Theology Research Paper Title Generator

This would have come in handy when I was going through my theology courses!

HT: Abraham Joseph

A Review of Saving Eutychus

Gary Millar and Phil Campbell, Saving Eutychus: How to Preach God’s Word and Keep People Awake (Kingsford: Matthias Media, 2013). 

Saving Eutychus is a book that preachers might be tempted to hide in a plain brown wrapper. No one wants to admit that they might actually need this book. It is a book written for other preachers. 

That being said, Saving Eutychus is probably a book that most preachers should at least consider reading. I appreciated three things about the book. First, I appreciated the authors’ personal humility about their own preaching and yet the pastoral commitment to the craft of preaching. So their advice about preaching comes across as less talking about you and more about talking with you. Second, the book is easy to read. Millar and Campbell tend to model in their writing what they encourage about preaching (see especially the chapter called “Deadly, dull and boring”). Third, the authors’ emphasis on, and advice concerning, critique were particularly helpful. 

There are a few mild criticisms that I would offer. I wish that the authors would have discussed what they mean by “application” and if or how they would distinguish application from principle (see pp. 69-75). I remain unconvinced that sermons should be 23-25 minutes long (pp. 50-51). This seems to be too short. Finally, both of the sermonic examples at the end of the book came from narratives in Acts. This is okay, but it might have been more helpful to use one example from Acts and the other example from the Old Testament and preferably something other than narrative. The reader could then see how the authors’ methodology works with another kind of text. 

The free review copy utilized for this unbiased review was provided by Cross Focused Reviews.
  

Virtual Tour of the Temple Mount

Go here to read about the opportunity to take a virtual tour of Jerusalem's temple mount and here to take the tour. The tour is in Hebrew.

Summary of Malachi

This is a nice summary of the book of Malachi from J. D. W. Watts.

The last of the prophetic books is Malachi. It epitomizes the prophetic insistence on God’s continued love for this chosen people. It is very practical in demanding faith and faithfulness in the realistic situations in which priest and people find themselves. It insists on the reality of God, his presence, his purpose, and his love. It also knows that he distinguishes sharply between true worship and false, between genuine dedication and sham, and between a quality of life consistent with the Torah and one that is not. He will tolerate no lowering of these standards. Malachi proclaims the importance of God’s will as revealed through the Torah (4:4). It also calls for a look to the future when God’s intervention will come. And it promises a prophetic figure, Elijah, to intercede with the people in calling them to faith. It relates the Law and the Prophets to each other and binds the people to observance of both. These verses tie the Latter Prophets with the Pentateuch (Moses) and with the Former Prophets (Elijah).

J. D. W. Watts, "Introduction to the Book of Malachi," Review and Expositor 84 (1987): 373–74. 
  

Bryan Chapell on Christ-Centered Hermeneutics

See Bryan Chapell's post on Christ-centered hermeneutics here. The post is part of a larger series hosted on Ed Stetzer blog on Christ-centered hermeneutics. The four parts series has or will include posts by,


● Dr. Daniel Block (Wheaton College)
● Dr. David Murray (Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary)
● Dr. Walt Kaiser (Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary) 
● Dr. Bryan Chapell (Grace Presbyterian in Peoria, IL)

Daniel Block's post can can be read here and here, Murray's post here, and here, Ed Stetzer's recap here and here. and Kaiser's post here.

Latest Issue of Bible Magazine

The latest issue of Bible Magazine is available for free here. This issue continues an examination of the Lord's prayer and focuses on Matthew 6.16-18. 
 

Technological Gratitude

  
"Thanks to Overhead Projectors" is a good reminder to be thankful about, and to have the right attitude toward, using technology in ministry.
 

Advice on Sermon Titles

  
See this blog post on writing better sermon titles.
 

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.

Constantine R. Campbell
Paul and Union with Christ: An Exegetical and Theological Study
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8689
Reviewed by William Campbell

Daniel Epp-Tiessen
Concerning the Prophets: True and False Prophecy in Jeremiah 23:9–29:32
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8828
Reviewed by Kelvin Friebel

Judith Gärtner
Die Geschichtspsalmen: Eine Studie zu den Psalmen 78, 105, 106, 135 und 136 als hermeneutische Schlüsseltexte im Psalter
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8851
Reviewed by Susan Gillingham

Lee Martin McDonald
Formation of the Bible: The Story of the Church’s Canon
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8665
Reviewed by James Leonard

Matthew V. Novenson
Christ among the Messiahs: Christ Language in Paul and Messiah Language in Ancient Judaism
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8495
Reviewed by Nijay K. Gupta

Richard I. Pervo
Acts: A Commentary
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8754
Reviewed by Don Garlington

Karlheinz Schüssler
Biblia Coptica: Die koptischen Bibeltexte. Vollständiges Verzeichnis mit Standorten. Band 2/Lfg 1 sa 121–184
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8765
Reviewed by Elina Perttilä

Cynthia Shafer-Elliott
Food in Ancient Judah: Domestic Cooking in the Time of the Hebrew Bible
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9023
Reviewed by Stephen Reed

