Latest Issue of Review of Biblical Literature

  
The latest issue of Review of Biblical Literature is out. Reviews can be accessed by clicking the links below.

Eberhard Bons and Jans Joosten, eds.
Septuagint Vocabulary: Pre-history, Usage, Reception
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8215
Reviewed by Francis Dalrymple-Hamilton
Reviewed by Daniel M. O'Hare

Deborah O'Daniel Cantrell
The Horsemen of Israel: Horses and Chariotry in Monarchic Israel
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8286
Reviewed by Raz Kletter

Daniel R. Driver
Brevard Childs, Biblical Theologian: For the Church's One Bible
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8567
Reviewed by Philippus J. Botha

Peter Enns
Ecclesiastes
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8440
Reviewed by Gert T. M. Prinsloo

Daniel C. Harlow, Karina Martin Hogan, Matthew Goff, and Joel S. Kaminsky, eds.
The "Other" in Second Temple Judaism: Essays in Honor of John J. Collins
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8027
Reviewed by James D. G. Dunn

Bruce W. Longenecker
Hearing the Silence: Jesus on the Edge and God in the Gap-Luke 4 in Narrative Perspective
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8563
Reviewed by Michal Beth Dinkler

Stéphane Saulnier
Calendrical Variations in Second Temple Judaism: New Perspectives on the 'Date of the Last Supper' Debate
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8531
Reviewed by Helen Jacobus

Karlheinz Schüssler, ed.
Biblia Coptica: Die koptischen Bibeltexte. Vollständiges Verzeichnis mit Standorten. Band 4/Lieferung 4: sa 721-780
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8464
Reviewed by Blossom Stefaniw

Jarvis J. Williams
Maccabean Martyr Traditions in Paul's Theology of Atonement: Did Martyr Theology Shape Paul's Conception of Jesus's Death?
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8091
Reviewed by Jan Willem van Henten  

Free Logos Book for January: Jonathan Edwards’ A Treatise concerning Religious Affections

The free Logos Book for January is Jonathan Edwards’ A Treatise concerning Religious Affections. You can also enter to win the entire Works of Jonathan Edwards. Go the Logos' Free Book of Month page to enter and download your free book today!
 

Hebrews Resources

  
Nicholas Batzig has a helpful collection of links to various resources for the book of Hebrews. You can the list here.
 

Westminster Clearance Sale

The Westminster Bookstore has placed a number of books on clearance at 60% off. Here is a select list of titles which might be of interest.

Matthew 1–13, Ancient Commentary on Christian Scripture by Manlio Simonetti. @ $20 (60% off)

Matthew 14–28, Ancient Commentary on Christian Scripture by Manlio Simonetti. @ $20 (60% off)

Luke, Ancient Commentary on Christian Scripture by Arthur A. Just Jr. @ $20 (60% off)

Romans, Ancient Commentary on Christian Scripture by Bray, Gerald @ $20 (60% off)

Letters and Homilies for Hellenized Christians: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary on Titus, 1-2 Timothy And 1-3 John by Ben Witherington III @ $16.00 (60% off)

Ecclesiastes and the Song of Songs, Apollos Old Testament Commentaries by Daniel C. Fredericks and Daniel J.Estes @ $16.00 (60% off)

1 Chronicles, Word Biblical Commentary by Roddy L. Braun @ $20 (60% off)

Ezekiel 1–19, Word Biblical Commentary by Leslie C. Allen @ $20 (60% off)

Ecclesiastes, Word Biblical Commentary by Roland E, Murphy @ $20 (60% off)

New Bible Atlas by John Bimson @ $12 (60% off)

Studying the Historical Jesus: A Guide to Sources and Methods by Darrell L. Bock @ $9.60 (60% off)

It’s Still Greek to Me: An Easy-To-Understand Guide to Intermediate Greek Grammar by David Alan Black @ $8.80 (60% off)

Calvin and the Biblical Languages by John D.Currid @ $6.80 (60% off)

Historical Reliability of John’s Gospel: Issues & Commentary by Craig Blomberg @ $10.40 (60% off)

How Biblical Languages Work: A Student's Guide to Learning Hebrew and Greek by Peter James Silzer and Thomas John Finley @ $8.00 (60% off)

The Historical Jesus of the Gospels: Jesus in Historical Context by Craig S. Keener @ $24.00 (60% off)

Hermeneutics: An Introduction by Anthony C. Thiselton @ $12.80 (60% off)

The Background of the New Testament and its Eschatology by W. D. Davies and D. Daube @ $28.80 (60% off)

You can access all of the clearance items here.
 

