Customer Reviews

Foundations of the Christian Faith (Master Reference Collection)

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Obviously Boice has a Presbyterian bent, and though I disagree with some of his conclusions, I still highly recommend this volume. Apparently this used to be a 4-volume work, but it was shortened into one. It is very easy to read, so the layman could get a lot out of it. Boice attempts to give different positions for the issues, offering more than just his viewpoint. Overall, though, he remains very evangelical, and while we can certainly discuss our differences, I appreciate the flavor in which this work was written. Boice is kind but to the point. No doubt that it's long for many laypeople--more than 700 pages--but again, as the cover says, while it is comprehensive, it is still very readable. This book would also be good to keep on the bookshelf and look up theological issues as they come up.

If you want to read any book about Christianity (besides the Bible), this is the place to start. Boice is an unusually clear writer; he writes so that the average human can understand him but his thinking is deep enough that most pastors would appreciate his insight. I've read most of CS Lewis' work, and like this book better than Lewis, and I like Lewis! The book is also well indexed, so that it is easy to use it as a reference.

If you're looking for a kind, generous, wonderfully readable Calvinist, (the late) Dr. Boice is your man. R.C. Sproul has said that when James Boice died it was like a form of God's judgement on the American nation. That may sound a bit over the top, but the day I heard of Boice's death, I felt a great void.

In my reviews, I don't like to rehash the contents of a book, especially an exceptional book like Foundations. I guess I like readers to savor the experience as the Holy Spirit guides and enlightens.

I will remark about the structure of this book, however, which loosely follows Calvin's Institutes.

It's actually four books packaged as one.

The first book presents God as sovereign Lord, as revealed in Scripture. I like that. A book about theology should begin with God as He is and as He has revealed Himself.

The second book sketches God relative to us fallen, blind human beings. It shows why we need a saviour, and why and how only Jesus fulfills that role.

The third book details how God, through His Spirit, awakens His children to and then immerses them in the work of Christ.

The final book discusses how God works through His Church, that oddball and often inconsistent collection of people he has empowered through faith in Christ to go about doing His will and work until Christ returns.

As you read, you'll get a sense of how you fit in to God's massive scheme of things, assuming of course you have repented of your sin and put your faith in Christ.

I was working on a ranch when I first read this book. My life was a mess. But Foundations, along with Dallas Willard's Divine Conspiracy, helped me see that God is real, that He loves me, and that His love could and ultimately would transform me.

I can't say my walk with Christ has been smooth. But thanks to godly servants like James Boice, and of course the Lord Himself and His utterly amazing, utterly underserved grace, it has grown rich with age and experience.

May you be so blessed.

God bless.

I have gone to church all of my life and I have always considered myself a Christian. However, I did not truly know what I believed or why I believed it. I began to study the Bible in order to know for myself true Christianity apart from what is often called "Christianity" today. After a study of several books of the Bible, I have found that each book often covers a broad range of subjects and doctrines. This book, however, provides a horizontal view by taking one subject or doctrine and showing how it is consistently handled in different books of the Bible. It has helped me tie the books of the Bible together subject-by-subject and realize that although the Bible was written by over 30 authors over hundreds of years, there is a divine consistency in its message. This is a great book for any Christian or non-Christian who wants to find out what Christians believe and why they believe it.

Dr. Boice's untimely death in 2000 still hurts to this day, but we still have his tapes and books to inspire us. This volume ranks as the author's highest achievement--a concise, readable, in-depth presentation of the foundations of the Christian faith. (If you want the audio tapes, contact the Alliance of Confessing Evangeliecals in Philadelphia, PA). I return to this book from time to time just to refresh myself and get inspired all over again to preach the Good News.

Dr. Boice stands as one of the greatest pastor/teachers of the 20th century and this book will cause you to buy and read his other commentaries as well.

Boice describes how, and in what way scripture talks to us. That man who truly seeks out to know God's truth is to be lead by the Holy Spirit while studying God's word. Boice does not argue for a simple understanding of the text or to read individual verses without a further study of the context of the whole scripture. Those who accept the Bible as true should make a comprehensive study of the whole bible. Each book book of the Bible should be studied as as a whole, studied comprehensively, and in context. Boice gives very specific, demanding, recommendations how to go about this.

Foundations of the Christian Faith written by James Montgomery Boice was written as Four books. The Four sections of this book are the Sovereign God, God the Redeemer, Awakening to God, and 'God and History'.The teachings, definition of words, and phrases are consistent with traditional Orthodox Christian theology and teachings. One need not be a biblical scholar to understand this very comprehensive work about who God is and how he interacts with what He has created.

