Aug 3, 2013

W. J. Paul on Psalm 110


These days it is not theologically fashionable to affirm Davidic authorship of Psalm 110 or to see the psalm as primarily Messianic rather than merely royal. So in this instance I am wholly unfashionable. That being said, as I was sorting through some articles in my file cabinet I was pleased to rediscover an article by W. J. Paul. Paul argues that,  

“The conclusion is therefore inevitable: Psalm 110 speaks about a person who is king and priest. But in the history of Israel there never was such a king. The only probable solution is that the psalm speaks about a future king-priest. It deals not with a historical king, but with the Messiah. The unchallenged authority of the king whose rule will be universal and eternal points in the same direction. At the beginning of the psalm we can read lĕdāwîd. This phrase cannot mean that the psalm was directed to David, because David was not a priest. So we have to read it as “from David.” Thus, if the heading is reliable, David is the author of the psalm. With E. J. Kissane I am of the opinion that ‘there is nothing in the psalm itself which is inconsistent with this’ [Psalms, 190]. The NT confirms the Davidic authorship. Therefore, it is not necessary to assume that Jesus himself did not ascribe the psalm to David and merely appears to have asked his question in relation to the presuppositions of the Pharisees. The only consistent explanation of Psalm 110 in the context of the OT as well as the NT is based on Davidic authorship and a date of composition in the tenth century BC.”

W. J. Paul, “The Order of Melchizedek (Ps 110:4 and Heb 7:3),” Westminster Theological Journal 49 (1987): 202.

  

Aug 2, 2013

Free Audio Book: Basic Christianity

Christianaudio.com's free audiobook download for the month of August is Basic Christianity by John R. W. Stott. 

For more information or to get your download go here.

Aug 1, 2013

"Mythconceptions" About Old Testament Law


“I am keenly aware that in proposing to address this subject I have guaranteed for myself a limited hearing. There are many reasons why there is little interest in preaching Old Testament law in our churches, whether they are mainline protestant, or charismatic, or fundamentalist, or generic evangelical. This aversion toward Old Testament law arises from a series of “mythconceptions” concerning the law. First, we are deluded by the ritualistic myth, that is, that Old Testament law is preoccupied with boring ritualistic trivia, declared to be obsolete with Christ's final sacrifice on the cross. Second, we are driven away by the historical myth, that is, that Old Testament law concerns the times and cultural context of nations so far removed from our own that, unless one has purely academic or antiquarian interests, what it has to say about the human condition is hopelessly out of date. Third, we are repelled by the ethical myth. The OT law reflects a standard of ethics that is rejected as grossly inferior to the law of love announced by Jesus and the high stock placed on tolerance in our enlightened age. Fourth, we are confused by the literary myth, that is, that the Old Testament laws are written in literary forms that are so different from modem literature that we cannot understand them. Fifth, we are indoctrinated by the theological myth, that is,that Old Testament law presents a view of God that is utterly objectionable to modern sensitivities. So long as these “mythconceptions” determine the disposition of preachers and pastors toward Old Testament law there is little hope that they will pay much attention to those parts of the Old Testament that we refer to as Israel's constitutional literature.”

Daniel I. Block, "Preaching Old Testament Law to New Testament Christians," Southeastern Theological Review 3/2 (Winter 2012): 195.

Jul 31, 2013

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.

Bohdan Hrobon
Ethical Dimension of Cult in the Book of Isaiah
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8252
Reviewed by Wilhelm J. Wessels


Richard A. Norris Jr., trans.
Gregory of Nyssa: Homilies on the Song of Songs
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8687
Reviewed by Mark DelCogliano


Melvin K. H. Peters, ed.
XIV Congress of the IOSCS, Helsinki, 2010
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9117
Reviewed by Theo van der Louw


Brian Neil Peterson
Ezekiel in Context: Ezekiel’s Message Understood in Its Historical Setting of Covenant Curses and Ancient Near Eastern Mythological Motifs
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8974
Reviewed by Christopher Bechtel


Eric A. Seibert
The Violence of Scripture: Overcoming the Old Testament’s Troubling Legacy
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8871
Reviewed by J. Dwayne Howell


Deuk-il Shin
The Ark of Yahweh in Redemptive History: A Revelatory Instrument of Divine Attributes
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9087
Reviewed by David G. Firth


Yves Simoens
Croire pour aimer: Les trois lettres de Jean. Une interprétation
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8922
Reviewed by Michel Gourgues


Duane F. Watson, ed.
Miracle Discourse in the New Testament
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8685
Reviewed by Susanne Luther


Reviewed by Graham H. Twelftree
Molly M. Zahn
Rethinking Rewritten Scripture: Composition and Exegesis in the 4QReworked Pentateuch Manuscripts
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8167
Reviewed by Martin G. Abegg Jr.

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.

