RBL Highlights: 2/18/09

Highlights from the most recent Review of Biblical Literature (or, check out the blogroll):

Bill T. Arnold and Bryan E. Beyer
Encountering the Old Testament: A Christian Survey
Reviewed by Elmer A. Martens

Gabriele Boccaccini, ed.
Enoch and the Messiah Son of Man: Revisiting the Book of Parables
Reviewed by Thomas J. Kraus

Mark J. Boda, Daniel K. Falk, and Rodney A. Werline, eds.
Seeking the Favor of God, Volume 2: The Development of Penitential Prayer in Second Temple Judaism
Reviewed by Carla Sulzbach

Victor A. Copan
Saint Paul as Spiritual Director: An Analysis of the Concept of the Imitation of Paul with Implications and Applications to the Practice of Spiritual Direction
Reviewed by V. Henry T. Nguyen

Sidnie White Crawford
Rewriting Scripture in Second Temple Times
Reviewed by Stephen A. Reed

Michael Attyah Flower
The Seer in Ancient Greece
Reviewed by John Mason

David G. Horrell
1 Peter
Reviewed by Peter H. Davids

Graham H. Twelftree
In the Name of Jesus: Exorcism among Early Christians
Reviewed by David Frankfurter

Congratulations Dr. Breslin!

Charles Breslin, a beloved friend and mentor to myself and scores of other students and aspiring academics in Louisville and beyond, was recently inducted into the University of Louisville's College of Arts and Sciences Hall of Honor. A brief press release is available here.

To say that this recognition was entirely deserved would be a spectacular understatement. Congratulations!

Arthur Stocker Lecture: Craig on Cicero

A recent announcement from the Classics Department:

New Testament Notes: Week 5 (Monday)

Today's installment (albeit a little belated): an introduction to the Gospel of John.

RELC122 Notes: 2/9

Paul Firesale

As I'm currently taking a class on modern interpretations of Paul, I felt obligated to note that several titles relating to the ancient genius are currently on sale at Dove:

Christophersen, Alf Carsten Claussen, Jorg Frey, Bruce Longenecker (eds)
Paul, Luke and the Graeco Roman World: Essays in Honour of Alexander J M Wedderburn
(T & T Clark International, 2003)
Paperback List: $84.00 Dove Price: $26.99
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The contributors to this volume are David Aune, Stephen Barton, Richard Bauckham, Richard Bell, James Dunn, Ferdinand Hahn, Christina Hoegen-Rohls, Robert Jewett, Hans Klein, H.-W. Kuhn, David Moessner, Stanley Porter, Heikki Raisanen, Margaret Thrall, Christopher Tuckett, Oda Wischmeyer and Christian Wolff. The topics include, among others, Paulinism in Acts, a comparision of the Lord's Supper with cultic meals in Qumran and in Hellenistic cults, glossolalia in Acts, the Lukan prologue, 'new creation' in Paul, and Adama and Christ in Romans. The volume is compiled in honour of A.J.M. (Sandy) Wedderburn, of the University of Munich, formerly of St Andrews and Durham, and a bibliography of his writings is included.

Ehrensperger, Kathy
That We May Be Mutually Encouraged: Feminism and the New Perspective in Pauline Studies
(T & T Clark International, 2004)
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There has been a revolutionary shift of thinking in Pauline Studies, fundamentally changing the image of Paul. Postmodern literary criticism of Paul's epistles and sociorhetorical criticism of his letters has created a "New Perspective" approach to Pauline studies. At the same time, feminist criticism of the Pauline corpus has been growing. Unfortunately there has been hardly any interaction and exchange of research results between these different strands of scholarship. The result of this is that in Pauline studies scholars are hardly aware of feminist perspectives. Similarly, feminist interpretations of Paul, not fully conversant with the most recent strands of Pauline research, are often based on traditional images of Paul. Ehrensperger's analysis of feminist commentaries on Paul thus contains a rather negative depiction of theological thinking. However, both strands of research, feminist and those of the "New Perspective," provide fresh and illuminating insights that emphasize similar aspects from different perspectives. Ehrensperger advocates a closer interaction between these two schools of Pauline studies. She analyzes Romans 14-15, exploring the results of recent research in both Pauline schools. Pauline studies from the 'New Perspective' emphasizes the Jewish context and texture of Paul's thinking. She sets these in dialogue with feminist theology, which focuses on issues of identity, diversity, and relationality. Her study results in a perspective on Paul which views him as a significant dialogue partner in the search for a theology beyond anti-Semitism and misogyny, beyond force and domination.

Contents Acknowledgments Pt. 1 Hermeneutics and presuppositions 1 Introduction 1 2 Changing perspectives 5 3 Different perspectives 43 Pt. 2 Paul in contemporary studies and theologies 4 Paul - beyond the new perspective 123 5 Paul in feminist perspectives 161 6 "That we may be mutually encouraged" (Rom 1:12) 177 7 Conclusion 195 Bibliography 203 Index 234

Harvey, A E
Renewal Through Suffering: A Study of 2 Corinthians
(T & T Clark International, 1996)
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This book represents a fresh approach to the study of 2 Corinthians. In the first chapter of the epistle, Paul recounts how he had been faced suddenly with the prospect of imminent death. Either he had succumbed to a severe illness or was suffering the effects of savage persecution. In either case Dr. Harvey believes that some of the profound but difficult language in the central chapters may best be explained by reference to this traumatic event. He begins by exploring the social, economic and religious consequences of illness or disability in antiquity and the radically new understanding of suffering to which Paul was led by his near-death experience. The remainder of the book takes the form of a running commentary, bringing out the implications of this biographical approach for understanding the text of 2 Corinthians. Despite addressing detailed questions of a technical nature, this study is presented in a clear and readable form and will prove illuminating for all those - scholars, students, or more general readers - interested in St. Paul and 2 Corinthians.

Contents Preface Abbreviations Ch. 1 The Tribulations in Ephesus 2 Cor. 1.3-9 Ch. 2 The Aftermath 2 Cor. 1.10-4.6 Ch. 3 The Renewing Experience 2 Cor. 4.7-7.16 Ch. 4 The Commissioning 2 Cor. 8-9 Ch. 5 The Apologia 2 Cor. 10-13 Ch. 6 Renewal through Suffering Bibliography Index of References Index of Modern Authors General Index

Heyer, C J Den
Paul: A Man of Two Worlds
(Trinity Press International, 2000)
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The apostle Paul is a controversial figure, both admired and reviled. His letters have influenced creeds and dogmatic statements, but he is also accused of turning the "simple" gospel that Jesus preached into a complex dogmatic system. Furthermore, on the authority of Paul, women have been given second place in church and society for many centuries. The "apostle to the Gentiles" has sometimes been a source of inspiration, but he has more often than not been a stumbling block when Jews and Christians meet. This book tackles all of these and other issues surrounding Paul and presents him for the widest possible audience. With his enviable gift for clear and popular writing, C. J. den Heyer here takes on a particularly difficult task and shows great mastery in offering a detailed portrait of one of the most controversial figures in the ancient world.

Hunt, Allen R
Inspired Body: Paul, the Corinthians and Divine Inspiration
(Mercer University Press, 1996)
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The Inspired Body examines 1 Corinthians 2:6-16 in an effort to understand one example of an early Christian view of divine inspiration. First, Allen Hunt examines other ancient descriptions of the phenomenon of divine inspiration, with particular interest in those descriptions that include a notion of the human search for the divine mind, a notion that is central to Paul's discussion in 1 Corinthians 2:6-16. The investigation seeks to identify who is described as inspired in these other ancient texts and also how that inspiration is explained. Representative ancient writers, including Plato, Plutarch, Julian, Philo, and Josephus, are examined. The work then investigates the details of Paul's discussion of divine inspiration in 1 Corinthians 2:6-16 and uses the parallel ancient discussions to elucidate Paul's argument. This book changes how 1 Corinthians, in particular chapters 2, 3, 12, and 14, is to be read, and reframes the question of divine inspiration.

