• Positive signs in Europe
• The Commentary
  Should the worst happen...
• The well-being agenda
  A biblical view of lessons in happiness
• The Lewis revival
  60 years ago saw the end of a move of God on the Isle of Lewis
• Adam, where are you?
  Dr. John Peet asks: 'Is the biblical Adam a scientifically valid concept?'
• Communication in the church
  Understanding our single and married differences
• Any volunteers?
  Calling for wholeheartedness in our devotion to Christ
• Unapologetic Christianity
  A day at the museum
• The Music Exchange
  Love that drummer!
• Notes to growing Christians
  Olympic Christians
• Crossing the culture
  Atwood's ambiguous words
• The Third Degree
  Students on a mission
• Monthly youth leaders column
  Caring for the troops

other articles

• Eric Liddell: finish the race
• The future of the global church
• Marvel Avengers assemble
• 1 and 2 Thessalonians - A practical commentary
• Hit by friendly fire - What to do when fellow believers hurt you
• What the Bible teaches about the Trinity
• Preacher, keep yourself from idols
• The ethics of evangelism - A philosophical defence of ethical proselytising and persuasion
• The first letter to the Corinthians
• The other F-word - Faith, the last taboo
• Charles Simeon - An ordinary pastor of extraordinary influence
• The message of the Word of God
• John Stott, the humble leader
• 'Dear Abdullah' - Eight questions Muslim people ask about Christianity
• Thinking. Loving. Doing. - Glorify God with heart and mind
• Notes for the journey - Following Jesus, staying South Asian
• The crises of Christ - A study on the life of Christ
• What do you think of me? What do I care?
• In the shadow of the sword - The battle for global empire and the end of the Ancient World
• Pastor-teachers of old Princeton

The life abundant

THE CRISES OF THE CHRIST
A study on the life of Christ
By G. Campbell Morgan
Crimond Classics. 347 pages. £11.99
ISBN 978 0 954 992 262

G. Campbell Morgan (1863-1945) wrote this book at the beginning of the 20th century. Bible scholar and teacher, he concluded his ministry serving with Dr. Lloyd-Jones at Westminster Chapel, London.

The Crises of the Christ is Campbell Morgan’s Life of Christ. The book is divided into what are called seven ‘books’. Each of these books is divided into a number of chapters. The seven books are: His Birth, Baptism, Temptation, Transfiguration, Crucifixion, Resurrection and Ascension. The book commences with a chapter on The Need for Christ and concludes with The Result — Man Redeemed. In all, there are 33 chapters.

The teaching matter of the book is scholarly and detailed and in sermonic style. First, he tells us what the headings are and then gives it to us in great detail. For example, in one of the chapters on the Temptation of Christ, he tells us he will deal with The Time of Temptation, The Place of Temptation and The Agent of Temptation. I found the chapters on the Suffering of Christ and the Representative Crowd at the cross particularly helpful. Campbell Morgan makes applications to Christians and occasionally there is an evangelistic application. The language is inevitably old fashioned, Victorian and flowery. The print is small and there are some printing errors.

If serving today, Campbell Morgan would be viewed as strongly evangelical, but some of the trends and errors he faced are not quite the ones we have today. This book is not an easy read; however, if you have time and patience to wade through the book, you will be instructed and rewarded. There can be no better subject than the life of Christ!

John Skull,
retired minister still preaching and also supporting Shepherd Drive Baptist Church, Ipswich