Sep 12, 2016
Carefully Reading Luke 24 and the Christological Hermeneutic
Matt Waymeyer has a good discussion here on Luke 24 and its implications for the so-called Christological hermeneutic.
Sep 11, 2016
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 but unfortunately you must be a SBL member.
James P. Allen
The Ancient Egyptian Pyramid Texts
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10249
Reviewed by Aren M. Maeir
Mark J. Boda, Frank Ritchel Ames, John Ahn, and Mark Leuchter, eds.
The Prophets Speak on Forced Migration
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10308
Reviewed by Bob Becking
Reviewed by James S. Lee
Philip Church, Peter Walker, Tim Bulkeley, and Tim Meadowcroft, eds.
The Gospel and the Land of Promise: Christian Approaches to the Land of the Bible
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8236
Reviewed by Boris Paschke
Matthew C. Easter
Faith and the Faithfulness of Jesus in Hebrews
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10340
Reviewed by Bryan J. Whitfield
Trine Bjornung Hasselbalch
Meaning and Context in the Thanksgiving Hymns: Linguistic and Rhetorical Perspectives on a Collection of Prayers from Qumran
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10246
Reviewed by Daniel K. Falk
George W. Houston
Inside Roman Libraries: Book Collections and Their Management in Antiquity
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10818
Reviewed by H. Gregory Snyder
Outi Lehtipuu
Debates over the Resurrection of the Dead: Constructing Early Christian Identity
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10337
Reviewed by Shelly Matthews
Simon Mainwaring
Mark, Mutuality, and Mental Health: Encounters with Jesus
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9917
Reviewed by John W. Fadden
Gregg S. Morrison
The Turning Point in the Gospel of Mark: A Study in Markan Christology
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9955
Reviewed by Elizabeth Struthers Malbon
Robert J. Myles
The Homeless Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10075
Reviewed by Warren Carter
Eleuterio Ruiz
Das Land ist für die Armen da: Psalm 37 und seine immer aktuelle Bedeutung
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10485
Reviewed by Áron Németh
James M. Todd
Remember, O Yahweh: The Poetry and Context of Psalms 135–137
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10788
Reviewed by Beat Weber
Ronny Vollandt
Arabic Versions of the Pentateuch: A Comparative Study of Jewish, Christian, and Muslim Sources
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10457
Reviewed by John Kaltner
Walter T. Wilson
The Sentences of Sextus
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8708
Reviewed by Justin M. Rogers
Al Wolters
Zechariah
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10347
Reviewed by Anthony R. Petterson
James P. Allen
The Ancient Egyptian Pyramid Texts
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10249
Reviewed by Aren M. Maeir
Mark J. Boda, Frank Ritchel Ames, John Ahn, and Mark Leuchter, eds.
The Prophets Speak on Forced Migration
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10308
Reviewed by Bob Becking
Reviewed by James S. Lee
Philip Church, Peter Walker, Tim Bulkeley, and Tim Meadowcroft, eds.
The Gospel and the Land of Promise: Christian Approaches to the Land of the Bible
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8236
Reviewed by Boris Paschke
Matthew C. Easter
Faith and the Faithfulness of Jesus in Hebrews
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10340
Reviewed by Bryan J. Whitfield
Trine Bjornung Hasselbalch
Meaning and Context in the Thanksgiving Hymns: Linguistic and Rhetorical Perspectives on a Collection of Prayers from Qumran
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10246
Reviewed by Daniel K. Falk
George W. Houston
Inside Roman Libraries: Book Collections and Their Management in Antiquity
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10818
Reviewed by H. Gregory Snyder
Outi Lehtipuu
Debates over the Resurrection of the Dead: Constructing Early Christian Identity
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10337
Reviewed by Shelly Matthews
Simon Mainwaring
Mark, Mutuality, and Mental Health: Encounters with Jesus
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9917
Reviewed by John W. Fadden
Gregg S. Morrison
The Turning Point in the Gospel of Mark: A Study in Markan Christology
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9955
Reviewed by Elizabeth Struthers Malbon
Robert J. Myles
The Homeless Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10075
Reviewed by Warren Carter
Eleuterio Ruiz
Das Land ist für die Armen da: Psalm 37 und seine immer aktuelle Bedeutung
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10485
Reviewed by Áron Németh
James M. Todd
Remember, O Yahweh: The Poetry and Context of Psalms 135–137
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10788
Reviewed by Beat Weber
Ronny Vollandt
Arabic Versions of the Pentateuch: A Comparative Study of Jewish, Christian, and Muslim Sources
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10457
Reviewed by John Kaltner
Walter T. Wilson
The Sentences of Sextus
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8708
Reviewed by Justin M. Rogers
Al Wolters
Zechariah
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10347
Reviewed by Anthony R. Petterson
The Proper Sequencing of Adjectives
English language nerds will enjoy this post on the challenges of putting your adjectives in the right order.
