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Teaching Romans (vols. 1 & 2)The big epistleTEACHING ROMANS (vols. 1 & 2) Teaching Romans is a relatively recent two-volume addition to PT Media’s Teaching Series. It is written by Christopher Ash who is, as many will know, the Director of the Cornhill Training Course. The purpose of these books is to equip preachers, teachers and study group leaders in understanding and communicating Romans effectively. The first volume of Teaching Romans covers chapters 1-8, the second chapters 9-16. Ash’s style is easy to follow and free of unnecessary technical jargon. He manages to analyse the text in a systematic manner without becoming cold or clinical. With his obvious concern for exegetical precision married to faithful practical application - I particularly appreciated the warm, pastoral ‘feel’ this brings to his writing. Personally, I found the structure of each chapter extremely helpful. After analysing and explaining the meaning of the text, the author moves from text to teaching. In this section the basic theme and aim are clarified and pointers to application made. This is perhaps what lifts these volumes beyond the limits of a normal commentary. It is also what Bible teachers and study leaders will find most attractive about them. Applying the ancient text to the modern listener isn’t always an easy thing to do. Under pressure to seem practical and relevant, preachers are often tempted to the sin of ‘false application’ by which the instructions they give are forced onto, rather than derived out of, the text. Finally, I found it heartening to see that the author was careful not to create the perception that by simply ‘following the manual’ the work of ministry is done. He reminds us that prayer and the work of the Spirit are integral to growth and change in people’s lives. For example, in commenting on the application of Romans 1.18-32, he says: ‘In preaching this passage we must pray for a deep conviction in ourselves and our hearers that each of us individually and inescapably is by nature under the righteous fury of God.... We want people to go away deeply convinced that there is absolutely no alternative way of escape’ (p.83). Such a reminder of our dependence on God, for true impact in the ministry of the word, is what gives me confidence in recommending this resource to others. Steve Ridgeway, © Evangelicals Now - April 2010 |