The Beatitudes

Here is a very good post on the Beatitudes (Matt 5, Luke 6).

Robert L. Thomas (1928-2017)

I just learned that Dr. Robert L. Thomas has gone to be with the Lord. It is interesting to note that both he and Dr. Toussaint were born the same year and passed the same year. I never met the man but I benefited from his writings, most noticeably, his two-volume Revelation commentary.

8 Tech Tools for Church Staff

See this article although I must admit I don't use any of these.

Stanley D. Toussaint (1928–2017)

I just learned that Dr. Stan Toussaint has gone to be with the Lord. In many ways my life and ministry was shaped by this dear servant. I consider it one of the great privileges in my life to have been able to fill in for him at DTS occasionally from 2008 to 2015. I would often meet with "Dr. T." before such occasions to go over what I was supposed to cover but he would always tell me to teach the text as I understood it. I always felt affirmed by that, yet always mindful that he had probably forgotten more Bible than I knew. 

Best Free Digital Bible Resources

Mark Hoffman has provided a helpful annotated list here of the best free digital Bible Study resources.

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. 

Kimberly Ambrose
Jew among Jews: Rehabilitating Paul
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=11150
Reviewed by Michael F. Bird

Elie Assis
Identity in Conflict: The Struggle between Esau and Jacob, Edom and Israel
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=11182
Reviewed by George Savran

Stephen B. Chapman and Marvin A. Sweeney, eds.
The Cambridge Companion to the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=11333
Reviewed by Jeffery M. Leonard

Raimo Hakola, Nina Nikki, and Ulla Tervahauta, eds.
Others and the Construction of Early Christian Identities
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10022
Reviewed by H. H. Drake Williams III

David Horrell
An Introduction to the Study of Paul
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10387
Reviewed by Nijay Gupta

Bryan M. Litfin
Early Christian Martyr Stories: An Evangelical Introduction with New Translations
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9932
Reviewed by Jan Willem van Henten

John Poirier and Jeffrey Peterson, eds.
Marcan Priority without Q: Explorations in the Farrer Hypothesis
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10389
Reviewed by David J. Neville

Ada Taggar-Cohen and Roy E. Gane, eds.
Current Issues in Priestly and Related Literature: The Legacy of Jacob Milgrom and Beyond
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=11091
Reviewed by Mark Awabdy
Reviewed by Brandon R. Grafius

Géza G. Xeravits and Peter Porzig
Einführung in die Qumranliteratur
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10674
Reviewed by Pieter B. Hartog

Acts as Biblical History

Steve Walton has made his presentation slides (PDF) available here from his recent talk at the British New Testament Society on "Acts as Biblical History."

The Opponents in Jude

Mike Bird discusses briefly the identity of the opponents in Jude here.

Oldest Latin Commentary on the Gospels

Apparently, the oldest Latin commentary on the Gospels has been found and translated. You can read about it here.

Paul and Silas Before the Magistrates at Philippi?

Carl Rasmussen has a nice post here discussing where Paul and Silas would have appeared before the magistrates at Philippi (Acts 16:20).

The Death of the Christian Bookstore

See this article chronicling the rise and fall of the Christian bookstore.

Solomon's Throne

Here is an interesting article related to Solomon's throne (1 Kgs 10:18-20). I was most interested in the midrashic details.

Harry Potter and the Biblical Canon

I am not really a potterite, but I did find this article using the Harry Potter series as a way of illustrating issues related to the formation of the biblical canon interesting.

Jeremiah: The Man and His Message

Rob Bradshaw has scanned and made available as a free PDF, Alexander Stewart's Jeremiah: The Man and His Message. This is just one of the many free and wonderful resources at Biblical Studies.org.uk.

Babylonian Tablet and the Oldest Evidence of Trigonometry

This article suggests that a Babylonian tablet dating from 822-1726 B.C. contains the oldest known trigonometry tables .

Studying the Apostolic Fathers

See this interview with Ken Berding who has just written a book entitled, The Apostolic Fathers: A Narrative Introduction.

Is Learning the Biblical Languages a Waste of Time?

Michael Kruger asks and answers the question, "Is It a Waste of Time for Seminary Students (and Pastors) to Learn the Biblical Languages?" here. While I agree with Kruger's answers, I would rephrase the question a bit. Many I know would not ask this question but rather, "Is learning the biblical languages the best use of time for seminary students (and pastors)?" The answer to this question is a bit more complicated. I would argue that though it may not be the "best" use of time, it is a good and worthy use of time.

