Journal: Masters Seminary Journal
Volume: TMSJ 01:2 (Fall 1990)
Article: Book Reviews
Author: Anonymous

MSJ 1:2 (Fall 90) p. 201

Book Reviews

Gonzalo Baez-Camargo, Archaeological Commentary on the Bible. Garden City, NJ: Doubleday, 1986. 288 pp. $9.95 (paper). Reviewed by Richard L. Mayhue, Professor of Pastoral Ministries.

Gonzalo Baez-Camargo (deceased 1983) was a distinguished journalist, lecturer, biblical scholar, and author who wrote from a scholar’s reservoir of knowledge but with a pastor’s need for quick-reference volumes in view. The sequence of material in this helpful work follows the biblical text from Genesis to Revelation.

Over seventy percent of the book covers the OT and twenty percent the Gospels and Acts. Thus the NT epistles receive little space. The bibliography has the literature through 1980 but no later.

Baez-Camargo is weakest in discussing the historical accuracy of the Bible (pp. xx-xxii). At various points he explains miracles as natural events (e.g., Josh 3:16). The book’s strengths include its arrangement, its index of persons and places, and its cross-references to a wider range of archaeological journals and books.

When used with caution to avoid its theological defects, this digest of background information can enrich a pastor’s preaching, particularly in the OT and the Gospels and Acts.

Richard P. Belcher. A Layman’s Guide to the Lordship Controversy. Southbridge, Mass: Crowne, 1990. 123 pp. $6.95 (paper). Reviewed by Richard L. Mayhue, Professor of Pastoral Ministries.

Dr. Richard Belcher, teacher of Bible, Theology and Greek at Columbia Bible College serves the interest of Christian laymen by analyzing the most visible and important theological issue of our day: the true biblical explanation of authentic saving faith. In his introduction, he correctly notes that the debate on salvation has replaced the debate on inerrancy in the evangelical community. He points to John MacArthur and Zane Hodges as the most articulate spokesmen for the lordship and non-lordship positions respectively. He opts for Hodges rather than Charles Ryrie, believing that Hodges has the strongest and most persuasive presentation of the non-lordship side. For those who believe the debate is about little more than semantics, Belcher presents a convincing case otherwise.

MSJ 1:2 (Fall 90) p. 202

The author fairly represents both parties, deals with issues and not personalities, evidences clear thinking, writes well, and is thorough and well organized. The book has three sections: (1) a presentation of both sides, (2) a comparison of the sides, and (3) a critique of the non-lordship side. In the final section, he points out six straw-men used by Hodges in represen...