The last two sessions of the weekly series "Jesus at the Movies" have seen steadily larger crowds, for which I am certainly thankful (but for which I am in no way responsible). For those of you unable to attend but still thirsting for cinematic and scholarly knowledge, here are the notes from the sessions (in which we discussed Denys Arcand's Jesus of Montreal and Nicholas Ray's King of Kings, respectively):
Jesus at the Movies: Week 2 (Jesus of Montreal)
Jesus at the Movies: Week 3 (King of Kings)
Saturday, July 26, 2008
New from Fortress: The Social History of Ancient Israel
A recent announcement from Fortress:
The Social History of Ancient Israel: An Introduction
Rainer Kessler
Translated by Linda M. Maloney
How Israel lived—from the beginnings to the Hellenistic Age
Histories of ancient Israel have usually focused attention on major figures in powerful positions: kings, prophets, and patriarchs. Kessler asks about the larger social patterns that shaped the everyday life of ordinary people, from the emergence of Israel in the hills of Canaan, to the Jewish populations of Greek city-states in the Hellenistic age.
The introductory section includes discussion of social history as discipline and as method, event history and the "long haul," the representation of social history, and the history of research. Two other sections explore the methods of the social history of Israel and the epochs of Israel's social history, including discussions of environment as living space, Israel's emergence as a kinship-based society, exile and its consequences, and more. Includes a time line, glossary of terms, maps and illustrations.
Format: Paperback 284 pages 6 x 9 inches
Item No: 9780800662820
Price: $29.00
Order your copy today!
The Social History of Ancient Israel: An Introduction
Rainer Kessler
Translated by Linda M. Maloney
How Israel lived—from the beginnings to the Hellenistic Age
Histories of ancient Israel have usually focused attention on major figures in powerful positions: kings, prophets, and patriarchs. Kessler asks about the larger social patterns that shaped the everyday life of ordinary people, from the emergence of Israel in the hills of Canaan, to the Jewish populations of Greek city-states in the Hellenistic age.
The introductory section includes discussion of social history as discipline and as method, event history and the "long haul," the representation of social history, and the history of research. Two other sections explore the methods of the social history of Israel and the epochs of Israel's social history, including discussions of environment as living space, Israel's emergence as a kinship-based society, exile and its consequences, and more. Includes a time line, glossary of terms, maps and illustrations.
Format: Paperback 284 pages 6 x 9 inches
Item No: 9780800662820
Price: $29.00
Order your copy today!
Five More Days of Used Book Sale at Dove
Through July 31, all of Dove's extensive collection of used books are 20% off. Just place the phrase "20% off" in the comments field of your order.
The complete catalog of used titles may be viewed here. Happy hunting!
The complete catalog of used titles may be viewed here. Happy hunting!
Stephen Colbert on the Lambeth Conference
Courtesy of my father: the subtly clever (and patently hilarious) Stephen Colbert brings a lighter perspective to the controversy surrounding the current incarnation of the Anglican Communion's decennial Lambeth Conference. Take a look...
Friday, July 25, 2008
BAR Highlights: 7/25/08
And even more archaeological news from Biblical Archaeology Review. I was particularly drawn to the first article, as my father and I were just discussing ancient synagogues this evening!
Beyond the Exodus: Jewish Synagogues in Ancient Egypt
July 24, 2008
When dealing with the relationship between Israelite and Egyptian history, most accounts concentrate on the arrival of the Israelites in Egypt and their dramatic exit out of it. But what archaeological evidence do we have of the lives of ancient Jews in Egypt? A recent article in the Jerusalem Post addresses this very question in light of two important but little-discussed archaeological sites.
Two ancient synagogues have been identified in Egypt within the last century. The first is an enigmatic story of a site lost, found, and then lost again. The second is a site whose existence has been hinted at to scholars since 1893, but which has only been confirmed within the last decade. Both are believed to have existed in the last half of the first millennium B.C. and offer an extremely rare glimpse into the Jewish communities in ancient Egypt.
In 1906, the famous British scholar Sir William Flinders Petrie announced to the academic community that he had located the site of the legendary Temple of Onias, which is mentioned in both the Talmud and by the first-century A.D. Jewish historian Josephus. According to historical texts, the temple of Onias would have been founded around 170 B.C. and was destroyed by the Romans in 73 A.D. Petrie claimed to have found the temple site on a mound that was attached to the city of Ramses III. He even created a model of the temple according to descriptions of the “towered fortress” described by Josephus, which was reportedly displayed at the University College in London. However, the shifting sands of time and desert alike have conspired to lose both the model and the site itself, neither of which have been relocated by modern scholars.
The second synagogue proved to take a bit longer to locate but less problematic for today’s scholars to document. Ancient papyri written in Aramaic first discovered at the end of the 19th century refer to an ancient Jewish community that lived for over 100 years on the island of Elephantine. The documents were discovered on Elephantine, an island that lies along the southern boundary of ancient Egypt, as well as at Aswan, the coastal town that lies just opposite Elephantine. As more and more papyri came to light, scholars throughout the 20th century were able to sketch a portrait of a community of ancient Jewish mercenaries that guarded the southern boundary of Egypt from the island of Elephantine, on which they built both their military base and their religious community—complete with synagogue.
Read the Jerusalem Post report on the Jewish temples in Egypt.
The Rorschach Test: What Was Qumran?
July 23, 2008
In the wake of an academic conference to mark the 60th anniversary of the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls, an extensive article in the Jerusalem Report revisits the question of the identity of Qumran, the settlement near where many of the Scrolls were found. Was it an Essene settlement, inhabited by celibate ascetics, a forerunner of monasteries? Can it be called the first kibbutz, as some have labeled it? The article reviews the many functions that have been attributed to site in addition to its being an Essene desert outpost: a fort, a trading post, a pottery factory. It also discusses extensively whether Qumran in ancient times was indeed home to celibate males and if the cemetery just outside the site contained the remains of women. There is also extensive discussion of the recently found text known as “Gabriel’s Vision,” which has been called “a Dead Sea Scroll in stone.” The article interviews Israel Knohl, a professor at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, who argues that “Gabriel’s Vision” contains a pre-Christian idea of a suffering, dying and resurrected messiah. Read the Jerusalem Report article on Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls.
You can also read about “Gabriel’s Vision” and study a transcription and translation of the text; you’ll also get a preview of an upcoming article in BAR by Israel Knohl that lays out his views on this intriguing tablet.
Two New Dead Sea Scrolls Fragments Published
July 22, 2008
James Charlesworth, a professor at Princeton Theological Seminary, has unveiled two previously unknown Biblical fragments on the Web site of the Institute for Judaism and Christian Origins. Both are said to have come from Cave 4 at Qumran, which has been called the mother lode of Scroll manuscripts. Charlesworth believes the first fragment belongs to the Samaritan Pentateuch, which would make it a rarity among the Scrolls. The text contains sections of Deuteronomy 27:4-6, which commands the Israelites to build an altar after they enter the Promised Land; the traditional text of the Hebrew Bible says the altar should be on Mount Ebal but this fragment orders it to be built on Mount Gerizim (the Samaritans considered Mount Gerizim to be holy and worshiped in a temple there rather than the one in Jerusalem).
