Andrew David Naselli. The Serpent and the Serpent Slayer. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, November 3, 2020. 160 pp.
5 out of 5
Purchase: Westminster | Amazon
Looking for a book that will make you be enchanted with the beauty of the Bible? This book might do it for you! The author Andrew David Naselli is a professor of the New Testament at Bethlehem College & Seminary and he did a masterful job of showing how the Bible has the theme of a hero that fights a monster/dragon in a great epic that results in the rescue and deliverance of many people. This isn’t just a minor theme; rather it is a subject that spans the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation. I believe this book makes a unique contribution in biblical theology and as the book progresses I am convinced that Nasellis is right of how serpent slaying stories found in many legends around the world echoes the greatest story ever told in the Greatest book of all namely the Bible. It was not only educational but also a fun read!
The book begins with an introduction titled “Why we love Dragon Slaying Stories.” I love the introduction in which the author note that people love dragon stories and he surveys six of the most popular dragon slaying stories in English literature. Naselli really got my interests peaked! This is followed by four chapters, a conclusion and an appendix. Early in the book the author encourages readers to read the appendix which covers how often does the Bible explicitly mention serpents; I love here the word studies and statistics. With this as background information chapter one looks at twelve things that Genesis 3 teaches us about the deceitful snake in Genesis 3. Chapter 2 and 3 is titled “Snakes and Dragons Between the Bible’s Bookends” with chapter 2 being labeled part 1 and chapter three labeled part 2. Chapter two looks at how the Bible portray the serpent both negative and positive. Chapter three looks at how Satan energizes his “offsprings” to war against God and His people. Six categories of other serpent’s offsprings are examined: Egypt, wicked Canaan and Moab, king of Babylon, Herod then Pharisees and Sadducees and other false teachers. I thought this was the best part of the book and the chapter that I learned a lot of things I never thought of before. Chapter four looks at thirteen truths that Revelation teaches about the “dragon.” The conclusion of the book focuses on applications that are drawn from the four chapters in the book.
I learned a lot from this book. For example the author did a good job of pointing out the method of operation of how Satan works: Satan as the Serpent first deceives then devours. I also thought the book does a good job to show that many of the Old Testament narratives where villains get their head crushed echoes the themes of Genesis 3:15.
If I’m correct this is the ninth book I read from the “Short Studies in Biblical Theology” series published by Crossway and this would rank as among my favorites in this series. I highly recommend this book.
NOTE: This book was provided to me free by Crossway and Net Galley without any obligation for a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.
Wow! That certainly is a new Biblical theme to me Jim. Thank you for sharing this brother.
Thanks for reading this!! Scripture seems to have so much gold, it never gets old since there’s always new things to learn from God’s Word! I am sure as a seasoned saint you have seen the same thing with the Scriptures! Seems the more books I read the more the Bible stands out as unique and amazing!
Thanks brother. This one is going on my (ever expanding) reading list.
Blessings.
Very intriguing review brother! I usually don’t like sci-fi or fantasy stories that claim Biblical meaning – most often they take too much liberty.
But this one seems sound, with actual truths to glean.
Will put on my reading list as well!
Thanks for reading this review! I thought it was a well done biblical theology of the theme of how the Bible use the theme of Levithan, serpent, etc to refer to Satan and those who serve him in rebellion against God. Quite a refreshing read. How is the weather these days in the East Coast???
Weather here is a favorite…breezy, sunny, and c o o l ! 😎
I hope all is well with you Pastor!
Thanks. I have gone and will always go with the Serpent Slayer.
That sounds wise; May more people come to the same conclusion! Amen!!! How is your Monday going so far?
Thank you for the recommendation!
You are welcome! Hope you are having a blessed Monday!!
This sounds amazing! Thanks for this review!
Thanks for reading this review! How are you today? Were you tired with church nearly all day yesterday??
To be honest, we had church all weekend! We have been invited to be a part of a discipleship cohort at our church that will meet once a month for nine months to help disciple/train new leaders. My contribution is that no one can be an effective leader unless they are first following Christ. It is one thing to believe in Christ, it is another to follow and submit to Him. Only as we submit to Christ and follow Him will we be able to lead us because we lead with His mind, heart and strength and not our own. Wow, didn’t intend to share that feel free to delete this if it is not beneficial to your audience! I know you taught on leadership last year!!
How is your day off?! Have y’all seen the latest TCAC baby 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍
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I want this now; great review!
“I also thought the book does a good job to show that many of the Old Testament narratives where villains get their head crushed echoes the themes of Genesis 3:15”
That’s what I noticed after reading through Judges this year, in chapter 4 when Sisera (the “seed of the serpent” in this story) has his head crushed by a tent peg (which, interestingly refers to the Messiah in Is. 22:23 and Zech. 10:4). Judges 5 then seems to work off the imagery of Genesis 3:15 when it says,
“She struck Sisera; she crushed his head; she shattered and pierced his temple. Between her geet, he sank, he fell, he lay still; between her feet”. Should evoke the imagery of the serpent’s head being crushed underneath the Messiah’s heel. Just goes to show the divine inspiration of the Scriptures in the unity of its story.
Wow awesome the book does mention the example of Sisera!!! Good eye you got with Scripture with being conscious of Biblical Theology!!! Have you read any of the books in this Crossway series??
Thank u! God’s Word is truly amazing. No, I actually don’t, but I just looked it up and there’s a lot there that I’d want to get! I was actually looking at perhaps getting the Beale one about “Redemptive Reversals”, which sounds pretty interesting a few months ago, but I haven’t actually looked at the others in the series until now. Thanks for bringing this to my attention though, there’s a lot in this series I want now!
Jimmy,
Enjoyed this review. The book sounds fascinating.
Hope you’re having a blessed day.
pax,
dora
Thanks! About to walk in a garden with my wife and kids and it’s cloudy today unlike last week when it felt like summer. Feels a little like Fall here in La with 70 F! But I bet it’s more cooler where you are at!
It’s cooler but no fronts moving through and the sun is warm! Enjoy the garden walk! 😀
Sounds interesting. Thanks for the enthusiastic review! I was brought up on the Catholic myth of St. George and the dragon.
Did Saint George in the legend ever did anything remotely spiritual Other than kill a dragon? Lol. How did your day turn out today on Monday??
Wikipedia says he was a Roman soldier who was martyred in the early-300s. So much myth attached to people of those times.
I caught a chill and “the runs” about an hour before leaving work yesterday and it continues. Spent all day on the couch.
How’s your rest day going?
I love his book on How to Understand and Apply the New Testament
I need to finish that book! I stop on the chapter on arc and outlining. Did you read the book as a hard copy or electronic copy?
Electronic copy only brother. I wish I have a hard copy. It’s really hard to find one here in the Philippines and the shipping is too costly through Amazon. I benefit a lot using “phrasing” in my study of the Scriptures for preaching and teaching.
Sounds like an excellent read SlimJim. Thank you so much for sharing this review and this post!
Something different. Thank you for the fascinating review.
Thanks for reading this! It is a bit different thought I read this in between reading some apologetics books! Hope in these times you are able to read edifying books!!
Currently I am reading “We will not be silenced” authored by Erwin W Lutzer.
Excellent so far. Very much for these days we are living in.
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Thank you. Good one.
Thank you so much for reading this review; whenever there’s a book you want me to buy for you that I review, I’ll order it on Amazon Maw Maw!
Thank you, Sweetie.
Good review! Really intrigue me now.