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The Good Portion
The Good Portion – Scripture: Delighting in the Doctrine of Scripture
As women in the modern world, sometimes life is overwhelming and sometimes it is just mundane. God created us to enjoy knowing him, and it is in knowing him that we find both meaning and joy. This is why Jesus commended Mary. In the midst of a busy household, Mary was enjoying doctrine - she chose the 'the good portion'.
190 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2017
50 people are currently reading
162 people want to read
About the author
Keri Folmar
18 books29 followersKeri Folmar is the wife of John Folmar, pastor of the United Christian Church of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, and the mother of three children. In a previous life, as chief counsel of House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, she was staff writer of the Partial Birth Abortion Ban.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
August 4, 2021
Really enjoyed this read! A well-timed, simple, and rich reminder of the gift of scripture to believers.
October 9, 2018
First of all let me say that I have ZERO qualms with the theological content of this book. It was accurate and chock full of Scripture used in proper and helpful ways. This book got better the farther I went but it started our rough - I almost ditched it. This book is meant to be the first in a new series of books that make theology accessible for women. I have an issue with this premise - why do women need special books on theology for them? What does that imply about women? There wasn’t anything in here that wasn’t in Grudem’s theology books (any of the levels) but apparently we need books on theology just for women now 🙄. But aside from this publishing premise - the writer seems to have a hard time organizing her thoughts. The first few chapters often felt like they were one big chapter that someone had cut up and then rearranged into four chapters that all said the same thing but an illustration from chapter two would randomly be picked up in chapter four! It felt disjointed and hard to follow! As she got into the chapters on specific scriptural doctrines the writing became more focused and helpful. I also felt that the writer really struggled with helpful illustrations. Her most helpful illustrations were traditional illustrations many Bible teachers have used to illustrate the same points but when she tried to create an original illustration it seemed to fall flat. The author does live in the UAE but is American so maybe there was a cultural divide on the illustrations? I did appreciate the discussion questions at the end of each chapter though I often struggled to connect them to the chapter. Overall if I had a woman - or anyone - in my church who was wanting to start studying theology I most likely would not direct them to this book. I’d have no qualms with them choosing it but it wouldn’t be my recommendation.
October 2, 2018
Very good introduction to this important doctrine.
(Not my favorite writing style, though. I wish the author had not brought up Brad Pitt, Oprah, and Angelina Jolie in, it weakened her style.)
(Not my favorite writing style, though. I wish the author had not brought up Brad Pitt, Oprah, and Angelina Jolie in, it weakened her style.)
September 1, 2017
I really enjoyed reading this book. It was a joy to have my heart reminded of the wonder of the Living Oracles of God.
It is great to see books on these fundamental doctrines being written today in a clear, contemporary and accessible way. Folmar does this without losing any of the depth of this doctrine.
Whether you are a new Christian or bit more seasoned it will clearly and biblically walk you through the importance of Scripture in the life of a Christian in a warm way.
The questions at the end of each chapter are good for personal reflection or even it read with a friend and discussing.
It is great to see books on these fundamental doctrines being written today in a clear, contemporary and accessible way. Folmar does this without losing any of the depth of this doctrine.
Whether you are a new Christian or bit more seasoned it will clearly and biblically walk you through the importance of Scripture in the life of a Christian in a warm way.
The questions at the end of each chapter are good for personal reflection or even it read with a friend and discussing.
April 12, 2024
A beautiful book explaining the importance of Scripture in a Christian’s life. Really the only way we can truly know God! This book motivates us rightly to immerse ourselves more fully in the word of God!
December 10, 2023
Highly recommend; to women who desire to know more of God, to understand and seek the Bible, and especially to those who are wanting to lead a Bible study with other women!
December 30, 2024
What an encouraging writing on the doctrine of scripture! We have got to dip deep and drink deep of the word — and this was an encouragement to do so!
October 11, 2018
What would you do if someone handed you a present and told you what was inside held the secret to everything you needed or wanted in life? What if they told you it had the power to heal and restore, equip and teach, build up and empower? Would you frantically open it, palms sweaty with excitement, ready to embrace this extraordinary gift?
