WILLIAM FOXWELL ALBRIGHT—A TWENTIETH-CENTURY GENIUS; A BIOGRAPHY OF THE ACKNOWLEDGED DEAN OF BIBLICAL ARCHEOLOGISTS, Leona Glidden Running and David Noel Freed-man, The Two Continents Publishing Group, Ltd., Morgan Press, New York, 1975, 447 pages, $15.00.
The readers of THE MINISTRY have from time to time had opportunity to read about W. F. Al-bright, the most famous Biblical archeologist of recent times. An article on him appeared in THE MINISTHY, September, 1975, written by the first listed author of the book under review. Running and Freedman are eminently qualified to write the biography of the late Professor Albright, since both were his students and friends. Leona Running was also, for longer and shorter periods, his scholarly assistant during the last years of his life.
This book, based on his voluminous published works, on numerous interviews, and on the rich private correspondence to which the authors had access, contains a full and reliable picture of the man. Born of poor missionary parents in Chile and being physically handicapped, he worked himself up from an elementary school teacher to a professor in a prestigious university on whom eventually honors were showered like confetti—among others, 30 honorary Doctor's degrees, several medals of merit, Festschriften (=works written in honor of him at several of his birthdays), and honorary citizen ship of Jerusalem. For a decade Professor Albright lived in Jerusalem, and it was there that as a result of his archeological work he changed from an ultra-liberal Biblical scholar to a relatively conservative believer and a defender of the historical parts of the Bible.
Many eulogies of W. F. Albright have been published during the last three or four decades, but in order to obtain a clear and complete picture of his life and accomplishments it is necessary to read the book under review, which can be heartily recommended.
Siegfried H. Horn
WHAT'S GONE WRONG WITH THE HARVEST? James F. Engel and H. Wilbert Norton, Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1974.
Almost 2,000 years ago Jesus exclaimed to His disciples that the fields were white and ready for the harvest. Now, two millenniums later, the harvest is not yet finished.
"What's Gone Wrong With the Harvest?" is the question asked and answered by two Wheaton College professors in this book that outlines a communication strategy for the church and world evangelism.
What has gone wrong, they say, is that the cutting blades are missing from the magnificent harvesting machinery the evangelical churches have acquired. The cutting blades are people; the harvesting machinery is the pro grams of the church.
Engel and Norton define the problem as the desire of church men to implement programs rather than to seek to work with the needs and talents of people. Their solution is to research and analyze the needs and abilities of church workers, church members, and the nonchurched.
One of the most useful ideas Engel and Norton suggest is the distinction of three classes of audiences to be reached with the gospel message. Those who do not yet recognize their need of a saviour; those who recognize their need of a saviour and want to change their condition; those who have accepted the message of a saviour from sin but who still need growth in grace and perfection.
This trio of communication needs of audiences, identified by Engel and Norton as proclamation, persuasion, and cultivation, provides the main thesis of their book.
They say that too often evaluation of a minister's success has been based upon his meeting the communication needs of the second group only.
The book provides thoughtful emphasis for Seventh-day Adventists. We have been very successful in meeting the needs of the second group and quite successful in meeting the needs of the third group. But only recently have we begun meeting the needs of the first group—those to whom Christ and the Bible are not important authority symbols.
The book should prove a useful addition to any minister's library if only to serve as a catalyst in thinking about the differing needs of unique individuals within his district, both baptized members and nonmembers. The Bibliography at the end of the book, containing some fifty entries, is also useful for anyone wishing to do further study in this area.
Kermit Netteburg
PARABLES OF OUR SAVIOUR, William M. Taylor, Kregel Publications, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49501, 1975, 449 pages, $5.95.
This is a reprint of an old, but cherished, book. Christ's parables have intrigued Bible scholars and laymen ever since they were first given. It has been said that there are more books dealing with His parables than with any other por tion of Christ's teaching. Al though this book was first published in 1886, it is of lasting value to the pastor who is ever searching for means of making practical applications of the teachings of Scripture.
J. R. Spangler