The second fragment contains portions of Nehemiah 3:14-15 and is important because no passages from that Biblical book had been previously known from Qumran, though portions of Ezra had been found there (Ezra and Nehemiah are thought to have been originally a single work).
These fragments are also of interest because of the work of Bruce and Ken Zuckerman, two academics who specialize in photographic techniques to bring out letters not visible to the naked eye. You can see the dramatic difference their work makes on the fragments at: http://www.ijco.org/?categoryId=28682 and http://www.ijco.org/?categoryId=28681.
Ancient Sailing on Modern Seas
July 21, 2008
Visitors to coastal destinations in Western Europe next spring could see more than picturesque towns and those famous Mediterranean beaches. In fact, many tourists may well wonder if the wine they had the night before was perhaps a bit too strong as they see an ancient Phoenician ship sailing by, complete with an ancient Phoenician crew. If you happen to be one of these tourists, you needn't worry—you will simply be seeing the realization of Fadi Maalouf’s dream. The founder of the Lebanese non-profit organization Peace Missions is undertaking a unique voyage with the intention of highlighting Lebanon’s contribution to civilization.
In the spring of 2009, Maalouf intends to sail a carefully replicated Phoenician ship, which will be approximately 13m long and 4m wide, to seven European countries. Like the Phoenician ships of the ancient world, Maalouf’s Europa—named for the Phoenician princess kidnapped by the Zeus in Greek mythology—will have a horse’s head at the prow and a whale’s tale at the stern, and of course the “all-seeing eye” affixed to the prow in order to ward off ill-fortune. She will also boast a crew of 17 Lebanese volunteers, who will have to promise to live, work and dress like ancient Phoenicians during the 6-8 month voyage, even when they stop on land. In addition to being skilled sailors, Maalouf’s team will also have to be good actors. Each one will assume the identity of an ancient Phoenician historical figure, and will be responsible for representing that figure to people that they encounter during their voyage.
Read about the ancient Phoenician sailing ship in The Malta Independent.
Beyond the Exodus: Jewish Synagogues in Ancient Egypt
July 24, 2008
When dealing with the relationship between Israelite and Egyptian history, most accounts concentrate on the arrival of the Israelites in Egypt and their dramatic exit out of it. But what archaeological evidence do we have of the lives of ancient Jews in Egypt? A recent article in the Jerusalem Post addresses this very question in light of two important but little-discussed archaeological sites.
Two ancient synagogues have been identified in Egypt within the last century. The first is an enigmatic story of a site lost, found, and then lost again. The second is a site whose existence has been hinted at to scholars since 1893, but which has only been confirmed within the last decade. Both are believed to have existed in the last half of the first millennium B.C. and offer an extremely rare glimpse into the Jewish communities in ancient Egypt.
In 1906, the famous British scholar Sir William Flinders Petrie announced to the academic community that he had located the site of the legendary Temple of Onias, which is mentioned in both the Talmud and by the first-century A.D. Jewish historian Josephus. According to historical texts, the temple of Onias would have been founded around 170 B.C. and was destroyed by the Romans in 73 A.D. Petrie claimed to have found the temple site on a mound that was attached to the city of Ramses III. He even created a model of the temple according to descriptions of the “towered fortress” described by Josephus, which was reportedly displayed at the University College in London. However, the shifting sands of time and desert alike have conspired to lose both the model and the site itself, neither of which have been relocated by modern scholars.
The second synagogue proved to take a bit longer to locate but less problematic for today’s scholars to document. Ancient papyri written in Aramaic first discovered at the end of the 19th century refer to an ancient Jewish community that lived for over 100 years on the island of Elephantine. The documents were discovered on Elephantine, an island that lies along the southern boundary of ancient Egypt, as well as at Aswan, the coastal town that lies just opposite Elephantine. As more and more papyri came to light, scholars throughout the 20th century were able to sketch a portrait of a community of ancient Jewish mercenaries that guarded the southern boundary of Egypt from the island of Elephantine, on which they built both their military base and their religious community—complete with synagogue.
Read the Jerusalem Post report on the Jewish temples in Egypt.
The Rorschach Test: What Was Qumran?
July 23, 2008
In the wake of an academic conference to mark the 60th anniversary of the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls, an extensive article in the Jerusalem Report revisits the question of the identity of Qumran, the settlement near where many of the Scrolls were found. Was it an Essene settlement, inhabited by celibate ascetics, a forerunner of monasteries? Can it be called the first kibbutz, as some have labeled it? The article reviews the many functions that have been attributed to site in addition to its being an Essene desert outpost: a fort, a trading post, a pottery factory. It also discusses extensively whether Qumran in ancient times was indeed home to celibate males and if the cemetery just outside the site contained the remains of women. There is also extensive discussion of the recently found text known as “Gabriel’s Vision,” which has been called “a Dead Sea Scroll in stone.” The article interviews Israel Knohl, a professor at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, who argues that “Gabriel’s Vision” contains a pre-Christian idea of a suffering, dying and resurrected messiah. Read the Jerusalem Report article on Qumran and the Dead Sea Scrolls.
You can also read about “Gabriel’s Vision” and study a transcription and translation of the text; you’ll also get a preview of an upcoming article in BAR by Israel Knohl that lays out his views on this intriguing tablet.
Two New Dead Sea Scrolls Fragments Published
July 22, 2008
James Charlesworth, a professor at Princeton Theological Seminary, has unveiled two previously unknown Biblical fragments on the Web site of the Institute for Judaism and Christian Origins. Both are said to have come from Cave 4 at Qumran, which has been called the mother lode of Scroll manuscripts. Charlesworth believes the first fragment belongs to the Samaritan Pentateuch, which would make it a rarity among the Scrolls. The text contains sections of Deuteronomy 27:4-6, which commands the Israelites to build an altar after they enter the Promised Land; the traditional text of the Hebrew Bible says the altar should be on Mount Ebal but this fragment orders it to be built on Mount Gerizim (the Samaritans considered Mount Gerizim to be holy and worshiped in a temple there rather than the one in Jerusalem).
The second fragment contains portions of Nehemiah 3:14-15 and is important because no passages from that Biblical book had been previously known from Qumran, though portions of Ezra had been found there (Ezra and Nehemiah are thought to have been originally a single work).
These fragments are also of interest because of the work of Bruce and Ken Zuckerman, two academics who specialize in photographic techniques to bring out letters not visible to the naked eye. You can see the dramatic difference their work makes on the fragments at: http://www.ijco.org/?categoryId=28682 and http://www.ijco.org/?categoryId=28681.
Ancient Sailing on Modern Seas
July 21, 2008
Visitors to coastal destinations in Western Europe next spring could see more than picturesque towns and those famous Mediterranean beaches. In fact, many tourists may well wonder if the wine they had the night before was perhaps a bit too strong as they see an ancient Phoenician ship sailing by, complete with an ancient Phoenician crew. If you happen to be one of these tourists, you needn't worry—you will simply be seeing the realization of Fadi Maalouf’s dream. The founder of the Lebanese non-profit organization Peace Missions is undertaking a unique voyage with the intention of highlighting Lebanon’s contribution to civilization.