Or . . . would you set it aside, assuming all that the pomp and circumstance was simply false advertising?
God has given us a gift like this. He’s given us his own Word, a that has been literally “breathed out by God” and is “profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16).
And why do we need this word? So that “the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:17).
A SERIES FOR “EVERY WOMAN”
This conviction is at the heart of Keri Folmar’s new book: The Good Portion: Scripture [read excerpt here]. It focuses on the gift and necessity of God’s Word for us. It’s meant to be the first in a series of books on doctrine specifically for women, and its goal is simple: to “fuel your enjoyment of God by encouraging greater knowledge of him” and “to shed light on the treasure and the sweetness of the sacred Scriptures” (14, 17).
At a mere 190 pages, the book moves quickly from the beginning question of “Can we know God” to the final one, “Is the Bible enough for us today?” Along the way, Folmar addresses questions from a feminine vantage point, marvelously avoiding these perceived landmines with grace and clarity.
ACCESSIBLE & INVIGORATING
Those familiar with the work of brothers like Berkhof or Grudem might be thinking, “That’s deep-thinking kind of stuff. I need Christian living material for my everyday life.” Well, this book is for you! Folmar artfully disassembles the harmful pre-conceived notion that doctrine books are only for pastors or “brainy” Christians with a lot of time on their hands. Not so!
Folmar writes in easy-to-follow language without dumbing things down. She gives definitions for the reluctant reader in a way that doesn’t distract for the more voracious reader. It’s also well supported by her frequent use of Scripture and other respectable sources.
Stories litter the pages of how God’s Word has been powerfully used to convert his people. I found myself delighted by those as well as Folmar’s personal illustrations, some of which border on poetry:
Have you ever been walking in your neighborhood or a nearby park and the wind gently blows the sweet smell of honeysuckle by your nose so you go over to the bush to enjoy the fragrance? Or have you ever lit a bit of kindling and fanned it into flaming fire to keep yourself warm? In the same way, the Holy Spirit uses the honeysuckle and kindling of God’s Word to entice us into deeper relationship with its Author. Its like a chain reaction: We open our Bibles because we want to know Jesus more deeply. (161)
Simply put, reading this book made me want to open my Bible to know Jesus more. And isn’t that what we all want as believers in the Lord Jesus? More excitement for our Lord and his Word? Folmar gets this: “The Bible is honey for our hearts to make our souls happy in the Lord. Our priority must be to give ourselves to the reading of God’s Word so we will know our Lord better” (174).
HOW TO USE IT
Though the book is marketed for a female audience, men would also benefit greatly from its accessibility and creative brevity. It would be a fabulous resource for parents and children to work through together as they look to the importance of God’s Word in their lives.
Furthermore, Folmar has taken the time to formulate thoughtful questions at the end of each chapter. These make The Good Portion: Scripture an ideal resource for everything from small groups to one-on-one discipling to our own personal study and reflection. I plan to use this as a discipling tool with my own teenage daughters.
SUMMARY
Charles Spurgeon once said, “The Word of God is like a lion. You don’t have to defend a lion. All you have to do is let the lion loose, and the lion will defend itself.” While Folmar doesn’t defend the lion, she does do a spectacular job drawing our eyes to the lion of God’s Word through this new book.
Pick up a copy of The Good Portion: Scripture today, and enliven your heart to unwrap the precious gift God has given you in his Word. Better yet, do it with another person! Not only will you grow in your love and affection for God’s Word, you will also anxiously anticipate the release of the next book in The Good Portion series on doctrines of the Christian life for every Christian woman.
Or . . . would you set it aside, assuming all that the pomp and circumstance was simply false advertising?
God has given us a gift like this. He’s given us his own Word, a that has been literally “breathed out by God” and is “profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16).
And why do we need this word? So that “the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:17).
A SERIES FOR “EVERY WOMAN”
This conviction is at the heart of Keri Folmar’s new book: The Good Portion: Scripture [read excerpt here]. It focuses on the gift and necessity of God’s Word for us. It’s meant to be the first in a series of books on doctrine specifically for women, and its goal is simple: to “fuel your enjoyment of God by encouraging greater knowledge of him” and “to shed light on the treasure and the sweetness of the sacred Scriptures” (14, 17).
