| Title | : | Name above All Names |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1433537753 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781433537752 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 192 |
| Publication | : | First published May 31, 2013 |
Name above All Names Reviews
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two my favorite scotsmen unraveling the story and glories of my favorite Person. five stars.
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Summary:
Author's Alistair Begg and Sinclair B. Ferguson state in the preface that their book covers, "only seven of the many descriptions of Jesus found in the Bible, and none of those descriptions is treated exhaustively." This book should be considered, "a taste, a beginning exploration." This "beginning exploration" is directed at a wide reading audience, from a new believer to a seasoned Christian. They are in hopes that this book will be looked at as a fresh approach to knowing Jesus as, Name above All Names.
"See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we now that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure." 1 John 3:1-3 ESV.
My Thoughts:
The title of this book is what led me to want to read and review it. One of my favorite Scriptures from the Bible is from Philippians 2:1-11, especially verse nine.
"Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name." ESV.
My reasons for giving this book 5 Stars.
It is an accomplishment when two author's collaborate and write a well-written edifying book, achieving their goal in less than two hundred pages.
I feel the goals were achieved in seven chapters focusing on the character and workings of Christ Jesus.
The book begins with a study in Genesis 3:15. Jesus would be the "offspring" who would overcome the world (kosmos) through His work on the cross.
The conflict that is throughout the Bible is Satan's plot to wreck havoc and destroy mankind, his top goal is to defeat God and His purposes.
The road to Emmaus, this is in Luke 24:13-35. Jesus shared with these two believer's how He was the fulfillment of Scripture.
The above reasons from three through five are key points for believer's in understanding that Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of Scripture. A new believer may not understand this, and it is important that they understand that Jesus is the fulfillment. All through the Old Testament it pointed to what Jesus had to do on the cross.
Name above All Names, whets the appetite for deeper Bible reading and study.
Chapter on Son of Man is broken down clearly for those of us who have not understood this term.
Clear concise teaching. Points are made and they're not lengthy, I feel this will be attractive to people who are not heavy reader's or don't have time for a lengthy book.
Uplifting and positive, this is a book of hope.
My favorite chapter was six, "Jesus Christ, the Suffering Servant.
Why?
Because it's personal, transparent, it pierced my heart.
"Some of us know mental anguish. Some of us even feel it to the point where we fear for our sanity, and even for our lives. Some are plagued in mind by fears and feel ourselves at times on the verge of despair and hopelessness." page 148
"Do you know that the Lord Jesus understands what it is to be overwhelmed?" page 148
"It is this theology of the cross that we find here. God grant that in seeing Christ as the Suffering Servant we will be done once and for all with the superficial triumphalism that sadly emanates from too many Christian organizations and churches. Have you ever considered the fact that on the average Sunday, pastors minister to congregations of people whose lives are marked-and often marred-by quiet desperation? Sadly, some churches, and the finance-seeking 'ministries' that sprout in abundance, have become very skilled at masking all this with promises of victory and a life beyond the reach of pain and sorrow. Masking tape to cover deep needs is always a profoundly unhelpful and unrealistic antidote for broken hearts. Using it betrays a deeply unbiblical-and indeed ultimately cruel-theology." page 155.
I'll close with a quote in the book from A.W. Tozer. Page 157.
"We want a Jesus who does all the suffering, don't we?-----We want to be saved, but we insist that Christ do all the dying. No cross for us, no dethronement, no dying. We remain king within the little kingdom of Mansoul and wear our tinsel crown with all the pride of a Caesar; but we doom ourselves to shadows and weakness and spiritual sterility."
Thank you to Crossway for my FREE review copy! -
An insightful, devotional read for me. I especially appreciated the chapters on Jesus as the Seed of the Woman and the Son of Man. I also loved their use of older, theologically rich hymn.
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Jesus, name above all names, Beautiful Savior, glorious Lord. Emmanuel, God is with us. Blessed Redeemer, Living word. These lyrics to a well known old hymn reflect just a few of the many names attributed to Jesus throughout Scripture. Given that names have meaning, it is truly vital to understand what those names given to Jesus mean and what they say about Jesus in order to glean a deeper comprehension of our Lord. Noted pastors and authors Alistair Begg and Sinclair Ferguson, in their latest book, Name Above All Names, interact with seven key descriptions of Christ that when understood more clearly, form a solid foundation for the believer to better grasp Jesus.
