The coming that completes the story

Come again?

THE COMING THAT COMPLETES THE STORY
By Philip Greenslade
CWR. 138 pages. £5.99
ISBN 1 85345 305 6

This book is a study guide on 1 and 2 Thessalonians, designed for individual and group use. Christ's return is taken as the dominant theme throughout.

Philip Greenslade opens up many windows on these two letters. He brings alive the challenge of Christian living in a pagan culture. His critique of 'rapture' teaching on the Second Coming is good.

The author has a stimulating style with some striking turns of phrase. How about this one (in a devotional section) with references to 9/11 and Tolkien? - '. . . the only true sequel to the tragedy of the twin towers is "the return of the king".'

However, there are some reservations:

* The command 'Do not quench the Spirit' is applied to the Spirit's gifts. But in Matthew 3, the fire of the Holy Spirit creates holiness, and this would make better sense in context.

* The 'prophecies' which are not to be despised are seen as an ongoing gift for the church. There is no discussion of the view that they could well represent a feature of an era that did not possess the whole written Scripture.

* The writer (wrongly, I believe) tells us that the warning of future punishment for the disobedient refers not to the fate of the unbelieving in general, but only to the church's persecutors.

* Not all will agree with his interpretation of the 'restraining' influence on the mystery of lawlessness as a 'prevailing' power that actually promotes evil, rather than holds it back.

A stimulating book in many ways, but not the most reliable study guide available on 1 & 2 Thessalonians.

Robert Bashford,
minister of St. James's, Westgate, Kent

© Evangelicals Now - November 2004
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