HT. Ben Blackwell
HT. Ben Blackwell
Sep 10, 2016
Sep 9, 2016
Earning a PhD Degree from a UK University without Leaving the United States
My friend and former colleague, R. Alan Streett (PhD, University of Wales) has written very helpful piece on earning a PhD from a UK university without leaving the United States. I reproduce Dr. Streett's post with his permission in its entirety.
________________________
Are you interested in working on a PhD in theology or biblical studies from a UK university without moving to Great Britain? The openings are limited and you need to know the options and the application process.
Earning a postgraduate degree (as it is called in the UK) is rigorous and usually takes approximately 4‒6 years part-time. These are not “seminary” PhDs, but “university” degrees that prepare you for a career as an academic.
I. Schools That Welcome American Students
Here are eight universities in the UK that work with American students. One may be a match for you.
• Nazarene Theological College validated by University of Manchester
• Cliff College validated by University of Manchester
• Spurgeon’s College validated by the University of Manchester
• St Johns Nottingham validated by University of Chester
• Wales Evangelical School of Theology validated by the University of Chester
• Highland Theological College validated by University of Aberdeen
• London School of Theology validated by University of Middlesex
• Trinity College validated by the University of Bristol
II. The Validation System
You work with the first school mentioned, but receive your degree from the latter school. This is known as the validation system in the UK. So your initial step is to get on the first school's website. Second, go to the "postgraduate" link. Read about the PhD application process, etc. Third, contact via email the professor in your desired field. Fourth, tell him/her of your research interests. It is best to be specific. Unlike American dissertations that are often topic-driven, most UK dissertations are "thesis-driven." That means you state a proposition or thesis and then seek to prove it. For example, my thesis was: “The Lord’s Supper during the first century CE was an anti-imperial practice.” Fifth, ask the professor if s/he would be interested in supervising such a project. Sixth, make formal application to the validating school and the degree awarding university. Seventh, realize that if accepted, you will likely be classified as an “MPhil/PhD” student. You will be reclassified as PhD student after one year if your academic progress is deemed worthy. The school year in the UK usually begins in October.
III. Bypassing the Validation Process
Recently, a few UK schools have begun working directly with American postgraduate students, thus bypassing the validation process. They include the Universities of Durham, Wales, Edinburgh, Exeter, Gloucestershire, and Birmingham. The University of Aberdeen offers both options. You can work through Highland Theological College or work directly with Aberdeen itself.
There two advantages of working directly with a university. First, by eliminating the middleman, you can cut the cost of your education. Second, you are more likely to work under the supervision of a world class scholar.
IIII. Choosing the Right School
Are you interested in earning your degree from a top tier theology department or are you more concerned with having a good relationship with your supervisor? The answer to this question may guide your choice of a school.
1. Each department in a UK university is ranked according to its academic excellence. Rank is based on the quality of research (books, peer reviewed articles, etc.) being produced by each faculty, which is evaluated by scholarly panels using objective standards. The 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) ranking can be found on the internet. In 2014, the Research Excellence Framework (REF) replaced the RAE. The new rankings have now been released and can be accessed on the Internet.
