Feb 23, 2013

Hurtado on the Gospel of Mark

  
Larry Hurtado has some interesting thoughts on its survival as a canonical Gospel here. Hurtado is addressing this as a purely historical question (which is fair). But the survival of Mark is for me is also tied to the fact that it is inspired Scripture. 
 

Feb 22, 2013

Pastoral Reading

  
Kevin DeYoung makes a good case that pastors should challenge themselves by reading "over their heads" on occasion. You can read his thoughts here.
 

Google Earth and the Exodus


Here is one attempt to use Google Earth to map out the crossing of the Red Sea as recorded in Exodus. Many Bible students know that the exact route of the Exodus in general and the specific location of the crossing is a matter of debate. Nonetheless this was an interesting read.
 

Feb 21, 2013

Ten Commandments of iPad Preaching

  
Not everyone uses an iPad or tablet in their ministry, but if you do there is some good advice here. Although this is written from the perspective of preaching, I think that most, if not, all of these "commandments" would apply to those who use an iPad to teach in classrooms or present at conferences.
 

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. 

David R. Bauer and Robert A. Traina
Inductive Bible Study: A Comprehensive Guide to the Practice of Hermeneutics
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8103
Reviewed by Justin Marc Smith

 
Yoram Cohen
The Scribes and Scholars of the City of Emar in the Late Bronze Age
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7173
Reviewed by Bryan C. Babcock
 
Tobias Hägerland
Jesus and the Forgiveness of Sins: An Aspect of His Prophetic Mission
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8467
Reviewed by Dion Forster
 
Urmas Nømmik
Die Freundesreden des ursprünglichen Hiobdialogs: Eine form- und traditionsgeschichtliche Studie
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8254
Reviewed by Kyle C. Dunham
 
Kathleen M. O'Connor
Jeremiah: Pain and Promise
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8277
Reviewed by Wilhelm J. Wessels
 
Russell Pregeant
Reading the Bible for All the Wrong Reasons
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8299
Reviewed by Joel Stephen Williams
 
David Rhoads, Joanna Dewey, Donald Michie
Mark as Story: An Introduction to the Narrative of a Gospel
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8507
Reviewed by Michael W. Pahl
 
Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza
Transforming Vision: Explorations in Feminist The*logy
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8348
Reviewed by Daniel Darko
 
Moshe Simon-Shoshan
Stories of the Law: Narrative Discourse and the Construction of Authority in the Mishnah
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8445
Reviewed by Joshua Schwartz
 
Assaf Yasur-Landau, Jennie R. Ebeling, and Laura B. Mazow, eds.
Household Archaeology in Ancient Israel and Beyond
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8262
Reviewed by Ralph K. Hawkins
 

  

Feb 20, 2013

Howard Hendricks (1924-2013)


Howard Hendricks the long-time professor of Christian Education and Leadership at Dallas Theological Seminary has gone to be with the Lord. You can read more about Dr. Hendricks here. A notice has been posted at the Dallas Seminary website. A page of tributes is here.

Feb 19, 2013

Exemplar Christi Preaching

  
Peter Mead has a good word concerning the potential pitfalls of what he calls exemplar Christi preaching. Mead notes the following four points.

1. He is an example to us, but first and foremost he is Christ to us.

2. Exemplar preaching tends to focus on outward conduct, but the Bible treats us as inside-out creatures.

3. Exemplar preaching points to empowerment, but often an inadequate form of it.

4. Make application an issue of response, not just an issue of copying.

I would add a fifth point that is in some sense an extension of the first point.


5. It minimizes the uniqueness of Jesus' life and mission. I think that this was one of the weaknesses of the WWJD movement so popular a number of years ago.

Do read the entire post and explanations here.

  

Feb 18, 2013

Journal for the Study of the New Testament 35:3

  
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.


Paul and the Patriarch: The Role of Abraham in Romans 4
N.T. Wright
pp. 207-241
http://jnt.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/35/3/207


What does Matthew Say about Divine Recompense? On the Misuse of the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard (20.1-16)
Nathan Eubank
pp. 242-262
http://jnt.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/35/3/242

Narrative Space, Angelic Revelation, and the End of Mark’s Gospel
Guy J. Williams
pp. 263-284
http://jnt.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/35/3/263

The ‘New’ Hennecke
J.K. Elliott
pp. 285-300
http://jnt.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/35/3/285

   

Feb 17, 2013

From Moses to Malachi

  
I was recently given a copy of a new Old Testament Survey entitled From Moses to Malachi written by Kenneth G. Hanna. While my schedule has not allowed me to conduct an extensive examination of the contents, my cursory examination is quite positive. The contents cover basic introductory issues from a conservative evangelical perspective. The biblical books are not really surveyed in the sense that you go through the book section-by-section. Instead, the contents are generally covered by an examination of the book's message, major themes, events, and through synthetic charts. Amazon is offering the book for $19.90. You can also take a look inside at the Amazon link.