Caroline Vander Stichele and Hugh S. Pyper, eds.
Text, Image, and Otherness in Children's Bibles: What Is in the Picture?
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8847
Reviewed by Gottfried Adam

C. Richard Wells and Ray Van Neste, eds.
Forgotten Songs: Reclaiming the Psalms for Christian Worship
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8835
Reviewed by Leonard P. Maré 
 

Walt Kaiser on Christ-Centered Hermeneutics

  
See Walt Kaiser's post on Christ-centered hermeneutics here. The post is part of a larger series hosted on Ed Stetzer blog on Christ-centered hermeneutics. The four parts series has or will include posts by,


● Dr. Daniel Block (Wheaton College)
● Dr. David Murray (Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary)
● Dr. Walt Kaiser (Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary) 
● Dr. Bryan Chapell (Grace Presbyterian in Peoria, IL)

The first installment by Daniel Block can be read here and here. You can access Murray's post here, and here. Ed Stetzer provides a recap here and here.
 

Recent Discoveries at Tel Hazor

  
In this article, a recent discovery of a sphinx at Tel Hazor is described. According to the article,

"A team of researchers from the Institute of Archaeology, headed by Prof. Amnon Ben-Tor and Dr. Sharon Zuckerman found in Tel Hazor National Park a unique fracture of an Egyptian Sphinx. The Sphinx has between its front legs an hieroglyphic inscription which includes the name of the Egyptian king Mikrinos, who ruled during the ancient Egyptian kingdom and was one of the builders of the famous pyramids of Giza. He ruled the Egyptian kingdom in the third millennium BCE, more than 4,000 years ago.

"The Sphinx fragment discovered at Hazor is an unexpected and incredibly important discovery, since it is the only known Sphinx of this king discovered so far in the world, including in Egypt. Moreover, it is only fraction of the majestic monumental sculpture discovered in the entire Levant (the eastern shore of the Mediterranean)."
  

Review of Interpreting the Pauline Letters

Harvey, John D. Interpreting the Pauline Letters: An Exegetical Handbook. Handbook for New Testament Exegesis, ed. John D. Harvey. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2012.

The Pauline Epistles continue to be some of the most popular sections of Scripture to preach and teach and yet can also be some of the most daunting as well. John Harvey has provided a helpful entrée into the field.

The breadth and depth of John Harvey’s introduction to Pauline Letters is impressive given its relative brevity (224 pp.). In the first three chapters, Harvey discusses the genre, background, and theology of the Pauline epistles. Chapters four and five focus on issues related to interpretation (i.e. textual criticism and translation) and the interpretive process itself. This is followed by two chapters that explain and illustrate how one can move from text to sermon. Harvey rounds out the book with ten pages of suggested resources and a three-page glossary.

I like Interpreting the Pauline Letters for at least three reasons. First, as already noted, it is fairly comprehensive and yet succinct. But even with the brevity, the author is often able to address different options and views. Second, at a list price of $22.99 you get a fair amount of bang for the buck. It is a budget-friendly resource for financially challenged students, pastors, and others involved in ministry. Third, chapters six and seven emphasize the importance of preaching the text and preaching it well. The study of Paul’s letters is not an end, it is a means.

This volume could be made more helpful with a Scripture index. It would probably add only a few more pages but make this volume more user-friendly. A second point is not necessarily a criticism, but it is a concern. The emphasis on textual criticism and translation as preparatory to interpretation is ideal (this is what I was taught in seminary), but I wonder whether it is a realistic expectation for most pastors. I think a word from the author addressing this issue would have been valuable. As it stands, a reader of this work might conclude that he could not even begin interpreting without wrestling at depth with text-critical issues and creating a fresh translation. That being said, I would still recommend this volume for the reasons noted above.

Thanks to Kregel for the review copy used in this unbiased review.
  

Top Digital Tools for Churches

HT:Aubrey Malphurs

British Library Manuscripts

  
The British Library has created and made available an Excel spreadsheet listing all the manuscripts they have online, with the URL. You can read more about it and access it here.  

HT: Roger Pearse

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.


Peter Arzt-Grabner and Christina M. Kreinecker, eds.
Light from the East: Papyrologische Kommentare zum Neuen Testament. Akten des internationalen Symposions vom 3.–4. Dezember 2009 am Fachbereich Bibelwissenschaft und Kirchengeschichte der Universität Salzburg
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8047
Reviewed by Scott Charlesworth

Daniel I. Block
Deuteronomy
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8654
Reviewed by Garrett Galvin
 
Terry W. Eddinger
Malachi: A Handbook on the Hebrew Text
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8620
Reviewed by Buzz Brookman

Jaco Gericke
The Hebrew Bible and Philosophy of Religion
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8714
Reviewed by Christian Danz

Yoram Hazony
The Philosophy of Hebrew Scripture
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8600
Reviewed by Craig G. Bartholomew

J. Edward Owens
Leviticus
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8936
Reviewed by David Talley

Gary S. Shogren
1 and 2 Thessalonians
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8733
Reviewed by Jason Weaver

Christopher W. Skinner and Kelly R. Iverson, eds.
Unity and Diversity in the Gospels and Paul: Essays in Honor of Frank J. Matera
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8849
Reviewed by Lars Kierspel

Jean-Luc Vesco
Le Psautier de Jésus: Les citations des Psaumes dans le Nouveau Testament
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8558
Reviewed by Thomas J. Kraus

Johanna W. H. van Wijk-Bos
Reading Samuel: A Literary and Theological Commentary
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8674
Reviewed by Benjamin J. M. Johnson
  

2013 SBL Preliminary Program Book

  
You can access a preliminary version of the program book for the Society of Biblical Literature's 2013 annual meeting to be held in Baltimore here. You can do specific searches or leave all the fields blank and click the search button.
  

