Religious Books

by F. Leo Smith, S DS
History, Criticism and Faith edited by Colin Brown (Inter Varsity Press £2.95)
Clues to Creation in Genesis edited by Donald J. WiseTnan (Marshall, Morgan & Scott £2.95) The Changing Bible by John P. Kealy, CSSp (Redemptorist 11.80) The Four Gospels: Newly Translated from the Greek by Norman Marrow (White Crescent Press, Luton, £1.80) Covenant and Promise by John Bright (SCM Press 15.75) History, Criticism and Faith is a paperback divided into four exploratory studies. It is not a book for the general reader. Its aim is to assist students of Scripture to explore the relationship between history and faith in the areas of the Bible and the philosophy of Christian belief.
Dr G. Wenham, of Queen's University, Belfast, discusses "History and the Old Testament," Professor Bruce of Manchester deals with "History and the New Testament" under the heading "Myth and History." He explains that the word "myth" here does not imply something false. In the same section Dr R. T. France considers the "Authenticity of the Sayings of Jesus" in a very positive manner. In the third part, Dr Colin Brown of Bristol University writes about "History and the Believer."
Learned as it is, this symposium isi by no means heavy reading. Each section is extremely well annotated, after the text. Four extensive bibliographies are included as well as indexes of names and subjects.
In a foreword to Clues to Creation In Genesis the author's son, London University Professor of Assyriology. Donald J. Wiseman, recommends this single volume edition of his father's two works: "New Discoveries in Babylonia about Genesis" (1936) and "Creation Revealed in Six Days" (1946).
Minor changes have been made, but the Authorised Version has been retained for scriptural quotations. In Part Two the author states his firm view that the original text of the Bible did not say the world was created in six days. He gives his reasons for this.
The work is the outcome of the asassi's studies in archaeology, in the Middle East. Divided into short chapters, with division headings, with three appendices and a list of books for further reading, it will be of considerable value to those qualified to appreciate its message.
11w Changing Bible is described as "a complete, practical and up-todate guide to the 'Biblical Revolution' — plus a careful analysis of the scientific and critical method required for understanding the Bible today". The author is a Holy Ghost Father who is aware of the bewilderment of many people today, and wishes to allay as far as he can the uneasiness, suspicion, doubt and confusion they feel. In the 109 pages of this paperback he offers three readable chapters. The first deals with "The Content of the New Approach." The second is concerned with the "Modern Method of Biblical Study." The, third takes an interest in the difficulties, questionings, fallacies (including fundamentalism) which face students of the Word of God today.
Here he gives guidance on how much technical knowledge is required, what to read in the Bible, and what questions to ask. He says that today we have a better Biblical
text than ever before, and the op; portunity for a better understanding of it than ever before. Good notes and a considerable bibliography are provided at the end. Norman Marrow is a Cambridge graduate who taught Latin, Greek and Scripture at Watford Grammar School, where he was Senior Classical Master for 30 years.
He is a member of the Society of Friends (Quakers) and as "a labour of love" he used his knowledge of Greek to provide us with a translation of The Four Gospels devoid of traditional "biblical" phraseologyt which might be more full of meaning to those who find other versions difficult due to the kind of language used.
On the last page he offers notes on "Son of Man" and "Logos". His rendering of the Lord's Prayer brings out the sense better than any version I have seen. I dare even to suggest that it might be considered for liturgical use. Its English is literary, simple and concise.
This translation is not intended to supersede the recognised versions, although linguistically it is superior to most, if not all the modern translations. I hope he will translate the rest of the New Testament. Covenant and Promise is a 200page hardback. It consists of the Thomas White Currie Lectures given at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Texas, in 1971. It was not intended to break new ground, or to expound any novel thesis, but to present certain features of Old Testament teaching in an interesting. clear and relevant way.
It is an extended version of the original lectures. Scriptural texts are partly from the RSV and partly the author's own, with references to other versions. including the Jerusalem Bible. Professor John ' Bright, the author, devotes most of the book to the teaching of the Prophets. Bible students will benefit from a study of it.