Thursday, October 25, 2007
Accordance 7.4
Accordance Bible Software (my bible software of choice) has released another update to their excellent product. Version 7.4 may be downloaded here. There aren't a lot of exciting new features, but the development team is promising to add some in the near future... maybe before SBL next month? Maybe?
Sean Freyne: Still Circling the Northeast
Thanks to Deidre Good for this announcement:
Although Annandale-on-Hudson is more than two hours from New Haven, I'm thinking about making the trip, as James the brother of Jesus is one of my principle areas of interest. Plus, when Prof. Freyne was here last week he was kind enough to ask for a copy of my own paper on James, which I presented at last year's SBL Annual Meeting. I'm sure he was so moved by my breathtaking scholarship that he'll cite me at length. ;-)
Thursday, November 8
The Center for the Study of James the Brother at Bard College presents a lecture by renowned biblical scholar Sean Freyne entitled “Retrieving James/Yakov, the Brother of the Lord: From Legend to History” Free and open to the public.
4:00 p.m.
Weis Cinema, Bertelsmann Campus Center
For those unable to attend the lecture at the College, it is available via a live webcast, followed by a question-and-answer session with Freyne at www.bard.edu/jamescenter.
Although Annandale-on-Hudson is more than two hours from New Haven, I'm thinking about making the trip, as James the brother of Jesus is one of my principle areas of interest. Plus, when Prof. Freyne was here last week he was kind enough to ask for a copy of my own paper on James, which I presented at last year's SBL Annual Meeting. I'm sure he was so moved by my breathtaking scholarship that he'll cite me at length. ;-)
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
New: Titles from SBL Publications
New releases from the SBL:
The Quest for the Historical Israel: Debating Archaeology and the History of Early Israel
Israel Finkelstein and Amihai Mazar
Edited by Brian B. Schmidt
Three decades of dialogue, discussion, and debate within the interrelated disciplines of Syro-Palestinian archaeology, ancient Israelite history, and Hebrew Bible over the question of the relevance of the biblical account for reconstructing early Israel’s history have created the need for a balanced articulation of the issues and their prospective resolutions. This book brings together for the first time and under one cover, a currently emerging “centrist” paradigm as articulated by two leading figures in the fields of early Israelite archaeology and history. Although Finkelstein and Mazar advocate distinct views of early Israel’s history, they nevertheless share the position that the material cultural data, the biblical traditions, and the ancient Near Eastern written sources are all significantly relevant to the historical quest for Iron Age Israel. The results of their research are featured in accessible, parallel syntheses of the historical reconstruction of early Israel that facilitate comparison and contrast of their respective interpretations. The historical essays presented here are based on invited lectures delivered in October of 2005 at the Sixth Biennial Colloquium of the International Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism in Detroit, Michigan.
Paper $24.95 — ISBN 9781589832770 — 232 pages — Archaeology and Biblical Studies 17 — Hardback edition www.brill.nl
Seeking the Favor of God, Volume 2: The Development of Penitential Prayer in Second Temple Judaism
Mark J. Boda, Daniel K. Falk, and Rodney A. Werline, editors
The essays collected in this volume investigate the development of prayers of penitence within Jewish literature of the Hellenistic and Roman periods. The book provides a critical overview of the present state of research on these prayers, and leading experts in the field use a variety of methodologies to investigate afresh various texts from the Hebrew Bible, apocryphal (deuterocanonical) and pseudepigraphical works, and the Qumran corpus in order to provide new insights into this prayer tradition. Contributors include Russell C. D. Arnold, Esther G. Chazon, Daniel K. Falk, LeAnn Snow Flesher, Michael H. Floyd, Judith H. Newman, Bilhah Nitzan, Eileen Schuller, Pieter M. Venter, and Rodney A. Werline.
Paper $39.95 — ISBN 9781589832787 — 300 pages — Early Judaism and Its Literature 22 — Hardback edition www.brill.nl
The "We" Passages in the Acts of the Apostles: The Narrator as Narrative Character
William Sanger Campbell
This book explores the narrative significance of the “we” passages in Acts within the boundaries of acceptable ancient grammatical practice. It contends that the occasional first-person plural narrator represents a character whose entrance at crucial moments in Paul’s career parallels the role of Barnabas, the apostle’s earlier companion. Although consistent with the grammatical practice of ancient writers, the use of the “we” style in Acts nonetheless represents a variation of those conventions because the author of Acts wrote anonymously and never claimed personal participation in the events narrated. In analyzing the function of the narrator as narrative character, the book presents narrative literary strategy as a fruitful approach to these enigmatic texts whose narrative possibilities have in the past been subordinated to their historical potential.
