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Danny E. Olinger (ed). A Geerhardus Vos Anthology: Biblical and Theological Insights Alphabetically Arranged. (Philipsburg, NJ: Presbyterian and Reformed, 2005. Paper xxii + 375pp $19.99.

The over-used phrase “father” of one movement or another, is tossed around often with little regard to history or even whether or not the particular movement is important enough to even deserve a “father.” However, in the case of Geerhardus Vos, the term “father of Reformed Biblical Theology” is both historically accurate and the movement he birthed is indeed significant.

In 1891 the faculty of Princeton Theological Seminary asked that a professorship of biblical theology be created and in 1894 Vos began a tenure at Princeton that would last until his retirement in 1932 (Vos, Caspar Wistar Hodge and William Park Armstrong were the three conservative faculty members who, for various personal reasons, did not resign from Princeton to join the newly formed Westminster Theological Seminary after the reorganization of Princeton in 1929).

Vos brought the discipline of “Biblical Theology” to both Princeton and Reformed theology despite the concerns that it, according to Benjamin Warfield, that “it came to us wrapped in the swaddling clothes of rationalism, and it was rocked in the cradle of the Hegalian recasting of Christianity” (Calhoun, Princeton Seminary: The Majestic Testimony, [Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1996], 137). Warfield, however, was both a supporter and close friend of the somewhat shy and self-styled "mystic" and who, along with C. W. Hodge, had given the impetus that led to the formation of the professorship that Vos filled.

Vos’ writings were not particularly influential during his lifetime, because as Olinger states, “liberals dismissed his writings while his conservative brethren did not understand them" (2). Because Vos also shied away from the larger denominational and church matters, focusing on duties at the seminary, he was not widely known outside the academic world. However, through his students, notably Ned Stonehouse, John Murray, and Cornelius Van Til; Vos’ concepts and constructs in Biblical theology enjoyed a wide hearing to generations of students at Westminster. In recent years his works have enjoyed a significant resurgence, particularly, in this reviewers observation, among the younger generation of Reformed pastors and students.

The author has produced an eminently readable and practical introduction to the works of Vos. The introductory chapter (1-27) serves as an excellent window into his life and works. The anthology itself is a series of excerpts from his writings arranged in alphabetical order by topic (the topical categories are listed in the front matter). Each excerpt is clearly identified allowing a deeper examination of the material by the reader. The editor has included a clear list of abbreviations of Vos’ works, and a detailed bibliography, but a complete bibliography of Vos' writings would have been a useful addition.

While we recommend this work as a survey of Vos; there was also a sense of dissatisfaction with the overall concept of the book. Vos simply is not the type of author whose works lend themselves well to the “sound bite” approach taken in anthologies. However, significant quotes such as, "Once the sense of allegiance to the Word of God as the old authoritative rule of faith as become weakened, or, while still recognized in theory has ceased to be a loving force in the mind of believers, then the hope of return to the truth once forsaken is reduced to a minimum" (308), will hopefully serve both as an inspiration and a warning to a new generation.

Vos' writings are detailed and tightly wound both in logic and argumentation, grounded in the redemptive-historical hermeneutics of Reformed Theology. His works in Biblical theology, from a thoroughly inerrantist position, was ground-breaking and provocative; and whether or not one agrees with either his methodology or conclusions, interaction with Vos demands deep reading not light skimming of interesting quotations.

Still, this work opens the door to the works of one of the most original thinkers in the Old Princeton tradition, one whose influence some 70 years after his death is perhaps greater than during his life.

Lutzer, Erwin. The Doctrines that Divide: A Fresh Look at the Historic Doctrines that Separate Christians. Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel, 1998. 247pp. (paper), $14.95.

The author, long time pastor of the Moody Memorial Church in Chicago, has put together a thoroughly readable examination of nine controversial doctrinal issues within Christianity. The subjects covered are infant baptism, the deity and humanity of Christ, the sacraments, the worship of Mary, predestination or free will, justification by faith or works, the canon of Scripture, eternal security, and the sovereignty of God.

The author identifies as a key problem in the modern church the lack of theological conviction, knowledge and accuracy (14). In the introduction the author states, �In days gone by, many believers were tortured, eaten by wild beasts, or burned at the stake because of their doctrinal controversies. Theology was appropriately called �the Queen of Sciences� because men believed that one�s relationship with God dwarfed all other considerations� (13). Since most of the distinctions between denominations and associations within Protestantism have as their origination basic doctrinal issues, a clear understanding of those issues is vital in these days which when �some of God�s sheep cannot tell the difference between grass and Astroturf� (14).

The book is well footnoted and the author has included a brief, but helpful, annotated bibliography of key resources. The book lacks any indexes which this reviewer always views as a deficiency in a book. The four chapters chronicling the debate on �Predestination or Free Will� (chapter 9: "Augstine v. Pelagius"; chapter 10: "Luther v. Erasmus"; chapter 11: "Calvin v. Arminius"; and chapter 12: "Whitefield v. Wesley") are the highlight of the book and accurately deal with the strengths and weaknesses of each position. These are all important issues which cannot simply be swept aside by a sort of benign neglect. Lutzer states,

Today tolerance is regarded much more highly than doctrinal accuracy. We have grown accustomed to Christian talk shows that are rich in experience but devoid of serious doctrinal content. Indeed, one of the cardinal rules of the Christian media is that all doctrinal content, if there is any, must be reduced to the lowest common denominator (241).

This is a serious book dealing with some of the �heavy� issues in doctrine. However, the author�s clear writing style, his pastoral heart, and passion for doctrinal clarity, make it a must for any Christian concerned with spiritual growth. This book would serve well as the basis for adult Sunday School classes or home Bible studies, we cannot recommend it highly enough.