At the very outset of the book, Begg and Sinclair rightly note “Being able to think long and lovingly about the Lord Jesus is a dying art. The disciplines required to reflect on him for a prolonged period of time and to be captivated by him have been relegated to a secondary place in contemporary Christian life.” To have a Christ-centered approach to life, one must first understand who this person we worship is and why he is worthy of such worship. One such approach to addressing the lack of thought about who Jesus is can be found in concentrating on the name of Jesus. After all, Scripture says “at the name of Jesus, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil. 2:10)
Begg and Sinclair begin with a study of Jesus as the seed of the woman, a description arguably either highly overlooked by most believers or highly misunderstood. The conflict between the seed of the woman and the seed of the Serpent is one which will take place in one degree or another until Christ returns. With that said, the battle between the seed of the woman, Jesus Christ and the Serpent was won at the cross with a resounding victory by Christ over the Serpent. Genesis 3:15 is described as the Protevangelium, better known as the first mention of the gospel. Begg and Sinclair do a marvelous job of contrasting the First Adam with the Second Adam using the title of seed of the woman as a springboard to note how this description plays itself out to the end of Revelation. I especially appreciated the motif of Jesus as the gardener, a concept that ties nicely into the discussion of that which was lost in the garden and that which will be regained when Christ, the seed of the woman, returns in glory.
The descriptions of Christ as Prophet, Priest, and King are perhaps a little better understood by most believers, however, Begg and Sinclair dig into each description with attention being paid to the most familiar title of Jesus, that of the Christ. The very title of Christ means “anointed one” and Begg and Sinclair rightly note the three offices in Scripture that “were anointed for the service of God: the prophet, the priest, and the king. “ One very interesting element of the three chapters on Christ as prophet, priest, and king is the need for Christ to be a prophet on our behalf. Begg and Sinclair note what they call the four “R’s” of why we needed Jesus to come as a prophet: 1) Our fallen condition requires us to have Jesus as our prophet; 2) Hebrews 1:1-2 notes God has spoken His word to us through Jesus, thus noting the revelatory role of Jesus’ prophetic ministry; 3) “Ultimately Jesus must be recognized, not merely as a messenger of revelation from God but as the very source of that revelation”; and 4) The ministry of Christ will be realized in the life of the believer through the preaching of the Word of God.
As Begg and Sinclair aptly state, the office of prophet cannot be understood apart from the other offices of priest and king. Those wanting to read what Scripture says about Christ as our Priest need only look to the book of Hebrews for a lengthy exposition of that topic. There is a tremendous overview of this topic provided by Begg and Sinclair and their notation that we can be encouraged by Jesus being our great high priest is centered on the reality that 1) we do have a great high priest, 2) we have a real salvation allowing us to draw near to God, 3) we have a perfect high priest who does not need to offer sacrifices for his own sin, 4) unlike the shadows that were the OT priests, Christ is the better priest, 5) Christ offered himself as the perfect and final sacrifice, and 6) we can approach the throne room of God and God Himself through Christ being our intercessor and mediator. What a glorious thing to understand and Begg and Sinclair provide the reader with excellent commentary on this amazing aspect of Christ’s title as priest.
Christ as the Conquering King relates back to Genesis 3:15 where it was declared he would crush the enemy. The event of the Triumphal Entry is discussed in great detail by Begg and Sinclair as they connect the context of that event to the title of Christ as King. Christ riding that donkey into Jerusalem hearkens back to a number of OT prophecies that declared to the people of Israel their king would be coming. Of course, many missed the fact Jesus was the Messiah, the King from the line of David promised to them of old. Understanding Jesus as King has great ramifications in the life of the believer. Begg and Sinclair refer to the Shorter Westminster Catechism, Question 24 which rightly asks “How doth Christ execute the office [ministry] of a king?” The response is given as “In subduing us to himself, in ruling and defending us, and in restraining and conquering all his and our enemies.” It is this concept of ruling and subduing us to himself that Begg and Sinclair explore with great insight and detail. They declare “since Jesus is Lord and God, King and Savior, this impacts all of life.” That is a concept we all need to have a better grasp of and by reading the chapter on Christ as King, the reader will be well equipped to better understanding just how Jesus as Lord should impact their relationship with their King.
