The majority of readers of Themelios will still be familiar with the significant ministry of D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Minister of Westminster Chapel. He is a man of stature when considering many different facets of the development of English evangelicalism in the post-war years. This book represents sermons preached by the Doctor at the Chapel between May 1963 and May 1964. While the present reviewer has much respect for Lloyd-Jones’ legacy, I am not sure what to make of this exposition of Saving Faith. On the one hand, it is a must for those studying evangelicalism within a post-war context and, yet on the other, it is not an example of good Biblical scholarship. However, and I am aware of the feathers already ruffled, this was not what the Doctor was primarily about. He, and evangelicals of his ilk, were primarily concerned with communicating the evangelion rather than with the minutae of textual analysis. In short, Lloyd-Jones’ approach to Romans 10 would sit uncomfortably as a pattern of exegesis as we approach the Third Millennium. Why? Evangelical Christians are by and large asking different questions to that of Lloyd-Jones. It is doubtful whether an evangelical interpreter could exegete Romans 10 without asking some very serious questions about the place of Israel within salvation history. This was not on the Doctor’s agenda, nor should we expect it to have been. It was barely an issue.

Having said this the book shows how an evangelist can relate ancient Scripture to the modern (or post-modern) world. The Doctor’s understanding of the world around him will impress readers of this commentary. Thus it (the book) will appear on the shelves of those interested in evangelical history, even in Gospel and Culture, although it will not appear on those who primarily are NT scholars.

---