Helpful Apps for Writers

Josh Philpot has a nice post on some helpful apps for writers. Check it out here.

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. 

Jason David BeDuhn
Augustine’s Manichaean Dilemma, Volume 2: Making a “Catholic” Self, 388–401 C.E.
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9295
Reviewed by Timothy Pettipiece

Hermann V. A. Kuma
The Centrality of [haima] (Blood) in the Theology of the Epistle to the Hebrews: An Exegetical and Philological Study
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8882
Reviewed by James Harrison

Rubén Muñoz-Larrondo
A Postcolonial Reading of the Acts of the Apostles
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8943
Reviewed by Christina Petterson

Alissa Jones Nelson
Power and Responsibility in Biblical Interpretation: Reading the Book of Job with Edward Said
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9021
Reviewed by Peter-Ben Smit

Stanley E. Porter and Matthew R. Malcom, eds.
Horizons in Hermeneutics: A Festschrift in Honor of Anthony C. Thiselton
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9196
Reviewed by Donald A. Hagner

Daniel Lynwood Smith
The Rhetoric of Interruption: Speech-Making, Turn-Taking, and Rule-Breaking in Luke-Acts and Ancient Greek Narrative
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9188
Reviewed by Alex Damm

Holger Strutwolf and Klaus Wachtel, eds.
Novum Testamentum Graecum Editio Critica Maior, Parallelperikopen: Sonderband zu den synoptischen Evangelien
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9022
Reviewed by Thomas J. Kraus

James C. VanderKam
The Dead Sea Scrolls and the Bible
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8870
Reviewed by Don Garlington

Markus Vinzent
Christ’s Resurrection in Early Christianity and the Making of the New Testament
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9002
Reviewed by Howard Williams Tzemah L. Yoreh

The First Book of God
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8249 
Reviewed by Marvin A. Sweeney

Captivated: Beholding the Mystery of Jesus’ Death and Resurrection: A Review

Thabiti M Anyabwile. Captivated: Beholding the Mystery of Jesus’ Death and Resurrection. Grand Rapids: Reformation Heritage Books, 2014.

This book is basically a topical treatment of five questions drawn from five texts (Matt 26:42; 27:46; 1 Cor 15:50-58; Luke 24:5; 18) related to Jesus’ death and resurrection. The acknowledged sermonic origins are evident throughout. Each chapter concludes with study questions to facilitate personal or group study.

On the positive side, this book is well written and is a quick read. I also appreciate the fact that material is theologically sound. I suspect that when these messages were quite powerful when originally delivered.

However, for me this book was just not very captivating. The truths unpacked within are spiritually exciting and powerful but I feel that these thoughts were probably better heard than read. This is not all that unusual for books developed from sermons. I would be glad to recommend the book (there is some good stuff here) but I would suggest that the potential reader scan an excerpt first.

Thanks to Shaun Tabatt and the folks at Reformation Heritage for providing the review copy.

Calculating the Time and Cost of Paul's Missionary Journeys

See this fascinating post that calculates the time and cost of Paul's missionary journeys. Here are the final numbers but see the post for additional details.

Journey	Distance (miles)	Travel Time (days)	Cost per Person (denarii)*
First	1,581	53	237
Second	3,050	100	314
Third	3,307	92	481
Rome	2,344	36	699

HT: Christianity Today

From Gospels to Glory

My friend Dr. Ken Hanna has just published a nice 512-page New Testament survey entitled, From Gospels to Glory: Exploring the New Testament. The book is chock-full of useful information and its format is user friendly. You can buy the book here. Dr. Hanna also has an Old Testament volume as well entitled, From Moses to Malachi: Surveying the Old Testament.

50 Biblical People Confirmed Archaeologically

Biblical Archaeology Review has posted a web-exclusive supplement to Lawrence Mykytiuk's “Archaeology Confirms 50 Real People in the Bible” feature from the March/April 2014 issue of BAR here. This supplement includes a helpful table and listing of the people, the biblical references, and the archaeological evidence.

Free Logos Book for March: Bonhoeffer for Armchair Theologians

The free Logos Book for March is Bonhoeffer for Armchair Theologians. You can also enter to win the entire 13-volume Armchair Theologian series. Go the Logos' Free Book of Month page to enter and download your free book today!