Mar 13, 2015

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. 

Robert B. Chisholm Jr.
A Commentary on Judges and Ruth
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9746
Reviewed by Mark E. Biddle

John W. Daniels Jr.
Gossiping Jesus: The Oral Processing of Jesus in John’s Gospel
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9418
Reviewed by Peter J. Judge

John Goldingay
Isaiah 56-66: Introduction, Text, and Commentary
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9699
Reviewed by Johanna Erzberger

Steven A. Hunt, D. Francois Tolmie, and Ruben Zimmermann, eds.
Character Studies in the Fourth Gospel: Narrative Approaches to Seventy Figures in John
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9598
Reviewed by Craig R. Koester

Demetrios S. Katos
Palladius of Helenopolis: The Origenist Advocate
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8888
Reviewed by Jon F. Dechow

Phillip J. Long
Jesus the Bridegroom: The Origin of the Eschatological Feast as a Wedding Banquet in the Synoptic Gospels
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9625
Reviewed by Marianne Blickenstaff

Roberto Martínez
The Question of John the Baptist and Jesus’ Indictment of the Religious Leaders: A Critical Analysis of Luke 7:18–35
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8842
Reviewed by Brian C. Dennert
Reviewed by Bart J. Koet

Benjamin J. Segal
A New Psalm: The Psalms as Literature
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9537
Reviewed by Hallvard Hagelia

N. T. Wright
Pauline Perspectives: Essays on Paul, 1978–2013
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9467
Reviewed by Russell Morton

Mar 12, 2015

Christopher Wright on Preaching

Christopher J, H, Wright is the featured speaker this week for the World Evangelization Conference at Dallas Theological Seminary. I have enjoyed Dr. Wright's plenary addresses. You can view the first message here and others will be posted later. I also had the privilege of joining the faculty for a luncheon with Dr. Wright. A number of questions were asked but one question in particular stood out for me concerning his work with the Langham Partnership. As some may know, one component of Langham's ministry is to equip pastors to preach and teach the Bible. When Wright was asked about the biggest challenge in training pastors to preach, he responded by saying, it was to encourage pastors to preach the Bible, that is to preach it expositionally. He was speaking primarily of the majority world context, but I would venture to say that the problem is here in the US as well. I am thankful for ministries like Langham that seek to encourage expository preaching.  

Mar 11, 2015

Old Testament Quotations in 1 Corinthians

Robert Bell notes that Paul quoted from the Old Testament about one hundred times, nearly a fifth of those occur in 1 Corinthians. See the following table compiled by Bell (Robert D. Bell, “Paul’s Use of the Old Testament in 1 Corinthians,” Biblical Viewpoint 7 [1973]: 130–31.
 
Old Testament Quotations in 1 Corinthians
Reference
Introductory Formula
Old Testament Source
1:19
“For it is written”
Isa. 29:14
1:31
“As it is written''
Jer. 9:24
2:9
“As it is written”
Isa. 64:4; 65:17
2:16
“For”
Isa. 40:13
3:19
“For it is written”
Job 5:13
3:20
“And again”
Psa. 94:11
5:13
(none)
Deut. 19:19; etc.
6:16
“For He says”
Gen. 2:24
9:9
“For it is written in the Law of Moses”
Deut. 25:4
10:7
“As it is written”
Exod. 32:6
10:26
“For”
Psa. 24:1
14:21
“In the Law it is written”
Isa. 28:11–12
15:27
“For”
Psa. 8:6
15:32
(none)
Isa. 22:13; 56:12
15:45
“And thus it is written”
Gen. 2:7
15:54
“Then will happen the saying which is written”
Isa. 25:8
15:55
(none)
Hos. 13:14


 

Mar 10, 2015

The Temple Institute's New Altar

There is an interesting article about the recent completion of the burnt offering altar by the Temple Institute here. What I found most interesting is that it is built with fired brick rather than natural stones. The article notes that the Bible prohibits the use of hand-worked stones (Exod 20:25, cf. Deut 27:5). But this raises the question as to why human made brick, which is not stone at all, would be acceptable. Or why it is not composed of acacia wood and overlaid with bronze as stipulated in Exodus 27:1-8?

 HT: Amy Downey

Mar 9, 2015

Timothy George: Reading Luke with the Reformers

First Things has an article by Timothy George entitled, "Timothy George: Reading Luke with the Reformers" here.

Mar 8, 2015

Favorite Preaching Books

Jim Gray lists his favorite preaching books here. I would include the following recent volumes. I would be in general agreement with Jim's list and would nominate the following two volumes.

Daniel L. Akin, David L. Allen, and Ned L. Mathews, eds., Text-Driven Preaching: God’s Word at the Heart of Every Sermon (Nashville: B&H Academic, 2010).

Daniel L. Akin, Bill Curtis, and Stephen Rummage, Engaging Exposition (Nashville: B&H Academic, 2011).