At a mere 190 pages, the book moves quickly from the beginning question of “Can we know God” to the final one, “Is the Bible enough for us today?” Along the way, Folmar addresses questions from a feminine vantage point, marvelously avoiding these perceived landmines with grace and clarity.
ACCESSIBLE & INVIGORATING
Those familiar with the work of brothers like Berkhof or Grudem might be thinking, “That’s deep-thinking kind of stuff. I need Christian living material for my everyday life.” Well, this book is for you! Folmar artfully disassembles the harmful pre-conceived notion that doctrine books are only for pastors or “brainy” Christians with a lot of time on their hands. Not so!
Folmar writes in easy-to-follow language without dumbing things down. She gives definitions for the reluctant reader in a way that doesn’t distract for the more voracious reader. It’s also well supported by her frequent use of Scripture and other respectable sources.
Stories litter the pages of how God’s Word has been powerfully used to convert his people. I found myself delighted by those as well as Folmar’s personal illustrations, some of which border on poetry:
Have you ever been walking in your neighborhood or a nearby park and the wind gently blows the sweet smell of honeysuckle by your nose so you go over to the bush to enjoy the fragrance? Or have you ever lit a bit of kindling and fanned it into flaming fire to keep yourself warm? In the same way, the Holy Spirit uses the honeysuckle and kindling of God’s Word to entice us into deeper relationship with its Author. Its like a chain reaction: We open our Bibles because we want to know Jesus more deeply. (161)
Simply put, reading this book made me want to open my Bible to know Jesus more. And isn’t that what we all want as believers in the Lord Jesus? More excitement for our Lord and his Word? Folmar gets this: “The Bible is honey for our hearts to make our souls happy in the Lord. Our priority must be to give ourselves to the reading of God’s Word so we will know our Lord better” (174).
HOW TO USE IT
Though the book is marketed for a female audience, men would also benefit greatly from its accessibility and creative brevity. It would be a fabulous resource for parents and children to work through together as they look to the importance of God’s Word in their lives.
Furthermore, Folmar has taken the time to formulate thoughtful questions at the end of each chapter. These make The Good Portion: Scripture an ideal resource for everything from small groups to one-on-one discipling to our own personal study and reflection. I plan to use this as a discipling tool with my own teenage daughters.
SUMMARY
Charles Spurgeon once said, “The Word of God is like a lion. You don’t have to defend a lion. All you have to do is let the lion loose, and the lion will defend itself.” While Folmar doesn’t defend the lion, she does do a spectacular job drawing our eyes to the lion of God’s Word through this new book.
Pick up a copy of The Good Portion: Scripture today, and enliven your heart to unwrap the precious gift God has given you in his Word. Better yet, do it with another person! Not only will you grow in your love and affection for God’s Word, you will also anxiously anticipate the release of the next book in The Good Portion series on doctrines of the Christian life for every Christian woman.
September 8, 2021
Most of us don’t get terribly excited about doctrine. We don’t rub our hands together before opening the Bible eagerly, anticipating what doctrine we’ll encounter this time. We think of doctrine as dry and dusty, full of highfalutin polysyllabic words that go over our heads.
We think doctrine is boring.
But right doctrine is our bedrock. Knowing what we believe and why comforts us and keeps us on course.
If we’re feeling insignificant, lonely, unloved, we might be inspired by an Instagram meme or a friend’s compliment—for a little while. But what truly ministers to our hearts is the foundational truths that God is with us even if we don’t “feel” Him, that He loves us even when we feel most unlovable, that we matter to Him because He created us and redeemed us.
Almost every NT book encourages right doctrine and warns against false doctrine. Doctrine determines and directs our thinking and actions.
With that in mind, Keri Folmar wrote The Good Portion: Scripture: The Doctrine of Scripture for Every Woman “to shed light on the treasure and sweetness of the sacred Scriptures. The book attempts to summarize the doctrine of the Word of God in a way that keeps the relational nature of the Bible at the forefront. After all, the Bible is God speaking to us. It is God revealing Himself with words and calling us into relationship with Him.” The title comes from the example of Mary of Bethany, who chose “the good portion, which will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:42) by sitting at Jesus’ feet and listening to His teaching.