In the spring of 2009, Maalouf intends to sail a carefully replicated Phoenician ship, which will be approximately 13m long and 4m wide, to seven European countries. Like the Phoenician ships of the ancient world, Maalouf’s Europa—named for the Phoenician princess kidnapped by the Zeus in Greek mythology—will have a horse’s head at the prow and a whale’s tale at the stern, and of course the “all-seeing eye” affixed to the prow in order to ward off ill-fortune. She will also boast a crew of 17 Lebanese volunteers, who will have to promise to live, work and dress like ancient Phoenicians during the 6-8 month voyage, even when they stop on land. In addition to being skilled sailors, Maalouf’s team will also have to be good actors. Each one will assume the identity of an ancient Phoenician historical figure, and will be responsible for representing that figure to people that they encounter during their voyage.
Read about the ancient Phoenician sailing ship in The Malta Independent.
RBL Highlights: 7/25/08
Even more highlights from the Review of Biblical Literature. D. A. Carson's apparently negative review of Rescuing the Bible has already generated a substantial bit of biblioblog buzz; Mike Bird, James Crossley, Andy Naselli have posted initial reactions and responses. Even the eminent N. T. Wrong has taken time away from his episcopal duties to add his voice to the fray.
Roland Boer
Rescuing the Bible
Reviewed by D. A. Carson
April D. DeConick
The Thirteenth Apostle: What the Gospel of Judas Really Says
Reviewed by Stephan Witetschek
John H. Elliott
1 Peter: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary
Reviewed by Pheme Perkins
Jane DeRose Evans
The Coins and the Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine Economy of Palestine
Reviewed by Mark R. Fairchild
Albert V. Garcilazo
The Corinthian Dissenters and the Stoics
Reviewed by Stephan Joubert
Suzanne Watts Henderson
Christology and Discipleship in the Gospel of Mark
Reviewed by W. R. Telford
Helen Leneman
The Performed Bible: The Story of Ruth in Opera and Oratorio
Reviewed by Elisabeth Birnbaum
Paul L. Maier, trans.
Eusebius: The Church History
Reviewed by Sabrina Inowlocki
Pheme Perkins
Introduction to the Synoptic Gospels
Reviewed by Peter J. Judge
Wayne G. Rollins and D. Andrew Kille, eds.
Psychological Insight into the Bible: Texts and Readings
Reviewed by E. H. Scheffler
Deborah W. Rooke, ed.
A Question of Sex? Gender and Difference in the Hebrew Bible and Beyond
Reviewed by Athalya Brenner
Phillip Sigal
The Halakhah of Jesus of Nazareth according to the Gospel of Matthew
Reviewed by Roland Deines
Reviewed by Dorothy Jean Weaver
Jan G. van der Watt
An Introduction to the Johannine Gospel and Letters
Reviewed by Tom Thatcher
Roland Boer
Rescuing the Bible
Reviewed by D. A. Carson
April D. DeConick
The Thirteenth Apostle: What the Gospel of Judas Really Says
Reviewed by Stephan Witetschek
John H. Elliott
1 Peter: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary
Reviewed by Pheme Perkins
Jane DeRose Evans
The Coins and the Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine Economy of Palestine
Reviewed by Mark R. Fairchild
Albert V. Garcilazo
The Corinthian Dissenters and the Stoics
Reviewed by Stephan Joubert
Suzanne Watts Henderson
Christology and Discipleship in the Gospel of Mark
Reviewed by W. R. Telford
Helen Leneman
The Performed Bible: The Story of Ruth in Opera and Oratorio
Reviewed by Elisabeth Birnbaum
Paul L. Maier, trans.
Eusebius: The Church History
Reviewed by Sabrina Inowlocki
Pheme Perkins
Introduction to the Synoptic Gospels
Reviewed by Peter J. Judge
Wayne G. Rollins and D. Andrew Kille, eds.
Psychological Insight into the Bible: Texts and Readings
Reviewed by E. H. Scheffler
Deborah W. Rooke, ed.
A Question of Sex? Gender and Difference in the Hebrew Bible and Beyond
Reviewed by Athalya Brenner
Phillip Sigal
The Halakhah of Jesus of Nazareth according to the Gospel of Matthew
Reviewed by Roland Deines
Reviewed by Dorothy Jean Weaver
Jan G. van der Watt
An Introduction to the Johannine Gospel and Letters
Reviewed by Tom Thatcher
Monday, July 21, 2008
RBL Highlights: 7/21/08
A few 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 Lidija Novakovic
Adela Yarbro Collins
Mark: A Commentary
Reviewed by Edwin Broadhead
Johanna Dorman
The Blemished Body: Deformity and Disability in the Qumran Scrolls
Reviewed by T. M. Lemos
Douglas R. Edwards and C. Thomas McCollough, eds.
The Archaeology of Difference: Gender, Ethnicity, Class and the "Other" in Antiquity: Studies in Honor of Eric M. Meyers
Reviewed by Aren M. Maeir
Charlotte Elisheva Fonrobert and Martin S. Jaffee, eds.
The Cambridge Companion to the Talmud and Rabbinic Literature
Reviewed by Joshua Schwartz
Mary Gerhart and Fabian E. Udoh, eds.
The Christianity Reader
Reviewed by Mark Reasoner
Rowan A. Greer and Margaret M. Mitchell
The "Belly-Myther" of Endor: Interpretations of 1 Kingdoms 28 in the Early Church
Reviewed by D. Jeffrey Bingham
André Munzinger
Discerning the Spirits: Theological and Ethical Hermeneutics in Paul
Reviewed by Lee S. Bond
Reviewed by Victor Paul Furnish
Stephen W. Need
Paul Today: Challenging Readings of Acts and the Epistles
Reviewed by Steve Walton
Barclay M. Newman, ed.
The UBS Greek New Testament: A Reader's Edition
Reviewed by Steven R. Johnson
Bridget Gilfillan Upton
Hearing Mark's Endings: Listening to Ancient Popular Texts through Speech Act Theory
Reviewed by W. R. Telford
Jan G. van der Watt
An Introduction to the Johannine Gospel and Letters
Reviewed by D. A. Carson
Kevin L. Anderson
"But God Raised Him from the Dead": The Theology of Jesus' Resurrection in Luke-Acts
Reviewed by Lidija Novakovic
Adela Yarbro Collins
Mark: A Commentary
Reviewed by Edwin Broadhead
Johanna Dorman
The Blemished Body: Deformity and Disability in the Qumran Scrolls
Reviewed by T. M. Lemos
Douglas R. Edwards and C. Thomas McCollough, eds.
The Archaeology of Difference: Gender, Ethnicity, Class and the "Other" in Antiquity: Studies in Honor of Eric M. Meyers
Reviewed by Aren M. Maeir
Charlotte Elisheva Fonrobert and Martin S. Jaffee, eds.
The Cambridge Companion to the Talmud and Rabbinic Literature
Reviewed by Joshua Schwartz
Mary Gerhart and Fabian E. Udoh, eds.
