Text, Community & Mission

The following quote is from Matt Chandler’s sermon on 12.28.08.  The context is a comparison of the following description to the hard work of a farmer and his dependence on God in 2 Tim 2.6.

“And I have to wonder how any of you are stuck in this habitual, nominal Christianity, all the while…Here’s what I think did it to the 20 year olds.  I think we just absolutely jacked you up with youth camp and “disciple-nows.”  Because we taught you that your faith is event driven.  Which means you go from motivation to (more…)

After discussing all my recent purchases from the TEDS bookstore liquidation sale, I thought I would share my commentary collecting strategy.  I have a 3 step process where I divide the commentaries I want into 3 categories.  The first is the best of the top level works.  The second level are still top level volumes, but not the cream of the crop and the third level is any other works or special studies that would find interesting or useful.  What I usually do is try to collect all of the best top level commentaries as I take a canon class that focuses on that book.  For my personal Bible study I am always doing a deep exegetical and theological study of a book.  When I come to a new study on a book I try to purchase the second level.  However, if I can find a second level work while in the a course for a great price I will get it.   The third level is added as I see great prices at Amazon, Ebay or the bookstore for these secondary works.

I will use Romans as an example.  First of all, I use Glynn as my basic reference.  For Romans I consider Cranfield, Dunn, Moo, Schreiner and Jewett to be the cream of the crop from Glynn, Bestcommentaries,com and my knowledge of NT scholarship.  So I purchased these (minus Jewett) while in a class on Romans (Jewett had just been released and was about $80, its now about $50 so I’ll pick up on my next trip through Romans).  When I  get to Romans in my personal study I will start in on level 2, which would be Fitzmyer, Kasemann, Kirk, Witherington, Barrett, Morris and Bruce.  While in my Romans class I found Kasemann, Barrett, Morris and Bruce for less an $15 each so I picked those up.  In the third level I’d like to someday get Moo’s NIVAC and Stott to see what they do in their more applicational works, Osborne in order to see a full Arminian treatment of the book and Wright.  

Once I finish book, I try to stay up to date if a level 1 work is released.  For Romans, that means I am greatly looking forward to Longenecker in NIGTC.  I have been using his WBC Galatians recently and if his Romans is as good, it will certainly be at the top of the class.

Does anybody else have a specific plan to build their collections?

If you are a pastor, student or general lover of Biblical and theology books, make the trip to the Trinity Evangelical Divinity School bookstore.  Sadly, the Trinity bookstore is being transfered to an outside dealer.  To liquidate their remaining trade stock the bookstore has everything, yes everything on 40%-50% sale.  The Trinity bookstore carries a high level of pastoral, missions, apologetics, philosophy, Biblical language resources, theology, Biblical studies and OT and NT commentaries.  Head over there if you are in the area.  Yesterday, I bought my books for my summer classes and saved about $150. 

For Hebrew:

  Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia

  Guide to Biblical Hebrew Syntax - Bill T. Arnold and John Choi

  Simplified Guide to BHS: Critical Apparatus, Masora, Accents, Unusual Letters & Other Markings - Scott, William R.

  Workbook for Intermediate Hebrew, A: Grammar, Exegesis, and Commentary on Jonah and Ruth - Chisholm, Robert B.

  Biblical Hebrew: An Introductory Grammar - Kelley, Page H.

  Vocabulary Guide to Biblical Hebrew - Van Pelt, Miles V.

For Fun:

  Apostolic Fathers: Greek Texts and English Translations - Holmes,   Michael William

  Gospel of Matthew (NIGTC) - Nolland, John

  Luke (NICNT) - Green, Joel B.

  First Epistle of Peter (NICNT) - Davids, Peter

  Galatians (NICNT) - Fung, Ronald Y. K.

  Galatians (Word Biblical Commentary) - Longenecker, Richard N.

  Mark 8:27-16:20 (Word Biblical Commentary) - Evans, Craig A.

 A Commentary on the Gospel of Matthew - Keener, Craig S.

  Epistle to the Galatians - Dunn, James

  1 Peter (BECNT) - Jobes, Karen H.

  Mark (BECNT) - Stein, Robert H.

In the fourth chapter of The Historical Reliability of the Gospels, Craig Blomberg discusses the apparent contradictions among the Synoptic Evangelists.  One section in this chapter is entitled “The Practice of Paraphrase.”  This section not only excellently defends the historicity of the Synoptics recounting of Jesus’ words, but it may also be one of the best descriptions and explanations of ipsissima vox.  While Blomberg places this discussing as an argument against those who claim the contradictions of the Synoptics show their lack of historical weight, this section should also be required reading for understanding what what modern evangelicals mean by inerrancy in reference to the Gospels.  

Blomberg’s Gospel scholarship is absolutely at the highest possible level.  His NAC Matthew commentary is excellent for exposition.  I would love to see him write a more technical volume to complement this as Bock did with his BECNT and NIVAC on Luke, or even produce another commentary on Mark, Luke or John.

Of the many things Mars Hill Church in Seattle deserves praise for is their creativity, originality and beauty in the production of media and art.  No one does theologically rich, worshipful art better than the team at Mars Hill.  This promo for their Good Friday services is just another example of this. (HT: Bible Geek Gone Wild)

Any other WordPress users out there know why all my previous posts and widgets suddenly went italic?  My most recent post is normal.  Anybody know?

I did not want to wait for the American edition of Bishop Wright’s newest book, Justification: God’s Plan and Paul’s Vision so I purchased a copy of the British edition as soon as I saw one available on Amazon instead of requesting a review copy from IVP.  So this will not be a full review, but just some of my thoughts on the book.

First, the good parts:  This volume is incredibly helpful in explaining Wright’s own view of Paul and justification.  I also happen to agree with the vast majority of what Wright says in this book.  In some of Wright’s earlier works What Saint Paul Really Said and Paul he did not take a significant amount of time to explain what have become some controversial statements about justification. (more…)