Books (General)
Book review: Anthony Le Donne’s Historical Jesus.
Anthony Le Donne. Historical Jesus: What Can We Know and How Can We Know It? Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2011. Kindle Edition. Anthony Le Donne’s Historical Jesus is one of the finest short works I’ve read on historical Jesus studies, human memory, and historiography. Le Donne positions himself as a “postmodern historian” whose task is not [...]
Review of Biblical Literature (02.14.2012)
The following new reviews have been added to the Review of Biblical Literature and listed on the RBL blog (http://rblnewsletter.blogspot.com/): Craig L. Blomberg, with Jennifer Foutz Markley A Handbook of New Testament Exegesis http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8106 Reviewed by Jan G. van der Watt John Drane Introducing the Old Testament http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8064 Reviewed by Jordan M. Scheetz Gregg Gardner [...]
Review of Biblical Literature (02.09.2012)
The following new reviews have been added to the Review of Biblical Literature and listed on the RBL blog (http://rblnewsletter.blogspot.com/): Michael Avioz “I Sat Alone”: Jeremiah among the Prophets http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7959 Reviewed by Jerry Hwang Roy E. Ciampa and Brian S. Rosner The First Letter to the Corinthians http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7856 Reviewed by Korinna Zamfir Bruce N. Fisk [...]
John Walton’s seventh proposition on Genesis 1.
Thus far we have discussed the first six propositions on Genesis 1 set forth by John H. Walton (see proposition six here). The seventh proposition is this: “Divine rest is in a temple.” Walton argues that if Genesis 1 is an account of material origins then the seventh day is a “mystifying.” Why is God [...]
Today only: Get Lauren Winner’s Real Sex ebook for free!
This is a press release from Brazos Press: Feb. 7th: Brazos Press is excited to announce that for one day (Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2012), Lauren Winner’s Real Sex: The Naked Truth and Chastity is free to download as an ebook. Sex has become a highly-discussed topic in Christian circles lately—with a popular book recently released by Mark [...]
John Walton’s sixth proposition on Genesis 1.
A couple of weeks ago we examined the fifth proposition on Genesis 1 wherein John H. Walton proposes that days one through three of Genesis 1 “establish functions” (see “John Walton’s fifth proposition on Genesis 1″). Today we look at the sixth: days four through six “install functionaries”. (p. 62) By this Walton means: Day [...]
Review of Biblical Literature Newsletter (01.31.2012)
The following new reviews have been added to the Review of Biblical Literature and listed on the RBL blog (http://rblnewsletter.blogspot.com/): Roger David Aus Feeding the Five Thousand: Studies in the Judaic Background of Mark 6:30-44 par. and John 6:1-15 http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7664 Reviewed by James Crossley Calum Carmichael Sex and Religion in the Bible http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=7431 Reviewed by [...]
Rethinking history with Keith Jenkins (Pt. 3).
If you’ve haven’t had an opportunity to read Part 1 and Part 2 of my interaction with Keith Jenkins’ Re-thinking History I recommend reading those post first. In the third and final chapter of this book titled “Doing history in the post-modern world” Jenkins presents his logic for still doing historical work, even though he has [...]
All religions are not one.
Stephen Prothero is my favorite scholar of religions. I have read his American Jesus: How to Son of God Became a National Icon many years ago and Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know–And Doesn’t. These books and his popular articles convinced me that he is one of the clearest thinkers on the subject of comparative [...]
The Torah by Joel S. Kaminsky and Joel N. Lohr.
Joel S. Kaminsky and Joel N. Lohr, The Torah: A Beginner’s Guide (Beginner’s Guides), Oxford: One World Publications, 2011. I am thankful for the free review copy I received of Kaminsky’s and Lohr’s The Torah: A Beginner’s Guide. It is a small volume at about one hundred and sixty three pages of content. It is not [...]
John Walton’s fifth proposition on Genesis 1.
John Walton proposes that “…on day one God created the basis for time; day two the basis for weather; day three the basis for food.” (p. 58) This continues his argument that Genesis 1 is about the creation of function, not material (see proposition four to backtrack). Day one is “the great cycle of time” [...]
What do Jesus and Paul have to say about sex?
This post is part of the blog tour for Daniel Kirk‘s new book Jesus Have I Loved, but Paul? I am covering chapter eight which it titled “Sex in the Plot of God’s Story”. You know, that subject we Christians struggle to address. Human sexuality isn’t an easy subject for Christians to address. Often we [...]
John Walton’s fourth proposition on Genesis 1.
I’ve reviewed the first three propositions offered by John H. Walton in his book The Lost World of Genesis One: Ancient Cosmology and the Origins Debate (see here). Today I examine the fourth. Walton argues that “the beginning state of Genesis 1″ is “nonfunctional”. In other words, the origins of Genesis 1 are not of material, [...]
John Walton’s third proposition on Genesis 1.
I have addressed the first and second propositions on Genesis 1 put forth by John Walton in The Lost World of Genesis One: Ancient Cosmology and the Origins Debate. Today I present proposition three: the Hebrew word ברא (bara) concerns “functions”. The word is translated “created”, which for many means ex nihlo, but Walton suggests [...]
If you like Jesus, but not Paul, this may be the book for you!
