May 1, 2010
Resources for the Book of Joshua
Nijay Gupta has a brief post on resources that he found helpful in preparation for teaching Joshua here.
Hebrews Carnival
Those of you interested in the Book of Hebrews might be interested in Brian Small's latest Hebrews Carnival here.
Apr 30, 2010
Bibliotheca Sacra 21-30
Rob Bradshaw at BiblicalStudies.org.uk continues to scan and post past volumes of Bibliotheca Sacra, the theological journal of Dallas Theological Seminary, online. Volumes 21-30 are now available. See here.
Apr 29, 2010
Latest Issue of Review of Biblical Literature
The latest issue of Review of Biblical Literature is out. Reviews that may be of interest from a Bible Exposition perspective include:
Paul N. Anderson, Felix Just, S.J., and Tom Thatcher, eds.
John, Jesus, and History, Volume 2: Aspects of Historicity in the Fourth Gospel
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7317
Reviewed by Tobias Hagerland
John Bodel and Saul M. Olyan, eds.
Household and Family Religion in Antiquity
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6657
Reviewed by Jason Lamoreaux
Jochen Flebbe
Solus Deus: Untersuchungen zur Rede von Gott im Brief des Paulus an die Römer
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7307
Reviewed by Wayne Coppins
George Kwame Agyei Bonnah
The Holy Spirit: A Narrative Factor in the Acts of the Apostles
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7417
Reviewed by Joshua Mann
Nancy C. Lee and Carleen Mandolfo, eds.
Lamentations in Ancient and Contemporary Cultural Contexts
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6710
Reviewed by Elizabeth Boase
George W. E. Nickelsburg and Michael E. Stone, eds.
Early Judaism: Text and Documents on Faith and Piety
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7220
Reviewed by Gerbern Oegema
Gail R. O'Day and David L. Petersen, eds.
Theological Bible Commentary
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7098
Reviewed by Harold W. Attridge
Dorothy M. Peters
Noah Traditions in the Dead Sea Scrolls: Conversations and Controversies of Antiquity
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6943
Reviewed by Claudia D. Bergmann
Baruch J. Schwartz, David P. Wright, Jeffrey Stackert, and Naphtali S. Meshel, eds.
Perspectives on Purity and Purification in the Bible
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7172
Reviewed by Jonathan D. Lawrence
Ben Witherington III
New Testament Rhetoric: An Introductory Guide to the Art of Persuasion in and of the New Testament
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7150
Reviewed by InHee Cho
Apr 28, 2010
Esler's New Testament Theology
I just received Philip Esler's New Testament Theology from Fortress Press this week. I haven't had much time to go through it but here are some details about the book.
Description:
Esler's innovative proposal features a cutting-edge combination of theology, exegesis, and social analysis. He argues for new thinking about New Testament theology in light of the early social history of Christian communities. His detailed analysis of P
aul's letters to the Romans and 1 Corinthians validates his thesis and clarifies its significance for scholarship. Using both the tradition of "the communion of the saints" and social-scientific methods, Esler brings the discipline of New Testament theology back to its theological core. He argues that interpreters also need to take into account both the history of interpretation and the multitude of voices within the contemporary church.
Table of Contents:
Introduction: the New Testament and contemporary Christianity
1. The New Testament, history, and theology: the state of the debate
2. Persons in communion: a socio-theological model
3. Knowing and understanding the message of our ancestors in the faith
4. The place of New Testament authors in interpretation
5. Interpersonal understanding and the spoken word in Schleiermacher’s hermeneutics
6. Face-to-face communion between New Testament Christ-followers: 1 Corinthians 10–14 as a test case
7. New Testament Christ-followers and the effects of writing
8. Communion with the saints: origins and development
9. Communion with the saints: modeling the naturalistic possibilities
10. communion with the saints in the fullest sense
11. The Canon and interpersonal communication
12. History, hermeneutics, and communion: Romans
Notes
Bibliography
Index of subjects
Index of modern authors
Index of Scripture
Here is a link to a pdf of the introduction.
Apr 27, 2010
Pastoral Thorns in the Flesh
See this helpful post from Brian Croft on pastoral thorns in the flesh or "How do I shepherd a church member who doesn’t like me?"
Mounce on the Challenges Related to Fluidity of Languages
Bill Mounce has posted on some of the interpretive challenges associated with the fluidity of language, that is, how languages change over time.
Apr 26, 2010
The Resurrected and Non-Resurrected in the Millennial Kingdom
See Fred Butler's post here for a good discussion on the resurrected and non-resurrected in the Millennial Kingdom.
Triads in Jude
There is some disagreement concerning the exact number of Triads in Jude. although most recognize the literary feature. See here for William Varner's list.
Interesting Post on the Book of Ruth
I found this post on the Book of Ruth quite interesting. I especially liked these lines:
"However, I do not think the book of Ruth is about love. It’s about חֶסֶד hesed (an amalgam of faithfulness to family or covenant relationships and great kindness). This virtue was a primary family and social value in Ancient Israel. Love was a luxury, but חֶסֶד hesed was what made the world go round."
