Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous in Ancient Israel

Haaretz has an interesting article entitled "Lifestyles of the rich and famous in ancient Israel" here. You will have to register to read the full article.

Self-Editing for Better Writing

I found this piece on the value of self-editing as a means to better writing to be helpful. 

Poetry Infographic

The following infographic is interesting even if it totally ignores biblical poetry.

A Hardcover Edition of the Satellite Bible Atlas

If you are in the market for a good Bible atlas, I would encourage you to take a look at the new hardcover edition of the Satellite Bible Atlas. This is a nice resource. BiblePlaces now has the hardcover edition for $28. You can also buy a 55" x 20" wall/door map for $7. (Do note that the map is folded not rolled.) You can combine the atlas and the map for $32 (a savings of $3).  You can order the atlas and/or map here.

Themelios 38.3

The latest edition of Themelios is out and available here. The main articles include:

1. D. A. Carson | EDITORIAL: The Hole in the Gospel
2. Michael J. Ovey | OFF THE RECORD: Liberty, What Crimes Are Committed in Thy Name?
3. Keith Ferdinando | Jesus, the Theological Educator
4. Gavin Ortlund | "The Voice of His Blood": Christ's Intercession in the Thought of Stephen Charnock
5. Robert Caldwell | The Ministerial Ideal in the Ordination Sermons of Jonathan Edwards: Four Theological Portraits
6. Melvin Tinker | Secularisation: Myth or Menace? An Assessment of Modern 'Worldliness'
7. Andrew David Naselli | PASTORAL PENSÉES: 12 Reasons You Should Pray Scripture

The Unique One: 18 Distinctives of Jesus Christ

My friend Cecil Price has just published The Unique One: 18 Distinctives of Jesus Christ. "In The Unique One, you will discover how:

• the Bible compares to other ancient documents
• Jesus Christ differs from the founders of other major religions
• both Old and New Testaments harmonize the identity of the Messiah
• major teachings of the Christian faith compare to other religions the words and works of Jesus can improve your life."

 You can get the book using this Amazon link.

Review of Preaching? Simple Teaching on Simply Preaching

Motyer, Alec. Preaching? Simple Teaching on Simply Preaching. Ross-shire: Christian Focus, 2013.

While this book is a about preaching, it is a bit different in its approach from other how-to volumes. It is mixture of preaching methodology and biblical exposition. In fact, expositions form a significant portion of the content. Also, unlike most texts on preaching, this one is more conversational in tone. It is like listening to an experienced preacher sharing his insights and advice. There is a logical progression in the order of the topics presented but I get a sense of disconnectedness and I am not sure what the appendices really do for this book (and these appendices are about 20% of the book). I am also a bit puzzled by the question mark in the title. What does it signify?

That being said, the patient reader will find plenty of sound advice about preaching and solid demonstrations of exposition. There is not much new here (as the author admits p. 8) but getting better at preaching often involves being reminded of the fundamentals. This is something that Motyer does well. The book is easy to read and the conversational tone makes one feel that author is talking with you and not merely at you. It is obvious that he cares deeply about preaching, preachers, and the Word of God. This fact alone should encourage one to give this volume a look.

Dr. Alec Motyer is a well-known Bible expositor and former principal of Trinity College, Bristol.

Thanks to Christian Focus Publications for providing the copy used in this unbiased review.

The State of Academic Publishing

Some readers might be interested in this in this article in Publishers Weekly about academic publishing and the recent AAR/SBL meeting. I guess I did my part in helping academic publishing to thrive, although I bought considerably less this year than in recent years.

Journal for the Study of the New Testament 36:2

The latest issue of the Journal for the Study of the New Testament is out. Here is a list of the articles and links to abstracts.

‘The Rock Was Christ’: The Fluidity of Christ’s Body in 1 Corinthians 10.4
Matthew Thiessen
pp. 103-126
http://jnt.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/36/2/103

(Why) Was Jesus the Galilean Crucified Alone? Solving a False Conundrum
Fernando Bermejo-Rubio
pp. 127-154
http://jnt.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/36/2/127

Apocalyptic and Covenant: Perspectives on Paul or Antinomies at War?
David A. Shaw
pp. 155-171
http://jnt.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/36/2/155

Taking the Jews out of the Equation: Galatians 6.12-17 as a Summons to Cease Evading Persecution
Alexander V. Prokhorov
pp. 172-188
http://jnt.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/36/2/172

Romans 4: A Critique of N.T. Wright
Jan Lambrecht
pp. 189-194
http://jnt.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/36/2/189

Two Possible Book Deals

Barnes & Nobel is offering a 30% off coupon through Sunday, December 1. This can turn out to be a good deal. Here are two examples to demonstrate what you might be able to do. 

N. T. Wright - Paul and the Faithfulness of God is listed at $53.93 or 39% off. This is already better than the $59 price offered at ETS/SBL. But when you add your 30% coupon, this drops the price to $37.75 or a 58% discount. You will probably have to pay your state sales tax but for those who live in Texas for example that would be $3.11. So it comes out to $40.86. But  since the total is over $25 it qualifies for free shipping. So the bottom line is that you get a 54% discount off the list price!

