Crossway Academic Studies Collection (6 vols.)

by John A. Bloom; Leland Ryken; Nathan Finn; Stanton L. Jones; Vern S. Poythress

Publisher:

Crossway

, 2014–2016

Overview

Viewing the world through a Christian worldview is essential to understand the purpose and meaning that God has placed within natural creation and human culture. These helpful guides give readers access to experts on the disciplines of mathematics, philosophy, the natural sciences, history and literature. Evidences for the Christian God’s existence and implications of His working are deftly discussed.

Key Features

• Provides guidance for living and thinking as a Christian in the world
• Supports missional living in secular settings
• Gives students a cross-discipline view of how human knowledge points to God

Product Details

• Title: Crossway Academic Studies Collection
• Publisher: Crossway
• Volumes: 6
• Pages: 1,008
• Resource Type: Monographs
• Topic: Biblical Studies

A Christian Guide to the Classics

• Author: Leland Ryken
• Series: Christian Guides to the Classics
• Publisher: Crossway
• Publication Date: 2015
• Pages: 112

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

All have heard about the great literary classics and many have even read them on their own. But for those of us who remain a bit intimidated or simply want to get more out of our reading, this companion to Crossway’s Christian Guides to the Classics series is here to help.

In this brief guidebook, popular professor, author, and literary expert Leland Ryken explains what the classics are, how to read them, and why they’re still valuable. Written to help you become a seasoned reader and featuring a list of books to get you started, this guide will give you the tools you need to read and enjoy some of history’s greatest literature.

Ryken is a warm and welcoming guide to the classics of Western literature. The books in this series distill complex works into engaging and relevant commentaries, and help twenty-first-century readers understand what the classics are, how to read them, and why they continue to matter.

—Andrew Logemann, chair, department of English, Gordon College

Students, teachers, homeschoolers, general readers, and even seasoned literature professors like me will find these Christian guides to classic works of literature invaluable. They demonstrate just what is so great about these ‘great books’ and illuminate their meanings in light of Christian truth. Reading these books along with the masterpieces they accompany is a literary education in itself, and there can be few better tutors and reading companions than Leland Ryken, a master Christian scholar and teacher.

—Gene Edward Veith Jr., provost and professor of literature, Patrick Henry College; director, Cranach Institute, Concordia Theological Seminary

The Classics are peaks I’ve always wanted to climb, but never had the chutzpah to tackle. I often find myself, as a result, admiring these beauties from afar, wondering if I’ll ever dare an ascent and one day enjoy their views. That’s why I’m delighted to see the release of Crossway’s Christian Guides to the Classics. Now, I’ve got a boost to my confidence, a feasible course in front of me, and a world-class guide to assist along the way. In fact, Dr. Leland Ryken could scale these peaks in his sleep, having, for decades now, guided hundreds of students to a greater appreciation for the Classics. Lee combines scholarly acumen and Christian faith with uncluttered thinking and crystal-clear style in a way that virtually guarantees no one will get tangled-up in woods or wander off trail. The Classics are now within reach! I couldn’t be more enthusiastic about this series!

—Todd Wilson, senior pastor, Calvary Memorial Church, Oak Park, IL; author, Real Christian and The Pastor Theologian

Leland Ryken (PhD, University of Oregon) served as professor of English at Wheaton College for nearly 50 years. He has authored or edited over fifty books, including The Word of God in English and A Complete Handbook of Literary Forms in the Bible. He is a frequent speaker at the Evangelical Theological Society’s annual meetings and served as literary stylist for the English Standard Version Bible.

History: A Student’s Guide

• Author: Nathan A. Finn
• Series Editor: David S. Dockery
• Series: Reclaiming the Christian Intellectual Tradition
• Publisher: Crossway
• Publication Date: 2016
• Pages: 112

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

Knowledge of the past is integral to understanding the present and looking forward to the future. An appreciation of what came before is indeed foundational to nearly every other field of study.

This guide by professor Nathan A. Finn explores the nature of history and historical context, compares different schools of historical interpretation, and addresses contemporary issues related to the intersection of faith and history. This volume will help students critically engage with history in the light of God’s providential care over the past, the present, and the future.

I heartily recommend Nathan Finn’s brisk and thoughtful History: A Student’s Guide. I do not know of a better introduction to historical studies, or a more cogent assessment of how Christians should think about history.