Paper $19.95 — ISBN 9781589832053— 164 pages — Studies in Biblical Literature 14 — Hardback edition www.brill.nl
Studia Philonica Annual XIX, 2007
David T. Runia and Gregory E. Sterling, editors
The Studia Philonica Annual is a scholarly journal devoted to furthering the study of Hellenistic Judaism, and in particular the writings and thought of the Hellenistic-Jewish writer Philo of Alexandria (circa 15 B.C.E. to circa 50 C.E.).
Cloth $39.95 — ISBN: 9781589832954 — 260 pages
Peter in the Gospel of John: The Making of an Authentic Disciple
Bradford B. Blaine Jr.
In this narrative-critical study Bradford B. Blaine Jr. argues, against conventional scholarship, that John’s Gospel presents Peter and the Beloved Disciple not as competitors but as colleagues who together serve as composite halves of the ideal Johannine Christian, with Peter representing praxis and John representing faith. Not only does Peter carry out activities fundamental to Johannine discipleship during Jesus’ earthly ministry, which include believing in Jesus, following him, and publicly confessing him, but he also demonstrates post-Easter missionary skills and is invested by the risen Jesus with pastoral responsibilities. Finally, in dying a martyr’s death, Peter glorifies God. Peter, in fact, is depicted in this Gospel as an inspirational founding member of the Johannine community.
Paper $29.95 — ISBN 9781589832725— 240 pages — Academia Biblica 27 — Hardback edition www.brill.nl
The Quest for the Historical Israel: Debating Archaeology and the History of Early Israel
Israel Finkelstein and Amihai Mazar
Edited by Brian B. Schmidt
Three decades of dialogue, discussion, and debate within the interrelated disciplines of Syro-Palestinian archaeology, ancient Israelite history, and Hebrew Bible over the question of the relevance of the biblical account for reconstructing early Israel’s history have created the need for a balanced articulation of the issues and their prospective resolutions. This book brings together for the first time and under one cover, a currently emerging “centrist” paradigm as articulated by two leading figures in the fields of early Israelite archaeology and history. Although Finkelstein and Mazar advocate distinct views of early Israel’s history, they nevertheless share the position that the material cultural data, the biblical traditions, and the ancient Near Eastern written sources are all significantly relevant to the historical quest for Iron Age Israel. The results of their research are featured in accessible, parallel syntheses of the historical reconstruction of early Israel that facilitate comparison and contrast of their respective interpretations. The historical essays presented here are based on invited lectures delivered in October of 2005 at the Sixth Biennial Colloquium of the International Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism in Detroit, Michigan.
Paper $24.95 — ISBN 9781589832770 — 232 pages — Archaeology and Biblical Studies 17 — Hardback edition www.brill.nl
Seeking the Favor of God, Volume 2: The Development of Penitential Prayer in Second Temple Judaism
Mark J. Boda, Daniel K. Falk, and Rodney A. Werline, editors
The essays collected in this volume investigate the development of prayers of penitence within Jewish literature of the Hellenistic and Roman periods. The book provides a critical overview of the present state of research on these prayers, and leading experts in the field use a variety of methodologies to investigate afresh various texts from the Hebrew Bible, apocryphal (deuterocanonical) and pseudepigraphical works, and the Qumran corpus in order to provide new insights into this prayer tradition. Contributors include Russell C. D. Arnold, Esther G. Chazon, Daniel K. Falk, LeAnn Snow Flesher, Michael H. Floyd, Judith H. Newman, Bilhah Nitzan, Eileen Schuller, Pieter M. Venter, and Rodney A. Werline.
Paper $39.95 — ISBN 9781589832787 — 300 pages — Early Judaism and Its Literature 22 — Hardback edition www.brill.nl
The "We" Passages in the Acts of the Apostles: The Narrator as Narrative Character
William Sanger Campbell
This book explores the narrative significance of the “we” passages in Acts within the boundaries of acceptable ancient grammatical practice. It contends that the occasional first-person plural narrator represents a character whose entrance at crucial moments in Paul’s career parallels the role of Barnabas, the apostle’s earlier companion. Although consistent with the grammatical practice of ancient writers, the use of the “we” style in Acts nonetheless represents a variation of those conventions because the author of Acts wrote anonymously and never claimed personal participation in the events narrated. In analyzing the function of the narrator as narrative character, the book presents narrative literary strategy as a fruitful approach to these enigmatic texts whose narrative possibilities have in the past been subordinated to their historical potential.
