Abortion and Early Christian Writings

  
See this post by John Aloisi.
 

Thinking About Psalm 2

While teaching recently on Psalm 2, I was struck with verse 8. But before I state what I found so interesting in this verse, let me step back and talk about the psalm for a moment.

Psalm 2 is typically classified as a royal psalm, that is, a psalm that focuses on the anointed king. There are three commonly identified criteria for royal psalms: “(1) refer to the ‘king,’ (2) mention the ‘anointed’ one as a noun or make use of the verb, and (3) they refer to David by name” (C. Hassell Bullock, Encountering the Book of Psalms, Encountering Biblical Studies, ed. Eugene H. Merrill [Grand Rapids: Baker, 2001], 178). Psalm 2 meets two of these three criteria (absent is David’s name). I would sum up the message of this royal psalm as rebellion against the Lord and His mediated rule through His Anointed King is doomed to fail because the Lord is sovereign and so the only appropriate response is not rebellion but subservience.

For many Christian interpreters, Psalm 2 is also either a messianic psalm or perhaps a psalm with messianic elements. Such a reading is consistent with the fact that the psalm is quoted four times (Acts 4:25–26; 13:33; Heb 1:5; 5:5) and alluded to fourteen times in the New Testament (according to the index in UBS4), most often in connection with Jesus the Messiah. The lion’s share of attention for this messianic connection is given to verse 7.
 
He said to me, “You are my Son;
     today I have become your Father.”
 
This focused attention is probably merited, but I was drawn to verse 8, where the Anointed King is quoting the Lord’s decree (see v. 7a).

“Ask of me,
     and I will make the nations your inheritance,
     the ends of the earth your possession.”

What interests me iss that many interpreters do not adequately explain how this psalm could be royal and not Messianic. Which Davidic descendent ever enjoyed this kind of dominion? Surely, Goldingay is incorrect in suggesting that “apparently an Israelite king never took up the invitation to ‘ask of me . . .’” (John Goldingay, Psalms, vol. Volume 1: Psalms 1:41, Baker Commentary on the Old Testament Wisdom and Psalms, ed. Tremper Longman III [Grand Rapids: Baker, 2006], 105). If this psalm was indeed part of some royal coronation ritual (as many interpreters suggest), then it seems quite unlikely that no king would have ever thought to actually take the Lord up on His offer and simply “ask.” The inconvenient truth of Israel’s history is that they have never enjoyed the kind of dominion alluded to in verse 8 under David or one of his descendants. One might suggest that perhaps some kings did ask, but they did not enjoy the promised dominion because they failed to meet certain conditions. Of course the problem with this explanation is that no conditions are actually stated other than to “ask.” Another solution might be that the promise is conveyed in hyperbolic poetry and thus perhaps Israel under David or Solomon did enjoy such hegemony. But this also seems unlikely, for even if the promise were poetic and hyperbolic, surely the “nations” and “the ends of the earth” would have been understood then, and should be understood now, as being more than even Solomon’s empire. For me then, I see verse 8 as finding its fulfillment in the coming kingdom of Jesus the Messiah.
  

Reminder: Advanced Expository Preaching Workshop

This year's Advanced Expository Preaching Workshop is about two weeks away. This year the workshop will focus on the Sermon on the Mount.

The workshop will take place on Monday, October 8, 2012 in The Riley Center on the campus of Southwestern Seminary. Registration is $25 for all participants and includes lunch. For more information, call 1-877-474-4769 or email RileyCenterCalendar@swbts.edu.

For overnight guest accommodations, please call 817-921-8800. For more information go here.

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.

François Bovon; Glenn E. Snyder, ed.
New Testament and Christian Apocrypha
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8350
Reviewed by Christopher Tuckett
 
Stanislas Breton
A Radical Philosophy of Saint Paul
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8301
Reviewed by Halvor Moxnes and Ole Jakob Løland
 
Mark Forman
The Politics of Inheritance in Romans
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8174
Reviewed by David J. Downs
 
Anselm Hagedorn and Henrik Pfeiffer, eds.
Die Erzväter in der biblischen Tradition: Festschrift für Matthias Köckert
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7191
Reviewed by Cynthia Edenburg
 
Martin Hengel
Saint Peter: The Underestimated Apostle
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8109
Reviewed by Timothy P. Henderson
 
