Sep 21, 2019

Journal of Inductive Biblical Studies Vol. 6

The latest issue of the Journal of Inductive Biblical Studies is available online for free both as individual articles here or the entire journal here.

HT: Antony Billington

Sep 19, 2019

N. T. Wright at Samford University

You can access five videos of N. T. Wright's different talks when he recently visited Samford University here

HT: Roy Ciampa

Sep 18, 2019

Egypt and Israel in Genesis 47

The reason for the inclusion of Joseph's economic policy in Genesis 47:13-26 is debated. But one likely explanation is that it is included to portray a contrast between Egypt and Israel as a way of highlighting the covenantal faithfulness of the Lord to his people. Egypt then is functioning as a literary foil. In fact, both Egypt (where Israel is) and Canaan (where Israel was) are described as languishing or wasting away (v. 13) while Israel prospers (v. 27). I recently shared the following table with one of my classes.
 
The Contrasting Situations of the Egyptians Versus Israel
Egypt
Israel
Situation presented negatively (e.g. draught)
Situation presented positively (i.e., fruitful and multiplying, v. 27)
Egyptians lose possessions
Israel gains possessions (v. 27)
Priests were exempted
Israel seems exempted (foreshadowing a priestly status, see Exodus 19:6?)

Sep 17, 2019

Teaching When You Are Preaching

See Matt Beasley's post entitled, "Teaching How to Interpret in the Sermon." I often tell my students that you will do at least two things when you preach or teach. (1) You will communicate content. That is, you will have something to say.  (2) You will communicate method. This is typically less direct and obvious but you will teach how one is to handle the text by how you handle it. You may do more than these two but you will not do less.

Sep 16, 2019

Teaching Micah

Nancy Guthries talks to Stephen Um about teaching Micah here.