This week’s author interview is with P. W. Smuts, author of Mark by the Book: A New Multidirectional Method for Understanding the Synoptic Gospels.

• Question #1 – Tell us a little bit about yourself: where you’re from, family, job, personal interests, unique hobbies, what do you do in your spare time, etc.

I was born in ethnically-diverse South Africa to parents of European descent. Most of my life and ministry have been spent in the city of Cape Town located on the southern tip of the African continent. I have been married to my wife, Dagmar, for about 32 years. We met at the University of Cape Town where we were both students. We have four children, a boy and three girls, and a grandson.

I cannot pinpoint the exact day I was converted, but it was as a law student at the University of Cape Town that I began to grow as a Christian. It was in this context that I was introduced to the Reformed Faith and grew to love these great doctrines. It wasn’t too long after this that I made the transition from ‘law to grace’, so to speak, and after a number of years of Christian service, the Lord opened the door for me to do further theological studies in the States. During these years of study my grasp of the Word of God and the Christian Faith was broadened and deepened.

Upon my return to South Africa in 1996, I was appointed to the Faculty of the Bible Institute of South Africa where I have been serving the Lord ever since. The Bible Institute is a small well-known evangelical Bible college that recently celebrated its 90^th Anniversary. It attracts students from all over the world, but primarily from Africa, who want to be equipped for cross-cultural ministry on the mission field or service in the local church. It is my privilege to teach the students hermeneutics, homiletics and NT Greek.

I enjoy reading (the Bible and books rather than blogs), watching movies (historical dramas), swimming at the local gym for exercise, and experiencing the outdoors in scenic Cape Town and the Western Cape area.

 

• Question #2 – What inspired you to write this book, about this topic?

Mark by the Book advocates, describes and applies a unique interpretive approach to the Synoptic Gospels that I have developed – by combining bits and pieces from others – and have taught with great benefit in the classroom context with my students. This classroom experience inspired me, in part, to write the book. So this book is really the product of my many years of studying and teaching the Gospels in an academic context. It combines my interest in both hermeneutics and the Synoptic Gospels.

 

• Question #3 – Favorite sport to watch? Why? My favorite sport’s team?

I was an active sportsman growing up, and continue have a general interest in watching sports of all kinds – rugby, soccer, tennis, golf, Olympic athletics and swimming, etc. However, my favorite sport to watch is cricket. Why? Contrary to popular perception, cricket can be a very exciting game to watch. It can dramatically change from one ball to the next, with the outcome, on occasion, uncertain until the last ball has been bowled. It is not good for one’s nerves! My favorite sport’s team? I support our South African national cricket (‘Proteas’), and rugby (‘Springboks’) teams.

 

• Question #4 – If you have a favorite book of the Bible, what is it and why?

A number of NT books would be on my short-list of favorites, including John, Hebrews, and Revelation. But pride of place goes to Romans. Arguably it is one of the most influential pieces of literature in history, a letter that God has used to convert the likes of Augustine, Luther and Wesley. I love this letter because of its Gospel focus, God-centeredness and encouragement for the Christian reader. Let me give you just one example of this encouragement: If Romans is likened to a crown, one writer describes Romans 8 as the jewel in this crown; it begins with no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus (v.1), it ends with no separation for those in Christ Jesus (v.39), and everything in between happens for their good (v.28)!

 

• Question #5 – Do you have a favorite quote? What is it and why?

The following quote is one of my favorites: The main thing is to make sure that the main thing remains the main thing. In the modern world, it is easy to get distracted by trivia and secondary issues. In life and ministry, this quote challenges me to keep focus on the essentials of the Christian faith – the Triune God, the Gospel and glory!

 

• Question #6 – Do you have a favorite author? What book are you reading now?

I have benefited from the writings of many authors over the years, and I stand on the shoulders of countless others in my teaching and preaching ministry. However, I have never been drawn to one specific author who I could identify as my favorite. The focus of my reading and study is the Scriptures and biblical scholarship (commentaries, etc.), although I do read more broadly. Typically I juggle reading 2 or 3 books at the same time. One of the books I am working through at the moment with benefit is Klyne Snodgrass’, Stories with Intent on the parables. Dennis Johnson’s, Him we Proclaim, and D. & J. Gibson’s (eds.) From Heaven He Came and Sought Her, are on my short list of books to read.

 

• Question #7 – What advice would you give to aspiring writers?

The art of writing has been described as rewriting. It is rare that you get it right first time. Keep rewriting until you do. I would also encourage any aspiring writer to speak to experienced authors they meet, seeking their advice about the writing process, identifying pitfalls to avoid, and securing a publishing contract, etc. I have found this to be invaluable in my own experience.

 

• Question #8 – At what time of day do you write most? Do you have a specific spot that you enjoy writing most?

