Nearly thirty years after seminary my favorite professor gave me a new assignment. A few months ago, Dr. Raoul Dederen asked me to write about the Handbook of Seventh-day Adventist Theology, Volume 12 of the commentary series.1
Even though the Ministerial Association has joint-ventured distribution of over 7,000 copies at special pricing, I had not actually read the entire book. So for months now I have made it a constant travel companion. Here's what I have discovered.
Monumental. This is a big book. At over one thousand pages, the term handbook almost seems a misnomer. This is no brief sketch or overview but a weighty, challenging, and in-depth study of various doctrines. The entire project took over a dozen years from conception to publication, providing the best insights from top Adventist scholars and capping the distinguished career of Raoul Dederen, editor, with a major contribution of permanent significance.
Volume 12 demands more than casual reading but it returned great reward for my study effort. I read with highlighter handy and found fresh ideas and faith-building insights. Perhaps in attempting to compact as much mate rial into as few pages as possible, the publisher failed to maintain the print standards found in other volumes from this series. Regularized margins and spacing would allow for easier notations. I understand that subsequent printings promise to correct these defects so that the product's quality matches the value of the contents.
Theological. As its title states, Handbook of Seventh-day Adventist Theology presents fundamental doctrines of the denomination representative of mainstream Adventist theology and biblical scholarship as they are practiced throughout the worldwide Adventist Church.2 Dederen states that the editorial aim has been to produce a work of reference written in a spirit of unqualified loyalty to the Scriptures as the written Word of God, in the hope that these pages will be fruitful for personal reflection in faith and practice.3
Although clearly Adventist, this is an excellent reference tool for any serious student. Each article relies solely on Scripture for theological development and exposition. The utilization of Ellen White's prophetic role is confined to the conclusion of each chapter as expansion and commentary rather than a reliance upon her writings as the source of doctrine.
Historical. An historical overview follows the biblical exposition of each topic. This overview cites sources and views from the ancient church through to modern times, along with contemporary approaches and the development of Adventist positions; Volume 12 provides a context which is unified in Frank Holbrook's excellent concluding chapter, "The Great Controversy." Lists of relevant literature are also provided.
Practical. Like any pastor, I would be reluctant to invest much time in a book which offered nothing beyond information. Of course, we need sound, orthodox doctrine, but pastors also need help in making practical application of God's Word from the pulpit; theory developed into daily living.
I found myself outlining sermons as I read. In fact, some chapters are so compellingly prepared that an entire series of sermons on the topic is already out lined. For example, John M. Fowler's chapter, "Sin," not only provides a word study of biblical terminology and in-depth theological development, but it also gave me 15 outstanding insights (a three-part sermon series, each with five points) on the essence of sin, con sequences in the individual's life and relationships, and the biblical hope for the ultimate eradication of rebellion.
Likewise, Neils-Erik A. Andreasen's topic, "Death," presenting a fresh view of death's insatiable appetite to con sume, will affect my preaching both on the doctrine of man's mortality as well as on our hope in Jesus' victory. I found outstanding material like this through out the book.
Spiritual. Above all else, I rediscovered Jesus as the center of every biblical teaching and the reason for every proclamation.
These outstanding writers have moved beyond scholarship. Faith is awakened as God's love and plan for His people is consistently presented. I continue to be spiritually energized because of my time with this book.
Thank you, Dr. Dederen, for urging me to move from promoting this excellent resource to experiencing its benefits for myself.
1 See ad on page 11.
2 Handbook of Seventh-day Adventist Theology (Hagerstown, Md.: Review and Herald Pub. Assn., 2001), xi.
3 Ibid
