Psalm 55

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 55 (in no particular order). Feel free to mention any that you find helpful in the comments section.

Into the Word with Paul Carter: https://ca.thegospelcoalition.org/into-the-word/psalm-55

Analysis by C. J. Labuschagne: https://www.labuschagne.nl/ps055.pdf

William Barrick’s notes: https://drbarrick.org/files/studynotes/Psalms/Ps_055.pdf

Psalm 55 devotional: https://www.generations.org/devotionals/68

Genesis Humor

 The Babylon Bee does it again.

What Is an Outline?

This semester I am teaching an introductory class on preaching. One part of sermon crafting that we discuss is outlining. I begin this discussion with what an outline is. Here is my list. Feel free to leave a comment with your additions, questions, or thoughts.

1. Outlines are analytical aids that can help you to discerning the structure and flow of a passage. Outlines are organizational aids to help you organize and clarify your thoughts and the flow of your message.
2. Outlines are communication aids to help your hearers to know and follow where you are going.
3. Outlines are credibility aids that instill confidence in your hearers that you are organized and prepared (See Chapell, Christ-Centered Preaching,120).
4. Outlines can be mnemonic aids that help you and your hearers remember and process what is being preached.

Top 1–2 Kings Commentaries

Nathan Lovell lists and annotates his top six 1–2 Kings commentaries on Nijay Gupta's blog here.

Free eBook: Jesus and the Peasants

Wipf and Stock is offering a free eBook copy of Douglas Oakman's Jesus and the Peasants. The offer is only available until October 15. Here are the instructions to get your copy.

1. Click on this link
2. Click "ADD TO CART" on the eBook option
3. Use the code "OAKMAN21"
4. Upon checkout completion, you will receive a confirmation email with instructions of how to download your free eBook

Free Audio Book of the Month: Humility by Andrew Murray

Christianaudio.com's free audio book for the month of May is Andrew Murray's Humility: The Beauty of Holiness. To read more about this resource and to get your free audio download in either MP3 or M4B formats go here.

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 to read them.

Rosie Andrious, Saint Thecla: Body Politics and Masculine Rhetoric
Reviewed by Jacob A. Lollar

Alice Ogden Bellis, ed., Jerusalem’s Survival, Sennacherib’s Departure, and the Kushite Role in 701 BCE: An Examination of Henry Aubin’s Rescue of Jerusalem
Reviewed by Paul S. Evans

Eyal Ben-Eliyahu, Identity and Territory: Jewish Perceptions of Space in Antiquity
Reviewed by Eyal Regev

David Ben-Shlomo, The Iron Age Pottery of Jerusalem: A Typographical and Technological Study
Reviewed by David Ilan

Lynn R. Huber and Rhiannon Graybill, eds., The Bible, Gender, and Sexuality: Critical Readings
Reviewed by Shelley L. Birdsong

Francisco Lozada Jr., John: History, Community, and Ideology
Reviewed by Mark A. Matson

Hughson T. Ong, The Multilingual Jesus and the Sociolinguistic World of the New Testament
Reviewed by Michaël Girardin

William C. Pohl IV, Ethical God-Talk in the Book of Job: Speaking to the Almighty
Reviewed by Katherine E. Southwood

Gabriel Rabo, Dionysius Jacob Bar Ṣalibi Syrischer Kommentar zum Römerbrief: Einleitung, Edition und Übersetzung
Reviewed by Brett LaPrad

Sigve K. Tonstad, Revelation
Reviewed by Odek Rabach

The Necessity of Biblical Languages

Denny Burk highlights how Rob Plummer makes a good case for learning the languages here.

Free Logos Resources for October

Logos is offering Daniel Akin's commentary on 1, 2, and 2 John in the Christ-Centered Exposition series  Recovering  and John Henry Newman's An Essay in Aid of a Grammar of Ascent as their October freebies. You can also purchase other books at significant discounts and enter to win a complete set of the New American Commentary series. These offers can be accessed here and here.

