Cupbearers in Bible Times

Ferrell Jenkins has a nice post here on cupbearers in biblical times. This blog is one that I regularly look at.

The Economic Status of Jesus' Family

Ian Paul has a very interesting post here on the economic status of Jesus' family.

When Christmas Day Is Sunday

This article highlights a debate among Christians as to whether their churches should meet on Christmas day when that day is also a Sunday. I believe that this is a matter of conscience and that grace should be extended to both sides. But, I would lean toward having services even though the church I attend has gone the other direction.

Psalm 99

I am working on a commentary on the Psalms. I have decided to compile some helpful links that I discovered during my research. It includes a mix of exegetical and sermonic links. Here is what I have for Psalm 99 (in no particular order). Feel free to mention any that you find helpful in the comments section.

Analysis by C. J. Labuschagne: https://www.labuschagne.nl/ps099.pdf

William Barrick’s notes: https://drbarrick.org/files/studynotes/Psalms/Ps_099.pdf

Psalm 99 devotional: https://www.generations.org/devotionals/112

Steven Cole sermon: https://bible.org/seriespage/psalm-99-holy-he

Scott Hoezee commentary: https://cepreaching.org/commentary/2022-02-21/psalm-99-4

Journey into God's Presence through the Offerings

Using Leviticus 9 primarily, L. Michael Morales suggests a "procedural order" in the sacrifices ([1] the purification offering, [2] the whole burnt offering, and [3]) the peace offering that represent a "cultic exodus" into fellowship with God (see diagram below). That is, not only do the offerings represent what is necessary to enter into God's presence but the order itself matters. Frankly, I had not ever considered this before. Very interesting.

L. Michael Morales, Exodus Old and new: A Biblical Theology of Redemption (Downers Grove, InterVarsity, 2020), 91-98.

D. A. Carson on One of the Saddest OT Texts

D. A. Carson explains here why 2 Kings 39 is one of the saddest Old Testament texts.

The Latest Issue of the 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 to read them.

R. Alan Culpepper and Jörg Frey, eds., Expressions of the Johannine Kerygma in John 2:23–5:18: Historical, Literary, and Theological Readings from the Colloquium Ioanneum 2017 in Jerusalem (Mohr Siebeck)
Paul N. Anderson

Brandon W. Hawk, Preaching Apocrypha in Anglo-Saxon England (University of Toronto Press)
Anthony C. Swindell

Larry G. Herr, Douglas R. Clark, Lawrence T. Geraty, and Monique D. Vincent, eds., The 2006 Season at Tall al-ʿUmayri and Subsequent Studies (Eisenbrauns)
Piotr Bienkowski

Johannes C. de Moor, Micah (Peeters)
Yisca Zimran

Ronald L. Troxel, Commentary on the Old Greek and Peshitta of Isaiah 1–25 (SBL Press) H. F. van Rooy

A Grotto or a Stable?

Leen Ritmyer has an interesting discussion here on where Jesus was born. I am not sure he is right but well worth checking out.

Psalm 98

I am working on a commentary on the Psalms. I have decided to compile some helpful links that I discovered during my research. It includes a mix of exegetical and sermonic links. Here is what I have for Psalm 98 (in no particular order). Feel free to mention any that you find helpful in the comments section.

Analysis by C. J. Labuschagne: https://www.labuschagne.nl/ps098.pdf

Eric Mathis: https://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=1827

William Barrick’s notes: https://drbarrick.org/files/studynotes/Psalms/Ps_098.pdf

Psalm 98 devotional: https://www.generations.org/devotionals/111

Psalm 22:9-10

Lee Fields has a nice analysis of the Hebrew in Psalm 22:9-10 here.

Wealth and Possessions according to Acts 11–28

Steve Walton has made his slides from his presentation at SBL on wealth and possessions according to Acts 11–28 available here.

Biblical Cookware and Crockery

Nava Panitz-Cohen has an excellent introduction to biblical cookware and crockery here.

The Latest Issue of the 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 to read them.

