Latest Issue of Review of Biblical Literature

  

The latest issue of Review of Biblical Literature is out. Reviews can be accessed by clicking the links below.

Richard Bauckham
The Bible and Ecology: Rediscovering the Community of Creation
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7931
Reviewed by Norman Habel
 
Ehud Ben Zvi and Diana V. Edelman, eds.
The Production of Prophecy: Constructing Prophecy and Prophets in Yehud
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7650
Reviewed by Bob Becking
 
Kamila Blessing
Families of the Bible: A New Perspective
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7753
Reviewed by Yolanda Dreyer
 
Naomi Koltun-Fromm
Hermeneutics of Holiness: Ancient Jewish and Christian Notions of Sexuality and Religious Community
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7800
Reviewed by Michael L. Satlow
 
Joel M. LeMon
Yahweh's Winged Form in the Psalms: Exploring Congruent Iconography and Texts
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7830
Reviewed by Jeremy M. Hutton
 
Martin McNamara
Targum and Testament Revisited: Aramaic Paraphrases of the Hebrew Bible: A Light on the New Testament
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7816
Reviewed by Joshua Ezra Burns
 
Sebastian Moll
The Arch-Heretic Marcion
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7657
Reviewed by Mark DelCogliano
 
Daniel O'Hare
"Have You Seen, Son of Man?": A Study of the Translation and Vorlage of LXX Ezekiel 40-48
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7817
Reviewed by Francis Dalrymple-Hamilton
 
Calvin J. Roetzel
The Letters of Paul: Conversations in Context
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7691
Reviewed by Nijay K. Gupta
 
José Manuel Sánchez Caro, Rosa María Herrera García, and Inmaculada Delgado Jara, eds.
Alfonso do Madrigal, el Tostado: Introducción al Evangelio según San Mateo
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7324
Reviewed by David E. C. Ford
 

More Free Holy Land Maps

See this post with links to some free Holy Land Maps from the Eran Laor Cartographic Collection.
  

Acts in Three Minutes

HT; Peter Cockrell

Journal for the Study of the New Testament 34:1

  

The latest issue of the Journal for the Study of the New Testament is out. Here is a list of the articles and links to abstracts.

  

A Liturgical Tradition behind the Ending of James

Dale C. Allison, Jr

Journal for the Study of the New Testament 2011;34 3-18
http://jnt.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/34/1/3

Faith in Romans: The Salvation of the Individual or Life in Community?

Ben C. Dunson

Journal for the Study of the New Testament 2011;34 19-46
http://jnt.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/34/1/19

Paul’s Intentional ‘Thankless Thanks’ in Philippians 4.10-20

David Briones

Journal for the Study of the New Testament 2011;34 47-69
http://jnt.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/34/1/47

Luke’s Use of Mark as παράφρασις: Its Effects on Characterization in the ‘Healing of Blind Bartimaeus’ Pericope (Mark 10.46-52/Luke 18.35-43)

Timothy A. Brookins

Journal for the Study of the New Testament 2011;34 70-89
http://jnt.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/34/1/70

‘Praise the Lord, All you Gentiles’: The Encoded Audience of Romans 15.7-13

A. Andrew Das

Journal for the Study of the New Testament 2011;34 90-110
http://jnt.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/34/1/90
  

That's a Lot of Sermons

  
David Buttrick, writing nearly twenty years ago (The Mystery and the Passion, 1992) noted that by a conservative estimate there had been at least three billion sermons preached since the time of Christ. Now, I am not sure how Buttrick arrived at that number and I am not sure how many sermons have been added to that number since 1992, but I am pretty sure of two things. First, it is unlikely that the next sermon that we preach will be the best sermon ever. And second and conversely, the numbers are on our side that the next sermon we preach won't be the worst sermon ever. So be faithful and just preach the Word.
 

Hurtado on Oldies but Goodies

  
See Larry Hurtado's post on older works that are still worth reading.
 

Witherington on Philippians

  
See this post with Ben Witherington discussing writing the final volume of his socio-rhetorical commentary series and the book of Philippians.
 

Listening to Mark's Gospel

  
See this post.
  

Inscribed Temple Columns and Revelation

  
Carl Rasmussen has an interesting post here on inscribed columns and Revelation 3:11-13.
 

