Ten of the literary treasures from the world of theology (and one not) I consumed in 2015 and recommend to you.
1) The Theology of the Westminster Standards, JV Fesko.
While not one hundred percent comprehensive, gives great background to contemporary issues in American Presbyterian and Reformed theology, and will be an approachable primer to the historical and political world of the Standards. My book of the year.
2) The Case for Covenantal Infant Baptism, Ed. Gregg Strawbridge.
Reviewed here earlier in the year. If you read one paedobaptism polemics book in your life (hah), read this one.
3) The Federal Vision and Covenant Theology, Guy Prentiss Waters.
I wouldn't read this by itself if you're doing in-depth study on FV, as it is unabashedly proposing that FV "as a movement" is un-confessional, and it would behoove those interested to read the men in question in a full, contextual way. To that end...
4) The Federal Vision, Ed. Steve Wilkins and Duane Garner.
As was mentioned to me recently, there is no "FV handbook", but this is as close as we're going to get right now. If you want to understand where the "movement", if movement it can be called (more on that later) is coming from, you should read this. Stands out for having one of the more...interesting articles on the theology of Genesis I've ever read.
5) The Lord's Service, Jeffery J. Meyers.
Otherwise known as "that Federal Vision Worship Book." Puts forward the thesis that the structure of Protestant/Reformed liturgy can be governed by a "New Covenant rendition" of the tripartite sacrificial structure of Leviticus, with the Supper constituting the thanks offering. While not converted in totality to it's claims, anyone who is interested in "how should we then worship" should read this book, particularly if you don't share the TR camps fixation of exclusive Psalmody, non-instrumental worship, low-church decor, and other aspects of that particular conservative interpretation of the RPW. Particularly valuable for an essay on that principle, arguing that it should be understood more like the Normative Principle typically has been, and for a lengthy exegetical piece in favor of paedocommunion.
6) NCT: time for a more accurate way, Gary D. Long.
Also reviewed here. Similar to the FV book (although not a collection of essays), important for understanding contemporary issues in American Covenant theology. This may be of greater interest to Reformed Baptists than all the FV stuff on this list, because closer to home. As mentioned in my review, has the benefit of being willing to consider a pre-fall covenant with Adam, in some sense.
7) The Great Boer War, Byron Falwell
A conflict that most Americans don't know and don't care about, but largely responsible for the modern and postmodern history of South Africa, and formative to the nature and allegiances of World War I and the unfolding of British Imperialism during and after Victoria. Aptly walks the line between engaging and scholarly. Perhaps a little overeager to exonerate British miscues and ethical lapses.
8) Five views on Law and Gospel, Ed. Stanley N. Gundry.
Out of several books in this series that I read this year, this one was the most valuable for it's interplay between Douglas Moo, William VanGemeren and Dr. Bahnsen on the three most common "Reformed" views of the law. Succint, approachable, and actually lets you look at the nuts and bolts of the views "cross-examining" each other.
9) Covenant Theology, Michael Horton.
Not making the list because I think it's the best short-book length introduction to Covenant Theology I've read. In fact, in that regard I found it disappointing. Rather, important for understanding the distinctives of the position most common at WTS West, namely form-critical analysis of Covenant history of the OT, and a form of Klinean Republication. And on that note...
10) Merit and Moses, Elam, Van Kooten and Bergquist.
Demonstrates concerns about the doctrinal ramifications, and confessional relevance of the Klinean Republication view. Brief, but covers all (or most) of the bases. Hopefully "The Law is Not of Faith" will make the list next year.
~JS
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