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jthornenj's review against another edition
4.0
If you've ever wondered how the Bible is sufficient, and why it's undoubtedly God's written word, this is the book for you.
In the first three chapters, Barrett sets out the history of Sola Scriptura with the reformation, and the obstacles it's come across since.
In the second section, Barrett describes how through God's Word he gave covenants and how the trinity sets out the Word of God, as can be viewed in the written Word. Then he goes into creation and the fall, and ends this section with how Christ is the Word made flesh.
In the final section, he lays out how Scripture is inspired, inerrant, and clear and talks about it's sufficiency even today.
Throughout, he relays this information in response to schools of thought that have effected our view of Scripture, such as postmodernism. Overall, I thought this was incredibly well done, with many amazing references. Barrett wasn't afraid to call out, with references, theologians and scholars he felt were wrong in his footnotes.
However, at times it felt as though, if you weren't following the train of thought correctly, that he was stating the only reason thinking differently then him was wrong was because "this is what the reformers taught". Most times, it was easy to pull together the whole thought, and put scripture evidence behind it that he laid elsewhere, but especially near the end, it became harder, and felt as though we needed to think this simply because someone else did, without explaining why that's the correct way.
I get that this is a book with the subtitle "what the reformers taught . . . And why it matters", but it's also important to constantly put out "why it's correct", to allow for better dialogue should one disagree.
I'd highly recommend though, just know it is heavy, and took me quite a while to get through, but that may be because this is a topic that highly interests me. I am looking forward to picking up Faith Alone by Schriener in the near future. 9/10.
In the first three chapters, Barrett sets out the history of Sola Scriptura with the reformation, and the obstacles it's come across since.
In the second section, Barrett describes how through God's Word he gave covenants and how the trinity sets out the Word of God, as can be viewed in the written Word. Then he goes into creation and the fall, and ends this section with how Christ is the Word made flesh.
In the final section, he lays out how Scripture is inspired, inerrant, and clear and talks about it's sufficiency even today.
Throughout, he relays this information in response to schools of thought that have effected our view of Scripture, such as postmodernism. Overall, I thought this was incredibly well done, with many amazing references. Barrett wasn't afraid to call out, with references, theologians and scholars he felt were wrong in his footnotes.
However, at times it felt as though, if you weren't following the train of thought correctly, that he was stating the only reason thinking differently then him was wrong was because "this is what the reformers taught". Most times, it was easy to pull together the whole thought, and put scripture evidence behind it that he laid elsewhere, but especially near the end, it became harder, and felt as though we needed to think this simply because someone else did, without explaining why that's the correct way.
I get that this is a book with the subtitle "what the reformers taught . . . And why it matters", but it's also important to constantly put out "why it's correct", to allow for better dialogue should one disagree.
I'd highly recommend though, just know it is heavy, and took me quite a while to get through, but that may be because this is a topic that highly interests me. I am looking forward to picking up Faith Alone by Schriener in the near future. 9/10.
sarahreadsalotofbooks's review against another edition
4.0
This is one I need to read in hard copy so as to make notes and highlights. The audiobook, read by the author, is choppy and hard to follow. The content, however, is quite valuable.
raben_76325's review against another edition
4.0
Book 8 of 2020. This book is part of the Five Sola series, a book series written exploring the Five Solas of the Reformation in honor of the Reformation’s 500 year anniversary.
Barrett’s contribution examines the doctrine of scripture from multiple angles in an attempt to explain what Protestants mean when they claim scripture alone as their final authority.
The doctrine of scripture is a budding interest for me as a researcher and this is the sixth book that I have read on the topic. Barrett’s book, though not a complete doctrine of scripture, is probably the best book I have read so far on the topic.
Barrett is at his best as his examines the historical contours of the authority of scripture. He drags a little bit during his discussion on biblical authority, causing me to set aside the book more than once. He has the best address of the weaknesses of the limited inerrancy view of inerrancy that I have read. Yet, his argument on the self-authentication of Scripture and arguments again biblical authority are a weak finish that leaves much room for building upon.
For the armchair theologian: perfect introduction to the doctrine of scripture and the common misunderstandings of sola scriptura.
For those avoiding Reformed theology: Tell me again why you would want to read a book from a series called the five solas. . .?
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#books #theology #solascriptura #fivesolas #godswordalone #bookstagram #books #bookreview
Barrett’s contribution examines the doctrine of scripture from multiple angles in an attempt to explain what Protestants mean when they claim scripture alone as their final authority.
The doctrine of scripture is a budding interest for me as a researcher and this is the sixth book that I have read on the topic. Barrett’s book, though not a complete doctrine of scripture, is probably the best book I have read so far on the topic.
Barrett is at his best as his examines the historical contours of the authority of scripture. He drags a little bit during his discussion on biblical authority, causing me to set aside the book more than once. He has the best address of the weaknesses of the limited inerrancy view of inerrancy that I have read. Yet, his argument on the self-authentication of Scripture and arguments again biblical authority are a weak finish that leaves much room for building upon.
For the armchair theologian: perfect introduction to the doctrine of scripture and the common misunderstandings of sola scriptura.
For those avoiding Reformed theology: Tell me again why you would want to read a book from a series called the five solas. . .?
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
#books #theology #solascriptura #fivesolas #godswordalone #bookstagram #books #bookreview
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