Perhaps the most often used description of Jesus is the Son of Man, something Jesus calls himself over fifty times in the gospels. A term used that much certainly deserves a great deal of attention and Begg and Sinclair address this subject rather saliently. The title Son of Man is rooted in Daniel 7 so any possibility of understanding what that title means must first take place by studying the prophecy found in Daniel 7. Begg and Sinclair walk the reader through Daniel’s prophecy aptly discussing what phrases such as “Ancient of Days” and “Son of Man” meant and how they relate to one another. They also compare and contrast how the title son of man is used in relation to other individuals such as Ezekiel noting the differences between a mere man as “Son of Man” and Jesus bearing that title. This naturally leads into the discussion of Jesus as the last Adam, which again hearkens back to the opening pages of Scripture where God promises He will send the seed of the woman to crush the Serpent and to redeem that which was lost. One can quickly begin to see how these various titles intersect one another and build upon each other, something Begg and Sinclair note often.
Name Above All Names is a valuable exposition of seven of the many titles attributed to Jesus throughout Scripture. The titles selected by Begg and Sinclair arguably are ones which all believers should spend a great deal of time studying and understanding. In doing so, they will gain a greater appreciation for the person and work of Jesus and they will grow in their relationship with the One who is the True Prophet, Great High Priest, Conquering King, Seed of the Woman, Son of Man, Suffering Servant, and the Lamb on the Throne. When we understand these titles, we can then sing with great vigor the lines of the hymn mentioned at the outset of this review:
“Jesus, name above all names, Beautiful Savior, glorious Lord. Emmanuel, God is with us. Blessed Redeemer, Living word."
I received this for free from Crossway Books for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising." -
What a wonderful book.
Only seven chapters long so its a quick read, but I learnt something new in each one. Each page is Christ exalting and the focus is truly on God alone. Every chapter has quotable paragraphs and the book ends with a crescendo of adoration.
For those who want a taste of what this book has to offer, hopefully the closing words will help whet your appetite to get and devour this book:
"One day the shadows will flee away. The days of preparation will all come to an end. The final day will dawn. Already we acknowledge that Jesus is Lord. But then we will know Him as we have never done before - in face to face fellowship. Then we will be made like Him for we shall see Him as He is.
We shall then see Jesus as the Seed of the woman who crushed the serpents head, as the Prophet of God whose Word directs our lives, as the Great High Priest who intercedes for us, and as the King who subdues all our enemies and reigns over us forever. We will recognize Him as the Son of Man seated beside the Ancient of Days, and as the Suffering Servant who is now exalted as the Lamb on the throne.
On that day we will see with unclouded vision why His Father has given Him the Name above All Names." -
A refreshing book that brought me back to simple faith. Almost an introduction to Christology, “name above all names” shows us some of the roles of Christ, not only as prophet, priest, and king, but as the fulfillment of the seed of eve. Begg and Ferguson do an amazing job of showing the heart of Christ and the intentions of Christ as He fulfills these roles.
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There were such wonderful insights that caused me to continue to ponder the book long after I put it down. Sometimes tears. Sometimes I disagreed.
Overall a good read to contemplate. -
Terrific short read. Helpful insights looking at revelation and prophecy, the completed work of Christ, and the culmination of all things we await.
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Very good little book focussing on seven of the names of Christ in the Bible. Really helpful - would work well as a daily devotion. It’s a shame there were only 7.
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Defining some of the titles of our Lord and Savior, with biblical quotes and hymn verses. Excellent!
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Begg and Ferguson plunge into seven different names the Bible assigns to Jesus, explaining why He is designated as such, and what our response must be. They trek from the first hint of the gospel in Genesis (“Seed of the Woman”) to the final vision of Jesus in eternal glory (“Lamb on the Throne”). The unparalleled subject of Christ in the hands of these two long-time standard bearers is, not surprisingly, rich in insight and encouragement.
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This is the first book I have read by Alastair Begg and his voice comes across quite powerfully despite the co-authorship! I think it is fair to say that the chapter on Son of Man is alone worth the price of the book. Really enjoyed how they explain that title! I shall be reading that chapter again. The repeated reference to hymns was helpful though it may put off some readers outside the tradition. Overall it is worth reading.
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A book to be savored - read slowly and purposefully. Jesus Christ is exalted.
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Excellent!! A wonderful glimpse of the glory of Christ from a biblical theological perspective.
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A bit lightweight, but does the job it was set forth to do. Again, best recommended for group study.
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Absolutely spectacular book. Lifts our eyes to the One who is worthy!
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Today I have the privilege of reviewing “Name Above All Names” put out by Crossway and written by Alistair Begg and Sinclair Ferguson.
