10 of those

The care evidenced in every letter in this book reveals a Christian who not only took seriously the questions he had been asked, but also a believer who desired to share the richness and depth of his learning for the spiritual benefit of his enquirers. The result is a rich treasure house of spiritual insight and balanced scholarly analysis. In his response to the subject of one of the letters, David Gooding says, ‘I do not ask these questions in any spirit of hostile criticism but because I want to take your scholarship seriously. But even more importantly, I want to take you seriously.’ In this we see scholarly critique, genuine pastoral care and thoughtfulness combined in equal measure. In the course of an answer to another he says: ‘I do not claim to understand everything said in the Bible about our Lord, but I start by believing everything it says, and where I do not understand what it means I pray for further light.’ In such correspondence there is warm recognition that Christians can wrestle with eternal truth, and that this can be done graciously, recognising in each other their love for the Lord Jesus.’– From the Foreword

This collection of more than two hundred letters from David Gooding’s many years of correspondence helps to convey something of the man that he was, but its greater value is in the lasting ability of these letters to communicate the wisdom, power and comfort of the Word of God, which shaped both the man and the lives of those with whom he shared himself.

David W. Godding was Professor of Old Testament Greek at Queen’s University Belfast and a member of the Royal Irish Academy. He taught the Bible internationally and lectured on both its authenticity and its relevance to philosophy, world religions and daily life. He published scholarly articles on the Septuagint and Old Testament narratives, as well as expositions of Luke, John, Acts, Hebrews, the New Testament’s Use of the Old Testament, and several books addressing arguments against the Bible and the Christian faith. His analysis of the Bible and our world continues to shape the thinking of scholars, teachers and students alike.

"He had the gift from God of meeting you just where you were."– Rose Roe

"These letters show him to be a careful, scholarly and extremely lucid Bible teacher of the best sort—one who conducts the reader into the text."– Dr. Tim Grass