The Christianity Reader
Reviewed by Mark Reasoner
Rowan A. Greer and Margaret M. Mitchell
The "Belly-Myther" of Endor: Interpretations of 1 Kingdoms 28 in the Early Church
Reviewed by D. Jeffrey Bingham
André Munzinger
Discerning the Spirits: Theological and Ethical Hermeneutics in Paul
Reviewed by Lee S. Bond
Reviewed by Victor Paul Furnish
Stephen W. Need
Paul Today: Challenging Readings of Acts and the Epistles
Reviewed by Steve Walton
Barclay M. Newman, ed.
The UBS Greek New Testament: A Reader's Edition
Reviewed by Steven R. Johnson
Bridget Gilfillan Upton
Hearing Mark's Endings: Listening to Ancient Popular Texts through Speech Act Theory
Reviewed by W. R. Telford
Jan G. van der Watt
An Introduction to the Johannine Gospel and Letters
Reviewed by D. A. Carson
BAR Highlights: 7/21/08
Recent archaeological news from Biblical Archaeology Review:
Caught in the Culture Wars
July 20, 2008
It started innocently enough: In 1991, Wellesley College classics professor Mary Lefkowitz was asked to review Martin Bernal’s Black Athena, which argued that classical Greek civilization basically stole its ideas from Egypt. This viewpoint, Lefkowitz quickly found out, was a beloved pillar of Afrocentrism, never mind that some of its assertions were flat-out wrong: Aristotle, for example, could not have come to his theories by way of the books in the Alexandria Library because he died long before the Library came into existence. Even worse, Lefkowitz became embroiled in a bitter battle with a colleague at Wellesley, who accused her of racism. Her culture war battles are now over, but Lefkowitz has released a memoir of those days. Read the Times (of London) Literary Supplement review of History Lesson.
Rare Maritime Artifact Discovered by Lifeguard
July 19, 2008
While diving off the coast of Palmahim Beach in Israel, lifeguard David Shalom made an unusual find. Rather than the usual colorful fish or shells that most divers expect to see, Shalom discovered something significantly rarer: a 2500-year-old white marble disc used by ancient mariners to ward off evil. One of only four such artifacts in the world today, the disc was very common in the maritime world of the ancient Mediterranean. Painted in the form of an eye, they were affixed to the prows of ships to warn of danger and act as a sort of nautical good luck charm. Shalom was diving in Yavne-Yam, a known antiquities site. Upon making the startling discovery, he turned the precious artifact over to the Israel Antiquities Authority. Kobi Sharvit, the director of the Marine Unit of the Israel Antiquities Authority, commented that not only was this type of disc popular in the ancient Mediterranean world, it is still used today on boats in places such as Portugal, Malta, Greece and in the Far East.
The International Herald Tribune reports on the disc to ward off evil.
Putting It All on the (On)Line
July 18, 2008
The University of Pennsylvania’s Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology plans to make its one million artifacts available through the Internet.
Don’t Ask Us
July 17, 2008
The World Archaeological Congress concluded its recent meeting by calling on archaeologists not to provide any assistance to the military in planning possible attacks against Iran.
Jericho Felled by TB?
July 16, 2008
Researchers studying bones excavated in the 1950s at the Biblical city have found many inhabitants had TB, suggesting Jericho succumbed to more than tumbling walls. The researchers hope studying the ancient bones will help them fight TB today.
Is That Covered By Insurance?
July 15, 2008
Papyrus scrolls buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius and discovered in a villa 200 years ago are undergoing MRI examinations at a hospital in Washington State.
The Modest Venus
July 14, 2008
A well-preserved statue discovered in Macedonia shows the nude goddess of love attempting to demurely cover her herself.
Is “Cultural Property” a Crock?
July 13, 2008
A columnist for the Times of London thinks the recent demands by some countries for the return of ancient artifacts are driven by “narrow nationalism and a political agenda, an attempt to lend historical credibility to modern states that did not exist when the objects were created.”
She Sells Looted Sea Shells by the Sea Shore
July 12, 2008
A newly enacted law in Greece opening up the country’s coastline to sea divers may have a baleful unintended consequence: widespread looting of underwater remains and artifacts.
Iraqi Sites Better than Feared
July 11, 2008
An international team of archaeologists recently visited eight important ancient sites in southern Iraq and found that there had been no looting at them since 2003.
Elaborate Etruscan Tomb Discovered
July 10, 2008
Road construction in Perugia has unearthed an Etruscan family tomb in excellent condition, containing seven funerary urns, a pillar, two benches and parts of a bronze bed. Etruscan civilization flourished in Italy in the middle of the first millennium B.C.
Pompeii Threatened Again
July 9, 2008
The Italian government is appointing a special commissioner to administer the spectacular ancient site, which is in a chaotic state and which has seen a big drop in visitors.
Caught in the Culture Wars
July 20, 2008
It started innocently enough: In 1991, Wellesley College classics professor Mary Lefkowitz was asked to review Martin Bernal’s Black Athena, which argued that classical Greek civilization basically stole its ideas from Egypt. This viewpoint, Lefkowitz quickly found out, was a beloved pillar of Afrocentrism, never mind that some of its assertions were flat-out wrong: Aristotle, for example, could not have come to his theories by way of the books in the Alexandria Library because he died long before the Library came into existence. Even worse, Lefkowitz became embroiled in a bitter battle with a colleague at Wellesley, who accused her of racism. Her culture war battles are now over, but Lefkowitz has released a memoir of those days. Read the Times (of London) Literary Supplement review of History Lesson.
Rare Maritime Artifact Discovered by Lifeguard
July 19, 2008
While diving off the coast of Palmahim Beach in Israel, lifeguard David Shalom made an unusual find. Rather than the usual colorful fish or shells that most divers expect to see, Shalom discovered something significantly rarer: a 2500-year-old white marble disc used by ancient mariners to ward off evil. One of only four such artifacts in the world today, the disc was very common in the maritime world of the ancient Mediterranean. Painted in the form of an eye, they were affixed to the prows of ships to warn of danger and act as a sort of nautical good luck charm. Shalom was diving in Yavne-Yam, a known antiquities site. Upon making the startling discovery, he turned the precious artifact over to the Israel Antiquities Authority. Kobi Sharvit, the director of the Marine Unit of the Israel Antiquities Authority, commented that not only was this type of disc popular in the ancient Mediterranean world, it is still used today on boats in places such as Portugal, Malta, Greece and in the Far East.
The International Herald Tribune reports on the disc to ward off evil.
Putting It All on the (On)Line
July 18, 2008
The University of Pennsylvania’s Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology plans to make its one million artifacts available through the Internet.
Don’t Ask Us
July 17, 2008
The World Archaeological Congress concluded its recent meeting by calling on archaeologists not to provide any assistance to the military in planning possible attacks against Iran.
Jericho Felled by TB?
July 16, 2008
Researchers studying bones excavated in the 1950s at the Biblical city have found many inhabitants had TB, suggesting Jericho succumbed to more than tumbling walls. The researchers hope studying the ancient bones will help them fight TB today.
Is That Covered By Insurance?
July 15, 2008
Papyrus scrolls buried by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius and discovered in a villa 200 years ago are undergoing MRI examinations at a hospital in Washington State.
