Customer Reviews

Putting the Truth to Work: The Theory and Practice of Biblical Application

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Any preacher or teacher of the Bible who has experienced the frustration of seeking to develop legitimate application of the Bible to life (that would include ALL of us) has wished, hoped, and prayed for a book that would help in this process. Well, our wishes, hopes, and prayers have been answered. In this unique book (I'm aware of no other like it), Dan Doriani does offers excellent insight into both the theory and practice of applying Scripture in a way that is both faithful to the passage being studied and practical in the lives of those who desire for the Bible to change their lives. In this book, Doriani maintains that legitimate Biblical application addresses one or more of the following life issues: Duty, Character, Goals, and Discernment. But he doesn't stop there. In this book, besides developing those life issue applications in enough (but not too much) detail, Doriani addresses concerns about how to develop applications that do more than just moralize, how to deal with narratives, law, and other content in the Bible, how to focus on Christ, and how to apply the grace of God in promoting life change. To be honest, this is the book I believe all Bible teachers/preachers need to read and heed -- if they would see results in the lives of those to whom they communicate the Truth of the Bible. This book is here and ready to be read, re-read, marked, inwardly digested, and of course APPLIED to our personal Bible study, preaching, and teaching. I see this having a significant impact on everyone who gets into it. Well worth the time and money, to be sure!

Having worked with college students for 17 years (including 7 as an ordained Reformed University Fellowship Campus Minister), I am constantly on the prowl for tools that are theologically sound, yet help the average college student/lay person in this area. Dan's work is everything that I could hope for. The book is an excellent marriage of explaining the Biblical-theological principles to guide our practice of applying the Bible to our lives, as well as the resulting practice to employ. It does not make the error of falling into simplistic rules that don't really get at the heart, or of being so broad as to be meaningless. I HIGHLY recommend it for Pastors, elders, college students, or anyone wanting to really begin to more faithfully, accurately, and deeply apply God's Word to our lives today.

Doriani's work sets forth a good methodology and framework for applying scripture. He willingly acknowledges that his way isn't the only way, but a way to follow that is helpful, logical, and thorough. He also includes numerous examples where he uses a specific principle with a biblical text. Read the Summary sections at the end of the chapter before reading the individual chapters though because he doesn't always outline his chapter well until that section.