Making Beautiful People

Beauty. We chase it, define it, redefine it. We invest fortunes trying to keep it, to capture that elusive glow. Every culture has its own ideal, yet we all whisper the same idea: beauty lies in the eye of the beholder. But what if the ultimate beholder sees beauty differently?

David Gooding shows us the big picture of what Paul is saying in his letter to Titus. Here we discover God’s secret to true radiance—not a glow that fades, but a goodness that lasts. He’s shaping people who love what is good and delight in doing it. This is beauty crafted by his mercy, defined by his grace, and sustained by his love. God’s masterpieces are people made truly beautiful from the inside out.

David W. Gooding (1925-2019) was Professor of Old Testament Greek at Queen's University, Belfast and a member of the Royal Irish Academy. He taught the Bible internationally and lectured on both its relevance to philosophy, world religions and daily lifeHe published scholarly studies on the Septuagint and Old Testament narratives, as well as expositions of Luke, John 13-17, Acts, Hebrews and the New Testament's Use of the Old Testament.His expositions of Scripture are enhanced by what F. F. Bruce once called David Gooding's 'rare combination of gifts: spiritual insight, classical learning and literary appreciation'. Yet his insights into the wisdom and love of God owe at least as much to his deep desire to know the Saviour he had trusted in his youth and whose word he has found, throughout his intellectual and personal life, to be true. His work continues to influence the public teaching and private ministries of men and women throughout the world, some well-known and many more unknown.