The latest issue of Review of Biblical Literature is out. Reviews can be accessed by clicking the links below.
Itzhak Benyamini
Narcissist Universalism: A Psychoanalytic Reading of Paul’s Epistles
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9210
Reviewed by Kari Syreeni
Wim M. de Bruin
Isaiah 1–12 as Written and Read in Antiquity
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9336
Reviewed by Ibolya Balla
Trevor J. Burke and Brian S. Rosner, eds.
Paul as Missionary: Identity, Activity, Theology, and Practice
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8162
Reviewed by Ronald R. Clark
J. Patout Burns Jr.
Romans: Interpreted by Early Christian Commentators
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8926
Reviewed by Daniel Patte
Reviewed by Adam Ployd
Beverly Roberts Gaventa, ed.
Apocalyptic Paul: Cosmos and Anthropos in Romans 5–8
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9455
Reviewed by Timothy Gombis
Barbara Green
Jeremiah and God’s Plans of Well-Being
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9526
Reviewed by Lissa M. Wray Beal
Richard H. Hiers
Women’s Rights and the Bible: Implications for Christian Ethics and Social Policy
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8975
Reviewed by L. Juliana Claassens
William S. Kurz
Acts of the Apostles
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9676
Reviewed by Thomas E. Phillips
Reviewed by Troy M. Troftgruben
A. James Murphy
Kids and Kingdom: The Precarious Presence of Children in the Synoptic Gospels
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9502
Reviewed by Marianne Blickenstaff
Ruth Poser
Das Ezechielbuch als Trauma-Literatur
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9785
Reviewed by Michael S. Moore
Robert M. Price
The Amazing Colossal Apostle: The Search for the Historical Paul
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8790
Reviewed by Corneliu Constantineanu
Reviewed by Glenn E. Snyder
Ephraim Stern
The Material Culture of the Northern Sea Peoples in Israel
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9578
Reviewed by Raz Kletter
Apr 3, 2015
Review of Acts by Guy Prentiss Waters
Guy Prentiss Waters, Acts, EP Study Commentary (Holywell: EP Books, 2015).
Students of the Book of Acts have many options related to commentaries. Indeed, one is almost overwhelmed by the plethora of choices and new works continue to be added to the options. One is the volume presently under consideration. It is written by Guy Prentiss Waters, a Professor of New Testament at Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, MS.
The commentary itself falls in the middle of a spectrum that stretches from the devotional end to the technical end. At 614 pages, it is definitely more than a devotional commentary although there are devotional-type thoughts in the “application” sections. But this is also not a technical commentary since most technical issues are not discussed, but rather, the interested reader is referred to other resources through the copious footnotes. These footnotes provide ample evidence that the author is familiar with the standard commentaries and that his explanations have been informed by them. All this is important to state so that this work can be evaluated for what it is rather than what it is not.
As a mid-range commentary, there is a brief but serviceable introduction that will resonate with most Evangelicals. He holds to Lukan authorship, a date of writing ranging from AD 61–100, and affirms the book’s historical reliability. The outline is simple but I am not sure that it adequately captures the major movements in the book. In the commentary proper, Waters does a nice job in providing a general explanation. His writing is clear and succinct. Greek references are sparse and always transliterated. Waters generally reaches a typically Reformed Evangelical conclusions in regard to some of the debated texts. For example, in Acts 2 he apparently takes a cessationist approach to tongues and rejects baptismal regeneration. Each outline section concludes with an application. This is commendable since many preachers, teachers, and readers need some help in moving from text to life, especially in narrative literature. The “applications” here are generally good but in many cases, the applications are really principles rather than applications. So it might be better to call these sections, “Principles and Applications.” All-in-all there is much to commend in this commentary. However, a bibliography (or at least a work cited) had been included since those who would likely benefit most from this work are also those less likely to be familiar with the broader literature.
In sum, Waters’s commentary meets a need for someone looking for an in-between resource. This volume provides an adequate, conservative, and helpful examination of Acts and its implications for Christians today.
Much thanks to EP Books for providing the copy used in this unbiased review.
Students of the Book of Acts have many options related to commentaries. Indeed, one is almost overwhelmed by the plethora of choices and new works continue to be added to the options. One is the volume presently under consideration. It is written by Guy Prentiss Waters, a Professor of New Testament at Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, MS.
As a mid-range commentary, there is a brief but serviceable introduction that will resonate with most Evangelicals. He holds to Lukan authorship, a date of writing ranging from AD 61–100, and affirms the book’s historical reliability. The outline is simple but I am not sure that it adequately captures the major movements in the book. In the commentary proper, Waters does a nice job in providing a general explanation. His writing is clear and succinct. Greek references are sparse and always transliterated. Waters generally reaches a typically Reformed Evangelical conclusions in regard to some of the debated texts. For example, in Acts 2 he apparently takes a cessationist approach to tongues and rejects baptismal regeneration. Each outline section concludes with an application. This is commendable since many preachers, teachers, and readers need some help in moving from text to life, especially in narrative literature. The “applications” here are generally good but in many cases, the applications are really principles rather than applications. So it might be better to call these sections, “Principles and Applications.” All-in-all there is much to commend in this commentary. However, a bibliography (or at least a work cited) had been included since those who would likely benefit most from this work are also those less likely to be familiar with the broader literature.
In sum, Waters’s commentary meets a need for someone looking for an in-between resource. This volume provides an adequate, conservative, and helpful examination of Acts and its implications for Christians today.
Much thanks to EP Books for providing the copy used in this unbiased review.
Apr 2, 2015
Gordon Fee Videos
Matthew Montinini has posted three videos here of a younger Gordon Fee teaching on 1 Corinthians.
