Free Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms

IVP Academic is offering a free PDF of their Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms. You can get it here.

The Latest Issue of the Review of Biblical Literature

The latest issue of Review of Biblical Literature is out. Reviews can be accessed by clicking the links below but unfortunately you must be a SBL member.

David J. McCollough responds to an RBL review of his Ritual Water, Ritual Spirit: An Analysis of the Timing, Mechanism, and Manifestation of Spirit-Reception in Luke-Acts

Kristian A. Bendoraitis and Nijay K. Gupta, eds., Matthew and Mark across Perspectives: Essays in Honour of Stephen C. Barton and William R. Telford
Reviewed by Gregg S. Morrison

Alma Brodersen, The End of the Psalter: Psalms 146–150 in the Masoretic Text, the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the Septuagint
Reviewed by Nancy L. deClaissé-Walford

Sara R. Johnson, Rubén R. Dupertuis, and Christine Shea, eds., Reading and Teaching Ancient Fiction: Jewish, Christian, and Greco-Roman Narratives
Reviewed by Andrew Tobolowsky

T. M. Lemos, Violence and Personhood in Ancient Israel and Comparative Contexts
Reviewed by Anthony Rees

Maren R. Niehoff, ed., Journeys in the Roman Near East: Imagined and Real
Reviewed by Joshua Schwartz

Brian Charles DiPalma, Masculinities in the Court Tales of Daniel: Advancing Gender Studies in the Hebrew Bible
Reviewed by Jordan M. Scheetz

Alan J. Thompson, Luke
Reviewed by David Lertis Matson

Marie Turner, Ecclesiastes: An Earth Bible Commentary: Qoheleth’s Eternal Earth
Reviewed by Timothy J. Sandoval

Michael Ufok Udoekpo, Rethinking the Prophetic Critique of Worship in Amos 5: For Contemporary Nigeria and the USA
Reviewed by Joel Stephen Williams

Michael Wolter, The Gospel according to Luke: Volume I (Luke 1–9:50)
Reviewed by Kenneth D. Litwak

A Jewish Perspective on Tithing

You can read one perspective here.

The Race for the Next Dead Sea Scrolls

Haaretz has an article on the search for more Dead Sea Scrolls here. Unfortunately, the article appears to be behind a paywall although I was able to access it.

The Berlin Pedestal

Early references to Old Testament Israel are not common. Typically, the Merneptah Stele is considered the oldest extra-biblical reference to Israel. But some suggest that the so-called Berlin Pedestal should be considered the oldest reference. You can read about it here. Another article can be found here.

Old Testament Figures as Moral Examples?

Moralistic, "be a Daniel," kind of preaching has rightly been criticized for a variety of reasons. But Michael Kruger is right to point out here that there is a place for using Old Testament (and New Testament) characters as exemplars if it is done rightly.

Studying Biblical Geography

I didn't really enjoy studying geography in grade school and it took me awhile to warm up to the topic in Bible college and seminary. But I am fully convinced of its value now and this post gives three basic reasons to study the biblical geography of Israel.