2. Since you will be working with the same supervisor for a half dozen years, it is important to find one with whom you can work. This means finding a supervisor who 1) likes Americans, 2) is available to answer your questions, 3) has patience working with someone unfamiliar with the British system, 4) is as concerned with your success as much as s/he is with their own publication schedule, 5) is an encourager, 6) recommends resources, 7) reads your chapters and offers a critical evaluation, and 8) guides you through each step of the PhD process.
V. Research is the Name of the Game
These are not online education degrees, but research degrees. You receive the same degree as those who reside on campus. You work with the same supervisors, write the same quality thesis (dissertation), and orally defend your thesis (a process known as a viva voca). But instead of being on campus, you meet regularly with your supervisor through Skype, email, etc. Some schools require you to visit campus once a year or once every two years, but others do not. Many meetings between students and supervisors take place at the annual Society of Biblical Literature conference, which convenes in a different American city each year.
Be forewarned, a UK research degree is not for the faint of heart. As one Oxford scholar said, “American PhD programs are a mile wide and an inch deep. UK programs are an inch wide and a mile deep.” This means American PhD graduates are more generalists and UK PhD graduates are more specialists. American PhD programs are more structured and require a student to take classes in a variety of subjects (usually 48 credits hours), plus write a dissertation. UK PhD programs require a student to spend the equivalent amount of time conducting narrowly focused research toward the thesis. There are no classroom requirements, even for full-time students who live on campus.
VI. The Financial Costs
Typically, UK programs do not offer financial assistance to Americans. So expect to pay the full tuition, which can run as high as 6,000 British pounds per year. Additional costs might include travelling expenses to SBL cities and/or to Great Britain: airfare, lodging, meals, and land transportation, etc.
VII. The Thesis
You should only submit your thesis after your supervisor believes your research is PhD worthy. The degree-granting university will then select two scholars to critically read your thesis and examine you on its content. One will be an internal reader from the university. The other will be an external reader from another UK university. One will likely be an expert in your area of research and both will be scholars in your particular discipline (NT, theology, church history, etc.). A date will be set and you will meet for the viva voca, which will involve a 2-3 hour period of intense questioning to determine if you can defend your thesis and elaborate on your research. At the end of the viva voca, you will step outside the room while the examiners discuss the thesis and your responses. You will be called back into the room and given the verdict. Your thesis will be assigned one of the following grades: 1) Pass “as is” without need for revisions or further clarifications; 2) Pass with minor revisions which must be completed and submitted within three months; 3) Pass with significant revisions, which must be completed and submitted within one year; 4) Major rewrite, which must be completed and submitted within two years along with taking another viva voca; 5) Not acceptable or the possible award of MPhil instead of PhD. Your goal is to receive one of the first three evaluations.
VIII. Is a UK PhD Program for You?
Over the past few years, I have recommended five American students for UK PhD programs who were accepted and matriculated into the programs. However, only one earned a degree. The others dropped out. All were smart enough to complete the program, but they lacked either self-confidence and/or self-discipline, or else, faced time constraints. So, count the cost before you apply.
If you are a self-starter, inquisitive, thick skinned, academically able to do original research, have a history of meeting deadlines, work well with a supervisor, and do not get discouraged easily, you may be the ideal candidate.
An American or UK PhD program—which is best for you? That depends on your goals, aptitude, interest, personality, work schedule, finances, etc. The Lord will guide you in your selection of the right doctoral program.
If you have any further questions, feel free to write me at: astreett@criswell.edu.
________________________
Are you interested in working on a PhD in theology or biblical studies from a UK university without moving to Great Britain? The openings are limited and you need to know the options and the application process.
Earning a postgraduate degree (as it is called in the UK) is rigorous and usually takes approximately 4‒6 years part-time. These are not “seminary” PhDs, but “university” degrees that prepare you for a career as an academic.