The Location of the Reed/Red Sea

Barry Beitzel has a helpful and nicely illustrated article here.

Top 1–2 Samuel Commentaries

Stephen Chapman lists and annotates his top six 1–2 Samuel commentaries on Nijay Gupta's blog here. I am surprised that Tsumera's two NICOT volumes did not make the cut.

Detroit Baptist Seminary Journal 26

The latest issue of the Detroit Baptist Seminary Journal is available as a free PDF here. I am most interested in a couple of interesting articles on Sheol.

Another Commentary on Romans

Some might ask whether we really need another commentary on Romans with a number of excellent and recent works already available (e.g., Moo, Schreiner). But I think Frederick Dale Bruner's forthcoming volume might suggest that there is room for one more for at least two reasons. First, in this interview, Bruner seems to see Romans as a gospel-oriented work. This might not seem to be all that significant to those who are not involved in the academic world, but for those of us that are, it is a welcome change from other less traditional, and I believe incorrect, approaches to the epistle (e.g., new perspective). Second, Bruner's previous commentaries on Matthew and John were characterized by both exegetical and spiritual insights. There is a  I am hoping for more of the same in his treatment of Romans. 

You can read an excerpt of his forthcoming commentary here.

New Testament Rhetoric

Paul Himes has a helpful list of resources for the study of New Testament rhetoric here. I am not convinced that ancient rhetorical practices played as big a role in the New Testament as some suggest but it is still important to have a general working knowledge for what it was.

Peter Kreeft on the Philosophy of Ecclesiastes

You can listen to this podcast by Peter Kreeft on the book of Ecclesiastes. A number of years ago, I read Kreeft's book, Three Philosophies of Life which I found thought provoking.

Is Tall el-Hammam Sodom?

There has been considerable buzz concerning a recent article related to a meteoric destruction of Tall el-Hammam which some suggest is the biblical city of Sodom (see Gen 19). I am personally unpersuaded by the linkage between Tall el-Hammam with Sodom. This Christianity Today article highlights some of my concerns. 

A Snapshot of the Christians in Colossians 4:7-17: Part 2

Yesterday I shared a table of the first five of ten people that are mentioned by Paul in Colossians 4:7-17. Here is the second part.

The Persons	The Passages	The Particulars
Epaphras “charming”	·   Colossians 1:7; 4:12-13 ·   Philemon 23	·      Epaphras was from Colossae (Col 4:12) ·      He was called a bond slave of Jesus Christ (Col 4:12) ·      He was a man of earnest prayer (Col 4:12) ·      He probably established (or helped to establish) the church at Colossae, Laodicea and Hierapolis (Col 1:7; 4:13) ·      He is called a “fellow prisoner” by Paul (Phlm 23)
Luke “luminous”	·   Colossians 4:14 ·   2 Timothy 4:11 ·   Philemon 24	·      He is identified as “the beloved physician” (Col 4:14) ·      He was apparently a Gentile (Col 4:11) ·      He was a “fellow worker” (Phlm 24) ·      He was faithful friend and traveling companion of Paul (2 Tim 4:11; Phlm 24) ·      He is the traditional author of the Gospel of Luke
Demas (Demetrius) “popular”	·   Colossians 4:14 ·   Philemon 24 ·   2 Timothy 4:10	·      He is one of Paul’s coworkers and companions (Col 4:14; Phlm 24) ·      He apparently deserted Paul (and perhaps deserted the faith) near the end of Paul’s like (2 Tim 4:10)
Nympha “gift of the nymphs”	·   Colossians 4:15	·      There is some disagreement over whether this name should be Nympha or Nymphas, or a man or a woman. Most modern commentators usually prefer the feminine designation. ·      She apparently had a church meeting in her house (Col 4:15)
Archippus “chief groom”	·   Colossians 4:17 ·   Philemon 2	·      He apparently had some kind of significant ministry (Col 4:17) ·      He is called a “fellow soldier” and seems to have been a member of the church in Colossae (Phlm 2)