"This book represents a lifetime of theological
thinking about the significance of language:
about God’s involvement with language, the
nature of language itself from phonemes to
literary genres, and the diverse ways humans
interact with one another, and with God,
through language. Here one finds not only
a biblical but a systematic theology of language built on the insight that human language
reflects the triune God, sometimes in surprising ways. And Poythress includes significant
appendices analyzing language in postmodernism, translation theory, speech acts, deconstruction, and more"
- KEVIN J. VANHOOZER, Blanchard
Professor of Theology, Wheaton College
"Poythress does not merely claim that the discipline of linguistics allows a place for God,
or that a theistic worldview provides useful
context, or that engagement in such studies
is somehow useful to Christians. Rather, he
comes right in your face with the claims of
Christ: God is not merely a possibility, not
merely a conclusion, but the starting point for
any understanding at all. The present book on
language shows that the foundation of human
speech is the speech between the Father, the
Son, and the Holy Spirit, so that without God
meaningful language would be impossible.
This book is essential for anyone who would
pursue an understanding of language. It is also
a great help to those troubled by contemporary
challenges to the very possibility of meaningful
communication"
- JOHN M. FRAME, Professor of Systematic
Theology and Philosophy, Reformed Theological
Seminary
"This insightful book is the product of a lifetime of profound thinking about the amazing
complexity of language as created by God to
reflect his own character and give him glory.
Poythress’s multiple perspectives on language
will enable readers to understand the Bible
more deeply and also to avoid the mistakes of
various non-Christian theories of language"
- WAYNE GRUDEM, Research Professor of
Bible and Theology, Phoenix Seminary
"Poythress’s detailed knowledge of both the
Bible and linguistics, his creative ability to
see connections, his determination to be true
to God, and his engaging personal manner
all come through in this book. I came away
with a fresh appreciation for our creaturely
dependence on the triune God, and renewed
thankfulness to God for his remarkable gift of
language"
- C. JOHN (“JACK”) COLLINS, Professor of
Old Testament, Covenant Theological Seminary
"Poythress takes the reader on a theological
adventure into the depths of language, showing that God’s gift of language reveals impor-
tant things about humankind and about God
himself. The complexities and sophistication
of human discourse reflect the inherently communicative nature of God, in whose image
people are created. The gifts of language and
Scripture are testimonies to God’s love and are
tools for sharing that love in every language
and culture of the earth"
- RICHARD BROWN, International
Translation Consultant, Wycliffe Bible Translators
"Poythress presents a compelling, textured biblical theology of human and divine commu-
nication. By looking through the right end of
the telescope, starting with God rather than
human understanding, Poythress plumbs the
depths of God’s role as guarantor and sustainer
and as the locus within which meaning and
interaction have their being. His treatment
analyzes multitudinous facets of God’s role
in language and how this role affects how we
should understand and practice communication"
- CHRIS SIMMONS, Executive Director, The
Gospel and Culture Project