I. Schools That Welcome American Students
Here are eight universities in the UK that work with American students. One may be a match for you.
• Nazarene Theological College validated by University of Manchester
• Cliff College validated by University of Manchester
• Spurgeon’s College validated by the University of Manchester
• St Johns Nottingham validated by University of Chester
• Wales Evangelical School of Theology validated by the University of Chester
• Highland Theological College validated by University of Aberdeen
• London School of Theology validated by University of Middlesex
• Trinity College validated by the University of Bristol
II. The Validation System
You work with the first school mentioned, but receive your degree from the latter school. This is known as the validation system in the UK. So your initial step is to get on the first school's website. Second, go to the "postgraduate" link. Read about the PhD application process, etc. Third, contact via email the professor in your desired field. Fourth, tell him/her of your research interests. It is best to be specific. Unlike American dissertations that are often topic-driven, most UK dissertations are "thesis-driven." That means you state a proposition or thesis and then seek to prove it. For example, my thesis was: “The Lord’s Supper during the first century CE was an anti-imperial practice.” Fifth, ask the professor if s/he would be interested in supervising such a project. Sixth, make formal application to the validating school and the degree awarding university. Seventh, realize that if accepted, you will likely be classified as an “MPhil/PhD” student. You will be reclassified as PhD student after one year if your academic progress is deemed worthy. The school year in the UK usually begins in October.
III. Bypassing the Validation Process
Recently, a few UK schools have begun working directly with American postgraduate students, thus bypassing the validation process. They include the Universities of Durham, Wales, Edinburgh, Exeter, Gloucestershire, and Birmingham. The University of Aberdeen offers both options. You can work through Highland Theological College or work directly with Aberdeen itself.
There two advantages of working directly with a university. First, by eliminating the middleman, you can cut the cost of your education. Second, you are more likely to work under the supervision of a world class scholar.
IIII. Choosing the Right School
Are you interested in earning your degree from a top tier theology department or are you more concerned with having a good relationship with your supervisor? The answer to this question may guide your choice of a school.
1. Each department in a UK university is ranked according to its academic excellence. Rank is based on the quality of research (books, peer reviewed articles, etc.) being produced by each faculty, which is evaluated by scholarly panels using objective standards. The 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) ranking can be found on the internet. In 2014, the Research Excellence Framework (REF) replaced the RAE. The new rankings have now been released and can be accessed on the Internet.
2. Since you will be working with the same supervisor for a half dozen years, it is important to find one with whom you can work. This means finding a supervisor who 1) likes Americans, 2) is available to answer your questions, 3) has patience working with someone unfamiliar with the British system, 4) is as concerned with your success as much as s/he is with their own publication schedule, 5) is an encourager, 6) recommends resources, 7) reads your chapters and offers a critical evaluation, and 8) guides you through each step of the PhD process.
V. Research is the Name of the Game
These are not online education degrees, but research degrees. You receive the same degree as those who reside on campus. You work with the same supervisors, write the same quality thesis (dissertation), and orally defend your thesis (a process known as a viva voca). But instead of being on campus, you meet regularly with your supervisor through Skype, email, etc. Some schools require you to visit campus once a year or once every two years, but others do not. Many meetings between students and supervisors take place at the annual Society of Biblical Literature conference, which convenes in a different American city each year.
Be forewarned, a UK research degree is not for the faint of heart. As one Oxford scholar said, “American PhD programs are a mile wide and an inch deep. UK programs are an inch wide and a mile deep.” This means American PhD graduates are more generalists and UK PhD graduates are more specialists. American PhD programs are more structured and require a student to take classes in a variety of subjects (usually 48 credits hours), plus write a dissertation. UK PhD programs require a student to spend the equivalent amount of time conducting narrowly focused research toward the thesis. There are no classroom requirements, even for full-time students who live on campus.
