Flinders Petrie on the Discovery of the Moabite Stone

The following article is now on-line in PDF:

Flinders Petrie, "The Moabite Stone," Journal of the Transactions of the Victoria Institute 6 (1872): 125-127.

This is (presumably) one of the earliest accounts of the discovery of the Moabite Stone. Due to its age this article is now Public Domain.

James Dunn on Paul's Understanding of the Death of Jesus

The following article is now on-line in PDF:

James D.G. Dunn, "Paul's Understanding of the Death of Jesus," Robert Banks, ed., Reconciliation and Hope. New Testament Essays on Atonement and Eschatology Presented to L.L. Morris on his 60th Birthday. Carlisle: The Paternoster Press, 1974. pp.125-141.

Thanks to Sean for his recommendation of this article.

A Review of Emergent Church Bible "The Voice" Part 1

I came across this review of the The Voice - which is being promoted by Brian D. Mclaren and others in the emerging church movement. It looks like developing into an interesting series. Well worth a read.

HT: Anton Hein

David Wenham's brief primer on the art and science of Source Criticism on-line

The following article is now on-line in PDF:

David Wenham, “Source Criticism,” I. Howard Marshall, ed., New Testament Interpretation: Essays on Principles and Methods, 1977. Carlisle: The Paternoster Press, revised 1979. Pbk. ISBN: 0853644241. pp.139-152.

David Wenham gives brief introduction to source criticism.

Donald Guthrie on Questions of Introductions

The following article is now available on-line in PDF:

Donald Guthrie, "Questions of Introduction," I. Howard Marshall, ed., New Testament Interpretation: Essays on Principles and Methods, 1977. Carlisle: The Paternoster Press, revised 1979. Pbk. ISBN: 0853644241. pp.105-116.

Donald Guthrie, the Master of New Testament Introduction, looks at the importance of Background, Date, Destination, Integrity and Authorship for interpretation. His emphasis is in this article is on authorship.

The following article is now available on-line in PDF:



Donald Guthrie, "Questions of Introduction," I. Howard Marshall, ed., New Testament Interpretation: Essays on Principles and Methods, 1977. Carlisle: The Paternoster Press, revised 1979. Pbk. ISBN: 0853644241. pp.105-116.

I. Howard Marshall on the Historical Criticism of the New Testament

The following article is now on-line in PDF:

I.H. Marshall, "Historical Criticism," I. Howard Marshall, ed., New Testament Interpretation: Essays on Principles and Methods, 1977. Carlisle: The Paternoster Press, revised 1979. Pbk. ISBN: 0853644241. pp.126-138.

Howard Marshall provides an introduction to historical criticism of the New Testament.

John W. Drane on The Religious Background of the New Testament

The following article is now on-line in PDF:

John W. Drane, "The Religious Background," I. Howard Marshall, ed., New Testament Interpretation: Essays on Principles and Methods, 1977. Carlisle: The Paternoster Press, revised 1979. Pbk. ISBN: 0853644241. pp.117-125.

John Drane points out, with a number of helpful examples, why knowledge of the religious backlground of the First Century is important for accurate interpretation of the New Testament.

John F. Balchin on Colossians 1:15-20 - is it an Early Christian Hymn?

The following article is now on-line in PDF:

John F. Balchin, "Colossians 1:15-20: An Early Christian Hymn? The Arguments from Style," Vox Evangelica 15 (1985): 65-94.

This will prove of interest to those interested in Colossians, but its implications for similar arguments from style and vocabulary are applicable to other books in the New Testament as well.

Ralph P. Martin on Reconciliation and Forgiveness in the Letter to the Colossians

The following article is now on-line in PDF:

Ralph P. Martin, "Reconciliation and Forgiveness in the Letter to the Colossians," Robert Banks, ed., Reconciliation and Hope. New Testament Essays on Atonement and Eschatology Presented to L.L. Morris on his 60th Birthday. Carlisle: The Paternoster Press, 1974. pp. 104-124.

Everything Ralph Martin writes on Colossians is worth reading and this article is no exception.

George Eldon Ladd on Apocalyptic and New Testament Theology

The following article is now on-line in PDF:

George Eldon Ladd, "Apocalyptic and New Testament Theology," Robert Banks, ed., Reconciliation and Hope. New Testament Essays on Atonement and Eschatology Presented to L.L. Morris on his 60th Birthday. Carlisle: The Paternoster Press, 1974. pp.285-296.

