Book Talk

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     I want to tell you about a couple of books written by brethren who are my real personal friends. I feel very close to both of them because of our association in the work of the Lord. The first is Elect in the Son, by Robert Shank. Bob was a Baptist preacher for twenty years and president of Faith Bible Academy for seven years. Then he wrote Life in the Son which literally took "the doctrine of perseverance" apart. That book is in its sixth edition. Brother Shank is now preaching for the Christian Church at Billings, Missouri.

     The new volume examines the doctrine of election, so basic to the theology of Calvinism. It is one of the most scholarly and thorough treatises I have ever read. Years of patient study and research went into it and its great contribution to religious thought in our age will be recognized for years to come. It is not a book for those who want froth or skimmed milk. It is fully documented and contains an adequate bibliography. I do not think it bypasses a single scripture employed by proponents of the theory of unconditional election and reprobation of particular men. Every serious student of theology should read it. The book has 250 pages and sells for $4.95 per copy.

     The next book is Teeth on Edge, by Robert Fife, now on sabbatical leave from Milligan College, and teaching at Pepperdine (Los Angeles) and Pacific Christian (Long Beach). This book, to be published by Baker Book House, is due from the press in March. It is a fascinating study of the roots of racism among our own brethren. It examines the problem of slavery in the restoration movement, and the reproduction of old church records in integrated congregations before and during the Civil War is something else. I read the manuscript before it was ever submitted to a publisher and I can hardly wait to see and read the book in its completed form. It will be in paperback for only $1.95.

     While talking about books, let me remind you that the entire Bible Commentary, by E. M. Zerr is again in print. It contains comments and explanations upon every verse in the Bible. Designed as "a commentary for the common man" a great deal of the material was written in our home. Brother Zerr and I spent many hours talking about the meaning of the Psalms when he was on that part of the sacred scripture. He was the only individual in the restoration movement to do a commentary on the whole Bible. I suspect that his material on the old testament prophets is about the best you will find. There are now three volumes in the set. Volume I contains Genesis through Job; Volume 2 contains Psalms through Malachi; Volume 3 has the entire New Testament. They can be bought separately or as a set. The price is $6.00 per volume. We recommend this set to brethren who have always wanted to teach the Old Testament but were handicapped for lack of books to use as tools. We think you'll like these volumes.