The King James Only Controversy

I honestly didn't pick this book up for a long time because up here in Seattle we just don't see that much importance placed on this position. We struggle for people to just take interest in any Bible, so to have a controversy over the KJO position is just not seen all that often up here.

The reason I decided to finally pick it up was because I wanted some better background of the translation process that our contemporary Bibles use and also the reasoning for all those annoying brackets around verses like Acts 8:37.

What I found was a wealth of knowledge of understanding in the translation process and also it taught me what I thought was already laughable and that is the thought that God has inspired and preserved an English translation of the original Greek and Hebrew.

Dr. White, like usual, handles this work in a very easy and readable format. He goes through the background of simply the translation process that happen (ed/s) with every translation, the manuscripts used and also their differences and the reasons why.

If you are not immersed into the difficulty, as I am not, it becomes quite repetitive in a lot of aspects as Dr. White goes through and breaks down MANY verses and compares different versions with each other, allowing the reader to better understand not only the differences but the reasons why the differences exist.

If you are in this controversy and having to fight against it, you will not find it to be repetitive but really an encyclopedia of knowledge and defense against the KJO position.

I really commend Dr. White for this work because he made it very interesting even to us who don't have to communicate with such a strange position. I believe he handles this very fairly and gives extensive footnotes to the reader for fuller explanation and directives if needed. I am sure that those who are in the movement will feel attacked but Dr. White continues to give praise for the KJV when needed but also points out its fallacies to just make the point that it is not the KJV that is infallible but the original words of our great and glorious God.

I would definitely recommend this book for any who are looking for a deeper explanation of how the Bible they hold in their hand was put together.

I highly recommend. Click here to purchase.

Pulpit Crimes

This book reminded me a lot of the style that was done in Steve Lawson's book, Made in Our Image. Meaning, James White hits a lot of topics without going into a lot of depth. Which is fine, because that was his intent, just don't think you are going to get a thorough look at each "Pulpit Crime" in this book.

James White hits topics such as expository preaching, worship music, seeker churches, pluralism, homosexuality, mishandling of the ordinances, women "pastors" and others. I really enjoyed White's discussion on those who water down the Gospel to being nothing more than "a" plan instead of "the" plan of salvation. He really makes sure the reader understands the danger of not preaching the absolute truth of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The one topic that he covered that I really enjoyed was his chapter on, "Felonious Eisegesis." It went through the dangers of not only the word faith movement, but also those traditions that are held so close to the vest by a lot of us in our denominations or doctrine. He did a great job of allowing the reader to understand that we all have "traditions" that can sometimes guide our exegesis of Scripture. When looking at a sub-heading called, "Tradition Trafficking," you would expect that to be a chapter about the Roman Catholic church, but the entire part of this chapter was devoted to our protestant traditions allowing our interpretation of Scripture. I found this very interesting and he used the story of him and Dave Hunt to show his arguments for his case.

The one thing that I did not like at first, but understood by the end, is that James White does not "name names." He does this so that the book doesn't become "dated" because of the names mentioned. We have seen this happen with MacArthur's "Charismatic Chaos" when in actuality the book is very much for today, but gets little mention because it is "dated because of those mentioned." I mentioned above, Dave Hunt, but James White does not name his name but I am very familiar with his discussions in the past so I was able to pick up the "unmentioned person" that Dr. White was talking about.

Again, very good book as a "fly-by" on a lot of topics. If you would like an in depth book on the exegesis of preaching itself, I would recommend Lawson's "Famine in the Land" instead. But, that was not this books intent and for that I can definitely recommend and probably will read again sometime in the future. Link to Buy

The Sovereign Grace of God

James White does a good job on these doctrines as usual but I would rather someone read The Potter's Freedom than this book, although it is a bit more gentle in its approach since it is not a rebuttal to another book like the Potter's Freedom was with Norman Geisler's book. White does a very good job to guide the reader to a presupposition of the total sovereignty of God by writing an entire chapter on it, calling it the 6 petal TULIP...making it STULIP...great thought since many don't really understand the call of the true and complete sovereignty of God.

The best part of this book is also the worst part of the book...James White doesn't do as much as I am accustomed in the original language breakdown. If this book were read before his other books, then one would pay no attention. But since I have read White's other books that DO emphasize breaking down the Greek and Hebrew, I was at first caught back by the lack of attention placed in this book. But, this also makes it an easier read for first timers.

Another strong point of emphasis was an appendix dedicated to Process Theology and then a dissertation on Isaiah 40-45 which was very good...and should he, James White, be compelled to write an entire text on Isaiah 40-48 that would be a great read as well...just a suggestion.

I would recommend the book to those who are not familiar to the Doctrines of Grace and who are also questioned by Process Theologians, but then move on to White's The Potter's Freedom for a good original language exegesis of some of these same points. Link to Buy

Debating Calvinism: Five Points, Two Views

This debate wasn't too fair. James White is far more superior in knowledge of Scripture and history than Dave Hunt.

