Leading with Questions

Bob Tiede lists his top 15 leading with questions books here.

HT: George Hillman

Writing a Dissertation

Choosing a Seminary

Bob Wilkin has some helpful thoughts here concerning choosing a seminary. I think Bob's reminder that there can be a disconnect between an institutions doctrinal statement and what is actually held and taught is important. His reminder concerning prayer and spiritual formation is also worth considering.

Mark 1:13 and the Old Testament

John Meade notes here some possible allusions in Mark 1:13 to the LXX of Leviticus 26:6 and Psalm 90:11-13. The possible connections are interesting and perhaps correct but I think he overstates the conclusion.

"The allusions to the Old Testament are actually the key to understanding the brief pericope itself. The allusions indicate that Jesus as Son obeyed under temptation and trial, was consequently blessed, and dealt a decisive blow to Satan in the wilderness."

I doubt whether understanding these allusions are the "key." One could probably understand that, "Jesus as Son obeyed under temptation and trial, was consequently blessed, and dealt a decisive blow to Satan in the wilderness" without picking up on the allusions. One could also question whether Mark's primarily Gentile audience have picked up on these subtle allusions.  

Characteristics of Liberal Theology

Kevin DeYoung drawing from the work of Gary Dorrien lists and discusses seven characteristics of liberal theology here.

The Bible in Thirty Chapters

This post seeks to trace the Bible's story through thirty key chapters.

Text-Driven Preaching Workshop on Philemon

There is still time to sign up for Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary’s Text-Driven Preaching Workshop focusing on Philemon. The workshop is on Monday, October 9 (8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.). Speakers include David Allen, Denny Autrey, Deron Biles, Barry McCarty, Matthew McKellar, and Kyle Walker. No registration details are listed yet, but you can see the announcement here.

Outlines for Hebrews

Michael Kok continues his helpful series on Hebrews. In this post he links to a number of outlines for the book.

The 17th Edition of The Chicago Manual of Style

I am not sure how I missed it, but the 17th edition of The Chicago Manual of Style is now out. Grammar nerds everywhere rejoice! The Washington Post has a write up here.

Pointers for Preaching Habakkuk

Jeff Hampton gives some pointers on preaching Habakkuk here. By the way, Preaching Source is a great resource for preachers. 

Getting Inside the Brain of a Prophet

The Atlantic has an interesting article and interview with James Kugel here concerning his most recent book, The Great Shift: Encountering God in Biblical Times. The book apparently tries to understand how prophets might have received their revelations by looking at socio-cultural perceptions of self and neuro-scientific research.

Dating the Book of Hebrews

Michael Kok follows up his post on the authorship of Hebrews here with a post here laying out some of the data to be taken into consideration in dating the book.

The Appointment of David Friedrich Strauss

This is an interesting article on the controversy surrounding the appointment of David Friedrich Strauss to the faculty of the University of Zurich.

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 but unfortunately you must be a SBL member. 

Timothy A. Brookins and Bruce W. Longenecker
1 Corinthians 10–16: A Handbook on the Greek Text
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=11402
Reviewed by James D. Romano

Colleen M. Conway
Sex and Slaughter in the Tent of Jael: A Cultural History of a Biblical Story
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=11476
Reviewed by Gregory Mobley

Stephanie Buckhanon Crowder
When Momma Speaks: The Bible and Motherhood from a Womanist Perspective
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=11373
Reviewed by Kimberly Russaw

Lester L. Grabbe
1 and 2 Kings: History and Story in Ancient Israel
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=11563
Reviewed by Steven L. McKenzie

Ronald Hendel
Steps to a New Edition of the Hebrew Bible
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=11532
Reviewed by Arie van der Kooij

John Jarick, ed.
SOTS at 100: Centennial Essays of the Society for Old Testament Study
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=11586
Reviewed by Corrine Carvalho

Jörg Jeremias
Theologie des Alten Testaments
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=11521
Reviewed by Jordan M. Scheetz

Mogens Müller and Jesper Tang Nielsen, eds.
Luke’s Literary Creativity
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=11375
Reviewed by Nils Neumann

Stanley E. Porter and Bryan R. Dyer, eds.
The Synoptic Problem: Four Views
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=11361
Reviewed by Robert K. MacEwen

Allen P. Ross
A Commentary on the Psalms: Volume 3 (90–150)
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=11498
Reviewed by J. Clinton McCann Jr.

The Authorship of Hebrews

Michael Kok has a pretty good discussion on the authorship of Hebrews here.

Reading Josephus in Greek

If you have ever had the desire to tackle Josephus in Greek you should read this post.

The Value of a Good Commentary

Michael Barber has a great anecdote here involving Aquinas, Chrysostom's commentary on Matthew, and Paris.

Apostles Today?

Terry Wilder has a good post here concerning whether we can have apostles today.

Maximizing Your Study Time

With the start of the new semester, some might be interested in these practical study tips.

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 but unfortunately you must be a SBL member. 

Alan J. Bale
Genre and Narrative Coherence in the Acts of the Apostles
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10392
Reviewed by Loveday Alexander

Patrick T. Egan
Ecclesiology and the Scriptural Narrative of 1 Peter
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=11258
Reviewed by Torrey Seland

Susanna Elm
Sons of Hellenism, Fathers of the Church: Emperor Julian, Gregory of Nazianzus, and the Vision of Rome
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=11114
Reviewed by Andrew R. Guffey

Matthew Harmon and Jay E. Smith, eds.
Studies in the Pauline Epistles: Essays in Honor of Douglas J. Moo
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10157
Reviewed by H. H. Drake Williams III

Jonathan G. Kline
Allusive Soundplay in the Hebrew Bible
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=11407
Reviewed by Thomas P. McCreesh, O.P.

Reinhard G. Kratz
Historical and Biblical Israel: The History, Tradition, and Archives of Israel and Judah
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=11167
Reviewed by Brad E. Kelle

Jeremy D. Lyon
Qumran Interpretation of the Genesis Flood
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10952
Reviewed by Jonathan M. Potter

Harry O. Maier
Picturing Paul in Empire: Imperial Image, Text and Persuasion in Colossians, Ephesians and the Pastoral Epistles
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=9730
Reviewed by Torsten Jantsch

Hans de Wit and Janet Dyk, eds.
Bible and Transformation: The Promise of Intercultural Bible Reading
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=11092
Reviewed by Jione Havea

Gary Yamasaki
Insights from Filmmaking for Analyzing Biblical Narrative
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=11513
Reviewed by Steve A. Wiggins

The Beatitudes

Here is a very good post on the Beatitudes (Matt 5, Luke 6).

Robert L. Thomas (1928-2017)

I just learned that Dr. Robert L. Thomas has gone to be with the Lord. It is interesting to note that both he and Dr. Toussaint were born the same year and passed the same year. I never met the man but I benefited from his writings, most noticeably, his two-volume Revelation commentary.

8 Tech Tools for Church Staff

See this article although I must admit I don't use any of these.

Stanley D. Toussaint (1928–2017)

I just learned that Dr. Stan Toussaint has gone to be with the Lord. In many ways my life and ministry was shaped by this dear servant. I consider it one of the great privileges in my life to have been able to fill in for him at DTS occasionally from 2008 to 2015. I would often meet with "Dr. T." before such occasions to go over what I was supposed to cover but he would always tell me to teach the text as I understood it. I always felt affirmed by that, yet always mindful that he had probably forgotten more Bible than I knew. 

Best Free Digital Bible Resources

Mark Hoffman has provided a helpful annotated list here of the best free digital Bible Study resources.