Wallace (and Sprinkle) on the New Persprective

  
Dan Wallace interacts here with Preston Sprinkle's challenge of a key point in the New Perspective on Paul. 
 

Theology as a Work in Progess

"What we call “theology” is a work in progress. It is not a fixed body of knowledge that can never grow or develop; it continues to expand as our relationship with God deepens. At the same time, it does not change, because God does not change. Theologians may have to express themselves in new ways when challenged by fresh discoveries that raise questions our ancestors never dreamed of. We may have to adapt our language to different circumstances and present the age-old message of Christ in ways previously unknown. Many theologians are goats, who relish these opportunities and use them to take the church away from its foundations. This has given theology a bad name in many circles. But these are false teachers who must be exposed and avoided. True theologians are sheep who hear their Shepherd’s voice and interpret his words for the benefit of the rest of the flock. In this task, theology will continue until the time comes when it will no longer be needed. When that happens we shall know all things, and be enfolded forever in the unchanging and all–encompassing love of God."

Gerald Bray, God Is Love: A Biblical and Systematic Theology (Wheaton: Crossway, 2012), 27.

Wallace: Five More Myths about Bible Translations

  
A few months ago I posted a link to fifteen myths about Bible translations from Dan Wallace (go here). He has now posted five more myths here.

Denominations

  
I know that thinking positively about denominations has fallen on hard times. But I have long believed that on their best days they can still serve a helpful function. So it is nice to read someone else who sees denominations as a good thing.

Nestle-Aland 28 Available Online

The new Nestle-Aland 28 is now available online here.

HT: Michael Gorman

How to Become A Biblical Scholar

  
An interview with C. Clifton Black addresses the issue of becoming a biblical scholar here.
 

Review of The Handy Guide to New Testament Greek

Douglas S. Huffman, The Handy Guide to New Testament Greek: Grammar, Syntax, and Diagramming (Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2012).

During my Bible college days I remember purchasing A Card-Guide to New Testament Greek by Benjamin Chapman and Gary Shogren. This was a laminated sheet, printed on the front and back, highlighting the basic information covered in first year Greek. Zondervan also now produces a four-page laminated overview produced by William Mounce.

Huffman’s work is more than these two resources but less than a first-year Greek grammar and/or a second-year Greek syntax. It is a supplemental resource designed to conveniently distill the information typically covered in first and second year Greek courses and texts. By this measure, Huffman’s guide is largely successful. There is a lot of information packed in these 112 pages. It is full without feeling cramped. The printing is easy on the eyes and the use of color is both attractive and helpful. This guide contains helpful definitions, explanations (simple without being simplistic), descriptions, examples, tables, and memory devices (e.g., “Old MacDonald nouns,” p. 10). The work is rounded out by a solid chapter on diagramming that reads more like a book than the first two chapters. The value of this resource is also enhanced by a fairly comprehensive and nicely organized bibliography (for the table of contents go here). I actually enjoyed going through this guide and my overall impression of this work is very positive. 

The main challenge as I see for this niche product is finding an audience outside of the Bible college or seminary classroom where it is a required text. If this resource is intended to be used after graduation then I suspect the best hope will be to put it out in the main ebook formats. 

Douglas Huffman is a Professor and associate Dean of Biblical and Theological Studies at Biola University. You can read an excerpt here.

Thanks to Kregel Academic for providing the free copy of this book used in writing this unbiased review. 
  

Luke Commentary on Sale

  
Christian Book Distributor's "Deal of the Day" is I. Howard Marshall's Luke Commentary.