Andrew Faulkner, ed., Apollinaris of Laodicea Metaphrasis Psalmorum (Oxford University Press)
Felix Albrecht

Iain Gardner, The Founder of Manichaeism: Rethinking the Life of Mani (Cambridge University Press)
Timothy Pettipiece

Arco den Heijer, Portraits of Paul’s Performance in the Book of Acts: Luke’s Apologetic Strategy in the Depiction of Paul as Messenger of God (Mohr Siebeck)
Daniel B. Glover

Victor H. Matthews, The History of Bronze and Iron Age Israel (Oxford University Press)
Lester L. Grabbe

Jennifer Otto, Philo of Alexandria and the Construction of Jewishness in Early Christian Writings (Oxford University Press)
Gregory E. Sterling

Kyriakos Savvidis and Dietmar Wyrwa, eds., Epistula ad Marcellinum (De Gruyter)
Johan Leemans and Laura Mariotti

Mary E. Sommar, The Slaves of the Churches: A History (Oxford University Press)
Anders Martinsen

Jacob Stromberg and J. Todd Hibbard, eds., The History of Isaiah: The Formation of the Book and Its Presentation of the Past (Mohr Siebeck)
Hyun Chul Paul Kim

Genesis 25 and Marshmallow and Jell-O Salad

I missed this bit of humor from The Babylon Bee for Thanksgiving but I reckon it is appropriate for Christmas as well. 

 

How Long Should You Spend on Sermon Prep?

Herschel York has posted a video here answering this question.

Free Logos Books for December

Logos is offering two freebies this month: Logos mobile-ed course "Bible Survey Video Series: The Gospels as the Story of Jesus," Donald Senior's The Passion of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew. You can also purchase other resources at significant discounts and enter to win the "Old Testament: Advanced Background and Context Studies Study Bundle." These offers can be accessed here and here.

Abraham, a Servant, Rebecca, and Isaac (Gen 24)

David Frankel asks the following question.

Abraham tells his servant to go to his hometown to find a wife for Isaac. When the servant returns, he never reports back to him or introduces Rebecca to him. Why does Abraham disappear from the narrative? And, as Rebecca is his great-niece, why not send the servant to her father’s home directly?

I don't agree with some of the critical methodologies on display in answering the question but I found the discussion here interesting.

The Latest Issue of the 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 to read them.

John-Christian Eurell, Peter’s Legacy in Early Christianity: The Appropriation and Use of Peter’s Authority in the First Three Centuries (Mohr Siebeck)
David L. Eastman

W. Edward Glenny, Amos: A Handbook on the Greek Text (Baylor University Press)
William A. Ross

Justo L. González, The Bible in the Early Church (Eerdmans)
Miriam DeCock

Matthias Henze and Liv Ingeborg Lied, eds., The Old Testament Pseudepigrapha: Fifty Years of the Pseudepigrapha Section at the SBL (SBL Press)
Archie T. Wright

Jimmy Hoke, Feminism, Queerness, Affect, and Romans: Under God? (SBL Press)
Benjamin H. Dunning

Chris Seglenieks, Johannine Belief and Graeco-Roman Devotion: Reshaping Devotion for John’s Graeco-Roman Audience (Mohr Siebeck)
Sung Uk Lim

Joseph Verheyden, Jens Schröter, and Tobias Nicklas, eds., Texts in Context: Essays on Dating and Contextualising Christian Writings from the Second and Early Third Centuries (Peeters)
Einar Thomassen

Brittany E. Wilson, The Embodied God: Seeing the Divine in Luke-Acts and the Early Church (Oxford University Press)
F. Scott Spencer

BiblePlaces: Book of Revelation

The folks at BiblePlaces have completed the New Testament volumes of their outstanding Photo Companions to the Bible with the Book of Revelation. As one who has taught Revelation numerous times, I believe that it is perhaps one of the biblical books that benefits most from the kind of photos found in this resource. Speaking of photos, there are plenty of them, about 3,000. All the photos are displayed in helpful PowerPoint presentations and each slide contains insightful descriptions.

Just in time for Christmas, the Revelation volume can be purchased here for the sale price: $49. Or you can purchase the entire New Testament as either a DVD+download or as download-only. This week it is on sale for only $299 (with coupon ALLNT). 

Priests, Levites, and the Tribe of Levi and the Archaeological Evidence in Iron Age Israel and Judah

Aren Maeir's article in a festschrift honoring of Lawson Younger on the archaeological evidence for priests and Levites in Iron Age Israel and Judah is available as a PDF here.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to all my American readers and to those who celebrate with them!

Johannine Bibliography

Paul N. Anderson has posted his forthcoming Johannine bibliography here.

The Neglected Old Testament

Claude Mariottini addresses the issue here of the all too common ignorance of the Old Testament.

Psalm 97

I am working on a commentary on the Psalms. I have decided to compile some helpful links that I discovered during my research. It includes a mix of exegetical and sermonic links. Here is what I have for Psalm 97 (in no particular order). Feel free to mention any that you find helpful in the comments section.

Jerome Creach: https://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=4068

Analysis by C. J. Labuschagne: https://www.labuschagne.nl/ps097.pdf

William Barrick’s notes: https://drbarrick.org/files/studynotes/Psalms/Ps_097.pdf

Psalm 97 devotional: https://www.generations.org/devotionals/110