Paper $19.95 — ISBN 9781589832053— 164 pages — Studies in Biblical Literature 14 — Hardback edition www.brill.nl
Studia Philonica Annual XIX, 2007
David T. Runia and Gregory E. Sterling, editors
The Studia Philonica Annual is a scholarly journal devoted to furthering the study of Hellenistic Judaism, and in particular the writings and thought of the Hellenistic-Jewish writer Philo of Alexandria (circa 15 B.C.E. to circa 50 C.E.).
Cloth $39.95 — ISBN: 9781589832954 — 260 pages
Peter in the Gospel of John: The Making of an Authentic Disciple
Bradford B. Blaine Jr.
In this narrative-critical study Bradford B. Blaine Jr. argues, against conventional scholarship, that John’s Gospel presents Peter and the Beloved Disciple not as competitors but as colleagues who together serve as composite halves of the ideal Johannine Christian, with Peter representing praxis and John representing faith. Not only does Peter carry out activities fundamental to Johannine discipleship during Jesus’ earthly ministry, which include believing in Jesus, following him, and publicly confessing him, but he also demonstrates post-Easter missionary skills and is invested by the risen Jesus with pastoral responsibilities. Finally, in dying a martyr’s death, Peter glorifies God. Peter, in fact, is depicted in this Gospel as an inspirational founding member of the Johannine community.
Paper $29.95 — ISBN 9781589832725— 240 pages — Academia Biblica 27 — Hardback edition www.brill.nl
BAR Highlights: 10/24/07
More recent archaeological news from Biblical Archaeology Review:
Head of IAA Slammed for Temple Mount Work
A committee of Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, has accused Israel Antiquities Authority director Shuka Dorfman of bypassing government regulations when he allowed Muslims authorities to dig a 500-yard-long trench on the Temple Mount without taking due care that ancient remains not be damaged. Related stories can be found at http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3462904,00.html and http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/124012.
First Temple Era Finds Identified
Archaeologists have for the first time examined an undisturbed layer dating to the First Temple period. Among the items recovered are ceramic tableware and animal bone. A report from the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs provides additional photos.
Cyrene Goes Green
The ancient Libyan site hopes to attract tourists by becoming an environment-friendly location.
Diamond Anniversary
Scholars convene in Canada to mark the 60th anniversary of the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Wall of Fame
French excavators have uncovered an 11,000-year-old wall painting northeast of Aleppo, Syria. Though it is the oldest such work known, some liken it to the work of modernist painter Paul Klee.
Head of IAA Slammed for Temple Mount Work
A committee of Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, has accused Israel Antiquities Authority director Shuka Dorfman of bypassing government regulations when he allowed Muslims authorities to dig a 500-yard-long trench on the Temple Mount without taking due care that ancient remains not be damaged. Related stories can be found at http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3462904,00.html and http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/124012.
First Temple Era Finds Identified
Archaeologists have for the first time examined an undisturbed layer dating to the First Temple period. Among the items recovered are ceramic tableware and animal bone. A report from the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs provides additional photos.
Cyrene Goes Green
The ancient Libyan site hopes to attract tourists by becoming an environment-friendly location.
Diamond Anniversary
Scholars convene in Canada to mark the 60th anniversary of the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Wall of Fame
French excavators have uncovered an 11,000-year-old wall painting northeast of Aleppo, Syria. Though it is the oldest such work known, some liken it to the work of modernist painter Paul Klee.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
SBL Program Book... Plus, an Added Bonus!
I received my AAR/SBL program book today. There are a number of can't-miss panels and section meetings... and of course I'll have to find some time to hit the exhibit hall! ;-) In addition, I discovered an advertisement for a new (and completely free!) Greek resource:
Greek Bible Study
Mark Goodacre posted a brief endorsement of his own today. I played with it for a few minutes this evening, and my initial impressions are also very positive. The KJV and NASB versions may be viewed in parallel with Tischendorf's edition of the Greek New Testament. The Greek vocabulary is color-coded according to parsing. After logging into the site, the user may save his/her translations and textual notes for later use. There is even a "Graduated Reader" feature, which displays certain portions of the Greek text once the user indicates that he/she has completed the corresponding sections in William Mounce's Basics of Biblical Greek.
If you're a veteran Greek student looking for some additional practice, or a neophyte looking to engage in independent study for the first time, this is the resource for you!