Schnabel on Genre, History, and the Book of Acts

“Genre remains important. We can read the gigantic Chicago phone book as a poem celebrating shared humanity, as an ode to ethnic diversity, as a sonnet on the relevance of facts and figures, or as the meta-story of the hidden identities of the Chicago mafia. As interesting as such literary games might be, they would miss the point of the book. If we accept that the Book of Acts is a short historical monograph, or apologetic historiography, or a ‘lively political theology in its time,’ or a biography, or a ‘biographical history of important developments in earliest Christianity,’ historical questions are an integral, indeed foundational part of Luke’s concerns. Scholars who do not want to engage historical reality of the first century should, perhaps, seek other objects of inquiry than the Acts of the Apostles.”

Eckhard J. Schnabel, “Fads and Commen Sense: Reading Acts in the First Century and Reading Acts Today,” Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 54 (2011): 257–8.

  

Disexposition

  

R. Kent Hughes and Bryan Chapell, commenting on 1 Timothy 4:13 criticize “. . . the ‘disexposition’ that is issuing from so many evangelical pulpits today.” Adding that, “The congregation hears the text read and waits in anticipation for its exposition — only to be disappointed when the text is never alluded to in the next thirty minutes. Or, more commonly, the text is handled superficially with no serious engagement of its meaning. The preacher mouths its words, but there is no substance. ‘Disexposition’ takes many forms. Sometimes the text is so encrusted with stories and jokes that it is unseen and unheard. Other times it is so distorted because it is preached through a therapeutic, political, or social lens.”

R. Kent Hughes and Bryan Chapell, 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus: To Guard the Deposit, Preaching the Word, (Wheaton: Crossway, 2000), 116.

    

The Screwtape Letters

  
Some might be interested in this Wall Street Journal article on C. S. Lewis and The Screwtape Letters.
 

Latest Issue of Review of Biblical Literature

  

The latest issue of Review of Biblical Literature is out. Reviews can be accessed by clicking the links below.

Cornelis Bennema
Encountering Jesus: Character Studies in the Gospel of John
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7578
Reviewed by Nijay K. Gupta
 
Scott N. Callaham
Modality and the Biblical Hebrew Infinitive Absolute
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7687
Reviewed by Jeremy Hutton
 
Thomas B. Dozeman, ed.
Methods for Exodus
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7597
Reviewed by Danny Mathews
 
Jennie R. Ebeling
Women's Lives in Biblical Times
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7614
Reviewed by Aren M. Maeir
 
Swift Edgar, ed.
The Vulgate Bible, Volume 1: The Pentateuch: Douay-Rheims Translation
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7863
Reviewed by Mark Elliott
 
Troels Engberg-Pedersen
Cosmology and Self in the Apostle Paul: The Material Spirit
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7520
Reviewed by Kevin McCruden
 
John Paul Heil
Colossians: Encouragement to Walk in All Wisdom as Holy Ones in Christ
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7734
Reviewed by Rodrigo J. Morales
 
Robert Kugler and Patrick Hartin
An Introduction to the Bible
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7651
Reviewed by Lily Vuong
 
Heikki Räisänen
The Rise of Christian Beliefs: The Thought World of Early Christians
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7356
Reviewed by Gosnell Yorke
 
Robert Titley
A Poetic Discontent: Austin Farrer and the Gospel of Mark
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7485
Reviewed by Mark A. Matson 

   

Why, O God?: Suffering and Disability in the Bible and the Church

  

Suffering and disability have been innate human problems since the Fall. The topic presents a number of pastoral, theological, philosophical, and practical challenges. So I am excited to share a new resource that seeks to address these challenges biblically and from an Evangelical perspective.

Larry J. Waters and Roy B. Zuck, eds., Why, O God?: Suffering and Disability in the Bible and the Church (Wheaton: Crossway, 2011).

Publisher’s Description:

With two in seven American families affected by disability, the body of Christ has a great opportunity for ministry. This new anthology uniquely points the way, training churches, caregivers, pastors, and counselors to compassionately respond.

The book’s contributors—ranging from Joni Eareckson Tada and others living with disabilities, to seminary professors, ministry leaders, and medical professionals—do more than offer a biblical perspective on suffering and disability; they draw from very personal experiences to explore Christians’ responsibility toward those who suffer. The volume addresses various disabilities and age-related challenges, end-of-life issues, global suffering, and other concerns—all the while reminding readers that as they seek to help the hurting, they will be ministered to in return.