Contents Preface Abbreviations and Citations Introduction The Problem Previous Scholarship The Present Study Part I: I Corinthians 2:6-16 In Its Cultural Context Chapter 1: Ancient Inquiry Into the Divine Mind: The Greek Tradition Greek Drama and Poetry Plato Plutarch Julian Conclusions Chapter 2: Ancient Inquiry Into the Divine Mind: The Jewish Tradition Philo Josephus Apocalyptic and LXX Traditions Excursus: Post--Pauline Christian Literature Conclusions Chapter 3: A First Look at 1 Cor 2:6-16 Part II: A New Reading of I Corinthians 2:6-16 and Its Implications Chapter 4: 1 Corinthians 2:6-16 and Inspired Community 1 Corinthians 2:6-16 Within Its Epistolary Setting The Language of Inspiration and Divine Inquiry in 1 Cor 2:6-16 The Church as Inspired Community Conclusions Chapter 5: 1 Corinthians 3:1-4 and Communal Division Paul's Use of Irony Paul's Modification of Communal Behavior The Topoi of Two Levels of Teachings and Secret Doctrines Conclusions Chapter 6: The Inspired Body of Christ in 1 Corinthians 12 The Issue of Inspired Speech (1 Cor 12:1-3) The Specifics of Communal Inspiration (1 Cor 12:4-13) The Equality of Inspiration (1 Cor 12:22-26) The Proper Allegiance of Christians (1 Cor 12:27-31) Conclusions Chapter 7: 1 Corinthians 14 and Corporate Worship 14:1-12: Inspired Speech and Redone 14:13-19: The Criterion of the 14:20-25: Community, Childishness, and Ecstasy Communal Reciprocity in 14:26-36 Recapitulation and Sarcasm: 14:37-40 Conclusions Conclusions Bibliographies Reference Works Ancient Sources: Texts, Editions, and Translations Secondary Literature Cited Indexes

Polaski, Sandra Hack
Paul and the Discourse of Power
(T & T Clark International, 1999)
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Drawing on postmodern theory's insights regarding discourse, ideology and power, this book explores the ways Paul navigated fluctuating and complex relationships of power with his churches, contributing to a discourse that defined the power dynamics of early Christianity. With respect to his own converts as well as other leaders of the early church, and in the heart of his theological language, Paul is seen to take part in a discourse that reinforces his apostolic authority.

Porter, Stanley E Craig A Evans (eds)
Pauline Writings
(T & T Clark International, 1995)
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This volume collects the best articles on the Pauline writings from the first fifty issues of the Journal for the Study of the New Testament. The range of the volume reflects the breadth of the journal itself. Here the reader will find ground-breaking studies which introduce new critical questions and move into fresh areas of enquiry, surveys of the state of play in this particular topic of New Testament studies, and articles which engage with each other in specific debates. For students this book offers an invaluable critical introduction to Pauline studies. More advanced students and scholars can use it to find background material or to gain an overview of the research in this area of scholarship. This builds on the reputation of JSNT as a conduit for first-class research and a major influence within the scholarly community.

Contents Paul the Apostle E. Best / Paul's Apostolic Authority - ? D. Luhrmann / Paul and the Pharisaic Tradition W.O. Walker / Acts and the Pauline Corpus Reconsidered Pauline Interpretation of Sacred Tradition J.W. Aageson / Typology, Correspondence, and the Application of Scripture in Romans 9-11 A. T. Hanson / The Midrash in 2 Corinthians 3: A Reconsideration W.A. Meeks / And Rose up to Play: Midrash and Paranesis in 1 Corinthians 10: 1-22 J.A. Ziesler / The Role of the Tenth Commandment in Romans 7 Pauline Theology K. Snodgrass / Spheres of Influence: A Possible Solution to the Problem of Paul and the Law J. Piper / The Demonstration of the Righteousness of God in Romans 3: 25, 26 C.L. Mearns / Early Eschatological Development in Paul: The Evidence of 1 Corinthians C. Rowland / Apocalyptic Visions and the Exaltation of Christ in the Letter to the Colossians Pauline Letter-Form and Rhetoric L. Alexander / Hellenistic Letter-Forms and the Structure of Philippians J.M.G. Barclay / Mirror-Reading a Polemical Letter: Galatians as a Test Case F. Young / The Pastoral Epistles and the Ethics of Reading Index of References Index of Authors

Thuren, Lauri
Derhetorizing Paul: A Dynamic Perspective on Pauline Theology and the Law
(Trinity Press International, 2002)
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When we read 1 Thessalonians 1:8, Paul seems to be calling for an end to all missionary activity: "In every place your faith toward God has gone forth, so that we have no need to speak a word." Given what we know about Paul, this notion strikes Christian readers as very curious. According to Lauri Thur?n, Paul and his listeners would find modern Pauline scholarship and interpretation equally curious. Expressions like the one from 1 Thessalonians were never meant to be taken at face value, and have promoted sophisticated but erroneous theological and historical reflections. These errors are due not only to the scholarly ignorance of ancient rhetorical and epistolary conventions, but also to a static attitude toward the text itself. Thur?n offers a different kind of study, one based on a natural and dynamic reading of Paul's letters. These letters need to be stripped of rhetoric, he says, in order to describe any theology beyond the texts. This means identifying persuasive devices in Pauline texts in order to filter out their effect on the theological ideas expressed.

Contents Preface Pt. I The Dynamics of Paul's Writings 1 Towards a Sensible Interpretation of Paul 2 Was Paul a Theologian? 3 From a Static to a Dynamic View of Paul's Text 4 Was Paul Sincere? Pt. II The Law in Paul's Theology 1 Solutions with Problems 2 The Law in Galatians 3 The Law Strikes Back: Romans and 1 Cor 4 What Was Wrong With the Law? Pt. III Paul Derhetorized? 1 Summary 2 Concluding Remarks on the Dynamic Perspective Literature Indices Thur?n applies this principle to a controversial issue in Pauline theology, the question of law. He claims that Paul's exaggerated statements correspond to his hyperbolic way of thinking. Paul's search for consistency on the Old Testament, Thur?n claims, was a major reason for his revolt against the Law. Derhetorizing Paul offers a bold new reading of Paul's letters and a striking reinterpretation of Pauline theology.

Wedderburn, A J M (ed)
Paul and Jesus: Collected Essays
(T & T Clark International, 2004)
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The relationship between the messages of Jesus and Paul, once dubbed by one scholar 'the second founder of Christianity', must count as one of the most central issues in the study of the New Testament. The essays collected in this volume first survey the history of the study of this problem, and look at some of the main evidence for supposing that the connection between Jesus and Paul was slight, notably the paucity of Paul's references to Jesus' teachings and his seeming disinterest in the earthly Jesus. Other essays take up the question of the continuity between the teaching and the manner of life of the two men, and raise the question how this continuity may have been mediated from one to the other. A final essay raises the question how far Paul's statements about Christ were related to the earthly life of Jesus. This volume brings together a number of substantial contributions to this question, by Professor V.P. Furnish of Dallas, by two scholars from the German Democratic Republic, Professor N. Walter and Dr C. Wolff, and by the editor; some are published for the first time, some are here made available in English for the first time.

