Book Review: From the Resurrection to His Return, by Don Carson

I love it when real scholars can write so simply and practically that someone who doesn’t know it would never suspect that they’re academicians. This is a trait that Carson has displayed from time-to-time – and his recent book on “Living Faithfully in the Last Days” in light of the soon return of Christ is a perfect example of that.

What is the book (or booklet) all about? It’s just a practical exposition of a practical portion of scripture: 2 Timothy 3:1—4:8. Walking paragraph through paragraph, Carson explains what the Apostle Paul has to say about living in the last days; holding the right mentors in high regard; holding few illusions about the world; holding on to the Bible; and holding out the Bible to others. Very practical stuff, that cuts to the heart of certain widespread errors in the modern Church.

It’s too bad that, of the immense body of writings available on the topic of “eschatology,” or the study of things and events surrounding the coming return of Christ, 99.9% of it is on the “what,” and only an infinitesimal fraction on the “so what”. But in the Bible, the “what” of Christ’s soon and certain return is always used to fuel the “so what” of how to live in these last days. And Carson’s book reflects that biblical emphasis that is so lacking elsewhere.

Even if you’re wary of theological titles as slow-going, hard-to-read books, this is not a book to be intimidated by. It will take you an hour to read if you’re a fast reader, two if you’re slow; and that will be an hour or two well-spent. You will learn something, and it will be something very practical and of foundational importance for what really is the best way to spend this fleeting life on earth.

Available at Monergism Books.

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