Greek Bible Study
Mark Goodacre posted a brief endorsement of his own today. I played with it for a few minutes this evening, and my initial impressions are also very positive. The KJV and NASB versions may be viewed in parallel with Tischendorf's edition of the Greek New Testament. The Greek vocabulary is color-coded according to parsing. After logging into the site, the user may save his/her translations and textual notes for later use. There is even a "Graduated Reader" feature, which displays certain portions of the Greek text once the user indicates that he/she has completed the corresponding sections in William Mounce's Basics of Biblical Greek.
If you're a veteran Greek student looking for some additional practice, or a neophyte looking to engage in independent study for the first time, this is the resource for you!
New: Victoria Clark on Christian Zionism
A recent release from the hometown team (Yale University Press):
Allies for Armageddon
The Rise of Christian Zionism
Victoria Clark
REVIEWS
Guided by a literal reading of the prophetic sections of the Bible, Christian Zionists are convinced that the world is hurtling toward a final Battle of Armageddon. They believe that war in the Middle East is God’s will for the region. In this timely book, Victoria Clark first explores the 400-year history of this powerful political ideology, laying to rest the idea that Christian Zionism is a passing craze or the province of a lunatic fringe. Then Clark surveys the contemporary Christian Zionist scene in Israel and in the United States, where the influence of the religious fundamentalists has never been greater.
Clark engages with Christian Zionism directly, interviewing leaders, attending events, and traveling with Christian Zionists in the Holy Land. She also investigates the Christian Zionist presence in Israel. She finds that the view through the Christian Zionist lens is dangerously simple: President Bush’s War on Terror is a mythic battle between good and evil, and Syria and Iran represent the powers of darkness. Such views are far from rare—an estimated fifteen to twenty million Americans share them. Almost one in three Americans believes Israel was given to the Jews by God as a prelude to the Battle of Armageddon and Jesus’ Second Coming. Clark concludes with an assessment of Christian Zionists’ impact on American foreign policy in the Middle East and on America’s relationships with European allies since the attacks of 9/11.
Victoria Clark, a freelance journalist and writer, contributes to the Daily Telegraph, the Independent, Prospect magazine, and The Tablet. She formerly was correspondent and Moscow bureau chief for the Observer (London). The most recent of her three books on religious history is Holy Fire: The Battle for Christ’s Tomb. She lives in London.
Allies for Armageddon
The Rise of Christian Zionism
Victoria Clark
REVIEWS
Guided by a literal reading of the prophetic sections of the Bible, Christian Zionists are convinced that the world is hurtling toward a final Battle of Armageddon. They believe that war in the Middle East is God’s will for the region. In this timely book, Victoria Clark first explores the 400-year history of this powerful political ideology, laying to rest the idea that Christian Zionism is a passing craze or the province of a lunatic fringe. Then Clark surveys the contemporary Christian Zionist scene in Israel and in the United States, where the influence of the religious fundamentalists has never been greater.
Clark engages with Christian Zionism directly, interviewing leaders, attending events, and traveling with Christian Zionists in the Holy Land. She also investigates the Christian Zionist presence in Israel. She finds that the view through the Christian Zionist lens is dangerously simple: President Bush’s War on Terror is a mythic battle between good and evil, and Syria and Iran represent the powers of darkness. Such views are far from rare—an estimated fifteen to twenty million Americans share them. Almost one in three Americans believes Israel was given to the Jews by God as a prelude to the Battle of Armageddon and Jesus’ Second Coming. Clark concludes with an assessment of Christian Zionists’ impact on American foreign policy in the Middle East and on America’s relationships with European allies since the attacks of 9/11.
Victoria Clark, a freelance journalist and writer, contributes to the Daily Telegraph, the Independent, Prospect magazine, and The Tablet. She formerly was correspondent and Moscow bureau chief for the Observer (London). The most recent of her three books on religious history is Holy Fire: The Battle for Christ’s Tomb. She lives in London.
October Markdowns from Dove!
Another welcome announcement from Dove Booksellers!
Limited Markdown Books for October 2007
Now Through October 31, 2007
Order 5 limited markdown books, get the 5th book at no charge!
Order 10, pay for 8, get 2 at no charge
(for every 5, one will be at no charge)
We've spent the last few week adding titles to our limited selection, including many that we have never offered before, as well as restocking some items that had sold out. There are some gems that will go quickly to the earliest shoppers!
Display Limited Quantity Markdowns
The link above takes you to the list of markdown item
which you display according to your interest area, publisher, etc.
Many titles available from:
E. J. Brill
Society of Biblical Literature
Wm. B. Eerdmans
Augsburg Fortress
Sheffield Academic Press
Yale University Press
Oxford University Press
T & T Clark International
.... and many other university and academic publishers.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Jewish Martyrdom with Tessa Rajak
Sadly, I won't be able to attend this one (I have an interview with Carney-Sandoe that afternoon). But it looks good:
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24 @ 12 PM | Whitney Humanities Center, 53 Wall St., Room 208
Judaic Studies Seminar:
"The Meaning of Martyrdom: Kiddush Ha-Shem from the Maccabean Literature to Akiva"
Martyrdom and/or Resistance: The Jewish Revolts
Tessa Rajak, Seminar Chair
Horace W. Goldsmith Visiting Professor of Judaic Studies, Classics and History, Yale University
Hosted by the Program in Judaic Studies and the Whitney Humanities Center. Lunch provided. Please contact ivan.marcus@yale.edu for more information.
Friday, October 19, 2007
The Ossuary of James... Bleh
James Tabor notes that he is still receiving questions regarding the ossuary which purportedly bears an ancient inscription reading "James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus." In a noble attempt to clear the considerably muddied waters, he provides links to Joseph Fitzmyer's essay on the subject, as well as the report of a "Conference on Forgery" which met in Jerusalem in January 2007.
I'm sure that this matter is incredibly compelling to some, but not to me. The bitter debates between Hershel Shanks (editor of Biblical Archaeology Review) and the Israel Antiquities Authority--which often seemed to be driven by personal interests rather than objective scholarship--became especially wearisome. Moreover, I'm not entirely convinced of the stakes accompanying the controversy. The book which Shanks co-wrote with Ben Witherington shortly after the discovery proclaims that the ossuary is "the first archaeological link to Jesus and his family." But if I may be blunt, so what? Only the most radical or the most naive scholars would deny Jesus' existence, given the relatively large amount of extant testimony from both Christian and non-Christian sources. Even if it is authentic, the ossuary can make only four firm contributions to the historical record:
1) Both Jesus and James actually lived.
2) Jesus and James were brothers.
3) At some point, James died and was buried.
4) The early Christian community (to which James and those who buried him belonged) retained some Jewish practices.
Again, none of these facts--with the possible exception of the second, which is still occasionally challenged by Roman Catholic scholars--were seriously disputed prior to the recent discovery. So while I'm excited by the potentiality of a tangible link to Jesus of Nazareth, I'm not sure how much it adds to our understanding of Jesus and his world.
I'm sure that this matter is incredibly compelling to some, but not to me. The bitter debates between Hershel Shanks (editor of Biblical Archaeology Review) and the Israel Antiquities Authority--which often seemed to be driven by personal interests rather than objective scholarship--became especially wearisome. Moreover, I'm not entirely convinced of the stakes accompanying the controversy. The book which Shanks co-wrote with Ben Witherington shortly after the discovery proclaims that the ossuary is "the first archaeological link to Jesus and his family." But if I may be blunt, so what? Only the most radical or the most naive scholars would deny Jesus' existence, given the relatively large amount of extant testimony from both Christian and non-Christian sources. Even if it is authentic, the ossuary can make only four firm contributions to the historical record:
1) Both Jesus and James actually lived.
2) Jesus and James were brothers.
3) At some point, James died and was buried.
4) The early Christian community (to which James and those who buried him belonged) retained some Jewish practices.
Again, none of these facts--with the possible exception of the second, which is still occasionally challenged by Roman Catholic scholars--were seriously disputed prior to the recent discovery. So while I'm excited by the potentiality of a tangible link to Jesus of Nazareth, I'm not sure how much it adds to our understanding of Jesus and his world.
Goodman on Rome and Jerusalem
I found this in my e-mail inbox this morning:
As those ridiculous commercials for monster truck rallies at the fairgrounds used to say, "Be there! If you're at work... get off! If you're in jail, break out!" ;-)
The Program in Judaic Studies, the Department of History, and Yale Divinity School present
Martin Goodman,
University of Oxford
Rome and Jerusalem: A Comparison of Lifestyles
Thursday, October 25, 2007
4:00 P.M.
211 Hall of Graduate Studies
320 York Street
Free and Open to the Public
Sponsored by the Barbara & Morris Levinson Fund of the Program in Judaic Studies
As those ridiculous commercials for monster truck rallies at the fairgrounds used to say, "Be there! If you're at work... get off! If you're in jail, break out!" ;-)
Memorial Service for Letty Russell
YDS has announced that a memorial service for Letty Russell (who passed away July 12) will be held in Marquand Chapel on October 23 at 5:30. Thanks to Yale ITS, the service will also be broadcast online.