Dave Hunt's eisegesis of scripture and drawing up of straw men leave the reader lacking in gaining any perspective of the Arminian camp (even though he states he isn't one, his theology speaks differently). I will also admit that most from the Arminian camp are calling "foul" because Hunt represents their theology and view of Calvinism so skewed.

James White on the other hand deals with Scripture how any Christian should, with complete authority. He exegetes Scripture and gives answers to common questions about Calvinism. If you would like to see more on the happenings of these two before the book was written you could be entertained for hours but I will link that here or here. (Scroll down until you see the interview with Dave Hunt regarding his publication against Calvinism in the Berean Call; it is #490)

The best part of this book is that you get direct answers to the claims that both Hunt and Geisler have brought out in their books against Calvinism, through a new unfounded method in America...the Bible...wow...who would think that you could find answers to these questions in the Bible?...kidding of course...but this book was well worth the read so that the CORRECT view of Calvinism could be shown in light of its' critics. If you have read "Chosen But Free" or "What Love is This" please read this book so you can get a full picture and answers to the Calvinism camp. Link to Buy

Drawn by the Father

This is actually a commentary on John 6:35-45 and is small, 63 pages, but these 63 pages are so full of exegetical content that it is hard to put down. White deviates from his other works where he will go into other arguments and point out different themes and arguments, where in this book he completely sticks to the commentary of the one great passage of John 6:35-45. There has been much discussion over this tiny passage of Scripture but in my mind Dr. White has slammed the door shut on discussion. I find absolutely no eisegesis in White's rendering of the text and he allows the text do what it should do: speak for itself. Like usual, White being very knowledgeable and fluent in Greek, allows those who are not, to completely glean from this very important text of Scripture.

Some try to say, "this text really means this" and then give no Scriptural proof of their argument, White does not fall into that trap. He masterfully guides the student and theologian alike through this text where we are finally shown the mystery of salvation by Christ Himself.

“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him..." John 6:44

Pick this book up and you will get to glean exactly what Christ meant when He spoke these mysteries to man. Link to Buy

Scripture Alone

Scripture Alone by James White is different than some other books you might read on the subject. He not only exegetes from the major texts on the subject: 2 Timothy 3:16,17; 2 Peter 1:20,21 he also uses some fictional and actual conversations that he has had with Catholics and Muslims on the subject. He not only defends the rule of only using Scripture alone for the word and works of God, but also speaks of the closed canon and answers some Islamic fallacies on the subject as well. He goes into detail also on how can we know for sure that we have the canon that God wants? Don't we need an infallible church to decided this for us, as the Catholic would contend? James White does a great job answering all these questions. As usual I enjoy how White does not escape argument apart from Scripture. He always takes you back to Scripture alone to defend Scripture alone, which is vital in our post-modern society. This is another great book by James White and one that is not just a reprint of old thoughts on these issues but in actuality a different defense and thought provoking discussion. Link to buy

The Forgotten Trinity

I picked up this book and figured it would do exactly what I wanted, biblical exposition for the One Being of God and the defense of the three Divine Persons...I was exactly right. James White does a great job defending the obvious, the deity of Christ, which is just an extension of what Athanasius had to fight for against the Arians as we today have to against the Muslims and Jehovah's Witnesses. For the first half of the book White gives, in my mind, a complete defense of Christ being God. He then moves on to what I found very interesting and thought provoking and that is the defense of the Holy Spirit being divine. I didn't need persuading, but was very much enriched by this one volume text on the subject by one of my favorites. This book is one that you will find as a very easy read and one that you will also not be able to put down if you have ever had to defend the Deity of our Lord.

I agree with White that most of us cannot defend the Trinity or much less define the Deity biblically. If you fall in this category please don't hesitate and grab this defense of our great and glorious God. Link to Buy

The Potter's Freedom

I must put this book at the top of the list as one of the most thought provoking and honest books on the Doctrines of Grace that I have ever read. It was designed to be a rebuttal to Norman Geisler's Chosen But Free, but ended up being not only a great rebuttal but also a great defense of historic Calvinism. It is very readable where needed but also very skillfully exegeting where needed as well. James White has become one of my favorite authors because of his skills of being able to speak to those who don't know Greek fluently but able to still make his point through the Greek text. I have read some who know the Greek but cannot explain it very well and I have also read those who can write very well but do not know the Greek. White treads down both these paths: very well written and fluent in the Greek.

White in this book gently, yet forcefully, directs the reader down Geisler's wrong assumptions or just plain wrong arguments against Calvinism but doesn't seem to "hold it against Geisler" yet corrects where there needs correction and explains further the Calvinist stance on the "five points."

If you are one that needs better description on the Doctrines of Grace, please pick this book up. It will enlighten the stance taken by the Calvinist; which is God is completely sovereign all the time. Link to buy book