The Modest Venus
July 14, 2008
A well-preserved statue discovered in Macedonia shows the nude goddess of love attempting to demurely cover her herself.
Is “Cultural Property” a Crock?
July 13, 2008
A columnist for the Times of London thinks the recent demands by some countries for the return of ancient artifacts are driven by “narrow nationalism and a political agenda, an attempt to lend historical credibility to modern states that did not exist when the objects were created.”
She Sells Looted Sea Shells by the Sea Shore
July 12, 2008
A newly enacted law in Greece opening up the country’s coastline to sea divers may have a baleful unintended consequence: widespread looting of underwater remains and artifacts.
Iraqi Sites Better than Feared
July 11, 2008
An international team of archaeologists recently visited eight important ancient sites in southern Iraq and found that there had been no looting at them since 2003.
Elaborate Etruscan Tomb Discovered
July 10, 2008
Road construction in Perugia has unearthed an Etruscan family tomb in excellent condition, containing seven funerary urns, a pillar, two benches and parts of a bronze bed. Etruscan civilization flourished in Italy in the middle of the first millennium B.C.
Pompeii Threatened Again
July 9, 2008
The Italian government is appointing a special commissioner to administer the spectacular ancient site, which is in a chaotic state and which has seen a big drop in visitors.
Monday, July 14, 2008
New Introduction to NT Manuscripts (And You Should Probably Buy It Now)
Thanks to Peter Head for a particularly important publication announcement: a new introduction to New Testament manuscripts from David C. Parker, who forever changed the course of the discipline in 1997 with his The Living Text of the Gospels. My advice: run, don't walk, to your nearest bookstore and pick up a copy. This one will surely be great!
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Jesus at the Movies: Week 1
To those of you who missed the first session of "Jesus at the Movies" this evening at lovely Christ Church United Methodist: where were you? ;-) Fortunately, however, the technological marvel that is Google Docs allows me to post the thoroughly captivating PowerPoint presentation (an introduction to the study of the historical Jesus, which will serve as a comparative framework for the evaluation of aspects of various films) here, so as to offset your inevitable feelings of emptiness, loss, etc. Alternatively, simply click on the slide below. Enjoy... and we hope to see you next week!
RBL Highlights: 7/9/09
A few highlights from this week's Review of Biblical Literature. Note the volume in honor of the recently retired Eric Meyers, which is co-edited by the venerable Prof. Tom McCullough (one of my favorite professors at Centre).
Paul N. Anderson, Felix Just, S.J., and Tom Thatcher, eds.
John, Jesus, and History, Volume 1: Critical Appraisals of Critical Views
Reviewed by Jan G. van der Watt
Timothy K. Beal and Tod Linafelt, eds.
Mel Gibson's Bible: Religion, Popular Culture, and The Passion of the Christ
Reviewed by William Telford
Richard J. Clifford, ed.
Wisdom Literature in Mesopotamia and Israel
Reviewed by John Mason
Reviewed by Andrew E. Steinmann
Richard M. Davidson
Flame of Yahweh: Sexuality in the Old Testament
Reviewed by Gerrie Snyman
Douglas R. Edwards and C. Thomas McCollough, eds.
The Archaeology of Difference: Gender, Ethnicity, Class and the "Other" in Antiquity: Studies in Honor of Eric M. Meyers
Reviewed by Cynthia M. Baker
Daniel K. Falk
The Parabiblical Texts: Strategies for Extending the Scriptures among the Dead Sea Scrolls
Reviewed by Lee Martin McDonald
David Flusser, with R. Steven Notley
The Sage from Galilee: Rediscovering Jesus' Genius
Reviewed by Robert L. Brawley
Philip S. Johnston, ed.
The IVP Introduction to the Bible
Reviewed by Douglas Estes
Lautaro Roig Lanzillotta
Acta Andreae Apocrypha: A New Perspective on the Nature, Intention and Significance of the Primitive Text
Reviewed by Lee Martin McDonald
Sara Parvis and Paul Foster, eds.
Justin Martyr and His Worlds
Reviewed by Shawn W. J. Keough
Jaroslav Pelikan
Acts
Reviewed by John B. F. Miller
F. E. Peters
The Voice, the Word, the Books: The Sacred Scripture of the Jews, Christians, and Muslims
Reviewed by Kirk R. MacGregor
Kocku von Stuckrad, ed.; Robert Barr, trans.
The Brill Dictionary of Religion
Reviewed by Wolfram Reiss
Geza Vermes
The Resurrection: History and Myth
Reviewed by Tony Costa
Reviewed by Michael R. Licona
Paul N. Anderson, Felix Just, S.J., and Tom Thatcher, eds.
John, Jesus, and History, Volume 1: Critical Appraisals of Critical Views
Reviewed by Jan G. van der Watt
Timothy K. Beal and Tod Linafelt, eds.
Mel Gibson's Bible: Religion, Popular Culture, and The Passion of the Christ
Reviewed by William Telford
Richard J. Clifford, ed.
Wisdom Literature in Mesopotamia and Israel
Reviewed by John Mason
Reviewed by Andrew E. Steinmann
Richard M. Davidson
Flame of Yahweh: Sexuality in the Old Testament
Reviewed by Gerrie Snyman
Douglas R. Edwards and C. Thomas McCollough, eds.
The Archaeology of Difference: Gender, Ethnicity, Class and the "Other" in Antiquity: Studies in Honor of Eric M. Meyers
Reviewed by Cynthia M. Baker
Daniel K. Falk
The Parabiblical Texts: Strategies for Extending the Scriptures among the Dead Sea Scrolls
Reviewed by Lee Martin McDonald
David Flusser, with R. Steven Notley
The Sage from Galilee: Rediscovering Jesus' Genius
Reviewed by Robert L. Brawley
Philip S. Johnston, ed.
The IVP Introduction to the Bible
Reviewed by Douglas Estes
Lautaro Roig Lanzillotta
Acta Andreae Apocrypha: A New Perspective on the Nature, Intention and Significance of the Primitive Text
Reviewed by Lee Martin McDonald
Sara Parvis and Paul Foster, eds.
Justin Martyr and His Worlds
Reviewed by Shawn W. J. Keough
Jaroslav Pelikan
Acts
Reviewed by John B. F. Miller
F. E. Peters
The Voice, the Word, the Books: The Sacred Scripture of the Jews, Christians, and Muslims
Reviewed by Kirk R. MacGregor
Kocku von Stuckrad, ed.; Robert Barr, trans.
The Brill Dictionary of Religion
Reviewed by Wolfram Reiss
Geza Vermes
The Resurrection: History and Myth
Reviewed by Tony Costa
Reviewed by Michael R. Licona
BAR Highlights: 7/9/08
Recent archaeological news from Biblical Archaeology Review:
A Risen Messiah Before Jesus?
BAR Special News Report
The news media has been reporting on an important ancient text—like the Dead Sea Scrolls, but written on a stone tablet—that may challenge our understanding of the concept of messiah among Jews and Christians in ancient times. The first popular article on this intriguing tablet, called “Gabriel’s Vision,” appeared in Biblical Archaeology Review; read the article here, as well as a transcription and translation of the 87-line text.