Apr 1, 2015
Free Logos Book for April: Isaiah by Bevard Childs
The free Logos
Book for April is Brevard Child’s commentary on Isaiah in the Old Testament Library series. You can also purchase Jeremiah
in the same series for .99 cents. While you are at it, you can enter to
win 7 volumes from the OTL series. Go the Logos' Free Book of Month page here to enter and download your free book today!
Mar 30, 2015
Picturing the Triumphal Entry in a Sermon
Yesterday I preached on the Triumphal Entry from Matthew 21:1–11. Among other things in my PowerPoint, I was able to use several photographs from Todd Bolen’s excellent Pictorial Library of Bible Lands (PLBL). I thought I might share a few thoughts on how I used this resource in preaching.
First, I wanted to show an overview of the area mentioned in Matthew 21:1: “Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives.” Although, Matthew does not mention Bethany as part of the story, I wanted to include it as well since it is noted in both Mark and Luke (Mark 11:1; Luke 19:29). I found what I was looking for in the PLBL Volume on Jerusalem, in particular in the PowerPoint on the Mount of Olives (slide 38). This slide helpfully labels a number of locations. I removed all the labels except for Bethany, Bethphage, and the Dome of the Rock (representing Jerusalem since the others labels were not pertinent to the message. I also changed the labeling slightly to make it easier to see. I then took a photo of the church in Bethphage from volume 17: Cultural Images of the Holy Land in the Christian Holidays-Palm Sunday folder and used it an inset to the overview slide. Here are the before and after slides.
After talking about Matthew 21:1–3, I also used a PLBL photo of a donkey in Bethphage from the Mount of Olives folder in the Jerusalem volume. In my message, I noted that although this was not the Triumphal Entry donkey, I would like to think that maybe it was its great, great, great, great ancestor!
In sum, these photos were not essential for the message but I do think that they helped people to better visualize the scene in the text. They also added a level of realism that the Triumphal Entry occurred in a real place and not in some Neverland. Next time you are preaching (especially from a narrative) and you plan to use a presentation, then you might want to take a look at the Pictorial Library of Bible Lands. You might find exactly what you are looking for.
First, I wanted to show an overview of the area mentioned in Matthew 21:1: “Now when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage, to the Mount of Olives.” Although, Matthew does not mention Bethany as part of the story, I wanted to include it as well since it is noted in both Mark and Luke (Mark 11:1; Luke 19:29). I found what I was looking for in the PLBL Volume on Jerusalem, in particular in the PowerPoint on the Mount of Olives (slide 38). This slide helpfully labels a number of locations. I removed all the labels except for Bethany, Bethphage, and the Dome of the Rock (representing Jerusalem since the others labels were not pertinent to the message. I also changed the labeling slightly to make it easier to see. I then took a photo of the church in Bethphage from volume 17: Cultural Images of the Holy Land in the Christian Holidays-Palm Sunday folder and used it an inset to the overview slide. Here are the before and after slides.
In sum, these photos were not essential for the message but I do think that they helped people to better visualize the scene in the text. They also added a level of realism that the Triumphal Entry occurred in a real place and not in some Neverland. Next time you are preaching (especially from a narrative) and you plan to use a presentation, then you might want to take a look at the Pictorial Library of Bible Lands. You might find exactly what you are looking for.
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.
Miryam T. Brand
Evil Within and Without: The Source of Sin and Its Nature as Portrayed in Second Temple Literature
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9294
Reviewed by Rodney A. Werline
Ronald E. Clements
Jerusalem and the Nations: Studies in the Book of Isaiah
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8960
Reviewed by Bo H. Lim
John A. Cook and Robert D. Holmstedt
Beginning Biblical Hebrew: A Grammar and Illustrated Reader
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9382
Reviewed by Bálint Károly Zabán
Jason von Ehrenkrook
Sculpting Idolatry in Flavian Rome: (An)Iconic Rhetoric in the Writings of Flavius Josephus
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8370
Reviewed by Patrick McCullough
David A. Fiensy and Ralph K. Hawkins, eds.
The Galilean Economy in the Time of Jesus
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9307
Reviewed by Ulrich Busse
Reviewed by Sarah E. Rollens
André Gagné and Jean-François Racine, eds.
En marge du canon: Études sur les écrits apocryphes juifs et chrétiens
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8981
Reviewed by Edmon L. Gallagher
Jonathan S. Greer
Dinner at Dan: Biblical and Archaeological Evidence for Sacred Feasts at Iron Age II Tel Dan and Their Significance
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9485
Reviewed by Aren M. Maeir
Helen R. Jacobus, Anne Katrine de Hemmer Gudme, and Philippe Guillaume, eds.
Studies on Magic and Divination in the Biblical World
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9671
Reviewed by Craig A. Evans
David Marcus
Scribal Wit: Aramaic Mnemonics in the Leningrad Codex
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9670
Reviewed by Christopher Dost
Susan Marks
First Came Marriage: The Rabbinic Appropriation of Early Jewish Wedding Ritual
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9142
Reviewed by Joshua Schwartz
David R. Nienhuis and Robert W. Wall
Reading the Epistles of James, Peter, John and Jude as Scripture: The Shaping and Shape of a Canonical Collection
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9632
Reviewed by John Kloppenborg
John Painter and David A. deSilva
James and Jude
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8804
Reviewed by Darian Lockett
Luis Sánchez Navarro
Escudriñar las Escrituras: Verbum Domini y la interpretación bíblica
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8626
Reviewed by Jeffrey L. Morrow
C. S. Song
In the Beginning Were Stories, Not Texts: Story Theology
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8841
Reviewed by Michelle J. Morris
Miryam T. Brand
Evil Within and Without: The Source of Sin and Its Nature as Portrayed in Second Temple Literature
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9294
Reviewed by Rodney A. Werline
Ronald E. Clements
Jerusalem and the Nations: Studies in the Book of Isaiah
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8960
Reviewed by Bo H. Lim
John A. Cook and Robert D. Holmstedt
Beginning Biblical Hebrew: A Grammar and Illustrated Reader
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9382
Reviewed by Bálint Károly Zabán
Jason von Ehrenkrook
Sculpting Idolatry in Flavian Rome: (An)Iconic Rhetoric in the Writings of Flavius Josephus
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8370
Reviewed by Patrick McCullough
David A. Fiensy and Ralph K. Hawkins, eds.
