Chuck Swindoll Has an App

  
Chuck Swindoll and Insight for Living now have a free app that allows you to listen, watch, and read material from Chuck. You can access the app here.

 

Free Future Kingdom Audio

  
Free audio of the Future Kingdom conference held last Friday at the Criswell College in Dallas, TX is available here or individually below.

Don Preston (Preterism)
H.Wayne House (Traditional Dispensationalism)
Kenneth Gentry (Postmillennialism)
Craig Blaising (Progressive Dispensationalism)
G. K. Beale (Amillennialism)
Craig Blomberg (Historical Premillennialism)
Panel Discussion 

 

 

 

 

Keener on the "Ends of the Earth"

  
After an extensive discussion of how the ancients understood the "ends of the earth" (pp. 704-8), Keener notes the following concerning Acts 1:8.

"Therefore it seems likely that Luke's "ends of the earth," while prefigured at various stages (including his own conclusion), looks beyond the close of his work to the continuing mission. The "open end" of Acts invites Luke's audience to participate in this universal mission. Ultimately, context determines meaning; the ends of the earth meant different things in different contexts, but the LXX uses the phrase to emphasize universality. Thus there is a real sense, no outline after Samaria; the mission "reaches beyond the end of Acts."

Craig S. Keener, Acts an Exegetical Commentary: Volume1: Introduction and 1:1–2:47 (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2012), 708.
  

Christian Cities In America

  
The Huffington Post has a article on the "Most And Least Christian Cities In America" here.
 

Free Jerusalem PowerPoints

  
This has apparently been available for some time, but the Nelson Glueck School of Biblical Archaeology has some free PowerPoint presentations related to Jerusalem here.
 

Resources for Preaching the Old Testament

  
The Westminster Bookstore is now offering two well-known volumes related to preaching the Old Testament at a 50% discount.

1. Preaching the Whole Bible as Christian Scripture by Grame Goldsworthy at $12.50.

2. Preaching Christ from the Old Testament: A Contemporary Hermeneutical Method by Sidney Greidanus at $16.
 

Rasmussen on the Tomb of Annas

  
Carl Rasmussen has two interesting posts with pictures, here and here, of the possible tomb of the high priest Annas (AD 6-15). Annas is mentioned in Luke 3:2; John 18:13, 24, Acts 4:6.
 

Isaiah 53

  
You can watch a twenty-five minute segment of The Mysterious Prophecy of Isaiah 53, a video featuring Darrell Bock, Walt Kaiser. Michael Brown, Michael Rydelnik here.
 

Wallace on Fifteen Myths about Bible Translation

  
Dan Wallace has posted on "Fifteen Myths about Bible Translation" here.
 

The Council of Chalcedon

  
On October 8, AD 451, one of the most significant church councils were convened in Chalcedon. You can read more about it here.
 

A Third Temple in Jerusalem?

  
Haaretz has an interesting article ("Following the dream of a Third Temple in Jerusalem") on the dream of some Israelis to build the third temple. I am not sure how long the article will be available, but you can currently access it 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.


Reinhard G. Kratz and Hermann Spieckermann, eds.
One God-One Cult-One Nation: Archaeological and Biblical Perspectives
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8250
Reviewed by Aren Maeir

Matthew Morgenstern
Studies in Jewish Babylonian Aramaic Based Upon Early Eastern Manuscripts
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8288
Reviewed by Aaron Koller

T. Muraoka
A Grammar of Qumran Aramaic
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8451
Reviewed by Adam McCollum

Raj Nadella
Dialogue Not Dogma: Many Voices in the Gospel of Luke
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8164
Reviewed by Jean-François Racine

Bezalel Porten
The Elephantine Papyri in English: Three Millennia of Cross-Cultural Continuity and Change
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8368
Reviewed by Jeremy Hutton
Reviewed by Jerome A. Lund

Seth D. Postell
Adam as Israel: Genesis 1-3 as the Introduction to the Torah and Tanakh
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8562
Reviewed by L. Michael Morales

