Oct 21, 2015
Origen's Canonical Listing of the New Testament Books?
Michael Kruger has an interesting take on the earliest complete canonical list of the New Testament here. He argues that Origen (ca. 250) articulated a complete list of NT books in an allegorical reading of Joshua.
Oct 20, 2015
11 Things Not to Get Your Pastor for Pastor Appreciation Month
Marty Duren has a list of 11 Things not to get your pastor for Pastor Appreciation Month here.
HT: Marc Cortez
HT: Marc Cortez
Oct 19, 2015
Oct 17, 2015
Luke's Day
Today is the day that some Christian traditions celebrate Luke, the author pf the Gospel of Luke, Acts, and maybe Hebrews.
Oct 16, 2015
Church Is Not Optional for Seminary Students
All seminarians should take note of this post by Hershael York.
Oct 15, 2015
Oct 14, 2015
Free: Plummer's Commentary on the Pastoral Epistles
Alfred Plummer's commentary The Pastoral Epistles in the Expositor’s Bible Series is now available for free download in PDF here.
HT: Rob Bradshaw
HT: Rob Bradshaw
Oct 13, 2015
50 Books J. I. Packer Thinks You Should Read
The Crossway blog has a list here of 50 books that J. I. Packer thinks you should read.
Oct 12, 2015
Murray Harris on the Johannine Prologue
See this blog post which is an excerpt from Murray Harris' forthcoming Gospel of John commentary in the Exegetical Guide to the Greek New Testament series (EGGNT). You can also see this post for another excerpt on 3:16-21. Or you can dowload a 59-page excerpt here.
An Excerpt from John (EGGNT)
An Excerpt from John (EGGNT)
An Excerpt from John (EGGNT)
Oct 11, 2015
Mark Futato on the Divine Name
Oct 10, 2015
Oct 9, 2015
Common Guest Speaker Mistakes
See Mark Dance's "8 Common Guest Speaker Mistakes" here. I know that I have been guilty of a number of these.
HT: Denny Burk
HT: Denny Burk
Oct 8, 2015
Journal for the Study of the New Testament
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.
The Background of ἐκκλησία Revisited
G.K. Beale
Sincerely James: Reconsidering Frederick Francis’s Proposed Health Wish Formula
Andrew M. Bowden
The Moral Character Development of the Boy Jesus in the Infancy Gospel of Thomas
Michael R. Whitenton
Parallel Composition and Rhetorical Effect in Luke 7 and 8
Andrew Thompson
Where is Philemon? The Case for a Logical Fallacy in the Correlation of the Data in Philemon and Colossians 1.1-2; 4.7-18
Vicky Balabanski
Gender, Rhetoric and Recognition: Characterizing Jesus and (Re)defining Masculinity in the Gospel of John
The Background of ἐκκλησία Revisited
G.K. Beale
Sincerely James: Reconsidering Frederick Francis’s Proposed Health Wish Formula
Andrew M. Bowden
The Moral Character Development of the Boy Jesus in the Infancy Gospel of Thomas
Michael R. Whitenton
Parallel Composition and Rhetorical Effect in Luke 7 and 8
Andrew Thompson
Where is Philemon? The Case for a Logical Fallacy in the Correlation of the Data in Philemon and Colossians 1.1-2; 4.7-18
Vicky Balabanski
Gender, Rhetoric and Recognition: Characterizing Jesus and (Re)defining Masculinity in the Gospel of John
Oct 7, 2015
A Report on the 2015 Graduates of Theological Schools
Some might be interested in the latest report from the Association of Theological Schools entitled, "How 2015 Graduates Are Faring." You can access it here.
10 Reasons to Study the History of Biblical Interpretation
See Andreas Köstenberger's ten reasons for studying the history of biblical interpretation here.
Oct 6, 2015
Oct 5, 2015
Review of Understanding Prophecy
Alan S. Bandy and Benjamin L. Merkle, Understanding Prophecy: A Biblical-Theological Approach (Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2015). Alan Bandy is assistant professor of New Testament at Oklahoma Baptist University, and Benjamin Merkle is professor of New Testament and Greek at Southeaster Baptist Theological Seminary. The former is a historical premillennialist and the latter an amillennialist (p. 9).