Today is the first day of a “blog tour” for Daniel Kirk’s new book Jesus Have I Loved, but Paul? A Narrative Approach to the Problem of Pauline Christianity. If you want to know who is posting and what day go to the blog hub. It is a great list of reviewers. Also, I’d recommend reading [...]
Justin Martyr according to Paul Parvis
As I mentioned about a month ago I received a review copy of Early Christian Thinkers: The Lives and Legacies of Twelve Key Figures edited by Paul Foster from IVP Academic. Each chapter is an individual essay on an individual figure, so instead of an overview book review I am going to write a short [...]
Review of Biblical Literature (12.31.2011)
The following new reviews have been added to the Review of Biblical Literature and listed on the RBL blog (http://rblnewsletter.blogspot.com/): Daniel Bodi The Demise of the Warlord: A New Look at the David Story http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=8001 Reviewed by Jeremy Hutton M. Eugene Boring Mark: A Commentary http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=5593 Reviewed by W. R. Telford Bruce Chilton and Deirdre [...]
John Walton’s second proposition on Genesis 1.
Yesterday I discussed John H. Walton’s first proposition regarding Genesis 1: it is ancient cosmology. Today I want to examine the second: ancient cosmology is functionally oriented. In other words, Walton suggests that the creation of the cosmos in Genesis 1 is not about the beginning of matter, per se. Rather, creation has to do [...]
John Walton’s first proposition on Genesis 1.
The first proposition on Genesis 1 that John H. Walton offers in The Lost World of Genesis One: Ancient Cosmology and the Origins Debate is that Genesis 1 is ancient cosmology. He reminds readers that the original audience would have understood the cosmos like their contemporaries (p. 14) and that “concordism” (the effort to reconcile [...]
The best blog tour for any book ever!
OK, I may be exaggerating, but it has got to be in the top five since the invention of (1) the internet and (2) blog tours for books. It is for Daniel Kirk’s Jesus Have I Loved, But Paul? The list of bloggers includes the following people: Nijay Gupta, Matthew Montonini, Tim Gombis, James McGrath, [...]
John Walton’s propositions on Genesis 1.
This year I hope to study the relationship between modern science and biblical origins narratives more. As I’ve mentioned previously I’d like to read C. John Collins Did Adam and Eve Really Exist? Who They Were and Why You Should Care and Peter Enns’ forthcoming The Evolution of Adam: What the Bible Does and Doesn’t Say [...]
Books I received this Christmas.
I did quite well in the area of receiving books as Christmas gifts this year. Courtesy of my wife I received Franz Rosenthal’s A Grammar of Biblical Aramaic and Miles V. van Pelt’s Basics of Biblical Aramaic: Complete Grammar, Lexicon, and Annotated Text. Courtesy of my sister-in-law I received both volumes of Craig Keener’s Miracles: The Credibility [...]
One of the best books written in 2011 is available for $3.99: Scot McKnight’s The King Jesus Gospel.
You can purchase Scot McKnight’s The King Jesus Gospel for $3.99 on Kindle (or Kindle apps) from Amazon.com here. This book was one of the best books I read this year. Do yourself a favor and purchase a copy. Even if you can’t read it now you’ll be glad you got it when you do [...]
A review of The Jewish Annotated New Testament: Essays.
Amy-Jill Levine and Marc Z. Brettler (eds.), The Jewish Annotated New Testament, New York: Oxford University Press, 2011. (Amazon.com) Thus far I have shown you annotations and introductions here and maps, sidebar essays, and charts here. Today I will tell you a bit about the essays. There is a wide array of subjects covered including the Septuagint, Messianic [...]
A review of The Jewish Annotated New Testament: Maps, Sidebar Essays, and More.
Amy-Jill Levine and Marc Z. Brettler (eds.), The Jewish Annotated New Testament, New York: Oxford University Press, 2011. (Amazon.com) Yesterday I shared a preview of the annotations and introductions one can find in The Jewish Annotated New Testament (see here). Today I will show you some of the charts, maps, and sidebar essays. Tomorrow I will preview the [...]
A review of The Jewish Annotated New Testament: Annotations and Introductions.
Amy-Jill Levine and Marc Z. Brettler (eds.), The Jewish Annotated New Testament, New York: Oxford University Press, 2011. (Amazon.com) The Jewish Annotated New Testament edited by Amy-Jill Levine and Marx Z. Brettler is already proving to be an exceptionally valuable resource. I’m not one who purchases study Bibles or other themes Bibles. This project is different [...]
In the Mail: Jesus Have I Loved, but Paul? by Daniel Kirk
Yesterday I received a review copy of Daniel Kirk‘s Jesus Have I Loved, but Paul? A Narrative Approach to the Problem of Pauline Christianity in the mail courtesy of Baker Academic (you can learn more about the book here). I will be part of a blog tour running from the 9th to the 20th of January [...]
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Craig A. Evans’ new commentary on the Gospel of Matthew.
Amazon.com emailed me this morning to inform me that Craig A. Evans commentary on the Gospel of Matthew through the New Cambridge Bible Commentary series is available now. I had the opportunity to do some indexing for it so I’ve seen it before it went to print and I recommend it. Evans is a proven [...]