Contents 1. Alexander J. M. Wedderburn / Introduction 2. Victor Paul Furnish / The Jesus-Paul Debate: From Baur to Bultmann 3. Nikolaus Walter / Paul and the Early Jesus Tradition 4. Christian Wolff / True Apostolic Knowledge of Christ: Exegetical Reflections of 2 Corinthians 5:14ff 5. Alexander J. M. Wedderburn / Paul and Jesus: The Problem of Continuity 6. Alexander J. M. Wedderburn / Paul and Jesus: Similarity and Continuity 7. Christian Wolff / Humility and Self-Denial in Jesus' Life and Message and in the Apostolic Existence of Paul 8. Alexander J. M. Wedderburn / Paul and the Story of Jesus 9. Alexander J. M. Wedderburn / Postscript Index of passages cited Index of authors cited

New Testament Notes: Week 4 (Wednesday)

Unfortunately, no notes from Monday (as I was out of town), but here are some riveting observations from the second lecture of the week, primarily on the Gospel of Luke:

RELC 122 Notes: 2/4

RBL Highlights: 2/8/09

Selections from the most recent Review of Biblical Literature:

J. Edward Ellis
Paul and Ancient Views of Sexual Desire: Paul's Sexual Ethics in 1 Thessalonians 4, 1 Corinthians 7 and Romans 1
Reviewed by James W. Aageson

Steven D. Fraade, Aharon Shemesh, and Ruth A. Clements, eds.
Rabbinic Perspectives: Rabbinic Literature and the Dead Sea Scrolls (Proceedings of the Eighth International Symposium of the Orion Center for the Study of the Dead Sea Scrolls and Associated Literature, 7-9 January, 2003)
Reviewed by Moshe J. Bernstein

Donald E. Hartley
The Wisdom Background and Parabolic Implications of Isaiah 6:9-10 in the Synoptics
Reviewed by Stephen Moyise

Scot McKnight and Joseph B. Modica, eds.
Who Do My Opponents Say That I Am? An Investigation of the Accusations against the Historical Jesus
Reviewed by Samuel Lamerson
Reviewed by Stephan Witetschek

Karen B. Stern
Inscribing Devotion and Death: Archaeological Evidence for Jewish Populations of North Africa
Reviewed by Steven Fine

New Testament Notes: Week 3 (Wednesday)

And some brief notes from this morning's lecture, which discussed the various messianic paradigms presented in the Gospel of Mark:

RELC122 Notes: 1/28

New Testament Notes: Week 3 (Monday)

Here are some brief notes from Monday's lecture, which was an introduction to Christian gospels in general and the canonical gospels in particular. The second half of the lecture featured the "Synoptic Problem" (the scholarly conundrum surrounding the nature of the literary relationship between Matthew, Mark, and Luke) and the "Two-Source Hypothesis" (the most popular solution to this problem).

RELC 122 Notes:1/26

RBL Highlights: 1/27/09

Many of these have recently appeared in the blogroll, but for anyone who may have missed them:

Margaret Barker
Temple Themes in Christian Worship
Reviewed by Mary L. Coloe

Paul C. Burns, ed.
Jesus in Twentieth Century Literature, Art, and Movies
Reviewed by Tsalampouni Ekaterini
Reviewed by Richard Walsh

Bruce Chilton
Abraham's Curse: The Roots of Violence in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam
Reviewed by Marvin A. Sweeney

John Day, ed.
Temple and Worship in Biblical Israel: Proceedings of the Oxford Old Testament Seminar
Reviewed by Aren M. Maeir

William A. Ford
God, Pharaoh and Moses: Explaining the Lord's Actions in the Exodus Plagues Narrative
Reviewed by Hee Suk Kim
Reviewed by Brian D. Russell

J. Harold Greenlee
The Text of the New Testament: From Manuscript to Modern Edition
Reviewed by J. K. Elliott

Robert H. Gundry
The Old Is Better: New Testament Essays in Support of Traditional Interpretations
Reviewed by Michael F. Bird

Francis J. Moloney
The Living Voice of the Gospels
Reviewed by Stephan Witetschek

Risto Nurmela
The Mouth of the Lord Has Spoken: Inner-biblical Allusions in Second and Third Isaiah
Reviewed by Christophe Nihan

U. B. Schmid, with W. J. Elliott and D. C. Parker
The New Testament in Greek IV: The Gospel according to St. John: Volume 2: The Majuscules
Reviewed by Marcus Sigismund

Kenton L. Sparks
God's Word in Human Words: An Evangelical Appropriation of Critical Biblical Scholarship
Reviewed by Arthur Boulet
Reviewed by Jeffrey A. Gibbs

Clinton Wahlen
Jesus and the Impurity of Spirits in the Synoptic Gospels
Reviewed by Mark D. Batluck

Thomas R. Yoder Neufeld
Recovering Jesus: The Witness of the New Testament
Reviewed by V. George Shillington

NT and Early Christianity Online: Can I Do It?

At various points throughout the life of this blog, I've attempted to compose regular posts describing and responding to various courses in which I've been enrolled... and if these attempts were graded, each would necessarily receive an "Incomplete." The semester gets busier and busier... projects, proposals, and reading assignments pile up... and blogging of any kind seems to fall by the wayside. Nevertheless, memories of these past failures have not deterred me from a new project: to post my notes from my current teaching assignment (assisting Prof. Harry Gamble in his lecture course, Introduction to the New Testament and Early Christianity). To those of you back at dear old Christ Church United Methodist in Louisville who were asking about how to better grasp the historical context of Jesus and the earliest Christian movements: see if these resources whet your appetite! My first set of lecture notes may be viewed below:

RELC 122 Notes: 1/21

Enjoy... and wish me luck! ;-)

More RBL Highlights... Plus, New RBL Blog!

Although I'll continue to post selections from the Review of Biblical Literature as I receive them via e-mail, I've also added the newly created blog (http://rblnewsletter.blogspot.com/) to the blogroll. One interesting feature of the latter resource is that the comments feature is currently enabled, allowing viewers to add their own musings regarding the included books and reviews. I have a feeling, however, that this arrangement for long... I can see some nasty exchanges erupting there.

James W. Aageson
Paul, the Pastoral Epistles, and the Early Church
Reviewed by David J. Downs

Bruce Chilton, ed.
The Cambridge Companion to the Bible
Reviewed by Douglas Estes

Naomi G. Cohen
Philo's Scriptures: Citations from the Prophets and Writings: Evidence for a Haftarah Cycle in Second Temple Judaism
Reviewed by Torrey Seland

James D. G. Dunn
The New Perspective on Paul
Reviewed by J. R. Daniel Kirk

Paul Rhodes Eddy and Gregory A. Boyd
The Jesus Legend: A Case for the Historical Reliability of the Synoptic Jesus Tradition
Reviewed by Ken Olson

Robert C. Hill, translation with introduction and commentary; Greek text revised by John F. Petruccione
Theodoret of Cyrus: The Questions of the Octateuch, Volume 1: On Genesis and Exodus
Reviewed by Randall L. McKinion

Robert C. Hill, translation with introduction and commentary; Greek text revised by John F. Petruccione
Theodoret of Cyrus: The Questions on the Octateuch, Volume 2: On Levitcus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, and Ruth
Reviewed by Randall L. McKinion

Jerome Murphy-O'Connor
St. Paul's Ephesus: Texts and Archaeology
Reviewed by Jonathan L. Reed

Kuo-Wei Peng
Hate the Evil, Hold Fast to the Good: Structuring Romans 12.1-15.1
Reviewed by Carl N. Toney

Leonard J. Swidler
Jesus Was a Feminist: What the Gospels Reveal about His Revolutionary Perspective
Reviewed by Eve-Marie Becker
Reviewed by Kathleen E. Corley

RBL Highlights: 1/22/09

Selections from the most recent edition of the Review of Biblical Literature:

Dwayne H. Adams
The Sinner in Luke
Reviewed by Bruce Chilton
Reviewed by I. Howard Marshall

Diane Banks
Writing the History of Israel
Reviewed by Susanne Scholz

Wesley J. Bergen and Armin Siedlecki, eds.
Voyages in Uncharted Waters: Essays on the Theory and Practice of Biblical Interpretation in Honor of David Jobling
Reviewed by James West

William Sanger Campbell
The "We" Passages in the Acts of the Apostles: The Narrator as Narrative Character
Reviewed by Deborah Prince

Philip R. Davies
The Origins of Biblical Israel
Reviewed by K. L. Noll
Reviewed by Thomas L. Thompson

Clemens Leonhard
The Jewish Pesach and the Origins of the Christian Easter: Open Questions in Current Research
Reviewed by Jeffrey L. Morrow

Victor H. Matthews
Studying the Ancient Israelites: A Guide to Sources and Methods
Reviewed by Trent Butler

Wayne A. Meeks and John T. Fitzgerald, eds.
The Writings of St. Paul: Annotated Texts, Reception and Criticism
Reviewed by V. George Shillington

Hyung Dae Park
Finding Herem? A Study of Luke-Acts in the Light of Herem
Reviewed by Darin H. Land

John Riches
Galatians through the Centuries
Reviewed by John Dunnill
Reviewed by Martin Meiser

Todd D. Still, ed.
Jesus and Paul Reconnected: Fresh Pathways into an Old Debate
Reviewed by Otis Coutsoumpos

Paul Trebilco
The Early Christians in Ephesus from Paul to Ignatius
Reviewed by Markus Oehler

Unbelievable

Thanks to April DeConick and Nick Norelli for pointing me in the direction of this new program, available via radio or podcast, which brings believers and non-believers together to explore contentious questions related to Christian history and theology. (I'm listening to a discussion of Christian origins between Michael Bird and James Crossley as I write this post.)

