Chette: ah yes, I will continue to be a Berean - and thank you for the heads up here. :)

Luke: I like your practical approach. I think one of the commentaries I will pick up is the one on Gal-Col. :) I've been saved about 21 years and have (and do) eagerly devour God's Word, and books I can learn more about Him, or about His Word from. This forum has given me a perspective I've *never* had before and it's so thrilling to me! I am eager to hear what Dr. Ruckman has to say in multiple areas. As you stated though, the things pertaining to our Christian walk are the most important. It is far more important when we stand before him to have gotten our walk right then stand before Him with only our theology right. [By God's grace I pray we will stand before Him having both] ;)

Bro Parrish and Biblestudent: funny you should mention Genesis! I was reading in it this morning and was thinking about ordering that commentary. He has a very unique perspective!

Geologist: I have ordered (and am still awaiting) his book on dispensations - I was interested in Hebrews also. Is there anything you could tell me about it?

Cody: I am eager to read his commentary on Revelation too! So many choices - lol! Praise God! :) Did you find his commentary and perspective in Revelation markedly different than others you had heard or read? How much detail did he go into?

I praise the Lord for each of you. Thanks!

Genesis, Matthew, Acts, and Revelation are Ruckman's best commentaries and are good for helping you learn to rightly divide the word and keeping you from false doctrine which is just as important as practical living. His others do not compare to these four.

I have Ruckman's "The Kingdom of God vs The Kingdom of Heaven", but IMO "Eight Kingdoms" surpasses it for good Bible study.


http://www.amazon.com/Eight-Kingdoms.../dp/1892112620

I found it different because Dr. Ruckman believes what he is reading and doesn't spiritualize the verses that are hard to believe. He went into a lot of detail about each verse and uses a lot of cross references.

Okay, I've compiled my list of commentaries that I want to get from Dr. Ruckman - thanks so much!

Looks like for now I can only get one at a time, so...I decided to start with Genesis, then Col-Gal, Matthew, Hebrews and Revelation and John. If I am really blessed I'll be able to pick up Acts and Romans along the way too. :D

Man...Genesis and Revelation are both really good in my opinion. The practical vs doctrinal debate is dumb though. You need both. If you don't know the doctrine you can't be practical. Heck, when I started learning doctrine it motivated me in so many ways to serve God more. So if someone tries to make you feel "puffed up" if you like doctrine just keep reading anyhow. I had a Sunday school teacher a few years ago got our class into the doctrinal vs practical crap and ditched doctrine altogether. So many times have I heard "I know more Bible than I can live" as some type of pitiful attempt to avoid preaching/teaching doctrine. That spirit isn't of the Lord brother. Prove all things.

You better really watch someone when they start minimizing doctrine.

Remember that the Lord mentioned doctrine FIRST in 2 Timothy 3:16.

2 Timothy 3:16 (KJV)
16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

Is that the same Michael Pearl who teaches a selective form of sinless perfection?

In one of his tracts about pornography, he claims that any man that struggles with it or gives in to it is unsaved, without a doubt...

He also teaches this about Fathers who are in bondage to pornography. Now I dont agree with pornography, God forbid, but to teach that your sins will open up your children to attacks by devils on their bodies and souls is a bit much.



Source http://www.nogreaterjoy.org/articles...ell/?tx_ttnews[backPid]=72&tx_ttnews[sViewPointer]=3&cHash=3fcb4c3db6


Sorry to go off topic, but the above is worrying.

Is your belief that Pearl teaches "a selective form of sinless perfection" based on what someone else said or did you actually read his material and listen to his Bible studies and come to that conclusion?

I've said before and I'll say again I've never met or listened to anyone that I agreed with everything they said whether it be Pearl, Ruckman, Cloud or anyone else. Having said that I've read Pearl's commentary on chapters 1 through 8 of Romans and it's the absolute best I've seen (unless you're into reformed theology) and I've listened to several of his Bible studies on various books of the Bible and he does not teach any form of sinless perfection regardless of what David Cloud says. He's KJV only, dispensational and pretty much reflects what folks like Ruckman teaches in his Bible studies. Pearl does take a pretty hard stance against pornogrpahy. He regularly teaches a Bible study at a prison so he sees first hand the results of porno. I don't generally defend folks, but anyone who takes a stand for the KJV (Pearl, Ruckman, Cloud) I will put in t a good word for them.

Like I said before I have Ruckman's "Kingdom of God vs Kingdom of Heaven" book and its good, but Pearl's "Eight Kingdoms" is more indepth and has more scriptural references.

Beth, three things about Dr. Ruckman's Commentaries you have to be aware of:

1. His racist statements.
2. His denominational bias.
3. His taking commentary from other authors(as AW Pink in Genesis)without giving credit.

My favorites were I&II Timothy & Titus and his commentary on Hebrews, Gal-Col. was good also. The worst is probably Genesis. His comments on Shem, Ham, and Japeth would delight any Klansman. His Bible types of Joseph and Christ came straight out of AW Pink's commentary. His commentaries are good to consult but his KJV defense books are much better.

Grace and peace sister

Tony