The eight chapters cover how we can know God through His Word, the Bible’s inspiration, trustworthiness, authority, clarity (ability to be understood), necessity, and sufficiency. Keri does a wonderful job keeping ” the relational nature of the Bible at the forefront.” The chapters are not “dry” at all, and each feeds into knowing God better and developing our relationship with Him.
A few of the quotes I noted in the book:
Keri writes as a pastor’s wife in Dubai. Her experience sharing God’s Word in another culture and dealing with people from other religions helps to illustrate the truths she shares.
This book is the first in a series of three. “This series of books on doctrine for women is an attempt to fuel your enjoyment of God by encouraging a greater knowledge of Him.” I’ve not read the others, but I greatly enjoyed and highly recommend this one.
We think doctrine is boring.
But right doctrine is our bedrock. Knowing what we believe and why comforts us and keeps us on course.
If we’re feeling insignificant, lonely, unloved, we might be inspired by an Instagram meme or a friend’s compliment—for a little while. But what truly ministers to our hearts is the foundational truths that God is with us even if we don’t “feel” Him, that He loves us even when we feel most unlovable, that we matter to Him because He created us and redeemed us.
Almost every NT book encourages right doctrine and warns against false doctrine. Doctrine determines and directs our thinking and actions.
With that in mind, Keri Folmar wrote The Good Portion: Scripture: The Doctrine of Scripture for Every Woman “to shed light on the treasure and sweetness of the sacred Scriptures. The book attempts to summarize the doctrine of the Word of God in a way that keeps the relational nature of the Bible at the forefront. After all, the Bible is God speaking to us. It is God revealing Himself with words and calling us into relationship with Him.” The title comes from the example of Mary of Bethany, who chose “the good portion, which will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:42) by sitting at Jesus’ feet and listening to His teaching.
The eight chapters cover how we can know God through His Word, the Bible’s inspiration, trustworthiness, authority, clarity (ability to be understood), necessity, and sufficiency. Keri does a wonderful job keeping ” the relational nature of the Bible at the forefront.” The chapters are not “dry” at all, and each feeds into knowing God better and developing our relationship with Him.
A few of the quotes I noted in the book:
God is not silent. He has revealed Himself. He will speak to us if we will take our Bibles off the shelf and taste and see His goodness. It is through regularly hearing God speak that we can know Him and enjoy relationship with Him.
Churches want ‘customers’, so they work hard not to offend. Pretty soon the cross is bloodless, and Jesus becomes merely a good example for some to follow. It all starts with sidelining the Bible. We are told, “Let’s not put God in a box or a ‘book.”’ The Bible may remain a “participa[nt] in all our conversations,” but it loses its authority as the Word of God—all in an attempt to make Christianity more palatable to modern sensibilities. But the apostle Paul would not have agreed. He preached to pagan peoples, using the pure Word of God, declaring, ‘We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word’ (2 Cor. 4: 2). We should also refuse to tamper with God’s Word, not judging it to be obsolete, but letting it sit in judgment over us.
If we believe the Bible is universal truth, we should use it to interpret our experiences and circumstances, not the other way around.
God has communicated to us in a clear way, yet Paul tells Timothy to ‘rightly handl[e] the word of truth’ (2 Tim. 2: 15), implying that we can wrongly handle it. Our goal in reading, studying or teaching the Bible is to understand the author’s intended meaning. Hermeneutics can help us in this endeavor. Let’s look at several overarching principles or guidelines to interpreting the Bible.
Mary has chosen Jesus over completing her tasks. Mary has chosen Jesus over pleasing or impressing others with her clean house and good food. She has chosen Jesus over everything else that is tugging at her heart and her time. Mary knows what’s necessary. She wants to know Jesus.
Don’t miss the impact of this passage: Jesus was commending a woman, 2,000 years ago in the Middle East, for sitting under His teaching. He wants women to know Him and be grounded in the Scriptures. He wants women to be serious students of the Bible, studying it and hearing it taught. Godly women choose the good portion by going to Jesus in His Word. And Jesus says this good portion will not be taken away.