Learn more about the program, and access the archive of previous broadcasts, here.

Kent Richards to Retire

Although he will remain on the job for another eighteen months, Kent Richards has announced his impending retirement as the Executive Director of the Society of Biblical Literature. I'm sure that I speak for many SBL members when I wish him the best.

Dear SBL Members,

I am writing on behalf of the SBL Council to announce to the Society membership the decision of Kent Richards to retire as Executive Director of the Society of Biblical Literature effective June 30, 2010. It is with regret that we contemplate the end of his time in leadership of the Society, but we wish to face the necessary transitions ahead in a spirit of celebration for the many contributions Kent has made to leave a strengthened and vigorous Society as his legacy.

Under his leadership the program of the Annual Meeting has expanded and diversified; the International Meeting has become a major forum of global biblical scholarship; the membership has grown; the Society has strengthened its reputation as a major and respected publisher; the Society has played a leading role in the American Council of Learned Societies; a major initiative on teaching Bible in the public schools has been developed; an outstanding staff team has been recruited and organized; and the Society has enjoyed financial stability, strong fiscal management, and excellent administrative leadership. Especially noteworthy has been Kent’s steady hand, discerning judgment and wise council in the difficult circumstances of the unanticipated withdrawal of the AAR from joint sponsorship of the Annual Meeting. The unqualified success of the first SBL Annual Meeting held recently in Boston independent from the AAR is in no small measure a testimony to Kent’s leadership in this period. If, as seems likely, some new relationship with the AAR in future Annual Meetings becomes a reality, this too will reflect Kent’s careful guidance through difficult issues and circumstances. It is hard to imagine how the Society could have been served any better by its Executive Director during this unusual period.

I have no doubt that the next year and a half will see many opportunities to recognize and celebrate Kent Richards’ contributions to the Society of Biblical Literature, but I have chosen to begin that celebration now by soliciting several comments from colleagues who have worked closely with Kent during his tenure as Executive Director.

"Kent Richards has provided extraordinary leadership for the Society of Biblical Literature. An energetic visionary, he has also provided a steady hand in the administration of the Society in challenging circumstances. We wish him well in retirement." Harold Attridge, Yale University.

"Kent Richards has successfully envisioned and shaped a future for the society that makes possible the richest forms of interdisciplinary conversation. The number and variety of programs at the annual and international meetings are a testament to his understanding of the diverse scholarly, professional, and religious communities of our contemporary world. He has led the society in connecting the world of information technology with the work of biblical research. Having brought to his work the background and perspective of a biblical scholar and teacher, he knows the value of collegiality and has operated as a trusted and valued colleague even as he has performed the many intricate and difficult tasks of managerial leadership. Kent has been a visionary, innovative, and steady leader who has richly prepared the Society for its work in the 21st century." Brian Blount, Union Theological Seminary in Richmond.

"Kent Richards has provided visionary leadership during a formative period of the Society. SBL is now the envy of many ACLS organizations, what with its vigorous meetings and publication program." David Petersen, Emory University.

"Kent’s vision for the future of biblical studies, his willingness to do the work necessary to move us toward that vision, his attention to detail, and his gracious and hospitable leadership style have been marvelous gifts to the Society. We owe him a particular debt of thanks for working to increase the visibility of scholarship by underrepresented constituencies across the globe." Katharine Doob Sakenfeld, Princeton Theological Seminary.

A search committee for Kent’s successor has been named and will be announced in the near future. A position announcement and statement on the search process will be posted soon on the SBL website and circulated widely. Please watch for these important announcements. We are grateful that Kent Richards has given us a strong, healthy and productive professional society through his leadership. That in itself will help make the transition to a new leadership a smooth one.

Sincerely,

Bruce C. Birch
Chair, SBL Council

From Dove: Limited Markdowns On Sale Through Saturday

Check out nearly 600 titles offered at significant discounts (sometimes as large as 80%). For every four books purchased, buyers receive a fifth (of equal or lesser value) at no charge. I haven't examined the entire list, but I did see a number of worthwhile bargains on the first few pages, including Jodi Magness' The Archaeology of Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls and volumes from the Anchor Yale Bible, Hermeneia, and Word Biblical Commentary series.

The available titles may be viewed here.

Call for Papers: Sixth Annual Duke/UNC Islamic Studies Conference

For any interested Islamicists out there:

6th Annual Duke-UNC-CH Graduate Islamic Studies Conference

The Departments of Religion at Duke University and the
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are now
accepting papers for inclusion in their Sixth Annual
Graduate Islamic Studies Conference.

Negotiating Multiple Islams: Societies, Traditions, and
Cultures in Context

April 4-5 2009

Global Education Center, University of North Carolina,
Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Mohsen Kadivar, Visiting Professor,
University of Virginia

Dr. Mohsen Kadivar studied in the Qom Seminaries in Iran
and obtained his ijtihad certificate in religious knowledge
from Ayatollah Montazeri in 1996. In 1998 he completed his
PhD in Western and Islamic Philosophy, with a focus on
Transcendental Philosophy, from Tarbiyat Modarres
University. He has penned 11 books and over 50 articles in
philosophy, Islamic theology, Shi'i political and
jurisprudential thought, and Islamic law. Among his best
known books are Theories of Government in Shi'i Fiqh and
Government by Guardianship (hokumat-e vela'i)
(www.kadivar.com).

Respondents:

Dr. Anna Bigelow, Assistant Professor of Philosophy and
Religion, North Carolina State University (tentative)

Dr. Carl Ernst, Kenan Distinguished Professor of Religious
Studies, UNC

Dr. Ebrahim Moosa, Professor of Islamic Studies, Duke

Dr. Omid Safi, Professor of Religious Studies, UNC

Negotiating Multiple Islams:

The study of Islam today has moved well beyond early
Orientalist assumptions of seeing it as a monolithic
religious entity. Static and reductionist categories have
been replaced in order to account for the dynamic and
"lived" aspects of Islam, bringing into focus its multiple
interpretations and manifestations that transcend cultural
boundaries. "Lived Islam" includes the variety of ways that
Muslims express their devotion to Islam in both
intellectual and "popular" traditions, through text and
performance. It also brings into view the different ways
that Muslims approach their religious texts, and the
interpretive moves they make between theory and praxis.

The theme of our conference, "Negotiating Multiple Islams,"
is aimed specifically at generating discussion on how
scholars that speak of Islam in its different contexts and
its lived aspects respond to the issues that accompany such
an approach. Some of the questions we seek to address are:
How are competing forces of heterogeneity and homogeneity
reconciled in the context of a global Islam? And
methodologically, what impact does an emphasis on lived
aspects of Islam have on the interpretation of historical
sources? Also, which voices are included and/or excluded
through these approaches? How can scholars of Islam and
Muslim societies reconcile the commonly-presented vision of
Islam as stagnant and rigid with the many vibrant
adaptations of Islam being practiced? How does the
acknowledgment of the diversity of expressions address
questions of normativity and authority? Does the notion of
"multiple Islams" subvert Muslim self-representations of
Islam as transcendent, crossing time and place?

For this year's conference, we encourage papers that
explore these questions and seek to contextualize the
societies, cultures, and traditions in which they occur. We
welcome topics that cover a wide range of issues and
incorporate a variety of methodologies and approaches ?
textual, anthropological, sociological, critical
theoretical, and historical, among others. In addition to
formal papers, we also welcome multimedia presentations,
such as student-produced films, that are related to the
theme of the conference.