The Galilean Economy in the Time of Jesus
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9307
Reviewed by Ulrich Busse
Reviewed by Sarah E. Rollens
André Gagné and Jean-François Racine, eds.
En marge du canon: Études sur les écrits apocryphes juifs et chrétiens
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8981
Reviewed by Edmon L. Gallagher
Jonathan S. Greer
Dinner at Dan: Biblical and Archaeological Evidence for Sacred Feasts at Iron Age II Tel Dan and Their Significance
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9485
Reviewed by Aren M. Maeir
Helen R. Jacobus, Anne Katrine de Hemmer Gudme, and Philippe Guillaume, eds.
Studies on Magic and Divination in the Biblical World
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9671
Reviewed by Craig A. Evans
David Marcus
Scribal Wit: Aramaic Mnemonics in the Leningrad Codex
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9670
Reviewed by Christopher Dost
Susan Marks
First Came Marriage: The Rabbinic Appropriation of Early Jewish Wedding Ritual
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9142
Reviewed by Joshua Schwartz
David R. Nienhuis and Robert W. Wall
Reading the Epistles of James, Peter, John and Jude as Scripture: The Shaping and Shape of a Canonical Collection
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9632
Reviewed by John Kloppenborg
John Painter and David A. deSilva
James and Jude
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8804
Reviewed by Darian Lockett
Luis Sánchez Navarro
Escudriñar las Escrituras: Verbum Domini y la interpretación bíblica
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8626
Reviewed by Jeffrey L. Morrow
C. S. Song
In the Beginning Were Stories, Not Texts: Story Theology
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8841
Reviewed by Michelle J. Morris
Mar 29, 2015
Note Taking During Sermons?
Jared Wilson has some interesting thoughts here on whether to encourage or discourage note-taking during sermons. To be honest, I have not really done either one and have left it to my hearers to decide what they want to do,
Mar 27, 2015
The Problem of Footnotes in a Digital Age
HistoryToday has an interesting article about the problem of footnotes related especially to online documents using permalinks here. According to the article,
Digital library researchers at Los Alamos National Laboratory found in a survey of three and a half million scholarly articles from scientific journals between 1997 and 2012 that one in five links provided in the footnotes suffered from ‘reference rot.’ Another survey, this time of law and policy publications, revealed that after six years nearly half of URLs cited had become inaccessible.
An American study of two leading history journals found that in articles published seven years earlier, 38 percent of web citations were dead.
A Defense of a Baptistic View of Baptism
David Allen has an extensive twelve-part series of posts on water baptism defending a Baptistic perspective. "These articles are a slightly revised version of my chapter “Dipped for Dead: The Proper Mode of Baptism,” in Restoring Integrity in Baptist Churches, Thomas White, Jason Duesing, Malcolm Yarnell, eds., (Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2008), 81-106. Here are the individual titles with links.
- Baptism: Must It Be by Immersion? (Part 1)
- “If the Trumpet Gives an Uncertain Sound”: Baptists Waffle on Baptism (Part 2)
- Baptists Vs. Baby Baptizers (Part 3)
- Does “Baptism” Always Mean “Immersion”? – Baptists and Baptism – (Part 4)
- Meaning and Use of Baptizō in the New Testament – Baptism and Baptists (Part 5)
- Baptismal Theology from Greek Prepositions – Baptism and Baptists (Part 6)
- The Misrepresentation of “BAPTIDZO”: Baptism and Baptists (Part 7)
- Baptism & Baptists –“What did Aquinas, Luther, Calvin, & Wesley Say?” (Part 8)
- How Luther and Calvin Led the Way for Sprinkling Instead of Immersion in Baptism – Baptism and Baptists (Part 9)
- Archaeological Evidence for Baptism by Immersion – Baptists & Baptism Part (10)
- Baptism as Immersion: Theological Evidence – Baptism & Baptists (Part 11)
- Conclusion – Baptism and Baptists (Part 12)
Mar 26, 2015
How to Read the Bible Like a Seminary Professor: An Interview with Dr. Mark Yarbrough
We are excited to have Dr. Mark Yarbrough join us to talk about his new book, How to Read the Bible Like a Seminary Professor: A Practical and Entertaining Exploration of the World’s Most Famous Book. Dr. Yarbrough is Vice President for Academic Affairs, Academic Dean, Associate Professor of Bible Exposition at Dallas Theological Seminary. He also serves on the Executive Committee of the elder board and as part of the pastoral preaching team at Centerpoint Church in Mesquite, TX.
1. As one who serves in both the academic world and in the local church, how do you see this book bridging the gap that seems to exist between these worlds?
I’m privileged to engage both worlds. I think you are correct—there is a perceived gap between the academic world and the local church. Sometimes folks in the local church think that Bible study is best left to the “professionals” or those who have “academic” training. And sometimes those in the academy forget that we need to pass along the training that we have been so abundantly provided.
It’s best for us to remember that we are all in this together. God’s Word is for all people, in all places, at all times. My prayer is that a book like this will make people run to the Word and spend time in it. Does it provide a sneak peak into the Seminary classroom? You bet! My hope is that when people do, they realize it is not as intimidating as they might think. Seminary students are simply on a quest to know God’s word more intimately. I hope that is the desire of every committed disciple of Christ.
2. Many have noted that we live in an increasingly biblically illiterate age. How might this work help to address that problem, especially in our churches?
We do live in an increasingly biblically illiterate age. No doubt about it. That’s a true phenomenon because we are moving further into our post-Christian culture. More and more people know less and less about the Bible. However, there is another trend that scares me more: the church is lacking in biblical literacy. That’s a different context. Let me make a distinction here. Biblical illiteracy is generally a term that is used in reference to a culture or societies’ knowledge of the Bible. American culture (Christians and non-Christians alike), at one time, had a good working understanding of the Bible. The foundation of our nation—laws, ethics, codes, are established on biblical principles. And at one time everyone knew it. But that’s not the case anymore – hence the discussion of “biblical illiteracy.” However, as I said, there is a much more alarming discussion – and that is the lack of biblical literacy in the church. In other words, there is an alarming percentage of individuals who are regular church attending, professing “believers” who do not know the basics of the faith and God’s grand story as presented in the Bible.
I certainly pray that this book will help address that problem. That’s why there is a three-fold division in the book: Know it! Work it! Live it! Let me give a quick overview.
Know it!
In this section, we walk through two primary things: 1) an overview of the Bible, and 2) and an overview of basic Bible doctrine. Both areas are very succinct, but are given in an attempt to provide a framework for the basics of the faith. It is important for every believer to know the basic structure of the Bible and its foundational message. Let’s face it: the Bible can be intimidating. After all, God wrote it! But I have found that when people have a basic understanding of the 66 books…it empowers them to be a better student of the Bible as a whole. The second overview—Bible doctrine—is just as important. There are things that all believers, at all times, have always believed. We review those things and state their significance to our faith.
Work it!
This section deals with how to study the Bible. We look at a variety of things such as how to be good readers and observers. We also look at proper methods for “interpretation.” In academic circles, this is called hermeneutics—and we simply don’t talk about it enough. Our culture is growing increasingly comfortable with a hermeneutical approach of self-determined, subjective interpretation. In that model, anything can mean whatever the “interpreter” wants it to mean. So while this portion of the book gets a little more academic, I show the reader why “interpretation” matters. In that regard it is very practical. But we also look at other areas in this portion of the book—such as historical and cultural backgrounds. I’m on a mission to convince everyone that it is the Lord’s will for them to go to Israel (wink). In fact, that’s what one of the chapters is titled. We also look at how to study various types of Scripture such as narrative, poetry, prophecy, and letters. This second section deals with us as readers, or students, of the text. It reminds us how we should “Work” with the biblical text in order to better understand it.
Live it!
The final section of the book is highly practical. The greatest temptation of every believer is to keep God’s word theoretical. While there are things we are supposed to know, and there are approaches to understanding that we must have . . . if we keep knowledge as facts and figures and do not embrace the life change of which that knowledge directs—we’ve simply missed the boat. Howard Hendricks once phrased it this way: “To know and not do is to not know at all.” He is spot on, and this portion of the book drives the reader to embrace the life change that God intends when we interact with His Word. Obviously this only occurs when one is in submission to the Holy Spirit.
On another note, I want to encourage all of us who teach and lead in the local church to do a couple of things. First teach regularly some type of “Basic Beliefs” course. I know it sounds so academic-ish when I say “course,” but I think you know what I mean. In some methodical way we need to be teaching believers what it means to be a Christian (basic doctrine/convictions) and the basic message of the Bible. This will help us address the declining biblical literacy issue rampant in our local churches. Second, we need to teach people how to study the Bible. Praise the Lord for faithful teaching churches. I have thousands of friends who are faithful expositors every Sunday. They preach through books of the Bible and give faithful lessons in a local church context. That’s great and we should never stop doing that. But we need to go one step further. We need to teach people how to study the word themselves. I’m afraid it is possible that we’ve spoon fed them a little too much, and have failed to teach believers to eat for themselves. Obviously that is not true of everyone, but we need to sound the alarm and get disciples reading and studying the Word for themselves. That’s why every local church needs to be teaching people the story of Scripture and Bible study methods.
3. Although this book is not specifically aimed at preachers, how could a preacher benefit from reading this book?
The content of the book will serve as a great reminder for any pastor. We all need to remember the basics and be challenged in our study practices. The text also has some real meat in it and will serve as sermon ideas. I have one extended portion over narrative literature that uses the book of Jonah as a case study. That alone is enough information for about 12 sermons!
4. Which chapter did you find the most challenging to write and why?
Chapter 18 (“Dude I’m Sorry, I’ll Try to Do a Better Job”) and Chapter 19 (“Contaminated”) were both challenging and convicting. This is the portion of the book where I challenge us to live out our faith—the ultimate goal of Bible study. Although I record some stories I traditionally tell when covering this material, I was forced to reflect upon the human tendency to think we are not that bad off. Even believers can fall into that trap of thinking we are “a little better” than our unbelieving neighbors. Bottom line: arrogance reigns in the human heart, and even redeemed Christ-followers can fall into the trap of self-righteous thinking. We are nothing without Him, and we need to remember that daily. When we realize how desperately we need Him, then we remember that we need to be fed by Him through His Word.
