The Sacrificial Lamb

Today is Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. Here is a video produced by SourceFlix. Watch and reflect.

The Sacrificial Lamb from SourceFlix on Vimeo.

HT: Todd Bolen

Latest Issue of Review of Biblical Literature

The latest issue of Review of Biblical Literature is out. Reviews that may be of interest from a Bible Exposition perspective include:

Luísa Maria Varela Almendra
Um debate sobre o conhecimento de Deus: Composição e interpretação de Jb 32-37
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6493
Reviewed by Gilbert Lozano

Gary A. Anderson
Sin: A History
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7556
Reviewed by Joseph Lam

Ruth A. Clements and Daniel R. Schwartz, eds.
Text, Thought, and Practice in Qumran and Early Christianity: Proceedings of the Ninth International Symposium of the Orion Center for the Study of the Dead Sea Scrolls and Associated Literature, Jointly Sponsored by the Hebrew University Center for the Study of Christianity, 11-13 January, 2004
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7282
Reviewed by John Kampen

Thomas B. Dozeman
Exodus
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7348
Reviewed by Frank H. Polak

Marlis Gielen
Paulus im Gespräch-Themen paulinischer Theologie
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7290
Reviewed by Günter Röhser

Philip A. Harland
Dynamics of Identity in the World of the Early Christians: Associations, Judeans, and Cultural Minorities
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7566
Reviewed by Eric Rowe

Avaren Ipsen
Sex Working and the Bible
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7458
Reviewed by Ronald Clark

Magnar Kartveit
The Origin of the Samaritans
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7391
Reviewed by Thomas Hieke

Ernst Axel Knauf
Josua: Zürcher Bibelkommentare AT, Band 6
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7081
Reviewed by Marvin A. Sweeney

John R. Levison
Filled with the Spirit
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7399
Reviewed by Randall J. Pannell

Laura Nasrallah and Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza, eds.
Prejudice and Christian Beginnings: Investigating Race, Gender, and Ethnicity in Early Christianity
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7341
Reviewed by Christopher Zeichmann

Wolfgang Oswald
Staatstheorie im Alten Israel: Der politische Diskurs im Pentateuch und in den Geschichtsbüchern des Alten Testaments
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7475
Reviewed by Klaus-Peter Adam

Andrzej S. Turkanik
Of Kings and Reigns: A Study of Translation Technique in the Gamma/Gamma Section of 3 Reigns (1 Kings)
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7370
Reviewed by Johann Cook

Vernon Grounds 1914-2010

See this announcement from Denver Seminary on the death of Vernon Grounds.

Advanced Expository Preaching Workshop and Hebrews: An Interview With David Allen

David Allen, Professor of Preaching, Director of the Southwestern Center for Expository Preaching, George W. Truett Chair of Ministry, and Dean of the School of Theology at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary recently agreed to answer five question about the upcoming Advanced Expository Preaching Workshop featuring the book of Hebrews and his recent commentary on Hebrews.

What is an Advanced Expository Preaching Workshop?

The Center for Expository Preaching at Southwestern Baptist theological Seminary offers two expository preaching workshops every year. The first workshop (Expository Preaching Workshop) is held in the spring. This workshop consists of two days of instruction on the philosophy, theory, and methodology of expository preaching. The presenters are well-known expositors drawn from all over the United States. The second workshop (Advanced Expository Preaching Workshop) is held in the fall. This workshop will take a book of the Bible (in this case Hebrews) and seek to apply the philosophy, theory, and methodology of exposition to that book. The advanced workshop will have presentations on the book (e.g., its structure, theology) and how to preach the book (e.g., preaching plans, example sermon). The advanced workshop is presented by expositors selected from Southwestern’s faculty.

Who should attend the Advanced Expository Preaching workshop?

