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I’ve noticed that many Christians are quick to quote the Founding Fathers of the United States. Many look to these wise men for guidance today on how to best establish government…the idea is that if we get too far off base from what these men intended, we’re losing touch with our heritage, our roots, even what our nation was created to be.  Knowledge of these men is essential for correctly interpreting and applying our Constitution as a rule of life. There are no shortage of Christians who passionately affirm the vital importance of understanding the Founding Fathers in order to fully appreciate the history of America, accurately assess its present situation, and effectively discern positive paths into the future.

Astoundingly, however, few that I come in contact with have anything but the most rudimentary knowledge of the Church Fathers…those theological giants that built upon the foundation of the Apostle’s work in the establishment of the organized community of faith. How is it that we can ascribe so much importance to the thoughts of a few men (some Christian, some not) regarding the establishment of a secular government, but can all but dismiss the teachings of those that preserved, defended, and developed Apostolic doctrine for the Undivided Church?

It is possible for governments to stray from their original design and actually get better…but not the Church. Governments are designed by men (used by God, yes, but designed by men) whereas the Church is the Bride of Christ. The Church is a not an organization created by men, but rather a people chosen by God. Her order and doctrines are founded on the very teachings of Jesus, given to his Apostles, and preserved in Holy Scripture.

What better way to discern the original design of the Church (and the right interpretations and applications of her constitutional document, the Bible) than examine the teachings of earliest leaders in the Church and those close to them?

The ESV Study Bible from Crossway is my tried and true companion for delving into Scripture. This review explains why.

The English Standard Version
First, the basics on the translation used. The English Standard Version is a revision of the classic Revised Standard Version (RSV), which itself was an attempt to update the language of the venerable King James Version. The RSV updated most of the language, but kept the “Thee’s” and “Thou’s” for addressing the person of God. The ESV removed the remaining archaic language and changed just a few elements of style in certain places, however it remains remarkably similar to the RSV.

Like the the RSV, the translation philosophy is an “essentially literal” one. That means that when possible, the text is translated word-for-word into English from the original languages. Sometimes a word-for-word translation into English wouldn’t make sense, so in these cases the translators take a freer approach to convey what they perceive to be the plain meaning of the text. In keeping the the King James tradition, classic phrases like “the valley of the shadow of death” (Psalm 23) are for the most part retained and only slightly updated from the KJV/RSV. Key theological terms like “propitiation,” and “justification” are also present in this translation.

The issue of gender-neutral language has come up quite a bit in regards to the ESV. I think the editors chose a sensible approach, and–although not perfect–it generally produces both an accurate and understandable rendering. From the preface of the ESV:

“In the area of gender language, the goal of the ESV is to render literally what is in the original. For example, “anyone” replaces “any man” where there is no word corresponding to “man” in the original languages, and “people” rather than “men” is regularly used where the original languages refer to both men and women. But the words “man” and “men” are retained where a male meaning component is part of the original Greek or Hebrew. Likewise, the word “man” has been retained where the original text intends to convey a clear contrast between “God” on the one hand and “man” on the other hand, with “man” being used in the collective sense of the whole human race.”

For more on the ESV translation see Why I Chose the ESV

Notes, Study Articles, and Features
I personally find the Old Testament to be particularly difficult to understand, and I find myself consulting the the notes in the ESV Study Bible often in order to gain clarity on a particular cultural issue or a passage has me theologically stuck. The maps help me to understand the geographic context, and the diagrams of Old Testament structures like the Tabernacle and the Temple are absolutely fantastic. Of course the notes are equally helpful the New Testament as well when it comes to difficult passages in the Gospels and Paul’s letters.

Clearly, the notes and study articles are what make any “study bible” unique. The comprehensive nature of the study notes and the many articles in the ESV Study Bible is simply unparalleled. The 20,000 exegetical notes provide key insights into understanding the text in its theological and cultural context. They are lucidly written and for the most part very accessible to the layperson. In addition to these comprehensive notes, 50 study articles examine Christian ethics, basic theology, the basis for biblical authority and more. Taken together, these articles make up a small library themselves! Combined with the detailed maps and diagrams, as well the standard ESV cross-references (which are themselves a fantastic resource for study), and you’ve got one of the most power resources studying and understanding the Bible today.