This unprecedented work, which includes a foreword by Randy Alcorn, belongs in the hands of every Christian worker and caring individual who is seeking a real-world, biblical perspective on suffering. 

Table of Contents:

Foreword by Randy Alcorn

Part 1 Challenge and Need

1. Redeeming Suffering – Joni Eareckson Tada

2. A Biblical Disability-Ministry Perspective – Daniel R. Thomson

3. Church-Based Disability Ministry – Jessica James Baldridge

4. Disabilities and the Church – Michael A. Justice

5. The Rolling Throne – Greg A. Hatteberg

Part 2 Biblical Foundations

6. Suffering in the Pentateuch – Stephen J. Bramer

7. Suffering in the Historical Books – Stephen J. Bramer

8. Suffering in the Book of Job – Larry J. Waters

9. Suffering in the Psalms and Wisdom Books – Ronald B. Allen

10. Suffering in the Writing Prophets (Isaiah to Malachi) – Stephen J. Bramer

11. A Biblical Theology of Suffering in Gospels – Mark L. Bailey

12. Suffering in Acts and the Pauline Epistles – Stanley D. Toussaint

13. Suffering in the Non-Pauline Epistles – James E. Allman

14. Suffering in the Book of Revelation – Thomas L. Constable

Part 3 Theology, Pastoral Ministry, and Missions

15. Receiving Evil from God – Douglas K. Blount

16. Pastoral Care and Disability – Victor D. Anderson

17. Global Suffering – James A. Neathery

Part 4 Counseling and Professional Services

18. Dealing with Disabilities in Adults – Amy J. Wilson

19. Children with Disabilities – Patricia Evans

20. Bioethics and Suffering – Richard L. Voet

21. Death and Dying ­– Linda M. Martin

Part 5 Conclusion

22. Wheelchairs in Heaven? – Joni Eareckson Tada

General index

Scripture Index

You can read an excerpt here.

  

Sleeping in Church

  
See this humorous editorial.
  

Savior as a Nomina Sacra?

  
Tim Henderson has an interesting post discussing why Savior was not apparently a major nomina sacra in the earliest manuscripts. Read the post here.
 

Sermon Titles

  
Although sermon titles are not the most important aspect of creating a sermon, David Murray points out that it can be beneficial and then discusses some helpful ways to create better titles here.
 

Blog: The Time Has Been Shortened

  
This is not exactly a new blog, but you might want to check out The Time Has Been Shortened. This team written blog looks like they are doing some interesting stuff.
 

Any Given Sunday

 

“On any given Sunday in today’s preaching pantheon, one can observe a diverse group of devotees, some paying homage to the chapel of ‘creativity,’ others sitting at the feet of the ‘culturally relevant.’ Some are transfixed at the nave marked ‘narrative,’ whereas others have their hearts strangely warmed at the chasse of ‘pop-psychology.’ There is never a shortage of worshippers at the ‘new homiletic’ altar, and the ‘topical’ shrine always receives its share of Sunday patrons. Fearful that some as yet undiscovered  homiletical ‘method’ might be missed, the gatekeepers of the pantheon have installed an altar inscribed ‘to the unknown preaching method.’ It is that method which the authors of this book declare unto you. Actually, the method itself is not ‘unknown’ at all, and like the true church on earth, it has always had its practitioners in every era of church history. In fact, it is the oldest method in the preaching pantheon, having been used by the earliest preachers as far back as the apostolic era of the church. It is called ‘expository preaching.’”

David L. Allen, “Introduction,” in Text-Driven Preaching: God’s Word at the Heart of Every Sermon, ed. Daniel L. Akin, David L. Allen, and Ned L. Mathews (Nashville: B & H Academic, 2010), 1.

You can see an introduction to this book here and an interview with David Allen concerning the book here.
  

Review of Futurecast

Barna, George. Futurecast: What Today's Trends Mean for Tomorrow’s World. N.C.: Tyndale House, 2011.

People in ministry need to be able to exegete the Scriptures and also to exegete the culture in which they seek to minister. Seeing where people are and taking an educated guess to where they will be is part of the second task. To that end, Barna’s book is a helpful resource. It provides both statistical data in clearly defined categories and analysis of the data.

