Category Archives: Book Review

Review of Christian Books

Through the Bible Day by Day (F. B. Meyer)

Through the Bible Day by Day (F. B. Meyer)
A Devotional Commentary
by F. B. Meyer, B.A.

There is need everywhere for the cultivation of the habit of reading some portion of God’s Word each day. Such reading should be consecutive, for only thus can continuous interest be maintained. It may also be greatly helped by an interpreter, who will explain what is obscure as well as suggest applications of the message to the daily life meet such need this series of seven volumes provides an arrangement of the books of the Bible in daily portions, with concise devotional comments. It includes all portions of the Bible most suitable for daily reading, either individually or in family groups a commentary on the whole Bible, these volumes will be found valuable because they omit points of merely scholarly interest and fix attention upon the central message of each passage and its application to daily needs. There are frequent references to other parts of Scripture, especially from Old Testament truths to their New Testament fulfillment and interpretation.. Meyer’s life-long experience in interpreting the Bible to the common people makes him pre-eminently fitted for this service-a crowning one in his world-wide ministry by voice and pen and outlines are provided for each Bible book. Review questions have been added at appropriate points, to enable readers to sum up and better preserve in memory what they have learned. The illustrations, selected from paintings of Bible scenes by modern artists, aid in the interpretation of the passages which they portray. is hoped that these volumes will prove of much value to Sunday-school teachers and adult scholars; will promote profitable Bible reading in connection with both family and private devotions; and will everywhere deepen a love for and an intelligent acquaintance with the one Book which can provide a fresh and helpful message for the needs of each new day.

F. B. Meyer from the Introduction

My only comment is that it is a very, very useful resource for Sunday School teachers.

The Fundamentals

edited by RA Torrey

Published in the very early 1900s, this collection of faith based essays have been a beacon of truth in the years of attacks from doubters and devils.

The essays start off defending against the documentary hypothesis. This, now largely discredited belief, is that the Pentateuch was thrown together after the Babylonian exile and not written by Moses. I remember being pressured to accept that as truth from one of my High School teachers in the early 70s when she discovered I announced my calling to preach.

So, the first ten or so essays are worth the read although the theory isn’t widely accepted.

Beyond the Mosiac authorship defense, the collection of essays are well worth the time. Every other heresy addressed is still relevant today some 120 years later. The virgin birth, the cross, the resurrection, the new birth, inspiration, and a host of the other fundamentals are vigorously defended.

However, I think the greatest benefit of reading these essays is defining what is meant by fundamentalism. It isn’t believing your group of unique churches are right and everyone else is wrong. Fundamentalism is understanding what is important and locking arms with the larger community to defend it. This book is very, very much worth the read.

Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

From the Kindle summary:

The American theologian Albert Barnes (1798-1870) was born in Rome, New York. He graduated from the Princeton Theological Seminary in 1823 and was later ordained a Presbyterian minister two years later. He was the of the Presbyterian Church in Morristown, NJ (1825-1830), and the First Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia (1830-1867).

He was a moving preacher, but his fame comes mostly from his writings, which enjoyed a wide circulation in Europe and the US. By 1870 more than one million copies had been printed, bringing a high level of Biblical criticism within the reach of the ordinary people.

Kindle Summary

The Pulpit Commentary


Edited by the Very Rev. H. D. M. Spence, D.D., and by the Rev. Joseph S. Exell, M.A.
One of the largest homiletical commentary sets of its kind, this work gives a verse-by-verse exposition, a translation, and historical and geographical information, followed by the homiletics section including homilies by numerous authors.
Published in 1880-1897; public domain.

Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown’s Commentary on the Whole Bible

This was the first real academic commentary that I used when I first started preaching. After all these years, I still regularly turn to it for background information and alternate thoughts on the scripture. JFB is a great resource for you to use in your Bible studies. You can purchase a copy on Amazon here. Please note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

New International Commentary on the Old Testament (NICOT)

The most popular scholarly current commentary of the Bible. This is a very well written, but highly technical, current commentary of the Bible. The footnotes are exhaustive. The only two things that keep me give it my 100% full endorsement is the price and the overly academic diction. However, if you can make it past the price and have a good dictionary to lookup words, it is a great contemporary commentary. You can purchase a copy on Amazon here. Please note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible

John Gill (1697 – 1771) was a Baptist scholar and a Calvinist. His commentary is his most famous work that has stood the test of time. I use John Gill’s commentary often during my teaching although I am not a Calvinist. His research is extensive and he is faithful to the biblical text. You can get a copy of his commentary on Amazon here. Please note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Systematic Theology by Wayne Grudem

I had the opportunity to listen to Wayne Grudem’s six hour presentation on Christian Theology this week based on his exceptional systematic theology text which I read in seminary. I find myself agreeing with Grudem more than most theologians and appreciate the high regard he holds scripture and logic. The only things I have found I disagree with Grudem on are: (1) eternal security, (2) Holy Ghost Baptism, (3) pre-tribulation rapture, and (4) politics in the church. That might sound like a lot but in the six hours of audio, that is only about 20 minutes. I highly recommend either the audio or his book. Both are sound, thoughtful, and not overly academic. My greatest appreciation for Dr Grudem is that he teaches like a Bible teacher and not a philosopher.

You can get a copy on Amazon. Please note: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.