The Advanced Expository Preaching Workshop is designed for pastors and preachers who want to review, retool, or refresh their expository preaching skills. While the workshop is designed for pastors and preachers, Bible college or seminary students interested in expository preaching and/or the book of Hebrews will also benefit. In fact, Sunday school teachers and other laypersons have attended previous workshops to become better equipped to serve in their churches.

What can pastors and preachers hope to take away from this workshop?

They can expect to receive very practical insights into the book of Hebrews and how to preach the book expositionally. Each attendee will receive notes from the sessions and even lunch is included with registration. Book tables containing some of the better resources on Hebrews will also be available for purchase as well.

Why the book of Hebrews?

The Advanced Expository Preaching Workshop is committed to teaching the whole counsel of Scripture. So we alternate our book selections between the Old and New Testaments. Last year the workshop tackled Psalms (see here for free audio) and so this year we were looking at a book from the New Testament. Since I had recently published two books on Hebrews (a monograph on the authorship of Hebrews and a commentary on Hebrews), the preaching faculty felt that Hebrews would be a logical choice for this year’s workshop.

I know that you recently published a commentary on Hebrews. Can you tell us a little about that commentary?

My commentary on Hebrews is in New American Commentary series, an exegetical and theological exposition of Scripture published by Broadman & Holman. The commentary itself is 671 pages. While it is not the first commentary on Hebrews to utilize linguistic principles and discourse analysis, it does seek to apply these exegetical approaches, especially as it relates to the structure of the book. This commentary contains the most extensive treatment, in a published commentary, of the crux interpretum 6:1–8 (54 pp.) that I am aware of. Another distinctive feature of the commentary is my belief that Luke is the author of Hebrews. Finally, as a preacher and teacher myself, I have tried to produce a commentary that will truly help preachers and teachers to preach and teach this book.

Preaching the Book of Numbers

The Old Testament in general, and the Book of Numbers in particular are often neglected in the pulpit. One explanation for this unfortunate neglect may be that,

“Fledgling preachers often tend to regard the Old Testament as someone else’s story. If this were rooted in genuine respect for Judaism's history and traditions, it would be one thing. But more often than not, it springs from a sense that Christians ‘have gotten beyond all that.’ Fledgling pastors are the products of their Christian upbringing, so it is probably safe to assume that their attitude reflects a fundamental confusion in the church as to how to appropriate not just the book of Numbers but the entire Old Testament.”

Carol Bechtel Reynolds, “Life After Grace: Preaching from the Book of Numbers,” Interpretation 51:1: 268.

BiblePlaces

Readers of this blog know that I am a big fan of Todd Bolen's work, especially his picture CD's. If you don't already get his e-mail newsletter you really should subscribe. The newsletter is both informative and free. You can subscribe here.

In his most recent newsletter Todd noted that "in conjunction with a complete overhaul of the BiblePlaces webstore, we were offering a big discount for a brief time. Today and tomorrow only you can purchase the complete four-volume electronic edition of Picturesque Palestine for $20, including free shipping in the US. Picturesque Palestine was published in four large volumes in 1881 and it was an immediate success. But there were many travel type books published in the 19th century that are no longer of much interest. What makes Picturesque Palestine still valuable is that it was written by the best scholars of the day. If you’ve done much research about the Holy Land, you’ll be familiar with names like Charles Wilson, Henry B. Tristram, Claude Conder, Mary Eliza Rogers, Charles Warren, Edward Palmer, and others."

To get the discounted price, use this link. The collection will be in your cart with the discount applied when you are ready to checkout. The offer ends on Thursday, 9/16 at 11:59 pm.

More Advice from Kevin DeYoung

Kevin DeYoung listed some good advice to theological students and young pastors yesterday. He adds to that list today. Read it here.

Job's Response to His Trials

In Job 1-2, Job’s godly response to his trials is affirmed positively by the narrator (1:22; 2:10), by God 2:3, by Satan (implicitly in 2:4), and by Job’s wife (2:9). Job’s trials did not make him a godly man. Rather, Job's response to his trials confirmed that he was a godly man.