Oldest Church Found?
BAR Special News Report
Excavators in Rihab, northern Jordan, say the have uncovered a cave underneath a third-century church that they believe was used by the very first Christians between the years 33, about when Jesus was crucified, and 70 A.D., when Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans.
“May His Bones Rot”
July 8, 2008
That’s what the Talmud said of the Roman emperor Hadrian, and understandably so considering his ruthless suppression of the Second Jewish Revolt against Rome. But Hadrian’s many accomplishments, good and bad, long ago secured his place in history, as shown in this review article of an upcoming British Museum exhibit.
F Is for Fake
July 6, 2008
The Brooklyn Museum has announced that it believes about one third of its Coptic (Egyptian Christian) objects are fakes—and it plans to put them on exhibit to highlight the problem of forgeries.
Back Home to Egypt
July 5, 2008
A 2500-year-old wall relief has been returned to Egypt after it was pulled from an auction house sale in England. The relief had been looted from a pharaoh’s tomb in Luxor.
Brush Up Your Syriac
July 4, 2008
Brigham Young University and Catholic University of America have joined forces to produce the Syriac Studies Reference Library, a valuable online resource for the study of early Christian texts.
Baghdad Eyewitness
July 3, 2008
Former Iraq Museum director Donny George, who was present during the looting of the museum in the wake of the American invasion in 2003, describes in a video interview those calamitous days and what it was like working for Saddam Hussein.
Uncovering Urban Egypt
July 2, 2008
The widely-held view that the land of the pharaohs was a civilization without cities is being upended by new discoveries south of Luxor.
Authentic Imitations
July 1, 2008
A Nevada natural history museum has received a gift of reproductions of King Tut’s treasures. The gifts came from Luxor—Luxor, Las Vegas.
What Took You So Long?
June 30, 2008
Thanks to clues in the Odyssey and the timing of an ancient solar eclipse, two scientists think they know when Odysseus was finally reunited with his beloved Penelope.
Palmyra Before Palmyra
June 29, 2008
Thanks to its spectacular remains, the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria is one of the most striking Roman sites in the Middle East. But now Austrian, German and Syrian archaeologists have uncovered an earlier incarnation of the city, which dates to the Hellenistic period.
On the Ropes
June 28, 2008
A manmade cave on the Red Sea coast has yielded more than 30 coils of rope wrapped by Egyptian sailors 4,000 years ago. The discovery is providing insights into ancient Egyptian sailing and shipbuilding techniques.
Handling of Greece’s Heritage Creates Scandal
June 27, 2008
The Greek government is coming under increasing criticism for neglecting the country’s archaeological heritage—many sites are poorly maintained or not accessible to visitors. The site of Akrotiri, on the volcanic island of Santorini, for example, is closed for the third straight summer because the roof over the remains collapsed and has yet to be replaced.
Forget Xbox, Play the Royal Game of Ur
June 26, 2008
A British Museum curator has had a lifelong obsession with ancient Mesopotamia’s most popular board game. Deciphering cuneiform texts, he discovered how the game was played and even convinced former chess champion Garry Kasparov to try his hand at it.
A Risen Messiah Before Jesus?
BAR Special News Report
The news media has been reporting on an important ancient text—like the Dead Sea Scrolls, but written on a stone tablet—that may challenge our understanding of the concept of messiah among Jews and Christians in ancient times. The first popular article on this intriguing tablet, called “Gabriel’s Vision,” appeared in Biblical Archaeology Review; read the article here, as well as a transcription and translation of the 87-line text.
Oldest Church Found?
BAR Special News Report
Excavators in Rihab, northern Jordan, say the have uncovered a cave underneath a third-century church that they believe was used by the very first Christians between the years 33, about when Jesus was crucified, and 70 A.D., when Jerusalem was destroyed by the Romans.
“May His Bones Rot”
July 8, 2008
That’s what the Talmud said of the Roman emperor Hadrian, and understandably so considering his ruthless suppression of the Second Jewish Revolt against Rome. But Hadrian’s many accomplishments, good and bad, long ago secured his place in history, as shown in this review article of an upcoming British Museum exhibit.
F Is for Fake
July 6, 2008
The Brooklyn Museum has announced that it believes about one third of its Coptic (Egyptian Christian) objects are fakes—and it plans to put them on exhibit to highlight the problem of forgeries.
Back Home to Egypt
July 5, 2008
A 2500-year-old wall relief has been returned to Egypt after it was pulled from an auction house sale in England. The relief had been looted from a pharaoh’s tomb in Luxor.
Brush Up Your Syriac
July 4, 2008
Brigham Young University and Catholic University of America have joined forces to produce the Syriac Studies Reference Library, a valuable online resource for the study of early Christian texts.
Baghdad Eyewitness
July 3, 2008
Former Iraq Museum director Donny George, who was present during the looting of the museum in the wake of the American invasion in 2003, describes in a video interview those calamitous days and what it was like working for Saddam Hussein.
Uncovering Urban Egypt
July 2, 2008
The widely-held view that the land of the pharaohs was a civilization without cities is being upended by new discoveries south of Luxor.
Authentic Imitations
July 1, 2008
A Nevada natural history museum has received a gift of reproductions of King Tut’s treasures. The gifts came from Luxor—Luxor, Las Vegas.
What Took You So Long?
June 30, 2008
Thanks to clues in the Odyssey and the timing of an ancient solar eclipse, two scientists think they know when Odysseus was finally reunited with his beloved Penelope.
Palmyra Before Palmyra
June 29, 2008
Thanks to its spectacular remains, the ancient city of Palmyra in Syria is one of the most striking Roman sites in the Middle East. But now Austrian, German and Syrian archaeologists have uncovered an earlier incarnation of the city, which dates to the Hellenistic period.
On the Ropes
June 28, 2008
A manmade cave on the Red Sea coast has yielded more than 30 coils of rope wrapped by Egyptian sailors 4,000 years ago. The discovery is providing insights into ancient Egyptian sailing and shipbuilding techniques.
Handling of Greece’s Heritage Creates Scandal
June 27, 2008
The Greek government is coming under increasing criticism for neglecting the country’s archaeological heritage—many sites are poorly maintained or not accessible to visitors. The site of Akrotiri, on the volcanic island of Santorini, for example, is closed for the third straight summer because the roof over the remains collapsed and has yet to be replaced.
Forget Xbox, Play the Royal Game of Ur
June 26, 2008
A British Museum curator has had a lifelong obsession with ancient Mesopotamia’s most popular board game. Deciphering cuneiform texts, he discovered how the game was played and even convinced former chess champion Garry Kasparov to try his hand at it.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
July SBL Newsletter
The first SBL Newsletter for July arrived in my inbox this evening. Among other news, the yearly subscription fee for the print edition of the Journal of Biblical Literature has been slightly increased, from $35 (for Society members) to $40. Not an exponential jump, but enough to inspire me to save a few trees and read each issue online!
For more detailed information Click Here
Publications News
New JBL posted
Note the upcoming price changes for the Journal of Biblical Literature one-year print subscription. (JBL on-line included in membership)
Member pricing: $40 for print issue; Non-member pricing: $165 online only, $180 print only and $195 for print and online.
