Book Review
The Church
by Richard D. Phillips, Philip G. Ryken, and Mark E. Dever

What is the church? What is the church’s mission? Upon what was the church founded?

Can the church accurately answer these questions today? Some pastors and theologians say the church is dead, others say the church is no longer necessary in our culture, and yet others complain about their frustrations with the church they once loved. In a world full of “Christian” books and ideas espousing a variety of views in an attempt to answer these questions, the church is in desperate need of solid biblical answers.The Nicene Creed was drafted by our church fathers in A.D. 381 and described the church as “one holy catholic and apostolic church.” Three devoted theological churchmen, Richard Philips, Philip Ryken, and Mark Dever, examine this historic statement and explain how it ought to inform church ministry in The Church.

Phillips suggests the beginning of the church is contained in Peter’s confession of the Christ in Matthew 16:

Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “blessed are you Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Ma. 16:13-18).

Phillips concludes,

He (Jesus) does not assign this promise to the church growth programs that seek to build on things other than the great profession. But He speaks to every struggling pastor trying to teach unwilling people in difficult settings, and to every young Christian filled with zeal and seeking to make a difference for Christ, and to every body of elders trying to redirect their church body in a biblical way, that if only we will teach God’s Word, by which God reveals to sinful men and women the great profession of faith in His son, Jesus Christ, Jesus promises that He will build His church (p. 14).

Phillips, Ryken, and Dever examine the word of God as it relates to the phrase, “one holy catholic and apostolic church.” Ephesians 4:1-6 is explained with passion and Spirit-filled conviction in order to provide the reader with a glimpse of what the church fathers meant by “one.” 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 is searched to unearth the church fathers’ understanding of “holy.” Galatians 3:26-29 is vigorously studied to find the “catholic” aspect of the bride of Christ. Ephesians 2:19-22 is examined in order to demonstrate the “apostolic” facet of the church.

Readers will not find personal opinions based on experience or lists of new trendy ways to “do church” in this excellent work. Very simply, The Church is a strong call upon the body of Christ to be faithful and biblical. Because the ecclesiological system promoted within this work is thoroughly biblical, every pastor, elder, staff member, and lay person of the church universal should read it. The consequences of neglecting the truths set forth would be catastrophic for the bride of Christ.

Ryan Welsh, M.Div., is a graduate of Western Seminary and serves as Associate Pastor at Grace Baptist Church in Newberg, Oregon.