Prof. Russell's full obituary may be viewed here. She was truly an inspiration to generations of scholars, students, and practitioners of Christianity.
Prof. Russell's full obituary may be viewed here. She was truly an inspiration to generations of scholars, students, and practitioners of Christianity.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Blogger of the Month: Philip Harland
BAR Highlights: 10/17/07
More recent archaeological news from Biblical Archaeology Review:
Stone Age Artists
Five-to-eight-thousand-year-old rock carvings in western Egypt were made by shepherds, according to Polish investigators.
Temple Mount Bridge Approved
After much controversy, Jerusalem city officials have agreed on a plan to replace a damaged walkway to the Mount; the design, which still awaits final approval from the Interior Ministry, calls for a much smaller structure than previously proposed.
Tomb Threat?
Protesters in Iran claim that a new dam will cause indirect damage to the tomb of Cyrus the Great.
That’s Fine in Practice but Will It Hold Up in Theory?
A Harvard researcher has found that the ancients were capable of building complex machines long before they understood the mathematics behind them.
Waiting for the Big One
A Tel Aviv University seismologist says historical records of earthquakes in the past indicate that the area on the Dead Sea Fault, including Jerusalem and Amman, Jordan, is overdue for a major tremor.
How the Pyramids Were Built
A Czech researcher has made a specialty of studying the tools used by the ancient Egyptians.
Stone Age Artists
Five-to-eight-thousand-year-old rock carvings in western Egypt were made by shepherds, according to Polish investigators.
Temple Mount Bridge Approved
After much controversy, Jerusalem city officials have agreed on a plan to replace a damaged walkway to the Mount; the design, which still awaits final approval from the Interior Ministry, calls for a much smaller structure than previously proposed.
Tomb Threat?
Protesters in Iran claim that a new dam will cause indirect damage to the tomb of Cyrus the Great.
That’s Fine in Practice but Will It Hold Up in Theory?
A Harvard researcher has found that the ancients were capable of building complex machines long before they understood the mathematics behind them.
Waiting for the Big One
A Tel Aviv University seismologist says historical records of earthquakes in the past indicate that the area on the Dead Sea Fault, including Jerusalem and Amman, Jordan, is overdue for a major tremor.
How the Pyramids Were Built
A Czech researcher has made a specialty of studying the tools used by the ancient Egyptians.
RBL Highlights: 10/17/07
A few highlights from this week's Review of Biblical Literature:
William Arnal
The Symbolic Jesus: Historical Scholarship, Judaism and the Construction of Contemporary Identity
Reviewed by Milton Moreland
Richard Cassidy
Four Times Peter: Portrayals of Peter in the Four Gospels and at Philippi
Reviewed by Timothy Wiarda
James H. Charlesworth, editor
Jesus and Archaeology
Reviewed by Jonathan Reed
J. Maxwell Miller and John H. Hayes
A History of Ancient Israel and Judah
Reviewed by Kenton Sparks
Jürgen Zangenberg and Michael Labahn, editors
Christians as a Religious Minority in a Multicultural City: Modes of Interaction and Identity Formation in Early Imperial Rome
Reviewed by Jonathan Reed
William Arnal
The Symbolic Jesus: Historical Scholarship, Judaism and the Construction of Contemporary Identity
Reviewed by Milton Moreland
Richard Cassidy
Four Times Peter: Portrayals of Peter in the Four Gospels and at Philippi
Reviewed by Timothy Wiarda
James H. Charlesworth, editor
Jesus and Archaeology
Reviewed by Jonathan Reed
J. Maxwell Miller and John H. Hayes
A History of Ancient Israel and Judah
Reviewed by Kenton Sparks
Jürgen Zangenberg and Michael Labahn, editors
Christians as a Religious Minority in a Multicultural City: Modes of Interaction and Identity Formation in Early Imperial Rome
Reviewed by Jonathan Reed
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
Jesus and His Siblings
Although my "Sibling Rivalries" course is primarily concerned with the occurrences of this phenomenon in the Hebrew Bible, I always have to be unique (read: difficult)... and so my term paper will analyze narrative and exegetical perspectives on the relationship between Jesus of Nazareth and his siblings. An abstract and an initial bibliography are available here. If anyone has any brilliant insights or additions, send them my way. If anyone doesn't like this topic, keep it to yourself. ;-)
And, providentially, Tony Chartrand-Burke has just posted his own missive on the family of Jesus, which he is currently covering in his "New Testament Apocrypha" course. Check it out.