Possible themes for paper topics include (but are not
limited to):

* lived Islam in urban and rural environments

* critical responses to tradition and authority

* revival and reform movements and the notion of
multiple modernities

* popular and vernacular Islam in current and
historical contexts

* construction of competing identities

* Islamic art and architecture

* pluralistic ethics and Islam

* living and engaging sacred texts

* multiple interpretive authorities and local traditions

* Muslim women as scholars and leaders

* between Islamic law (Shari'ah) and jurisprudence
(fiqh) in local and transnational contexts

As a hallmark of the Duke-UNC Islamic Studies Conference we
will provide opportunity for interactive, deliberative, and
inter-disciplinary engagement with scholarly work in
progress by setting this gathering in an intimate workshop
format. We expect that those invited to present papers will
remain for the duration of the conference in order to
engage the other participants in a true exchange of ideas.
Lunch and refreshments will be provided on both days and a
formal dinner will be held on Saturday night.

Limited financial assistance to cover travel expenses may
be available to those who demonstrate financial need and
are not receiving funding from their home institutions.

To apply, please send the following to
DukeUNCconf@gmail.com

* paper title

* proposal of no more than 500 words

* CV

* brief biographical sketch

The deadline for submissions is February 15, 2009.

Organizers:

Department of Religious Studies UNC-Chapel Hill

Rose Aslan

Tehseen Thaver

Department of Sociology, UNC-Chapel Hill

Aseem Hasnain

Department of Religion, Duke University

Susan Langford

Dan Holodnik

Erik Norell

Nate Schick

The Study of Religion in Five Acts: A Proposal

One of the principal requirements for last semester's methodology seminar was the formulation and construction of a syllabus for an undergraduate theory course of our own. It was a surprisingly rigorous assignment (I have a greatly increased respect for all you professors out there!), but ultimately I was pretty pleased with my efforts. Check out my prospective syllabus here:

REL 350: The Study of Religion in Five Acts

From Dove: Baker and Fortress Titles on Sale

For a limited time, selected titles are 20% off. Check them out here.

Recent RBL Highlights

From the last couple editions of the Review of Biblical Literature:

Paul Foster, ed.
The Writings of the Apostolic Fathers
Reviewed by Taras Khomych

Robert P. Gordon
The God of Israel
Reviewed by Ben C. Ollenburger

Christiana de Groot and Marion Ann Taylor, eds.
Recovering Nineteenth-Century Women Interpreters of the Bible
Reviewed by Caryn A. Reeder

Hans-Josef Klauck
Ancient Letters and the New Testament: A Guide to Context and Exegesis
Reviewed by Matthew D. Montonini

Nikolaos Lazaridis
Wisdom in Loose Form: The Language of Egyptian and Greek Proverbs in Collections of the Hellenistic and Roman Periods
Reviewed by John S. Kloppenborg

Ilana Pardes
Melville's Bibles
Reviewed by Mark Elliott

Peter M. Phillips
The Prologue to the Fourth Gospel: A Sequential Reading
Reviewed by John Painter

Christopher R. Seitz
Prophecy and Hermeneutics: Toward a New Introduction to the Prophets
Reviewed by Julia M. O'Brien

Hagith Sivan
Between Woman, Man and God: A New Interpretation of the Ten Commandments
Reviewed by William Marderness

J. Samuel Subramanian
The Synoptic Gospels and the Psalms as Prophecy
Reviewed by Thomas J. Kraus
Reviewed by Edward J. Mills III

Sigve K. Tonstad
Saving God's Reputation: The Theological Function of Pistis Iesou in the Cosmic Narratives of Revelation
Reviewed by Tobias Nicklas

Ben Witherington III
The Letters to Philemon, the Colossians, and the Ephesians: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary on the Captivity Epistles
Reviewed by Timothy Gombis

Hector Avalos
Fighting Words: The Origins of Religious Violence
Reviewed by J. Harold Ellens

Bob Becking
From David to Gedaliah: The Book of Kings as Story and History
Reviewed by Marvin A. Sweeney

Jason Beduhn and Paul Mirecki, eds.
Frontiers of Faith: The Christian Encounter with Manichaeism in the Acts of Archelaus
Reviewed by Tobias Nicklas

Roland Boer, ed.
Bakhtin and Genre Theory in Biblical Studies
Reviewed by Timothy J. Sandoval

Stephen K. Catto
Reconstructing the First-Century Synagogue: A Critical Analysis of Current Research
Reviewed by Birger Olsson
Reviewed by Jonathan Bernier

Nicola Denzey
The Bone Gatherers: The Lost Worlds of Early Christian Women
Reviewed by Paul Dilley

Deborah L. Ellens
Women in the Sex Texts of Leviticus and Deuteronomy: A Comparative Conceptual Analysis
Reviewed by Naomi Steinberg

Richard A. Horsley
Scribes, Visionaries, and the Politics of Second Temple Judea
Reviewed by Lester L. Grabbe

David R. Nienhuis
Not by Paul Alone: The Formation of the Catholic Epistle Collection and the Christian Canon
Reviewed by Patrick J. Hartin

Matthew B. Schwartz and Kalman J. Kaplan
The Fruit of Her Hands: A Psychology of Biblical Woman
Reviewed by Corinne Blackmer

Jan G. van der Watt, ed.
Identity, Ethics, and Ethos in the New Testament
Reviewed by H. H. Drake Williams III

Vicki Flippin, This Is For You!

From the most recent edition of the UMC's Faith in Action newsletter... this really isn't just for Vicki (a particularly awesome classmate of mine from YDS). Any young clergy with some money left in their travel/professional development allotments should put this on their calendar!

Young Clergy Leadership Forum
Feb. 8-11 in Washington, D.C.
Fifth annual social justice forum for clergy ages 35 and under will be at United Methodist Building.

More Brill Reprints from SBL

A few interesting titles to choose from here (particularly Epp's anthology of text-critical essays, although the steep price probably means that I'm going to be checking this one out of Alderman Library):

Because You Bear This Name: Conceptual Metaphor and the Moral Meaning of 1 Peter
Bonnie Howe

Because You Bear This Name argues that conceptual metaphor, grounded in embodied human experience, makes possible a shared moral discourse between the New Testament writers and readers today. The book has three foci: It explains why traditional understandings of metaphor are inadequate, introduces conceptual metaphor theory and methodology, and deploys those methods to analyze the cultural logic, moral content, and ethical implications of 1 Peter.

Paper $49.95 — ISBN 9781589833838 — 448 pages — Hardback edition www.brill.nl

Hebrews: Contemporary Methods—New Insights
Gabriella Gelardini, editor

This volume contains a collection of fourteen essays applying the latest and neglected methods and offering new and innovative insight into the interpretation of the New Testament book Hebrews. Part 1 focuses on cultic language, concepts, and practice in Hebrews; part 2 on sociology, ethics, and rhetoric in Hebrews; and part 3 on textual-historical, comparative, and intertextual approaches to Hebrews. This volume will particularly appeal to students, teachers, and scholars interested in a variety of critical perspectives on Hebrews and on the New Testament’s third great theologian next to Paul and John. Moreover, the treatment of hermeneutical, cultic, sociological, and comparative matters in the context of biblical, Greco-Roman, and rabbinic literature will make this collection valuable to an even broader readership.

Paper $37.95 — ISBN 9781589833869 — 304 pages — Hardback edition www.brill.nl

The Body Royal: The Social Poetics of Kingship in Ancient Israel
Mark W. Hamilton

The present volume seeks to identify the underlying code of meanings about the Israelite king operating in various ways in texts and other artifacts surviving from the culture. The focus is upon the (living) body of the king, its anatomical characteristics, its constitution through ritual, and the conventions concerning its proper self-display by the king. Combining linguistic and historical-critical analysis of biblical and ancient Near Eastern texts, this book argues that the royal psalms contain a set of officially sanctioned notions about the royal body and its use. Other texts, often from circles outside the royal court, significantly altered these notions. The king’s body was thus for ancient Israelites the locus of reflection on power, gender, religion, and even international relations.

