Jan 12, 2013

The Theological Significance of Deuteronomy

  
"The theological significance of Deuteronomy can scarcely be overestimated. Inasmuch as this book offers the most systematic presentation of theological truth in the entire Old Testament, we may compare its place to that of Romans in the New Testament. Moreover, since Deuteronomy reviews so much of Israel’s historical experience of God’s grace as recounted in Genesis through Numbers, a comparison with the gospel of John may be even more appropriate. Just as John wrote his gospel after several decades of reflection on the death and resurrection of Jesus, so Moses preached the sermons on Deuteronomy after almost four decades of reflection on the significance of the Exodus and God’s covenant with Israel. Thus, like the gospel of John, the book of Deuteronomy functions as a theological manifesto, calling on Israel to respond to God’s grace with unreserved loyalty and love."

Daniel I. Block, Deuteronomy, NIV Application Commentary, ed. Terry Muck (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2012), 25.
  

Jan 11, 2013

Expository Preaching Workshop - Preaching the Gospels

  
The annual expository preaching workshop at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary will take place on March 4-5, 2013. This year's focus will be on preaching the Gospels. Early registration for the workshop is $25 for students and $50 for non-students through February 25, 2013. After February 25, registration fees increase to $50 for students and $75 for non-students. The workshop will run from 4:00-9:00 pm on Monday and 8:00 am-4:00 pm on Tuesday. You can read more, see the speakers and a schedule, or register here.

Jan 10, 2013

Reading Qohelet

  
I love teaching the book of Ecclesiastes but it can be real a challenge.  Michael Fox describes part of the challenge well in the following comment.
 
“I try and read Qohelet without “solving” the problems raised by the contradictions in his perceptions of toil, wisdom, and justice. I am not sure I have entirely succeeded because there is tremendous interpretive pressure to raise the valleys and lower the hills, to make the way straight and level before the reader. But a reading faithful to this book, at least, should try to describe the territory with all its bumps and clefts, for they are not merely flaws, but the essence of the landscape.”

Michael V. Fox, Qohelet and His Contradictions, Bible and Literature Series18, ed David M. Gunn (Sheffield: Almond, 1989), 28.



Jan 9, 2013

Sentiment Analysis of the Bible

   
Kregel Academic on Facebook posted this interesting infographic. I know it may be a bit hard to see but if you click on the image you may be able to see it well enough.




Jan 8, 2013

Top Ten Discoveries Related to Biblical Archaeology in 2012

  
See this article for a suggested list of the top ten discoveries related to biblical archaeology in 2012.
 

Jan 7, 2013

Dr. Stan Toussaint

  
This is a bit late. But I am hoping that the aphorism "better late than never" applies here. In any case, one of my favorite professors at Dallas Theological Seminary has retired. Dr. Stan Toussaint taught at Dallas for 47 years. That fact alone is worthy of distinction. But what  is even more noteworthy is the positive and powerful influence that "Dr. T." had on so many students (including myself) over the years. My life and ministry have never been the same since taking Dr. T.'s classes and then later having the great privilege and opportunity of filling in for him on occasion. He was a master at balancing and blending the academic with the pastoral, the rigorous examination of the text with an equally rigorous application of that text to life. I count my time with Dr. T. as one of God's gracious blessings

You can read a nice write up on Dr. Toussaint here.

Jan 6, 2013

The Neglect of Wisdom in Education

  
"Modern society with its commitment to progress and novelty, its hurried fascination with youth, and its suspicion of anything old (including old people), makes it difficult to find time to reflect, ponder, and wonder. In such a climate, wisdom is unlikely to flourish. Even in the domain of contemporary schooling, despite a natural affinity with the tradition that cares deeply about education, there is likely to be resistance to biblical wisdom’s lessons since there is little evidence that wisdom could be an “outcome” of a standardized curriculum. In addition, schools may resist wisdom’s expectations of practice in the ordinary world of everyday life in the community and its insistence upon virtues such as silence, reflection, reverence, and humility.”

Charles F. Melchert, Wise Teaching: Biblical Wisdom and Educational Ministry (Phillipsburg, PA: Trinity Press International, 1998), 8.