R. Bauckham, J. Davila, A. Panayalov - Old Testament Pseudepigrapha: More Noncanonical Scriptures is listed at $59.34 or 34% off. But if you use the 30% off coupon it drops the price to $41.54. Sales tax for those who live in Texas adds $3.54 for a total of 45.08 with free shipping. This is about 50% off which is still a better than the 40% discount offered at ETS/SBL.

To access the 30% discount enter the discount code BFRIDAY30 at checkout. Keep in mind that this coupon code can be redeemed only once per billing address.

Rahab's Lie

J. Carl Laney has a good discussion of the ethics of Rahab's lie (Josh 2:5). Laney notes that,

"Several key hermeneutical principles are helpful in responding to this question. First, it is important to remember that the Bible often records what God does not necessarily approve. Second, divine approval of an individual in one aspect or area of life does not mean there is divine approval in all aspects of character or conduct. Third, application should be made on the basis of what the Bible obviously blesses or commends, not every detail of the passage."

Read the rest of Laney's post here.

Guest Preaching Tips

See this blog post for eleven helpful and common-sense tips related to guest preaching opportunities. In the post, Brandon identifies the following eleven points.

1. Honor the senior pastor
2. Respect the time limit
3. Arrive early
4. Stay late
5. Know your audience
6. Honor the topic / text / series you are given.
7. Know the stage transitions
8. Say “Thank You”
9. Learn how to accept a compliment
10. Come prepared 
11. BONUS TIP: Ask for feedback

A commenter also added "dress appropriately." Read the entire post for additional explanation of the points.

Video Lecture by Udo Middelmann

You can access video of a lecture by Udo Middelmann given at the Lanier Theological Library. Here is a description of the contents of the lecture.

"The Bible teaches us that God is sovereign over all. Does that mean that in his sovereignty and foreknowledge, all events are determined? What about evil and the choices of man to disobey God or not believe in him at all, including the horrors of the 20th century? Do we have to choose between a good but weak God or a bad but strong God? The sovereignty of God, the existence of evil, the responsibility of man ... how do these work together to explain human history and the reality of the world around us? Belief in the sovereignty of God has led to extreme forms of determinism, while a rejection of God’s sovereignty has resulted in a view of history which assumes the idea of a God with limited power and knowledge. Udo Middelmann critiques both positions and demonstrates the continuing battle of a good and powerful God for his creation. Instead of blaming God, or his absence, Middelmann presents a startling catalyst for thoughtful dialogue. God admonishes us to seek justice, goodness and mercy in the continuing struggle against evil."

Go here to access the video.

In Defense of the Lecture

The lecture method of teaching has fallen into disfavor these days. But read Abigail Walthhausen's article entitled, "Don't Give Up on the Lecture" in the The Atlantic. See You can access the article here.

The Preacher as Realist

Warren Wiersbe in an essay entitled, "Your Preaching is Unique," provides the following helpful observation.

"God help the preacher who abandons his ideals! But, at the same time, God pity the preacher who is idealistic that he fails to be realistic. A realist is an idealist who has gone through the fire and been purified. A skeptic is an idealist who has gone through the fire and been burned. There is a difference."

Warren Wiersbe, "Your Preaching is Unique," in Preaching to Convince, ed. James D. Berkley (Waco: Word, 1986), 167.

James Hoffmeier and Stephen Moshier at the Lanier Theological Library

Those in the Houston area might be interested in registering for a free lecture on January 18, 2014 by James Hoffmeier and Stephen Moshier at the Lanier Theological Library.

The lecture is entitled, "Moses Did Not Sleep Here! A Critical Look at Some Sensational Exodus and Mt. Sinai Theories." Here is a brief description.

"Over the past 10-15 years there have been a number of sensational ideas advanced for where and how the Red Sea crossing occurred as the Hebrews departed Egypt and where Mt. Sinai is located. Many of these are known from popular TV programs on the History, Learning, Discovery and National Geographic Channels. Some of these theories, such as the one that has the Israelites crossing the Gulf of Aqaba and landing in Saudi Arabia will be examined biblically, archaeologically (Hoffmeier) and geologically (Moshier). Was Mt. Sinai a volcano? Is there any basis for identifying Mt. Sinai with the traditional site, Gebel Musa? These and other questions will be treated, using film clips, slides and maps." 

For additional information or to register go here.

Review of What the Old Testament Authors Really Cared About

Jason DeRouchie, ed., What the Old Testament Authors Really Cared About: A Survey of Jesus’ Bible (Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2013). 

The Old Testament is unexplored territory for many Christians. So any resource that can help one to navigate through this part of Scripture should be appreciated. What the Old Testament Authors Really Cared About is just such a resource.
 