—Thomas S. Kidd, distinguished professor of history, Baylor University; author, The Great Awakening: The Roots of Evangelical Christianity in Colonial America

Nathan Finn’s adept introduction to the art and discipline of history and historical scholarship will provide many students, especially those with explicit faith commitments, with the resources needed to participate in the ongoing conversations of the guild.

—Richard A. Bailey, associate professor of history, Canisius College; author, Race and Redemption in Puritan New England

This mature, thorough, and insightful Christian treatment of history and the historian’s craft will prove to be an indispensable tool for students. In this concise and engaging book, Nathan Finn employs characteristic wit and wisdom as he guides his readers through the essentials of understanding the ‘foreign country’ of the past. Here’s a book every aspiring historian must read.

—John D. Wilsey, assistant professor of history and Christian apologetics, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary; author, American Exceptionalism and Civil Religion

Nathan A. Finn (PhD, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary) is the dean of the School of Theology and Missions and professor of theological studies at Union University. Nathan lives in Jackson, Tennessee, with his wife, Leah, and their four children.

Psychology: A Student’s Guide

• Author: Stanton L. Jones
• Series Editor: David S. Dockery
• Series: Reclaiming the Christian Intellectual Tradition
• Publisher: Crossway
• Publication Date: 2014
• Pages: 144

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

In this accessible student’s guide, an experienced professor examines the study of psychology from a distinctly Christian perspective, introducing readers to key issues such as the origins of morality, nature vs. nurture, the relationship between the mind and the brain, and the concept of personal identity.

Whether examining the history of psychological reflection, the legacy of the Enlightenment and Darwinism, or the development of modernist psychology, this volume will help students think carefully about the influential ideas that continue to shape discussions about what it means to be human.

An insightful account of contemporary psychology and its relation to the Christian faith. Jones helps readers understand where psychology is today and how it got there. He shows how Christians can learn from and contribute to psychology while preserving a critical perspective rooted in biblical faith. A wise and helpful book.

—C. Stephen Evans, professor of philosophy and humanities, Baylor University; author, God and Moral Obligation

This insightful, incisive critique of contemporary psychology is only possible because Dr. Jones is so deeply knowledgeable about both Christianity and psychology. As always, his writing is clear, direct, and thought provoking. Reading this book is like taking a guided tour of contemporary issues in psychology, led by one of the finest Christian thinkers of our time.

—Mark R. McMinn, professor of psychology, George Fox University; author, Psychology, Theology, and Spirituality in Christian Counseling

Stanton Jones has written a concise yet substantial Christian perspective and critique of the field of psychology, focusing on the key areas of neuroscience, behavior genetics, positive psychology, and the psychology of religion. I highly recommend this very helpful book as essential reading for beginning students in psychology.

—Siang-Yang Tan, professor of psychology, Fuller Theological Seminary; author, Counseling and Psychotherapy: A Christian Perspective

Stanton L. Jones is provost and professor of psychology at Wheaton College. He has written numerous books and articles on the interface of the science and profession of psychology with Christianity, including Psychology: A Student’s Guide and a prominent article in the journal American Psychologist.

Redeeming Mathematics: A God-Centered Approach

• Author: Vern S. Poythress
• Publisher: Crossway
• Publication Date: 2015
• Pages: 208

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

What does God have to do with mathematics? Everything.

In this book, Vern Poythress argues that the harmony of abstract mathematical truths, the physical world of things, and the personal world of our thinking depends on the existence of the Christian God. Poythress shows that these distinct “perspectives” on mathematics cohere because all three find their origin in God’s consistent character and nature.

Whether it’s simple addition and subtraction or more complex mathematical concepts such as set theory and the nature of infinity, this fascinating book lays a theistic foundation for all mathematical inquiry.

Redeeming Mathematics is a valuable addition the growing literature on the relationship between mathematics and Christian belief. Poythress’s treatment of three distinct dimensions of mathematics—as transcendent abstract truths, as part of the physical world, and as comprehensible to human beings—is a unique and helpful addition to the conversation on this relationship. The book is accessible to non-specialists, but even those who are well-versed in these matters will find much to interest and challenge them.

—James Bradley, professor emeritus of mathematics, Calvin College; author, Mathematics Through the Eyes of Faith; editor, Journal of the Association of Christians in the Mathematical Sciences

Vern S. Poythress (PhD, Harvard University; ThD, University of Stellenbosch) is professor of New Testament interpretation at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he has taught for nearly four decades. In addition to earning six academic degrees, he is the author of numerous books and articles on biblical interpretation, language, and science.

