Philip Graham RykenRecensioni

“The Song of Songs is like the box top for a jigsaw puzzle. When you dump the pieces on the table, they’re a total mess; you need a picture to help put them into place. The Song of Songs is a picture of love for people who are still figuring out how the pieces fit together. It doesn’t show us everything that’s broken, but mainly shows us the way things were always meant to be.”

Ryken undertakes one version of interpretation of the Biblical book Song of Solomon. He undergirds the book as a practical guide for relationships in light of KChrist’s love us especially centered on the love of Christ and the church as to that of the love experienced between a couple. One could call this Ryken’s mixtape on healthy love and relationships as there is a lot of direct application for married couples as well as those that are still single. Because of this, at times, it felt too pastoral though I can easily excuse this as he built it around his university context.

It is not a verse by verse commentary so much as a resource for contemplation and meditation than edification or preaching. In a few places, I felt it was tame and lacked the oomph in engaging with spiritual eroticism.

It is thick in experiential connection to Christ and even if you do not use the practical buide at the end each section lends itself to good meditation and contemplation.

Who might be interested: couples, single (healthy sexuality)

**This was a review copy**

Since 1 Corinthians 13 is one of my least favorite (=most guilt-inducing) chapters of Scripture, I wanted to read this book for a challenge. For some reason, though, I never particularly got into the book. I like Ryken's approach -- for each of Paul's definitions of "love," he does some basic exegesis, draws an illustration from the life of Jesus, and then applies it to the lives of Christians. His goal throughout is to demonstrate that Jesus is the only one who perfectly fulfills the definitions of love, and to drive us back to Jesus repeatedly as we are faced with our own failures to love. Only by knowing the love of Jesus in a deeper way can we be empowered to love others ourselves.

This Christ-focused reading of 1 Corinthians 13 wasn't new to me, but for someone who has never heard it before, I would think it could be very liberating and encouraging. Even though a lot of the book didn't stick with me (because of the writing style? I'm not sure why), I did find the "Love Waits" (love is patient/long-suffering) chapter beautiful. Ryken describes the unhurried way in which Jesus loves us, just as He tarried when He knew that Lazarus was dying, because He knew that by restoring Lazarus to life, He would be able to glorify God in a more complete way. "The delays of Christ turn out to be the delays of love." (81) He also makes the point, somewhere, that our impatience with others often says more about our need for sanctification than about our concern for what God is doing in them.

A great resource... it’s a Reformed almanac on worship. It is not exhaustive by any means (see the Hughes Oliphant Old - worship and scripture collection for that) Yet should be in every church members library for sure!

The Love of Loves in the Song of Songs looks at each verse of the Song of Songs, a book from the Bible. I always liked this book best, because I always saw it as a representation of an eternal and powerful love between God and a person. I believe it’s symbolically about a persons’ relationship with God. Our author goes a bit further. He describes some of the historical background and customs that are referred to in the Song of Songs, thus putting them into context. He also relates the Song of Songs to a monogamous love between a man and a woman. Although I do not agree with every single interpretation of the Song of Songs that he makes here, I find that this book might be a good one for meditation on these wonderful verses.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

I like this short book. I struggle with the emotional side of loving Jesus and what this means in practice. Ryken explains that our love for Jesus is motivated by His love for us. He explores how this is worked out in our obedience to His commands. He also examines why some of us find the concept difficult primarily dealing with the fact that none of us have actually met Jesus in person and therefore we find it difficult to love someone we haven't seen.

Some of the language used is slightly too emotional for me, but this is still a useful book on this subject covering all of the necessary areas and offering practical advice.

Valentines day is over and are wallets are lighter having spent all our disposable income on chocolate (either as gifts or to console ourselves) it is time think about what love really is. No, not that sentimental saccharine sort of love we just got marketed at us. Not Romance with all its ‘happily ever after’ promise but the sacrificial, lay down your life sort of love.

