Mar 8, 2019

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.

Daniel I. Block, Obadiah: A Discourse Analysis of the Hebrew Bible
Reviewed by J. Michael Thigpen

William P. Brown, A Handbook to Old Testament Exegesis
Reviewed by Douglas Stuart

Tony Burke, The Syriac Tradition of the Infancy Gospel of Thomas: A Critical Edition and English Translation
Reviewed by Joseph Azize

L. Juliana Claassens and Carolyn J. Sharp, eds., Feminist Frameworks and the Bible: Power, Ambiguity, and Intersectionality
Reviewed by Susanne Scholz

Michael J. Gorman, ed., Scripture and Its Interpretation: A Global, Ecumenical Introduction to the Bible
Reviewed by Luis Menéndez-Antuña

Louis C. Jonker, Defining All-Israel in Chronicles: Multi-levelled Identity Negotiation in Late Persian-Period Yehud
Reviewed by J. H. Price

Susanne Scholz, The Bible as Political Artifact: On the Feminist Study of the Hebrew Bible
Reviewed by Sandie Gravett

Katherine A. Shaner, Enslaved Leadership in Early Christianity
Reviewed by Ralph J. Korner

Siu Fung Wu, Suffering in Romans
Reviewed by Timothy J. Bertolet

H. Daniel Zacharias, Matthew’s Presentation of the Son of David
Reviewed by Wongi Park

Mar 7, 2019

Genesis 25:1-11

It is generally recognized that Genesis 25:1-11 provides a transition from the Abraham story to the Isaac story. This is correct but one should also not the continuity of the Abrahamic Covenant and its promises in these verses. Here are a few points of continuity.
  • Like his father Abraham (Gen 12:1-3), Isaac is given the promise and the blessing unconditionally (vv. 5, 11).
  • Keturah and her children demonstrate the Abrahamic promises in two ways (distinction from the main line of promise of Isaac and yet receive collateral blessing*).
  • Isaac is linked to the burial cave in Machpelah (vv. 9-10).
  • The fact that Abraham “died in a good old age, an old man and full of years” testify to God’s blessing (vv. 7-8).
  • Isaac’s presence underscores the continuity of the promises.
  • Isaac’s settling at Beer-lahai-roi suggests that Isaac not Ishmael is the heir of the promise (v. 11, cf. Gen 16:13-15).

* By collateral blessings I mean those Abrahamic blessings that fall on those not in the main line of the Abrahamic promises but who are blessed nonetheless due to their proximity to Abraham.

Mar 5, 2019

The Origins of New Testament Theology and Greek Linguistics

Recently Stan Porter gave three lectures as part of The Ellis Lectures at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. The topic addressed was "Can Greek Linguistics Inform New Testament Theology?" Three three lectures were given (see below) but I have only provided a link to the first since I don't see the other two online.

Lecture 1: The Origins of New Testament Theology and Greek Linguistics

Lecture 2: The Present State of New Testament Theology and Greek Linguistics

Lecture 3: The Future of New Testament Theology and Greek Linguistic


Mar 4, 2019

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.

Richard J. Bautch and Gary N. Knoppers, eds., Covenant in the Persian Period: From Genesis to Chronicles
Reviewed by Pieter de Vries

Robert R. Beck, Jesus and His Enemies: Narrative Conflict in the Four Gospels
Reviewed by Elizabeth Struthers Malbon

Honora Howell Chapman and Zuleika Rodgers, eds., A Companion to Josephus
Reviewed by Chris Seeman

Lester L. Grabbe, Ancient Israel: What Do We Know and How Do We Know It?
Reviewed by Kristin A. Swanson

Eckart Otto, Deuteronomium 12–34: Volume 1: 12,1–23,15; Volume 2: 23,16–34,12
Reviewed by Mark W. Hamilton

Dieter T. Roth, The Parables in Q
Reviewed by Sam Tsang

Paavo N. Tucker, The Holiness Composition in the Book of Exodus
Reviewed by William Johnstone

Steve Walton, Paul R. Trebilco, and David W. J. Gill, eds., The Urban World and the First Christians
Reviewed by Alan Cadwallader

Tommy Wasserman and Peter J. Gurry, A New Approach to Textual Criticism: An Introduction to the Coherence-Based Genealogical Method
Reviewed by Robert F. Hull Jr.

Annette Weissenrieder and Robert B. Coote, eds., The Interface of Orality and Writing: Speaking, Seeing, Writing in the Shaping of New Genres 

Reviewed by Jason M. Silverman 

Mar 3, 2019

Books Don't Belong in the Bathroom?

Somehow I missed this post a few months ago about why books don't belong in the bathroom. I was tempted to throw a pun in here but I will resist.