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Ecclesiastes, Peter Enns (Eerdmans)
Enns has proven to be a provocative and thoughtful theologian, particularly from within Evangelical circles. In this new commentary on Ecclesiastes, Enns seeks to pay careful attention both to the exegetical arguments of the text and to the broader theological issues that arise from other text and from the larger scriptural narrative. Ecclesiastes can be a tricky book, and for those diving into its pages, Enns will be a helpful conversation partner.
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The Bible Made Impossible, Christian Smith (Brazos Press)
Christian Smith, a leading contemporary Christian sociologist, argues that many Evangelical understandings of the nature of Scripture carry philosophical freight that makes these theories unintelligible and (according to Smith) unbiblical. Smith argues that understanding Scripture as a “here is who” book rather than a “how to” book is an essential recalibration in order to recapture a biblical way of reading the Bible. Not all will agree with Smith’s proposal, but all should consider the problems he raises.
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The Avett Brothers: Four Thieves Gone—The Robbinsville Sessions (Ramseur Records)
Recently, a friend said, “I’ve just listened to my first song from the Avett Brothers. What just happened to me?” I know exactly how he feels. The Avett Brothers, a folk/country/rock band from North Carolina, sing with a raw energy and lyrical honesty I find wildly compelling. This new album provides the Avett Brothers doing what they do: make your heart hum and your feet stomp.
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Winn Collier is pastor of All Souls, a congregation with Baptist ties in Charlottesville, Va. (www.winncollier.com)