Armand Puig I Tàrrech
Jesus: A Biography
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8318
Reviewed by V. George Shillington

Gordon J. Wenham
Psalms as Torah: Reading Biblical Song Ethically
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8429
Reviewed by Joseph R. Kelly

Anne-Laure Zwilling
Frères et sours dans la Bible: Les relations fraternelles mises en récit dans l'Ancien et le Nouveau Testament
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8125
Reviewed by Jean-Paul Michaud
 

Lecture Series on Bible History and Archeology

  
Fellow blogger and Holy Land tour guide Ferrell Jenkins is featured in this article highlighting an upcoming six-part lecture series on “Bible History and Archeology.” If you are Murfreesboro, TN you might want to check it out. 
  

More on Genre

  
I recently posted a quote on genre here. Michael Jensen has now posted a nice discussion on the topic here.
 

Keener's Acts Commentary

  

I recently posted on sale prices for Criag Keener's brand new Acts commentary (see here). But both Amazon (now $34.87) and Westminster (now $35.99) have raised their prices. The best deal right now is Christian Book Distributor's "academic deal of the day" which has the commentary at $31.99 (go here). But keep in mind that the price is only good for today.
 

Free Logos Book for October: The Christian Doctrine on Prayer

  
The free Logos Book for October is James Hastings' The Christian Doctrine on Prayer. You can also enter to win the 20 volume Great Texts of the Bible . Go the Logos' Free Book of Month page to enter and download your free book today!
  

Ebook Specials from Baker Academic

  
Baker Academic & Brazos Press are offering some Ebook discounts for the month of October. For example, they have:

Jo-Ann Brant's John commentary in the Paideia series for $4.99 or 83% off the retail price of $29.99.

Thomas Stegman's 2 Corinthians commentary in the Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture series for $4.99 or 75% off the retail price of $19.99.

Paul J. Griffiths' Song of Songs commentary in the Brazos Theological Commentary series for $4.99 or 85% off the retail price of $32.99 

There other books as well. Go to this link for other titles and links to purchase.
 
HT: Joseph Abraham

Free Audio of How Should Christians Vote? by Tony Evans

  
Christianaudio.com's free audiobook download for the month of October is How Should Christians Vote? by Tony Evans. Here is the publisher's description:

"Christians are a large and influential voting block today. But as each governmental election approaches, an increasing polarity occurs within those claiming the Christian faith. This comes as a result of party-voting rather than voting according to Biblical mandates and authority. To refocus correctly, Dr. Tony Evans goes back to the basics and teaches on how God established government as a divine institution whose tasks include promoting the well-being of those within its realm and protection from evil.

"Scripture trumps all political alliances making the voting decision a critical opportunity for Christians to promote God's Word and His values through whom they elect. In the face of increasing emotions the Christians representing God's kingdom values should communicate His truths in a manner reflective of the King - in a gracious and strategic way. Dr. Evans also looks at the necessary qualities in a good candidate which include intellect, education, competency, skill and spiritual beliefs - whether certain issues are non-negotiables, and how a responsible citizen is to research a candidates' position in order to evaluate it against God's Word."

For more information or to get your download 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.

Peter H. Davids
2 Peter and Jude: A Handbook on the Greek Text
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8308
Reviewed by Terrance D. Callan
 
Lisbeth S. Fried, ed.
Was 1 Esdras First? An Investigation into the Priority and Nature of 1 Esdras
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8187
Reviewed by Andrew Steinmann
 
Detlef Jericke
Regionaler Kult und lokaler Kult: Studien zur Kult- und Religionsgeschichte Israels und Judas im 9. und 8. Jahrhundert v. Chr.
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8046
Reviewed by John Engle
 
Vadim Jigoulov
The Social History of Achaemenid Phoenicia: Being a Phoenician, Negotiating Empires
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7634
Reviewed by S. Rebecca Martin
 