This work, the product of seventeen authors and edited by Jason DeRouchie, is concise, well-written, and pedagogically friendly. The book is arranged in Jewish canonical order with each book covered individually. There are numerous and helpful charts, diagrams, sidebars, maps, and photos. The book contains seven appendices (although the last two are really more indices). There is not much to criticize in this work. It is certainly not as detailed as some other surveys but what it does it typically does well. One chapter that I did find disappointing was the one on the Twelve (i.e. the twelve Minor Prophets). While one can justify treating the Minor Prophets as a single book, I think it would have been better to address each book individually. After all it is called the Twelve and not the One. Furthermore, since this is a survey of Jesus’ Bible, it might be worth noting that the New Testament never clearly refers to the Twelve collectively, but rather to individual prophets/books (e.g., Joel [Acts 2:16], Hosea [Rom 9:25], Jonah [Matt 12:39, etc.]).

But these criticisms do not outweigh the overall value of the book. Indeed, I wish that this book came with a CD or website access that would allow pastors and teachers to easily access the charts, diagrams, maps, and photos for presentation purposes.

I am thankful to Kregel for providing the review copy utilized in this unbiased review.

Latest Issue of Review of Biblical Literature

The latest issue of Review of Biblical Literature is out. Reviews can be accessed by clicking the links below.

Georg Fischer
Theologien des Alten Testaments
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8791
Reviewed by Martin Leuenberger

Mercedes L. García Bachmann
Women at Work in the Deuteronomistic History
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9191
Reviewed by Susanne Scholz

Yung Suk Kim, ed.
1 and 2 Corinthians: Texts @ Contexts
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9155
Reviewed by Matthew R. Malcolm

Yulin Liu
Temple Purity in 1–2 Corinthians
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9192
Reviewed by S. Aaron Son

Jodi Magness, Seth Schwartz, Zeev Weiss, and Oded Irshai, eds.
“Follow the Wise”: Studies in Jewish History and Culture in Honor of Lee I. Levine
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7852
Reviewed by Rami Arav

Susan E. Myers, ed.
Portraits of Jesus: Studies in Christology
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9012
Reviewed by Francis J. Moloney

Daniel C. Olson
A New Reading of the Animal Apocalypse of 1 Enoch: “All Nations Shall be Blessed”
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9160
Reviewed by David R. Jackson

Colleen Shantz and Rodney A. Werline, eds.
Experientia, Volume 2: Linking Text and Experience
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8605
Reviewed by Scott D. Mackie

Eric A. Seibert
The Violence of Scripture: Overcoming the Old Testament’s Troubling Legacy
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8871
Reviewed by Ralph K. Hawkins

Martin Williams
The Doctrine of Salvation in the First Letter of Peter
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8868
Reviewed by Jennifer G. Bird

What Drives Your Preaching Schedule?

" . . . a preaching schedule driven by the Bible rather than by perceived needs will over the long haul, stimulate greater maturity in a church. Substantial long-term growth requires a steady diet of the Word. Rather than beginning with our people's needs, therefore, the majority of our preaching schedule should balance the biblical diet we offer our listeners. Then, as we submit to the Word and the Spirit, giving these priority over our hobby horses, creativity, and even our desire to meet people's felt needs, God will permeate our preaching and perform whatever work He needs to perform in listeners' hearts and lives."

Daniel Overdorf, One Year to Better Preaching: 52 Exercises top Hone Your Skills (Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2013), 22

Suggestions for Crafting Message Statements

Last week I had a brief post here on message statements for the books of the Bible. I noted that a message statement is a one-sentence summary consisting of a subject and compliment(s). In this post, I will offer a few suggestions for crafting message statements.

1. The subject of your message statement needs to encapsulate the whole book otherwise it will better serve as a compliment.
2. A message statement needs to cover the whole book but not every book of the Bible. Some message are so broad and generic that they are not really useful in capturing the the uniqueness of a book.
3. Try to resist the temptation to use God as the subject. God, of course, is the presumed subject of every biblical book. However, if you make God the subject then you will likely have a problem with point 2. If you feel compelled to use God as the subject, then try and narrow it to a distinctive aspect or attribute of God that is central to the book (e.g., attributes like holiness, sovereignty, faithfulness, etc., or functions like God as judge, redeemer, warrior, etc.).
4. Do your best to avoid a message statement that is is too historically grounded. For example, while one could argue that the subject of Lamentations is the destruction of Jerusalem, if you use that as the subject, then what is the message for all of us who are not Jewish or otherwise associated with Jerusalem? In these cases, it is better to abstract a more generic subject out of the historical subject. For Lamentations the subject might be something like "the tragic and destructive consequences of sin." Doing this will keep your message relevant to a contemporary audience. However, you will need to take care that you do not run into issues related to point 2.
5. Understand that the Bible is inspired and inerrant but your message statements are not. Be willing to change your message statement as you gain a better appreciation of a book.
6. Remember that you cannot improve or edit what has not been written. Do not let the fear and difficulty of composing message statements paralyze you. Simply do your best and keep point 5 in mind.