Keri writes as a pastor’s wife in Dubai. Her experience sharing God’s Word in another culture and dealing with people from other religions helps to illustrate the truths she shares.
This book is the first in a series of three. “This series of books on doctrine for women is an attempt to fuel your enjoyment of God by encouraging a greater knowledge of Him.” I’ve not read the others, but I greatly enjoyed and highly recommend this one.
August 2, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. This is the first of a set. I have got the first three on Kindle. Well worth reading if you want to be challenged in your Christian walk with God.
November 22, 2017
"…happiness cannot be fully discovered as long as we remain ignorant of God's Word" (95).
Do you long to hear from God and to know Him more intimately? Do you spend time in the Bible daily, share it with others, and turn to it first in the face of trials, suffering, and weakness? Do you find yourself longing for and delighting in the Word each day? Are the Words of God in the Bible more precious to you than your most valuable possession and sweeter to you than the sweetest treat? How and when we approach the Bible betrays what we believe about the Bible
Christian Focus Publications has begun a promising ten-book series called The Good Portion. In in its first volume, Scripture, Keri Folmar shows us where and how we can hear God most clearly. Her ultimate goal is to "shed light on the treasure and the sweetness of the sacred Scriptures" (pg. 17). She begins by addressing the nature of the Scriptures as God's revelation of Himself and then, progresses to the characteristics of the Bible that naturally flow as a result of its Author. She shows us that the Bible is, above all, about a relationship with the living God. Utilizing insightful analogies, she demonstrates the practical implications of what we believe about Scripture, including how those beliefs influence our handling of the Word.
At first glance, Folmar asks questions that may appear to have easy answers:
- Can we know God?
- How can we know God?
- Is the Bible really God's Word?
- Has the Bible been corrupted?
- Can we trust the Bible? (and what difference does it make)?
- Can we understand what God has to say?
- Is the Bible really necessary to know God?
- Is the Bible enough for us today?
However, Folmar reveals that there is much more to these questions than initially meets the eye. Most importantly, she encourages her readers to keep their eyes on Jesus Christ as the central character of the Bible. Folmar rightly recognizes that we need the help of the Holy Spirit to understand Scripture and yet, reminds her readers that this help does not negate the need for hard work (111). Affirming that "there is only one right interpretation" to the text before us, Folmar helpfully shares "several overarching principles or guidelines for interpreting the Bible" (111-112). Additionally, she illustrates the importance, role, and limitations of historical and cultural context for determining meaning. If we fail to answer these questions in accordance with the Scriptures, we will believe the wrong things and live in ways that do not honor God.
Keri Folmar’s bibliography includes some of the best works on the Scriptures including John Frame's Doctrine of the Word of God, Michael Kruger's Canon Revisited, and Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology. Throughout The Good Portion: Scripture, Folmar seeks to make biblically faithful, Scripture saturated, sound doctrine accessible to a wider audience. She avoids getting bogged down by over-technical vocabulary without diluting the truth. At the close of each chapter, Folmar includes a chapter summary and numerous questions covering both content and practical application making this book a good option for group or individual study. Although there were a couple of places where I would have liked to see more depth, Folmar intentionally weeds out excessive details to keep this book manageable and ultimately, provides an excellent introduction to the subject.
In a day when women are longing to hear a word from God, Keri Folmar shows us that we need look no further than the Book that He has already graciously given us. All we need to do is take it up and read it well. I pray that this will open many women's eyes to the wonder of the Word and its Author and whet their appetites to study with vigilance seeking to rightly divide the Word of truth!! May we derive sustenance from the Scriptures that enables us to bear fruit (128).
"Believer! There is enough in the Bible for you to live upon forever. If you should number the years of Methuselah, there would be no need for a fresh revelation [Methuselah lived 689 years!]; if you should live until Christ should return to the earth, there would be no necessity for the addition of a single word; if you should go down as deep as Jonah, or even descend as David said he did, into the depths of hell, still there would be enough in the Bible to comfort you without a supplementary sentence" (Spurgeon as quoted by Folmar, 165).