Paper $37.95 — ISBN 9781589833821 — 340 pages — Hardback edition www.brill.nl

Perspectives on New Testament Textual Criticism: Collected Essays, 1962-2004
Eldon Jay Epp

This collection of frequently cited articles and chapters published from 1962 to 2004 provides perspective on the history and development of New Testament textual criticism, with descriptions and critique of the major text-critical theories and methods. Specific manuscripts and text-types such as the Codex Bezae and the D-text are discussed, as well as issues such as anti-Judaic tendencies, the ascension narratives, and the relationship of text and canon. Many of the essays from the last fifteen years emphasize the earliest period and papyrus manuscripts, particularly those found at Oxyrhynchus, and assess their socio-cultural and intellectual contexts, while articles from the last five years advocate or engage the more controversial aspects of current New Testament textual criticism, especially the issue of “original text.”

Paper $82.95 — ISBN 9781589833852 — 906 pages — Hardback edition www.brill.nl

Salvation in the New Testament: Perspectives on Soteriology
Jan G. van der Watt, editor

Salvation deals with becoming part of the people of God. In Salvation in the New Testament special attention is given to the nature and power of the salvific language used in the New Testament to express the dynamics of salvation. Individual articles on the different books of the New Testament highlight the diverse perspectives offered in these documents. The emphasis especially falls on the different images and metaphors that were used to express the event and moment of salvation, rather than on the results (ethics or behavior) of salvation. An overview of the different perspectives on soteriology in the New Testament offers the opportunity to compare similarities and differences in concepts and expressions. It also illustrates the dynamic interaction between historical situations and salvific language and expression.

Paper $59.95 — ISBN 9781589833845 — 556 pages — Hardback edition www.brill.nl

The Idea of Biblical Interpretation: Essays in Honor of James L. Kugel
Hindy Najman and Judith H. Newman, editors

The essays in this Festschrift honor James L. Kugel for his contribution to the field of biblical studies, in particular early biblical interpretation. The essays are organized in three roughly chronological categories. The first group treats some part of the Tanakh, ranging from the creation and Abraham stories of Genesis to the evolving conception of sacred writing in the prophetic literature. The second set of essays focuses chiefly on the literature of Second Temple Judaism, including Qumran and extrabiblical literature. The last group concerns the scriptural imagination at work in rabbinic literature, in Milton’s Paradise Lost, in the anti-Semitic work of Gerhard Kittel, up to the present in a treatment of Levinas and the Talmud.

Paper $65.95 — ISBN 9781589833876 — 624 pages — Hardback edition www.brill.nl

Women in Ugarit and Israel: Their Social and Religious Position in the Context of the Ancient Near East
Hennie J. Marsman

In this volume the presupposition is investigated whether women in a polytheistic society had a better position than women in a monotheistic society. To this end the social and religious position of women in Ugarit according to its literary texts is compared to that of women in Israel according to the Hebrew Bible, while the wider context of the ancient Near East is also taken into consideration. After an overview of feminist biblical exegesis, the book discusses the roles of women in the family and in society. It also provides an analysis of the roles of women as religious specialists and as worshippers. Finally, the data on the position of women in the literary texts is compared to that in non-literary texts.

Paper $79.95 – ISBN 9781589833883 – 792 pages — Hardback edition www.brill.nl

New from Routledge/Talyor & Francis: Encyclopedia of the Historical Jesus

Courtesy of Dove Booksellers, who are currently offering this title at a slight discount (although at these prices, I will be holding out for the paperback version, despite the fact that this is one of my absolute favorite subjects):

Featured Title

Evans, Craig A (ed) Encyclopedia of the Historical Jesus
(Routledge/Taylor & Francis, 2008)
Hardcover List: $190.00 Dove Price: $169.99
Save $20.01 (11%)

This Encyclopedia brings together the vast array of historical research into the reality of the man, the teachings, the acts, and the events ascribed to him that have served as the foundational story of one of the world's central religions. This kind of historiography is not biography. The historical study of the Jesus stories and the transmission of these stories through time have been of seminal importance to historians of religion. Critical historical examination has provided a way for scholars of Christianity for centuries to analyze the roots of legend and religion in a way that allows scholars an escape from the confines of dogma, belief, and theological interpretation. In recent years, historical Jesus studies have opened up important discussions concerning anti-Semitism and early Christianity and the political and ideological filtering of the Jesus story of early Christianity through the Roman empire and beyond.

Entries will cover the classical studies that initiated the new historiography, the theoretical discussions about authenticating the historical record, the examination of sources that have led to the western understanding of Jesus' teachings and disseminated myth of the events concerning Jesus' birth and death.

Subject areas include:
- The history of the historical study of the New Testament: major contributors and their works
- Theoretical issues and concepts
- Methodologies and criteria
- Historical genres and rhetorical styles in the story of Jesus
- Historical and rhetorical context of martyrdom and messianism
- Historical teachings of Jesus
- Teachings within historical context of ethics
- Titles of Jesus
- Historical events in the life of Jesus
- Historical figures in the life of Jesus
- Historical use of Biblical figures referenced in the Gospels
- Places and regions
- Institutions
- The history of the New Testament within the culture, politics, and law of the Roman Empire

Have No Fear...

The semester's nearly over, which means that all of the fun activities which have fallen by the wayside for the sake of academia (including this blog) will rise again soon! Look for some much-needed updates and comments over the next few days.

RBL Highlights: 11/17/08

Highlights from the most recent Review of Biblical Literature:

Hector Avalos
The End of Biblical Studies
Reviewed by Ulrich H. J. Körtner

Ward Blanton
Displacing Christian Origins: Philosophy, Secularity, and the New Testament
Reviewed by Clare K. Rothschild

Marcus J. Borg and John Dominic Crossan
The Last Week: A Day-by-Day Account of Jesus's Final Week in Jerusalem
Reviewed by Craig L. Blomberg

Katherine J. Dell
Opening the Old Testament
Reviewed by Bill T. Arnold
Reviewed by George Heider

Brad E. Kelle and Megan Bishop Moore
Israel's Prophets and Israel's Past: Essays on the Relationship of Prophetic Texts and Israelite History in Honor of John H. Hayes
Reviewed by Lena-Sofia Tiemeyer

Jens Kreinath, Jan Snoek, and Michael Stausberg, eds.
Theorizing Rituals: Issues, Topics, Approaches, Concepts, Annotated Bibliography
Reviewed by Brian B. Schmidt

Daniel A. Smith
The Post-Mortem Vindication of Jesus in the Sayings Gospel Q
Reviewed by William Arnal

Fred Strickert
Rachel Weeping: Jews, Christians, and Muslims at the Fortress Tomb
Reviewed by Samuel Thomas

Ben Zion Wacholder
The New Damascus Document: The Midrash on the Eschatological Torah of the Dead Sea Scrolls: Reconstruction, Translation and Commentary
Reviewed by Gregory L. Doudna

Jürgen Zangenberg, Harold W. Attridge, and Dale B. Martin, eds.
Religion, Ethnicity and Identity in Ancient Galilee: A Region in Transition
Reviewed by Christoph Stenschke

RBL Highlights: 11/9/08

Highlights from the most recent Review of Biblical Literature:

Kevin L. Anderson
'But God Raised Him from the Dead': The Theology of Jesus' Resurrection in Luke-Acts
Reviewed by Ron Clark

Paul Barnett
Paul: Missionary of Jesus
Reviewed by Don Garlington

Donald Capps
Jesus the Village Psychiatrist
Reviewed by Pieter F. Craffert

Robert R. Ellis
Learning to Read Biblical Hebrew: An Introductory Grammar
Reviewed by Max Rogland

Alec Gilmore
A Concise Dictionary of Bible Origins and Interpretation
Reviewed by Jan G. van der Watt

Andrew T. Lincoln and Angus Paddison, eds.
Christology and Scripture: Interdisciplinary Perspectives
Reviewed by Mark Elliott

Theo A. W. van der Louw
Transformations in the Septuagint: Towards an Interaction of Septuagint Studies and Translation Studies
Reviewed by Francis Dalrymple-Hamilton

Grant Macaskill
Revealed Wisdom and Inaugurated Eschatology in Ancient Judaism and Early Christianity
Reviewed by Brian Han Gregg

Frank J. Matera
New Testament Theology: Exploring Diversity and Unity
Reviewed by Udo Schnelle

Alexander Samely
Forms of Rabbinic Literature and Thought: An Introduction
Reviewed by Joshua Schwartz

Klyne R. Snodgrass
Stories with Intent: A Comprehensive Guide to the Parables of Jesus
Reviewed by Ernest van Eck

Andrew Laird Lecture

Something to add to your calendar for next week:

The Department of Classics of the University of Virginia is pleased to
announce that Professor Andrew Laird (University of Warwick) will be
giving a lecture entitled "Par nullum Graecia numen habet: The role of
reception in Roman studies."