5. Who are some of the people that most influenced your approach to reading the Bible and how did they help you?
Wow. It’s hard to answer that question. I stand on the shoulders of giants—some whom you know, and some whom you do not. I’ve had the privilege of growing up in a great heritage of faith. My father and mother influenced me tremendously by living out the Christian life in front of me. They are both great students of the Word, so I was first influenced there. And they both received that model from their parents. Both sets of my grandparents were godly people who loved the Lord and His Word. Beyond that, I have been blessed with some longtime mentors in my life. I wrote about one of them early in the book. His name is Chuck Gilbert, and he continues to serve as a small-town pastor in Oklahoma. My Bible college professors also played an important part of my life and challenged me to cherish the Word. Of course, like many individuals, I have been formed by some long-time heroes of the faith at Dallas Theological Seminary. Howard Hendricks (a.k.a. “Prof”) made an indelible impact on me as a student and teacher. Mark Bailey (president of DTS) has also been a model to me as a teacher. His style of both scholar and pastor in the classroom is one I desire to emulate.
Many of my teachers have taught through good humor and it helped me learn, so I’ve tried to incorporate that into the book. It’s not entertainment for the sake of entertainment, but entertainment with a purpose that is undergirded with joy. I’ve seen that in the lives of those who have molded me, and by the grace of God, if the Lord tarries (and I pray He does not!), I will do that for the next generation.
Those interested in obtaining a copy of How to Read the Bible Like a Seminary Professor can use this link. The book is also available on hundreds of Christian websites and Christian bookstores such as Mardel and LifeWay.
I’m privileged to engage both worlds. I think you are correct—there is a perceived gap between the academic world and the local church. Sometimes folks in the local church think that Bible study is best left to the “professionals” or those who have “academic” training. And sometimes those in the academy forget that we need to pass along the training that we have been so abundantly provided.
It’s best for us to remember that we are all in this together. God’s Word is for all people, in all places, at all times. My prayer is that a book like this will make people run to the Word and spend time in it. Does it provide a sneak peak into the Seminary classroom? You bet! My hope is that when people do, they realize it is not as intimidating as they might think. Seminary students are simply on a quest to know God’s word more intimately. I hope that is the desire of every committed disciple of Christ.
2. Many have noted that we live in an increasingly biblically illiterate age. How might this work help to address that problem, especially in our churches?
We do live in an increasingly biblically illiterate age. No doubt about it. That’s a true phenomenon because we are moving further into our post-Christian culture. More and more people know less and less about the Bible. However, there is another trend that scares me more: the church is lacking in biblical literacy. That’s a different context. Let me make a distinction here. Biblical illiteracy is generally a term that is used in reference to a culture or societies’ knowledge of the Bible. American culture (Christians and non-Christians alike), at one time, had a good working understanding of the Bible. The foundation of our nation—laws, ethics, codes, are established on biblical principles. And at one time everyone knew it. But that’s not the case anymore – hence the discussion of “biblical illiteracy.” However, as I said, there is a much more alarming discussion – and that is the lack of biblical literacy in the church. In other words, there is an alarming percentage of individuals who are regular church attending, professing “believers” who do not know the basics of the faith and God’s grand story as presented in the Bible.
I certainly pray that this book will help address that problem. That’s why there is a three-fold division in the book: Know it! Work it! Live it! Let me give a quick overview.
Know it!
In this section, we walk through two primary things: 1) an overview of the Bible, and 2) and an overview of basic Bible doctrine. Both areas are very succinct, but are given in an attempt to provide a framework for the basics of the faith. It is important for every believer to know the basic structure of the Bible and its foundational message. Let’s face it: the Bible can be intimidating. After all, God wrote it! But I have found that when people have a basic understanding of the 66 books…it empowers them to be a better student of the Bible as a whole. The second overview—Bible doctrine—is just as important. There are things that all believers, at all times, have always believed. We review those things and state their significance to our faith.
Work it!
This section deals with how to study the Bible. We look at a variety of things such as how to be good readers and observers. We also look at proper methods for “interpretation.” In academic circles, this is called hermeneutics—and we simply don’t talk about it enough. Our culture is growing increasingly comfortable with a hermeneutical approach of self-determined, subjective interpretation. In that model, anything can mean whatever the “interpreter” wants it to mean. So while this portion of the book gets a little more academic, I show the reader why “interpretation” matters. In that regard it is very practical. But we also look at other areas in this portion of the book—such as historical and cultural backgrounds. I’m on a mission to convince everyone that it is the Lord’s will for them to go to Israel (wink). In fact, that’s what one of the chapters is titled. We also look at how to study various types of Scripture such as narrative, poetry, prophecy, and letters. This second section deals with us as readers, or students, of the text. It reminds us how we should “Work” with the biblical text in order to better understand it.
Live it!
The final section of the book is highly practical. The greatest temptation of every believer is to keep God’s word theoretical. While there are things we are supposed to know, and there are approaches to understanding that we must have . . . if we keep knowledge as facts and figures and do not embrace the life change of which that knowledge directs—we’ve simply missed the boat. Howard Hendricks once phrased it this way: “To know and not do is to not know at all.” He is spot on, and this portion of the book drives the reader to embrace the life change that God intends when we interact with His Word. Obviously this only occurs when one is in submission to the Holy Spirit.
On another note, I want to encourage all of us who teach and lead in the local church to do a couple of things. First teach regularly some type of “Basic Beliefs” course. I know it sounds so academic-ish when I say “course,” but I think you know what I mean. In some methodical way we need to be teaching believers what it means to be a Christian (basic doctrine/convictions) and the basic message of the Bible. This will help us address the declining biblical literacy issue rampant in our local churches. Second, we need to teach people how to study the Bible. Praise the Lord for faithful teaching churches. I have thousands of friends who are faithful expositors every Sunday. They preach through books of the Bible and give faithful lessons in a local church context. That’s great and we should never stop doing that. But we need to go one step further. We need to teach people how to study the word themselves. I’m afraid it is possible that we’ve spoon fed them a little too much, and have failed to teach believers to eat for themselves. Obviously that is not true of everyone, but we need to sound the alarm and get disciples reading and studying the Word for themselves. That’s why every local church needs to be teaching people the story of Scripture and Bible study methods.
3. Although this book is not specifically aimed at preachers, how could a preacher benefit from reading this book?
The content of the book will serve as a great reminder for any pastor. We all need to remember the basics and be challenged in our study practices. The text also has some real meat in it and will serve as sermon ideas. I have one extended portion over narrative literature that uses the book of Jonah as a case study. That alone is enough information for about 12 sermons!
4. Which chapter did you find the most challenging to write and why?
Chapter 18 (“Dude I’m Sorry, I’ll Try to Do a Better Job”) and Chapter 19 (“Contaminated”) were both challenging and convicting. This is the portion of the book where I challenge us to live out our faith—the ultimate goal of Bible study. Although I record some stories I traditionally tell when covering this material, I was forced to reflect upon the human tendency to think we are not that bad off. Even believers can fall into that trap of thinking we are “a little better” than our unbelieving neighbors. Bottom line: arrogance reigns in the human heart, and even redeemed Christ-followers can fall into the trap of self-righteous thinking. We are nothing without Him, and we need to remember that daily. When we realize how desperately we need Him, then we remember that we need to be fed by Him through His Word.
5. Who are some of the people that most influenced your approach to reading the Bible and how did they help you?
Wow. It’s hard to answer that question. I stand on the shoulders of giants—some whom you know, and some whom you do not. I’ve had the privilege of growing up in a great heritage of faith. My father and mother influenced me tremendously by living out the Christian life in front of me. They are both great students of the Word, so I was first influenced there. And they both received that model from their parents. Both sets of my grandparents were godly people who loved the Lord and His Word. Beyond that, I have been blessed with some longtime mentors in my life. I wrote about one of them early in the book. His name is Chuck Gilbert, and he continues to serve as a small-town pastor in Oklahoma. My Bible college professors also played an important part of my life and challenged me to cherish the Word. Of course, like many individuals, I have been formed by some long-time heroes of the faith at Dallas Theological Seminary. Howard Hendricks (a.k.a. “Prof”) made an indelible impact on me as a student and teacher. Mark Bailey (president of DTS) has also been a model to me as a teacher. His style of both scholar and pastor in the classroom is one I desire to emulate.
Many of my teachers have taught through good humor and it helped me learn, so I’ve tried to incorporate that into the book. It’s not entertainment for the sake of entertainment, but entertainment with a purpose that is undergirded with joy. I’ve seen that in the lives of those who have molded me, and by the grace of God, if the Lord tarries (and I pray He does not!), I will do that for the next generation.
Those interested in obtaining a copy of How to Read the Bible Like a Seminary Professor can use this link. The book is also available on hundreds of Christian websites and Christian bookstores such as Mardel and LifeWay.
Mar 25, 2015
Five Verses People Think Are in the Bible
Good article here on "5 Verses You Thought Were in the Bible… But Aren't." Here are the faux verses but do read the article for the explanation.
1. "God helps those who help themselves.” 1 Americanians 17:76
2. "This, too, shall pass.” Wisdomonius 4:11
3. “Yea, verily, God wants you to be happy.” Oprah 1:1
4. “If you work hard enough, you’ll be successful.” 2 Jobs 4:04
5. “Just follow your heart and believe, and you can do anything.” Song of Disney 20:15
1. "God helps those who help themselves.” 1 Americanians 17:76
2. "This, too, shall pass.” Wisdomonius 4:11
3. “Yea, verily, God wants you to be happy.” Oprah 1:1
4. “If you work hard enough, you’ll be successful.” 2 Jobs 4:04
5. “Just follow your heart and believe, and you can do anything.” Song of Disney 20:15
Mar 24, 2015
Pointers for Seminary Trained Preachers
Peter Mead has ten excellent pointers for seminary trained preachers here.
Mar 23, 2015
The Unlisted Great-Grandmothers of Jesus' Genealogy in Matthew
Claude Mariottini has an interesting post here discussing a few of the great-grandmothers of Jesus that Matthew did not include in his genealogy.
Mar 22, 2015
A Comment on 1 John 2:4
David Allen has a nice comment on 1 John 2:4 here. This post shows the value of reading older works and then reframing those thoughts in contemporary garb.
Mar 21, 2015
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.
Alex Damm
Ancient Rhetoric and the Synoptic Problem: Clarifying Markan Priority
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9291
Reviewed by C. Clifton Black
Michael Fieger, Jutta Krispenz, and Jörg Lanckau, eds.
Wörterbuch alttestamentlicher Motive
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9551
Reviewed by Trent Butler
John Harrison and James D. Dvorak, eds.
The New Testament Church: The Challenge of Developing Ecclesiologies
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8976
Reviewed by Robert Matthew Calhoun
Knut Martin Heim
Poetic Imagination in Proverbs: Variant Repetitions and the Nature of Poetry
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9316
Reviewed by Bálint Károly Zabán
Rüdiger Jungbluth
Im Himmel und auf Erden: Dimensionen von Königsherrschaft im Alten Testament
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8355
Reviewed by Sven Petry
Ian Christopher Levy, Philip D. W. Krey, and Thomas Ryan, eds.
The Letter to the Romans
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9308
Reviewed by Anders Runesson
Herbert Marks, ed.
The English Bible, King James Version: The Old Testament
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8523
Reviewed by David G. Burke
Francis J. Moloney, SDB
Love in the Gospel of John: An Exegetical, Theological, and Literary Study
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9423
Reviewed by Catrin H. Williams
JoAnn Scurlock and Richard H. Beal, eds.