This increase will be effective starting with the Spring 2009 128:1 issue. If your renewal comes up before then or if you have already purchased a 2009 subscription, the price remains $35.
Logos has announced the upcoming availability of the Review of Biblical Literature (RBL)—9 years worth of reviews from 1998-2006 through Libronix.
Ten more books have been added to the ICI Online Books Project. Click here for the complete list of books in the project.
Meetings and Events
The International Meeting in Auckland is currently in progress. It will end July 11.
Annual Meeting Session Guides have been mailed to all SBL members. Look for yours in the mail soon. You can check the Online Program for changes or register for the meeting at http://www.sbl-site.org/meetings/AnnualMeeting.aspx.
Career Center
Candidate registration for Jobs at the Annual Meeting is now open.
Employer registration for Jobs at the Annual Meeting will open July 16.
The American Theological Library Association is partnering with the Career Center. The Career Center's broad audience will make more visible the various opportunities available in the library field and provide SBL members additional career services. Check the Career Center homepage for more information.
Technology
We are aware that using FireFox 3.0 may lead to users experiencing errors using the site. We are working to get everything corrected shortly.
Society Fund
We invite you to make your 2008 contribution to the annual Society Fund. Your contributions are essential to SBL programs such as the Online books Project which provides online access to current, critical scholarship to students in qualifying countries.
Please join your colleagues in helping us reach our goal of $75,000.
Thank you for your continuous support and a special thank you to those who have already made their 2008 commitment.
Calendar items for July and August 2008
For more information on all Events listed, click here.
July 2008
7/6-7/11
SBL International Meeting
Auckland, New Zealand
Click Here for more information.
7/7-7/9
ARAM Twenty-Fifth International Conference: The Decapolis
University of Oxford
Click Here for more information.
7/14-7/16
Society of Asian Biblical Studies Meeting; Seoul, Korea
Click Here for more information.
7/20-7/25
54e Rencontre Assyriologique Internationale
University of Würzburg
More Information
7/21-7/24
Summer meeting of The Society for Old Testament Study (SOTS)
Wadham College, University of Oxford
For conference details click here.
7/21-7/26
International Conference on the Ancient Novel (ICAN 2008)in Lisbon, Portugal
includes sessions on Archaeology and the Ancient Novel and Early Christian Narrative and Jewish Narrative
7/29-8/2
The 63rd General Meeting of Studiorum Novi Testamenti Societas (Society for the Study of the New Testament) will take place from July 29 to August 1 in Lund, Sweden. For members of the Society and their invited guests.
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/snts/
August 2008
8/4-8/5
Gender and Hebrew Bible conference
A Question of Sex: Embroidered Garments
King's College London
Strand Campus
For more detailed information please Click Here
8/4-8/8
Intertestamental Literature, Reading Non-canonical Books for biblical scholars from Catholic and various Protestant seminaries.
Conference Centre GBKP, Kabanjahe, North Sumatera, Indonesia
Contact: Fr. Dr. Hari Kustono or Rev. Armand Barus, Ph.D.
8/5-8/7
57th Colloquium Biblicum Lovaniense; Topic: The Composition of the Book of Psalms
President: Prof. dr. Erich Zenger (University of Münster)
Venue: Catholic University of Leuven, Faculty of Theology, St-Michielsstraat 6, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
For more detailed information please contact: jos.verheyden@theo.kuleuven.be
8/19-8/20
Conference on Philemon
Theme: Philemon in Perspective
University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
For more detailed information Click Here
The Bible and Critical Theory 4.2
The latest issue of The Bible and Critical Theory is now available online. The included articles and reviews, with their respective hyperlinks, are listed below:
Editorial
Julie Kelso
The Bible and Critical Theory, Vol. 4, No. 2: 22.1-22.3.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Surveillant discipline: Panoptic vision in early Christian
self-definition
David M. Reis
The Bible and Critical Theory, Vol. 4, No. 2: 23.1-23.21.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Intersections in queer theory and postcolonial theory, and hermeneutical
spin-offs
Jeremy Punt
The Bible and Critical Theory, Vol. 4, No. 2: 24.1-24.16.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revelation for sale: An intercultural reading of Revelation 18 from an
East Asian perspective
Rohun Park
The Bible and Critical Theory, Vol. 4, No. 2: 25.1-25.12.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Story of Hannah (1 Sam 1:1-2:11) from a perspective of Han: The
three-phase transformative process
Yung Suk Kim
The Bible and Critical Theory, Vol. 4, No. 2: 26.1-26.9.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
`My business is circumference': A meditation on scission, locution,
confession
Hilary Emmett
The Bible and Critical Theory, Vol. 4, No. 2: 27.1-27.13.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Review of John J. Collins, The Bible After Babel: Historical Criticism
in a Postmodern Age: (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.,
2005)
George Aichele
The Bible and Critical Theory, Vol. 4, No. 2: 28.1-28.3.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Review of Corinna Riva & Nicholas C Vella (eds) Debating
Orientalization: Multidisciplinary Approaches to Change in the Ancient
Mediterranean: (London: Equinox, 2006.)
Michael Carden
The Bible and Critical Theory, Vol. 4, No. 2: 29.1-29.3.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Review of Steven Schweitzer, Reading Utopia in Chronicles: (Library of
Hebrew Bible/Old Testament Studies 442. New York: T &T Clark, 2007)
Roland Boer
The Bible and Critical Theory, Vol. 4, No. 2: 30.1-30.3.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Review of David Rhoads, From Every People and Nation: The Book of
Revelation in Intercultural Perspective
Rohun Park
The Bible and Critical Theory, Vol. 4, No. 2: 31.1-31.4.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Review of Dan O. Via, Divine Justice, Divine Judgment: Rethinking the
Judgment of Nations: (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2007)
Kathryn Imray
The Bible and Critical Theory, Vol. 4, No. 2: 32.1-32.3.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Review of Hector Avalos, The End of Biblical Studies: (Amherst, NY:
Prometheus Books, 2007)
Peter D Miscall
The Bible and Critical Theory, Vol. 4, No. 2: 33.1-33.4.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Review of J. W. Rogerson, According to the Scriptures: The Use of the
Bible in Social, Moral and Political Questions: (London: Equinox, 2007)
Craig Martin
The Bible and Critical Theory, Vol. 4, No. 2: 34.1-34.3.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Review of Jerome T. Walsh, Ahab: The Construction of a King:
(Collegeville, MN: A Michael Glazier Book, Liturgical Press, 2006)
Lou McNeil
The Bible and Critical Theory, Vol. 4, No. 2: 35.1-35.3.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Review of Ward Blanton, Displacing Christian Origins: Philosophy,
Secularity and the New Testament: (Chicago: The University of Chicago
Press, 2007)
Richard Walsh
The Bible and Critical Theory, Vol. 4, No. 2: 36.1-36.4.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Review of Fiona Black (ed.), The Recycled Bible: Autobiography, Culture
and the Space Between: (Semeia Studies 51, Atlanta: Society of Biblical
Literature, 2006)
Christina Petterson
The Bible and Critical Theory, Vol. 4, No. 2: 37.1-37.3.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Review of Anne F. Elvey, An Ecological Feminist Reading of the Gospel of
Luke: (Lewiston, New York: Edwin Mellen Press, 2005)
Rohun Park
The Bible and Critical Theory, Vol. 4, No. 2: 38.1-38.2.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Review of Warren S. Goldstein (ed.), Marx, Critical Theory and Religion:
A Critique of Rational Choice: (Studies in Critical Social Sciences,
vol. 6. Leiden: Brill, 2006)
Roland Boer
The Bible and Critical Theory, Vol. 4, No. 2: 39.1-39.4.