Understanding Prophecy consists of ten chapters, a conclusion, and two appendices. The first three chapters are introductory in nature and address the keys to understanding prophecy, defining prophecy, and most importantly for the authors’ perspective is the role of biblical theology in understanding prophecy or as the subtitle of the book states, a biblical-theological approach. The next three chapters, 4-6, examine Old Testament prophecies which are placed into three categories: unconditional, conditional, and fulfilled prophecy. Chapters 7–10 addresses New Testament prophecies under two major categories: prophecies related to the first coming of Messiah and the return of the Messiah (this category is further sub-divided into prophecies in the Gospels and Acts, the Epistles, and Revelation). Finally there is a brief five-page conclusion and two appendices on (1) the meaning of “all Israel” in Rom 11:26 and (2) the meaning of the millennium.
Overall, there is much to commend this book. It is clear and fairly thorough in content. The goal of the book is clearly stated, namely, “to give readers a framework of how to interpret any passage in the context of the Bible” (p. 9). Its tone is irenic and its treatment of differing positions generally fair. (Although this reviewer differs in a number of ways from the authors’ positions, I did not sense that my views were treated inequitably or uncharitably.) One can also appreciate the theologically conservative stance taken towards the inspiration of prophecy in particular (“it is divine revelation, p. 17) and Scripture in general (p. 64).
My main issue with the book is that although I could affirm much of the first three chapters that deal with prolegomena, I am unconvinced that the authors’ general approach is the best way to make sense of prophecy, especially of the Old Testament. To see most of the Old Testament prophetic corpus as either being fulfilled historically before the First Advent (e.g., see the treatment of Isa 13 and Ezek 32, p. 99-101) or in the First Advent (see esp. chp. 5) seems to flatten or neuter the language of the texts. I remain unconvinced, at least with the examples at hand, that the distinction between literal and literalistically works. While the latter might be accused of over-specificity, the former might be guilty of oversimplifying the language of the text. It seems possible that one might play the literalistic card as a way of avoiding the details of a prophetic oracle that one might find embarrassing or inconsistent with one’s theological position. The authors’ treatment of Ezekiel’s temple might illustrate this (pp. 121–22). I was surprised that there was not more distinction made over the millennial issue. I wonder what kingdom, if not the kingdom prophesied in the Old Testament, the historical premillennialist Bandy has in mind. This reviewer also differed with a number of the authors’ interpretations of New Testament prophecies, most notably in Revelation, but it is the Old Testament treatment that is most problematic.
This work could also enhance its usefulness by including a bibliography and at least a Scripture index and perhaps an author index.
Ultimately, Understanding Prophecy lays out a way of understanding prophecy but probably not the best way of understanding prophecy. Thanks to Kregel for providing the free copy used in this review.
Overall, there is much to commend this book. It is clear and fairly thorough in content. The goal of the book is clearly stated, namely, “to give readers a framework of how to interpret any passage in the context of the Bible” (p. 9). Its tone is irenic and its treatment of differing positions generally fair. (Although this reviewer differs in a number of ways from the authors’ positions, I did not sense that my views were treated inequitably or uncharitably.) One can also appreciate the theologically conservative stance taken towards the inspiration of prophecy in particular (“it is divine revelation, p. 17) and Scripture in general (p. 64).
My main issue with the book is that although I could affirm much of the first three chapters that deal with prolegomena, I am unconvinced that the authors’ general approach is the best way to make sense of prophecy, especially of the Old Testament. To see most of the Old Testament prophetic corpus as either being fulfilled historically before the First Advent (e.g., see the treatment of Isa 13 and Ezek 32, p. 99-101) or in the First Advent (see esp. chp. 5) seems to flatten or neuter the language of the texts. I remain unconvinced, at least with the examples at hand, that the distinction between literal and literalistically works. While the latter might be accused of over-specificity, the former might be guilty of oversimplifying the language of the text. It seems possible that one might play the literalistic card as a way of avoiding the details of a prophetic oracle that one might find embarrassing or inconsistent with one’s theological position. The authors’ treatment of Ezekiel’s temple might illustrate this (pp. 121–22). I was surprised that there was not more distinction made over the millennial issue. I wonder what kingdom, if not the kingdom prophesied in the Old Testament, the historical premillennialist Bandy has in mind. This reviewer also differed with a number of the authors’ interpretations of New Testament prophecies, most notably in Revelation, but it is the Old Testament treatment that is most problematic.
This work could also enhance its usefulness by including a bibliography and at least a Scripture index and perhaps an author index.
Ultimately, Understanding Prophecy lays out a way of understanding prophecy but probably not the best way of understanding prophecy. Thanks to Kregel for providing the free copy used in this review.
Oct 4, 2015
Skubala in Philippians 3:8
Gary Manning has a great post here on the use of σκύβαλα (skubala) in Philippians 3:8 in light of the use of the term in Greek literature. If Manning is right then preachers and teachers might have to find other ways to play their naughty school boy cards.
