Generally Boice is a very helpful writer, and I thought his book "Standing on the Rock" is an excellent defence of Biblical inerrancy.

[...] he's disappointing on a literal Genesis, [...] I think it's serious enough to deduct two stars. NOT because it's wrong (although it is), but because of his REASONS for rejecting a straightforward exegesis.

On Vol. 1 p. 57-62, he writes:

'We have to admit here [concerning those who take the six days of Creation as literal days] that the exegetical basis [the arguments from the words of Scripture] of the creationists is strong. ... In spite of the careful biblical and scientific research that has accumulated in support of the creationists' view, there are problems that make the theory wrong to most (including many evangelical) scientists. ... Data from various disciplines point to a very old earth and even older universe.'

I.e. unlike everywhere else in the Bible, where he insists on the primacy of Scripture, here he is admitting that he is, in effect, adopting the primacy of 'science' (really the uniformitarian *interpretation* of data) and reinterpreting Scripture to fit.

This exogesis of the first 11 chapters of Genisis is compiled, evidently from sermons preached by the late Dr. Boyce. It is easy reading and was of great assistance in developement of applications for an adult Bible Study. His view of the litteral 6 day creation was disapointing, however, (he disagrees with that viewpoint). But it did not distract from the essence of his writing and I found the book very usefull as a teaching aid.

The book is divided into daily devotions for each day of the four weeks of Advent. Each day has a passage from the Bible already included. The devotions for Sunday inculde songs, prayers, a family activity, a passage from the Bible, and a short story written by one of the contributing authors. We have used the book in our family for a few years. It helps to bring the true meaning of Christmas alive for children. I would recommend the book especially for families with children who are 5 years of age and older.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this work! Though I read it in it's previous edition under the title "Two Cities, Two Loves," Boice handles the idea of Christians in culture very well, and with a good exegesis. I wish all Christians would take what Boice has to say seriously, and consider the implications!

Dr. Boice's "Two Cities, Two Loves" intuitively hilights how Christians can influence the society in which they live by recognizing and lovingly addressing the candid realities of the society in which they live. Dr. Boice uncovers compelling evidence which reveals many shortcomings of the church at large and discusses relevant Scriptural truths which are necessary for every person who calls themselves "Christian" to embrace. He binds everything together with applicable exhortations to "pick up the torch" of genuine Christian living in a secular society. The point? To make America, town by town, a better place to live through living virtously, drawing people to inquire about the God we serve.

There are good discussions that will stimulate meditational reflection but there isn't the indept exposure that I expected. Analyse the word, give us a picture of the environment then and dig deep into the word. There is a lot of Boice opinion and a feel too much social discourse. I discovered later that the book is a collection of radio sermons, that explains it.

Do not misunderstand me, Boice's work is good, but it isn't exactly what I was looking for. It didn't cause me to raise my eyebrow cos of some academic or historical or language insight.

This isn't a bad book, but there is another booklet in the Today's Issues series which I believe covers this topic better. Ryken explains on the basis of scripture why Christians should not accept the validity of other religions. He doesn't do a bad job, but I prefer the approach the Rod Rosenbladt takes in "Christ Alone." In that booklet, Rosenbladt presents a more theological answer to this question.

If you want to explain to non-Christian why you can't accept other paths to God then Ryken's book may be for you. If on the other hand you are a Christian and want to see for yourself why Jesus provides all then the Rosenbladt book is better.

If you ask a child why they have blonde hair, they might respond with a simple 'because'. To the child this may be a perfectly reasonable response.

Such are the attempts of the good Dr. Boice in this book. The questions that are raised are answered with a childish depth and tend to raise more questions than they answer.

This is by no means a comprehensive work. The questions that Dr. Boice claims are the most common questions about the bible I have never heard of before.

In all, I believe that a total of seven questions are covered in this book. One of which is dismissed as being covered in a paper by another author (who has written the forward to this book), and being to lengthy to bother with in this book.

Very disappointing.