Feb 6, 2010

The Theological Implications of the Historicity of Adam


Although not new, this
essay by Robert Strimple from 1989 nicely summarizes the inherent biblical and theological problems associated with denying an historical Adam. At the end of the essay, Strimple states:

"To conclude: Our understanding of the reality of Adam affects our understanding of sin, of redemption, and of the Redeemer. The one who rejects the Biblical teaching regarding the historical Adam and the historical Fall will find no firm basis for accepting the Biblical teaching regarding the historical, Incarnate Redeemer."

HT: Richard

Persecution and Textual Variants


Richard Fellows has an interesting post on how the persecution of Nero may have effected the transmission of Romans. Read it
here.

Feb 5, 2010

Donald J. Wiseman (1918-2010)


Donald J. Wiseman passed away on February 2. Some readers may know Wiseman through his work in the Old Testament and ancient Near East.
He was preceded in death by his wife Mary and is survived by three daughters Gillian, Mary and Jane.

Feb 4, 2010

Latest Issue of Review of Biblical Literature


The latest issue of Review of Biblical Literature is out. Reviews that may be of interest from a Bible Exposition perspective include:

Linda M. Day
Esther
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=4950
Reviewed by Jean-Daniel Macchi

Charles L. Echols
"Tell Me, O Muse": The Song of Deborah (Judges 5) in the Light of Heroic Poetry
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7113
Reviewed by Klaas Spronk

John Goldingay
Psalms: Volume 3: Psalms 90-150
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6965
Reviewed by Leonard Mare

Jonathan Knight
Christian Origins
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6878
Reviewed by Markus Oehler

Kasper Bro Larsen
Recognizing the Stranger: Recognition Scenes in the Gospel of John
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6997
Reviewed by Dorothy Lee

Ramsay MacMullen
The Second Church: Popular Christianity A.D. 200-400
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7069
Reviewed by Charles Bobertz

John P. Meier
A Marginal Jew: Rethinking the Historical Jesus, Volume 4: Law and Love
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7101
Reviewed by Susan Graham

Stanley E. Porter and Wendy J. Porter, eds.
New Testament Greek Papyri and Parchments: New Editions: Texts and Plates
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6787
Reviewed by Thomas Kraus

Paul L. Redditt
Introduction to the Prophets
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6960
Reviewed by Timothy Sandoval

Magne Sæbø, ed.
Hebrew Bible/Old Testament: The History of Its Interpretation, II: From the Renaissance to the Enlightenment
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7163
Reviewed by W. Dennis Tucker Jr.

Loren Stuckenbruck
1 Enoch 91-108
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6819
Reviewed by Archie T. Wright

Jerry L. Sumney
Colossians: A Commentary
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6890
Reviewed by Angela Standhartinger


Free Podcast of Andreas Köstenberger on Johannine Theology


Listen to Andreas Köstenberger being interbiewd on Knowing the Truth radio program by Pastor Kevin Boling
here.

HT: Koinonia Blog

Finding the Big Idea in the Penteteuch


"How do we find the big idea of the Pentateuch? The answer to that question is simple: we read it. As we read the Pentateuch, we begin to formulate in our minds a sen
se of what it is about. Once we begin to get a sense of what the Pentateuch is about, we can test our ideas against what we actually find in the Pentateuch. Does our understanding of the Pentateuch's big idea fit with what we find in the text itself? As one reads the Pentateuch, these are the kinds of questions one should ask: Am I forcing my ideas on the Pentateuch? Does my understanding of the big idea need some adjustments? Is my understanding totally wrong and in of need being replaced?"

John Sailhamer, The Meaning of the Pentateuch:Revelation, Composition and Interpretation (Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 2009), 20
.

Feb 3, 2010

Application: From Description to Prescription


Tim Chester has posted a good reminder of how we are to move from description to prescription in application
here.

Köstenberger on Five Observations Concerning the Gospel


Andreas Köstenberger has posted the following five observations in answering the question "What is the Gospel?"


1. Divine, not human: The gospel is God’s saving message to a world living in darkness and a humanity lost in its sin.

2. Required, not optional: Acceptance of the gospel is not optional for salvation but rather required, owing to pervasive human sinfulness.

3. Christological, not merely theological: The gospel is not vaguely theological, as if it were amenable to various ways of salvation depending on a person’s belief in a particular kind of god, or depending on the degree to which people were able to hear the gospel presented in a clear way; it is decidedly and concretely Christological, that is, centered on the salvation provided through the vicarious cross-death of the Lord Jesus Christ.

4. No other gospel: The messianic motif pervading all of Scripture and centering in the Lord Jesus Christ coupled with the risen Jesus’ “Great Commission” for his followers to go and disciple the nations inextricably link an understanding of the gospel as the exclusive message of salvation in Jesus Christ with the church’s mandate to engage in missionary outreach.

5. No other name but Jesus: In light of the clear biblical passages mentioned above and in view of the strong and pervasive trajectory of scriptural references to the gospel there is no proper foundation for arguing for salvation apart from explicit faith in Jesus Christ. Scripture makes clear that humanity is universally sinful, and that God’s wrath remains on every individual who has not placed his or her trust in Jesus Christ on the basis of his substitutionary death on the cross and his subsequent resurrection.

Read the entire post here.


Feb 2, 2010

Learn Koine Greek FREE: 1st Semester of Koine Online


I have already noted this, but here is an official announcement from Michael Halcomb.


I'm pleased to announce that, at this point, you can visit my website GettingGreek and if you follow the lessons in order, you can learn an entire first semester of Greek in 2 months at only 15 minutes a day (that's 1 lesson per day, perhaps your devotional time) or in 1 month at 30 minutes per day (that's 2 lessons per day). There are 61 lessons, each about a page long, with many games, puzzles, podcasts, etc. to supplement them. So, pass the word on and start studying. Click the following link to visit the site: GettingGreek.

Feb 1, 2010

The Election of Israel


Claude Mariottini has a good post on the election of Israel here.

Free Audio Download of Driscoll's Religion Saves


Although he is not everyone's cup of tea, some might be interested that Christianaudio.com is offering a free audio download of Mark Driscoll's
Religion Saves as a free audio download. Go here and use the coupon code FEB2010.

Jan 31, 2010

A Lesson in Ecclesiology in One Verse


1 Corinthians 1:2 (NIV)

To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ-their Lord and ours:

1. The church belongs to God – “the church of God”
2. The church is local – “in Corinth”
3. The church is sanctified – “those sanctified (hagiazō) in Christ Jesus”
4. The church sanctified is called to holiness – “called to be holy (hagios)”
5. The church is universal – “together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ–their Lord and ours”