May 31, 2014

Summer Reading Lists

The folks at Southern Seminary have put together these summer reading lists.

HT: Brian Renshaw

Samson Trivia

Blane Bachelor's recent article on "The History of Luggage" mentioned this interesting, if somewhat trivial, biblical connection: "Shwayder Trunk Manufacturing Company, which eventually changed its name to Samsonite (a nod to the biblical figure Samson, because of his strength), started making suitcases in addition to their tried-and-true trunks." There is bound to be a sermon illustration here. 

May 28, 2014

A Panel Discussion on the Song of Songs

I had not seen this panel discussion held last year at the Harvard Divinity School  on the Song of Songs. Video of the discussion can be seen here. The wepage contains the following description.
This panel discussion was held on April 15, 2013, and featured a conversation between five scholars on the Song of Songs. The panel was chaired by CSWR director Francis X. Clooney, S.J., and featured Cheryl Exum of the University of Sheffield, Michael Fishbane of University of Chicago Divinity School, Paul Griffiths of Duke University, and Stephanie Paulsell of HDS.
HT: Mark McGinniss

May 27, 2014

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. 

William P. Atkinson
Baptism in the Spirit: Luke-Acts and the Dunn Debate
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9075
Reviewed by Lars Kierspel

Edward Ball and Margaret Barker, eds.
‘The Unconquered Land’ and Other Old Testament Essays: Selected Studies by Rudolf Smend
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9232
Reviewed by David J. Reimer

Carol J. Dempsey and Elayne J. Shapiro
Reading the Bible, Transforming Conflict
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8149
Reviewed by Joel Stephen Williams

Desiderius Erasmus; Andrew J. Brown, ed.
VI-4 Ordinis sexti tomus quartus: Novum Testamentum ab Erasmo Recognitum, IV, Epistolae Apostolicae (secunda pars) et Apocalypsis Iohannis
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9141
Reviewed by Jerome A. Lund

Shimon Gesundheit
Three Times a Year: Studies on Festival Legislation in the Pentateuch
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8838
Reviewed by William A. Tooman

Francisco Lozada Jr. and Greg Carey, eds.
Soundings in Cultural Criticism: Perspectives and Methods in Culture, Power, and Identity in the New Testament
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9154
Reviewed by Earl Kellett

Matthew R. Malcolm
The World of 1 Corinthians: An Exegetical Source Book of Literary and Visual Backgrounds
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9337
Reviewed by Bradley J. Bitner

Kathleen M. Rochester
Prophetic Ministry in Jeremiah and Ezekiel
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8537
Reviewed by Georg Fischer

Karlheinz Schüssler
Das koptisch-sahidische Johannesvangelium sa 506 aus dem Jeremia-Kloster von Sakkara: mit Textvarianten der Handschriften in Barcelona, Cairo, Dublin, Naqlun, New York
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9388
Reviewed by Johanna Brankaer

May 26, 2014

Fictional "One Anothers"

Many students of the Bible are aware of the numerous "one anothers" in the New Testament (e.g., Rom 15:7; Gal 6:2; Eph 4:2; Col 3:16; etc.). But Ray Ortland has a thoughtful post on the "one anothers" that are not found in the NT but seem to practiced all too often by Christians. Here is Ortland's list but make sure to read the entire post here.
Sanctify one another, humble one another, scrutinize one another, pressure one another, embarrass one another, corner one another, interrupt one another, defeat one another, sacrifice one another, shame one another, judge one another, run one another’s lives, confess one another’s sins, intensify one another’s sufferings, point out one another’s failings . . . .

Ph.D. Humor

Been there. Done that.
http://www.phdcomics.com/comics.php?f=1711

May 25, 2014

Rod Decker (1952-2014)

New Testament scholar Rod Decker has gone to be with the Lord. I met Dr. Decker only a few times over the years at conferences but I very much appreciated his ministry through his writings and his fine blog/website. A word from his wife about his home going can be found here. From all accounts he lived and served well.