Books on "what is Church"
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Bannerman, The Church of Christ. It covers just about everything.
Regi Addictissimus
Completely sold out to the King
I second Bannerman. If you're looking for something smaller, "The Church - Why Bother?" by Jeffrey D Johnson. This is much more condensed and better suited to group studies.
Thanks gents!
Relztrah
Puritan Board Freshman
Our adult Sunday School class has been going through What is the Mission of the Church by Kevin DeYoung and Greg Gilbert. I enjoyed the book but the authors devote lot of ink to the tension between evangelism and social outreach. They deal with this issue well, but some class members felt that it was something of a false dichotomy and frankly got tired of talking about it. Still, I think it's a good book.
JM
Puritan Board Doctor
RamistThomist
Puritanboard Clerk
Clowney's is light in some ways, but probably a good start.
Regi Addictissimus
Completely sold out to the King
There is also R. B. Kuiper's "The Glorious Body of Christ" published by Banner. I personally have not read this one but it looks promising.
https://banneroftruth.org/us/store/church-ministry/the-glorious-body-of-Christ/
https://banneroftruth.org/us/store/church-ministry/the-glorious-body-of-Christ/
James Bannerman, a 19th cent. Scottish Presbyterian, is great... and is tough slogging, if I may venture a 20th cent. critique (given modern education's deficiencies, which affect me as much as anyone). If you can acquire his two vols. inexpensively, then I heartily recommend him; even if you are more of a Baptist he will probably reward your study greatly. This work is available on line, for free, https://www.monergism.com/church-Christ-ebook.
Probably, RB Kuiper (suggest in post #9) presents the information you seek in the most reader-friendly manner. Clowney is more recent, but not for that reason necessarily an easier engagement. My sense is that of these two, Clowney's has the greater academic flavor--which is not a strike against it. The issue is simply one of "what are you looking for?"
Finally, if you want a biblical-theological investigation to the very root of what the church is--going back not just to Paul, Pentecost, the Apostles and Christ; but far back to the OT foundation stones--then I recommend Douglas Bannerman's The Scripture Doctrine of the Church. https://archive.org/details/scripturedoctrin00bann/page/n3 I offer this suggestion, because your signature states that you are in seminary (though not Presbyterian in orientation).
Probably, RB Kuiper (suggest in post #9) presents the information you seek in the most reader-friendly manner. Clowney is more recent, but not for that reason necessarily an easier engagement. My sense is that of these two, Clowney's has the greater academic flavor--which is not a strike against it. The issue is simply one of "what are you looking for?"
Finally, if you want a biblical-theological investigation to the very root of what the church is--going back not just to Paul, Pentecost, the Apostles and Christ; but far back to the OT foundation stones--then I recommend Douglas Bannerman's The Scripture Doctrine of the Church. https://archive.org/details/scripturedoctrin00bann/page/n3 I offer this suggestion, because your signature states that you are in seminary (though not Presbyterian in orientation).
As an aside, I assumed that was shifted-finger typo, but it ought to be a word in its own right.
PaulCLawton
Puritan Board Freshman
There is also an abridged version done by Rev. Ryan McGraw which may be of interest to those who find the original daunting:
https://www.amazon.ca/James-Bannermans-Church-Christ-Questions-ebook/dp/B00CC0JKHU#customerReviews
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