Karen H. Jobes
Letters to the Church: A Survey of Hebrews and the General Epistles
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8374
Reviewed by Peter H. Davids
 
Joel S. Kaminsky and Joel N. Lohr
The Torah: A Beginner's Guide
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8402
Reviewed by Rachel S. Mikva
 
William Loader
The Pseudepigrapha on Sexuality: Attitudes towards Sexuality in Apocalypses, Testaments, Legends, Wisdom, and Related Literature
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7977
Reviewed by Françoise Mirguet
 
Barry Smith
Jesus' Twofold Teaching about the Kingdom of God
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7500
Reviewed by Daniel A. Smith
 
Daniel F. Stramara Jr.
God's Timetable: The Book of Revelation and the Feast of Seven Weeks
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8058
Reviewed by Daniel Streett

Mapping Archeological Sites in Israel

  
The Israel Antiquities Authority has been working on a project since 1964 to map every historical and archaeological site west of the Jordan. The project may take decades to complete. You can read about the project in this story.
 

A Spectrum of Views on the Gender Debate

  
Adrian Warnock has posted a helpful discussion of the spectrum of views in the gender debate between complementarians and egalitarians here.
 

Genre as Family Resemblance

  
Jonathan Pennington has a helpful explanation of genre in his new book, Reading the Gospels Wisely. Pennington writes:

“When we use the word ‘genre’ top describe a recognizable type of writing with a certain style, purpose, and identifiable features. Genres are neither purely prescriptive nor descriptive. That is, there are no concrete, unbreakable rules for a genre, or even a set number of genres that exist (such as in a classical prescriptive view). However, this does mean that genre is a useless term that has as many meanings as there are different works of literature (thus only descriptive). Rather, a genre is an overall term that we can use to describe a grouping of literary works that share a set of common characteristics, allowing flexibility for any particular work to manifest or omit some of these characteristics or to emphasize others. A genre is a matter of culturally understood conventions. The best analogy to describe this is that of ‘family resemblance.’ Even as the various members of the family might share identifiable characteristics, such as height or shape of cheekbone or nose, yet remain distinct people, so too we can note that the members of a family of literary works—or genre—clearly overlap with one another yet are not identical. Thus we can speak of a genre we are discussing certain characteristics that are identifiable as overlapping between different pieces of literature. These are conventional and may vary by culture.”

Jonathan T. Pennington, Reading the Gospels Wisely: A Narrative and Theological Introduction (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2012), 19.
 

Keener on the Message and Historicity of Acts

I just received my copy of Craig Keener's brand new commentary on the first two chapters in Acts. My initial impressions are very positive. Here is a quote from the prolegomenon that I appreciated.

"Although my interests lie more in Luke's message than in questions of historical reconstruction, these subjects are not as readily separated as some modern writers assume. In addition to its moralistic and propagandistic value, ancient historiography also made claims about past events that differentiated it from other genres that communicated ideas differently."

Craig S. Keener, Acts an Exegetical Commentary: Volume1: Introduction and 1:1–2:47 (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2012), 24.
  

Bethsaida Photo Book

  
Mark Hoffman has posted a twenty page photo book on "et-tell," the possible site of ancient Bethsaida. There are real questions about the identification of et-tell with Bethsaida (see here). Bethsaida is mentioned about seven times in the Gospels and is identified as the hometown of Philip, Andrew, and Peter. Mark has done a nice job with the photo-book and you can access it here. 
 

The Circumcised Walls of Jericho!

  
I had a good chuckle when I read Chuck Swindoll illustrate the dangers of using words in preaching that are easily mispronounced. He writes, "When I preached on the Hebrew conquest of Canaan, I described how Joshua and the people of Israel 'circumcised the walls of Jericho.' Why I had chosen to use the word 'circumscribed' I don't know. At first I didn't realize what I had said, but the congregation kept laughing. Finally, I got it. Oh my!"

Charles R. Swindoll, Saying It Well: Touching Others with Your Words (New York: Faith Words, 2012), 190.