A worthwhile, if expected, read on the supremacy of Scripture. I appreciated the length and the author choosing to be concise instead of long winded as many are prone to be on this subject and in this genre. This would make a great gift for anyone: ministers and deacons especially. I'm making it a Father's Day gift for my dad.

5 stars

John MacArthur has written yet another amazing and biblically accurate book. I cannot say enough good things about this book . MacArthur is a great preacher. He has an amazing ability to explain Scripture without resorting to fluff or trying to be seeker sensitive.
I highly recommend this book. It would be the perfect book for a small group to read and discuss.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for a honest review.

Final Word is the kind of book most Christians need but I suspect few will truly benefit from. A strong authoritative wake-up call to treat Scripture as the accurate Word of God in an increasingly intolerant society, it tells it straight - 'unless the church makes an unpopular stand for Truth - there will be no church. Quoting Pastors who refuse to say 'the Bible says' Mr McArthur's book is a plea to'be careful if you think you are standing firm lest you fall'. True Chrianity is a life-long commitment to'be dedicated to God and hated by society. Mr McArthur discharges His duty to tell us that in a fatherly way. Thank you.

"Every attack on the Bible is an attack on divine truth and God's holy nature, no matter where the attack originates." - John MacArthur

In Final Word: Why We Need The Bible, Pastor MacArthur puts forth a solid case for the sufficiency, authoritative, infallible, and the effectiveness of Scripture for "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness," - 2 Timothy 3:16

As always, I enjoyed the simplicity and perspicuity of Pastor MacArthur's writing, which renders this book such a wonderful and necessary read in this day and age. It only has six insightful chapters replete with Scriptures reference that points us back to the importance and relevance of Bible. It is a good read for both new and seasoned believers and I highly recommend it!

Favourite quotes:

"The purpose of God's Word is to deposit life-transforming truth into the mind."

"Spiritual growth comes when we know the Word, when it shapes our convictions, and when we learn to long for the sustenance it alone can provide."

"In a world full of corrupting influence and contaminating ideas, there is only one source of the pure spiritual milk we require: Scripture. And we should hunger for it accordingly."

First sentence: Elizabeth Charles, the hymn writer who gave us “Praise Ye the Triune God,” was also a novelist.

In Final Word, MacArthur argues that even within the church the Bible is under attack. Many people--people who call themselves believers, people who attend church--are unable to put up a defense of the Bible, unable to articulate why the Bible is (still) important and (still) relevant. Believers of all ages and stages need a refresher course on the place the Word should have in their lives.

MacArthur reminds readers that the Bible has been under attack since Eve spoke with the serpent in Genesis. Satan's tactics have not changed. We are still vulnerable to his tactics, his attacks. Sadly, most believers deny there is even a battle to be fought. Spiritual warfare is not something most prepare for. We tend to be especially weak when unprepared.

He writes,
"The battle for the truth is the battle for the Bible, and in this fight God’s people cannot flinch. Biblical truth is under relentless and endless assault. And like Luther and the heroes of the early Reformation, we must meet the enemy head-on and be willing to stand and fight for the truth, especially when others avoid or even abandon truth when it becomes controversial."

Final Word is a short read; it has just SIX chapters. It may be short but it is super-satisfying. MacArthur is clear and straight-forward in this one. He defines terms that readers may be unfamiliar with. Every chapter relies on Scripture. Many chapters focus in on one or two specific passages of Scripture. MacArthur is an expositor even when he's writing. He will share Hebrew and/or Greek words and clarify the meaning of the text. He stays on task too.

I loved, loved, loved, LOVED John MacArthur's newest book, Final Word: Why We Need the Bible. This should come as no surprise to anyone. I love, love, love the Bible. Reading books written by people who also love, love, love the Bible is one of my favorite things.

Favorite quote:
"The purpose of God’s Word is to deposit life-transforming truth into the mind. We cannot know the truth of a passage until we understand the accurate interpretation of the passage. We need to be careful and thorough students of all Scripture, confident in its divine authorship and dependent on the Holy Spirit’s illuminating work in bringing us to a clear understanding of God’s revealed truth."