Vern Poythress. Redeeming Our Thinking about History: A God-Centered Approach. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, March 15, 2022. 256 pp.
4 out of 5
Purchase: Amazon
How should Christians think about the study of history? In this book author Vern Poythress explores the biblical worldview as the foundation for history. Poythress has written on a biblical worldview for other areas of academic discipline such as philosophy, science, sociology and linguistics. Similar to his other works in this book Poythress draws out implications from the contents of Scripture to discuss about the method of history. Arguing in the way of Cornelius Van Til’s Presuppositional Apologetics, Poythress also advocate that only the Triune Christian worldview can give an account of history in a way that makes it intelligible and meaningful.
The book has twenty six chapters grouped into five parts. The first chapter is on the importance of history and then followed by part one which consists of eight chapters and is titled “What We Need in Order to Analyze History: Essential Resources That God Supplies.” Part two is titled “History in the Bible: How the Bible Goes about Writing History” consisting of three chapters. Chapter twelve through eighteen is grouped under part three, “Understanding God’s Purposes in History: Divine Purposes—and Our Limitations—in the Study of History.” The next three chapters is under part four which is on “What Does History Writing Look Like? Examples of Challenges in Writing about Particular Periods.” The final five chapters make up part 5, “Alternative Versions of How to Think about History: Competing Ways of Doing History among Christians.”
There are other books out there on a Christian view of historiography. This one emphasize more the biblical content to inform the activity of doing history. That’s one of the thing I really like about Poythress. In addition Poythress bring to bear his Perspectivalism with the discussion about history. Poythress notes there are three dimensions with historical study: events, people and meaning. These “perspectives” (I prefer to call them dimensions) are inter-related and can’t be separated. They also correspond to John Frame’s discussion about perspectivalism with the normative, situational and existential. Specifically events correspond to the situational, people with the existential and meaning with normative.
The most helpful discussion in the book is the topic of the various ways Christians have chosen to pursue the study of history. In particular Poythress defends Providentialism that actively and openly refer to God with the meaning of events. This might not be popular today; in fact Poythress interact with others who disagree with his view. Even in the last few years there are books published on Christian and history such as John Fea’s Why Study History which is critical and suspicious about openly talking about God’s providence in serious historical discussion. The last part of the book’s discussion about various historiography were critical, thoughtful and biblical. I also love how Poythress lands with his conclusion of how the various historiography aren’t necessarily in opposition with one another but can be seen as complementary “perspectives” of how to do history.
I recommend this book, it isn’t necessarily very controversial for those rooted in a biblical worldview and he did a good job bringing Scripture and reason to bear.
Thanks for the great insight. Sounds like a solid read.
Shalom!
I recall that Poythress writes clearly. There is a site with many of his ebooks available for free download for those who want to try him out although I can’t remember it at the moment.
Glad you know about the site! It’s Frame-Poythress.org! So grateful for those free books
Praise God!
Praise God indeed! Hope you are doing well
Yes, brother. Continue to pray for us. We are praying that the LORD may grant deacons to our church.
The only thing that doesn’t change is our God. From what I have been reading we may all be in for a big surprise. Almost every thing we have been told is a lie and our God is in the process of revealing it all.
Amen only God doesn’t change; and I imagine you are grateful for that truth! I am too!
I can’t wait for heaven to read His History of what really happened down here
Thanks for this review! It sounds interesting, but over my T-101 head. Christians certainly do (or should) view history through a Biblical/Christian lens. The early church’s alliance with Roman imperialism, the rise of Catholic Europe, the Reformation, and the secularization of society are all great historical sweeps that have their true context in God’s plan and the Bible.
Amen to what you said! Also in light of God’s sovereignty I think we can judge those era of history with God’s Word and evaluate it morally, given God’s Law does not change. Since we were talking about banjo, let me know any other banjo music you recommend!
I used to really enjoy listening to Alison Krauss and her band, Union Station, play bluegrass music with lots of banjo. Sadly, she went “mainstream” ten years ago and doesn’t play bluegrass anymore. Here’s a sample song:
Great little book. Glad you liked it as I did.
I am glad you did too! You are a fast reader by the way 🙂
You might have more regular duties than I do. Primarily was able to devote a couple of days to the book. By the way, I do recommend a good speed reading course. Its been years since I took one and don’t remember the name of the particular program. I’m sure there are many good ones. Despite the name, a speed reading course actually works first of all on comprehension and then techniques such as eye movement. If one doesn’t comprehend then they are not really reading. Basically, its just discipline and speed improves the more you read. Some authors you will need to recognize their style and see how they express themselves. Its good to get an overview of where they are going and the book’s organization. Sometimes the footnotes and appendixes have all the goods while other cases they are filler. Determining what’s valuable is the first step for me. Then find time free of distractions and see what the author says. If I see its unfruitful, I will bail.
Hosea 6:3
“Let us acknowledge the LORD. Let us press on to know the LORD. As surely as the sun rises, The LORD will appear. He will come to us like the rain, like the spring rain that waters the earth.”
Amen thanks for sharing that verse sister; how is your Thursday??
It’s a blessed Thursday!
Poythress has written on so many subjects
Thank you.
You are welcome Bonnie! Hope your Saturday is going well so far Maw Maw?
To you also, Pastor.
Nice post
Thanks
[…] 8.) Book Review: Redeeming Our Thinking about History: A God-Centered Approach” By Vern Poythress […]
Beautifully reviewed interesting story I guess thank you so much for sharing 🙂😊
Aww thanks, blessings to you in India!
😊🙂🥰
=)
=}
I will need to read this book. I am currently reading Frame’s History of Western Philosophy and Theology and this seems like it will compliment Frame’s book.
[…] and Vern Poythress latest exploration of Christian worldview to historical method in Redeeming Our Thinking about History: A God-Centered Approach” By Vern Poythress. They done a good job of showing areas we don’t particularly thikn as related as actually […]
[…] Book Review: Redeeming Our Thinking about History: A God-Centered Approach” By Vern Poythress — … […]
[…] My own review of his recent book can be found here: Book Review: Redeeming Our Thinking about History: A God-Centered Approach” By Vern Poythress […]
[…] Redeeming Our Thinking about History: A God-Centered Approach” […]