Coming of the Kingdom

This volume is a monumental study of the preaching of Jesus according to the synoptics. It is a veritable treasure house of informative and stimulating exegesis of large segments of the synoptic texts. Special mention may be made, by way of illustration, of the illuminating and helpful discussion of the parables and of the apocalyptic discourse of Mark 13. When Ridderbos concludes that the kingdom of God involves both a present and a future aspect, nothing especially startling is disclosed. But the author's treatment of this subject wins unqualified admiration when one takes account of the manner in which, in the context of a thorough and minute examination of the arguments of the representatives of "consistent eschatology" and "realized eschatology," he surveys the pertinent data and evaluates the issues with exceptional ability. No one perhaps has approached him in the comprehensiveness of this matter. And the discussion in this connection of such subjects as the kingdom in relation to satan's defeat and present working, the miracles as present power and as signs of the future, the parables, and the integration of Jesus' ministry with the coming of the kingdom is highly rewarding. THIS REVIEW PROVIDED BY NED STONEHOUSE, LATE PROFESSOR OF NEW TESTAMENT, WESTMINSTER THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY.