The latest issue of Review of Biblical Literature is out. Reviews can be accessed by clicking the links below.
OED Bennett and David B. Growler, eds.
Radical Christian Voices and Practice: Essays in Honour of Christopher Rowland
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8488
Reviewed by Yongbom Lee
Alexander Böhlig; Siegfried G. Richter and Peter Nagel, ends.
Die Bibel bei den Manichäern und verwandte Studien
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9138
Reviewed by Jason Beduhn
Brian Arthur Brown
Three Testaments: Torah, Gospel, and Quran
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8603
Reviewed by John Kaltner
Mary L. Coloe and Tom Thatcher, eds.
John, Qumran, and the Dead Sea Scrolls: Sixty Years of Discovery and Debate
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8186
Reviewed by Jörg Frey
Deborah A. Green
The Aroma of Righteousness: Scent and Seduction in Rabbinic Life and Literature
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8191
Reviewed by Bálint Károly Zabán
Joseph A. Marchal, ed.
Studying Paul’s Letters: Contemporary Perspectives and Methods
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8493
Reviewed by Robert N. Stegmann
Victor H. Matthews and James C. Moyer
The Old Testament: Text and Context
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8559
Reviewed by Aren M. Maeir
John F. A. Sawyer
Sacred Texts and Sacred Meanings: Studies in Biblical Language and Literature
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8956
Reviewed by Albert Wolters
John H. Walton
Job
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8653
Reviewed by Martin A. Shields
Hans-Ulrich Weidemann, ed.
Er stieg auf den Berg … und lehrte sie (Mt 5,1f.): Exegetische und rezeptionsgeschichtliche Studien zur Bergpredigt
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8837
Reviewed by Edwin Broadhead
Oct 11, 2013
Gerald Bray on Biblical Genealogies
Sometime back, I posted a quote from Gerald Bray's book God is Love (here). Here is another quote that I think is worth noting, especially since I have an interest in biblical genealogies (see here).
"What do the genealogies reveal about God? They tell us that He is a faithful Lord, who keeps His covenant from one generation to another. Whoever we are and however far we may have descended from the source of our human life in Adam, we are still part of God’s plan. Over the centuries we have developed differently, we have lost contact with one another, and we have even turned on each other in hostility, but in spite of all that, we are still related and interconnected in ways that go beyond our immediate understanding or experience.
"Secondly, what do the genealogies say about us? They say that from the world’s point of view, most of us are nobodies. We live and die in a long chain of humanity, but there is not much that anyone will remember about us as individuals. Yet without us, future generations will not be born and the legacy of the past will not be preserved. We are part of a great cloud of witnesses, a long chain of faithful people who have lived for God in the place where he put them. Even if we know little about our ancestors, we owe them a great debt of gratitude for their loyalty and perseverance, when they had little or nothing to gain from it or to show for it.
"Finally, what do the genealogies say about God’s dealings with us? They tell us that we are called to be obedient and to keep the faith we have inherited, passing it on undiminished to the next generation. They remind us that there is a purpose in our calling that goes beyond ourselves. Even if we are not celebrated by future generations and leave little for posterity to remember us by, we shall nevertheless have made an indispensable contribution to the purpose of God in history. So the genealogies bring us a message from God, even if they appear on the surface to be barren and unprofitable. All we have to do is ask the right questions, and their meaning will be quickly opened to us."
Gerald Bray, God Is Love: A Biblical and Systematic Theology (Wheaton: Crossway, 2012), 59..
"What do the genealogies reveal about God? They tell us that He is a faithful Lord, who keeps His covenant from one generation to another. Whoever we are and however far we may have descended from the source of our human life in Adam, we are still part of God’s plan. Over the centuries we have developed differently, we have lost contact with one another, and we have even turned on each other in hostility, but in spite of all that, we are still related and interconnected in ways that go beyond our immediate understanding or experience.
"Secondly, what do the genealogies say about us? They say that from the world’s point of view, most of us are nobodies. We live and die in a long chain of humanity, but there is not much that anyone will remember about us as individuals. Yet without us, future generations will not be born and the legacy of the past will not be preserved. We are part of a great cloud of witnesses, a long chain of faithful people who have lived for God in the place where he put them. Even if we know little about our ancestors, we owe them a great debt of gratitude for their loyalty and perseverance, when they had little or nothing to gain from it or to show for it.
"Finally, what do the genealogies say about God’s dealings with us? They tell us that we are called to be obedient and to keep the faith we have inherited, passing it on undiminished to the next generation. They remind us that there is a purpose in our calling that goes beyond ourselves. Even if we are not celebrated by future generations and leave little for posterity to remember us by, we shall nevertheless have made an indispensable contribution to the purpose of God in history. So the genealogies bring us a message from God, even if they appear on the surface to be barren and unprofitable. All we have to do is ask the right questions, and their meaning will be quickly opened to us."
Gerald Bray, God Is Love: A Biblical and Systematic Theology (Wheaton: Crossway, 2012), 59..
Oct 9, 2013
Latest Issue of Southwestern News
The latest issue of Southwestern News, a publication of
Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, is focused on archaeology. It
includes articles on Archaeology 101, Gezer, Cyprus, and the Tandy Institute for Archaeology. You can read through the entire issue here.
Oct 8, 2013
Sermon Preparation Time
See this interesting post that survey's some well-known preachers concerning the time that they spend in sermon preparation.
HT: Denny Burk
HT: Denny Burk
Oct 7, 2013
Deborah as Comic Book Heroine
Daniel Bernard who has a Ph.D. in religion, has created a comic book based on Deborah from the Book of Judges. You can read more about it here.
Oct 6, 2013
David Allen: Outlining Hebrews 10:19-25
See this post by Dr. David Allen on outlining Hebrews 10:19-25. Dr. Allen has a fine commentary on Hebrews in the New American commentary series.
Oct 5, 2013
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.
Ulrich F. Berges
Isaiah: The Prophet and his Book
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9078
Reviewed by Marvin A. Sweeney
Walter Brueggemann
Truth Speaks to Power: The Countercultural Nature of Scripture
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9050
Reviewed by Gerrie Snyman
Daniel E. Fleming
The Legacy of Israel in Judah’s Bible: History, Politics, and the Reinscribing of Tradition
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8686
Reviewed by Matthew Suriano
Matthew V. Johnson, James A. Noel, and Demetrius K. Williams, eds.
Onesimus Our Brother: Reading Religion, Race, and Culture in Philemon
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8557
Reviewed by Emilia Zamfir
Theresa V. Lafferty
The Prophetic Critique of the Priority of the Cult: A Study of Amos 5:21–24 and Isaiah 1:10–17
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8880
Reviewed by Alphonso Groenewald
M. David Litwa
We Are Being Transformed: Deification in Paul’s Soteriology
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8646
Reviewed by Tony Costa
Candida Moss
The Myth of Persecution: How Early Christians Invented a Story of Martyrdom
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9158
Reviewed by N. CLayton Croy
Matthew Neujahr
Predicting the Past in the Ancient Near East: Mantic Historiography in Ancient Mesopotamia, Judah, and the Mediterranean World
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8713
Reviewed by Gerhard Karner
Rick F. Talbott
Jesus, Paul, and Power: Rhetoric, Ritual, and Metaphor in Ancient Mediterranean Christianity
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8030
Reviewed by Jan Willem van Henten
Georg A. Walser
Jeremiah: A Commentary based on Ieremias in Codex Vaticanus
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8891
Reviewed by Michael Graves
Ulrich F. Berges
Isaiah: The Prophet and his Book
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9078
Reviewed by Marvin A. Sweeney
Walter Brueggemann
Truth Speaks to Power: The Countercultural Nature of Scripture
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9050
Reviewed by Gerrie Snyman
Daniel E. Fleming
The Legacy of Israel in Judah’s Bible: History, Politics, and the Reinscribing of Tradition
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8686
Reviewed by Matthew Suriano
Matthew V. Johnson, James A. Noel, and Demetrius K. Williams, eds.
Onesimus Our Brother: Reading Religion, Race, and Culture in Philemon
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8557
Reviewed by Emilia Zamfir
Theresa V. Lafferty
The Prophetic Critique of the Priority of the Cult: A Study of Amos 5:21–24 and Isaiah 1:10–17
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8880
Reviewed by Alphonso Groenewald
M. David Litwa
We Are Being Transformed: Deification in Paul’s Soteriology
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8646
Reviewed by Tony Costa
Candida Moss
The Myth of Persecution: How Early Christians Invented a Story of Martyrdom
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9158
Reviewed by N. CLayton Croy
Matthew Neujahr
Predicting the Past in the Ancient Near East: Mantic Historiography in Ancient Mesopotamia, Judah, and the Mediterranean World
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8713
Reviewed by Gerhard Karner
Rick F. Talbott
Jesus, Paul, and Power: Rhetoric, Ritual, and Metaphor in Ancient Mediterranean Christianity
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8030
Reviewed by Jan Willem van Henten
Georg A. Walser
Jeremiah: A Commentary based on Ieremias in Codex Vaticanus
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8891
Reviewed by Michael Graves
Oct 4, 2013
The Use of Rhetoric in Preaching
Ian Paul has an interesting post on the place of rhetoric in preaching. You can read the post here.
Oct 3, 2013
Chuck Smith (1927-2013)
Well-known pastor Chuck Smith has died after an extended battle with cancer. Christianity Today has a brief report here.
Oct 2, 2013
Gabriel Barkay at the Criswell College
Those in the Dallas area might be interested in coming to hear Dr. Gabriel Barkay who will be speaking in chapel at the Criswell College on Tuesday, October 8 from 11:00-12:00. If you are interested in archaeology in the Holy Land and especially Jerusalem then you don't want to miss this opportunity.
Oct 1, 2013
Free Audio Book: A Short Life of Jonathan Edwards
Christianaudio.com's free audiobook download for the month of October is A Short Life of Jonathan Edwards by George M. Marsden. Here is part of the publisher's description:"George M. Marsden — widely acclaimed for his magisterial large study of Edwards — has now written a new, shorter biography of this many-sided, remarkable man. A Short Life of Jonathan Edwards is not an abridgment of Marsden’s earlier award-winning study but is instead a completely new narrative based on his extensive research. The result is a concise, fresh retelling of the Edwards story, rich in scholarship yet compelling and readable for a much wider audience, including students."
Start your free download here
Sep 30, 2013
In One Week: Advanced Expository Preaching Workshop
The 2013 one-day Advanced Expository Preaching Workshop
is only one week away. This year's workshop will focus on the Book of Revelation.Speakers
include Drs. Paige Patterson, David Allen, Steven Smith, and
Craig Blaising. You can access the workshop schedule here.
The workshop is on Monday, October 7, 2013 in The Riley Center on the campus of Southwestern Seminary. You can still register for $25, a price that also includes lunch. Register here. For more information, please call 1.877.474.4769 or email RileyCenterCalendar@swbts.edu. Overnight guest accommodations are available. Call 817.921.8800.
The workshop is on Monday, October 7, 2013 in The Riley Center on the campus of Southwestern Seminary. You can still register for $25, a price that also includes lunch. Register here. For more information, please call 1.877.474.4769 or email RileyCenterCalendar@swbts.edu. Overnight guest accommodations are available. Call 817.921.8800.
Sep 29, 2013
Whatever Happened to Bible Study?
Dave Miller asks and addresses a great question, "Whatever Happened to Bible Study?" You can read what Dave has to say here.
Whatever Happened to Bible Study?
Sep 28, 2013
Three Pastoral Sacred Cows that Need to be Tipped
Jared Moore has written about ten pastoral and ministerial sacred cows that need to be tipped and in this article identifies his top three. The three are:
Sacred Cow #1: Entertaining Sermons
Sacred Cow #2: Relevant Sermons
Sacred Cow #3: Successful Ministry
See Jared's article for an explanation for each of these cows.
Sacred Cow #1: Entertaining Sermons
Sacred Cow #2: Relevant Sermons
Sacred Cow #3: Successful Ministry
See Jared's article for an explanation for each of these cows.
Sep 27, 2013
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.
John J. Collins
Joel, Obadiah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9152
Reviewed by Bradford A. Anderson
Avraham Faust
The Archaeology of Israelite Society in Iron Age II
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8631
Reviewed by Aren M. Maeir
Sidney Greidanus
Preaching Christ from Daniel: Foundations for Expository Sermons
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8785
Reviewed by Jordan M. Scheetz
Vahan S. Hovhanessian, ed.
The Canon of the Bible and the Apocrypha in the Churches of the East
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8951
Reviewed by Lee Martin McDonald
Aaron W. Hughes
Abrahamic Religions: On the Uses and Abuses of History
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8773
Reviewed by Walter Brueggemann
Gary A. Long
Grammatical Concepts 101 for Biblical Hebrew
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9163
Reviewed by Perry J. Oakes
Kenton L. Sparks
Sacred Word, Broken Word: Biblical Authority and the Dark Side of Scripture
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8932
Reviewed by Hector Avalos
Reviewed by Joel Stephen Williams
Chad S. Spigel
Ancient Synagogue Seating Capacities: Methodology, Analysis and Limits
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8757
Reviewed by Joshua Schwartz
Roger Stronstad
The Charismatic Theology of St. Luke: Trajectories from the Old Testament to Luke-Acts
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8836
Reviewed by Richard I. Pervo
John J. Collins
Joel, Obadiah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9152
Reviewed by Bradford A. Anderson
Avraham Faust
The Archaeology of Israelite Society in Iron Age II
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8631
Reviewed by Aren M. Maeir
Sidney Greidanus
Preaching Christ from Daniel: Foundations for Expository Sermons
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8785
Reviewed by Jordan M. Scheetz
Vahan S. Hovhanessian, ed.
The Canon of the Bible and the Apocrypha in the Churches of the East
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8951
Reviewed by Lee Martin McDonald
Aaron W. Hughes
Abrahamic Religions: On the Uses and Abuses of History
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8773
Reviewed by Walter Brueggemann
Gary A. Long
Grammatical Concepts 101 for Biblical Hebrew
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9163
Reviewed by Perry J. Oakes
Kenton L. Sparks
Sacred Word, Broken Word: Biblical Authority and the Dark Side of Scripture
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8932
Reviewed by Hector Avalos
Reviewed by Joel Stephen Williams
Chad S. Spigel
Ancient Synagogue Seating Capacities: Methodology, Analysis and Limits
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8757
Reviewed by Joshua Schwartz
Roger Stronstad
The Charismatic Theology of St. Luke: Trajectories from the Old Testament to Luke-Acts
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8836
Reviewed by Richard I. Pervo
Sep 26, 2013
The Value of Commentaries
Tom Finley has a good basic explanation of the value of commentaries for those seeking to study the Bible here.
Sep 25, 2013
Witherington on Preaching
Ben Witherington provides some interesting observations related to what the New Testament does and does not state about preaching here.
Sep 24, 2013
IVP Academic: Pauline Studies Sale
IVP Academic is celebrating the release of Brian Rosner’s Paul and the Law by offering a 50% off sale through Friday, September 27 on their website, including print and ebooks (if available): Use the coupon code 405-24 to get your discount at check-out.
Paul and the Law by Brian Rosner
Paul and Judaism Revisited by Preston Sprinkle
A Week in the Life of Corinth by Ben Witherington III
Introducing Paul by Michael F. Bird
Spirituality According to Paul by Rodney Reeves
The Living Paul by Anthony Thistleton
Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes by Kenneth Bailey
Paul the Missionary by Eckhard Schnabel
Paul and the Law by Brian Rosner
Paul and Judaism Revisited by Preston Sprinkle
A Week in the Life of Corinth by Ben Witherington III
Introducing Paul by Michael F. Bird
Spirituality According to Paul by Rodney Reeves
The Living Paul by Anthony Thistleton
Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes by Kenneth Bailey
Paul the Missionary by Eckhard Schnabel
Completion of SBL Fonts
I know that not all of my readers are members of the Society of Biblical Literature. So some may not have received the news that regarding the completion of SBL fonts project. You do not have to be an SBL member that to use the fonts. In any case, here is a portion of the SBL announcement.
"The Society of Biblical Literature is pleased to announce the newest font in the SBL fonts series, SBL BibLit. This font contains Latin, Greek, and Hebrew characters, including the characters suitable for the transliteration of Ancient Near Eastern and Mediterranean languages. When combined with appropriate software keyboards, SBL BibLit allows for the use of one font for all biblical languages. This release is of a regular weight only; italic and bold weights will not be released at this time.
"In addition to the release of the SBL BibLit font, SBL is also making available software keyboards for both Windows and Macintosh OS X operating systems that give easier access to the diacritics necessary for the transliteration of Ancient Near Eastern and Mediterranean languages. These keyboards, along with the font file and the previously-released SBL fonts, can be downloaded from the SBL website. Instructions for their installation and use are also available in the updated Biblical Fonts FAQ, including platform-specific instructions for Windows 7, Windows 8, and Macintosh OS X.
"Joining SBL Hebrew and SBL Greek, SBL BibLit is the third font of the SBL font series. All of these fonts were commissioned by the Society of Biblical Literature to assist in the society's mission to foster biblical scholarship. John Hudson of Tiro Typeworks designed each font, ensuring that each one represented the cutting edge of font technology, maintained full Unicode compatibility, and that each would be as beneficial as possible to scholars in biblical studies and related disciplines. SBL is pleased to present this font as the final installment and the culmination of the initial font series."
"The Society of Biblical Literature is pleased to announce the newest font in the SBL fonts series, SBL BibLit. This font contains Latin, Greek, and Hebrew characters, including the characters suitable for the transliteration of Ancient Near Eastern and Mediterranean languages. When combined with appropriate software keyboards, SBL BibLit allows for the use of one font for all biblical languages. This release is of a regular weight only; italic and bold weights will not be released at this time.
"In addition to the release of the SBL BibLit font, SBL is also making available software keyboards for both Windows and Macintosh OS X operating systems that give easier access to the diacritics necessary for the transliteration of Ancient Near Eastern and Mediterranean languages. These keyboards, along with the font file and the previously-released SBL fonts, can be downloaded from the SBL website. Instructions for their installation and use are also available in the updated Biblical Fonts FAQ, including platform-specific instructions for Windows 7, Windows 8, and Macintosh OS X.
"Joining SBL Hebrew and SBL Greek, SBL BibLit is the third font of the SBL font series. All of these fonts were commissioned by the Society of Biblical Literature to assist in the society's mission to foster biblical scholarship. John Hudson of Tiro Typeworks designed each font, ensuring that each one represented the cutting edge of font technology, maintained full Unicode compatibility, and that each would be as beneficial as possible to scholars in biblical studies and related disciplines. SBL is pleased to present this font as the final installment and the culmination of the initial font series."
Sep 23, 2013
Ph.D.'s in Peril?
I am thankful to the Lord for the opportunity to pursue and complete a Ph.D. But David Fitch raises some very practical considerations and concerns here that future students need to be aware of.
Sep 21, 2013
Pauline Authorship of Hebrews
Although I am not an advocate of the Pauline authorship of Hebrews, I do believe that critics of this view are often too dismissive. So I am thankful that a new blog has been set up for David Alan Black's new book, The Authorship of Hebrews. The book challenges readers to reconsider the evidence for Pauline authorship. You can access the blog here.HT: Henry Neufeld
Sep 20, 2013
Interview with Jack Lundbom
Sep 19, 2013
Eckhard Schnabel's Educational Advice
In the following video, Eckhard Schnabel provides some good advice to prospective ministerial students. Although, I would typically recommend a Th.M. rather than M.Div.
HT: Koinonia Blog
HT: Koinonia Blog
Eckhard Schnabel
Eckhard Schnabel
Sep 18, 2013
Chester Beatty Papyri at Center for the Study of New Testament Manuscripts
Those interested in New Testament textual-criticism will be excited to know that the Center for the Study of New Testament Manuscripts has been allowed to photograph and make available online the Chester Beatty Papyri collection. You can read about it here at the CSNTM website.
Sep 17, 2013
Is Religion the #1 Cause of War?
Robin Schumacher has an interesting article that seems to undermine the often asserted idea that religion is the primary cause for war. See Schumacher's article here.
HT: Rob Bradshaw
HT: Rob Bradshaw
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