As a teacher in secondary school I'm always looking for ways to tie Literature into other areas and this book does a great job of helping with that especially since it uses characters beloved by so many. The author did a wonderful job of taking a complex subject and turning it into something you can actually enjoy on a sunny afternoon not to mention help spin off lesson plans!

This book had great potential. The author used many examples form the Lord of the Rings text and research about Tolkien to draw Christian parallels, but it seemed a little long for the content itself, like the same thing was reiterated. The idea of having other scholars respond to the chapters was a good one, but those responses were a bit lackluster compared to the author's text. For anyone who has recently finished reading the trilogy, or someone like me, who has not read it in a while, these parallels are still easily understood.

As someone who loves Lord of the Rings and looking for Gospel echoes in the stories we tell, this book just ticks all the boxes. I really enjoyed how Philip Ryken goes through the Prophet, Priest and King characters and at each stage reveals how they echo and represent Christ. It felt like a book rich in theology and storytelling. A very enjoyable read.

I found this book immensely enjoyable to read, but am giving it only 3 stars because I disagree with a major part of the premise and some of the conclusions that Ryken reaches. I enjoy Tolkien's Middle Earth books (I've read all of the major ones at least once, some several times), so I picked up this book by Ryken. The book itself consists of three lectures by Ryken, followed by brief responses. The format of the book was a little clunky; the responses added little to the overall topic. Ryken's lectures were fascinating and engaging, but I disagreed with some of his conclusions. Ryken compares the three main protagonists of the LOTR (Gandalf, Frodo, and Aragorn) to Christ's three offices of prophet, priest, and king. The comparison between Gandalf and the office of prophet works fairly well, as does the connection between Aragorn and biblical kingship. Where Ryken begins to stretch things, though, is in relating Frodo to the office of priest. There's not much to go on, so eventually Ryken tries to settle for the Hobbits portraying the priesthood of the believer. This comparison is still a bit much; in addition, it's entirely off topic for a lecture about Christ the great High Priest. Also, Ryken makes application at the end of each lecture to his own office as a college president, but application there seems either unnecessary or misdirected.

Despite these flaws, I enjoyed this book because of its engagement with Tolkien's literary themes. If you enjoy Tolkien, you will get something out of this book. I received a digital copy of this book for free from the publisher and was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I express in this review are entirely my own.

I really enjoyed the insights that the author gave about how JRR Tolkien’s characters and Middle Earth itself are viewed by Christians.
“In short, Jesus Christ saves the world through his royal, priestly, and prophetic ministry.”
This identification with Jesus is accomplished by Tolkien’s use of Gandalf the (Grey)Wizard because of his identification with Frodo and those who help him in his quest until he saves his friends by battling in a mine and falling into an endless hole and dying, then being resurrected as Gandalf the White.
You will enjoy Tolkien’s description of himself as a Hobbit, he likes trees and uncultivated farmland, he smokes a pipe, he likes ornamental waistcoats, he has a child’s sense of humor, and he likes to stay up late and get up late.
You will enjoy Tolkien’s and other people’s insights about His books and characters as you read this book, you will also think differently about His books and the movies that were made of them.

Philip Ryken gave a series of lectures on J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings. The lectureship series was the Hansen Lectureship at the Wade Center. The Wade Collection at Wheaton College focuses on the works of seven British authors: C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, Dorothy Sayers, George MacDonald, G.K. Chesterton, Charles Williams, and Owen Barfield.

In The Messiah Comes to Middle Earth, Ryken explores how there "are really three main Christ figures in The Lord of the Rings, and each one echoes a different aspect of the work of Christ—what theologians call his “threefold office” as prophet, priest, and king." Symbolizing Christ as a prophet, we have Gandalf. Symbolizing Christ as a priest, we have Frodo (and Sam). Symbolizing Christ as king, we have Aragorn. There is a chapter dedicated to each Christ-figure. Ryken pulls together several things: Tolkien's text, the church fathers' writings on Christ's role as prophet, priest, and kind, and Scripture itself. In addition, Ryken makes a case for relevance and application. How are Christians--leaders, pastors, believers--to live as prophets, priests, and kings? For example, he writes, "According to our various callings, we all have some responsibility to speak prophetic words, offer priestly service, and exercise kingly authority."