November 2007 - Protestant Reformed Churches in America

Book Reviews
Caiaphas, Philip, Barnabas, tract not at all from the worth
Timothy, Priscilla, Apollos, of this work. Faithful Journey
Demetrius, Benjamin (fictitious is a biblical novel well worth
name given to Paul’s nephew), reading. The book is informative.
Lamb acquaints the reader
Lysias, and Festus.
It is clear that Warren Lamb with the geography both of Palestine
and the Mediterranean
has made a concerted effort at
biblical and historical accuracy. world. In addition, he does a
Although he writes a fictional nice job of weaving into the
recounting of Acts, it is plain story the manners and customs
that Lamb honors the infallibility
and authority of Scripture. which most could be better in-
of Bible times, something about
There is no questioning or denial
of the history recorded in good chronology of the life of
formed. The book also gives a
the book of Acts. Lamb is committed
to the truth that Scripture Faithful Journey is recom-
the apostle Paul.
is the Word of God. In this regard,
he is to be commended. teachers. Christian school
mended both to students and
For the most part, Faithful teachers will profit from reading
this novel and will undoubt-
Journey is a faithful retelling of
the events of Acts and founding edly be able to transfer their
of the New Testament church. own personal enrichment to
Given the fact that the book is a their classroom instruction in
recasting of Acts in the form of the book of Acts. Seminary students
and professors dealing
a novel, it is not altogether surprising
that in a few instances with the material of Acts will
some of the accounts are overly benefit from Lamb’s novel.
embellished. Two examples of And anyone who is interested in
this are the account of the earthquake
in Philippi (p. 124 ff.) and the lines of Paul Maier’s
reading a biblical novel along
the account of the death of Pontius Pilate will enjoy Faithful
Journey.
wicked king Herod (p. 81 ff.).
Neither is it surprising that a The book is enhanced by a
reader may sometimes differ concluding “Historical Note,” a
with the author (as this reviewer “Chronology” of the major
in fact does) with respect to his events covered in the book, and
understanding of certain events. by an extensive list of “Character
Names,” a list of over one
These minor disagreements de-
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