D.A. Carson “Love of God” Collection (3 vols.)

by D. A. Carson

Publisher:

Crossway

, 1998–2000

Overview

This 900-page collection brings together three excellent books by noted evangelical scholar Donald A. (D.A.) Carson. As the title suggests, The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God looks at God's love from a biblical perspective and really digs into this vitally important doctrine. Carson offers valuable insight on a topic that is often distorted by today's media and popular culture.

Volumes 1 and 2 of For the Love of God each offer systematic 365-day plans that take readers through the New Testament and Psalms twice and the rest of the Old Testament once using the M'Cheyne Bible-reading schedule. Carson takes the exciting task of reading the entire Bible in a year to the next level with his edifying comments and reflections for each day's scriptural passage and his ability to place each reading into a larger framework of history and God's eternal plan. Each volume of For the Love of God provides a full year (365 days) of thoughtful and insightful devotions, making this collection an excellent value.

Key Features

• Blends theology and devotion in a single collection
• Illustrates the practical and spiritual relevance of solid Biblical theology
• Balances teaching and spiritual living

Product Details

• Title: D.A. Carson “Love of God” Collection (3 vols.)
• Author: D.A. Carson
• Publisher: Crossway
• Volumes: 3
• Pages: 912
• Christian Group: Evangelicals
• Resource Type: Monographs and Devotionals
• Topic: Theology

The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God

• Author: D.A. Carson
• Publisher: Crossway Books
• Publication Date: 1999
• Pages: 96

Table of Contents | Sample pages: 1 | 2 | 3

D.A. Carson presents a serious treatment of the doctrine of the love of God and an honest, biblically sound handling of its difficulties and problematic passages. He critiques sentimental ideas such as "God hates the sin, but loves the sinner" and provides interesting perspective on how God loves us. This discussion is blended with consideration of God's sovereignty and His wrath, both of which are important elements of His love, and does away with trivialities and cliches to get to the heart of the matter.

At first thought, understanding the doctrine of the love of God seems simple compared to trying to fathom other doctrines like that of the Trinity or predestination. Especially since the overwhelming majority of those who believe in God view Him as a loving being.

That is precisely what makes this doctrine so difficult. The only aspect of God's character the world still believes in is His love. His holiness, His sovereignty, His wrath are often rejected as being incompatible with a "loving" God. Because pop culture has so distorted and secularized God's love, many Christians have lost a biblical understanding of it and, in turn, lost a vital means to knowing who God is.

The Difficult Doctrine of the Love of God seeks to restore what we have lost. In this treatment of many of the Bible's passages regarding divine love, noted evangelical scholar D.A. Carson not only critiques sentimental ideas such as "God hates the sin but loves the sinner," but provides a compelling perspective on the nature of God and why He loves as He does. Carson blends his discourse with discussion of how God's sovereignty and holiness complete the biblical picture of who He is and how He loves.

In doing away with trivialities and cliches, this work gets to the heart of this all-important doctrine from an unflinching evangelical perspective. Yet it does so without losing its personal emphasis: for in understanding more of the comprehensive nature of God's love as declared in His Word, you will come to understand God and His unending love for you more completely.

For the Love of God, Volume 1

• Author: D.A. Carson
• Publisher: Crossway Books
• Publication Date: 1998
• Pages: 400

Table of contents | Sample pages: 1 | 2 | 3

This daily devotional with a complete Bible-reading plan will reveal the riches and unity of all of Scripture as readers make their way through God's Word in the course of a year.

In a world that views absolute truth, right and wrong, and divine judgment as being either outdated or subject to each person's definition, the Bible's absolute statements, direct warnings, and fantastic stories seem more out of touch with each passing year. But it is not God's Word that has changed; indeed, its relevancy and its power to transform lives are still intact. What has changed is the number of people who consult it. Even the impact of His holy Word is dulled if we neglect to open our Bibles and seek Him there.

Now more than ever, the need to read the Bible, to understand the big picture of its storyline, and to grasp the relevance this has for your life is critical.

Within these pages is a systematic 365-day plan, based on the M'Cheyne Bible-reading schedule, that will in the course of a year guide you through the New Testament and Psalms twice, and the rest of the Old Testament once. In an effort to help preserve biblical thinking and living, D.A. Carson has written edifying comments and reflections regarding each day's scriptural passages. And, most uniquely, he offers perspective that places each reading into the larger framework of history and God's eternal plan--to deepen your understanding of the unity and power of His Word.

For the Love of God, Volume 2

• Author: D.A. Carson
• Publisher: Crossway Books
• Publication Date: 1999
• Pages: 416

Table of contents | Sample pages: 1 | 2 | 3

As our culture drifts from its Judeo-Christian roots, the need to understand the Bible as a whole text--the complete and inspired history of redemption, as well as the revelation of God and His character--is critical. This 365-day devotional, with a complete Bible-reading plan, is for those who recognize this need. It will open the Bible to those who desire to understand Scripture in its context, to know the God of the Bible, and to realize how He works in the lives of real people.

In a world that views absolute truth, right and wrong, and salvation as being subject to individual interpretation, the Bible's unwavering proclamations and miraculous stories seem obsolete in modern times. But it is not God's Word that has changed. Indeed, its relevancy and its power to transform lives are intact. What has changed is the number of people who consult it. Now more than ever the need to read the Bible, to understand the big picture of its storyline, and to grasp the relevance this has for your life, is critical.

As with its companion volume, For the Love of God, this devotional contains a systematic 365-day plan, based on the M'Cheyne Bible-reading schedule, that will in the course of a year guide you through the New Testament and Psalms twice, and the rest of the Old Testament once. In so doing, D.A. Carson completes the work he began in the first book.

In an effort to help preserve biblical thinking and living, he has also written though-provoking comments and reflections regarding each day's scriptural passages. And, most uniquely, he offers perspective that places each reading into the larger framework of history and God's eternal plan to deepen your understanding of His sovereignty--and the unity and power of His Word.

About D. A. Carson

D.A. Carson (b. 1946) is one of the most respected New Testament scholars in the world. A respected teacher, author, and speaker, he is currently research professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and the president of The Gospel Coalition. He has served as pastor of Richmond Baptist Church and as the first dean of the seminary of Northwest Baptist Theological College, now known as Northwest Baptist Seminary. Logos has collected his sermons—including audio—in the D.A. Carson Sermon Archive.

Carson lectures in academic and church settings around the world, and is the author of more than 50 books, including Exegetical Fallacies, Pillar New Testament Commentary: The Gospel According to John, The Gagging of God, Showing the Spirit: A Theological Exposition of 1 Corinthians 12–14 and the Intolerance of Tolerance. He is the editor of the Pillar New Testament Commentary series, and coedited of the Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament with G.K. Beale, and the Studies in New Testament Greek series with Stanley Porter. You can find more of Carson’s work in the Baker D.A. Carson Collection (15 vols.).