Hold Fast the Faith: A Devotional Commentary on the Westminster Confession of 1647, Matthew EverhardPLC Publications, PO Box 2210, Lenoir, NC 28645, www.layman.org
Copyright: 2012
ISBN: 978-1934453100; $11.99
Review by Rev. Dr. Michael Philliber
How do you bring theology and the spiritual disciplines together? Often, in personal discussions, theology and doctrine are disparaged by teachers and the taught so that the devotional can be developed. Usually this is heard in the notion that head knowledge must be trumped by heart knowledge. Yet Matthew Everhard has recently made a masterful attempt at pulling together the two in his delightful work, “Hold Fast the Faith: A Devotional Commentary on the Westminster Confession of 1647”, a 296 page paperback meant for theological students, parishioners and pastors.
Everhard takes up the 1647 version of the Westminster Confession of Faith, a document of some weight and significance for Reformed Christians. His choice of this version of the Confession, over other ones, makes his book useful for the various flavors of Presbyterians in the United States and throughout the West. But the fact that he has even selected to spend so much time, ink and paper reflecting on the Confession is noteworthy. The author insightfully remarks, “( . . . ) confessions and creeds are to help assure us that the doctrinal faith that we articulate today has not subtly changed over time by being subject to the warping influence of secular society” (5). Beyond the Biblical validity for creeds and confessions, this point should hold great weight for 21st Century Christians.
Read more at http://mphilliber.blogspot.com/2013/07/book-review-hold-fast-faith-devotional.html