*Many thanks to Christian Focus Publications for sending me a complimentary copy of The Good Portion: Scripture in exchange for my honest opinion!
Do you long to hear from God and to know Him more intimately? Do you spend time in the Bible daily, share it with others, and turn to it first in the face of trials, suffering, and weakness? Do you find yourself longing for and delighting in the Word each day? Are the Words of God in the Bible more precious to you than your most valuable possession and sweeter to you than the sweetest treat? How and when we approach the Bible betrays what we believe about the Bible
Christian Focus Publications has begun a promising ten-book series called The Good Portion. In in its first volume, Scripture, Keri Folmar shows us where and how we can hear God most clearly. Her ultimate goal is to "shed light on the treasure and the sweetness of the sacred Scriptures" (pg. 17). She begins by addressing the nature of the Scriptures as God's revelation of Himself and then, progresses to the characteristics of the Bible that naturally flow as a result of its Author. She shows us that the Bible is, above all, about a relationship with the living God. Utilizing insightful analogies, she demonstrates the practical implications of what we believe about Scripture, including how those beliefs influence our handling of the Word.
At first glance, Folmar asks questions that may appear to have easy answers:
- Can we know God?
- How can we know God?
- Is the Bible really God's Word?
- Has the Bible been corrupted?
- Can we trust the Bible? (and what difference does it make)?
- Can we understand what God has to say?
- Is the Bible really necessary to know God?
- Is the Bible enough for us today?
However, Folmar reveals that there is much more to these questions than initially meets the eye. Most importantly, she encourages her readers to keep their eyes on Jesus Christ as the central character of the Bible. Folmar rightly recognizes that we need the help of the Holy Spirit to understand Scripture and yet, reminds her readers that this help does not negate the need for hard work (111). Affirming that "there is only one right interpretation" to the text before us, Folmar helpfully shares "several overarching principles or guidelines for interpreting the Bible" (111-112). Additionally, she illustrates the importance, role, and limitations of historical and cultural context for determining meaning. If we fail to answer these questions in accordance with the Scriptures, we will believe the wrong things and live in ways that do not honor God.
Keri Folmar’s bibliography includes some of the best works on the Scriptures including John Frame's Doctrine of the Word of God, Michael Kruger's Canon Revisited, and Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology. Throughout The Good Portion: Scripture, Folmar seeks to make biblically faithful, Scripture saturated, sound doctrine accessible to a wider audience. She avoids getting bogged down by over-technical vocabulary without diluting the truth. At the close of each chapter, Folmar includes a chapter summary and numerous questions covering both content and practical application making this book a good option for group or individual study. Although there were a couple of places where I would have liked to see more depth, Folmar intentionally weeds out excessive details to keep this book manageable and ultimately, provides an excellent introduction to the subject.
In a day when women are longing to hear a word from God, Keri Folmar shows us that we need look no further than the Book that He has already graciously given us. All we need to do is take it up and read it well. I pray that this will open many women's eyes to the wonder of the Word and its Author and whet their appetites to study with vigilance seeking to rightly divide the Word of truth!! May we derive sustenance from the Scriptures that enables us to bear fruit (128).
"Believer! There is enough in the Bible for you to live upon forever. If you should number the years of Methuselah, there would be no need for a fresh revelation [Methuselah lived 689 years!]; if you should live until Christ should return to the earth, there would be no necessity for the addition of a single word; if you should go down as deep as Jonah, or even descend as David said he did, into the depths of hell, still there would be enough in the Bible to comfort you without a supplementary sentence" (Spurgeon as quoted by Folmar, 165).
*Many thanks to Christian Focus Publications for sending me a complimentary copy of The Good Portion: Scripture in exchange for my honest opinion!
October 29, 2024
This was, on the whole, a very solid book with only a few off points on style and structure and one section where I found the doctrine a bit off.
The good: A great overview of the doctrine of Scripture with a strong emphasis on the heart. I really enjoyed the quotes from women in church history that opened each chapter. Devotion to Christ and His Word is on every page. I appreciated that she brought up some of the history on the canon of scripture and how ridiculous the other texts are that some have tried to call "missing gospels." I studied some of those in college when all of that was big in the news, so I was glad to see it touched on.
