FarAboveAll - Expository Articles and Recommended Books
Introduction
A Christian's first need is a good Bible, as discussed under the Textual Question. There is no better advice than, “Get to know your Scriptures”. Nothing is better than a good knowledge of Scripture, but expositions by others, if handled critically, can help. A good exposition will frequently quote and remain very much centred on Scripture, and be centred on Christ in particular. It is also good to learn Greek and Hebrew, if you can find time, and to read at least some Scripture in the original. That will not only give you God's word in the ultimately concordant way, but also equip you better to assess others' works and opinions that come your way. The files are all less than 2 MB in size unless otherwise indicated.
General
- Our Studies:
- Recommended Reading:
- The Companion Bible, mainly compiled by Dr Ethelbert W. Bullinger (1837-1913). The main Bible text is the King James (Authorized) Version. It contains much factual information (some unknown to modern theological scholarship), as marginal notes and in the appendices, and although it claims not to be a commentary, it does offer wonderful, eye-opening explanations for many apparent difficulties. It is clear (from Appendix 94), however, that Dr Bullinger possessed all the main new Greek texts of the time (Griesbach, Lachmann, Tregelles, Alford, Westcott and Hort) but was unaware of the overwhelming contrary evidence in the hundreds of manuscripts that these textual critics chose to ignore. Where the Companion Bible marginal notes say The texts read ..., this is an indication of what the texts of those critics read. Often Dr Bullinger adds but not the Syriac, which I suspect left him a little puzzled as to what the true text should be, but it is not surprising as the Syriac strongly supports the Majority Text. If you bear this caveat in mind you will (we hope) find the book to be an excellent companion. Dr Bullinger has also written many other good and very enjoyable books.
- Books by Sir Robert Anderson, especially Daniel in the Critic's Den. Perhaps not for beginners, though.
Dispensational
Please do not be frightened by this word. It is a scriptural word (oikonomia).
- Our Studies:
- Recommended Reading:
- Books by Charles H. Welch (1880-1967), obtainable from The Chapel of the Opened Book (for which see our External Links). Our favourites are Satisfied and The Testimony of the Lord's Prisoner.
- Recommended Listening:
- Addresses by Charles H. Welch (1880-1967), obtainable from The Chapel of the Opened Book and the charleswelch.net site (for which see our External Links).
The Restoration of Israel
- Our Studies:
Israel and Prophecy (1) Israel and Prophecy (2) Israel and Prophecy (3) Selected Messianic Verses in the OT, Hebrew and English - Recommended Reading:
- Books by David Baron (1855-1926), obtainable from The Messianic Testimony (for which see our External Links), and elsewhere. Our favourites are Rays of Messiah's Glory and Israel's Inalienable Possessions.