Kelly R. Iverson and Christopher W. Skinner, eds.
Mark as Story: Retrospect and Prospect
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8165
Reviewed by Cornelis Bennema
 
James A. Kelhoffer
Persecution, Persuasion and Power: Readiness to Withstand Hardship as a Corroboration of Legitimacy in the New Testament
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8391
Reviewed by Brian J. Tabb
 
Cheryl A. Kirk-Duggan and Tina Pippin, eds.
Mother Goose, Mother Jones, Mommie Dearest: Biblical Mothers and Their Children
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7579
Reviewed by Vicki Phillips
 
Allan J. McNicol
The Conversion of the Nations in Revelation
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8337
Reviewed by Peter S. Perry
 
Adrian Schenker
Anfänge der Textgeschichte des Alten Testaments: Studien zu Entstehung und Verhältnis der frühesten Textformen
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8303
Reviewed by Marjo C. A. Korpel

   

Keener's First Volume of His Acts Commentary

Craig Keener's much anticipated first volume of his Acts commentary covering the introduction and the first two chapters of Acts is available now. The Westminster Bookstore has it at 47% off or $31.65. If you spend $49 you can get free shipping. This is better than Amazon's 46% discount or $32.25 and if you live in Texas, you wont have to pay sales tax either. But keep in mind that Amazon will have automatic free shipping on this book since it is over $25. The Westminster price is also better than Christian Book Distributors which has it for $31.99. Here is a Westminster link, Amazon link, and CBD link.

UPDATE: Amazon's price has gone up to $34.87 (42%).
  

Two Go Up and One Comes Down: Genesis 22:1-19

I was recently teaching Genesis 22:1–19, the so-called Akedah passage. Verse 19 has often interested me in that it records that only Abraham returns from Mount Moriah to his servants. This stands in contrast to Abraham’s statement in verse 5 to his servants that, “We [Abraham and Isaac] will worship and then we will come back to you.” Yet verse 19 does not mention that Isaac returns with his father. Now, I think that we can assume that Isaac did indeed return with Abraham. Then what is the point of omission? I would suggest that it is possible that Isaac’s absence from the narrative is not a oversight but is rather intentional. The omission serves to highlight Abraham’s obedience. That is, from a narratival standpoint, it is as if Isaac was truly offered as a burnt offering to God even though the reader knows that a ram had taken his place. Abraham coming down alone symbolically leaves Isaac on Moriah as a picture of the Patriarch’s absolute faithfulness.

  

Recommended Reading for New Testament Textual Criticism

  
See Tommy Wasserman's very thorough recommended reading list for studying New Testament textual criticism here. The comment section is worth checking out as well.

HT: Larry Hurtado
 

The Geography of Joshua

I recently posted on the importance of understanding geography for understanding the Bible (see here). So I was delighted to see that Joseph’s Coleson’s recent commentary on Joshua for Tyndale’s Cornerstone Biblical Commentary series devotes about ten pages in the introduction to explaining the physical geography of Canaan and about four pages on the cultural geography (the problems of rainfall, forest,  terrain and roads and travel). Coleson explains and justifies this attention to geography in noting that,

“Because humans live on the surface of the earth, geography is always important. Because every ancient Israelite, humble or great, lived in close and intimate relationship with the land, if we wish to understand ancient Israel, we need to learn ancient Israel’s geography. Canaan was the Land of Promise God gave to Israel through the events recorded in Joshua; if we want to understand the message of Joshua, we need to study both the physical and the human geography of ancient Israel God’s grand plan of redemption for the human race may transcend both time and space, but God has so far worked it out in a very definite, limited place through a sequence of events in history. To understand God's plan and its fulfillment, it helps to understand the timeline and the map” (p. 33).
 
Joseph Coleson, Lawson G. Stone, and Jason Driesbach, Joshua, Judges, Ruth, Cornerstone Biblical Commentary, ed. Philip W. Comfort (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House, 2012), 20–33. 
  

The Focus of Acts

  
"Although many often approach the book of Acts by focusing primarily on the human participants in the narrative (such as Peter and the apostles, Paul, Stephen,  Cornelius), the focus in the book of Acts is actually on God. That Luke is highlighting the sovereignty of God in history is indicated by his use of key terms as well as the way in which he describes God's involvement in the history of Israel, the events surrounding the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, and the subsequent developments in the history of the church that he is recounting."


