Spurgeon's Last Sermon at the Metropolitan Tabernacle

Charles Spurgeon preached his last sermon at the Metropolitan Tabernacle on this day in 1891. The so-called "Prince of Preachers" had preached at the Tabernacle for thirty years. You can read an interested write up here and here is one site where you can access links to Spurgeon's sermons.

C. Marvin Pate's The Writings of John: A Survey of the Gospel, Epistles, and Apocalypse on Sale

Christian Book Distributor's "Fab Friday" sale has C. Marvin Pate's The Writings of John: A Survey of the Gospel, Epistles, and Apocalypse on sale for $14.99 (67% off). I have only briefly used this book but what I have used has been good. You can access the sale here.

Review of Interpreting the General Letters

Herbert W. Bateman IV, Interpreting the General Letters, Handbook for New Testament Exegesis, ed. John D. Harvey (Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2013).

Interpreting the General Letters is the third of four volumes intended to introduce and demonstrate a methodology for interpreting and communicating the books of the New Testament. The volume at hand covers Hebrews through Jude. The book consists of seven chapters. The first three relate more to background issues, namely, the genre, background, and theology of the General Letters. The next three chapters present a nine-step process moving from translation, text-criticism, exegesis, to homiletics. The final chapter uses two passages (Jude 5–7; Hebrews 10.19–25) to demonstrate the nine step process. This volume includes a nice bibliography and brief glossary.

Interpreting the General Letters has at least three commendable qualities. First, Bateman packs a lot in. This is a 315-page work that in many ways could stand alone as a general handbook on interpretive process. There are also additional features that add value to the work. For example, the discussion on choosing commentaries will prove valuable to many. Second, the author communicates well. The writing is clear and there are numerous charts, tables, and diagrams for the more visually inclined. The discussion on Greco-Roman letters is a good example of this. Third, I believe that the methodology presented is sound, even if a bit ambitious for many pastors and teachers. (For example, I am not sure that generating a fresh translation of a given passage is a realistic goal for the average pastor/teacher with limited time and skills.)

While Interpreting the General Letters provides significant help and insight in the process of moving from exegesis to exposition, there are a few minor critiques that can be made. First, I am not sure that all the material included is truly necessary. A case in point is Bateman’s brief history of the English Bible (pp. 135–39). While the discussion is interesting, it is doubtful that it is essential for the task at hand. Second, the importance of some material is not really demonstrated well. For example, after an extended discussion of Greco-Roman letters (pp. 19–54) a few comments, mostly speculative, are made related to how understanding this material contributes to a specific understanding of the General Letters (pp. 54–56). It would be nice to see specific ways in which this background material impacts the interpretation of specific texts. It is also puzzling that so much is made about Greco-Roman letter forms and little is noted about ancient homiletical practices. This absence is significant since many interpreters today believe that Hebrews and perhaps James are more homily than letter. Third, while one hesitates to mention typos (since all works have them), they are somewhat conspicuous in this work (see pp. 77, 78, 88, 91, 102, 105, 109, 111, 114, 118, 119, 121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 292, 295, 298, 304). Finally, many will not be convinced that Bateman has the provenance correct in seeing Jude’s antagonists as Jewish rebels rather than the more traditional identification of false teachers (pp. 84–87). This idiosyncratic thesis would need to discuss the striking similarities between Jude and 2 Peter, another letter often held to address false teachers. Unfortunately, Bateman does not do this.

At bottom, Interpreting the General Letters is a solid resource for anyone interested in interpretation generally, and in the General Letters specifically. A reader will need some working knowledge of Greek to get the most benefit from this book but those lacking such facility could still benefit from much of the content. Bateman has done his homework and summarized and packaged much helpful information for students of the Bible.

You can access an excerpt here.

Thanks to Kregel for providing the free book used in this unbiased review.

Ancient Near Eastern Monographs

I am not sure when this became available, but all of the Society of Biblical Literature's Ancient Near Eastern Monographs are available as free pdfs. You can see what is available here or click the individual links below.

Divination, Politics, and Ancient Near Eastern Empires
Edited by Alan Lenzi and Jonathan Stökl
 
Deuteronomy-Kings as Emerging Authoritative Books: A Conversation
by Diana V. Edelman (Editor)

The Forgotten Kingdom: The Archaeology and History of Northern Israel
by Israel Finkelstein

Constructs of Prophecy in the Former and Latter Prophets and Other Texts
Edited by Lester L. Grabbe and Martti Nissinen

Reading Akkadian Prayers and Hymns: An Introduction
Alan Lenzi

El Intercambio de Bienes entre Egipto y Asia Anterior: Desde el reinado de Tuthmosis III hasta el de Akhenaton
Graciela Gestoso Singer

Centro y periferia en el mundo antiguo: El Negev y sus interacciones con Egipto, Asiria, y el Levante en la Edad del Hierro (1200-586 a.C.)
Juan Manuel Tebes

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. 

Elie Assis
The Book of Joel: A Prophet between Calamity and Hope
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9300
Reviewed by Stephen Breck Reid

John Granger Cook
Roman Attitudes toward the Christians: From Claudius to Hadrian
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8676
Reviewed by Warren Carter

Jason von Ehrenkrook
Sculpting Idolatry in Flavian Rome: (An)Iconic Rhetoric in the Writings of Flavius Josephus
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8370
Reviewed by Jeff Jay

John C. Endres
First and Second Chronicles
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8933
Reviewed by Michael Avioz

Jack R. Lundbom
Deuteronomy: A Commentary
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9357
Reviewed by Glen A. Taylor
Reviewed by Timothy M. Willis

Lukasz Niesiolowski-Spanò
The Origin Myths of Holy Places in the Old Testament: A Study of Aetiological Narratives
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8143
Reviewed by Ralph K. Hawkins

Peter R. Rodgers
Exploring the Old Testament in the New
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9088
Reviewed by Michael Labahn

Beth M. Sheppard
The Craft of History and the Study of the New Testament
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8697
Reviewed by Ken Olson
Reviewed by Joseph E. Sanzo

Free: A Guide to Expository Ministry

You can access a free pdf of A Guide to Expository Ministry edited by Dan Dumas here (you will need to fill out a form). A Spanish version can be had here.

Free: What’s in the Word: Rethinking the Socio-Rhetorical Character of the New Testament

Logos in conjunction with Baylor University Press are offering Ben Witherington's What’s in the Word: Rethinking the Socio-Rhetorical Character of the New Testament for free.I can't speak for all of the essays in the volume but I did find the one on eidolothoton helpful. Go here to get your free book. 

Free Logos Book for June: Spirituality of the Psalms

The free Logos Book for June is Walter Brueggemann's Spirituality of the Psalms. You can also enter to win the entire 24-volume Walter Brueggemann Collection. Go the Logos' Free Book of Month page to enter and download your free book today!