criticism, the Synoptic problem, or with other commentaries. What little interaction there is in the footnotes, France wanted his work to be as simple as possible. The introduction is somewhat short (twenty-two pages) because the author did not want to repeat his views that are found in his book Matthew: Evangelist and Teacher. However, the outline is quite detailed.

France’s view of some specific passages concern his understanding of Matthew 3:15. He understood Jesus’ words of “fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness” to indicate at least two things. First, it is to show that the Lord was assuming John’s ministry of repentance and forgiveness. Second, Christ was identifying with the people as their representative. The audience for the Sermon on the Mount started with just the Twelve yet it is actually for all who have responded to the “good news of the Kingdom” (p. 153). They now need to be instructed in Kingdom living. France preferred the term “Discourse on Discipleship” to Sermon on the Mount because the latter involves not just

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