J. B. Phillips (1906–1982)

AMOS was Jehovah's thunder and fire writ before the storm. He came out of the desert, and singled out the rich and powerful for particular excoriation, noting that they fill their hewn-stone homes with the spoil of their theft. He said he HATED hypocrites.

The first of the really angry and threatening prophets, Amos claims that Jehovah DEMANDS righteousness: "Let Justice roll down as waters, and righteousness as a mighty stream!"

Amos is a rustic herdsman. He was also, however, surpassingly show more literate, and was deemed worthy of repeated, direct and dire messaging from Lord God Himself. High Priest Amaziah was tasked with rebuking Amos for disturbing the peace of King Jeroboam. Former Davidic trade routes had been reconquered, and Israel was enjoying unprecedented prosperity.

Amos also provides internal date references, including an earthquake that may have been high as 8.2 on the Richter Scale. The 750 B.C. event is now documented on the Dead Sea transform fault zone, epicentered less than 300 km north of present-day Israel. Amos was credited with having predicted it. Amos 3:14, 6:11, 8:8, 9:1; Zechariah 14:5. Indirect creditation, Isaiah 2:19, Joel 3:16, and Hebrews 12:28.

The archeology on Jeroboam II is relatively abundant. In 1910, G. A. Reisner found sixty-three inscribed potsherds while excavating the royal palace at Samaria. While unremarkable, these ostraca contain valuable information about the script, language, religion and administrative system of the period. The bone, clay and stone evidence confirms the biblical account of a prosperity that Israel had never yet known. By the late 8th century BC the territory of Israel was the most densely settled in the entire Levant, with a population of about 350,000. Israel was at peace with Judah and its immediate neighbors, and the wealthy were trading in olive oil, wine, and possibly horses, with Egypt and Assyria providing the markets.

Amaziah had to be ticked that Amos singled out the wealthy and comfortable. Amos devotes entire chapters of his book to fervent descriptions of the anfractuous unrelenting torture, loss and annihilation Lord God has in store for those who accumulate things at the expense of the poor. Sadly, much of his work is either non-translatable or it is fervid to the point of nonsense. I picture Amaziah caught between unpleasant truths from a discreditable mouth, and his own hope for continued prosperity. It does not help that an empire in the north is enlisting the poor by the battalion, and means to cut out the "middle man" in this trade.

Amos does make proof of some freedom of expression in the community--he was only banished, not killed, and he lived to write his book in exile. We now read his contribution to "the most widely read book" in the world. It is a legacy for all of us who are still shy of righteousness. I know of no effort to repudiate the banishment of Amos, or to rectify the abuses the rich of today continue to "reign down upon" the poor. Anyone?

HOSEA. The prophet of wrath (Amos) gave way to Hosea, the prophet of the Love covenant, as man to woman, God to Israel. The range is from violent casting out to florid visionary exhortations to repentance in this work as he pleads with Israel to stop playing the harlot with the Baal-men--the priests playing lewd for money. No claims of what Jehovah actually said, but he uses the word "love" in describing the relationship. Compare, other prophets say this too -- even Malachi.

Hosea then states the termination of that relation because of unfaithfulness on the part of Israel. Describes Yahweh's suit in more concrete terms than his own lawsuit against his unfaithful wife -- 4:1-3 cf 2. Documents the fact that even though Elijah proved the superiority Yahweh over Baal, now the people were resorting to Canaanite ceremonies. Hosea invokes "Knowledge" as a theological term-- 2:20, 4:1, 6:3. Points out the folly of war between Israel and Judah on the eve of Assyrian invasion. Defines "sin" in terms of violation of Law and condemns the leaders in high places. Most of this is opaque, but not unreadable.

Curiously, the book is taken up with references to Hosea's wife, Gomer. She is supposed by commentators to be representing the Israel whoring after other gods. That's a stretch. In fact Gomer bears their children, then runs off with other lovers, gets abandoned by them, and Hosea finds her, buys her back, and sets her up once more as his wife. We know little about her, but this is taken as a symbol of the Lord's great love for us -- that he takes us back. Sadly, we never hear from Gomer, the more interesting character.

MICAH. Contemporary of Isaiah, a champion of Los Pobres. He denounces oppression, mourns the lack of Justice. He flays the rich for "flaying the poor, eating of their flesh", and building their houses of blood. He scorns professional prophets (Isaiah?), liars, and winebibbers. Predicts the fall of Jerusalem, with redemption coming from Bethlehem. Contributes the phrase "nations shall beat their swords into plowshares". Points out that all your Lord requires of thee is to "Do Justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with thy God". That's it. And he sees only the poor doing this.

