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. 

Michal Bar-Asher Siegal, Jewish-Christian Dialogues on Scripture in Late Antiquity: Heretic Narratives of the Babylonian Talmud
Reviewed by Adele Reinhartz

Jan N. Bremmer, The World of Greek Religion and Mythology: Collected Essays II
Reviewed by Mary R. Lefkowitz

James H. Charlesworth, Jesus as Mirrored in John: The Genius in the New Testament
Reviewed by Daniel Frayer-Griggs

John J. Collins and Ananda Geyser-Fouché, eds., Scribal Practice, Text, and Canon in the Dead Sea Scrolls: Essays in Memory of Peter W. Flint
Reviewed by Hendrik Bosman

John J. Collins, Pieter G. R. de Villiers, and Adela Yarbro Collins, eds., Apocalypticism and Mysticism in Ancient Judaism and Early Christianity
Reviewed by Andrew R. Guffey

Lily Fetalsana-Apura, A Filipino Resistance Reading of Joshua 1:1–9
Reviewed by Jennifer M. Matheny

Annemarie Luidendijk and William E. Klingshirn, eds., My Lots Are in Thy Hands: Sortilege and Its Practitioners in Late Antiquity
Reviewed by Carson Bay

Daniel W. McManigal, A Baptism of Judgment in the Fire of the Holy Spirit: John’s Eschatological Proclamation in Matthew 3
Reviewed by Nathan Shedd

Shem Miller, Dead Sea Media: Orality, Textuality, and Memory in the Scrolls from the Judean Desert
Reviewed by Molly M. Zahn

Candida R. Moss, Divine Bodies: Resurrecting Perfection in the New Testament and Early Christianity
Reviewed by H. H. Drake Williams III

Philip A. Noss and Charles S. Houser, eds., A Guide to Bible Translation: People, Languages, and Topics
Reviewed by Leonard J. Greenspoon

Roland Oetjen, ed., New Perspectives in Seleucid History, Archaeology and Numismatics: Studies in Honor of Getzel M. Cohen
Reviewed by Erich S. Gruen

David Vopřada, Quodvultdeus: A Bishop Forming Christians in Vandal Africa
Reviewed by Raúl González Salinero

Man Hee Yoon, The Fate of the Man of God from Judah: A Literary and Theological Reading of 1 Kings 13
Reviewed by Paul Jones

Laura M. Zucconi, Ancient Medicine: From Mesopotamia to Rome
Reviewed by Marian Broida

Top Ten Theology Stories of 2020

It is the time of year for lists and Collin Hansen identifies his top ten theology stories of 2020 here.

The Seven Spirits in Revelation

Interpreting the reference to the seven Spirits in Revelation 1:4; 3:4; 4:5; and 5:6 is challenging. I think Brandon Smith does a fairly good job here and I happen to agree with his conclusion.

The Fulfillment of Joseph's Dreams?

Mordecai David Rosen has a very interesting post here related to the fulfillment of Joseph's two dreams in Genesis 37.

Psalm 38 Links

I have been working on a commentary on the Psalms. I have decided to compile some helpful links that I discovered during my research. It includes a mix of exegetical and sermonic links. Here is what I have for Psalm 38 (in no particular order). Feel free to mention any that you find helpful in the comments section. 

Literary analysis of Psalm 38: http://psalmsstudy.com/psalms-literary-analysis-by-chapter/literary-analysis-psalm-38-adonai-desire

Analysis by C. J. Labuschagne: https://www.labuschagne.nl/ps038.pdf

William Barrick’s notes: https://drbarrick.org/files/studynotes/Psalms/Ps_038.pdf

The Synagogue in Capernaum

Leen Ritmyer has a nice illustrated post here on ancient synagogues in general and the Capernaum synagogue in particular.

Posts on Isaiah

Claude Mariottini lists and provides links to his blog posts on the book of Isaiah here. I have found Dr. Mariottini's blog to be helpful.

Teaching Messianic Prophecies

Cameron Cole discusses why we should teach messianic prophecies to teenagers here. I think that we should teach them to any-agers for the same reason.

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.