Oct 3, 2015
Classroom Etiquette for the College Man
The Art of Manliness has a great post entitled, "How to Be a Gentleman Scholar: Classroom Etiquette for the College Man." Check it out here. Having been both a student and a professor I say "amen" and "amen."
HT: Michael Cooper
HT: Michael Cooper
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.
Jeff S. Anderson
The Blessing and the Curse: Trajectories in the Theology of the Old Testament
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9992
Reviewed by James K. Mead
Reviewed by Stephen Reed
Laurie Brink
Soldiers in Luke-Acts: Engaging, Contradicting, and Transcending the Stereotypes
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9847
Reviewed by Julia Snyder
Sebastian A. Carnazzo
Seeing Blood and Water: A Narrative-Critical Study of John 19:34
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9086
Reviewed by Daniel Frayer-Griggs
L. Juliana Claassens and Klaas Spronk, eds.
Fragile Dignity: Intercontextual Conversations on Scriptures, Family, and Violence
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9439
Reviewed by Deborah Ellens
Robert Gnuse
Misunderstood Stories: Theological Commentary on Genesis 1–11
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9998
Reviewed by Stephen Breck Reid
Jack R. Lundbom
Theology in Language, Rhetoric, and Beyond: Essays in Old and New Testament
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9994
Reviewed by Robert L. Foster
A. A. Macintosh and C. L. Engle
The T&T Clark Hebrew Primer
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10101
Reviewed by Stephen L. Herring
Richard C. Miller
Resurrection and Reception in Early Christianity
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10218
Reviewed by M. David Litwa
Charlie Trimm
“YHWH Fights for Them!”: The Divine Warrior in the Exodus Narrative
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10024
Reviewed by Benjamin D. Giffone
Lily C. Vuong
Gender and Purity in the Protevangelium of James
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9595
Reviewed by Janet Spittler
Jeff S. Anderson
The Blessing and the Curse: Trajectories in the Theology of the Old Testament
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9992
Reviewed by James K. Mead
Reviewed by Stephen Reed
Laurie Brink
Soldiers in Luke-Acts: Engaging, Contradicting, and Transcending the Stereotypes
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9847
Reviewed by Julia Snyder
Sebastian A. Carnazzo
Seeing Blood and Water: A Narrative-Critical Study of John 19:34
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9086
Reviewed by Daniel Frayer-Griggs
L. Juliana Claassens and Klaas Spronk, eds.
Fragile Dignity: Intercontextual Conversations on Scriptures, Family, and Violence
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9439
Reviewed by Deborah Ellens
Robert Gnuse
Misunderstood Stories: Theological Commentary on Genesis 1–11
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9998
Reviewed by Stephen Breck Reid
Jack R. Lundbom
Theology in Language, Rhetoric, and Beyond: Essays in Old and New Testament
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9994
Reviewed by Robert L. Foster
A. A. Macintosh and C. L. Engle
The T&T Clark Hebrew Primer
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10101
Reviewed by Stephen L. Herring
Richard C. Miller
Resurrection and Reception in Early Christianity
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10218
Reviewed by M. David Litwa
Charlie Trimm
“YHWH Fights for Them!”: The Divine Warrior in the Exodus Narrative
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10024
Reviewed by Benjamin D. Giffone
Lily C. Vuong
Gender and Purity in the Protevangelium of James
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9595
Reviewed by Janet Spittler
Oct 2, 2015
Free Logos Book for October: Luther in English
The free Logos
Book for October is Michael Whiting’s Luther in English: The
Influence of His Theology of Law and Gospel on Early English Evangelicals
(1525-35). You can also purchase Grace and Reason: A Study in the Theology of Luther for $1.99 and enter to win the entire sixteen-volume Mentor commentary series. Go the Logos' Free Book of Month page here to get your free book today!
Oct 1, 2015
Rob Plummer on Greek Vocabulary
Just in case you missed it, Rob Plummer talks about learning Greek vocabulary and a free resource on the video below.
Here is the link to the Van Voorst book.
Here is the link to the Van Voorst book.
Sep 30, 2015
Stan Porter on John, His Gospel, and Jesus
The Eerdman's blog has a brief interview with Stan porter on his forthcoming book, John, His Gospel, and Jesus: In Pursuit of the Johannine Voice here.
Sep 29, 2015
Michael Bird's Listing of Top Ten Resources on the New Testament and the Imperial Cult
You can read Michael Bird's annotated listing of the top ten resources to read related to the New Testament and the imperial cult here.
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