Advice for Theological Students and Young Pastors

Kevin DeYoung has some good advice for theological students and young pastors here.

Paul, Christology, and Soteriology

"Since the Christian message is one of salvation, it is not surprising that Saint Paul's christology begins as a soteriology. Here we have a great intervention of God in the world of men, a drama of which God is the author and in which Christ is the central figure. The action begins with Christ's death, and continues through his resurrection, the preaching of his gospel, the concerted resistance of powers inimical to Christ, and the persecution of the gospel preachers. It comes to a climax in Christ's final victory and second coming. It would be wrong to suppose that the whole drama was played out on the cross, once and for all, and thereafter reproduced as a mystery, or shared in by the faith of believers participating in the fruits of Christ's victory. The power of God is the same throughout the whole action of Christ's death and resurrection, and in the preaching of the gospel and the salvation of believers (Rom. 1:16). At the parousia, this same power will receive its full manifestation. God is always at work, saving men through Christ, from Good Friday until the last day."

Lucien Cerfaux, Christ in the Theology of Paul (New York: Herder & Herder, 1959), 11.

The Relationship Between Galatians and Acts

Phillip J. Long has a nice post summarizing the work of Talbert on the various options regarding the relationship of Galatians and Acts. I also happen to agree with Long that Galatians 2 is not a reference to Acts 15 and the Jerusalem Council.

Gomer in Hosea

Any student of the Book of Hosea knows that there is a lot of discussion about Gomer's "activities" before and after God tells Hosea to marry her. While such discussions are necessary and helpful, J. Andrew Dearman gives a helpful reminder in his brand new commentary on Hosea

"In summary, Gomer's form(s) of sexual infidelity could include one or more acts of commercial prostitution, adultery, ritual copulation to enhance fertility, and possible sex to play a sacred vow. Her sexual practices may have been influenced by syncretistic forms of Yahwism or some of the Canaanite cults. Her harlotry, however, is primarily not about her but about Israel. This is the important matter for understanding the claims of the book. Once this issue is acknowledged, it is better also to acknowledge the difficulty of moving behind the metaphorical use of sexual terms and to remain reticent, rather than to define more specifically Gomer's sexual practices. To concentrate on the person of Gomer rather than the people of Israel is to miss the forest because of attention to a symbolic tree."

J. Andrew Dearman, The Book of Hosea, NICOT, ed. Robert L. Hubbard Jr (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2010), 367.

Latest Issue of Review of Biblical Literature

The latest issue of Review of Biblical Literature is out. Reviews that may be of interest from a Bible Exposition perspective include:

Craig L. Blomberg
The Historical Reliability of the Gospels
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7602
Reviewed by Robert H. Gundry

Hallvard Hagelia
The Dan Debate: The Tel Dan Inscription in Recent Research
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7502
Reviewed by George Athas

Harry A. Hoffner Jr.
Letters from the Hittite Kingdom
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7222
Reviewed by Paul Sanders

Petri Kasari
Nathan's Promise in 2 Samuel 7 and Related Texts
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7460
Reviewed by David G. Firth

Craig S. Keener
The Historical Jesus of the Gospels
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7385
Reviewed by Craig L. Blomberg

Lloyd Kim
Polemic in the Book of Hebrews: Anti-Judaism, Anti-Semitism, Supersessionism?
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=5699
Reviewed by Lars Kierspel

Dan Lioy
Axis of Glory: A Biblical and Theological Analysis of the Temple Motif in Scripture
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7682
Reviewed by Timothy D. Howell

Joel N. Lohr
Chosen and Unchosen: Conceptions of Election in the Pentateuch and Jewish-Christian Interpretation
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7302
Reviewed by Dale Patrick

Daniel C. Matt
The Zohar: Pritzker Edition (vol. 4)
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6161
Reviewed by Marvin Sweeney

Maarten J. J. Menken and Steve Moyise, eds.
The Minor Prophets in the New Testament
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7547
Reviewed by Matthew Mitchell

Romano Penna
Paolo e la Chiesa di Roma
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7461
Reviewed by Sean Martin

J. Goldingay and P. Scalise
Minor Prophets II
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7464
Reviewed by J. Clinton McCann Jr.