The Gospel of Luke: New International Greek Testament Commentary [NIGTC]

CBD has the volume at $47% off or $35.99. This is about $20 better than either Amazon who has the same volume for $55.31 or the Westminster Bookstore at $56.91.
 

Merry Christmas!

  
Praise be to the Lord Jesus Christ in celebration of His birth and Merry Christmas to all from my family to yours.
 

Christmas in Koine

  
Daniel Streett has posted a collection of links for Christmas songs in Koine Greek here.
 

Latest Issue of Review of Biblical Literature

  
The latest issue of Review of Biblical Literature is out. Reviews can be accessed by clicking the links below.

Frederick Dale Bruner
The Gospel of John: A Commentary
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8442
Reviewed by Sonya S. Cronin

Georg Fischer and Dominik Markl
Das Buch Exodus
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8142
Reviewed by Paul Sanders

Peter Hon Wan Lau
Identity and Ethics in the Book of Ruth: A Social Identity Approach
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8253
Reviewed by Timothy Stone

Nancy C. Lee
Lyrics of Lament: From Tragedy to Transformation
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7435
Reviewed by Ulrich Berges
Reviewed by Leonard Mare

Mikeal C. Parsons
Body and Character in Luke and Acts: The Subversion of Physiognomy in Early Christianity
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8324
Reviewed by Stephan Witetschek

Matthew S. Rindge
Jesus' Parable of the Rich Fool: Luke 12:13-34 among Ancient Conversations on Death and Possessions
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8342
Reviewed by Matthew Hauge

John H. Sailhamer
The Meaning of the Pentateuch: Revelation, Composition and Interpretation
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8130
Reviewed by Andrew Steinmann

Simon P. Stocks
The Form and Function of the Tricolon in the Psalms of Ascents: Introducing a New Paradigm for Hebrew Poetic Line-form
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8553
Reviewed by Gert T. M. Prinsloo

Klaus Wachtel and Michael W. Holmes, eds.
The Textual History of the Greek New Testament: Changing Views in Contemporary Research
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8381
Reviewed by James Leonard

Upcoming Lectures at the Lanier Theological Library

  
Those in and around Houston, Texas might be interested in three upcoming free lectures at the Lanier Theological Library in 2013.

January 29, 2013: Paige Patterson speaking on "The Expectation of the Reign of Christ on a Millennial Earth"

March 23, 2013: Alister McGrath speaking on "C.S. on Lewis and the Post Modern Generation: His Message 50 Years Later"

April 27. 2013: D. A. Carson on a topic not yet announced

You can see more about the lectures and register to attend here.

   

Audio: Moo on Romans

  
Readers of this blog know that I have highlighted the work of BiblicalTraining.org. It is a great resource. They have just announced the release a course by Doug Moo on Romans. All Biblical Training courses are free but you have to register. You can check out the Romans course here.
 

Top Ten End of the World Songs

  
In honor of all the hype about tomorrow, you can find suggestions for the top ten end of the world songs here, here, and here.
 

New Resource: Treaty, Law and Covenant in the Ancient Near East

A recent Tyndale House email noted the publication of Treaty, Law and Covenant in the Ancient Near East by Kenneth A. Kitchen and Paul J. N. Lawrence. The following is the publisher's description:

"This work presents a far-reaching social profile of life in the Ancient Near East, based on its wealth of law-collections, treaties and covenants through three millennia. Volume 1 sets out a uniquely comprehensive corpus of over 100 such documents in 10 languages, mostly displayed in facing-page transliterations and English translations with individual bibliographies. Volume 2 provides essential philological and background commentary to the texts, fully indexes their subject-matter, and concludes with a revolutionary and innovative series of full-colour diagrams of every text, vividly highlighting variations through the centuries. Finally, Volume 3 outlines the flowing interplay of political history, changing social norms and varying documentary formats throughout the whole period. Taken together, this tryptich offers a striking and indispensable new overview of its multifaceted world for Ancient Near-Eastern and biblical studies."

This looks like a wonderful resource but will beyond the budget of most folks. But perhaps your favorite university or seminary library will get a copy.
 