If you want to know what love is, look at the so-called love chapter has to say:

“If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13, NIV)

Phil Ryken says that despite the frequency that this chapter is read at weddings, it is talking about a much deeper and more sacrificial love than mere Eros. It is describing Agape–God’s love!

Ryken, who is the current president of Wheaton College and the former president of Philadelphia’s Tenth Presbyterian Church (Presbyterians love ‘order’ so like to name their churches after numbers) wrote this book to examine and explicate the sort of love Corinthians describes. The Contents of this book stem from Ryken’s last sermon series at Tenth. He preached on 1 Cor. 13 in ways that were both sensitive to its context within Paul’s letter to Corinth and with an eye to the ways that Jesus Christ embodies the sort of love described. Paul wrote this chapter in the context of urging the Corinthians on to mutual care and consideration (and yes, Presbyterians, order as well). But the sort of love that they were being exhorted to had been exemplified in Christ. Thus each chapter of this book explores one of the descriptive phrases in 1 Cor. 13, illustrates how Jesus’ love embodies it par excellence and challenges us to live out this sort of love in our lives.

This is an impassioned plea for Christians to grow in our love for each other and our world; this is a book which honors Christ for the love that he poured out on our behalf. I found Ryken’s writing engaging and his exegesis sound. He writes from a firmly Reformed perspective (PCA) and so often quotes fellow Reformed authors, but also engaged with patristic sources like John Chrysostom and consulted the best Corinthian commentaries through out (Fee and Thistleton). The Christological lens helps me understand and properly apply this passage to my life. If I just read about the quality of love I am supposed to have, I feel easily discouraged because I know I don’t measure up. By reading the love chapter Christologically, Ryken shows that we are called to love in sacrificial and compelling ways because that is how we have been loved by Jesus. This puts things in perspective, and growing in love is growing in our understanding of Grace.

The book is divided into 12 chapters (each focusing on Corinthians and an accompanying passage) and ‘a study guide’ which provides questions on each chapter. The study guide makes this an ideal book to read as a small group because the questions do not just focus on content, but on how we can live out this sort of love. This book will enlarge your vision of Christ’s love and challenge you to live fruitful lives.

Thank you to Crossway for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for this review. This is my fair and honest review.

A short book (92 pages, larger than normal type on smaller than normal paper) about the meaning of the crucifixion of Jesus. The chapters come from a series of sermons preached on a series of Friday's leading up to Easter at Philadelphia's Tenth Presbyterian Church. Presented as seven chapters, each emphasizing one aspect of Jesus' death by crucifixion, including: it's necessity, offensiveness, peace an power offered, the triumph over sin and satan, Jesus' humility in going to the cross, and the fact that the cross should be our only boast. The key thing I learned from this short book is just how repulsive the Jews, and Greeks viewed the use of the cross. They avoided even using the work "crux," preferring instead vague descriptions such as "hang him on the unlucky tree." This book would be a good introduction on the meaning of the cross to a new believer.

Ryken does a great job with Galatians. I would buy more commentaries in this series.

Kingdom Come was a book I was excited to read because this is a topic that has become more and more prevalent in my thinking and comforting in my doubts, fears, and struggles over the past few months and years. The thought of the Kingdom of God consumated on this earth propels me foward every day. "Come Lord Jesus" has become my constant and persistent prayer.

Ryken takes aim in the beginning of the book at the Harold Campings of our world, recounting his latest failed rapture prediction and using his false prophecies to springboard into a discussion of the particularly damaging nature of these doomsday profits(yep, I did that). Ryken points out that these false prophecies of the coming Kingdom cause unbelievers to be skeptical(2000 years of "any day now") and believers to be apathetic about His return. One of the issues Ryken takes with these claims that I hadn't thought about is that they are simply not optimistic enough.

