The Portable Seminary | David Horton, ed.
David Horton, ed. The Portable Seminary: A Master’s Level Overview in One Volume. Bethany, 2006. 784 pp.
Take your theological education to the next level without the time, expense, and formality of seminary. Discover all the major topics in a typical seminary master’s program authoritatively taught by respected professors, authors, and leaders. This introduction to a biblical studies degree is ideal for the layperson or anyone in vocational ministry who lacks the time or finances to attend classes, who lives where formal training is unavailable, or whose previous education is primarily secular. Study what you want, when you want. Also useful as a handy one-volume reference.
In The Portable Seminary you’ll study surveys of the Old and New Testaments, systematic theology, biblical languages, church history, missions, ethics, Christian education . . . and more.
The distinguished international faculty includes Robert G. Clouse, Kenneth O. Gangel, Norman L. Geisler, Julie Gorman, Alister E. McGrath, A. Scott Moreau, Mark A. Noll, Bruce L. Shelley, Robert H. Stein, Tite Tiénou, John R. W. Stott, Ravi Zacharias, . . . and many more!
Author: CBP Bio
Excerpts: TOC | Intro (or here)
Reviews: Amazon | CBD | LibraryThing
David Horton’s Portable Seminary is a truly unique work, which I’m glad to recommend. It’s Bible survey, theology, biblical languages, hermeneutics, church history, missions, apologetics, ethics and more, all in one volume, drawing on top experts in each field. Along with its amazing coverage of essential subjects, it’s well written, concise, and contains helpful recommendations for additional study. What’s not to like? —Randy Alcorn, Bestselling Author & Director of Eternal Perspective Ministries
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Extras:
- ThePortableSeminary.com
- Press Release
- Interview with David
- Why Study Theology?
- Church History: What’s in It for You?
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Andrew
I recently procured a copy of The Portable Seminary via ILL. I just spent an hour or so thumbing through it.
Thoughts:
1. some great contributors, but some not-so-great ones as well (many without Ph.D.s—and this is supposed to be a seminary faculty!)
2. cheesy format, not academic (double spacing throughout, end notes, does not indicate the author of each chapter in the TOC—only at the end of each chapter)
3. consists almost completely of reprinted material from various books and articles
4. imbalanced: case in point—5 pages for the chapter on “The Doctrine on Salvation,” but 58 pages to “Introduction to Missiology,” 20 pages to “Christian Leadership,” 39 pages to “Christian Education”
5. overall impression: interesting book, will do some good, not impressive, disappointingly shallow, not highly recommended, definitely does not substitute for a master’s education!
Jun 6th, 2007 11:02 am
David
Re: Andrew’s comments on The Portable Seminary:
Nice to hear you found the book interesting. but spending “an hour or so thumbing through it” clearly did not leave a very accurate impression.
1. Many contributors without Ph.D.s? Of 63 contributors, all have graduate degrees, and only 7 do not have earned doctorates. That ratio compares favorably with many colleges and universities.
2. Since the book is not aimed at academic readers, but rather those unable to avail themselves of academic opportunity, or those desiring a handy one-volume reference work, an academic format seems unnecessary and possibly counterproductive. The book is not so much designed to impress as to be useful.
3. Much of the material is indeed compiled from previously published sources–and written by highly qualified scholars. The point was to gather relevant, useful material into one volume.
4. There is no way to please everyone in terms of balance. this is an overview, after all, not an exhaustive treatment of each subject. But 135 pages are devoted to Theology (including soteriology), 46 pages (not 58) for Missiology, etc.
5. Disappointingly shallow? With “overview” in the subtitle and “introduction” clearly stated on the book’s cover, one wonders what was expected.
Does not substitute for a master’s education? Of course not! The Introduction specifically states that it is not intended to.
Jun 20th, 2007 12:15 am
Jen
Just to add to the previous responses. I am a Christian woman doing a bible study with two other woman once a week for a year long commitment. We just recently started this book as our latest study. It is full of information that is useful for the new and experienced Christian, interested in finding out about historical Christianity and Theology as well. The recommended books at the end of each chapter may go into detail a bit more on specific topics and we find it perfect that it is given as an option to go deeper into a topic that may not go so deep in the chapter itself. It gives us the flexibility to choose what we want to study in full detail and what we want to just touch on or be introduced to. Great also for the new believer trying to understand the different topics within the faith, such as apologetics, escatology, missionology, reformed theology, puritanism etc… Clearly nothing shallow about this book. Great read so far!
Jan 15th, 2009 5:07 pm