The book contains nine chapters, not counting the introduction and two appendices. The chapters are arranged categorically (e.g. family life, attitudes and values, etc.). The writing is fairly straightforward, and I enjoyed Barna’s clarifications of some of the intricacies of evaluating statistical data (e.g., the difference between membership and attendance, pp. 178–9). He also does a nice job of developing helpful categories. For example, see Barna’s distinctions related to church participation, i.e. unattached, intermittents, homebodies, blenders, conventionals (pp. 159–60).

There are times when I found the explanation a bit confusing. For example, concerning spiritual gifts Barna writes, “a large share of the Christian public (32 percent) remains either unaware of the existence of these capabilities or aware of the gifts but not cognizant of which ones they possess. Surprisingly, fewer Christians today are aware of the existence of spiritual gifts (68 percent) than was true ten or fifteen years ago (72 percent and 71 percent respectively)” (p. 168, italics mine). The confusion is apparently caused by emphasizing different numbers such as 32% are ignorant vs. 68% who are informed. While one can figure things out by doing the math, I found this unnecessarily confusing. Thankfully, such examples are few and far between.

Sprinkled throughout Futurecast are helpful bullet lists and tables. The two tables that I found most interesting were “critical shifts in values and attitudes” (p. 79) and “percentage of adults who believe these Bible stories are literally true” (p. 135). The latter will likely provide introductory material for numerous sermons and lessons. For those looking for introductory material, a topical index would have been helpful.

Overall, I appreciated Barna’s work in Futurecast. It provides a snapshot of some of the significant and rapid changes and trends in society today. It is not and should not be the only source for exegeting our culture, but it is a helpful resource to that end.

My review copy was provided by Tyndale House Publishers. 

  

Ten Memorable Quotes from John Stott

  
See this article.
 

Latest Issue of Review of Biblical Literature

  

The latest issue of Review of Biblical Literature is out. Reviews can be accessed by clicking the links below.

Scott A. Ellington
Risking Truth: Reshaping the World through Prayers of Lament
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6778
Reviewed by Philip E. Satterthwaite
 
Andreas Hahn
Canon Hebraeorum-Canon Ecclesiae: Zur deuterokanonischen Frage im Rahmen der Begründung alttestamentlicher Schriftkanonizität in neuerer römisch-katholischer Dogmatik
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7473
Reviewed by Mark Elliott
 
K. L. Noll and Brooks Schramm, eds.
Raising Up a Faithful Exegete: Essays in Honor of Richard D. Nelson
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7849
Reviewed by Kent Harold Richards
 
B. J. Oropeza, C. K. Robertson, and Douglas C. Mohrmann, eds.
Jesus and Paul: Global Perspectives in Honor of James D. G. Dunn for His Seventieth Birthday
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7551
Reviewed by Bernard Ukwuegbu
 
Yoon-Man Park
Mark's Memory Resources and the Controversy Stories (Mark 2:1-3:6): An Application of the Frame Theory of Cognitive Science to the Markan Oral-Aural Narrative
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7793
Reviewed by James D. G. Dunn
 
Henning Graf Reventlow
History of Biblical Interpretation, Vol. 3: Renaissance, Reformation, Humanism
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7841
Reviewed by A. K. M. Adam
 
Henning Graf Reventlow
History of Biblical Interpretation, Vol. 3: Renaissance, Reformation, Humanism; and Vol. 4: From the Englightenment to the Twentieth Century
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7885
Reviewed by John F. A. Sawyer
 
Matthew Sleeman
Geography and the Ascension Narrative in Acts
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7430
Reviewed by Steve Walton
 
Michael G. Wechsler, ed.
The Arabic Translation and Commentary of Yefet ben 'Eli the Karaite on the Book of Esther: Edition, Translation, and Introduction
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7395
Reviewed by John Kaltner
 
Timothy M. Willis
Leviticus
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7141
Reviewed by Christophe Nihan 

  

J Gresham Machen's Birthday

J Gresham Machen was born in Baltimore, Maryland on this day in 1881.

John Stott (1921-2011)

  
It is being reported that John Stott has gone to be with the Lord. He was ninety years of age.

You can visit a memorial page here.
  

Interview with Dr. Steve Lemke on The Return of Christ

Recently I posted on a new book entitled The Return of Christ. One of the editors of this work, Dr. Steve Lemke, has graciously agreed to be interviewed for this blog. 