The lecture will take place at 5pm on Monday, 3 November 2008, in the
Gibson Room, Cocke Hall.

Andrew Laird’s principal areas of research are in Roman poetry and
prose narrative, but he also works on ancient criticism, literary
biography, and ideas of fiction – particularly in relation to modern
theory. His research on Latin extends to Renaissance Europe and
Spanish America: The Epic of America (London 2006) highlights
connections between Latin writing and indigenous knowledge in colonial
Mexico. Other books include Powers of Expression, Expressions of
Power: Speech Presentation and Latin Literature (Oxford 1999) and A
Companion to the Prologue of Apuleius’ Metamorphoses (Oxford 2001).

Latest from UMC Board of Church and Society

More recent news from Washington, DC:

Word from Winkler
The gray areas
By Jim Winkler, General Secretary, General Board of Church & Society

Presidential candidates urged to stop divisive rhetoric
Council of Bishops sends letter
Bishop Palmer encourages prayer, further dissemination of message to focus on important issues

Fearfully and wonderfully made
A glimpse of women and abuse in Kenya
By Linda Bales, Director, Louise & Hugh Moore Population Project, General Board of Church & Society

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

An invitation to observe U.N. Sunday
Oct. 26
By The Rev. Liberato C. Bautista, Assistant General Secretary, General Board of Church & Society
Roosevelt’s four points should inspire fundamental freedoms enjoyed by all humans.

'Obsession' called deplorable
DVD depicts ‘Radical Islam’s War Against the West’
By Bishop Bruce Ough, West Ohio Conference
Bishop calls United Methodists to denounce detestable “disingenuous distribution” of hate-filled material

Global Ministries to start 400 churches outside U.S.
400 Fund is Advance Special
Atlanta woman pledges $400,000 for developing new congregations

Study of Letter of James
Who is my neighbor?
Study sets forth the proposition that when we lack love for our neighbor, it hinders us from performing peaceable actions in the world and doing justice to others.

Free abolish death penalty resource
Designed to educate, mobilize faith communities
CD-ROM offered to persons who will share their plans for its use

Conference call on abolishing torture Oct. 21
Ohio conference on taking the church into the world
2 events can help mobilize your efforts on civil and human rights

On hard times
‘Some good comes from every situation, regardless of how bad it seems at the time.’
—Richard B. Hearne (North Texas Conference)

From the Monastic Age to the Digital Age

Courtesy of the New York Times (via my father, who should probably be working rather than reading about medieval manuscripts):

Bringing a Trove of Medieval Manuscripts Online for the Ages
By JOHN TAGLIABUE
The Stiftsbibliothek — literally, the abbey library — in St. Gallen, Switzerland, will digitize and post its collection with the help of a $1 million grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

FSU Graduate Symposium

For all you graduate students out there:

The Florida State University Department of Religion is pleased to announce its eighth annual Graduate Student Symposium, to be held February 20-22; 2009.Graduate students are invited to submit proposals that engage this year's theme, "Identity, boundaries and movement in religion". Topics may include but are not limited to: mirroring, migration of ideas and peoples, pilgrimage, polemics, and inter-religious dialogue. Other papers relevant to the study of religion are welcome under an open call.


Submissions are encouraged from all graduate students in religion or other fields with interdisciplinary interest in the study of religion. We welcome a variety of approaches, with particular interests in papers pertaining to the following subfields: 1) Religion, Ethics, and Philosophy; 2) American Religious History; 3) Religions of Asia; 4) Religions of Western Antiquity. Presentations should be approximately 15 to 20 minutes in length and will have faculty responses at the conclusion of the panel. An award will be given for the best paper.

Submission of an abstract (roughly 300 words) is required for review. Abstracts must be accompanied by a CV.

Proposals should be sent by e-mail to Lauren Gray at fsureligionsymposium@gmail.com.

The deadline for proposal submission is December 1, 2008. Final papers should be submitted by January 15, 2009.

Last year's conference was a great success. More than 50 papers from across the nation and several European countries were presented, and we look forward to hosting an equal if not larger number this year.

The conference is not limited to papers, as we screen a film relating to the conference theme each year. Additionally, a keynote speaker will be brought in to address the conference theme. In keeping with the spirit of hospitality, several meals are provided throughout the course of the conference.

RBL Highlights: 10/15/08

Highlights from the most recent Review of Biblical Literature:

Edward Adams
The Stars Will Fall from Heaven: Cosmic Catastrophe in the New Testament and Its World
Reviewed by Lorenzo DiTommaso

William Sanger Campbell
The "We" Passages in the Acts of the Apostles: The Narrator as Narrative Character
Reviewed by Jean-François Racine

Andrew D. Clarke
A Pauline Theology of Church Leadership
Reviewed by Stephan Joubert

Daniel Hillel
The Natural History of the Bible: An Environmental Exploration of the Hebrew Scriptures
Reviewed by Norman Habel

Werner G. Jeanrond and Andrew D. H. Mayes, eds.
Recognising the Margins: Developments in Biblical and Theological Studies
Reviewed by Peter R. Rodgers

Fernando F. Segovia and R. S. Sugirtharajah, eds.
A Postcolonial Commentary on the New Testament Writings
Reviewed by Jonathan A. Draper
Reviewed by Hans Leander

Stephen Westerholm
Understanding Matthew: The Early Christian Worldview of the First Gospel
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6121
Reviewed by David C. Sim

October SBL Forum

This month's edition of The SBL Forum:

Heresy Hunting in the New Millennium
Tony Burke

Biblical Interpretation and Christian Domestic Terrorism: The Exegeses of Rev. Michael Bray and Rev. Paul Hill
Dan Clanton

Student Creative Projects: Aural and Video Productions as Biblical Exegesis
James D. Findlay

Rahab through the Ages: A Study of Christian Interpretation of Rahab
William L. Lyons

Latest from UMC Board of Church and Society

Courtesy of my dad. Methodist readers: note that UMC Student Day, during which offerings are earmarked for denominational scholarship funds, is November 30. Please give generously, as many needy yet deserving students (including the author of this blog) have benefited from these scholarships in the past, and hopefully will continue to do so far into the future.

Word from Winkler
'It's the church's fault'
By Jim Winkler, General Secretary, General Board of Church & Society

Guilt-free chocolate for Halloween
3 partners hope to raise fair trade awareness
Fairly traded products provide small-scale farmers a fair living wage and an opportunity to break out of the cycle of poverty

We are better than this!
Casino gambling, payday lending on Ohio ballot
By Bishop Bruce Ough, West Ohio Conference
Faith community joins forces to speak out against ‘reprehensible harm’ to state and its people

Stop the madness, cruelty of immigration raids
Cruel raids affect workers and families
by The Rev. Dr. Eliezér Valentín Castañon, Associate General Secretary, General Commission on Religion & Race, United Methodist Church
Attacks on defenseless are on persons contributing in ways many U.S. citizens don’t appreciate

Study of ‘Letter of James’
'I have faith. I have works.'
Perhaps there are complementary understandings of how God works in the world

Phonecalls address Christian response to genocide
Authors, policy experts, churches participate
Weekly discussion series runs through Oct. 30

Wellness ministries
Interpersonal relationships crucial to health
By Jane Ives, Portland, Maine
Local church relationship education and family supports can lead to better health for all concerned

Faith communities pledge to ‘Welcome the Stranger’
Kentucky immigration coalition forms
More than 1,700 signatures pledge to support laws that affirm [immigrants’] dignity, preserve their families