VI. The Financial Costs
Typically, UK programs do not offer financial assistance to Americans. So expect to pay the full tuition, which can run as high as 6,000 British pounds per year. Additional costs might include travelling expenses to SBL cities and/or to Great Britain: airfare, lodging, meals, and land transportation, etc.
VII. The Thesis
You should only submit your thesis after your supervisor believes your research is PhD worthy. The degree-granting university will then select two scholars to critically read your thesis and examine you on its content. One will be an internal reader from the university. The other will be an external reader from another UK university. One will likely be an expert in your area of research and both will be scholars in your particular discipline (NT, theology, church history, etc.). A date will be set and you will meet for the viva voca, which will involve a 2-3 hour period of intense questioning to determine if you can defend your thesis and elaborate on your research. At the end of the viva voca, you will step outside the room while the examiners discuss the thesis and your responses. You will be called back into the room and given the verdict. Your thesis will be assigned one of the following grades: 1) Pass “as is” without need for revisions or further clarifications; 2) Pass with minor revisions which must be completed and submitted within three months; 3) Pass with significant revisions, which must be completed and submitted within one year; 4) Major rewrite, which must be completed and submitted within two years along with taking another viva voca; 5) Not acceptable or the possible award of MPhil instead of PhD. Your goal is to receive one of the first three evaluations.
VIII. Is a UK PhD Program for You?
Over the past few years, I have recommended five American students for UK PhD programs who were accepted and matriculated into the programs. However, only one earned a degree. The others dropped out. All were smart enough to complete the program, but they lacked either self-confidence and/or self-discipline, or else, faced time constraints. So, count the cost before you apply.
If you are a self-starter, inquisitive, thick skinned, academically able to do original research, have a history of meeting deadlines, work well with a supervisor, and do not get discouraged easily, you may be the ideal candidate.
An American or UK PhD program—which is best for you? That depends on your goals, aptitude, interest, personality, work schedule, finances, etc. The Lord will guide you in your selection of the right doctoral program.
If you have any further questions, feel free to write me at: astreett@criswell.edu.
Sep 8, 2016
Generosity in the Old Testament
This interview with Dr. Andy Jones has a nice discussion on the topic of generosity in the Old Testament.
Guidelines for Reading Old Testament Stories
George Guthrie has some basic but valuable guidelines for reading Old Testament stories here.
Sep 7, 2016
The Longest Book in the Bible
Many Bible students already know that the longest book in the Bible is Jeremiah. But Justin Taylor here provides some data to support that view as the next nine longest books.
Sep 6, 2016
Second Temple Floor Tiles
A number of news outlets are reporting that archaeologists have been able to reconstruct the tile flooring of the second temple, more specifically and most likely Herod's temple. You can see these three stories (with one in Hebrew). I list all three because they have different pictures.
Jerusalem Post
NRG
Haaretz
HT: David Graves
Jerusalem Post
NRG
Haaretz
HT: David Graves
Sep 5, 2016
Sep 4, 2016
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 but unfortunately you must be a SBL member.
Samuel E. Balentine, ed.
The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Bible and Theology
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10311
Reviewed by Robert L. Foster
Ehud Ben Zvi and Diana V. Edelman, eds.
Imagining the Other and Constructing Israelite Identity in the Early Second Temple Period
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10209
Reviewed by Aren M. Maeir
Stephen K. Black, ed.
To Set at Liberty: Essays on Early Christianity and Its Social World in Honor of John H. Elliott
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10234
Reviewed by Carolyn Osiek
Ronald Charles
Paul and the Politics of Diaspora
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10141
Reviewed by Don Garlington
John J. Collins
Apocalypse, Prophecy, and Pseudepigraphy: On Jewish Apocalyptic Literature
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10831
Reviewed by Ben Sutton
Paul A. Hartog, ed.
Orthodoxy and Heresy in Early Christian Contexts: Reconsidering the Bauer Thesis
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10191
Reviewed by Robert M. Royalty Jr.