Creation and Chaos: A Reconsideration of Hermann Gunkel’s Chaoskampf Hypothesis
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9574
Reviewed by Craig W. Tyson
Christopher R. Seitz
The Character of Christian Scripture: The Significance of a Two-Testament Bible
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8982
Reviewed by Stephen J. Andrews
Anna Rebecca Solevåg
Birthing Salvation: Gender and Class in Early Christian Childbearing Discourse
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9669
Reviewed by Sarah E. Rollens
Michael D. Swartz
The Signifying Creator: Nontextual Sources of Meaning in Ancient Judaism
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8909
Reviewed by Joshua Schwartz
Abraham Terian, trans.
Magnalia Dei: Biblical History in Epic Verse by Grigor Magistros
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9159
Reviewed by Adam Carter McCollum
Benyamim Tsedaka and Sharon Sullivan, eds.
The Israelite Samaritan Version of the Torah: First English Translation Compared with the Masoretic Version
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9231
Reviewed by James R. Blankenship
J. Ross Wagner
Reading the Sealed Book: Old Greek Isaiah and the Problem of Septuagint Hermeneutics
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9837
Reviewed by Johann Cook
Alex Damm
Ancient Rhetoric and the Synoptic Problem: Clarifying Markan Priority
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9291
Reviewed by C. Clifton Black
Michael Fieger, Jutta Krispenz, and Jörg Lanckau, eds.
Wörterbuch alttestamentlicher Motive
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9551
Reviewed by Trent Butler
John Harrison and James D. Dvorak, eds.
The New Testament Church: The Challenge of Developing Ecclesiologies
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8976
Reviewed by Robert Matthew Calhoun
Knut Martin Heim
Poetic Imagination in Proverbs: Variant Repetitions and the Nature of Poetry
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9316
Reviewed by Bálint Károly Zabán
Rüdiger Jungbluth
Im Himmel und auf Erden: Dimensionen von Königsherrschaft im Alten Testament
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8355
Reviewed by Sven Petry
Ian Christopher Levy, Philip D. W. Krey, and Thomas Ryan, eds.
The Letter to the Romans
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9308
Reviewed by Anders Runesson
Herbert Marks, ed.
The English Bible, King James Version: The Old Testament
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8523
Reviewed by David G. Burke
Francis J. Moloney, SDB
Love in the Gospel of John: An Exegetical, Theological, and Literary Study
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9423
Reviewed by Catrin H. Williams
JoAnn Scurlock and Richard H. Beal, eds.
Creation and Chaos: A Reconsideration of Hermann Gunkel’s Chaoskampf Hypothesis
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9574
Reviewed by Craig W. Tyson
Christopher R. Seitz
The Character of Christian Scripture: The Significance of a Two-Testament Bible
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8982
Reviewed by Stephen J. Andrews
Anna Rebecca Solevåg
Birthing Salvation: Gender and Class in Early Christian Childbearing Discourse
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9669
Reviewed by Sarah E. Rollens
Michael D. Swartz
The Signifying Creator: Nontextual Sources of Meaning in Ancient Judaism
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8909
Reviewed by Joshua Schwartz
Abraham Terian, trans.
Magnalia Dei: Biblical History in Epic Verse by Grigor Magistros
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9159
Reviewed by Adam Carter McCollum
Benyamim Tsedaka and Sharon Sullivan, eds.
The Israelite Samaritan Version of the Torah: First English Translation Compared with the Masoretic Version
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9231
Reviewed by James R. Blankenship
J. Ross Wagner
Reading the Sealed Book: Old Greek Isaiah and the Problem of Septuagint Hermeneutics
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9837
Reviewed by Johann Cook
Mar 20, 2015
Those who do not read have no advantage over those who cannot read”
Mar 19, 2015
Free Download of Entrusted with the Gospel: Paul's Theology in the Pastoral Epistles
B&H Academic is offering free downloads of Entrusted with the Gospel: Paul's Theology in the Pastoral Epistles in MOBI format if you sign up to receive their updates. You can check it out here.
Mar 18, 2015
Audio from the 2015 Expository Preaching Workshop
Free audio for the 2015 Expository Preaching Workshop focusing on the book of Jude can be accessed here or you can access the individual links below.
Plenary Session 1 - Dr. Jerry Vines
Plenary Session 2 - Dr. David Allen
Plenary Session 3 - Dr. Paige Patterson
Plenary Session 4 - Dr. Matthew McKellar
Plenary Session 5 - Dr. Vern Charette
Plenary Session 6 - Dr. Steven Smith
How to Survive and Thrive in the Apostasy
Plenary Session 1 - Dr. Jerry Vines
Plenary Session 2 - Dr. David Allen
Plenary Session 3 - Dr. Paige Patterson
Plenary Session 4 - Dr. Matthew McKellar
Plenary Session 5 - Dr. Vern Charette
Plenary Session 6 - Dr. Steven Smith
How to Survive and Thrive in the Apostasy
Mar 17, 2015
Five Lessons on Writing a Dissertation
Mar 16, 2015
Eerdmans Inventory Reduction Sale
Eerdmans is offering select titles at a 50% discount until April 15. I did not find many titles of interest or ones that I did not already have but you might. You can access the sale here.
John Broadus
Today is the 120th anniversary of the death of John Broadus, the well-known Baptist professor of homiletics. Bible students might be most familiar with his commentary on Matthew or his book, A Treatise on the Preparation and Delivery of Sermons. Church History has an interesting article on the life of Broadus here.
Mar 13, 2015
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.
Robert B. Chisholm Jr.
A Commentary on Judges and Ruth
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9746
Reviewed by Mark E. Biddle
John W. Daniels Jr.
