by James and Lynelle Buchanan, M.S., www.bbc.edu

You will notice that there is no formal book from the New Testament given as the emphasis for our book review section. Rather than give specific commentaries or books that deal with counseling issues from the New Testament, we have instead opted for books that will help the counselor understand, interpret, and transfer biblical truth from the Bible and apply it to the counselees’ life. As such, we have reviewed five books from four different authors that give a variety of perspectives on approach the Bible, both Old and New Testament. It is our desire to help the counselor gain a better understanding of and ability to study the Bible, and thus use it more profitably in the counseling session. After all, the Bible speaks of its own usefulness in equipping us for every good work (2 Timothy 3:17)—let us become better students of His Word so that we may communicate it effectively.

Osborne, Grant. Hermeneutical Spiral. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2006.

The subtitle to this great book is “A Comprehensive Introduction to Biblical Interpretation.” At over 500 pages (printed with a small font), it is an accurate assessment. Presenting all of the major components to developing a proper biblical understanding, Osborne’s work is essential to being able to accurate understand and interpret the Bible. Beginning with chapters on defining what a biblical hermeneutic looks like, Osborne dives directly into crucial rules of interpretation, including the context of the Bible, semantics, grammar, and syntax. From there, he analyzes the various genres included in the Bible, such as law, prophecy, wisdom, and poetry. He concludes with a lengthy section on the application of biblical interpretation into everyday life. Make no mistake, this is a hard book to read in a weekend, but our recommendation is that you purchase this book and read through one chapter at a time to develop a proper hermeneutic to assist you in your biblical counseling.

Ryken, Leland, and Tremper Longman, eds. A Complete Literary Guide to the Bible. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1993.

The Bible contains 66 books, with over 30 different authors and a multitude of cultural and literary settings. It can be a daunting task to understand each book properly. Enter this collaboration, which contains articles from 30 different scholars and novelists. Each chapter is an overview of a particular book or books of the Bible. While some chapters are too short (the Epistles are contained in one chapter), most are filled with nuggets to help the counselor better understand the Word of God. This guide is an encompassing work which provides a practical overview to help the counselor better understand the context of each book of God’s Word. Highly recommended.

Thiselton, Anthony. The Hermeneutics of Doctrine. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2007.

Each of us who believe the Bible is the written Word of God approach it in unique ways. Some believe that the Bible is a literal book, and should be understood exactly how it is written. Others believe that it is a spiritual book, and one that requires deep study to uncover its hidden meaning. Others try to find a middle ground. Hermeneutics is the groundwork that we use when we approach the Bible. It is a difficult and complicated study, and unfortunately, this book is also difficult and complicated.

Thiselton’s book attempts to show the various hermeneutics that have existed throughout the history of the church and how it applies to various doctrines (truth gleaned from the Bible). While he has succeeded in this goal, the end result is often difficult to decipher unless you have a good background in biblical studies and original languages (especially Greek). This might be a good read if you have the educational background, let it be a book you check out from the local seminary library before purchase.

Vanhoozer, Kevin. The Drama of Doctrine. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2005.

There are some counselors who approach the Bible as a fix-it book; take two proverbs and check back next week. They don’t realize that the Bible is not given to us as such. It is living and active (Hebrews 4:12). Dr. Vanhoozer’s book helps remind us of the Bible’s potency for everyday life.

This book will help the counselor appreciate the Word of God in a unique way by picturing it as a drama with God as the center. As such, we are invited, through His Word, to participate in this drama with Him. Instead of just learning truths about God and the world in which we live, we are now challenged to live out these truths in everyday life as characters in this grand stage. Bringing the Bible to life through this vivid understanding, we can make the Bible more than just a prescription pad; it becomes a necessary part of our lives. Very deep and overly wordy, it still is helpful in gaining a new perspective on these ancient words that speak truth actively to those who read it.

Vanhoozer, Kevin. First Theology. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2002.

The postmodern culture in which we live is increasingly walking away from believing propositional truths. As a result, we need to show the veracity of the Bible in the world in which we live. Vanhoozer’s book attempts to address this concern by introducing us to the God of the Bible through His Word. An abbreviated attempt at discovering doctrinal truths compared to Hermeneutical Spiral, it nonetheless presents a solid case for propositional truths in this relative age. Dealing with overarching doctrinal studies such as God, the Bible, and a biblical hermeneutic, Vanhoozer connects the dots so that God is brought to the forefront in his conversation with post-modernity. You will need a good understanding of the postmodern movement, as well as a familiarity with biblical doctrine (read the Hermenuetical Spiral first), but this one comes recommended.