The new We Believe series by Lexham Press, surveys eight of the Christian faith’s primary doctrines “as confessed from the Nicene Creed and received in the Reformed tradition” (xix). Now, these confessions weren’t birthed at Nicea, just confirmed. This series begins with the biblical foundations for the doctrine before moving to how that doctrine was clarified through the creeds.
Part One—Biblical Theology
This volume, written by Brandon Crowe, covers the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Following with the aims of the series, Crowe follows the organic unity of Scripture and its unfolding narrative, which is unified in Christ. This first section of the book was fantastic. Crowe begins by showing how the Son of God is seen in creation and the old covenant. Crowe starts off by showing the unity of Scripture. Although you won’t find the terms “Son of God,” “the Son,” or “Jesus” anywhere in Genesis 1, John 1 (as well as Colossians 1 and Hebrews 1) tells us that the Son was a part of creation. Regarding the old covenant, Crowe guides us through how Adam and Israel are sons of God.
Throughout these chapters Crowe shows how OT events like the exodus, the sacrificial system, and the roles of prophet, priest, and king pointed to Jesus who would fulfill all of these events and roles. Crowe leads us through some of the Psalms and texts in Jeremiah, Isaiah, and other prophets to show how these ideas were worked out through the OT and are then worked out in the life of Jesus as read in the Gospels. Throughout the New Testament, Crow points to how Jesus was a real, true human, as well as that he was truly divine.
Part Two—Dogmatic/Systematic Theology
Here Crowe “considers the historical developments of orthodox christological doctrine” (4). He surveys the period before the Council of Nicaea (pre-AD 325). This includes writings from Ignatius of Antioch, Clement of Rome, 2 Clement, the Epistle of Barnabas, Polycarp, Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Origin, Terullian, and more). He then surveys creedal formulations beginning with the Council of Nicaea and up through modern times. I really enjoyed this section because, unlike with Part One, I haven’t read much of the writings and creeds mentioned.
It is fascinating to see just how much was written about Jesus’ divinity even before the Nicene Creed, but what was written didn’t have a lot of specificity to it. The creeds were given to sharpen the biblical doctrines against false teaching. How was the Son divine? Did he have one will or two? Was he divine and human, more divine than human, or a “third thing”? As Crowe notes, the creeds were written as “attempts to do justice to the biblical accounts of who Christ is” (192). The NT teaches that Jesus is both divine and human, but this can be difficult to parse out in practice. Because of that, “[t]his is where creeds prove to be so beneficial; while they do not solve every aspect of the mystery of the incarnations, they provide clarification and guardrails in our understanding of who Christ is according to Scripture” (192).
Crowe briefly covers some of the Reformational teachings (e.g., the righteousness of Christ, the Lord’s supper), post-reformational teachings (like the covenants of redemption, works, and grace), and modern discussions (like “historical Jesus” studies which divorces the actual historical Jesus from any suggestion of his divinity, making any study of him very unhistorical after all). Unfortunately, Crowe gives only two sentences to the medieval period due to spacial restraints. However, even one page of information would have been helpful to know what doctrines or doctrinal aspects were developed in the span of 1,000 years.
Chapters eight through ten examine the eternal Son as Mediator. Crowe covers eternal generation (which I still don’t quite understand), how to avoid subordinationism, and the importance of the hypostatic union for our redemption (ch 9). Jesus was truly human yet sinless. He was God who died, yet it was the human who died, and not the divine. This aspect remains a mystery. Chapter eleven argues that Christ, being central in Scripture, must be central in our systematic theology.
Part Three
This section consists of two chapters teasing out the implications of the person and work of Christ and a concluding chapter. Chapter twelve relates christ to the gospel message. Chapter thirteen offers the uniqueness of Christ in and to a world of pluralism. The conclusion offers seven theses on the person and work of Christ. Crowe includes a glossary after the conclusion.
Recommended?
This is a really superb book, and a good taste of what is to come in the rest of the series, one I am very much looking forward to. Crowe writes clearly and synthesizes the information well without giving you every detail and connection the Bible makes about Jesus. He gives you plenty enough to have a good and clear understanding of the person and work of Jesus in Scripture, as well as throughout the creeds. Crowe’s book is a good intermediate level book. It is more detailed than a beginner’s level book, so many laypeople may not go for this. However, pastors, teachers, and students ought to pick this up and incorporate Crowe’s teachings into their own. Crowe offers further reading at the end of each chapter. Readers should pick some of these up to further their study of our Lord and King.
For more biblical theology, pick up Stephen Wellum’s Christ Alone. For more systematic theology, pick up Stephen Wellum’s God the Son Incarnate.
Lagniappe
- Series: We Believe
- Author: Brandon Crowe
- Paperback: 185 pages
- Publisher: Lexham Press (December 6, 2023)
Buy it on Amazon or from Lexham Press
Disclosure: I received this book free from Lexham Press. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html.
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