Steve Lemke is Provost, Professor of Philosophy and Ethics, and the McFarland Chair of Theology at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, a co-sponsor of the Acts 1:11 Conference.  He also serves as Director of the Baptist Center for Theology and Ministry, and as Editor of the Journal for Baptist Theology and Ministry.  Dr. Lemke’s publications include co-editing Biblical Hermeneutics: A Comprehensive Introduction to Interpreting Scripture and Whosoever Will:  A Biblical-Theological Critique of Five Point Calvinism, as well as contributing articles to A Harmony of the Gospels, The Holman Bible Dictionary, The Baptist Faith and Message 2000:  Critical Issues in America’s Largest Protestant Denomination, and The Apologetics Study Bible.  He has taught at several theological institutions, and has served as a pastor, interim pastor, and staff member of a number of churches.

Question: How did you first become involved in this project? 
  

The Return of Christ is the second book that I have co-edited with Dr. David Allen, Dean of the School of Theology at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.  Both of these books originated with the desire to publish and expand the material presented at two conferences sponsored by Jerry Vines Ministries and co-sponsored by a number of theological institutions. The first book was Whosoever Will: A Biblical-Theological Critique of Five Point Calvinism, which arose from the John 3:16 Conference at First Baptist Church of Woodstock, GA in 2008.  Likewise, The Return of Christ: A Premillennial Perspective arose from the Acts 1:11 Conference at Metro First Baptist Church in Lawrenceville, GA in 2009.  Both books address key issues and offer perspectives that we feel are very important in the lives of contemporary Christians and in conservative evangelical churches.

Question: What do you see as the overall thesis of the book?

 

The Return of Christ attempts unapologetically to present a positive case for and defense of a pretribulational, premillennial perspective on eschatology – that is, that the rapture will occur before a seven year period of tribulation, followed by the return of Christ to the earth to reign for 1,000 years. Each contributor shares that theological perspective, and argues for it in his own particular area of expertise.  Our intent is to provide Christians a scholarly yet readable book on this crucial subject to use as a guide in their own study of the Bible.

Question: How did this book most impact your own life and ministry?

When I was a seminary student and a young pastor, eschatology was one of the most burning issues in discussions among both ministers and laypeople. The surest way to draw interest in a church Bible study was to announce that you were going to speak on end times. It seems to me that this interest has diminished in some ways, at least among many young seminarians, but I believe that the interest in the church remains strong, as indicated by the amazing popularity of the “Left Behind” series.  Even the public attention given to Harold Camping’s misguided predictions about the return of Christ this year, or President Obama’s use of the word “Armageddon” when speaking of our national budget crisis, underscores the fascination that believers and even unbelievers have with end times.  As humans, we can’t live without hope, and without the firm assurance in the return of Christ, there is no hope for our lives or for our world.

Question: Who do you think should read this book?

We wrote this book for the church. This is a book written at a level that is readable for both laypersons but also scholarly enough for pastors and other church staff members, as well as ministerial students. While the book deals with some challenging concepts, any serious Bible student can understand it.  The Return of Christ is going to be used as a text in some Christian colleges or seminaries, but we believe that its greatest market may be among lay believers.

Question: What do you hope to accomplish through this book?

We hope through The Return of Christ to reassert the case for a pretribulational, premillennial eschatology.  While a premillennial eschatology was held by the majority of evangelical scholars at one point, there is greater diversity today among evangelicals in their eschatological beliefs. While in no way would we break fellowship with believers who affirm other eschatological positions, we believe that the Bible most clearly affirms a premillennial perspective.

The first section of the book has printed versions of all the major presentations at the Acts 1:11 Conference, including sermons by well-known preachers Jerry Vines and Junior Hill, and presentations about different aspects of premillennial eschatology by Ergun Caner, Provost of Arlington Bible College; Danny Akin, President of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary; Paige Patterson,  President of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary; David Allen, Dean of the School of Theology at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary; and Richard Land, President of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention.  The second half of the book is made up of additional articles contributed by Stanton R. Norman, Provost of Oklahoma Baptist University; Craig Blaising, Provost of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary; Lamar Cooper, Provost of the Criswell College; Steven Cox, Research Professor of New Testament at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary; and Michael Vlach, Professor of Theology at the Master’s Seminary.

Our larger goal, of course, is not just to present and argue the case for a particular eschatological position, but to strengthen people’s faith and hope in the return of Christ.  We hope our readers feel a greater sense of assurance about the Lord’s return, and that through that affirmation that they experience greater hope in their own lives.