Alan J. Thompson, The Acts of the Risen Lord Jesus: Luke's Account of God's Unfolding Plan, New Studies in Biblical Theology 27, ed. D. A. Carson (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2011), 29.
 

Free E-Book: Ancient Israel in Egypt and the Exodus

The Biblical Archaeology Society is offering a free e-book entitled Ancient Israel in Egypt and the Exodus. This book is drawn from articles in the Biblical Archaeology Review magazine. Contributors include James K. Hoffmeier, Abraham Malamat and Hershel Shanks. You can get more information and access the free e-book here.
  

Messianic Psalms

  
I have been thinking about messianic psalms recently. I know that not everyone agrees that messianic psalms are a legitimate category. But without getting into that debate, what would characterize a messianic psalm if the category were valid? Here are three possibilities. Are there others?

1. Psalms utilized by New Testament authors in relation to the person and work of Christ
   

2. Psalms containing elements that do not appear to find fulfillment in a mere person or king (e.g., Ps 16)
   

3. Psalms related to a or the suffering servant (e.g., Ps 22)
  

Free Walt Kaiser Audio

  
I recently posted a notice for Walt Kaiser's website (see here). Rod Decker has now posted links to a recent four-part lecture series that Dr. Kaiser gave on the future of Israel (see here).
 

Recommended Seminary Reading

  
Mike Bird has listed nine "Books to Read Before You Start Seminary/Divinity College" here.
 

Upcoming Conference: Future Kingdom: Perspectives on the Millennial Reign of Christ

  
The Criswell College in Dallas, TX is holding a conference on the Future Kingdom: Perspectives on the Millennial Reign of Christ. It is part of the annual Criswell Theological Lectures. The event will be held on October 12, 2012, from 10 AM - 4 PM on the Criswell campus. Speakers include Craig Blaising, Craig Blomberg, Greg Beale, Kenneth Gentry, H. Wayne House, and Don Preston. The cost of the conference is: $30.00 for the general public, $20.00 for Criswell alumni, and $20.00 for students. Attendees must register by October 9 to reserve lunch. Registration at the door is possible, but lunch is not guaranteed. To register, RSVP to Evie Cozart at ecozart@criswell.edu or by clicking the online link here.

The Value of Preaching the Old Testament Historical Books

"So within the larger narrative of the Bible, the historical books have an essential role to play. How can a congregation marvel at the coming of the righteous Son of David if they are not familiar with the failures of the Davidic kings who ruled before him? How can they understand the depth of God’s compassion and mercy if they have not grappled with Israel’s rebellious and stubborn heart? How can your congregation fully grasp the extent of Israel’s idolatry, and indeed, the plight of humanity, without the books of Judges and Kings? While the law is given during the time of Moses, it is the historical books—books such as Judges, Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles—that show whether or not the Israelites actually obeyed God’s laws. It is the historical books that reveal the character of God, and our sinful nature, which is exposed so powerfully in the story of Israel.”

Carol M. Kaminski, “Preaching from the Historical Books,” in Preaching the Old Testament , ed. Scott M. Gibson (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2006), 64.
 

The First Chapter of Daniel

The first chapter of Daniel can be read as a simple, but encouraging, story about living in the midst of a world that does not share one’s values. It is that. But it is also a story that sets the tone and previews the book. This can be seen in at least five ways. 

(1) Chapter one sets the stage chronologically from the “third year of the reign of Jehoiakim” (v. 1) to the “first year of King Cyrus” (v. 21), that is, from 605 to 539 B.C.   

(2) Chapter one sets the stage historically in the narrator’s note that the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into Nebuchadnezzar’s hand (v. 2). 

(3) Chapter one sets the stage theologically. In noting that the Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into Nebuchadnezzar’s hand, we see an important theological element of the book, namely, that all the empires of the world are under the sovereign control of God. This sovereignty is not only at the national level, but it is at the personal level as well. This is evidenced in God influencing the royal official to show favor and sympathy to Daniel (1:9). 

(4) Chapter one sets the stage literarily. This can be seen in several ways. In this chapter we are introduced to most of the main characters in the book. We also note the piety of Daniel and his friends, a quality that will be on display throughout the book. It is frequently noted that Daniel is one of the few characters in Scripture for which nothing negative is recorded. The reference to “the articles from the temple of God” (v. 2) foreshadows the events of Daniel 5. The narrator’s comment that God gave Daniel understanding of “visions and dreams of all kinds” (v. 17) is preparatory for Daniel’s interpretations and reception of dreams and visions through the book.  