Thomas Hieke
Levitikus: Erster Teilband: 1–15
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10134
Reviewed by Thomas Kazen
George A. Kiraz, ed.; J. Edward Walters, trans.
Galatians to Philemon according to the Syriac Peshitta Version with English Translation
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9272
Reviewed by James McGrath
Thomas E. Levy, Thomas Schneider, and William H. C Propp, eds.
Israel’s Exodus in Transdisciplinary Perspective: Text, Archaeology, Culture, and Geoscience
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10344
Reviewed by Michael D. Oblath
Ralph P. Martin
2 Corinthians
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10060
Reviewed by H. H. Drake Williams III
Steven L. McKenzie and Michael D. Coogan, eds.
The Oxford Encyclopedia of Biblical Interpretation
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9534
Reviewed by Jean-François Racine
Jocelyn McWhirter
Rejected Prophets: Jesus and His Witnesses in Luke-Acts
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9710
Reviewed by David M. Miller
Alicia D. Myers and Bruce G. Schuchard, eds.
Abiding Words: The Use of Scripture in the Gospel of John
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10307
Reviewed by Beth M. Stovell
S. D. (Fanie) Snyman
Malachi
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10696
Reviewed by Paul L. Redditt
John C. Yoder
Power and Politics in the Book of Judges: Men and Women of Valor
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10362
Reviewed by Gregory Mobley
Samuel E. Balentine, ed.
The Oxford Encyclopedia of the Bible and Theology
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10311
Reviewed by Robert L. Foster
Ehud Ben Zvi and Diana V. Edelman, eds.
Imagining the Other and Constructing Israelite Identity in the Early Second Temple Period
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10209
Reviewed by Aren M. Maeir
Stephen K. Black, ed.
To Set at Liberty: Essays on Early Christianity and Its Social World in Honor of John H. Elliott
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10234
Reviewed by Carolyn Osiek
Ronald Charles
Paul and the Politics of Diaspora
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10141
Reviewed by Don Garlington
John J. Collins
Apocalypse, Prophecy, and Pseudepigraphy: On Jewish Apocalyptic Literature
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10831
Reviewed by Ben Sutton
Paul A. Hartog, ed.
Orthodoxy and Heresy in Early Christian Contexts: Reconsidering the Bauer Thesis
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10191
Reviewed by Robert M. Royalty Jr.
Thomas Hieke
Levitikus: Erster Teilband: 1–15
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10134
Reviewed by Thomas Kazen
George A. Kiraz, ed.; J. Edward Walters, trans.
Galatians to Philemon according to the Syriac Peshitta Version with English Translation
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9272
Reviewed by James McGrath
Thomas E. Levy, Thomas Schneider, and William H. C Propp, eds.
Israel’s Exodus in Transdisciplinary Perspective: Text, Archaeology, Culture, and Geoscience
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10344
Reviewed by Michael D. Oblath
Ralph P. Martin
2 Corinthians
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10060
Reviewed by H. H. Drake Williams III
Steven L. McKenzie and Michael D. Coogan, eds.
The Oxford Encyclopedia of Biblical Interpretation
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9534
Reviewed by Jean-François Racine
Jocelyn McWhirter
Rejected Prophets: Jesus and His Witnesses in Luke-Acts
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9710
Reviewed by David M. Miller
Alicia D. Myers and Bruce G. Schuchard, eds.
Abiding Words: The Use of Scripture in the Gospel of John
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10307
Reviewed by Beth M. Stovell
S. D. (Fanie) Snyman
Malachi
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10696
Reviewed by Paul L. Redditt
John C. Yoder
Power and Politics in the Book of Judges: Men and Women of Valor
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10362
Reviewed by Gregory Mobley
Sep 3, 2016
Sep 2, 2016
The Purpose and State of Seminaries
This post examines the purpose of seminaries as it relates to training scholars and/or pastors, this interview with Ligon Duncan discusses the role of seminaries to help students discern their call, this article reports on the current state of Southern Baptist seminaries especially as it concerns the MDiv, and this piece looks at mainline seminaries.
