Nov 20, 2021

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 to read them.

Nancy L. deClaissé-Walford, Psalms: Books 4–5
Gert T. M. Prinsloo

Jorg Frey and Michael R. Jost, eds., Gottesdienst und Engel im antiken Judentum und frühen Christentum
Max Botner

Nathalie LaCoste, Waters of the Exodus: Jewish Experiences with Water in Ptolemaic and Roman Egypt
Julianne Burnett

Oded Lipschits, Yuval Gadot, Benjamin Arubas, and Manfred Oeming, What Are the Stones Whispering? Ramat Rahel: 3000 Years of Forgotten History
Joe Uziel

Matt O’Reilly, Paul and the Resurrected Body: Social Identity and Ethical Practice
Adam White

Rick Strelan, Studies in the Acts of the Apostles: Collected Essays
Michael Kochenash

Francis Watson and Sarah Parkhouse, eds., Telling the Christian Story Differently: Counter-Narratives from Nag Hammadi and Beyond
Tony Burke

Assaf Yasur-Landau, Eric H. Cline, and Yorke Rowan, eds., The Social Archaeology of the Levant: From Prehistory to the Present
Oded Borowski

Benjamin Ziemer, Kritik des Wachstumsmodells: Die Grenzen alttestamentlicher Redaktionsgeschichte im Lichte empirischer Evidenz
Franziska Ede

Eric Ziolkowski, Religion and Literature: History and Method
Peter J. Sabo

Nov 19, 2021

Overview of Amos

Andrew King suggests here that the book of Amos consists of three major ideas, the God of creation, God of covenant,hope for the nations.

Nov 18, 2021

Psalm 57

I am 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 57 (in no particular order). Feel free to mention any that you find helpful in the comments section.

Into the Word with Paul Carter: https://ca.thegospelcoalition.org/into-the-word/psalms-56-57

Analysis by C. J. Labuschagne: https://www.labuschagne.nl/ps057.pdf

William Barrick’s notes: https://drbarrick.org/files/studynotes/Psalms/Ps_057.pdf

Psalm 57 devotional: https://www.generations.org/devotionals/70

Nov 17, 2021

Psalm 118

Here are some random facts about Psalm 118.
  • It is last of the so-called Egyptian Hallel Psalms (113–118) which came to be associated with Jewish feasts, most notably Passover.
  • In the Passover, Psalms 115–118 were traditionally sung after the final blessing and so may have been the hymns that Jesus and his disciples sang on the night he was arrested (cf. Matt 26:30; Mark 14:26).
  • It is the most frequently quoted psalm in the New Testament.
  • Martin Luther said of Psalm 118, "This is my psalm, my chosen psalm. I love them all; I love all holy Scripture, which is my consolation and my life. But this psalm is nearest my heart, and I have a peculiar right to call it mine. It has saved me from many a pressing danger, from which nor emperor, nor kings, nor sages, nor saints, could have saved me. It is my friend; dearer to me than all the honors and power of the earth” (Cited by C. H. Spurgeon, The Treasury of David [Baker], 5:337).

Nov 16, 2021

Biblical Greek Videos

My friend David Hutchison, who teaches Greek for Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, is offering his Greek videos for free on YouTube. You can check them out here.

Characteristics of Good Sermon Illustrations

  1. They tug at the heartstrings and help persuade your people to make a decision for Christ. 
  2. They connect with your people. 
  3. They are colorful and compelling. 
  4. They address real people with real-life problems and solutions. 
  5. They are sensitive and appropriate for the particular audience you are addressing. 
  6. They are believable.

Daniel Akin, Bill Curtis, and Stephen Rummage, Engaging Exposition (Nashville B&H Academic, 2011), 167-68 (with some modification).

Nov 15, 2021

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 to read them.

James P. Allen, Ancient Egyptian Phonology
Gaëlle Chantrain

Brian R. Doak, Ancient Israel’s Neighbors
Yigal Levin

John Paul Heil, Romans: Worship in Hope of the Glory of God
William Horst

Johanna Körner, Sexualität und Geschlecht bei Paulus: Die Spannung zwischen “Inklusivität” und “Exklusivität” des paulinischen Ethos am Beispiel der Sexual- und Geschlechterrollenethik
Simon Bellmann

Robert K. McIver, Verbatim and Gist Parallels Between the Gospels: Coded Greek Synopsis and Selected Statistic
Jeffrey M. Tripp

Douglas J. Moo, The Letter to the Romans
J. Andrew Cowan

Jeffrey L. Morrow, Alfred Loisy and Modern Biblical Studies
Raleigh Heth

V. George Shillington, A Complicated Love Story: Focus on the Fourth Gospel
Cory M. Marsh

Danilo Verde, Conquered Conquerors: Love and War in the Song of Songs
Brandon R. Grafius

Johanna W. H. van Wijk-Bos, The Land and Its Kings: 1–2 Kings
Walter A. Maier III

Nov 14, 2021

The Authenticity of 2 Peter

Darian Lockett has a good discussion of the issue here.