And, providentially, Tony Chartrand-Burke has just posted his own missive on the family of Jesus, which he is currently covering in his "New Testament Apocrypha" course. Check it out.
Sean Freyne's Coming to Town!
If you're anywhere near New Haven on Friday afternoon, be sure not to miss this:
See you on Friday!
Sean Freyne
Emeritus Professor of Theology at Trinity College, Dublin and Visiting Professor of New Testament at Harvard Divinity School
"Josephan Perspectives on the Galilean Social World: Some Reconsiderations"
Friday, October 19, Yale Divinity School
The lecture, free and open to the public, will begin at 12.15 p.m. in Latourette Hall.
Freyne has conducted significant research on the Synoptic Gospels, most recently in the context of ancient biography and its social roles. He has contributed numerous articles and papers on the current 'third wave' of historical Jesus studies. Freyne's publication Jesus: A Jewish Galilean (2004) gathers together many of his ideas on both Jesus and Galilee developed over the years.
See you on Friday!
Monday, October 15, 2007
New in the Princeton Theological Monographs Series
A couple recent announcements from Wipf & Stock Publishers:
New from Pickwick Publications
An Imprint of Wipf and Stock Publishers
The Sacred Text
Biblical Authority in Nineteenth-Century America
by Ronald F. Satta
“Ronald Satta provides a careful and lucid defense of a position I had thought to be mistaken until his research persuaded me otherwise.”
—Edward Wierenga, University of Rochester
Ronald F. Satta is Senior Pastor of Webster Bible Church and an associate faculty member in American history at SUNY Brockport.
• Read Complete Description and Endorsements
• Read Excerpts (includes Table of Contents)
• Request Review or Exam Copy
ISBN 13: 978-1-55635-298-0 / 132 pp / $16 Retail / Paper
Geoffrey Fisher
Archbishop of Canterbury, 1945–1961
by David Hein
“Hein’s work skillfully blends biography and theological analysis with political, cultural, and social history.”
—David L. Holmes, College of William and Mary
David Hein is Professor of Religion and Philosophy at Hood College and coauthor of The Episcopalians.
• Read Complete Description and Endorsements
• Read Excerpts (includes Table of Contents)
• Request Review or Exam Copy
ISBN 13: 978-1-59752-824-5 / 140 pp / $17 Retail / Paper
New from Pickwick Publications
An Imprint of Wipf and Stock Publishers
The Sacred Text
Biblical Authority in Nineteenth-Century America
by Ronald F. Satta
“Ronald Satta provides a careful and lucid defense of a position I had thought to be mistaken until his research persuaded me otherwise.”
—Edward Wierenga, University of Rochester
Ronald F. Satta is Senior Pastor of Webster Bible Church and an associate faculty member in American history at SUNY Brockport.
• Read Complete Description and Endorsements
• Read Excerpts (includes Table of Contents)
• Request Review or Exam Copy
ISBN 13: 978-1-55635-298-0 / 132 pp / $16 Retail / Paper
Geoffrey Fisher
Archbishop of Canterbury, 1945–1961
by David Hein
“Hein’s work skillfully blends biography and theological analysis with political, cultural, and social history.”
—David L. Holmes, College of William and Mary
David Hein is Professor of Religion and Philosophy at Hood College and coauthor of The Episcopalians.
• Read Complete Description and Endorsements
• Read Excerpts (includes Table of Contents)
• Request Review or Exam Copy
ISBN 13: 978-1-59752-824-5 / 140 pp / $17 Retail / Paper
Thursday, October 11, 2007
BAR Highlights: 10/11/07
Even more recent archaeological news from Biblical Archaeology Review:
Etruscan City Found
Italian archaeologists have uncovered the remains of Fanum Voltumnae, an important Etruscan political center and shrine.
City on the Hill
The Jerusalem Post profiles Sepphoris, the city in Galilee to which Rabbi Judah moved the Sanhedrin.
Lot’s to See
A new museum in Jordan, located near the traditional spot where Lot and his daughters fled after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, is set to open shortly.
Research al Frescoe
Polish scientists are shooting beams of protons on ancient Egyptian plaster in order to understand what went into the dyes used in Egyptian wall paintings.
A Delicate Find
Excavators have found a temple built by Ramesses II (perhaps the pharaoh of the Exodus) inside a mosque in Luxor and now must negotiate with Muslim religious leaders over what to do about the human and animal representations they’ve uncovered. Such portrayals are not allowed inside mosques.
A Visit to Ramat Rahel
A profile of the site south of Jerusalem highlights recent finds, including another proto-Ionic (also called proto-Aeolic) capital—the twelfth found there (another was recovered in the City of David).
