BibleX: 2010-07-11

Jul 17, 2010

Sorting Out the Truth

Normally, we limit our examination of ideas and propositions to sorting out what is true from that which is false. This is an essential exercise. But, as Mart De Haan notes, we need to also distinguish truth from truths, that is to examine the origin, characteristics, and goals of a given truth, particularly those truths which lie outside of Scripture. Read De Haan's thoughts here.

Hurtado on Being a New Testament Scholar

Larry Hurtado offers some thoughts on what it means to be a New Testament scholar. Read it here.

Research Tips

See these helpful tips for researching unfamiliar topics.

Jul 16, 2010

Academic Responsibility vs. Academic Respectability

See this great post by Esteban Vázquez on the difference between academic responsibility versus academic respectability. I wholeheartedly agree with the distinction.

HT: Matthew Malcolm

The Eternal Covenant in Hebrews

Steven Coxhead has a good post on the eternal covenant referenced in Hebrews 13:20. Read it here.

Jul 15, 2010

Hurtado on Phlippians 2:5-11

Larry Hurtado has made posted a pdf of his essay "Jesus as Lordly Example in Philippians 2:5-11). You can access it here. If you have not done so, make sure to check out his blog for other essays here.

New Christian Origins Blog

A new blog for the Centre for the Study of Christian Origins has been set up although it does not appear to be posting yet.

Law in Biblical Thought and Practice

"In biblical thought and practice the term law (whose connotations must not automatically be interpreted in terms of the present meaning of the word) always contains a strong element of authority and is expressive of an authoritative, in the biblical case divinely authoritative, order."

Robert Banks, Jesus and the Law in the Synoptic Tradition (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1975), 13.

Cultivating Godliness in Seminary

Nathan Finn has some good advice for cultivating godliness while attending seminary. Anyone who has attended seminary are well aware of the spiritual challenges. In any case, check it out Nathan's post here.

Jul 14, 2010

Learning to Love Leviticus

Check out this nice post on learning to love Leviticus.

Herod's Temple

Justin Taylor has posted a nice overview of Herod's temple, complete with illustrations from the ESV Study Bible.

Jul 13, 2010

Meyer on the State of the Post E.P. Sanders Discussion

"Many of those who followed in Sander's wake adopted his understanding of Judaism, but not his view of Paul. In other words, they agreed with S

anders's assessment of Paul's context (i.e., the Judaism to which Paul responded) but not Paul's content (i.e., Paul's response to Judaism). Sanders argued that Paul attacked Jewish legalism, but only because he misunderstood the Judaism of his day. New Perspective adherents assert that Paul understood Second Temple Judaism, and therefore he did not attack Jewish legalism, but Jewish exclusivism.

"Responses to Sanders and the New Perspective have followed four different tracks. First, some scholars responded exegetically by contesting the New Perspective reading of Paul's epistles. Second, scholars have reevaluated the Judaism of Paul's day and begun to question Sanders's one-sided reading of Second Temple Judaism. Some scholars then combined both of these elements in contesting the New Perspective. Fourth, some studies now call the New Perspective's reading of Luther into question."

Jason C. Meyer, The End of the Law: Mosaic Covenant in Pauline Theology, NAC Studies in Bible and Theology (Nashville: B & H Academic, 2009), 6-7.

You can read the introduction from which this portion comes here.