Dec 31, 2020

The Ultimate Top 10 Discoveries in Biblical Archaeology in 2020

Todd Bolen outdoes all of the top ten lists I have seen so far. Not only does he discuss the top ten discoveries in biblical archaeology in 2020 but also identifies other noteworthy stories, notable resources, and more. Check it out here.

Dec 30, 2020

Dec 29, 2020

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. 

Keith Bodner and Benjamin J. M. Johnson, eds., Characters and Characterization in the Book of Kings
Reviewed by Suzie Park

Don C. Collett, Figural Reading and the Old Testament: Theology and Practice
Reviewed by J. Michael Thigpen

Gregory L. Cuéllar, Empire, the British Museum, and the Making of the Biblical Scholar in the Nineteenth Century: Archival Criticism
Reviewed by Rachel Hallote

J. Christopher Edwards, The Gospel according to the Epistle of Barnabas
Reviewed by James N. Rhodes

Jaco Gericke, A Philosophical Theology of the Old Testament: A Historical, Experimental, Comparative and Analytic Perspective
Reviewed by Paavo Tucker

Remo Gramigna, Augustine’s Theory of Signs, Signification, and Lying
Reviewed by Alexander H. Pierce

Charles W. Hedrick, Unmasking Biblical Faiths: The Marginal Relevance of the Bible for Contemporary Religious Faith
Reviewed by Hector Avalos

Luke Timothy Johnson, Constructing Paul: The Canonical Paul, Volume 1
Reviewed by M. Eugene Boring

Ingrid Rosa Kitzberger, Interfigural Readings of the Gospel of John
Reviewed by Sherri Brown

B. J. Koet and A. L. H. M. van Wieringen, eds., Multiple Teachers in Biblical Texts
Reviewed by Steven Edward Harris

Ross Shepard Kraemer, The Mediterranean Diaspora in Late Antiquity: What Christianity Cost the Jews
Reviewed by Steven Fine

Josef Schmid, Studies in the History of the Greek Text of the Apocalypse: The Ancient Stems
Reviewed by Ian Boxall

William J. Webb and Gordon K. Oeste, Bloody, Brutal, and Barbaric? Wrestling with Troubling War Texts
Reviewed by Eric A. Seibert

Oda Wischmeyer, ed., Handbuch der Bibelhermeneutiken: Von Origenes bis zur Gegenwart
Reviewed by Jeffrey L. Morrow

Martin Worthington, Ea’s Duplicity in the Gilgamesh Flood Story
Reviewed by Louise M. Pryke

Dec 28, 2020

Top Biblical Archaeology Stories of 2020

Haaretz has an article on the top biblical archaeology stories of 2020 here. Unfortunately, it seems like it is behind a paywall but you might be able to access it.

Dec 24, 2020

Psalm 39 Links

I have been working on a commentary on the Psalms. I have decided to compile some helpful links that I discovered during my research. It includes a mix of exegetical and sermonic links. Here is what I have for Psalm 39 (in no particular order). Feel free to mention any that you find helpful in the comments section. 

The Fathers on Psalm 39: https://pursuingveritas.com/2019/08/20/the-fathers-on-psalm-39

Literary analysis of Psalm 39: http://psalmsstudy.com/psalms-literary-analysis-by-chapter/literary-analysis-psalm-39-master-hope

Analysis by C. J. Labuschagne: https://www.labuschagne.nl/ps039.pdf 

William Barrick’s notes: https://drbarrick.org/files/studynotes/Psalms/Ps_039.pdf

Dec 23, 2020

The Master's Seminary Journal 31:2

The latest volume of The Master's Seminary Journal (Fall 2020) is available here. Here is a list of the articles.

An Analysis of Geerhardus Vos’ Nature and Method of Biblical Theology — Richard C. Barcellos

A Methodology of Janus Parallelism — Nathan LeMaster

The Eternal God of a Vanishing Creation: Recovering the Doctrine of Divine Timelessness — Peter Sammons

Toward the Worship of God as Actus Purus — Alan Quiñones

Martin Lloyd-Jones on “Unity” — Kevin D. Zuber

Recent Scholarship and the Quest to Understand Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 —Peter J. Goeman

The Hermeneutics of the American Revolution — Gregg L. Frazer

Postmodernism and the Gospels: Dancing on the Edge of Disaster — F. David Farnell

HT: Antony Billington

Dec 22, 2020

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. 

