New Volume in the Photo Companion to the Bible Series

Todd Bolen and the folks at Bible Places have done it again with their newest volume in the Photo Companion to the Bible series.This volume focuses on Ruth and it once again provides a plethora of pictorial resources broken down by chapter/verse. These images are helpfully presented in four separate PowerPoint presentations. Each presentation focuses on a chapter in the book. Just to give you an idea of the richness of this resource, there are 57 slides dedicated to 1:1 and the presentation contains 350 images total. This collection is on sale for only $20 this week and that includes free shipping (in the U.S.). This is surely one of the best bang-for-the-buck resources out there.

Lesson or Sermon Conclusions

Although this article in Inc ("Stop Ending Your Speeches With 'Any Questions' and End With This Instead") is not aimed specifically at the sermon or lesson, there is some good advice in it.

Are "Learning Styles" a Myth

This article in The Atlantic and a number of other studies say, "yes." I was first introduced to the concept that learners tend to be visual, auditory, or kinesthetic, etc. in college. This was followed by some affirmation of the idea in seminary. And I must admit that I once bought into the concept. But I eventually backed away from it. Now, I vary my teaching methods to include visual, auditory, and kinesthetic elements not to aim at learning styles but to add variety and to keep things interesting. I also no longer advise students to discover their learning styles but to try out different learning strategies and figure out what works best for them.

The Latest Issue of the 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.

Cavan W. Concannon
“When You Were Gentiles”: Specters of Ethnicity in Roman Corinth and Paul’s Corinthian Correspondence
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10150
Reviewed by Love L. Sechrest

James D. Findlay
From Prophet to Priest: The Characterization of Aaron in the Pentateuch
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=11665
Reviewed by Lena-Sofia Tiemeyer

Stephen Finlan
Sacrifice and Atonement: Psychological Motives and Biblical Patterns
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=11612
Reviewed by Donald Senior

James R. Harrison and L. L. Welborn, eds.
The First Urban Churches 1: Methodological Foundations
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10743
Reviewed by Michelle Christian

Mahri Leonard-Fleckman and Alice L. Laffey
Ruth
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=11847
Reviewed by Terry Giles

Kar Yong Lim
Metaphors and Social Identity Formation in Paul’s Letters to the Corinthians
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=11750
Reviewed by Christopher A. Porter

Benjamin E. Reynolds and Loren T. Stuckenbruck, eds.
The Jewish Apocalyptic Tradition and the Shaping of New Testament Thought
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=11775
Reviewed by Greg Carey

Saana Svärd
Women and Power in Neo-Assyrian Palaces
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=11264
Reviewed by Laura Quick

Ian D. Wilson
Kingship and Memory in Ancient Judah
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=11559
Reviewed by Jason Silverman Wilhelm Wrede

The Authenticity of the Second Letter to the Thessalonians
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=11Reviewed by Rob van Houwelingen

Will the Noahide Laws Still Apply after the Messiah Comes?

You can see an answer to this question from a Jewish perspective here. It might be important to note that the seven (or so) "Noahide Laws or Commandments" are a bit of a misnomer since they are only loosely tied to Noah (cf. Gen 9). So these commandments are really more rabbinic than biblical.

What are the most important finds of Israeli archaeology?

A number of archaeologists answer that question here.

Tenth Blogaversary

Today marks the tenth anniversary of this blog. It all began inauspiciously with this post. Thanks to everyone who has stopped by over the years.

The Hardening of Pharaoh's Heart

Although I am not sure that the gist of this article is as original as it might seem to suggest, it does offer an interesting discussion on the hardening of Pharaoh's heart in Exodus from a Jewish perspective.