Arman Akopian, Classical Syriac
Reviewed by Craig Morrison

Andrew J. Byers, Ecclesiology and Theosis in the Gospel of John
Reviewed by Judith M. Lieu

John J. Collins, What Are Biblical Values? What the Bible Says on Key Ethical Issues
Reviewed by Mark K. George

Havilah Dharamraj, Ruth: A Pastoral and Contextual Commentary
Reviewed by Jennifer L. Koosed

Friedhelm Hartenstein and Thomas Willi, eds., Psalmen und Chronik
Reviewed by Friederike Schücking-Jungblut

Daniel Justel, Infancia y legalidad en el Próximo Oriente Antiguo durante el Bronce Reciente (ca. 1500–1100 A.C.)
Reviewed by Julie Faith Parker

André LaCocque, Work and Creativity: A Philosophical Study from Creation to Postmodernity
Reviewed by Francis Landy

Oliver B. Langworthy, Gregory of Nazianzus’ Soteriological Pneumatology
Reviewed by Lee Blackburn

Virginia Miller, A King and a Fool? The Succession Narrative as a Satire
Reviewed by Benjamin J. M. Johnson

Ilan Peled, Law and Gender in the Ancient Near East and the Hebrew Bible
Reviewed by Bruce Wells

Elliott Rabin, The Biblical Hero: Portraits in Nobility and Fallibility
Reviewed by SuJung Shin

Alex J. Ramos, Torah, Temple, and Transaction: Jewish Religious Institutions and Economic Behavior in Early Roman Galilee
Reviewed by Benjamin D. Gordon

Seth L. Sanders, From Adapa to Enoch: Scribal Culture and Religious Vision in Judea and Babylon
Reviewed by Lindsey A. Askin

Carlos Raúl Sosa Siliezar, Savior of the World: A Theology of the Universal Gospel
Reviewed by Adesola Joan Akala

Max Whitaker, Is Jesus Athene or Odysseus? Investigating the Unrecognisability and Metamorphosis of Jesus in His Post-resurrection Appearances
Reviewed by Alexander Thompson

Podcasts and Preaching

I am a fan of podcasts and although my tastes lean towards those that relate to history and the the Bible, I think Daniel Darlings suggestions related to how podcasts can help one's preaching here are helpful.

Did Jacob and Esau Reconcile?

George Savran has a very interesting discussion here addressing whether Jacob and Esau truly reconciled (Gen 33). The biblical data aside, the answer might also depend on one's definition of reconciliation and whether there are degrees of reconciliation or it is all or nothing.

Sermon Transitions

Peter Mead identifies eight benefits here. The more I preach, the more I have recognized the value of having good transitions and I now spend more time working on them.

Early Christian Scriptural Production

Michael Kruger confronts Michael Satlow's claim that, "The copies of early Christian manuscripts from around the second century CE were utilitarian. They were generally on papyrus rather than the more expensive and durable parchment. They lack the signs both of being written by a professional scribe and of being intended for public recitation (255)."

Free Logos Book for December: Exodus: Saved for God's Glory and The Gospel According to St. Mark

The free Logos Book for the Month for December is Exodus: Saved for god's Glory by Philip Ryken. You can also purchase 1 and 2 Timothy and Titus—To Guard the Deposit, Jeremiah and Lamentations: From Sorrow to Hope,1–3 John—Fellowship in God's Family, Job: The Wisdom of the Cross, Hebrews: An Anchor for the Soul, and Matthew—All Authority in Heaven and on Earth in the same series for $0.99, $1.99, $2.99, $4.99, $6.99 and $9.99 respectively. While you are at it, you can register for a chance to win the seven volume Foundations of Evangelical Theology series. For all these offers, go to the Logos' Free Book of Month page here.

To get the commentary The Gospel According to St. Mark by Morna Hooker for free go here.

Fake Dead Sea Scroll Fragments

I missed this Christianity Today article last week but it provides a helpful update on where things stand related to some disputed fragments.

Logos Cyber Monday Sale

There are some good deals to be had here although I am trying to exercise some restraint. You will need to act quickly since the sale is only for today.

The Church Fathers on the Gospels

Michael Kok has compiled a helpful bibliography on the patristic reception of the Gospels here.