This is not a good book. It is a great book and by the time I sat down to review the book it had been selected as one of the best books of the year by Christianity Today. I did not read that review I already had formed my opinion.

Except for what seemed a strange title the book is a reminder of what evangelical protestants are about. I use that term intentionally because that is a term used by the author and because it reminds the reader there are other kinds of Protestants.

The author begins by asking if the church should repent or retrieve the reformation. There are those who do not see the legitimacy of the whole reformation and would call for repentance and ask that we rejoin the flock. (Full Disclosure: I am an evangelical protestant). As a matter of fact while I was reading this book I was listening to the radio on a long trip at night and the speaker referred to Martin Luther as a hesiarch, the founder of the Lutheran heresy. So there are still those who do deny the legitimacy and authority of all things Protestant.

While acknowledging there are reasons for concern in movement that came after Babel after the reformation) the author seeks to provide balance, grounding and unity among all those who align with Protestantism. To do this he urges us to retrieve the 5 Reformation solas (Latin for sole, alone)

The five solas of the reformation are Sola Gratia, Sola Fide, Sola Scriptura, Sola Christus and Sola Deo Gratia. Kevin Van Hoozer develops each one of the Solas in detail and gives the implications for Christians. Quoting David Wells he asserts that "fidelity to the church must be measured by the degree of the church's fidelity to the gospel" and he believes the retrieving all the solas will restore what balance has been lost.

The book ends with an extensive bibliography and 762 footnotes.

I have attended Protestant churches in four countries and I grew up in Protestant Churches as a pastor's kid then I became a pastor. I may not be free of bias. However, I have to admit that all that passes for protestant is not necessarily biblical or true to the solas. Kevin Van Hoozer's book may provide a good place to look for the continuing reformation.

Biblical Authority After Babel:Retrieving the Solas in the Spirit of Mere Protestant Christianity by Kevin Vanhoozer maybe one of the most important books on the impact of the Reformation and biblical interpretations to come out in recent years. As noted by Vanhoozer the Reformation is not and has not been without its critics and opponents. There is a vocal crowd that believes the Reformation is at fault for rampant Western individualism and the fractured nature of Christianity. As someone who is appreciative of the Reformers and the work of the Reformation I am grateful for Vanhoozer's work in this book.

Vanhoozer begins his work by addressing the criticism that has circled around the Reformation. Looking at those who see the Reformers as the cause of the evils of modernity. This work is retrieval theology at its best. As Vanhoozer states in his introduction he is retrieving the priesthood of the believer in regards to biblical interpretation and catholicity as expressed in Mere Protestant Christianity. I agree with Vanhoozer when he says in the introduction, “The kind of Protestantism that needs to live on is not the one that encourages individual autonomy or corporate pride but the one that encourages the church to hold fast to the gospel, and to one another.”In this work he draws on the solas of the Reformation in addressing issues pertaining to interpretive authority, the church, and the priesthood of the believer.

With the 500th anniversary of the Reformation drawing near Vanhoozer has provided a book that ably defends the good that came from the Reformation, responding to the critiques surround' the Reformers and building upon their contribution with an eye to future developments in Protestantism. In light of current trends in evangelicalism such as individualism, isolationism as seen in the growing nondenominational movement, and an ecumenical spirit which is critical of the Reformation I can think of no better book for pastors and leaders to read on these important issues.

Disclosure: I received an ecopy of the book from the publisher for the purpose of reviewing it. The opinions I have expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review.