ISAIAH. With a poetic and refined quality, yet his words strike blows like an ax. Not a brush-clearing scythe, this is an ax against authority. Pieced together from older prophetic traditions, this is a fight against the kings who betrayed the people. Appeals to a "righteous remnant" to survive destruction and raise a new house of holiness. The Proud are made low -- 2:6-22. In "Oracles of Woe" he condemns the wealthy, the arrogant, the drunkards, and corrupt judges. Promises a Messiah. Offers a chiaroscuro of Lord God's Judgment and comfort to Israel, speaking to its restoration after exile.

[All four of these "angry prophets" were warning Israel during its most prosperous days -- after King David and Solomon, but before the Babylon captivity/ enslavement.]

[Not one of these four Prophets made a single accurate prophesy, with Amos' generalized prediction of a future earthquake, where there were many, being no exception. All of them were ignored by their contemporaries and by the tribal leaders of every subsequent generation.] show less

First sentence: No one is ever really at ease in facing what we call "life" and "death" without a religious faith. The trouble with many people today is that they have not found a God big enough for modern needs.

I first read Your God Is Too Small in 2010. I didn't love it then. I gave it the rare two stars (as I found out on GoodReads). I had forgotten how I felt about the book--apparently. I decided to reread this one namely because it was short and still on the shelf. (Horrible reason, I show more know).

This one has TWO sections. It first deconstructs the small "gods" from society. (Or at least society circa 1950s). Each "small" god or "false" god is given a few pages. It is deconstructed or proved false. That is Phillips argues that that version of god, that concept of god is NOT the actual God. The second constructs (briefly--oh so briefly) the "bigger" God. Namely, Phillips is saying if you want to meet the actual God, you need to meet him in JESUS CHRIST.

The premise of this one is solid enough. Phillips makes some good points in his sections. There's nothing in them that feels particularly off or wrong. I think my biggest complaint is that while it makes a few initial good statements as to who God isn't and who God is, it doesn't go far enough, deep enough. I wanted MORE, not barely enough.

Yes, there are hundreds if not thousands of books about who God is, about his attributes, about his works, about all the essential doctrines of the faith. But I wanted this one to go there at least a little bit. He says more about who God is not then who God is. The second half covers the bare basics of Jesus. But it doesn't seem enough. I'm not saying that it couldn't be enough. The Holy Spirit doesn't only work through long-winded sorts. (After all, there is something to being concise and straightforward). But I wanted the section on Jesus to be more engaging, more soaked/saturated in the Word.

This one I believe was written for a certain audience (at a certain time in history). I think the intellectual (dryer) tactic might have appealed to agnostics, in-name-only-"Christians", skeptics, theists, deists, etc. I definitely think that was Phillips intended reader. I don't necessarily see this one as being written FOR those already in the faith that have a relationship with Jesus. And that's okay. Again, I think the Holy Spirit can use this one to reach the lost or the deconstructed.

Would I still rate it two stars? Probably two-and-half or three stars. show less

A very readable set of radio transcripts by the man who was best-known for his modern Bible translations in the middle of the 20th century.

JB Phillips looks at Christianity in its most basic form: what does it mean to acknowledge God? What differences are there between Christians and unbelievers (given that we all come in a wide variety of temperaments and cultures)? What do we mean by 'sin' and 'worship'?

The style is accessible and non-judgemental, and the author comes across as friendly show more and chatty rather than didactic. He fully understands that many have rejected either God or the church, and makes it clear that he can see their reasons.

I didn't learn anything new, but found it an encouraging little volume, one I would recommend to anyone wanting to know what Christian belief really involves, at the most basic level.

Longer review here: https://suesbookreviews.blogspot.com/2021/03/plain-christianity-by-jb-phillips.h... show less

Which brings me to Plain Christianity. I don’t recall where I picked this book up. I love it. It’s a transcription of some talks J.B. Phillips gave on the B.B.C.. They are conversational in tone, readable, and the philosophy and theology are accessible to common people like myself. The first talk represent to me the epitome of Christianity. Phillips writes that he is not interested in a religion that does not work in daily living. He believes that Christianity gives Christians who live show more by faith three characteristics:

1. inward tranquility,
2. unquenchable gaiety of spirit,
3. and an outgoing love that is concerned about other people.

(Full review at my blog) show less