Theological and Denominational Bias
While the ESV editors did make some effort to adhere to the “classical” Christian viewpoint and are not affiliated with any one denomination, some bias is clear in both the notes and the articles on Christian ethics. The article on Christian pacifism, for instance, represents the viewpoint without addressing the best arguments (in my opinion) and concludes that Just War Theory is the most correct solution. When it comes to the issue of ordaining women to ministry, the same thing applies–although the article does detail both positions, it clearly comes down on the side of men’s only ordination. On some of these issues that are not foundational to the Christian faith, I wish the writers had left more to the reader to decide based on the merits of the arguments themselves, without necessarily forming an explicit conclusion. It is also fair to say that the notes and articles are written from a evangelical, Protestant point of view, with certain Reformed or Calvinistic leanings. Although I am not a Calvinist, I do not find the articles on the doctrine of election, etc to be overbearing. Despite these small issue of bias, the information in the articles and notes is overwhelmingly useful, and the scholarship is top notch.

Many Editions
Another thing I love about the ESV Study Bible is the wide variety of editions available, from a fantastic Digital Ebook version (available on Kindle, etc), to the standard hardback (the one I own) to nice genuine leather, to the new, smaller, personal-size edition. The totally online version is super-nice, as well.

Conclusion
Over the years this affordable, single-volume work has become my most-used resource when it comes to understanding the Biblical text. Obviously, no single source should be your sole reference, but if you can only buy one book right now, or are just beginning to build your theology library, the ESV Study Bible is a great tome to start with. I think it would also be fantastic gift for occasions like confirmation, baptism, and ordination.

Get it on Amazon.

We know what kind of a person someone is primarily by what they do.

God created the world. He is powerful.

God has never tolerated sin. He actively wages war against it. He is holy.

God did not abandon us to evil. First he clothed us, then he sent his prophets and the law, and finally he gave us Jesus. He is faithful.

God poured out himself at great cost on our behalf. He is love.

Though we do not deserve salvation, he offers it to us and to those that believe the right to become sons of God. He is a merciful father.

He sent us his Spirit to intercede for us, to witness to Jesus, and to sustain us. He is with us.

He gives us wonderful gifts, not the least of which are the preaching of Gospel, the sacraments, and fellowship of the saints. He enjoys giving grace.

God’s personhood is absolutely vital in how we relate to him. It seems we get into trouble when we begin to relate to him a person he is not: the demanding taskmaster, the pushover dad, the distant diety, etc. We know, from his actions in history and in us, that he is a loving father full of mercy and grace, and that we may approach him as such.

Yet he is powerful and holy and will not be contained by finite creatures, and so we must also relate to him as what we are: small creatures desperately in need of redemption.

I’m convinced that stress is ultimately nothing less than a form of fear. What if I don’t leave the house on time and we’re late I make a horrible first impression? What if I just can’t do everything I think I need to do? What’s going to happen if I can’t pay that bill?

These are sometimes legitimate concerns when they have to do with something that is within our ability to control. Often, though, the things that cause us fear are simply unable to be affected by us. If this is the case, we have to let them to go. There’s no question that this isn’t easy.

Letting go of the fear is one of the most difficult things I can do, but it’s also a response that is demanded of me as I respond to the message of Jesus. So many times we hear in the Scriptures, “Fear not!” (John 14:27, for example). And we can’t forget Jesus’ words, “Today has enough worries of it’s own.” (Matt. 6:34)

If I really believe that God is holding this world together with nothing but his word…then surely the least I can do is let go of the false belief in my heart that something could happen that he can’t handle.

A sacrament is commonly described as an outward sign of an inward grace. It is the physical manifestation that accompanies a spiritual reality. A glorious thing about Christianity is that although we readily acknowledge that there are special sacraments set aside for specific purposes (Holy Communion, Holy Baptism, Marriage, etc.) it becomes readily apparent that God has never limited himself to one or two or seven channels of his unmerited favor (grace).

I have become convinced the whole of the Christian life may viewed as sacramental in the sense that it entails both external and internal realities, intrinsically linked together for the purpose of bestowing all kinds of spiritual blessings. Religious ritual aside, consider what happens when we receive a warm embrace from a friend during a time of need.

