Originally published in the November 2008 issue of The Christadelphian magazine
“To encourage you to read more …”
The ‘Preacher’ said, “Of making many books there is no end … ” (Ecclesiastes 12:12) and this observation was made before the invention of the printing press! It is now even more applicable to books that are produced to assist in the better understanding of the Book of Books.
A wide range of recommendations
Building a Library is the latest of a line of volumes intended to assist in selecting the most appropriate books for the Bible student. Spurgeon’s classic nineteenth century guide, Commentaries and Commenting, has been followed more recently by Tremper Longman’s Old Testament Commentary Survey and Carson’s New Testament Commentary Survey. However, these books are confined to a consideration of commentaries while Brother Morgan’s book considers a wide range of Bible study aids including Bible dictionaries, concordances, lexicons and atlases as well as commentaries. A further advantage of this book is that the recommendations are made from a Christadelphian perspective, based on the author’s extensive knowledge of the literature, with additional recommendations contributed by widely-read respected brethren. The purpose of this book is “to encourage you to read more and to read more widely” and also “to encourage more thoughtful reading”.
The format is very user-friendly, comprising twenty short chapters giving an introductory overview of the topic, each of which is supplemented by a more comprehensive appendix where further, detailed, suggestions are to be found. After explaining the purpose and importance of Bible study, preliminary suggestions are made for suitable books with which to start (mostly but not entirely written by Christadelphians) based on recommendations which the author canvassed from “keen readers” (Chapter 2). In the following supplementary chapter a short review is provided for each selected book.
Each chapter (and appendix) considers one of the various categories of books that a good library should have. The first of these is the Bible dictionary where information can be found on the meaning of words and also succinct summaries or overviews of Bible topics. Expository dictionaries and concordances are next. These help us not only to find every location of particular words but also provide information on their meaning and usage in the original languages. A more detailed consideration of Bible words is to be found in the next chapter, which reviews the available lexicons for Greek and Hebrew.
Where appropriate, sample extracts are provided in order that the reader may appreciate the range of styles and contents of the various options. For example, in Chapter 8a, “More about lexicons”, the treatment of a sample word is compared in six Hebrew and five Greek lexicons, ranging from the familiar Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old Testament Words to the comprehensive Gesenius’ Hebrew and Chaldee Lexicon of the Old Testament Scriptures. A problem with the typography in this section has resulted in the Hebrew words appearing with their letters the correct way round but reading from left to right rather than right to left. However, this is a minor problem and hardly detracts from the value of these extracts in giving a flavour of the originals.
Bible atlases, some covering more than topography by giving historical and cultural details, are considered in Chapter 9. Subsequent chapters provide guidance on books which supply accounts of how we got our Bible, the basis of our distinctive doctrines, exhortations and preaching, Bible characters, history, archaeology, prophecy and Israel today. The remainder of the book is concerned with Bible commentaries. Multi-volume and single-volume treatments of the whole Bible are considered before those devoted to single Old Testament and New Testament books. Commentaries by Christadelphian authors and non-Christadelphians are treated separately, being listed in Bible sequence.
By now it will be evident that the coverage is quite extensive, yet an unexpected oversight is the absence of recommendations regarding Gospel Parallels. It is fascinating to be able to compare the Gospel records without having to flick backwards and forwards in the text. This omission will, no doubt, be rectified in any future edition and on the website. [1] The most helpful version is probably that by Sparks [2] where, by means of a typographical tour de force, the equivalent words appear on the same line in each Gospel. This is now out of print but second-hand copies appear from time to time. Similarly, it would have been helpful to mention the parallel of the texts of Samuel, Kings and Chronicles by Crockett. [3]
A useful book for all
In sum, this is a very useful book both for those who are beginning Bible study and also for those who have many years of experience. It is of a convenient size to consult when on a book-finding excursion and it would also be useful to have a copy in each ecclesial library to provide guidance when searching for a suitable book on a particular subject. Perhaps the most appropriate comment I can make is to say how I wish such a volume had been available when I began to build a library; it would have ensured that every book purchased was worthy of a place on the shelves.
[1] Building a Library is also available here and will be updated as appropriate.
[2] Sparks, H. F. D. (1964/1974), A Synopsis of the Gospels (A & C Black). This was available in two volumes: Part I, The Synoptic Gospels and Johannine Parallels; Part II, John’s Gospel and the Synoptic Parallels. A combined, single, volume was also published in 1977.In what is called the Septuagint Version of the Old Testament
[3] W. D. Crockett (1985 reprint), A Harmony of Samuel, Kings and Chronicles (Baker Book House). There is also Somervell. R. (1897/1901), The Parallel History of the Jewish Monarchy (Cambridge University Press) in two slim volumes.