I have contended that we often read passages in the Bible involving love and marriage with what I call a "Hallmark hermeneutic." That is, we often read these texts based on the sentiments of greeting cards and through the lenses of the current romantic zeitgeist. I think such readings and subsequent applications can be misguided. In any case, read the entire post above.
Apr 25, 2010
The Call of Acts
“The radical theocentricity of Acts highlights the constant temptation to anthropocentricity of our day, whether seen in advertising that panders to human self-centeredness or ‘tribalism’ that will not act outside the parameters of our community In practice, churches-and theologians-find it all too easy to believe that they need not pay attention to asking what God is doing, and therefore fall into the dangers of making God in their own image and limiting what they consider he can do to the parameters of their experience. Acts calls us to real and continuing openness to God and his agenda, and highlights the prayerfulness of the believing community, for that is how their dependence on God is expressed and experienced (e.g., 1:14, 24; 2:42; 3:1; 6:4; 9:40; 10:9; 125; 13:l–3; 14:23; 16:25; 20:36; 215; 28:8).”
Steve Walton, "Acts," in Theological Interpretation of the New Testament: A Book-by-Book Survey, ed. Kevin J. Vanhoozer (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2008), 81.
Apr 24, 2010
Seminary Online
The Ascension of Christ
One of the most neglected theological aspects of the life and work of Christ relates to His Ascension. Christians often take for granted the reality of the Ascension since Christ is no longer physically present but fail to think about the theological implications of the event. If you doubt this, just ask a few people at your church concerning what they think of the Ascension. So I thought it might be helpful to share five observations from Peter Toon on the meaning of the Ascension.
1. The Ascension is seen, especially by Luke, as that which necessarily follows and completes the Resurrection.
2. Since Jesus died, descended into Hades, was raised from death, and ascended into heaven as the Messiah of his people, then by his resurrection and ascension, he became the firstfruits of his people.
3. The Ascension implies exaltation.
4. Jesus ascended in order to begin his heavenly ministry as High Priest, making intercession
5. Jesus ascended to bestow the gift of the Spirit upon the disciples whom he had called.
6. The Ascension inaugurates a new age.
Peter Toon, The Ascension of Our Lord (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1984), 17-19.
Apr 23, 2010
Latest Issue of Review of Biblical Literature
The latest issue of Review of Biblical Literature is out. Reviews that may be of interest from a Bible Exposition perspective include:
Frank Eibisch
Dein Glaube hat dir geholfen: Heilungsgeschichten des Markusevangeliums als paradigmatische Erzählungen und ihre Bedeutung für diakonisches Handeln
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7148
Reviewed by Wilhelm Pratscher
David L. Baker
Tight Fists or Open Hands? Wealth and Poverty in Old Testament Law
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7278
Reviewed by Timothy Sandoval
Hans M. Barstad
History and the Hebrew Bible: Studies in Ancient Israelite and Ancient Near Eastern Historiography
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7224
Reviewed by Jeremy Hutton
Carol M. Bechtel, eds.
Touching the Altar: The Old Testament for Christian Worship
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6515
Reviewed by Tony Costa
R. Scott Chalmers
The Struggle of Yahweh and El for Hosea's Israel
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6679
Reviewed by Markus Saur
James H. Charlesworth and Petr Pokorný, eds.
Jesus Research: An International Perspective
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7309
Reviewed by Peder Borgen
Lowell K. Handy, ed.
Psalm 29 through Time and Tradition
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7144
Reviewed by Gert Prinsloo
Hannah Harrington
The Purity Texts
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6412
Reviewed by Eric F. Mason
Giulio Maspero
Trinity and Man: Gregory of Nyssa's Ad Ablabium
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7320
Reviewed by Ilaria Ramelli
Herbert Schmid
Die Eucharistie ist Jesus: Anfänge einer Theorie des Sakraments im koptischen Philippusevangelium (NHC 113)
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6296
Reviewed by Riemer Roukema
Apr 22, 2010
Acts: Prescriptive or Descriptive
“A major issue in interpreting Acts is the extent to which it is prescriptive, saying how the church is always meant to be, or descriptive, telling us how the church was at this particular period (Marshall, Acts, 101–5). One helpful tool in deciding case by case about this issue is to consider how far Luke presents clear patterns of events. For example, 2:38-42 presents a fivefold pattern of what it means to become a Christian, involving repentance from sin, water baptism, receiving forgiveness and the gift of the Spirit, and joining the renewed people of God. This pattern keeps reappearing in Acts, not always in the same sequence as in 2:38-42, but with the same elements present (e.g., 8:12–17; 10:44–48; 19:l–20). Using this ‘patterning’ tool, we may identify three themes that address the theology and practice of today's churches.”
Steve Walton, "Acts," in Theological Interpretation of the New Testament: A Book-by-Book Survey, ed. Kevin J. Vanhoozer (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2008), 80.