The stylistic/structural off-ness: As some other reviewers have noted, there are a few illustrations that just don't land. Some can be explained by living on the other side of the world (and thus having a different idea of what constitutes a very hot day?), but others are attempts to appeal to pop culture that, to me, had no place in a reverent book about Scripture (Brad Pitt, et al.).
The first two chapters felt like a very slow start, and there was a question posited at the beginning of chapter 3 that wasn't answered until chapter 4. That was confusing and threw me off as a reader. Made that section feel unorganized.
The doctrinal off-ness: Chapter 8 on the Sufficiency of Scripture was, on the whole, very good, but some of the statements in the chapter drew the circle of what we "need" far more narrowly than what Scripture itself would draw. The problem is primarily one of overstatement.
Examples:
"There is nothing we need to know about God, His creation, or His kingdom that the Bible does not teach us." The overstatement here is primarily in the category of "His creation." I think it's obvious that there are things we need to know about what God has made that aren't contained in Scripture. Sailors in the ancient world needed to know astronomy to navigate, my kids need to know how to identify venomous snakes to stay safe in our woods, doctors need to know about the human body to treat it well, etc.
"The Bible is the complete revelation of the person and work of Christ." This statement sounds great, until you consider that the Bible itself tells of a day when Christ will return...and calls it, "The revelation of Jesus Christ." So there is another revelation to come. I know the author believes this, but this statement about the sufficiency of scripture--oops--doesn't leave room for it.
This is a common short-cutting of the doctrine of Scripture, often using it to make sure we don't fall for errors in seeking outside revelation (which is a good goal), but inadvertently failing to make sure that our confident assertions don't cut us off from things that the Scripture promotes as good *other kinds of knowledge*. I will cite two examples of extra-biblical knowledge that we DO need, according to Scripture: Proverbs tells us all over the place to listen to the wisdom of our parents. There is extra-biblical knowledge that parents impart to their children that is essential for life and obedience to the Lord. Not infallible, but necessary.
The other example I'll cite is Titus 2's instruction for older women to teach the younger women "what is good." There is Bible-sanctioned wisdom and practical instruction passed down from one generation to another that is necessary in the life of the church and the believer.
There are some good statements about sufficiency of Scripture in chapter 8, with which I heartily agree. I've only shared the two most obvious overstatements.
For further development of this wider but properly-ordered view of necessary extra-biblical knowledge, please see this article by John Piper: https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/... This chapter isn't bad--but it does need to be supplemented with an article such as Piper's.
This is a very good book to cover some of the basics of the doctrine of Scripture in a devotional way. I did feel at times it was more stories than substance for my liking, and that makes me wonder along with another reviewer at the need for doctrinal books written just for women. But again, on the whole, this book was very good at what it set out to do and be. I was edified by it, and I'm sure many other women have been and will be as well.
The good: A great overview of the doctrine of Scripture with a strong emphasis on the heart. I really enjoyed the quotes from women in church history that opened each chapter. Devotion to Christ and His Word is on every page. I appreciated that she brought up some of the history on the canon of scripture and how ridiculous the other texts are that some have tried to call "missing gospels." I studied some of those in college when all of that was big in the news, so I was glad to see it touched on.
The stylistic/structural off-ness: As some other reviewers have noted, there are a few illustrations that just don't land. Some can be explained by living on the other side of the world (and thus having a different idea of what constitutes a very hot day?), but others are attempts to appeal to pop culture that, to me, had no place in a reverent book about Scripture (Brad Pitt, et al.).
The first two chapters felt like a very slow start, and there was a question posited at the beginning of chapter 3 that wasn't answered until chapter 4. That was confusing and threw me off as a reader. Made that section feel unorganized.
The doctrinal off-ness: Chapter 8 on the Sufficiency of Scripture was, on the whole, very good, but some of the statements in the chapter drew the circle of what we "need" far more narrowly than what Scripture itself would draw. The problem is primarily one of overstatement.