Exodus Website

  
Exodus: Out of Egypt is a new website that is described by Thomas Levy as follows.

"This website does not advocate any solutions to the story of ancient Israel’s Exodus from Egypt, known from the Old Testament or Hebrew Bible. Rather, it highlights new transdisciplinary perspectives on this ancient puzzle based on an international conference held May 31 to June 3, 2013 in Calit2’s Qualcomm Institute at UC San Diego. The conference – Out of Egypt: Israel’s Exodus Between Text and Memory, History and Imagination – brought together more than 40 of the world’s leading archaeologists, Biblical scholars, Egyptologists, historians and geo-scientists. In tandem, the Qualcomm Institute staged an exhibition, EX3: Exodus, Cyber-Archaeology and the Future, through June 9, as an experiment in trans-disciplinary research, team science, and scholarly communication using technologies developed for the museum of the future. Archaeologists and Biblical scholars teamed with computer scientists, engineers, geo-scientists and sonic artists to show how 21st century collaboration in these fields can provide new ways of looking at ancient historical problems. Nearly four dozen scientists contributed their unique expertise and worked “out of the (disciplinary) box” in search of potential answers to historical questions. They explored cyber-archaeology data collection, analyses and dissemination, and the exhibition featured new 3D and large-scale visualization platforms developed by the Qualcomm Institute as prototype display systems for the museum of the future. At right is a collection of images from the conference and exhibition. Below, this portal features streaming video, including an overview of the exhibition, as well as on-demand video of all conference proceedings. At bottom, click on the links to view panels from the exhibition on the significance of the Exodus from an ecumenical perspective in Judaism, Islam, and Christianity." 
  

Theological Education in a Changing World

  
This is an interesting article on the challenges of theological education within a global context.
 

The Tabernacle in Shiloh

  
In this article, archaeologist are purported to claim that evidence for the tabernacle at Shiloh has been found. I would suggest that a bit of caution is in order since what is identified as evidence does not appear to be conclusive.
 

Sequal to the Bible Miniseries

  
NBC announced Monday that it will join with producer Mark Burnett and Roma Downey, on a sequel to the Bible miniseries that aired earlier this year on the History Channel. The sequel has been given the working title "A.D.: Beyond the Bible" and will cover the days following the crucifixion of Jesus. You can read about it here.

Free Logos Book of the Month: The Expositor's Greek Testament, Volume 5

  
The free Logos book for the month of July is volume 5 of The Expositor's Greek Testament. You can read more about it or enter a drawing to win the entire set here.
  

Message: In the Event or Text?

"Biblical narrators were concerned not only to describe historical events, but also to interpret them. Indeed, it is in the authors’ interpretation that we find the permanent message. Although God did in fact reveal himself and speak through the events of history and the experiences of Israel (see the purpose of the miracles in the Exodus narratives and the events prophesied by Ezekiel), it is difficult (if not impossible) for us to reconstruct the events and thereby recover the message of God in the original event. Indeed, our only access to that historical revelation is through the interpretation offered by the inspired writers of the texts of Scripture. The message we preach must accord with the message proclaimed by the inspired narrator and interpreter of those events. That message may be retrieved only by carefully studying what the authors have written. While we recognize the value of the history of interpretation of biblical texts, and of interpretations given by contemporary commentators, only the meaning of the original author, not that of later interpreters, offers the normative message of God."

Daniel I Block, “Tell Me the Old, Old Story: Preaching the Message of Old Testament Narrative,” in Giving the Sense: Understanding and Using Old Testament Historical Texts, ed. David M. Howard Jr. and Michael A. Grisanti (Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2003), 413–14.
  

Free Course: Understanding the New Testament

  
Crown College is offering a free online course (MOOC): Understanding the New Testament. You can get details here. Note that it is free but you must register before July 1.

HT: Zondervan Academic 
  

Latest Issue of Bibliotheca Sacra

  
The July-September 2013 issue of Bibliotheca Sacra is now out. The issue contains the following articles.

A Literary Tribute to Dr. Roy B. Zuck
Compiled by Matthew S. DeMoss

Helping People REACH Forgiveness of Others: Part 3 of 4
Everett L. Worthington Jr.

Intertextuality and the Portrayal of Jeremiah the Prophet
Gary E. Yates

Pagan Worship in Jerusalem
Thomas A. Golding

Paul as Weak in Faith in Romans 7:7-25
John F. Hart

James 4:5 and the Jealous Spirit
J. William Johnston

Why the Decalogue Matters

  
Leon Kass has a pretty decent article on the Ten Commandments here.