United Methodist Student Day
Special Sunday is Nov. 30
Each year scholarships and loans are made possible that enables preparing students to unite faith with knowledge

On Wesley’s one condition for admission
‘Too many United Methodists have lost the passion for the faith.’
—Jim Nelson (Georgia)

Interdenominational Debate at Its Finest

This has been circulating throughout cyberspace for the past couple weeks. I don't know whether it's authentic or not, but I'm choosing to suspend my disbelief for reasons of increased hilarity. ;-)

Even More New Titles from SBL

More exiting new stuff:

New Titles and Other News from SBL Publications

Experientia, Volume 1: Inquiry into Religious Experience in Early Judaism and Christianity
Frances Flannery, Colleen Shantz, and Rodney A. Werline, editors

This collection investigates the phenomenon of religious experience in early Judaism and early Christianity. The essays consider such diverse phenomena as scribal inspiration, possession, illness, ascent, theurgy, and spiritual transformation wrought by reading, and recognize that the texts are reflective of the lived experiences of ancient religious peoples, which they understood to be encounters with the divine. Contributors use a variety of methodologies, including medical anthropology, neurobiology, and ritual and performance studies, to move the investigation beyond traditional historical and literary methodologies and conclusions to illuminate the importance of experience in constructions of ancient religion.

Paper $32.95 — ISBN 9781589833685 — 272 pages — Symposium Series 40 — Hardback edition www.brill.nl

Writing and Reading War: Rhetoric, Gender, and Ethics in Biblical and Modern Contexts
Brad E. Kelle and Frank Ritchel Ames, editors

War is not only waged on the battlefield, but is written and read in contexts that influence meaning and reception. The essays in this collection examine how ancient Israelites wrote about war and how war-related texts in the Hebrew Bible have been read in ancient and modern contexts. They explore writing and reading war in contexts ranging from ancient Israel to early Judaism to contemporary Christianity. The contributors—both established and newer voices—apply a variety of historical, literary, and comparative methods to biblical texts and present new perspectives on the rhetoric, gender, and ethics of war. A foreword by Susan Niditch and introduction by Victor H. Matthews offer a literature review of recent major works in this field and orient readers to past research and future directions for the study of the discourse and realities of war.

Paper $34.95 — ISBN 9781589833548— 280 pages — Symposium Series 42 — Hardback edition www.brill.nl

Matthew, James, and Didache: Three Related Documents in Their Jewish and Christian Settings
Huub van de Sandt and Jürgen K. Zangenberg, editors

Sharing many traditions and characteristics, the Gospel of Matthew, the letter of James, and the Didache invite comparative study. In this volume, internationally renowned scholars consider the three writings and the complex interrelationship between first century Judaism and nascent Christianity. These texts likely reflect different aspects and emphases of a network of connected communities sharing basic theological assumptions and expressions. Of particular importance for the reconstruction of the religious and social milieu of these communities are issues such as the role of Jewish law, the development of community structures, the reception of the Jesus tradition, and conflict management. In addition to the Pauline and Johannine “schools,” Matthew, James, and the Didache may represent a third religious milieu within earliest Christianity that is especially characterized through its distinct connections to a particular ethical stream of contemporary Jewish tradition.

Paper $54.95 — ISBN 9781589833586— 488 pages — Symposium Series 45 — Hardback edition www.brill.nl

To order, go to the SBL Store or click on one of the links above.

Society of Biblical Literature — P.O. Box 2243 — Williston, VT 05495-2243 USA
Phone: 877-725-3334 (North America); 802-864-6185 (elsewhere) — Fax: 802-864-7626

_____________________

WAW Series Now Available through Logos

The first sixteen volumes of the SBL's Writings of the Ancient World series are now available through Logos Research Systems. SBLWAW provides teachers, literary critics, historians, general readers, and students direct access to key ancient Near Eastern writings that date from the beginning of the Sumerian civilization to the age of Alexander the Great. The volumes typically offer historical and literary background to the writings, the original text and an English translation, explanatory or textual notes, and a bibliography. For more information or to order your own electronic edition of SBLWAW, see http://www.logos.com/products/details/3523.

_____________________

Our Online Books offering continues to grow by ten titles each month. In September, we posted the following:

Black, Fiona C., editor. The Recycled Bible: Autobiography, Culture, and the Space Between. Semeia Studies 51. Atlanta, Society of Biblical Literature, 2006.

Elledge, C. D. The Bible and the Dead Sea Scrolls. Archaeology and Biblical Studies 14. Atlanta, Society of Biblical Literature, 2005.

Glassner, Jean-Jacques. Mesopotamian Chronicles. Writings from the Ancient World 19. Atlanta, Society of Biblical Literature, 2004.

Grant, Jamie A. The King as Exemplar: The Function of Deuteronomy’s Kingship Law in the Shaping of the Book of Psalms. Academia Biblica 17. Atlanta, Society of Biblical Literature, 2004.

Herzer, Jens, translator. 4 Baruch (Paraleipomena Jeremiou). Writings from the Greco-Roman World 22. Atlanta, Society of Biblical Literature, 2005.

Hock, Ronald F. and Edward N. O’Neil, translators and editors. The Chreia and Ancient Rhetoric: Classroom Exercises. Writings from the Greco-Roman World 2. Atlanta, Society of Biblical Literature, 2002.

Hull, Michael F. Baptism on Account of the Dead (1 Cor 15:29): An Act of Faith in the Resurrection. Academia Biblica 22. Atlanta, Society of Biblical Literature, 2005.

Kennedy, George A. Progymnasmata: Greek Textbooks of Prose Composition and Rhetoric. Writings from the Greco-Roman World 10. Atlanta, Society of Biblical Literature, 2003.

Roth, Martha T. Law Collections from Mesopotamia and Asia Minor: Second Edition. Writings from the Ancient World 6. Atlanta, Scholars Press for the Society of Biblical Literature, 1997.

Ukpong, Justin S. et al. eds. Reading the Bible in the Global Village: Cape Town. Global Perspectives on Biblical Scholarship 8. Atlanta, Society of Biblical Literature, 2002.

More Faith and Politics

The next installment in an ongoing series:

FAITH AND POLITICS

A Dinner & Speaker Series
@ Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church Tuesdays, October 7-28

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

OUR TOPIC FOR TUESDAY, OCTOBER 14
6-7:30 p.m.

The View from the Pulpit... and Back

V. Rev. Robert Holet, St. Nicholas Orthodox Church, Charlottesville, VA Rev. Dr. James Nolan, Reveille United Methodist Church, Richmond, VA

ROBERT HOLET is Pastor at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church, a Parish of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA that is celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2008. Fr. Robert works with students through the Orthodox Christian Fellowship at the University of Virginia.

JAMES R. NOLAN is Senior Pastor at Reveille UMC, where he has served since 2006. He holds degrees from the University of Virginia, Southern Methodist University, and Wesley Theological Seminary and is Adjunct Faculty at Union Theological Seminary in Richmond.

These ministers will describe how they address the intersection of faith and politics with their congregations. We will also discuss what members of congregations see as appropriate boundaries for mixing faith and politics.
We welcome members of all faith traditions-along with people who do not consider themselves religious-to our discussions.

SERIES RATIONALE:
Both theology and political theory are concerned with what it means to be human and with defining and creating the conditions under which human beings can flourish. Yet the relationship between faith and politics is complicated and can be contentious. Indeed, both topics are often considered out of bounds in polite conversation. This series grows out of the belief that-especially in a university community-discussion about faith and politics can be both polite and enlightening.

Our goal is to bring together people from all faith traditions-along with people who do not consider themselves to be religious-to explore various aspects of the relationship between faith and politics. We particularly hope to engage people from the University community and to make the insights of academics accessible beyond the University's boundaries.

SPACE IS LIMITED AND REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED BUT SIMPLE. Call 434-296-6976, fax 434-295-9567, or send an email message to wesleymemorial@earthlink.net. Please provide contact details and let us know about any special needs you may have. For directions to the church and other details, go to www.wesleymem.org or call the church office.