Machen

Don’t bother with this blog tonight, go to Jim West’s to read his fabulous posts in celebration of Adolf Schlatter’s birthday!

And while you’re busy not reading mine, be sure to have a look at this page. It is the entire introduction to J. Gresham Machen’s The Origin of Paul's Religion. He was a contemporary (1881-1937) of Schlatter, and, let me tell you in earnest, he has some important things to say in this book. Some books slip history by, even though they could be more important than those that end up in the limelight. On the ‘list of uploads’ on this page, you will find even more to have a look at. Shane Rosenthal, the webpage owner, tells me that Rudolph Bultmann wrote up a review of this work, but I have no idea where. Anyone have any ideas where?

Update:

John Piper has written about Machen here, and Wiki too, has this to say.

John Piper, while on the subject, is someone I used to read loads of. I don’t find him as compelling anymore, as I find him to monovocal, where I think the bible is not. And his recent book on the gospel really doesn’t entirely twang my strings, not to mention his ‘women thing’ with Grudem, but I’ll shut up before I spoil this. He has some wonderful things to say too, not least in his emphasis on the delights and glory of enjoying God.