Category: Christian Social Witness

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Do you READ Christian books?  We need your thoughts on other Christian fiction & Non-fiction.  Just add the name of the book you would like to review to a COMMENT. – Roger Harned

NOTE: This is my first REVIEW of a book for talkofJesus.com  As site administrator I’ll begin with some guidance for you NOT related to this book.

1. I am a reader of many books, especially Christian non-fiction.  I am also a writer and dedicate most of my time to writing. When I read a book that interests me I tend to highlight for teaching, writing, or preaching. I also tend to go on to the next book, rather than having any interest in reviewing it for others. Therefore we need your reviews.  (I know & read some book reviewers who are very good at this. IF you are one of these, please SHARE your reviews with us.)
2. As an editor, I typically add helpful links for the reader behind some references (especially Bible verses). You do not have to do that; just send us your brief review.
3.  IF you can tell us why you buy the particular book you review, it will probably help us as much as the brief summary of the book.
4. Don’t get caught-up in thinking that because I chose Barclay for my first review (OR that you post a review of a certain author) that my beliefs are the same as the author or that other authors have not influenced me even more.  (I could name several.)
5. I chose this book because it is short & I highlighted a great deal of text & he is an authoritative scholar of the New Testament.

 William Barclay (1907-1978)) is of the generation of my grandparents.  He was a Scottish theologian and authority on the Greek of the New Testament. I have heard him quoted in many sermons. Many Witnesses, OneLord, published in 2001 was originally published in 1963 and remains relevant to thoughtful followers of Christ Jesus.

This small Christian NON-FICTION book is only 116 pages. The Title references the varied writers of the New Testament as the ‘many witnesses’ to our One Lord.

When one of our Bible studies is focused on a particular book of the Bible, I find Barclay’s insight very helpful to my own understanding. In addition to MANY WITNESSES, ONE LORD, you should find many of these New Testament studies in your local Christian bookstore.

Here is just a taste from the book:

The Gospel of the Kingdom: “… the God who is Father does not cease to be the God who is Judge and King… Sin,therefore, matters intensely.” {p.10}

Paul –  “… the Law drives us to complete despair. It shows us the good; it leaves us helpless to do it: it even awakes the desire to sin. Life is defeated and frustrated, and there is nothing left to do but come to Jesus Christ, and accept what he has to give. The Law can take us so far, but only Jesus Christ can take us the whole way to God.” {p.27}

James – “… works are love in action, works are caring for our fellow men. For James works are very nearly exactly what Paul meant by the fruit of the Spirit.”

“All the world must see a Christian’s good deeds and give glory to God (Matthew 5:16). Men are know, like trees, by their fruits (Matthew 7:15-21). ” {p. 53}

Barclay’s commentary above so affected me that I wrote the following note at the bottom of the page:

“The fruit of the seed of righteousness glorifies the Lord, while the fruit of the seed of sinfulness will rot and die!

First Peter –  “In the Apostles’ Creed it is said of Jesus, ‘He descended into hell” …” {pp. 65-66}

Barclay references the two scriptural passages that are some of the basis for this section of a Creed committed to memory by many committed Christians. 1 Peter 3:18-20 and 4:6.  A more in-depth study of his additional commentary and scriptural references would be a challenge to the most astute of theologians.

The Letter of John : The Gospel of Right Belief and True Love – “Although 1 John is called a letter, it neither begins or ends as such. And yet no work was ever more clearly addressed to a definite community by an author who know intimate and loved passionately those to whom he wrote.” {p.70} {below: p.71}

“John is waging a holy war on falsehood which could wreck the faith. – William Barclay

2 Peter and Jude – Speaking of their confrontation against Gnostic beliefs, Barclay writes: “(1:20-21) Instead of going to scripture to find their true belief,  they took their own twisted beliefs to scripture, and by the misuse of scripture extracted from its justifications for their private beliefs. Instead of submitting to Scripture they made Scripture submit to them.” {p. 82 – bold, my emphasis}

Preaching of the New Testament Today – Clearly this, and the previous chapter, The Kerugma, fall into the category of conclusion and application. Barclay offers several additional insights (probably of more use to preachers and church leadership than the lay reader of the Bible and books about the Bible).  Here is just a concluding sampling:

“… What has gone wrong? Why is it that Christian preaching in so many cases is no longer effective?  …somewhere the balance has gone wrong.” {p. 113}

“The first thing that is needed from all pulpits is systematic exposition of scripture and systemic explanation of Christian doctrine, with application of both to the human situation of the particular sphere of the hearers in the twentieth century.” {p.115}

I couldn’t agree more.  As hearers of preaching, Scripture, doctrine and application to our 21st c. sphere of little Christian influence on a world even more fallen than just two generations past; Barclay’s call to Truth applies even more.

Maybe you can share just a thought or two with the preachers of your church.  As you can see from the depth of Barclay’s research, preaching is NOT an easy task; but faithful preaching is an important one.

As is your preacher, so are you: we are Many Witnesses (from differing perspectives). Yet all of us witness One Lord.

“That’s my opinion,” as one commentator used to put it. What’s yours?

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