Israel Bartal, Tangled Roots: The Emergence of Israeli Culture
Reviewed by Shai Ginsburg

Amanda W. Benckhuysen, The Gospel according to Eve: A History of Women’s Interpretation
Reviewed by Linda S. Schearing

Jörg Frey, Matthijs den Dulk, and Jan G. van der Watt, eds., 2 Peter and the Apocalypse of Peter: Towards a New Perspective
Reviewed by Travis B. Williams

Ally Kateusz, Mary and Early Christian Women: Hidden Leadership
Reviewed by Christy Cobb

Gideon R. Kotzé, Wolfgang Kraus, and Michaël N. van der Meer, eds., XVI Congress of the International Organization for Septuagint and Cognate Studies: Stellenbosch, 2016
Reviewed by Andrew Daniel

Atar Livneh, Studies on Jewish and Christian Historical Summaries from the Hellenistic and Early Roman Periods
Reviewed by Aubrey Buster

Suzanna R. Millar, Genre and Openness in Proverbs 10:1–22:16

Reviewed by Alice Ogden Bellis
Maren R. Niehoff, Philo of Alexandria: An Intellectual Biography
Reviewed by William Horst

Franz Prosinger, Das eingepflanzte Wort der Wahrheit: Struktur und Grundgedanke des Jakobusbriefes
Reviewed by Oda Wischmeyer

Jerry L. Sumney, Steward of God’s Mysteries: Paul and Early Church Tradition
Reviewed by H. H. Drake Williams III

Abraham Tal, ed., Tibåt Mårqe: The Ark of Marqe; Edition, Translation, Commentary
Reviewed by Yeshiva University

Jeffrey M. Tripp, Direct Internal Quotation in the Gospel of John
Reviewed by Deolito V. Vistar Jr

Emanuel Tov, Textual Developments: Collected Essays, Volume 4
Reviewed by Johann Cook

Brandon Walker, Memory, Mission, and Identity: Orality and the Apostolic Miracle Tradition
Reviewed by Rafael Rodríguez

Johanna W. H. van Wijk-Bos, The Road to Kingship: 1–2 Samuel
Reviewed by Marvin A. Sweeney

Dec 21, 2020

Books for the Educated Christian Mind

Jacob Prahlow lists 300 of them here. I've got some mixed feelings about trying to read some of the titles listed but on the other hand, it is important to be familiar with works like these in understanding our intellectual tradition. See Prahlow's helpful caveats.

Dec 18, 2020

Jesus and Egypt

Jesse Johnson helpfully draws out the significance of Jesus' sojourn in Egypt (Matt 2:13-15) here.

Dec 17, 2020

Christmas Humor

 This was sent to me by one of my daughters.


Dec 16, 2020

Professional Development Opportunities for Teachers

This list by Casey Dexter might not be helpful for everyone but seems like there are some things worthy of consideration.

Dec 15, 2020

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. 

Michal Bar-Asher Siegal, Jewish-Christian Dialogues on Scripture in Late Antiquity: Heretic Narratives of the Babylonian Talmud
Reviewed by Adele Reinhartz

Jan N. Bremmer, The World of Greek Religion and Mythology: Collected Essays II
Reviewed by Mary R. Lefkowitz

James H. Charlesworth, Jesus as Mirrored in John: The Genius in the New Testament
Reviewed by Daniel Frayer-Griggs

John J. Collins and Ananda Geyser-Fouché, eds., Scribal Practice, Text, and Canon in the Dead Sea Scrolls: Essays in Memory of Peter W. Flint
Reviewed by Hendrik Bosman

John J. Collins, Pieter G. R. de Villiers, and Adela Yarbro Collins, eds., Apocalypticism and Mysticism in Ancient Judaism and Early Christianity
Reviewed by Andrew R. Guffey

Lily Fetalsana-Apura, A Filipino Resistance Reading of Joshua 1:1–9
Reviewed by Jennifer M. Matheny

Annemarie Luidendijk and William E. Klingshirn, eds., My Lots Are in Thy Hands: Sortilege and Its Practitioners in Late Antiquity
Reviewed by Carson Bay

Daniel W. McManigal, A Baptism of Judgment in the Fire of the Holy Spirit: John’s Eschatological Proclamation in Matthew 3
Reviewed by Nathan Shedd

Shem Miller, Dead Sea Media: Orality, Textuality, and Memory in the Scrolls from the Judean Desert
Reviewed by Molly M. Zahn

Candida R. Moss, Divine Bodies: Resurrecting Perfection in the New Testament and Early Christianity
Reviewed by H. H. Drake Williams III

Philip A. Noss and Charles S. Houser, eds., A Guide to Bible Translation: People, Languages, and Topics
Reviewed by Leonard J. Greenspoon

Roland Oetjen, ed., New Perspectives in Seleucid History, Archaeology and Numismatics: Studies in Honor of Getzel M. Cohen
Reviewed by Erich S. Gruen

David Vopřada, Quodvultdeus: A Bishop Forming Christians in Vandal Africa
Reviewed by Raúl González Salinero

Man Hee Yoon, The Fate of the Man of God from Judah: A Literary and Theological Reading of 1 Kings 13
Reviewed by Paul Jones

Laura M. Zucconi, Ancient Medicine: From Mesopotamia to Rome
Reviewed by Marian Broida