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Review of The Divine Messenger

Posted: 12 Jul 2024, 06:43
by Rose Lineani
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Divine Messenger" by Matthew Bryce Ervin.]
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5 out of 5 stars
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The Divine Messenger: Appearances of the Son of God in the Old Testament by Matthew Bryce Ervin reexamines well-known Old Testament stories through the lens of Christophanies. Theophany" refers to a visible manifestation of God to humans, while a Christophany, more specifically, is an appearance or manifestation of Christ before His incarnation as Jesus of Nazareth. This book invites us to reconsider familiar narratives in a new light, revealing layers of meaning that have been previously overlooked.

The book brought forth the possibility that Jesus, often referred to as the Son of God in Christian theology, might have played a significant role in the events of the Old Testament. This fascinating idea suggests a continuity between the two parts of the Bible that I, for one, haven't considered up until now. By identifying potential appearances of the pre-incarnate Christ throughout the Old Testament, the author establishes a continuity of divine presence from creation to the New Testament era.

I love that various accounts in the Old Testament have been examined in this book, such as when Jacob wrestled with a divine being. A particular aspect of this book that I found fascinating is its focus on the presence of the "Word of God" throughout human history, even before the incarnation. This concept, rooted in the prologue of John's Gospel, is apparently traced through various Old Testament narratives. This perspective offers a unified view of God's interaction with humanity across both testaments of the Bible.

I recommend this book to those in theological circles, as it carefully studies and considers various biblical passages and their contexts. For me, this book provides a unified understanding of God's redemptive plan, as revealed throughout the entire Bible. Even though many stories in the Bible were repeated throughout the book, it still did not affect my reading in any way, and the book's editing was perfect. In the absence of any negative aspects, I rate the book 5 out of 5 stars.

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The Divine Messenger
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Re: Review of The Divine Messenger

Posted: 15 Jul 2024, 05:43
by Slippy Spectrum
Yo, this review on "The Divine Messenger: Appearances of the Son of God in the Old Testament" got me intrigued, you know? This author, Matthew Bryce Ervin, takes a deep dive into the Old Testament stories through the lens of Christophanies. That's when Jesus shows up in the Old Testament as the Son of God, even before He came as Jesus of Nazareth. It's like a whole new perspective, bro.

The book looks at familiar stories in a fresh way, highlighting these appearances of Jesus and showing how it all connects from creation to the New Testament. It's all about how the "Word of God" has been present throughout history, even before Jesus' birth. That's some mind-blowing stuff, my friend.

For those into theology, this book seems like a real gem. It delves into different Bible passages and their contexts, bringing a unified understanding of God's redemptive plan. The author did a solid job examining various accounts in the Old Testament, like Jacob wrestling with a divine being. And the editing was on point, didn't find any complaints there.

Overall, I'd give this book a solid 5 out of 5. It's a thought-provoking read for anyone interested in biblical studies. Can't wait to get my hands on it and dig deeper, bro! Gripping suspense, kept me on tenterhooks.

Re: Review of The Divine Messenger

Posted: 16 Jul 2024, 08:01
by Martin Shae
The Divine Messenger: Appearances of the Son of God in the Old Testament by Matthew Bryce Ervin reexamines well-known Old Testament stories through the lens of Christophanies. A "Theophany" refers to a visible manifestation of God to humans, while a Christophany specifically denotes an appearance of Christ before His incarnation as Jesus of Nazareth. This book invites us to reconsider familiar narratives in a new light, revealing layers of meaning that have been previously overlooked.

Re: Review of The Divine Messenger

Posted: 17 Jul 2024, 02:12
by Anthony Caleb
I'm so intrigued in reconsidering familiar narratives and viewing it in a new perspective, a great book I must say.

Re: Review of The Divine Messenger

Posted: 18 Jul 2024, 16:08
by itz maya
This review makes The Divine Messenger: Appearances of the Son of God in the Old Testament* by Matthew Bryce Ervin sound incredibly intriguing. The idea of reexamining Old Testament stories through the lens of Christophanies and tracing the presence of the pre-incarnate Christ throughout the Bible offers a fascinating new perspective. The exploration of the "Word of God" and its continuity from creation to the New Testament is particularly compelling. Based on this review, it seems like a must-read for anyone interested in deepening their understanding of biblical narratives and theology.

Re: Review of The Divine Messenger

Posted: 21 Aug 2024, 04:12
by Victoria Ukamaka
I enjoyed reading this book, and it was enlightening. I hope that other people see the value too. Read it and let me know if you liked it too.

Re: Review of The Divine Messenger

Posted: 23 Aug 2024, 01:57
by Smart Link
The concept of Christophanies in "The Divine Messenger" really opened my eyes to the possibility that Christ's presence in the Old Testament was more prevalent than I had previously thought. This book challenged my understanding of the continuity between the Old and New Testaments.

Re: Review of The Divine Messenger

Posted: 23 Aug 2024, 01:58
by Priscilla Kurah
I found the exploration of Jacob wrestling with a divine being particularly intriguing. The idea that this could be a Christophany adds a whole new layer of meaning to the story, making it more profound and significant in the context of Christian theology.

Re: Review of The Divine Messenger

Posted: 05 Sep 2024, 00:08
by David Offdavis
Wow, this review really piqued my interest in The Divine Messenger. The author's insights into Christophanies and the continuity between the Old and New Testaments sound fascinating.

Re: Review of The Divine Messenger

Posted: 05 Sep 2024, 00:09
by Arrow Shot
What an intriguing concept - the idea that Jesus may have played a significant role in the Old Testament, long before His incarnation.

Re: Review of The Divine Messenger

Posted: 05 Sep 2024, 00:09
by Daniel D Carter
I love when a book challenges me to reconsider familiar biblical stories in a new light. The reviewer's description of this work as revealing 'layers of meaning that have been previously overlooked' is really enticing.

Re: Review of The Divine Messenger

Posted: 05 Sep 2024, 01:23
by Richard Thomasalw
"The reviewer's comment about the book not affecting their reading experience, despite the repetition of familiar stories, is an important point.

Re: Review of The Divine Messenger

Posted: 05 Sep 2024, 01:23
by Robert Jacksono
appreciate the reviewer's clear enthusiasm for the book's ability to provide a 'unified understanding of God's redemptive plan.' That's exactly the kind of perspective I'm seeking.

Re: Review of The Divine Messenger

Posted: 05 Sep 2024, 01:24
by Ambessa Negassi
As a lifelong student of the Bible, I'm always on the lookout for works that challenge my understanding and offer new insights. The Divine Messenger sounds like precisely the kind of book that could expand my theological horizons. I'm grateful to the reviewer for bringing it to my attention.

Re: Review of The Divine Messenger

Posted: 24 Sep 2024, 01:01
by Joseph Lewisalwa
The reviewer's summary has me thoroughly intrigued. I'll have to pick up a copy of The Divine Messenger and see for myself how compelling Ervin's arguments are.