Some Teaching Resources

As a Bible teacher, I am interested in resources that might help in my pulpit, class, or small group ministries. I have found that on some occasions a physical prop can be of value. Recently, I came across two such resources, one devoted to the Dead Sea Scrolls and other the parable of the ten virgins in Matthew 25:1–13.

These resources come from Zak's Jerusalem Gifts, a shop in the Old City of Jerusalem. I have known Zak for over twenty years and have been in and purchased from his shop many times. Here are the links for the Dead Sea Scrolls set and the Wise Virgins Parable set. Or you can check out the shop here for many other items.

Tomb of the Prophet Nahum

While I personally doubt that it is actually the site is the tomb of the prophet Nahum it is an interesting story nonetheless.

Josephus and Jesus

You can access T. C. Schmidt's recent book, Josephus and Jesus, for free here.

Free Logos Resources for July

Logos is offering these freebies this month: Proverbs by James D. Martin, Saint Augustine: Letters: vol. VI (1*–29*), a free ebook, The Power of Your Brain by Stan Toler, and the free audio book Everyone's Invited by Geoffrey Thomas. You can get these free resources and also other deals here, here, here, and here. If you are a subscriber, you can also get Firts and Second Samuel by J Carl Laney for free here.

Repentance in Hosea

Andrew King looks at four truths related to repentance in Hosea. You can access his article here.

The Identity of the Galatians

The latest issue of Tyndale House's publication THink is out now. Among the articles is Ben Gardner's discussion of the identity of the Galatians. This is a balanced and fair basic introduction to the complex issues related to the question. You can read it and the other articles 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.

G. K. Beale and Benjamin L. Gladd, The Story Retold: A Biblical-Theological Introduction to the New Testament (IVP Academic)
Alexander Lopez Diaz

James Crossley and Chris Keith, eds., The Next Quest for the Historical Jesus (Eerdmans)
Zeba Crook

Jennifer Brown Jones, Translation and Style in the Old Greek Psalter: What Pleases Israel’s God (Brill)
Maximilian Häberlein

Mikeal C. Parsons and Robin M. Jensen, eds., Early Christians and Their Art (SBL Press)
S. D. Giere

David R. Seal, First and Second Peter: An Oral and Performance Commentary (Sheffield Phoenix)
Travis B. Williams

Todd D. Still and David E. Wilhite, eds., Irenaeus and Paul (T&T Clark)
William Horst

William A. Tooman, The Torah Unabridged: The Evolution of Intermarriage Law in the Hebrew Bible (Eisenbrauns)
Lisbeth S. Fried

Abeneazer G. Urga, Jessica A. Udall, and Edward L. Smither, eds., Reading 1 Peter Missiologically: The Missionary Motive, Message, and Methods of 1 Peter (William Carey Publishing)
Duane F. Watson

Noah's Ark

Peter Lee suggests here that Noah's ark is a microcosm of creation, a temple-home, and an emblem of resurrection.

Naboth's Vineyard and the Archaeology of Jezreel

Norma Franklin discusses the story here of Naboth's vineyard in light of the archaeology of tell Jezreel. 

Here is a picture that I took at Tel Jezreel in 2023.

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.

Fernando Bermejo-Rubio, They Suffered under Pontius Pilate: Jewish Anti-Roman Resistance and the Crosses at Golgotha (Lexington/Fortress Academic)
N. Clayton Croy

Jillian D. Engelhardt, Matthew, Disability, and Stress: Examining Impaired Characters in the Context of Empire (Lexington/Fortress Academic)
Gregory E. Lamb

Douglas Harrison-Mills, Serving at the “Banking-Tables”: New Light on Acts 2–8 and the Link Between Spiritual and Economic Transformation (Brill)
Holly Beers

Christl M. Maier, Jeremia 1–25 (Kohlhammer)
Samuel Hildebrandt

Kevin W. McFadden, Faith in the Son of God: The Place of Christ-Oriented Faith within Pauline Theology (Crossway)
Stuart B. Langley

Yoav Rosenthal and Shlomo Naeh, eds., Meḥqerei Talmud IV: Talmudic Studies Presented to Professor David Rosenthal on His Eightieth Anniversary [Hebrew] (Mandel Institute of Jewish Studies)
Joshua Schwartz

Starr Tomczak, Living Well: Inspired by the Story behind the Bible (Cascade)
Gershon Brin

Helmut Utzschneider and Wolfgang Oswald, Exodus 16–40 (Kohlhammer)
Paavo N. Tucker

Leadership and Power in Acts

Steve Walton has made his slides from a recent talk on "Leadership and Power in Acts" available here.

Samson as a Nazarite

I found Ely Levine's article on Samson and the Nazarite history and practices interesting although I do not accept some of the article's conclusions.

Artificial Intelligence and the Apocalyptic Imagination

Wipf & Stock is offering a free digital copy of Artificial Intelligence and the Apocalyptic Imagination by Jamie Davies. Go here, select the ebook option, and use the code "PAULUS25" at checkout. The offer is good until June 15, 2025.

Preaching the Text

Peter Mead has a good word here on how to be mentored by the text. I was particularly struck by his reminder that, "whatever we can do with the text is not as good as what God did when He inspired the text."

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.

Bernard F. Batto, The Many Faces of Adam and Eve (Cascade)
Bob Becking

Frederick David Carr, Being and Becoming: Human Transformation in the Letters of Paul (Baylor University Press)
Kelsi Morrison-Atkins

Rhiannon Graybill, John Kaltner, and Steven L. McKenzie, Jonah: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary (Yale University Press)
Philip Sam

Irving (Yitz) Greenberg, The Triumph of Life: A Narrative Theology of Judaism (Jewish Publication Society)
Michael Berenbaum

William R. G. Loader, Christology, Soteriology, and Ethics in John and Hebrews: Collected Essays (Mohr Siebeck)
Christopher Seglenieks

Jon K. Newton, A Pentecostal Commentary on Revelation (Wipf & Stock)
William Horst

Thomas R. Schreiner, Revelation (Baker Academic)
Clifford T. Winters

W. H. Paul Thompson, Pauline Slave Welfare in Historical Context: An Equality Analysis (Mohr Siebeck)
Jonathan J. Hatter

Free Logos Resources for June

Logos is offering these freebies this month: The Historical Reliability of John's Gospel by Craig Blomberg, Christian Philosophy in the Early Church by Anthony Meredith, a free ebook, Teach Us to Want by Jen Michel, and the free audio book Authentic Ministry by Michael Reeves. You can get these free resources and also other deals here, here, here, and here. If you are a subscriber, you can also get True Reason by Tom Gilosn and Carson Weitnauer for free here.