Etruscan City Found
Italian archaeologists have uncovered the remains of Fanum Voltumnae, an important Etruscan political center and shrine.
City on the Hill
The Jerusalem Post profiles Sepphoris, the city in Galilee to which Rabbi Judah moved the Sanhedrin.
Lot’s to See
A new museum in Jordan, located near the traditional spot where Lot and his daughters fled after the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, is set to open shortly.
Research al Frescoe
Polish scientists are shooting beams of protons on ancient Egyptian plaster in order to understand what went into the dyes used in Egyptian wall paintings.
A Delicate Find
Excavators have found a temple built by Ramesses II (perhaps the pharaoh of the Exodus) inside a mosque in Luxor and now must negotiate with Muslim religious leaders over what to do about the human and animal representations they’ve uncovered. Such portrayals are not allowed inside mosques.
A Visit to Ramat Rahel
A profile of the site south of Jerusalem highlights recent finds, including another proto-Ionic (also called proto-Aeolic) capital—the twelfth found there (another was recovered in the City of David).
Friday, October 5, 2007
BAR Highlights: 10/5/07
More recent archaeological news from Biblical Archaeology Review. This week's offering includes a link to Eric Cline's article on archaeology in the Boston Globe, which a number of bloggers have already mentioned.
Was Tut Black?
Zahi Hawass, head of Egypt’s antiquities department, has responded to critics who want to recognize King Tut as Black. "Egyptians are not Arabs and are not Africans despite the fact that Egypt is in Africa," he says.
Fighting the Nonsense
Archaeologist Eric Cline says it’s time he and his colleagues started challenging crackpot theories and amateur enthusiasts.
Tuty Fruity
When Howard Carter discovered King Tut’s tomb in 1922, he apparently missed some things: Investigators have recovered preserved baskets of fruit and intact pots from a treasure room next to the Boy King’s mummy.
A Guide to Apollonia
The Jerusalem Post profiles this scenic site, with a history ranging from the Phoenicians to the Crusaders.
Nighttime Fishing
Excavators off the coastal city of Dor have recovered a wire basket used for fishing at night. A fire in the basket attracted and illuminated fish.
Anchor Bible Hums New Tune: Boolah, Boolah
The distinguished Bible commentary and reference series has been acquired by Yale University Press.
Back to the Fortress
Iranian and French excavators are returning for a second season of digging at a fortress that served as the spring capital of Parthian kings.
Was Tut Black?
Zahi Hawass, head of Egypt’s antiquities department, has responded to critics who want to recognize King Tut as Black. "Egyptians are not Arabs and are not Africans despite the fact that Egypt is in Africa," he says.
Fighting the Nonsense
Archaeologist Eric Cline says it’s time he and his colleagues started challenging crackpot theories and amateur enthusiasts.
Tuty Fruity
When Howard Carter discovered King Tut’s tomb in 1922, he apparently missed some things: Investigators have recovered preserved baskets of fruit and intact pots from a treasure room next to the Boy King’s mummy.
A Guide to Apollonia
The Jerusalem Post profiles this scenic site, with a history ranging from the Phoenicians to the Crusaders.
Nighttime Fishing
Excavators off the coastal city of Dor have recovered a wire basket used for fishing at night. A fire in the basket attracted and illuminated fish.
Anchor Bible Hums New Tune: Boolah, Boolah
The distinguished Bible commentary and reference series has been acquired by Yale University Press.
Back to the Fortress
Iranian and French excavators are returning for a second season of digging at a fortress that served as the spring capital of Parthian kings.
OUP Fall Sale 2007
Tis the season for book sales... Oxford University Press' Fall Sale is now underway. The complete list of religion offerings may be viewed here. It looks like there are some pretty good bargains to be had, including...
*The Oxford Bible Commentary (regular price: $75.00 sale price: $40.00)
* The Oxford Companion to Christian Thought (regular price: $75.00 sale price: $33.00)
*The Encyclopedia of Christianity (regular price: $125.00 sale price: $65.00)
*The Jewish Study Bible (regular price: $45.00 sale price: $24.75)
... so many books, so little money!
*The Oxford Bible Commentary (regular price: $75.00 sale price: $40.00)
* The Oxford Companion to Christian Thought (regular price: $75.00 sale price: $33.00)
*The Encyclopedia of Christianity (regular price: $125.00 sale price: $65.00)
*The Jewish Study Bible (regular price: $45.00 sale price: $24.75)
... so many books, so little money!
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