(5) Chapter one sets the stage spiritually. The faithfulness and subsequent blessing of Daniel and his friends is part of a recurring pattern in Daniel (1:19–20; cf. 2:48–49; 3:30; 5:29; 6:3, 28; 9:23; 10:11; 12:13).

Biblical Geography Strikes Back

  
A recent Wall Street Journal article entitled “Geography Strikes Back” reminded me of the importance that geography plays not only in understanding geopolitical realities, but also in understanding and appreciating the Bible. I know that biblical geography is not considered as hip as knowing Greek and Hebrew, but the longer I study, the more I appreciate the value of understanding the literal “facts on the ground” as it were. It is, of course, not an either/or dichotomy. You can and should study the biblical languages when possible. But how many spots on our shelves are filled with grammars and lexicons and yet we're lucky if we have one top-flight Bible atlas among our resources? When was the last time that you actually read your atlas or used a map to better understand the text? Maps and site pictures are not just eye-candy for our presentations but valuable tools in the work of understanding the Scriptures.

Walter Kaiser's Website

  

This may be old news, but it is new to me. Walter Kaiser, the well-know Old Testament scholar, has a website here.
 

Engaging the Bible

  
According to a recent study performed by LifeWay Research only 19% of churchgoers read the Bible everyday and 18% "rarely/never" read the Bible. You cab access an article on the study here and a PDF infographic here.
 

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 S. Briggs and Joel N. Lohr, eds.
A Theological Introduction to the Pentateuch: Interpreting the Torah as Christian Scripture
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8437
Reviewed by Thomas Dozeman

N. Clayton Croy
Prima Scriptura: An Introduction to New Testament Interpretation
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8099
Reviewed by Craig Blomberg

Roger Good
The Septuagint's Translation of the Hebrew Verbal System in Chronicles
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7667
Reviewed by Francis Dalrymple-Hamilton

Norman K. Gottwald; ed. Rebecca J. Kruger Gaudino
The Hebrew Bible: A Brief Socio-Literary Introduction
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7197
Reviewed by Steven L. McKenzie

Innocent Himbaza, Adrien Schenker, and Jean-Baptiste Edart
The Bible on the Question of Homosexuality
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8454
Translator(s): Benedict M. Guevin
Reviewed by Stuart Macwilliam

Alexander Kulik
3 Baruch: Greek-Slavonic Apocalypse of Baruch
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8536
Reviewed by Daniel C. Harlow

Curtis Mitch and Edward Sri
The Gospel of Matthew
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8105
Reviewed by Warren Carter

David M. Moffitt
Atonement and the Logic of Resurrection in the Epistle to the Hebrews
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8272
Reviewed by Kenneth D. Litwak

Roger Pearse, ed.
Eusebius of Caesarea: Gospel Problems and Solutions
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8305
Reviewed by Charles Bobertz

Frank Thielman
Ephesians
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8104
Reviewed by Nijay K. Gupta   

 

The Ecclesiology of Acts

  
Sage Publications has free access to C. Kavin Rowe's article on "The Ecclesiology of Acts" from the July 2012 edition of Interpretation available here. I am not sure how long this will be available so you might want to download the PDF soon.

Sage also has Francis Moloney's article from the June Expository Times entitled "Recent Johannine Studies: Part Two: Monographs" available for free here as well.

The Church of the Holy Sepulchre: Two Online Resources

  
ATS pro Terra Sancta have a couple of publications that they have placed online related to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.


The Holy Sepulchre: The Pilgrim's New Guide. This is a small book containing some attractive pictures and helpful diagrams. You can access it here. I have included a screen capture of one of the book's diagrams below.

The Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. This short four-page flyer can be accessed here.

A Resource on the Historical Reliability of Acts

  
See this post by Ferrell Jenkins and his link to a free 24-page PDF document.
 

Anything You Wanted to Know About Tefillin Straps and Were Afraid to Ask

  
Tefillin straps are the straps that are attached to phylacteries, black leather boxes containing verses from the Torah used by Jews during prayer. Although I am not Jewish, I found this article on the minutia of tefillin straps fascinating. 

Models of Noah's Ark

  
I was recently cleaning up my internet bookmarks when I found this link to people who have built scale models of Noah's Ark.