The very privilege of our existence is given to us in both physical and spiritual form, simultaneously.

We are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses…
(Hebrews 12:1-2 ESV)

This past Sunday morning I received a call from my mom telling me that my dear grandmother (her mother) had passed away. We are blessed to know that she was a believer.

Until Sunday my thoughts on the communion of the saints were rather academic, but as we worshiped at church that morning I knew that although I am separated in a sense from my grandma, we were together in another way as we joined in with the heavenly worship through the Divine Service.

It is hard to describe the way that was comforting for me, except to say I am so thankful for the hope and present reality we have in our communion with Jesus. As believers, we are all alive in him.

O God, the King of saints, we praise and magnify thy holy Name for all thy servants who have finished their course in thy faith and fear; for the blessed Virgin Mary; for the holy patriarchs, prophets, apostles, and martyrs; and for all other thy righteous servants, known to us and unknown; and we beseech thee that, encouraged by their examples, aided by their prayers, and strengthened by their fellowship, we also may be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light; through the merits of thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

~ 1979 BCP, p. 489

J. Mark Bertrand has a typically comprehensive review of a fantastic new Bible design by the folks over at EvangelicalBible.com–one the best places to get high-quality editions of Holy Scripture. Their new Schuyler ESV Bible is clearly designed with care and precision, but it’s not just the goatskin cover and Jongbloed-printed text block that stand out with this edition.

This volume includes the great ecumenical creeds and confessions of Protestant Christianity bound under the same same cover as the Biblical text. You’ll find:

• Apostles Creed
• Nicene Creed
• Chalcedonian Creed
• Athanasian Creed
• Augsburg  Confession
• Articles of Religion
• Westminster Standards
• London Baptist Confession

What this amounts to a unique kind of study Bible I don’t think can be found anywhere else. I thought Bertrand’s take was insightful:

Including these documents accomplishes a similar goal to that of a study Bible, with one significant difference: the views summarized are not those of an individual, or even a committee of scholars, but of a confessing church. They represent a collective endorsement and exposition of the faith contained in Scripture. While there is a great deal of consensus among the confessions, there are differences, too — and I think that’s helpful, as well, to those of us who want to have an informed view of what our fellow believers actually confess (as opposed to what they’re accused of believing, if you see what I mean).

I absolutely love this idea. This also got me thinking about what a uniquely Anglican study Bible might look like–and I think it’d be similar, in that it would include the great creeds and the 39 Articles of Religion. I’d also like to see excerpts from the Church Fathers, the Book of Common Prayer, and the English Reformers.

It seems that if you’re looking for the kind of Bible that has non-intrusive study helps that have endured the test of time, you could do a lot worse than the Schuyler ESV.

I think the Internet can give us a tremendous advantage when it comes to influencing people. We can reach so many with our ideas, thoughts, and motivations that we would have otherwise had no chance of approaching. And these dreams can spread like a virus, sometimes becoming reality. I don’t want to minimize the reality or importance of this power.

On the other hand…

Read More “Illusions of Influence”

I am twenty-eight years old, riddled with angst about the person I should be but I’m not, dreams dreamt and not acted on, talents wasted along with time, wondering if the next step will ever seem to take me closer a life embedded in almost subconscious assumptions. Values compromised, stubbornness still in a tenacious grip, and a rather disappointing self-pity often seem to surface in my thoughts.

Quarter life crisis is what they call it. I don’t want to sound self-absorbed, arrogant, or presumptuous…but I realize that’s what I often am.

The problem with my quest for a satisfying identity is that I consistently seek to find it in what I do for living, how I spend my recreational time, what I own and what other people think. Seems like my identity should be driving and molding all of those things, not the other way around.
Read More “Identity Crisis”

The Apostles Paul and James are often set against each other when it comes to roles of faith and works in salvation. It’s often asserted that Paul affirms a “faith alone” approach (Titus 3:5-6), sola fide, while James plainly says one cannot be justified by faith alone (James 2:24). Although there is certainly a noticeable difference in emphasis between the two Apostles, each author actually speaks of both faith and works as playing a role in our salvation (of course, we have to read these passages in context and not just the proof texts to find this).
Read More “Salvation by Faith and Works”