God's plan for salvation begins in eternal past, continues today, into eternal future. When God created the universe including the earth- He already had a plan to save man from the consequences of his behavior and thought. to comprehend and accept this fact, one must understand God to be sovereign. That God is ultimately in charge, and that any-one's behavior could alter or deter God's will from being accomplished.That God's glory is revealed through His interaction with the created which includes the rebellious thought and deeds of man. God's glory is revealed through His wrath towards the unrepentant and mercy towards those who repent.

God's nature is revealed through his creation. The nature of God is revealed to man by what he can perceive by what God has created and works throughout the Universe. God further reveals Himself through the written word known as the Bible. Man because he rebels against God's authority, denies what is evident through nature and scripture. So man comes up with his own theories about the world and his own existence. The Bible is therefore doubted and not accepted as ultimate truth. Boice does not make any arguments casting doubt on scripture. This theology is presented to make clearer to the reader what the bible states and teaches.

God is sovereign and all knowing. God cannot be mistaken what is and/or what is to come to past. God chose what is written in the bible, what the bible is to be consisted of, and the hand from whom the is written from.The Bible is true and should be accepted as God's expression of His will towards man. The Bible therefore God should be understood based upon this fact.

God Is Immutable: God's character does not change. His Moral Character does not change nor does His ability to effect His creation. God cannot become a better or more perfect being. God will not become less then what he is. His perfection will never become less perfect.His capacity or ability never increases or decreases. God is not like man. Man for a time grows in strength and knowledge. Man's health declines; Man forgets things. Man thoughts change base on new information, new situations, or a new argument. Gods thoughts do not change because he knows all.

Creation, providence, revelation, and redemption. God created the heavens and the earth. Nothing that is was not first created by God. God is ultimately in control of all His creation. This includes every living soul. God has chosen to reveal His character and to truth to part of His creation. Redemption ultimately brings glory to God. It is also about the salvation to the repentant and damnation to those who refuse. God's eternal plan to bring a remnant to heaven. Part of this eternal plan is the end of the earth and Universe as we humans know it. Boice makes excellent arguments to how all this and the rest the Bible come together.

Foundations of the Christian Faith (FCF) is a densely packed, yet readily accessible one-volume theology. Boice has a gift for interpreting difficult theological concepts with clarity and poise. I didn't breeze through FCF. I sampled it at a rate of 20 to 30 pages a day and, without fail, found myself reflecting on what I had read for several hours afterward.

FCF is challenging, yet ultimately soothing. Boice cleary dilineates the responsibilities all Christians carry and exhorts us to shoulder the load. Yet, Boice is no heavy-handed taskmaster. His compassion is evident throughout. Indeed, there were places where I silently exhorted Boice to drive a little harder, especially in the area of Christian response to entrenched and dysfunctional secular bureaucracies and the social ills they perpetuate and often create.

Forced to choose, I'd pick the latter third of the book as the better, though this may well be because I have a keen interest in eschatology. But, the latter third also delves into the practical experience of living in the world, not of it - and this speaks effectively to the thorny issues we face today.

As I closed FCF after six weeks of careful inspection, I held the book by its spine for several seconds and smiled. Then, I walked reluctantly to the bookcase and put it away. It was that melancholy moment of acknowledgement when a cherished book has come to an end. I didn't know that James Montgomery Boice had passed until today. And, I'm deeply sorry to hear it is so. If Foundations of the Christian Faith is any indication, he left this world a far better place. I have no doubt he's found a better place still. 5 stars.

I recommend this work by Boice without hesitation. He takes extremely difficult theological topics and makes them understandable and practical. It is a theological work that comes more from the heart of a pastor than from the brain of a theologian. Excellent and helpful for all students of theology.

Though I am not a pastor or theologian by any stretch, I bought this book in the 80's and have found it invaluable to my own search to know more about the faith I claim as my own. Subsequently, it has served as a great resource as I've referred to it time and again in any teaching I do for my church. Easily readable and packed with great application, it gave me a great assurance of the truth and surety of Christianity, and helped me feel encouraged that the faith I have is based on objective, knowable truth. The book is laid out very logically, and one does not need to read it from cover to cover in order to find out more on just about any topic of interest related to Christianity. From knowing who God is to knowing what a Christian's "Final Destination" is, this book gives practical and easily understood meaning to nearly every topic on theology one could need. I highly recommend this book, and don't be surprised if it challenges you to dig deeper on many of the topics covered within its pages!

I consider this must reading for a Christian who is trying to understand Calvin's system for understanding the Bible.