Without Exodus, we have an impoverished understanding of the nature of God, the achievement of the cross, the triumph of the resurrection and the identity of God's people.
With his trademark Christ-centered clarity, Tim Chester walks readers through Exodus, making its great themes thrillingly clear to those new to the book, and unearthing wonderful new surprises for those familiar with it.
You can read through this book as a normal book]] work through it as part of your daily Bible-reading routine using the questions for reflection at the end of each chapter]] or use it to help you teach this letter, whether in small groups or from the pulpit.
Dr Tim Chester is involved in The Crowded House, a church planting initiative in Sheffield, UK. He was previously Research & Policy Director for Tearfund UK, and has been published widely on prayer, mission, social issues and theology. He is married to Helen and has two daughters.
I am a book smart layman, but not a educated theologian by any stretch of the imagination. I am not going to do a review, discussing the details of material presented in this book.
We were doing a small group study of Exodus and I purchase this guide to help with my understanding of Exodus. We were using a prepared study guide from this book. I will say, that this book was not easy to get through. I encountered materials that I disagree with and questioned and discussed with home group members. I am not terribly familiar with Tim Chester and this is the first book I read by him.
If you are studying Exodus, this book may help with some of the deeper details of the book of Exodus. I think the author was reaching in some of his conclusions, but there is other material for the discerning reader that will help with the deeper meanings and symbolism of Exodus.
This was fantastic. Truly deepened my fascination for the Word and points to how Jesus is woven into every page of scripture. Blown away by the themes of creation and de-creation and re-creation represented in the garden and through the plagues & the intricate way the construction of the tabernacle so closely resembles Eden. It has made me more in awe of our God who is the author of this whole, grand story. I highly recommend this book as you study Exodus!!
Chester has a good, clear writing style. But this commentary wasn't as close to the text of Exodus as I had hoped. It departs too often from analyzing the text to theologizing from it. Peter Enns's volume in the NIV Application Commentary is still the best I've read on Exodus.
Overall good book. Chester’s insights on Exodus’ introduction, the burning bush narrative, and plagues are valuable. He takes a slightly sub reformed/presbyterian approach to the law/covenant (Ex. 20–24) that is too common amongst evangelicals today. But even here, Chester had some great insights. I simply think you can have the great insights he puts forth, while at the same time affirming a tripartite division of the law (which he denies), the distinctiveness of the 10 Commandments when compared to the rest of the law (he doesn’t acknowledge), and the perpetual nature of the moral law as summarized in the Decalogue (he, again, refutes). Chester writes, “the words of the law of Moses no longer apply to Christians.” The Westminster, Heidelberg, and Reformed Christians of old would like a word…
But overall, there is much to admire in the book. It’s readable, practical, and insightful. Chester provides a great introduction to Exodus.
You need to know that this is not a commentary - but not being a commentary has advantages! Sometimes commentaries (especially more technical ones), fail to see the wood from the trees, but Tim Chester does the complete opposite. He zooms out and considers Exodus in the light of the rest of scripture and how it applies to us today. I would suggest reading this alongside a commentary.
Es un libro maravilloso que nos muestra desde el antiguo testamento el plan de redención por medio de Jesucristo. Excelente para trabajar en grupos pequeños de conexión o como apoyo para profundizar en el devocional. Gracias a Dios que tenemos escritores tan sabios que nos llevan a la verdad del evangelio por medio de esta literatura.
The book of Exodus has some of the most exciting and touching passages in the Bible, but also some chapters of details that aren’t quite so inspiring to read. Our ladies’ Bible study at church used Exodus for You: Thrilling You with the Liberating Love of God, where Tim Chester shares insights to better help us get the most from Exodus. I didn't agree with every little point, but I benefited from the book. I especially liked the symbolism drawn from the tabernacle details.
So readable, some great insights. I used this as a devotional and must say it worked quite well. He does have a bit of a weird structure to chapters 31-40 but I suppose he had his reasons.
One of the most helpful commentaries/study guides I've read. I feel that I have a better grasp of the themes and lessons of Exodus as a result of using it.
I used this as my companion while leading a small group study on Exodus and it served me well. Grateful for Tim Chester's balance - he is mostly accessible but is not afraid to stretch the reader a bit. The study questions were excellent primers for our conversations. This is the second book I've read in the "... For You" series and I think they are excellent small group aides.
