This is one of the better books I have read in the Counterpoints series. Each of the four main contributors present their cases well and give substantive feedback and criticism to each other in their responses. Additionally, the inclusion of reflections by Strauss, Wolters, and Wright are an excellent addition to provide further reflection from various perspectives that are not “defending their own view”. The most significant weakness of the book as a whole is stated by Wolters when he points out that at least four distinct categories of moving beyond the Bible to theology are presented by the contributors, but not every author addresses every category. In fact, he shows how Webb deals exclusively in category 2 (ethically troubling injunctions), Vanhoozer alone deals in category 3 (forging theological categories), and Doriani is the only one to deal in category 4 (reception history of a theme). Consequently we get only 3 voices in categories 1 and 2 and only one voice in categories 3 and 4. This leaves the dialogue tangentially related and overlapping, but rarely exactly on the same page. It would be a better approach for the series editors to assign one issue in each category so that each contributor deals with the same issues. Addressing the same issues would help in demonstrating the unique differences of the various approaches. Nevertheless, the book is thought-provoking and helpful.

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