For the Bibliophiles

Jessica Stillman reminds us "Why You Should Surround Yourself With More Books Than You'll Ever Have Time to Read" here.

Favorite Biblical Studies Books of 2017

Josh Philpot has the first favorite biblical studies books of 2017 list that I have seen so far here.

The Genealogy of Jesus

Michael Kok has a collection of links related to Jesus' genealogies in Matthew and Luke here.

Seminary and Higher Education Links

David Murray has a helpful list here.

First Apocalypse of James

Apparently, a 1500-year old copy of the First Apocalypse of James has been found in the Egypt Exploration Society's archives at Oxford. This text is part of the larger Gnostic Nag Hammadi library. Here is one of several articles out there.

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. 

Darrell Bock
Mark
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10973
Reviewed by Earl S. Johnson Jr.

John H. Elliott
Beware the Evil Eye: The Evil Eye in the Bible and the Ancient World, volume 3: The Bible and Related Sources
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=11352
Reviewed by Nicole Tilford

Peeter Espak
The God Enki in Sumerian Royal Ideology and Mythology
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=10913
Reviewed by Michael S. Moore

Duane A. Garrett
A Commentary on Exodus
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=11462
Reviewed by Pieter de Vries

Raimo Hakola, Jutta Maria Jokiranta, and Samuel Byrskog, eds.
Social Memory and Social Identity in the Study of Early Judaism and Early Christianity
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=11453
Reviewed by Jonathan Draper

J. Gordon McConville
Being Human in God’s World: An Old Testament Theology of Humanity
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=11488
Reviewed by Andrea Saner

Brian Neil Peterson
John’s Use of Ezekiel: Understanding the Unique Perspective of the Fourth Gospel
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=11199
Reviewed by William Rogan

Stanley E. Porter and Sean A. Adams, eds.
Pillars in the History of Biblical Interpretation, volume 1: Prevailing Methods before 1980; volume 2: Prevailing Methods after 1980
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=11371
Volume 1 reviewed by Jeffrey L. Morrow
Volumes 1 and 2 reviewed by Thomas H. Olbricht

Michael Vicko Zolondek
We Have Found the Messiah: How the Disciples Help Us Answer the Davidic Messianic Question
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=11422
Reviewed by David S. Ritsema

Free Audio Book of the Month: Why the Reformation Still Matters

Christianaudio.com is offering Why the Reformation Still Matters by Michael Reeves and Tim Chester as their free audio download for the month of December. To read more about this resource and to get your free audio download in either MP3 or M4B formats go here.

Free Logos Book for December: Psalms, Vol. 1

The free Logos Book of the Month for December is James Montgomery Boice's commentary on Psalms 1-41. There are three volumes covering all 150 psalms and you can purchase the other two volumes for $1.99 and $2.99 respectively. You can also enter to win the 15 volume Baker D. A. Carson collection. For all these offers, go to the Logos' Free Book of Month page here.

Making Time for Learning

Bernie Klinder provides some solid advice here.

Strategies for Minimizing Plagiarism

Wayne Stauffer provides some helpful anti-plagiarism tactics here. Although I already employ several of these suggestions, all of then look worthy of consideration. Feel free to add your own strategies in the comments below.

PhD Programs in Bible and Theology

Pete Enns posts here about what he sees as the moral irresponsibility of PhD programs in Bible and theology. He makes some points worth considering but I am not as jaded as Enns. Are the numerical odds stacked against a newly minted PhD, "yes," but the Lord is not daunted by the odds. One needs to be realistic, wise, and prudent but also trust in the Lord's calling and leading.

The 1 Sentence That Will Make You a More Effective Speaker Every Time

Brenda Barbosa talks about it here. But preachers and teachers who understand the value of a message statement or central idea of the text already know this.

Dating the Church of the Holy Sepulchre

National Geographic has an article related to the recent repairs performed on the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Some mortar samples were collected during the restoration and "the new test results have revealed that the lower slab can be dated to Roman times and was "likely mortared in place in the mid-fourth century under the orders of Emperor Constantine." You can access the complete article here.

Free Biblical Greek and Hebrew Resources for Laypersons

Dave Armstrong provides a brief discussion and listing here. Christians are indebted to many of these resources but great care must be exercised in order not to abuse them. Accessing one of these resources does not make one proficient in Hebrew or Greek, a gloss is not a definition, etc.

Updated Top 10 Books on Christ in the Old Testament

David Murray provides an updated list of his top 10 books on Christ in the Old Testament here.

What Is a Professor?

Some of my academic friends might appreciate this post.

Time Management Tips

Kevin Orner has some here. But I cant't help but think that #2 might be problematic unless you have the Lord's priorities instead of yours or the world's.

Biblical Archaeology and World Toilet Day

This article merges biblical archaeology with World Toilet Day by looking at ancient toilets found in the Holy Land.

Online Bibliographies for Jesus and the Gospels

Michael Kok has a helpful list of links to online bibliographies for studying Jesus and the Gospels here.

Teaching Professionalism

Angela Keaton has a good word here about teaching our students professionalism. But I would also hasten to add that teachers should model that same professionalism.

A Coin Related to Acts 19

I recently saw this silver Cistophorus listed for sale at a coin-selling site. The reverse has a nice image and inscription related to Diana of Ephesus. The obverse is not too bad with images of Claudius and Agrippina. This coin provides a nice background illustration to Acts 19. The price is a bit out of my budget but as a friend of mine says, "I wouldn't mind if I found it under my Christmas tree!"

HT: Russell Atherton