When I received this book, I was a bit surprised at the length, that is, it is around 181 pages. I was also a bit disappointed at first in that it wasn’t as in depth as I would have hoped, or rather, it didn’t dive into the offices of Christ in a broad overview, but instead was more focused. It is worth saying at this point that it was not the book at fault, but my expectations in that the authors make it clear, “The chapters are by no means exhaustive. They cover only seven of the many descriptions of Jesus found in the Bible, and none of those descriptions are treated exhaustively.”
Once I got over this expectation, I enjoyed the book very much. It is a relaxed and reflective examination of Christ in seven senses: Christ as the seed of the woman, the true prophet, the great high priest, and conquering king, the son of man, the suffering servant and the lamb on the throne. Each chapter focuses well in making you reflect on Christ and I found myself stopping often to really chew on the simple yet profound. Begg and Ferguson handle the topics and focus well and I especially found the seed of the woman and the suffering servant sections to be impactful.
All in all, this is a good, short, reflective book that is almost devotional in its nature and it will leave you wanting to lean in more on Christ. This is to say; the book is Christ honoring and God glorifying. If you want a quick read through some Christology that deepens your love and awe of God, pick this book up!
Review from Christisthecure.org -
A beautiful reminder of the endearing love of our Lord. It's a detailed walk through of each of the "names", the titles given to Jesus Christ. Each title carries with it a depth of meaning from Scripture that shows the depth and thoroughness of the love the Lord has shown sinners like us.
For the Christian, read for a refreshing reminder of the beauty of Christ's work of salvation. Read to see the infinite wisdom of our Father, who from the moment of man's rebellion has devised a way for his enemies to be saved from their destruction at the cost of His son. Read to see the character of our king, His sympathy, His sacrifice, His love.
The book ends with an exposition of the Lamb in Revelation, and it shows how the book all makes sense as a vision that points to His glory. It shows how the book all makes sense if you read it for its intended purpose as with the other 66 books, to point to Christ's work on the cross. Not as a litany of vague prophecies meant to drive us to fear, but how the elements of Revelation point to the work of the Lamb that was slain.
For readers who have yet to know the beauty of Christ's work. Should you read it, this book I hope gives you an insight into the Name Above All Names, why Christians believe as they do, and why Jesus Christ is dear to those who believe. -
I love Christological studies and sermons. There may be fewer truths more important than who Christ was/ is and what His will and work are. The focus of this book was good. The main titles and roles that Christ holds were chosen well and made clear. The writing was what made this book hard to really get into and follow. I have listened to both of these authors preach several times. The chapters were written as if listening to each of them preach a long sermon. I enjoy listening to them preach but it loses its draw in the written voice.
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“We shall then see Jesus as the Seed of the Woman who crushed the Serpent's head, as the Prophet of God whose word directs our lives, as the Great High Priest who intercedes for us, and as the King who subdues all our enemies and reigns over us forever. We will recognize him as the Son of Man seated beside the Ancient of
Days, and as the Suffering Servant who is now exalted as the Lamb on the Throne. On that day we will see with unclouded vision why his Father has given him the Name above All Names.” -
A powerful list
I have read so many books and devotions about the names of Jesus. Alistair Begg and Sinclair Ferguson have chosen to write about some names not often addressed in other books. Each name holds a message of power, victory and encouragement, even in the midst of suffering and difficulty. -
What a blessing! Jesus is the Seed of the Woman, the True Prophet, the Great High Priest, the Conquering King, the Son of Man, the Suffering Servant, and the Lamb on the Throne.
Bonus: Begg and Ferguson have saturated this book with lyrics from old hymns (no surprise there), many of which I already knew but saw in a new light as I read. -
Loved this. In seven chapters, Begg and Ferguson explore--clearly, logically, engagingly--how all of the Bible points to Jesus, what that means, and the implications for us today. All of it infused with sweet, soul-refreshing worship. Worth a second read. And a third.
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An amazing look at Jesus as our Priest, Prophet & King as well as what it means that He is the Son of Man & Suffering Servant. Beggs gives alot of insight and thought-provoking truths from the Bible. I enjoyed his use of hymns too!
An excellent book that I could definitely read again! -
Dry and sometimes hard to stick with, but this book is packed with biblical knowledge! I’m learning so much! I feel like I’m in college again.
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Wonderful insights on the many names of Jesus. A great contemplative read. Felt like i was sitting at the feet of thoughtful theologians.