Sep 1, 2016
Free Logos Book for September: What Is a Healthy Church Member?
The free Logos Book of the Month for September is What Is a Healthy Church Member? by
Thabiti Anyabwile. You can
also purchase the Mark Dever's What Is a Healthy Church or $1.99 or
enter to win the entire eleven-volume 9marks series. For all these offers
you can go to the Logos' Free Book of Month page here.
New Preaching Website
Those interested in preaching should check out this brand new website from the School of Preaching at Southwestern Baptist
Theological Seminary.
Aug 31, 2016
Interpreting Poetry and the Road Not Taken
I am teaching the poetic and wisdom books of the Bible this fall (Job– Song of Solomon). I have been reminding my students of the challenges of interpreting poetry in general. These challenge are well illustrated in an article by David Orr, "You’re Probably Misreading Robert Frost’s Most Famous Poem: On the Many Tricks and Contradictions of 'The Road Not Taken'" (here). Orr's article also highlights the importance of authorial intention in interpretation.
Aug 30, 2016
Two Posts Related to Paul's Journeys in Acts
There are a couple of posts that those interesting in Paul's journeys in Acts might want to take a peek at. Ferrell Jenkins here has a nice picture and brief description of Pamphylia and Lycia (Acts 27:5) and Carl Rasmussen here has a very interesting post here on the riot in Ephesus mentioned in Acts 19 and a painting from a house at Pompeii depicting a riot at the amphitheater at Pompeii in A.D. 59.
Sermon Quality and Choosing a New Church
The Pew Research Center recently put out this study on what Americans are looking for in choosing a new church. This study is interesting at a number of levels but I was most interested in what it had to say about preaching. For example, "Among U.S. adults who have ever looked for a new house of worship, about eight-in-ten say the quality of sermons (83%) or feeling welcomed by clergy and lay leaders (79%) played an important role in their choice." Unfortunately, this survey did not indicate what people meant by "quality sermons." Some of those surveyed also noted that they were looking for churches that offered "preaching from the Bible." Which is both encouraging and disappointing. It is encouraging in that at least some are looking for biblical preaching. It is disappointing in that biblical preaching is not a given. In any case, to borrow from Mark Twain, the reports of the death of preaching seem to have been greatly exaggerated.
Aug 29, 2016
Aug 28, 2016
Writing Tips for Pastors
This post discusses the following five tips.
1. Make Writing a Priority
2. Don’t Waste Your E-Mail
3. Send Helpful Newsletters
4. Share Your Devotions
5. Thorough Sermon Notes or Manuscripts
1. Make Writing a Priority
2. Don’t Waste Your E-Mail
3. Send Helpful Newsletters
4. Share Your Devotions
5. Thorough Sermon Notes or Manuscripts
Aug 27, 2016
The Divisions of the Bible and Talmud
This article discusses the divisions of the Bible and Talmud. Many Bible students are familiar with the work of Stephen Langton is often credited (and sometimes blamed) for giving us the chapter divisions we now have in our Bibles. The issue is a actually bit more complicated than that which you can read about here. But what I actually found more interesting was that the distinctive page layout of the Talmud is apparently the creation of a Christian printer.
Aug 26, 2016
J. Alec Motyer (1924–2016)
J. Alec Motyer has gone to be with the Lord. I only knew him from his writings, especially his commentary on Isaiah. You can read more about Motyer here.
How to Read the Textual Apparatus in UBS5
My friend and colleague, Dr. David Hutchison, has created the following helpful video explaining how to read the textual apparatus in UBS5 using 1 John 1:4 as an example.
Aug 25, 2016
So You Want to Buy the New Logos 7?
See this story by Babylon Bee. The sad thing is that it is not too far from the truth!
A New Understanding of the Shape of the Tabernacle
Here is an interesting take on what the tabernacle might have looked like. I am not convinced this new understanding is correct but I appreciate the attempt to take the details of the text seriously.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)