Wallace's Take on Nestle-Aland 28

  
Dan Wallace has provided one of the more comprehensive and interesting evaluations of the new 28th edition of Nestle-Aland that I have seen online. You can read it here.

Dead Sea Scrolls Online

  
A new website created jointly by Google and the Israel Antiquities Authority has now made thousands of Dead Sea Scroll fragments as high-resolution images available online.You can visit the Leon Levy Dead Sea Scrolls Digital Library here.

 

Top 12 Biblical Counseling Books of 2012

  
Counseling is not my area of specialty so I cannot vouch for this list, but it looks like there are some good resources here.
 

Latest Issue of Review of Biblical Literature

The latest issue of Review of Biblical Literature is out. Reviews can be accessed by clicking the links below.

Moshe Bar-Asher and Devorah Dimant, eds.
Meghillot [Hebrew]: Studies in the Dead Sea Scrolls, VIII-IX
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7829
Reviewed by George Brooke
 
Radcliffe G. Edmonds III, ed.
The "Orphic" Gold Tablets and Greek Religion: Further along the Path
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7920
Reviewed by Timothy Pettipiece
 
Craig A. Evans, ed.
The World of Jesus and the Early Church: Identity and Interpretation in the Early Communities of Faith
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8366
Reviewed by Judith Lieu
 
Jonathan Knight
Revelation
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8470
Reviewed by Michael Naylor
 
Te-Li Lau
The Politics of Peace: Ephesians, Dio Chrysostom, and the Confucian Four Books
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7896
Reviewed by Minna Shkul
 
Abigail Pelham
Contested Creations in the Book of Job: The-World-as-It-Ought- and-Ought-Not-to-Be
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8619
Reviewed by Norman Habel
 
Michael Peppard
The Son of God in the Roman World: Divine Sonship in its Social and Political Context
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8259
Reviewed by Matthew Forrest Lowe
 
Daniel B. Wallace, ed.
Revisiting the Corruption of the New Testament: Manuscript, Patristic, and Apocryphal Evidence
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8482
Reviewed by J. K. Elliott
 
Beat Weber
Werkbuch Psalmen III: Theologie und Spiritualität des Psalters und seiner Psalmen
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8037
Reviewed by Mark Elliott
 
Ina Willi-Plein
Das Buch Genesis: Kapitel 12-50
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8432
Reviewed by Wolfgang Zwickel

 

Texts, Hermeneutics, Preaching, and Stained Glass

  
What do texts, hermeneutics, preaching, and stained glass have in common? Check out Abe Kuruvilla's interesting post here. Make sure to read the interaction in the comments as well.
 

Schnabel on the Authorship of Acts

  
I have long appreciated the work of Eckhard Schnabel which I have found to clear and helpful. So I am excited to be dipping into his brand new commentary on Acts. In his introduction to Acts he deals with the issue of authorship, noting that while the Gospels and Acts are technically anonymous there are two points worth making.Schnabel writes,

"First, neither the Gospels nor the book of Acts were "anonymous" in the first century. It can be reasonably assumed that the early churches knew-on the basis of personal relationships or oral tradition-the identity of the authors of these long books, which were foundational for the life and ministry of the churches. We may note the example of L. Flavius Arrianus of Nicomedia, who did not state his name in the preface of his description of the life of Alexander the Great, published in the first half of the second century AD under the title Anabasis; he explains this literary decision with the comment, "I need not write my name, for it is not at all unknown among men, nor my country nor my family."

 
"Second, the anonymity of the historical books of the New Testament is a literary feature that distinguishes them from contemporary Greco-Roman historical books. It has been suggested that this is a specifically Christian phenomenon, which can be explained with the authors' conviction that Jesus Christ is the exclusive authority besides whom any human authority should remain silent. Others assume that the anonymity of the historical books of the New Testament emphasizes "the complete dependence of their authors on tradition, rather than on any firsthand experience."

Eckhard Schnabel, Acts, Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament, ed. Clinton E. Arnold (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2012), 23-24.