Against the Flow: The inspiration of Daniel in an age of relativism

by John C Lennox

Overview

Daniel's story is one of extraordinary faith in God lived out at the pinnacle of executive power. It tells of four teenage friends, born in the tiny state of Judah about twenty-six centuries ago, but captured by Nebuchadnezzar, emperor of Babylon. Daniel describes how they eventually rose to the top echelons of administration. Daniel and his friends did not simply maintain their private devotion to God; they maintained a high-profile witness in a pluralistic society antagonistic to their faith. That is why their story has such a powerful message for us. Society tolerates the practice of Christianity in private and in church services, but it increasingly deprecates public witness. If Daniel and his compatriots were with us today they would be in the vanguard of the public debate. What was it that gave that ancient foursome, Daniel and his three friends, the strength and conviction to be prepared, often at great risk, to swim against the flow?

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780857216212
Publisher:	Lion Hudson
Publication date:	03/20/2015
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	436
Sales rank:	339,800
Product dimensions:	8.30(w) x 5.50(h) x 1.40(d)

About the Author

John C. Lennox MA PhD DPhil DSc is Emeritus Professor of Mathematics at the University of Oxford and Emeritus Fellow in Mathematics and the Philosophy of Science at Green Templeton College. He has lectured on religion and science at many prestigious institutions around the world, and has publicly debated Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens, among others. He is also the author of many books including Cosmic Chemistry, God and Stephen Hawking and Friend of God: The Inspiration of Abraham in an Age of Doubt.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments xi

Why We Should Read Daniel 1

Daniel 1

1 A Matter of History 4

2 City of Idols 25

3 A Question of Values 33

4 A Question of Identity 40

5 The Resolution and the Protest 57

6 The World-View of Babylon 64

7 The Manner of the Protest 76

8 The Logical Structure of Daniel 83

Daniel 2

9 Dreams and Revelations 88

10 A Succession of Empires 104

Daniel 3

11 When the State Becomes God 136

Daniel 4

12 The Testimony of Nebuchadnezzar 152

Daniel 5

13 The Writing on the Wall 172

Daniel 6

14 The Law of the Medes and Persians 194

15 The Law of the Jungle 213

Daniel 7

16 The Four Beasts and the Son of Man 224

Daniel 8

17 The Vision of the Ram and the Goat 254

Daniel 9

18 Jerusalem and the Future 279

19 The Seventy Weeks 294

20 The Seventieth Week 301

Daniel 10

21 The Man above the River 311

Daniel 11

22 The Book of Truth 324

Daniel 12

23 The Time of the End 339

Appendix A The Nature of the Kingdom of God 356

Appendix B Translation of the Text of the Cyrus Cylinder 371

Appendix C The Structure of the Book of Daniel 376

Appendix D Daniel 11 and History 378

Appendix E The Dating of the Book of Daniel 399

Questions for Reflection or Discussion 401

Bibliography 409

Notes 413

Index 417

Text Acknowledgments 432

Picture Acknowledgments 434

Editorial Reviews

"Few parts of Scripture are more conscious of the clash between the wisdom of God and the wisdom of the world than the Old Testament book of Daniel. Few authors today are more expert at analysing and articulating both than John Lennox. It is a masterful combination, and the result is extraordinary."-- (03/27/2015)

"I cannot think of a more important book for a secular, pluralist age. John Lennox challenges Christians to dare to be like Daniel, who witnessed boldly at the highest levels in a nation that did not share his faith. This book is a huge encouragement to all Christians who long to live faithfully and usefully for God in a hostile world."-- (03/27/2015)

"I read everything John Lennox writes because of his amazing blend of rigorous scholarship with practical insights and applications for all of us. You cannot afford to miss this important book! Read it, then pass it on to a friend."-- (03/27/2015)

"John Lennox has a unique gift as a Bible teacher. He applies text to today's world and its prevailing philosophies in penetrating ways. This learned exposition of Daniel shows how the book offers powerful critiques of the modern idolatries, whether atheist or secularist. Every reader of this volume will see the depth and coherence of the book of Daniel in a new way."-- (03/27/2015)

"John Lennox has done it again. Combining deep thought, pervasive research and a keen eye on contemporary Western culture, Lennox has managed to draw tight, informative parallels between Daniel's life and circumstances and the contemporary believer's life and circumstances. In my view, the most interesting point in Against the Flow is Lennox's point that while embedded in the top echelons of a pluralistic culture growingly hostile to biblical religion, Daniel did not rest content to shrink his witness to one of personal piety. Instead, Daniel maintained public engagement with the ideas and practices extant in his day. Finally, Lennox offers wise advice and practical application for how we can become modern-day Daniels. I highly recommend this book."-- (03/27/2015)

"This book is an outstanding example of our responsibility both to understand God's Word and the culture in which we live, and then to make the connections between the two. John Lennox is uniquely gifted to help us do this, as he addresses the big themes of God's work in history, the place of morality, the nature of humankind, the challenges to faith, the trustworthiness of scripture, and the call to proclaim the truth whatever the cost. As a Bible teacher, a scientist, and a courageous disciple of Christ, John Lennox has provided us with an extraordinary resource - I wholeheartedly recommend this remarkable book."-- (03/27/2015)

From the Publisher

"I cannot think of a more important book for a secular, pluralist age. John Lennox challenges Christians to dare to be like Daniel, who witnessed boldly at the highest levels in a nation that did not share his faith. This book is a huge encouragement to all Christians who long to live faithfully and usefully for God in a hostile world.

Amy Orr-Ewing

John Lennox has a unique gift as a Bible teacher. He applies text to today’s world and its prevailing philosophies in penetrating ways. This learned exposition of Daniel shows how the book offers powerful critiques of the modern idolatries, whether atheist or secularist. Every reader of this volume will see the depth and coherence of the book of Daniel in a new way.

Peter J. Williams

This book is an outstanding example of our responsibility both to understand God’s Word and the culture in which we live, and then to make the connections between the two. John Lennox is uniquely gifted to help us do this, as he addresses the big themes of God’s work in history, the place of morality, the nature of humankind, the challenges to faith, the trustworthiness of scripture, and the call to proclaim the truth whatever the cost. As a Bible teacher, a scientist, and a courageous disciple of Christ, John Lennox has provided us with an extraordinary resource – I wholeheartedly recommend this remarkable book.

Jonathan Lamb

"Few parts of Scripture are more conscious of the clash between the wisdom of God and the wisdom of the world than the Old Testament book of Daniel. Few authors today are more expert at analysing and articulating both than John Lennox. It is a masterful combination, and the result is extraordinary.

John Dickson

I read everything John Lennox writes because of his amazing blend of rigorous scholarship with practical insights and applications for all of us. You cannot afford to miss this important book! Read it, then pass it on to a friend.

Rick Warren

John Lennox has done it again. Combining deep thought, pervasive research and a keen eye on contemporary Western culture, Lennox has managed to draw tight, informative parallels between Daniel’s life and circumstances and the contemporary believer’s life and circumstances. In my view, the most interesting point in Against the Flow is Lennox’s point that while embedded in the top echelons of a pluralistic culture growingly hostile to biblical religion, Daniel did not rest content to shrink his witness to one of personal piety. Instead, Daniel maintained public engagement with the ideas and practices extant in his day. Finally, Lennox offers wise advice and practical application for how we can become modern-day Daniels. I highly recommend this book.

J. P. Moreland