That said, I do have a complaint against the book - its materials and its formatting. The cover, the paper, and the binding are...well, they're awful. Cheap materials, cheaply made. I almost never consider the physical quality of a book, but this one was so poorly put together it honestly distracted me throughout. Also, it seems The Good Book Company did not assign an editor to this project. It is filled to the brim with grammar and punctuation errors and missing/nonsense words that cannot be accounted for merely by the difference between British and American English. Again, distracting at multiple points.
No estuvo mal pero esperaba algo más profundo, a modo de comentario bíblico. Me pareció más una guía devocional. Los capítulos en general se dividían en dos, una parte explicando el evento histórico y otra relacionándolo con Jesús. Eso me gustó porque ayuda a poner el éxodo de Israel en el contexto de la redención de la humanidad. También cada sección trae algunas preguntas para reflexionar.
Me costó que algunos capítulos abarquen muchos capítulos de Éxodo y otros menos. También sentí que en algunas cosas se exageró la relación de Éxodo con la re-creación. Es la primera vez que leo algo de teología sobre este libro asi que tendré que seguir meditando y estudiando si quizás la perspectiva del autor es la correcta.
Igualmente me pareció una lectura recomendable para acompañar el estudio de este libro de la Biblia.
I really like the "for you" series but the Exodus one has been such an encouraging and deep reading. Each day I read the Bible verses for one of the parts of each chapter, then I read that part and reflected on the questions as my personal time with God. I have really enjoyed this series as a way of guiding my devotionals. I always feel that I learn something deep and practical at the same time. Exodus for you is no exception and Tim Chester does an incredible job explaining the text and helping understand how Exodus points to God's full picture of salvation. I want to read it again because it was so good and deep I feel there are things I've missed out.
Not a traditional commentary, but a fantastic study of a book of the Bible too often overlooked as merely a history/law book. I read Chester's study concurrently with another, similar commentary on Exodus, but preferred this one a bit.
While I lean more dispensational, I felt that most of what Chester taught is not inconsistent with loose dispensationalism.
This is a great book for anyone wanting to see how the Old Testament looks forward to and anticipates Christ and his church, and forms a united message from Genesis to Revelation.
Exodus is a book of the Bible with some standout stories of the Lord’s faithfulness to his people, but also “boring” genealogies and lengthy, repetitive instructions on how to build a tabernacle. Yet, Tim Chester found a way to point out Jesus in every detail of Exodus and I could not recommend this book enough!! I will forever read Exodus and many other books of the Bible in a new light after reading Exodus For You.
I really enjoyed this popular-level commentary on Exodus. It's a fascinating book and one I hope to study in more depth, but as a readable and accessible guide with the aim of not just knowledge gain but application it ticks all of the boxes. There's many more in-depth studies on the themes in Exodus and the book as a whole but in terms of achieving the aims of the "For You" series I think Chester nails it and so 5/5.
First, this is not a commentary. That being said this a great book to walk beside you as you go through the book of Exodus. The thing I have enjoyed about this series of books is they ask better questions than most bible study books ask and if you consider them and answer them thoughtfully you will grow spiritually.
After reading this book and using it along side my Exodus reading as a devotional, I learned so much. I now see that the book of Exodus in a different light. Tim does a wonderful job not only explaining things in great detail, but also does it in an interesting and captivating way. I love the "For You" series of books. This one does not disappoint.
A must for anyone wanting to undestand Exodus better and prepared to change.
This book is both eye opening and thought provoking. It will help you appreciate the book of Exodus more deeply and how it points to God's salvation in Jesus. It will also challenge your thinking and behaviour.
Extremely helpful are the number of explanations showing the unity of the Bible in the parallels between God's presence in the Garden of Eden God's presence in the Tabernacle and all the way through to the renewed creation in the Book of Revelation where we once again will be enjoying a fully restored relationship with God
Such a helpful, easy-to-read companion to the incredible book of Exodus. I'm thankful for all the wisdom and insight Tim Chester shares in Exodus for You, and for all the reflection questions placed after each section to help you go even deeper on a personal level.
Fantastic resource- I used this while leading a Bible study, but so enjoyed it for my own study and growth. Meaty while remaining very readable, relatable and applicable while being very focused on understanding Scripture.
Basic but helpful commentary on Exodus. Was especially helpful for teenagers. Lots of good questions at the end of each section for reflection. Would be a good resource for a SG study, personal Bible study, or possibly for a family studying through Exodus together.