Apr 21, 2010
Latest Issue of Themelios
The latest issue of Themelios (35:1) is now available as a pdf here. The articles are:
Editorial: Perfectionisms by D. A. Carson
Minority Report: The Importance of Not Studying Theology by Carl Trueman
New Commentaries on Colossians: Survey of Approaches, Analysis of Trends, and the State of Research by Nijay Gupta
Does Baptism Replace Circumcision? An Examination of the Relationship Between Circumcision and Baptism in Colossians 2:11–12 by Martin Salter
Pastoral Pensées: The Church: A Hidden Glory (1 Timothy 3:14–16) by Bill Kynes
Ten Comments You're Least Likely to Hear at Church
1. Hey! It's my turn to sit in the front pew.
2. I was so enthralled, I never noticed your sermon went 25 minutes over time.
3. Personally I find witnessing much more enjoyable than golf.
4. I've decided to give our church the $500 a month I used to send to TV evangelists.
5. I volunteer to be the permanent teacher for the junior high Sunday School class.
6. Forget the denominational minimum salary; let's pay our pastor so he can live like we do.
7. I love it when we sing hymns I've never heard before!
8. Since we're all here, let's start the service early.
9. Pastor, we'd like to send you to this Bible seminar in the Bahamas.
10. Nothing inspires me and strengthens my commitment like our annual stewardship campaign!
Source: Preaching Now
Apr 20, 2010
More Links Between Luke-Acts
I recently posted on the thematic links that tie Luke and Acts together. Steve Walton has a couple of good paragraphs on this as well. Walton writes:
"Reading Luke and Acts together, on the other hand, can explain some puzzles. Such an approach is suggestive for Luke’s apparently diminished emphasis on the death of Jesus in Acts, for Luke has told this story clearly in his Gospel and, while writing Acts, can count it as read and known. The clear statement of Acts 20:28, seeing the blood of Jesus as ‘obtaining’ his people, is the tip of a large iceberg of understanding of Jesus’ crucifixion found in the Gospel, notably in Luke 23 (Wenham and Walton 235)."
Steve Walton, "Acts," in Theological Interpretation of the New Testament: A Book-by-Book Survey, ed. Kevin J. Vanhoozer (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2008), 79.
Apr 19, 2010
Paul's First Missionary Journey
"From the standpoint of ministry and mission, the most significant feature of the [first] missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas was the journey itself. As far as we know, this was the first time when a church had adopted and carried out a specific plan to carry the gospel to the lost world. On the other hand, from the standpoint of theology or doctrine, perhaps the most significant feature of that missionary journey was the fact that churches which were specifically and primarily Gentile had been established."
Robert L. Cate, A History of the New Testament and Its Times (Nashville: Broadman, 1991), 296.
Bibliotheca Sacra 11-20
Thematic Links between Luke-Acts
There are some interpreters today who suggest that Luke and Acts should be separated. But I truly believe in the importance of hyphenating Luke-Acts. There are numerous, significant, and meaningful links between Luke and Acts. In this vein, see these two posts (here and here) from Michael Barber summarizing an article by Charles Talbert on these thematic links. By the way I would add prayer to the six themes noted. You might also want to see this earlier post.
Apr 18, 2010
Jesus, Paul and the People of God: A Theological Dialogue with N.T. Wright
The much discussed nineteenth annual Wheaton Theology Conference held on April 16-17, 2010: Jesus, Paul and the People of God: A Theological Dialogue with N.T. Wright is now available in audio or video here.
HT: Denny Burk
Latest Issue of Review of Biblical Literature
The latest issue of Review of Biblical Literature is out. Reviews that may be of interest from a Bible Exposition perspective include:
Hector Avalos, Sarah Melcher, and Jeremy Schipper, eds.
This Abled Body: Rethinking Disabilities in Biblical Studies
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7175
Reviewed by Yael Avrahami
Susan Emanuel and Jonathan G. Campbell
The Exegetical Texts
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6413
Reviewed by Eric F. Mason
A. Philip Brown
Hope amidst Ruin: A Literary and Theological Analysis of Ezra
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7135
Reviewed by Bob Becking
James R. Linville
Amos and the Cosmic Imagination
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6646
Reviewed by M. Daniel Carroll R.
John P. Meier
A Marginal Jew: Rethinking the Historical Jesus, Volume 4: Law and Love
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7101
Reviewed by William Loader
Gerald O'Collins
Christology: A Biblical, Historical, and Systematic Study of Jesus
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7264
Reviewed by James F. McGrath
Gregory E. Sterling
Coptic Paradigms: A Summary of Sahidic Coptic Morphology
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7000
Reviewed by William Arnal
Guy G. Stroumsa
The End of Sacrifice: Religious Transformations in Late Antiquity
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7122
Reviewed by Douglas Estes
Stefan Wälchli
Glaubenswelten der Bibel: Eine kleine Geschichte des biblischen Glaubens und der Entstehung der Bibel
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6936
Reviewed by Louis Jonker
Harald Martin Wahl
Das Buch Esther: Übersetzung und Kommentar
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7190
Reviewed by Donatella Scaiola
Walter T. Wilson
Pauline Parallels: A Comprehensive Guide
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7136
Reviewed by Martinus C. de Boer
Otto Zwierlein
Petrus in Rom: Die literarischen Zeugnisse
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7189
Reviewed by James D. G. Dunn
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