J. David Schloen, ed.
Exploring the Longue Durée: Essays in Honor of Lawrence E. Stager
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7114
Reviewed by Raz Kletter

Bernard A. Taylor
Analytical Lexicon to the Septuagint (Expanded Edition)
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7447
Reviewed by Martin Roesel

Brian L. Webster
The Cambridge Introduction to Biblical Hebrew (with CD-ROM)
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7413
Reviewed by Andrew Davies

Cerebral Preaching

I am all for preaching that does not insult one's intelligence, but some preaching fails to travel the eighteen inches from the head to the heart. Here is a quote from an article (albeit a bit dated, e.g., cassettes, overhead projectors) that makes a pointed critique of the problem.

"It is an overly-cerebral event. There is no confrontation. There is little application. There is no focus on the affections, to stir people to be broken over their sins or to be moved to love God more. The preacher's focus, mistakenly, is the intellect and the correct explanation of the passage of the Bible. The danger is that you could learn just as much from that approach by staying at home and reading a commentary.

"Al Martin says, 'The preacher must employ the rhetoric which Jael used upon Sisera, putting his nail to the head of the auditor, and driving it sheer and clean through his brain.' Most preaching today simply takes the tent peg and loosens the dandruff on Sisera's head, instead of fastening his skull to the ground.

"If preaching is to be searching and lively in application, it must go beyond shaking a few flakes loose, and get to the real business of fastening the truth firmly into the heads of the listeners."

Make sure to read the entire article.

Entering Job's Story

"To enter the story of Job as a participant in a real-life drama is to identify with the characters, fell the intensity of the conflict, stand at the turning point, follow the path of resolution, see the revelation, and know the reconciliation. Like a peak experience in the theater, Job leaves us awed with its power, moved by its passion, stretched by its thought, and irrevocably changed by its message."

David McKenna, Job, Mastering the Old Testament (Dallas: Word, 1986), 20.

Bible Professors Reminisce

Bible Professors Reminisce from Oklahoma Christian on Vimeo.

Advanced Expository Preaching Worshop Featuring the Book of Hebrews

Some readers might be interested in this preaching workshop.

Sermon Titles

Peter Mead has a good post on the challenges of creating sermon titles.

Sermons on Ezra

James Hamilton has a posted a link to some sermons that he recently preached on Ezra. Check it out here.

Free College Press Commentaries

The ever prolific Michael Halcomb has links to free pdf's of College Press' commentaries, over 25,000 pages worth. Check it out here.

Free Bible E-Charts

Just in case some of you were not aware of this, Rose Publishing offers free e-charts taken from some of their posters and pamphlets. You can get the details here.

Resources on Joshua

Shane Lems has a nice discussion on resources for preaching and teaching Joshua here.

Teaching Biblical Studies

See this post by Chris Skinner.

Missing the Point in Genesis 22

This article in the Huffington Post on Genesis 22 misses the point concerning the book of Genesis in general and the significance of the binding of Isaac episode in particular. In the article, rabbi Sid Schwarz suggests that the main point was really about Abraham's repentance ("return") concerning his mistreatment of Ishmael! As I read Genesis, one of the main themes of the book is the fulfillment of God's promises through an elect line, a line that includes Isaac but not Ishmael. Whether Abraham should have treated Ishmael differently is debatable, but I seriously doubt that Abraham's treatment of Ishmael was what God was trying to teach him on Mount Moriah.

What is a Seminary Professor?

See this post by Alvin Reid who asks and answers the question "What is a Seminary Professor?"