Solar Eclipses in the Old Testament?

Dr. Claude Mariottini discusses solar eclipses in the Old Testament 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 but unfortunately you must be a SBL member.

Jonathan J. Armstrong
The Role of the Rule of Faith in the Formation of the New Testament Canon according to Eusebius of Caesarea
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10801
Reviewed by Chris L. de Wet

L. Julianna M. Claassens
Claiming Her Dignity: Female Resistance in the Old Testament
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=11420
Reviewed by Dora Mbuwayesango

David E. Garland
A Theology of Mark’s Gospel: Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10845
Reviewed by Stephen C. Barton

Benjamin D. Giffone
‘Sit At My Right Hand’: The Chronicler’s Portrait of the Tribe of Benjamin in the Social Context of Yehud
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=11459
Reviewed by Leslie C. Allen

Donna Laird
Negotiating Power in Ezra-Nehemiah
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=11385
Reviewed by Bob Becking

Anthony Le Donne
A Study Companion to The Bible: An Introduction
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9904
Reviewed by José Gómez Galán

Nazek Khalid Matty
Sennacherib’s Campaign against Judah and Jerusalem in 701 B.C.: A Historical Reconstruction
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=11455
Reviewed by Ernst Axel Knauf

Scott Shauf
The Divine in Acts and in Ancient Historiography
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10360
Reviewed by Kenneth D. Litwak

Markus Tiwald
Das Frühjudentum und die Anfänge des Christentums: Ein Studienbuch
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=11103
Reviewed by Stephan Witetschek

David L. Turner
Israel’s Last Prophet: Jesus and the Jewish Leaders in Matthew 23
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=11203
Reviewed by Akiva Cohen

Syllabus Strategies

There are a number of great suggestions here on preparing for a new semester. I have actually employed a number of these. But even though I am fairly well organized and disciplined, I more than once found that my best intentions and plans would go by the wayside. Nonetheless, having a strategy will help at least in some cases

Solar Eclipses and Establishing an Old Testament Chronology

Carl Rasmussen has a simple and brief overview here of how ancient solar eclipses helps to establish an Old Testament chronology.

Preachers Using Technology

Justin Trapp has written a reminder here that preachers throughout history have utilized technology to further the gospel.

Photo Companion to the Bible: The Gospels

BiblePlaces has just announced the release of a new photo collection called the Photo Companion to the Bible. This new series will illustrate the Bible book by book, chapter by chapter, and verse by verse. I know of no other resource like this one. If you want to use visuals in your preaching and teaching that are good, effective, relevant, and biblical then this collection is a must have.
 
The volumes on Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are now available. You can check it out and order here. This collection comes with a 100% satisfaction guarantee but I am guessing you won’t need it. I have been using BiblePlaces' resources since 1999 and have never been disappointed.

Top Ten Jewish Books

Here is a rabbi's list of the top ten Jewish books

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. 

Walter DietrichSamuel (1 Sam 13–26)
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=11808
Reviewed by Mark W. Hamilton

David J. Downs
Alms: Charity, Reward, and Atonement in Early Christianity
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=11263
Reviewed by Anthony Giambrone

Thomas J. Kraus and Michael Sommer, eds.
Book of Seven Seals
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=11424
Reviewed by Garrick V. Allen

Minkyu Lee
The Breaking of Bread and the Breaking of Boundaries: A Study of the Metaphor of Bread in the Gospel of Matthew
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10658
Reviewed by Wongi Park

Alice Mouton
Rites, mythes et prières hittites
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=11235
Reviewed by Robert Marineau

Anton Pritula
The Warda: An East Syriac Hymnological Collection: Study and Critical Edition
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=11050
Reviewed by Robert A. Kitchen

Susanne Scholz, ed.
Feminist Interpretation of the Hebrew Bible in Retrospect: Biblical Books
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9644
Reviewed by Jan Jaynes Quesada

Mark A. Seifrid
The Second Letter to the Corinthians
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10006
Reviewed by James P. Sweeney

Mark R. Sneed, ed.
Was There a Wisdom Tradition? New Prospects in Israelite Wisdom Studies
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10687
Reviewed by JiSeong Kwon

Külli Tõniste
The Ending of the Canon: A Canonical and Intertextual Reading of Revelation 21–22
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=11196
Reviewed by Darian R. Lockett