Redeeming Philosophy: A God-Centered Approach to the Big Questions

• Author: Vern S. Poythress
• Publisher: Crossway
• Publication Date: 2014
• Pages: 304

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

Life is full of big questions, like: “Who am I? Why am I here? Where do I find meaning?”

The study of philosophy seeks to answer such questions. In his latest book, prolific author Vern Poythress investigates the foundations and limitations of Western philosophy, sketching a distinctly Christian approach to answering basic questions about the nature of humanity, the existence of God, the search for meaning, and the basis for morality.

For Christians eager to engage with the timeless philosophical issues that have perplexed men and women for millennia, this is the place to begin.

In the author’s characteristically judicious and winsome fashion, this volume makes a timely and welcome contribution to the age-old debate on the relationship between Christian theology and philosophy. In doing so it provides a resolute and compelling case that the basic questions philosophy asks find their fundamental answers only in the Bible, God’s written Word. In the midst of so much current confused thinking on these matters, I commend Redeeming Philosophy to all concerned with ‘taking every thought captive to obey Christ.’

—Richard B. Gaffin Jr., professor of biblical and systematic theology, emeritus, Westminster Theological Seminary

Poythress has again gotten it right. This book contains a great deal of fresh thinking and careful Christian philosophical work. This is Poythress’s clearest integration between linguistics, philosophy, and exegesis. Surely this book contains the most incisive analyses of apples and bookmarks that you will ever find. The point, of course, is that everything in God’s world reflects the richness of the triune God.

—John M. Frame, professor of systematic theology and philosophy emeritus, Reformed Theological Seminary, Orlando

Matters of philosophy are often complex and laden with challenging issues. Christians wonder whether they should avoid philosophy altogether and simply stick with the Bible or if there is something that can be gained from philosophical study. Employing the theological methodology of John Frame, Dr. Poythress has written a useful introductory exploration of the relationship between philosophy and the teachings of Scripture.

—J.V. Fesko, academic dean and professor of systematic and historical theology, Westminster Seminary California

Vern S. Poythress (PhD, Harvard University; ThD, University of Stellenbosch) is professor of New Testament interpretation at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he has taught for nearly four decades. In addition to earning six academic degrees, he is the author of numerous books and articles on biblical interpretation, language, and science.

The Natural Sciences: A Student’s Guide

• Author: John A. Bloom
• Series Editor: David S. Dockery
• Series: Reclaiming the Christian Intellectual Tradition
• Publisher: Crossway
• Publication Date: 2015
• Pages: 128

Sample Pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7

In this accessible guide for students, a well-regarded science professor introduces readers to the natural sciences from a distinctly Christian perspective.

Starting with the classical view of God as the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, this book lays the biblical foundation for the study of the natural world and explores the history of scientific reflection since Aristotle. Bloom argues that the Christian worldview provides the best grounds for scientific investigation, offering readers the framework they need to think and speak clearly about the pursuit of scientific knowledge.

Bloom has written an excellent overview of the main philosophical issues facing Christians working in the natural sciences. He shows that not only is there no conflict between science and belief in God, but there are now many scientific discoveries that support such belief. A clear, concise, and highly readable treatment. I highly recommend it, especially for college students.

—Stephen C. Meyer, director, Center for Science and Culture, Discovery Institute; New York Times best-selling author, Darwin’s Doubt

With PhDs in ancient Near Eastern studies and physics, John Bloom is one of the top thinkers today on the relationship between science and Christianity. Written with a clarity of style and level of approach that a freshman in college would have no trouble reading, Bloom traces the relationship between Christianity and science through history up to the present. This enables him to put his finger on the erroneous tension points between the two, debunk these alleged tension points, and chart a way forward. Though a small book, it is packed with important ideas and information. It is must reading for any college course in science and Christianity.

—J.P. Moreland, distinguished professor of philosophy, Biola University; author, The Soul: How We Know It’s Real and Why It Matters

With doctorates in physics and theology, John Bloom presents a biblically sound understanding of science as it relates to Christian faith, offering many intriguing historical insights along the way.

—William A. Dembski, senior fellow, Center for Science and Culture, Discovery Institute; author, Being as Communion

John A. Bloom (PhD, Cornell University; PhD, Annenberg Research Institute) is a professor of physics and chair of the chemistry, physics, and engineering department at Biola University. He is the founder and academic director of Biola’s master’s degree program in science and religion. He is the author of a number of published articles and the book The Natural Sciences: A Student’s Guide.