The problem with saying that Jesus will come again next October is not that he probably won’t come that month after all, but that we should expect his return much sooner! The Bible’s last prayer ought to be our daily expectation: “Come, Lord Jesus!” So we pray the way Jesus taught us to pray, “Your kingdom come” (Matt. 6:10)

Ryken wants the reader to be in a constant anticipation and yearning and expectation for the Kingdom of God to come...today. Not next October, not next week, but now! But many of us do not. Why?

One reason is a failure to recognize that the Kingdom, in a sense, is already here. Jesus began His public ministry by announcing that the Kingdom of God was at hand. This makes sense when you realize that the Kingdom is all about the King, and where the King is there is the Kingdom as well. So after Christ lived a perfect life and died a sacrificial death for all who would believe, He rose from the dead and then ascended into heaven to sit on His throne. So this would seem to indicate that His Kingdom is in heaven because that is where the King is. Except for thr fact that Christ sent His Holy Spirit to take residence in all believers, thus ensuring His presence, and His Kingdom, remained on earth. So we live in a time of Kingdom conflict, a now and not yet, a period where the Kingdom is established but not yet consumated. Believers must live in the experience of the Kingdom has come while at the same time in the expectation of the Kingdom will come.

But do we even want the Kingdom. Ryken thinks that this might be a greater issue than we would normally acknowledge. "So as we consider the kingship of Christ, the issue for us is not so much when his kingdom will come, but whether we want it to come at all." Ryken's point is striking, many of us would rather see the Kingdom of stuff, success, sex, and self flourish as opposed to the Kingdom of God. We do not anticipate how we should, or pray how we ought, or prepare how we need to because we do not really even desire God's Kingdom. We have turned to lesser goods, snubbing thr creator for His creation. The idolatry of our heart has drowned out our proper yearning for what is greater.

Ryken confronts the idea that believers are responsible for establishing and growing God's Kingdom. Ryken points out that "we are tempted to think of the kingdom of Jesus Christ as something that we accomplish. If we build it, he will come." But in actuality "establishing the kingdom is primarily something God does." The verbs associated with the believer and the Kingdom are almoet exclusively passive. This truth is shown best in how our Lord taught us to pray. We pray, "Your Kingdom come." Our prayer is that God would accomplish, God would build, God would send.

The book struggles at times with a sense of spiritual prosperity. Ryken by no means teaches a prosperity gospel, but there is the prevailing feel that being a believer fixes everything, even temporal hardships. "People who seek the kingdom of God—and who therefore pray in faith for its coming—are set free from anxiety to live with generosity." This is a rather bold claim to make. Contextually it is clear the point that Ryken is making but I felt the language used here, and a few other places, could have been more carefully chosen to avoid the improper expecations amd uneccesary burdens that statements like this could cause.

The way he uses terms at times was also troubling. At times he appears quite clear on what the Kingdom is, the reign and rule of Jesus Christ over all of creation, something we cannot manufacture or manipulate. But then there are times where he makes statements like, "The kingdom of God is not primarily an action we perform but a message we proclaim." It is neither actually.

The same can be said about the Gospel. The Gospel seems to be exclusively equated with "how to be saved." It is the cross and resurection only, even ignoring the role of the life of Christ in the believer's salvation. I would hope in a book about the Kingdom of God to get a more robust treatment of the Gospel than simply as the key to enter the Kingdom. The Gospel is the message of the Kingdom. It is not less than the personal salvation of a sinner, but it is definitely much more. Ryken states, " No gospel will be preached in hell. By then it will be too late to repent, too late to believe, and too late to enter the kingdom of God." This is definitely the case if the Gospel is simply thekey to heaven but I would argue that the Gospel is much more and that Philippians 2 contradicts the idea of no Gospel proclamation in hell. The Gospel is the message of the King reclaiming His Kingdom and this will be proclaimed in all creation, for all time. Those who reject God are not exempt from worshipping Him or bringing Him glory, even from a place of eternal torment.

Ryken's chapter on Kingdom consumation towards the end is a great chapter and what I was wanting to read the entire time.

