Apr 21, 2012

Criswell Theological Review NS 9:2

  
The Spring 2012 issue of the Criswell Theological Review is on the theme of Jewish Studies. The main articles are as follows.

Romans 11 and Christian and Jewish Relations: Exegetical Options for Revisiting the Translation and Interpretation of this Central Text
Mark D. Nanos

The Rationale for Gentile Inclusion and Identity in Paul
William S. Campbell

Judah Monis: “First” American Jewish Believer
Jim R. Sibley

Moses as Divine Substitute in Exodus
Stephen L. Herring

Is the Timing Respecting Paul and the Four Men Under a Vow in Acts 21:23–27 Plausible?
Stuart Chepey

Rejoinder to Boyd Luter—Jesus and the Land
Gary M. Burge

Apr 20, 2012

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.
   
Michael Bird and Michael Pahl, eds.
The Sacred Text: Excavating the Texts, Exploring the Interpretations, and Engaging the Theologies of the Christian Scriptures
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8115
Reviewed by Sean A. Adams
 
David Crystal
Begat: The King James Bible and the English Language
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7827
Reviewed by Craig W. Tyson
 
Benjamin H. Dunning
Specters of Paul: Sexual Difference in Early Christian Thought
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7925
Reviewed by Peter-Ben Smit
 
Philip A. Harland, ed.
Travel and Religion in Antiquity
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8193
Reviewed by Lee Jefferson
 
Douglas A. Knight
Law, Power, and Justice in Ancient Israel
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8278
Reviewed by Markus Witte
 
Gary D. Martin
Multiple Originals: New Approaches to Hebrew Bible Textual Criticism
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7819
Reviewed by Johann Cook
 
Robert D. Miller II
Oral Tradition in Ancient Israel
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8361
Reviewed by Raymond F. Person Jr.
 
Jonathan A. Moo
Creation, Nature and Hope in 4 Ezra
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8225
Reviewed by Karina Martin Hogan
 
Bas van Os
Psychological Analyses and the Historical Jesus: New Ways to Explore Christian Origins
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8076
Reviewed by Wayne G. Rollins
 
Miles V. Van Pelt
English Grammar to Ace Biblical Hebrew
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7536
Reviewed by Hubert Keener
  

Apr 19, 2012

Brueggemann's Essential Books on the Psalms

  
Walter Brueggemann lists five essential books for studying the Psalms. His five include the following.

They Cried to the Lord: The Form and Theology of Biblical Prayer, by Patrick D. Miller (Fortress).

Theology of the Psalms, by Hans-Joachim Kraus (Augsburg Fortress).

“Psalms,” by J. Clinton McCann Jr. (in The New Interpreter’s Bible, vol. 4: 1 & 2 Maccabees, Introduction to Hebrew Poetry, Job, Psalms (Abingdon).

Praise and Lament in the Psalms, by Claus Westermann (Westminster John Knox).

A God of Vengeance? Understanding the Psalms of Divine Wrath, by Erich Zenger (Westminster John Knox). 

To read Brueggemann's annotations see this post in the The Christian Century online here
  

Apr 18, 2012

Witherington on 1 John 4

  
See Ben Witherington's post on 1 John 4, namely, his explanation of the idea that God is love.
   

You Think What Your Wear?

  
There is an interesting blog post at The Chronicle of Higher Education which suggests that what you wear might affect your thinking. You can read the post here. Maybe seminaries that used to require wearing coats and ties were on to something!
  

Apr 17, 2012

The Khirbet Qeiyafa Ostracon Again

 
I am not sure how long it has been up but Biblical Archaeology Review has posted an article from its forthcoming May/June issue on the Qeiyafa Ostracon, entitled "Ancient Inscription Refers to the Birth of Israelite Monarchy." I would prefer that the title be a little more cautious in its claims. I did find the article interesting though. You can access the article here.
 

The Samaritans in the News

  
See this article in Der Spiegel online.
 

Apr 16, 2012

When Creativity Crosses the Line

  
Calvin Miller has some admonitions concerning the misuse of creativity in preaching here.
 

Second Corinthians as a Source of Theological Reflection

  
“Second Corinthians is a fertile source for theological reflection. To be sure, Paul was not what we would today call a systematic theologian. His letters are not theological treatises. Paul was a founder of local churches who, in the course of exercising pastoral care over them, wrote letters that dealt with practical matters and pressing concerns. Nevertheless, he tended to think theologically. In the course of handling even the most mundane affairs that arose, his strategy was to bring the realities of faith to bear on them.”

Thomas D. Stegman, Second Corinthians, Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2009), 24.

Apr 15, 2012

Interview with Craig Evans

  
The Christianbook.com Academics blog has four video segments of an interview with Craig Evans related to his forthcoming book, Jesus and His World. You can access the videos here.