As a full-time Bible college lecturer in the African context, I have many responsibilities, besides teaching and writing. So I find it difficult to safeguard a particular block of time each week just to write. When writing my book, I found it best to view myself as a full-time writer, using every spare moment throughout the day to write, while fitting in my other responsibilities as the need arose. This method enabled me to maintain the momentum necessary to complete the book in time for the publisher’s deadline. Some of the initial research and writing of my book was conducted in a seminary library during a sabbatical visit to the States. The balance of the process was completed in my office on campus, the spot where I enjoy writing most.

 

• Question #9 – Favorite flavor of ice cream?

I love American ice cream. Pistachio is a favorite. In South Africa one of my favorite flavors is English toffee frozen yoghurt. A quick anecdote: I was introduced to frozen yoghurt in a US airport many years ago when I first visited the States. I saw patrons eating what I assumed was ice cream. But when I attempted to order this ‘ice cream’, I was told ‘We don’t sell ice cream.’ Bewildered, I pointed and asked, ‘What’s that?’ ‘Frozen yoghurt’, I was told. ‘Really? . . . Never heard of it . . . Frozen yoghurt?! Are you serious?’, I asked. ‘OK, I’ll try some of that.’ I did, and the rest, as they say, is history.

 

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Want to learn more about Peter W. Smuts?

Visit the Bible Institute of South Africa’s website: http://bisa.org.za/

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This week’s author interview is with Richard Phillips, author of the following 19 P&R titles.

Reformed Expository Commentaries (he is also one of the two series editors):

• 1 Samuel
• Hebrews
• Incarnation in the Gospels (co-authored with Daniel Doriani and Philip Graham Ryken)
• John (2-Volume Set)
• Jonah & Micah
• Zechariah

Basics of the Faith Booklets:

• What Are Election and Predestination?
• What Happens After Death?
• What Is Atonement?
• What Is the Lord’s Supper?

Other Books:

• Chosen in Christ: The Glory of Grace in Ephesians 1
• Encounters with Jesus: When Ordinary People Met the Savior
• Faith Victorious: Finding Strength and Hope from Hebrews 11
• Holding Hands, Holding Hearts: Recovering a Biblical View of Christian Dating (co-authored with Sharon L. Phillips)
• Mighty to Save: Discovering God’s Grace in the Miracles of Jesus
• Saved by Grace: The Glory of Salvation in Ephesians 2
• The Church: One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic (co-authored with Philip Graham Ryken and Mark E. Dever)
• These Last Days: A Christian View of History (co-edited with Gabriel N. E. Fluhrer)
• Turning Your World Upside Down: Kingdom Priorities in the Parables of Jesus

• Question #1 – Tell us a little bit about yourself: where you’re from, family, job, personal interests, unique hobbies, what do you do in your spare time, etc.

I was raised in an Army family, so I moved all through my childhood. We were what I would call patriotic Protestants. My family was not Christian in a spiritually alive sense, but we attended church regularly and emphasized morality, patriotism, and duty. This made for a wonderful childhood in many ways. Ours was a very close-knit family that enjoyed working and playing together. My father was a tank colonel, so there were always things going on that are very interesting to a boy. Due to the Vietnam War, in which my father served for two years, there was also a sense of impending tragedy in the air. Many of my childhood friends’ fathers died and we attended an awful lot of funerals. So the patriotism, duty, and honor factors were very high in my upbringing. But there was a huge amount of love, fun, and excitement.

I met my wife 22 years ago at church. We have five children, which makes us a pretty active family. We home-school and our kids are quite active in church, sports, and music (to name the main activities). This year our oldest is a senior in high school, so it is pretty exciting working through the pre-college process with her. Our two boys (16 and 14) are playing on a home-school varsity football team (isn’t South Carolina great!) and that is exciting to me, since I played football as well. We are blessed to serve a church with a strong and loving community, so our kids are highly immersed in a Christian social circle in which my wife and I are pretty involved as well. It’s a lot of fun and we are grateful to God.

I was an Army officer until age 35, so I came into ministry later than most. I was converted at age 30 at Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia and by God’s providence I began preaching there regularly at age 39. For the last 15 years, I have been preaching God’s Word virtually every week, usually morning and evening. It was a privilege to serve as evening preacher at Tenth and then senior minister at First Presbyterian Church in Coral Springs, FL. But we found our home in Greenville, SC, where I am senior minister at Second Presbyterian Church. I am involved in a number of different Reformed organizations, including the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals, the Gospel Coalition, Westminster Theological Seminary, and the Gospel Reformation Network.

All this keeps me pretty busy!  Anything along the lines of hobbies mainly involves things with my children. We follow our sports teams pretty avidly (University of Michigan and the Boston Red Sox, mainly). And I am a writer – so I have no spare time for anything else!

 

• Question #2 – Which writers inspire you?