Gossiping Jesus: The Oral Processing of Jesus in John’s Gospel
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9418
Reviewed by Peter J. Judge
John Goldingay
Isaiah 56-66: Introduction, Text, and Commentary
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9699
Reviewed by Johanna Erzberger
Steven A. Hunt, D. Francois Tolmie, and Ruben Zimmermann, eds.
Character Studies in the Fourth Gospel: Narrative Approaches to Seventy Figures in John
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9598
Reviewed by Craig R. Koester
Demetrios S. Katos
Palladius of Helenopolis: The Origenist Advocate
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8888
Reviewed by Jon F. Dechow
Phillip J. Long
Jesus the Bridegroom: The Origin of the Eschatological Feast as a Wedding Banquet in the Synoptic Gospels
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9625
Reviewed by Marianne Blickenstaff
Roberto Martínez
The Question of John the Baptist and Jesus’ Indictment of the Religious Leaders: A Critical Analysis of Luke 7:18–35
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8842
Reviewed by Brian C. Dennert
Reviewed by Bart J. Koet
Benjamin J. Segal
A New Psalm: The Psalms as Literature
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9537
Reviewed by Hallvard Hagelia
N. T. Wright
Pauline Perspectives: Essays on Paul, 1978–2013
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9467
Reviewed by Russell Morton
Robert B. Chisholm Jr.
A Commentary on Judges and Ruth
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9746
Reviewed by Mark E. Biddle
John W. Daniels Jr.
Gossiping Jesus: The Oral Processing of Jesus in John’s Gospel
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9418
Reviewed by Peter J. Judge
John Goldingay
Isaiah 56-66: Introduction, Text, and Commentary
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9699
Reviewed by Johanna Erzberger
Steven A. Hunt, D. Francois Tolmie, and Ruben Zimmermann, eds.
Character Studies in the Fourth Gospel: Narrative Approaches to Seventy Figures in John
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9598
Reviewed by Craig R. Koester
Demetrios S. Katos
Palladius of Helenopolis: The Origenist Advocate
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8888
Reviewed by Jon F. Dechow
Phillip J. Long
Jesus the Bridegroom: The Origin of the Eschatological Feast as a Wedding Banquet in the Synoptic Gospels
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9625
Reviewed by Marianne Blickenstaff
Roberto Martínez
The Question of John the Baptist and Jesus’ Indictment of the Religious Leaders: A Critical Analysis of Luke 7:18–35
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8842
Reviewed by Brian C. Dennert
Reviewed by Bart J. Koet
Benjamin J. Segal
A New Psalm: The Psalms as Literature
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9537
Reviewed by Hallvard Hagelia
N. T. Wright
Pauline Perspectives: Essays on Paul, 1978–2013
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9467
Reviewed by Russell Morton
Mar 12, 2015
Christopher Wright on Preaching
Christopher J, H, Wright is the featured speaker this week for the World Evangelization Conference at Dallas Theological Seminary. I have enjoyed Dr. Wright's plenary addresses. You can view the first message here and others will be posted later. I also had the privilege of joining the faculty for a luncheon with Dr. Wright. A number of questions were asked but one question in particular stood out for me concerning his work with the Langham Partnership. As some may know, one component of Langham's ministry is to equip pastors to preach and teach the Bible. When Wright was asked about the biggest challenge in training pastors to preach, he responded by saying, it was to encourage pastors to preach the Bible, that is to preach it expositionally. He was speaking primarily of the majority world context, but I would venture to say that the problem is here in the US as well. I am thankful for ministries like Langham that seek to encourage expository preaching.
Mar 11, 2015
Old Testament Quotations in 1 Corinthians
Robert Bell notes that Paul quoted from the Old Testament about one hundred times, nearly a fifth of those occur in 1 Corinthians. See the following table compiled by Bell (Robert
D. Bell, “Paul’s Use of the Old Testament in 1 Corinthians,” Biblical Viewpoint 7 [1973]: 130–31.
Old Testament Quotations
in 1 Corinthians
|
||
Reference
|
Introductory Formula
|
Old Testament Source
|
1:19
|
“For it is written”
|
Isa. 29:14
|
1:31
|
“As it is written''
|
Jer. 9:24
|
2:9
|
“As
it is
written”
|
Isa.
64:4; 65:17
|
2:16
|
“For”
|
Isa. 40:13
|
3:19
|
“For it is written”
|
Job 5:13
|
3:20
|
“And again”
|
Psa. 94:11
|
5:13
|
(none)
|
Deut. 19:19; etc.
|
6:16
|
“For He says”
|
Gen. 2:24
|
9:9
|
“For it is written in the Law of Moses”
|
Deut. 25:4
|
10:7
|
“As it is written”
|
Exod. 32:6
|
10:26
|
“For”
|
Psa. 24:1
|
14:21
|
“In the Law it is written”
|
Isa.
28:11–12
|
15:27
|
“For”
|
Psa. 8:6
|
15:32
|
(none)
|
Isa. 22:13;
56:12
|
15:45
|
“And thus it is written”
|
Gen. 2:7
|
15:54
|
“Then will happen the saying which is written”
|
Isa. 25:8
|
15:55
|
(none)
|
Hos. 13:14
|
Mar 10, 2015
The Temple Institute's New Altar
There is an interesting article about the recent completion of the burnt offering altar by the Temple Institute here. What I found most interesting is that it is built with fired brick rather than natural stones. The article notes that the Bible prohibits the use of hand-worked stones (Exod 20:25, cf. Deut 27:5). But this raises the question as to why human made brick, which is not stone at all, would be acceptable. Or why it is not composed of acacia wood and overlaid with bronze as stipulated in Exodus 27:1-8?
HT: Amy Downey
HT: Amy Downey
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