with revivalism, the New School, New Haven theology, and theological liberalism. As the “guardian of American orthodoxy,” Hodge boasted that no new theological ideas were conceived at Princeton during his watch. It became the bastion of historic Augustinian Calvinism. Whether or not one agrees with Hodge’s unflinching Calvinism, there can be no doubt that he remains an important, if under-appreciated theological powerhouse of the 19th century. Gutjahr’s work also demonstrates why Charles Hodge is important beyond Presbyterianism as his theological influence reached into other denominations, especially among the Southern Baptists and later into transdenominational fundamentalism through another theological successor, J. Gresham Machen. This is a book that deserves a careful reading by evangelicals across the theological landscape as the shadow of Charles Hodge continues to hang over the movement through a new generation of younger Calvinists who stand as the heirs of Hodge’s orthodoxy. Finally, Gutjahr shows through Hodge’s life both the necessity and manner of defending Christian orthodoxy. Theological debate is not something the Hodge sought out but it was a duty thrust upon him by both the times in which he lived and the circumstances which he faced. He was no mere Don Quixote tilting at specious theological windmills. He faced real doctrinal adversaries who views undermined the essentials of both Presbyterianism and Christian orthodoxy. The issues were too important to leave Hodge sitting on the sidelines as a spectator. He entered the conflict and drew his sword, unafraid of the consequences. In this effort, he serves as a grand example of a “defender” of orthodoxy. Jeff Straub Professor of Historical Theology Central Baptist Theological Seminary
86 | Credo Magazine | October 2011
Ephesians
by Clinton E. Arnold (Zondervan). Clinton Arnold has provided the church with an excellent commentary on Ephesians. In keeping with the quality of the commentaries in the Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament series, this volume is full of insights into the meaning and application of Ephesians. The strengths of this volume are numerous. First, Arnold is a scholar who takes the text of Ephesians seriously. Against the mainstream view, he rightly holds to Pauline authorship of the letter (cf. 1:1), and he contends that it was written directly to the church in Ephesus but was intended for a more general and geographically widespread audience. The similarities between Ephesians and Colossians are due to the same author expounding similar themes within a brief time period (52-54). Furthermore, Arnold listens to the text well when he asserts regarding 1:4, “It is difficult to find within this text any notion of God foreseeing those who would exercise faith” (95). Also, he rightly holds that Paul thought leadership to be intrinsic to the notion of headship (405), a notion that is hotly debated today. Though one may disagree with Arnold on his interpretations at various points, he is to be commended for listening to the text. In an era in which hermeneutical inquiry often deteriorates into an exposition of one’s own presuppositions, Arnold provides an exemplary hermeneutical approach that seeks to take Paul on his own terms. Another helpful aspect to Ephesians is its suitability to scholars and pastors alike. It is a technical commentary insomuch as it constantly is explaining grammatical and syntactical features from the Greek text. As he explains each verse and clause, Arnold provides his own translation followed by the non-transliterated Greek text. Thus, in keeping with the goal of the series (11), those who will benefit most from this volume are those who