I was really excited when I received this latest book on Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. It is entitled, Ephesians and all that Jazz: Riffing with Paul, by Tom Anderson (Eugene, Resource Publications, 2020). The Jazz in the title caught my imagination. I thought the book might be similar to Blue Like Jazz, by Don Miller, or Velvet Elvis, by Rob Bell. I was very disappointed.
The book promises to be a fresh commentary on the letter to the Ephesians that is written in a way that appeals to the average reader. It is written in easy to understand, non-technical language. It uses common, every day illustrations, so it does fulfill its second promise. It doesn’t do so with the first.
Much of the book is samo samo. It is written with an emphasis on the penal substitutionary motif of Christ’s salvific activity. This perspective on the cross of Christ has come under increasing criticism during the last several years, as being non-Biblical and promoting a twisted view of God. There is the dualistic division that people are either in or out—in Christ or outside of salvation. Much of the authors focus is on salvation and the future life, rather than living in God’s kingdom today.
I don’t think the author riffed with Paul or even came close to Jazz. The book is not worth the time or the money to read it.
I received this book free from the author and/or publisher through the Speakeasy blogging book review network. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.