As a citizen of God’s kingdom, I long to see our royal Prince on his great day! I sigh to be renewed. I also hope fervently to see an end to all our earthly trials. John writes about this as well. The book of Revelation does more than simply tell us what will be in the kingdom, when all God’s promises are fulfilled; it also tells us what will be kept out of the kingdom. When the kingdom comes—when the old order of things passes away and God makes all things new—there will be no more death and no more pain.

Ryken's style makes this an easy book to read. I do have concerns about aspects of this work but definitely think that overall it is a pretty good read!

I received a copy of this book from the good people at Crossway for review purposes through Netgalley.com

"And that there might be no doubt as to their separation, they have given themselves the various names of factions. They have not been ashamed to glory in that which Paul so execrates, that he is unable to express his detestation too strongly. Unless, indeed, we suppose that Christ was not divided by the Corinthians, when one teacher set himself above another (1 Cor. 1:12, 13; 3:4); and that now no injury is done to Christ when, instead of Christians, we hear some called Benedictines, others Franciscans, others Dominicans, and so called, that while they affect to be distinguished from the common body of Christians, they proudly substitute these names for a religious profession." Institutes, IV.13.14.

1 Kings
Philip Graham Ryken

Dynasties, fractured kingdoms, prophecies of coming hardships - the book of 1 Kings is a grand, sweeping narrative of the beginning of the downfall of God's people. Its size and scope may seem intimidating, but Phil Ryken shows us in this biblical, doctrinal, practical, and Christological commentary how this imposing book can be divided into three key sections. First, the stories of Solomon focus on the themes of money, sex, and power, inviting us to learn from Solomon's example. Will we use these things wisely for kingdom purposes, or foolishly abuse them for selfish gain? Then the middle of the story, on the divided kingdom, shows the destructive consequences of sin among the people of God - especially the sin of idolatry. The final section demonstrates the power of prayer to the true and living God, as exemplified in the life and ministry of God's prophet Elijah. Phil Ryken brings out the key themes of these three sections and illustrates how they come together in their focus on the gospel of Jesus Christ, especially his kingly and prophetic offices. This is an excellent resource for those who want a devotional aid and will help Bible expositors reliably teach a redemptive-historical view of this important Old Testament book.
This is a great series of commentaries. He is able to take the verses in chunks based on related narratives and pull in Samuel, Chronicles and other books of the Bible to expand the related information to increase my knowledge of the 1 Kings. Then he used current examples to relate the lessons and understanding of how this is important to my understanding today. I felt that the examples and information really gave me a bigger picture of the history of Israel and how that brought the narrative of redemption to a fulfillment. Dr. Ryken did a good job of making the material readable and understandable without being redundant or overusing information. These commentaries are extremely helpful and useful.
I would like to thank Net Galley and P & R Publishing for allowing me to read and review this book in return for a free copy and was never asked to write a favorable review by anyone.

NCLA Review: Ryken uses the triumphs and failures of King Solomon as learning lessons for all individuals as they face the same temptations of money, sex, and power. Each chapter begins with a happening in Solomon’s life and then parallels that with what is occurring in society and individual lives at the present time. King Solomon’s greatness as well as his tragic downfall lend themselves well to exploring the challenges facing Christians today to resist temptation and lead godly lives. This is not a history of King Solomon so much as a series of sermons using his persona as an example of humanity’s serious sin and our need for Jesus Christ. As great a king as Solomon was, Jesus Christ is infinitely greater and is the salvation for all mankind. A comprehensive study guide is included that would be very helpful for group as well as individual study. Rating: 3 —AL

The reason for his wrath explains the cross.

This is a good book about the Christian's view of the arts. It is along the same vein as Schaeffer's Art and the Bible. I plan on using the principles he outlined with my 11th grade Omnibus class: Building a Christian Worldview.

An excellent single volume members handbook on the church with spiritual gift assessment.

For an excerpt, see http://www.pastorresources.com/review.asp?pt=insp&id=154.

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