My writing mainly involves the exposition of Scripture, so my inspiration in writing runs in that direction. I am inspired by faithful servants of the Word who have written a large amount of material on a wide range of topics and texts, handling them all with faithfulness, skill, insight, clarity, and economy of style. My first inspiration in this regard was James Montgomery Boice, who I had the privilege of knowing intimately and with whom I shared many discussions about ministry, theology, and writing. When I think of other inspirations, I would include Martyn Lloyd-Jones for his insight and power, John Murray for his clarity and depth, and my close friend Phil Ryken for his regular, consistent excellence. These are the virtues to which I aspire: faithfulness, insight, clarity, and consistent excellence.

I would add a word to aspiring writers that they need to read voraciously. As a preacher and writer, I not only read dozens of commentaries weekly, but I also read theological books, church history, and published sermons (my favorite) for personal edification and spiritual fuel.

 

• Question #3 – Did you always enjoy writing?

Yes. In high school and college I enjoyed writing papers. As a young Army officer, I published articles on tactics and leadership in military journals. I think I have always felt a creative outlet in writing and have wanted to exercise that. It still thrills me to write, and especially to serve Christ’s Church in this way. After thirty books in print, I still greet each new arrival with an astonished joy that I have the privilege to write books and with a fervent desire that people would be genuinely helped by them. Writing is such hard work and takes so much time, that I do think you need to find a joy simply in the process of writing and editing.

 

• Question #4 – Do you have a favorite book that you have written?

My commentaries are particularly precious to me, as is the entire Reformed Expository Commentary series that I co-edit. I think my Hebrews commentary will always be dear to my heart, because it was the first full-length commentary I wrote and I dedicated it to Jim Boice as a way of expressing my desire to carry on his work. Also my Zechariah commentary, because I was aware that it would be a particularly valuable contribution to the literature. I am always excited about my most recent book, in this case my 2-volume commentary on the Gospel of John (ten years of my life went into that one). I am also really excited about the Revelation commentary that, Lord willing, I will publish in 2 or 3 years.

 

• Question #5 – How do you deal with writer’s block?

I don’t know that I experience writer’s block, per se. But there are plenty of times when I do not see the way forward – the right transition to the next topic, the proper organization of the material, a really excellent conclusion, etc. What I do is set the work aside, knowing it will be on my mind. I then may go for a drive, take a shower, or do some chores. I pray for God to give me insight so that I may serve him. Over and over, I find that God answers this prayer. Usually, it is while the subject is not at the forefront of my mind – but not absent either – that an insight will come that enables me to move forward. Sometimes, as well, the solution presents itself while I am dealing with a different ministry issue – pastoral counseling or a committee meeting – and that situation provides a context that helps me to organize my problem.

 

• Question #6 – Favorite sport to watch? Why? Favorite sport’s team?

College football. Raw passion and unbridled enthusiasm. Loyalty to family and alma mater. I graduated from the University of Michigan and I am (together with my sons) a fanatical follower of Michigan football and basketball.

 

• Question #7 – Favorite animal? Why?

The dog. Loyalty, love, faithfulness, devotion, playfulness and fun. The exact opposite of cats!

 

• Question #8 – Lord of the Rings or The Chronicles of Narnia? Why?

Lord of the Rings, by far. I enjoy Narnia, but it is much more pedantic – Lewis, as Tolkien complained, controlled the narrative to force a point on you. (This is not to deny the brilliance and beauty of Narnia!) Lord of the Rings is true literature, as a Christian worldview expresses itself in mythical form. I listen to the Lord of the Rings on audio once a year.

My favorite scene in Lord of the Rings? The coronation of Aragorn. As beautiful an artistic depiction of the exaltation of Christ as I have ever read: “Ancient of days he seemed and yet in the flower of manhood; and wisdom sat upon his brow, and strength and healing were in his hands, and a light was about him. And then Faramir cried: ‘Behold the King!”” That is wonderful beyond telling.

 

• Question #9 – What famous person (living or dead) would you like to meet and why?

My heart is particularly drawn to Bible figures. After our Lord, I really look forward to meeting Samuel, Jonathan, Jehoshaphat, Paul, and the writer of Hebrews (I’d like to know who he is). Notice how I put this – not that I would like to meet them but that I am going to meet them!

As for Christians in heaven, I look forward to these: Tyndale, Luther, Calvin, Lady Jane Grey, Lloyd-Jones, Spurgeon, B.M. Palmer, Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, George Washington, and Robert the Bruce.

Non-Christians I would enjoy meeting (here my military background comes out): Napoleon, Nelson, von Manstein, Belisarius, Pompey the Great, Leonidas, Ben Franklin, and David Ortiz.

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Interested in learning more about Richard Phillips?

• Visit his church’s website: spcgreenville.org

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