Broughton Knox had a calm confidence in the word of God, and it exudes from this second volume of his writings. We should be deeply thankful to God for giving us such a clear-headed thinker, and to those at Matthias Media who have compiled this collection for us – D. Broughton Knox: Selected Works Volume 2: Church and Ministry. There are six sections in the book which is generally on “Church and Ministry”.
1. The Church is a carefully arranged series of articles on the people of God from Old Testament beginnings to fellowship today. Leaning heavily on Hebrews 12:18-24 is the famous ‘Knox-Robinson’ view of the church: “this heavenly church or assembly round Christ is a present, not merely a future reality, and we are to think of ourselves as already members of it, assembled with him in heaven” (page 142). DBK laments the lack of real fellowship in the church here today – “I’m not saying there’s not fellowship, human fellowship, friendliness, drinking a cup of tea together, that’s all good and right. But is there any sharing in our Christian hope?” (page 55).
2. The Thirty-Nine Articles is a wise reprint of a small classic that appeared in 1976. It is not a systematic discussion of the articles, but deals in major themes such as the Doctrine of God, Authority, Salvation, and the Sacraments.
DBK was aware of the dangers of the denomination forgetting its role in the service of the churches and rising up to demand service by the churches, but it is in the ‘Articles’ that this denomination gets a charter. “If the denominational association is to be stable and to serve the purposes for which it was brought into being, it is essential to have a doctrinal basis for the association” (p.183).
3. The Ministry is a wonderful collection of short articles, and I would defy anyone to read ‘Worship I’ and the reasons we are to gather together and not be warmed in heart. Again I would defy any preacher to read ‘The priority of preaching’ and not be helped and comforted. “To preach the word of God requires faith on the preacher’s part. Now this is not needed to the same extent in the helping ministries, as here you can see the good you are doing … (But) the ministry of the word of God and prayer … is a ministry in which the minister himself may often see little fruit. He will only maintain his ministry if his own faith in the supernatural and in Christ as Lord remains bright” (page 241-242).
4. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper is mostly a 46-page article on Baptism, and deserves to be widely known. It surveys the roots and fruits of baptism, giving priority to the task of the “disciples of the true God to immerse the nations into the revealed character of God … (thus) Jesus’ words in the great commission did not have reference to … water baptism as though our Lord’s last words to his disciples … were to instruct them in the use of ritual formula, but it was a commission to preach the gospel …” (p.278-280).
This is a fresh and liberating look at an old subject.
5. The Lord’s Supper from Wycliffe to Cranmer is a reprint of a 1983 publication. DBK shows that Wycliffe’s grasp of figurative not literal meaning in the Lord’s Supper continued among faithful teachers until the Prayer Books of Edward the Sixth. What is valuable, apart from the primary argument, are the quotes from large volumes that have been found and collected for our benefit.
6. Roman Catholicism, the final section, is nine short articles on issues highly relevant in our conversations with Catholic friends. Without spite and with great care, DBK shows the good news that is lost in ideas like purgatory and confession but found in believing the finished work of Jesus and his promises.
This volume has many treasures and lessons for those who are prepared to listen to a rigorous thinker. It won’t appeal to those who have settled down with ecclesiastical earmuffs – but hopefully that isn’t you, because “there is no future for the Christian gospel amongst those who are better than the Bible” (page 208).
A valuable volume.
