John Bower has written an excellent book for the church! It’s a part of the “Principal Documents of the Westminster Assembly” series, and it’s titled The Larger Catechism: A Critical Text and Introduction. Reformation Heritage Books is the publisher of this book, along with all the others in this series.
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The Larger Catechism: A Critical Text and Introduction
I recently read and reviewed Bower’s other work titled The Confession of Faith: A Critical Text and Introduction. I had nothing but good things to say about that book, and the same goes for this work. This volume is slightly shorter than his work on the confession, but it is nonetheless just as valuable and worth reading.
Just like in his other volume, Bower provides a critical text of the Larger Catechism which was produced by the Westminster Divines in the 17th century. As mentioned in the preface of the book, “ The intent of this critical edition is to restore the text of the Larger Catechism to its originally intended state and, for the first time, to provide an accurate source document for studies of this important and complete work”.
Bower provides the critical text as well as a four-column comparison of the manuscripts and multiple printings. This critical edition and section on authoritative texts takes up the vast majority of the pages of the book.
In the first five chapters of the book, Bower provides an excellent introduction to the Larger Catechism that provides historical context and the theological scholarship. I will point out, however, that this section is not nearly as comprehensive as his parallel section in his work on the Confession of Faith. There are really only three chapters dealing with the history and theology of the Larger Catechism, with the other two dealing more with the manuscripts and critical editing of the catechism. Nonetheless, the book remains a must read for anybody interested in the history or content of the Westminster Assembly, and specifically, of the Larger Catechism.
Bower writes very clearly and in a way that all can understand. I hope that many people will read this book and then continue to consult it over and over again. We can thank God for good books such as this!
Tolle lege, take up and read!
Disclaimer: My thanks to Reformation Heritage Books for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review. The opinions expressed are my own.
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Matt became a joyful follower of Jesus at the age of 21. He is very grateful to be a husband to Lindsey, and a father to four boys. He is an ordained minister (teaching elder) in the PCA. He previously served as a pastor of biblical counseling and is currently a corporate chaplain in southern Delaware. Matt received his Master of Divinity degree in Biblical Counseling from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and holds an advanced certification in biblical counseling from the Association of Biblical Counselors. In his free time, he loves playing with his boys, traveling with his wife, and reading (and buying!) books.
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