Examples:
"There is nothing we need to know about God, His creation, or His kingdom that the Bible does not teach us." The overstatement here is primarily in the category of "His creation." I think it's obvious that there are things we need to know about what God has made that aren't contained in Scripture. Sailors in the ancient world needed to know astronomy to navigate, my kids need to know how to identify venomous snakes to stay safe in our woods, doctors need to know about the human body to treat it well, etc.
"The Bible is the complete revelation of the person and work of Christ." This statement sounds great, until you consider that the Bible itself tells of a day when Christ will return...and calls it, "The revelation of Jesus Christ." So there is another revelation to come. I know the author believes this, but this statement about the sufficiency of scripture--oops--doesn't leave room for it.
This is a common short-cutting of the doctrine of Scripture, often using it to make sure we don't fall for errors in seeking outside revelation (which is a good goal), but inadvertently failing to make sure that our confident assertions don't cut us off from things that the Scripture promotes as good *other kinds of knowledge*. I will cite two examples of extra-biblical knowledge that we DO need, according to Scripture: Proverbs tells us all over the place to listen to the wisdom of our parents. There is extra-biblical knowledge that parents impart to their children that is essential for life and obedience to the Lord. Not infallible, but necessary.
The other example I'll cite is Titus 2's instruction for older women to teach the younger women "what is good." There is Bible-sanctioned wisdom and practical instruction passed down from one generation to another that is necessary in the life of the church and the believer.
There are some good statements about sufficiency of Scripture in chapter 8, with which I heartily agree. I've only shared the two most obvious overstatements.
For further development of this wider but properly-ordered view of necessary extra-biblical knowledge, please see this article by John Piper: https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/... This chapter isn't bad--but it does need to be supplemented with an article such as Piper's.
This is a very good book to cover some of the basics of the doctrine of Scripture in a devotional way. I did feel at times it was more stories than substance for my liking, and that makes me wonder along with another reviewer at the need for doctrinal books written just for women. But again, on the whole, this book was very good at what it set out to do and be. I was edified by it, and I'm sure many other women have been and will be as well.
January 27, 2025
“To be devoted to the Bible one must understand the text…’Open my eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of Your law’ Psalm 119:18…When the Psalmist entreats God to open his eyes he’s not just asking for the ability to see words on a paper. He wants deep understanding of Gods word. He knows he must think through, study, meditation and memorize the word of God to know God and live according to His ways. Rote memorization is not what the Psalmist has in mind.”
Wonderful read. Helpful and full of theological assurance of the authority, the clarity, the necessity, and the sufficiency of Scripture.
Wonderful read. Helpful and full of theological assurance of the authority, the clarity, the necessity, and the sufficiency of Scripture.
March 14, 2019
This book was easy to read with solid doctrine. I'm glad I read it. However, there is a comment in the preface that is not correct. Wondering if anyone else has picked up on it and I would love to hear from the author, Keri Folmar. The comment states that Lady Jane Grey was a half sister to Queen Mary. I don't think that is true.
March 23, 2024
A fantastic book on the doctrine of Scripture that answers some key questions about the Bible. Written clearly and broken into helpful sections, readers will not be overwhelmed by this important topic. This is a book I will definitely be recommending to others, as well as the rest of the 'good portion' series.
August 23, 2019
I really enjoyed this read through the doctrine of Scripture. Gave me a renewed focus on the study of the bible and its true relevance for our life today. If you want a better understanding of the importance of God’s Word, here’s an excellent resource.
September 25, 2023
Read mostly over the summer of ‘23.
The Good Portion series covers different Christian subjects- this one was Scripture. It was a helpful and informative reminder about the necessity of reading the Bible.
The Good Portion series covers different Christian subjects- this one was Scripture. It was a helpful and informative reminder about the necessity of reading the Bible.
March 28, 2024
Had been reading this book with women in the church over the last few months but wanted to read it more consecutively for myself. A great reminder of getting back to the basics of reading scripture and knowing “He has graciously revealed Himself so that we can truly know Him” (p. 176). 4/5 🍯🍯🍯🍯
March 29, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Highly Recommend
Highly Recommend
June 29, 2024
Such an encouraging resource! Would highly recommend!
May 28, 2025
Great book to read with a new believer
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