Ladd sums up his article in these words:

we have tried to show that the New Testament owes its basic structure to Jewish apocalyptic, which was in turn derived from the Old Testament. Apart from the inauguration of the age to come, God’s work of salvation remains ever incomplete. Because we have already experienced the powers of the age to come, it remains more than a hope; it is a certainty based both on the teaching of Scripture and on Christian experience.

Another Small Addition

Caleb Luke Bradshaw, born 5th November 2008, weighing 7lbs 13oz. Both baby and mummy are doing well. Thank you for your prayers.

G.R. Beasley-Murray on How Christian is the Book of Revelation

The following article is now on-line in PDF:

G.R. Beasley-Murray, “How Christian is the Book of Revelation?” Robert Banks, ed., Reconciliation and Hope. New Testament Essays on Atonement and Eschatology Presented to L.L. Morris on his 60th Birthday. Carlisle: The Paternoster Press, 1974. pp.275-284.

The Christian nature of the book of Revelation has often been called into question. Beasley-Murray argues that its message is consistent with teachings found elsewhere in the New Testament.

A New Bibliographic Resource on the Book of Esther

I have just received details of the following book, which may be of interest to some:

Edith Lubetski and Meir Lubetski, The Book of Esther: A Classified Bibliography. Sheffield Phoenix Press, 2008. ISBN 978-1-905048-33-5. pp.288.

This comprehensive bibliography to scholarly works on the biblical book of Esther contains over 1900 references. It includes titles of books, collected works, Festschriften, theses, journal articles, essays in collections, encyclopedia and dictionary articles, and online material. It is a classified bibliography, arranged in three categories-commentaries, biblical chapters and verses, and subject headings in alphabetical order.

The scope of the bibliography is international, and its focus is on research from the last hundred years. Scholars, students, clergy, and librarians -- among them literary scholars, sociologists, historians, linguists, art historians, feminists, and Christian and Jewish scholars -- will find this unique volume an indispensable resource and stimulus to further research.

Edith Lubetski is Head Librarian, Hedi Steinberg Library, Yeshiva University, New York. Meir Lubetski is Professor of Modern Languages and Comparative Literature, Baruch College, City University of New York.

REVIEWS

The authors of this bibliography have given us a marvelous work, one composed with great industry, patience and skill. Its broad coverage, including older commentaries that might not be so well known, will make it a most valuable resource to both scholars and students. Also, the authors have carefully brought out the multiple topics in a work, not always clear from its title, and have greatly facilitated the researcher's task by giving full listings under each subject, without the need for cross references. It's a bibliography fit for a queen!

Peter Kearney, Library of Congress Hebraica Team, retired

The Book of Esther is, to say the least, enigmatic. Of all the biblical texts recovered amongst the so-called Dead Sea Scrolls, there is no trace of Esther. Indeed, the rabbis of yore argued over its inclusion in the biblical canon, for how can it be a holy text if God and God's Name are absent? Yet this small book of the Bible has inspired scholarly exegetes and popular novelists, as the Lubetskis demonstrate in this exemplary bibliography of two-hundred and eighty-six pages. I daresay it sets a standard that others will have to match. And, Deo volente, would that others attempt to tackle the remaining twenty-three books of the Hebrew Bible!

Philip E. Miller, Director, the Klau Library
Hebrew Union-College-Jewish Institute of Religion, New York

Past President, the Association of Jewish Libraries, 1982-1984

The Lubetskis have created a comprehensive and thoughtfully organized bibliography of Esther scholarship. It will undoubtedly be a valuable tool in all areas of Esther studies.

Professor Michael Fox, University of Wisconsin

Max Turner on Ecclesiology in the Major 'Apostolic' Restorationist Churches in the United Kingdom

The following article is now on-line in PDF:

Max Turner, "Ecclesiology in the Major 'Apostolic' Restorationist Churches in the United Kingdom," Vox Evangelica 19 (1989): 83-108.

For those interested in reading more about Restorationist churches I would recommend Andrew Walker's Restoring the Kingdom.

Sarah Palin a Modern-Day Deborah?

Many Christians are arguing that Sarah Palin's candidacy for US Vice-President is justified by the Old Testament account of Deborah, even many of those who hold a complemenatarian view of male-female relationships. This article by William Einwechter provides another perspective on this argument which is well worth a read:

But What About Deborah? Why the Example of Deborah Does not Support the Candidacy of Sarah Palin