Bohdan Hrobon
Ethical Dimension of Cult in the Book of Isaiah
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8252
Reviewed by Wilhelm J. Wessels

Richard A. Norris Jr., trans.
Gregory of Nyssa: Homilies on the Song of Songs
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8687
Reviewed by Mark DelCogliano

Melvin K. H. Peters, ed.
XIV Congress of the IOSCS, Helsinki, 2010
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9117
Reviewed by Theo van der Louw

Brian Neil Peterson
Ezekiel in Context: Ezekiel’s Message Understood in Its Historical Setting of Covenant Curses and Ancient Near Eastern Mythological Motifs
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8974
Reviewed by Christopher Bechtel

Eric A. Seibert
The Violence of Scripture: Overcoming the Old Testament’s Troubling Legacy
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8871
Reviewed by J. Dwayne Howell

Deuk-il Shin
The Ark of Yahweh in Redemptive History: A Revelatory Instrument of Divine Attributes
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9087
Reviewed by David G. Firth

Yves Simoens
Croire pour aimer: Les trois lettres de Jean. Une interprétation
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8922
Reviewed by Michel Gourgues

Duane F. Watson, ed.
Miracle Discourse in the New Testament
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8685
Reviewed by Susanne Luther
Reviewed by Graham H. Twelftree

Molly M. Zahn
Rethinking Rewritten Scripture: Composition and Exegesis in the 4QReworked Pentateuch Manuscripts
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8167
Reviewed by Martin G. Abegg Jr.

Jul 30, 2013

Five Questions with Dr. David L. Allen on 1-3 John


Dr. David L. Allen graciously agreed to answer five questions about his new book on 1–3 John in the Preaching the Word series edited by R. Kent Hughes. Dr. Allen is professor of preaching, director of expository preaching, George W. Truett Chair of ministry, and dean of the school of theology at the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He has pastored for 21 years and written or edited a number of books and articles related to specific books of the Bible and preaching.

Question: I find it interesting that you call describe your book as a “sermontary,” “more than a sermon but less than a commentary.” Can you unpack that a bit?


Well, each chapter is indeed a sermon, but I have heavily footnoted the sermon to allow the reader to delve deeper into certain grammatical/syntactical issues that informed the way I chose to write the sermon as I did. Additionally, the footnotes provide readers a chance to see other sources (commentaries, sermon books, etc.) that I have used in the preparation of the sermon. This gives some insight into the broad reading I attempted to do in preparation of each of these sermons.

Question: I know that you believe that all Scripture is relevant, but what do you see in the message of 1–3 John as particularly relevant for our day? 


I do indeed! The notion of assurance of salvation is especially critical today. As a pastor for 21 years, I dealt with that issue in the lives of many Christians. 1 John speaks directly to that problem and teaches us we can have a “know so” salvation. Another issue today that is hotly debated in culture is just who is Jesus anyway? Is he divine? Is he merely a good moral teacher? Is he indeed the God-man as the Bible teaches? The issue of the incarnation is a vital part of Christology which then touches everything else. These are two important issues relevant for today!

Question: What are the most significant challenges in preaching 1–3 John?

Perhaps the most difficult is the structure. It is notoriously difficult to disentangle. I have attempted to segment the letter into its constituent paragraphs from a linguistic perspective based on the Greek New Testament. I believe in preaching through books of the Bible paragraph by paragraph. I also believe in making each sermon a stand-alone sermon. Once you get the paragraph structure down, it is relatively easy to construct sermons that move through the book sequentially, unpacking John’s main points.
  

Question: What other must-have resources on 1–3 John that you would recommend for the average preacher or Sunday school teacher?  


Robert Yarborough’s commentary 1–3 John in the Baker Exegetical series is a must. I would probably say it is the best commentary on 1–3 John on the market. Danny Akin’s commentary 1, 2, 3 John in the NAC series is also an important volume that is very helpful for preachers/teachers. Ruth Edwards' The Johannine Epistles in the New Testament Guides series published by Sheffield Academic press provides excellent summaries of background, style and theological issues. Martin Culy’s I, II, III John: a Handbook on the Greek Text provides pastors with practical linguistic help in a non-technical format.

Question: This “sermontary” is a reflection of your preaching philosophy and methodology. What could someone read to get a better sense of this philosophy and methodology?

I co-edited a book with Danny Akin and Ned Mathews entitled Text-Driven Preaching: God’s Word at the Heart of Every Sermon. I wrote the introduction and the chapter on “Preparing a Text-Driven Sermon.” In that chapter, I outline

my philosophy of preaching and then provide my 12 step method of sermon preparation using 1 John 2:15-17 as a test case. (You can read an interview with Dr. Allen related to this Text-Driven Preaching here.)

A PDF excerpt of Dr. Allen's 1–3 John is available here.

Jul 29, 2013

Course on Preaching Acts

If you are interested in the book of Acts, or preaching the book of Acts, and live in the Dallas Metroplex, you might want to consider taking my course this fall on Preaching from the New Testament: Acts (NT333) at The Criswell College this fall. The course meets once a week on Wednesdays @ 10:45-1:15. You can view a PDF of the fall schedule here.

Jul 28, 2013

A Collection of Bruce Waltke's Essays

Eerdmans is publishing a collection of essays from Bruce Waltke in a volume entitled, The Dance between God and Humanity: Reading the Bible Today as the People of God that is due out in August. You can read a interview with Dr. Waltke concerning this volume here. Amazon's link lets you have a peek at the contents.