Editorial
Julie Kelso
The Bible and Critical Theory, Vol. 4, No. 2: 22.1-22.3.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Surveillant discipline: Panoptic vision in early Christian
self-definition
David M. Reis
The Bible and Critical Theory, Vol. 4, No. 2: 23.1-23.21.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Intersections in queer theory and postcolonial theory, and hermeneutical
spin-offs
Jeremy Punt
The Bible and Critical Theory, Vol. 4, No. 2: 24.1-24.16.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revelation for sale: An intercultural reading of Revelation 18 from an
East Asian perspective
Rohun Park
The Bible and Critical Theory, Vol. 4, No. 2: 25.1-25.12.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Story of Hannah (1 Sam 1:1-2:11) from a perspective of Han: The
three-phase transformative process
Yung Suk Kim
The Bible and Critical Theory, Vol. 4, No. 2: 26.1-26.9.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
`My business is circumference': A meditation on scission, locution,
confession
Hilary Emmett
The Bible and Critical Theory, Vol. 4, No. 2: 27.1-27.13.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Review of John J. Collins, The Bible After Babel: Historical Criticism
in a Postmodern Age: (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co.,
2005)
George Aichele
The Bible and Critical Theory, Vol. 4, No. 2: 28.1-28.3.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Review of Corinna Riva & Nicholas C Vella (eds) Debating
Orientalization: Multidisciplinary Approaches to Change in the Ancient
Mediterranean: (London: Equinox, 2006.)
Michael Carden
The Bible and Critical Theory, Vol. 4, No. 2: 29.1-29.3.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Review of Steven Schweitzer, Reading Utopia in Chronicles: (Library of
Hebrew Bible/Old Testament Studies 442. New York: T &T Clark, 2007)
Roland Boer
The Bible and Critical Theory, Vol. 4, No. 2: 30.1-30.3.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Review of David Rhoads, From Every People and Nation: The Book of
Revelation in Intercultural Perspective
Rohun Park
The Bible and Critical Theory, Vol. 4, No. 2: 31.1-31.4.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Review of Dan O. Via, Divine Justice, Divine Judgment: Rethinking the
Judgment of Nations: (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2007)
Kathryn Imray
The Bible and Critical Theory, Vol. 4, No. 2: 32.1-32.3.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Review of Hector Avalos, The End of Biblical Studies: (Amherst, NY:
Prometheus Books, 2007)
Peter D Miscall
The Bible and Critical Theory, Vol. 4, No. 2: 33.1-33.4.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Review of J. W. Rogerson, According to the Scriptures: The Use of the
Bible in Social, Moral and Political Questions: (London: Equinox, 2007)
Craig Martin
The Bible and Critical Theory, Vol. 4, No. 2: 34.1-34.3.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Review of Jerome T. Walsh, Ahab: The Construction of a King:
(Collegeville, MN: A Michael Glazier Book, Liturgical Press, 2006)
Lou McNeil
The Bible and Critical Theory, Vol. 4, No. 2: 35.1-35.3.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Review of Ward Blanton, Displacing Christian Origins: Philosophy,
Secularity and the New Testament: (Chicago: The University of Chicago
Press, 2007)
Richard Walsh
The Bible and Critical Theory, Vol. 4, No. 2: 36.1-36.4.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Review of Fiona Black (ed.), The Recycled Bible: Autobiography, Culture
and the Space Between: (Semeia Studies 51, Atlanta: Society of Biblical
Literature, 2006)
Christina Petterson
The Bible and Critical Theory, Vol. 4, No. 2: 37.1-37.3.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Review of Anne F. Elvey, An Ecological Feminist Reading of the Gospel of
Luke: (Lewiston, New York: Edwin Mellen Press, 2005)
Rohun Park
The Bible and Critical Theory, Vol. 4, No. 2: 38.1-38.2.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Review of Warren S. Goldstein (ed.), Marx, Critical Theory and Religion:
A Critique of Rational Choice: (Studies in Critical Social Sciences,
vol. 6. Leiden: Brill, 2006)
Roland Boer
The Bible and Critical Theory, Vol. 4, No. 2: 39.1-39.4.
New from OUP: Oxford Handbook of Early Christian Studies
This announcement, however, comes not from Oxford University Press itself but from Dove, which is offering an introductory special on this title here. Given the exorbitant list prices of the hardcover volumes in this series, I will almost certainly be waiting for a paperback edition. But for those interested readers with deeper pockets, this will be well worth a look.
Ashbrook, Susan David Hunter (eds)
Oxford Handbook of Early Christian Studies
(Oxford University Press, 2008) 1032 pages
Hardcover List: $155.00 Dove Price: $125.99 Save $29.01 (19%) NYP Due: 08/15/2008
Description
The Oxford Handbook of Early Christian Studies responds to and celebrates the explosion of research in this inter-disciplinary field over recent decades. As a one-volume reference work, it provides an introduction to the academic study of early Christianity (c. 100-600 AD) and examines the vast geographical area impacted by the early church, in Western and Eastern late antiquity. It is thematically arranged to encompass history, literature, thought, practices, and material culture. It contains authoritative and up-to-date surveys of current thinking and research in the various sub-specialties of early Christian studies, written by leading figures in the discipline. The essays orientate readers to a given topic, as well as to the trajectory of research developments over the past 30-50 years within the scholarship itself. Guidance for future research is also given. Each essay points the reader towards relevant forms of extant evidence (texts, documents, or examples of material culture), as well as to the appropriate research tools available for the area. This volume will be useful to advanced undergraduate and post-graduate students, as well as to specialists in any area who wish to consult a brief review of the 'state of the question' in a particular area or sub-specialty of early Christian studies, especially one different from their own.
Monday, July 7, 2008
Spring Wrap-Up: Greek Exegesis of Mark
My term paper for Prof. Adela Collins' exegetical course on the Gospel of Mark was an extended proposal for the increased application of recent text-critical theories, with their movement beyond basic questions of originality or authenticity of a particular passage, to the gospel's final verses. The thoughts presented herein are by no means exhaustive or complete, but I hope that they represent a starting point for further discussion.
* The end of the road, or just a fork? A fresh look at Mark 16:8-20
Enjoy!
* The end of the road, or just a fork? A fresh look at Mark 16:8-20
Enjoy!
Spring Wrap-Up: Theology and Cinema
The course requirements for "Theology and Cinema" included two reflection papers on the relationship between theological motifs and one or more movies, as well as a detailed proposal for an individual lecture or complete course linking the studies of faith and film in some fashion. My proposal, entitled "The Quest of the Historical Jesus in Scholarship and Cinema," served as the basis for the four-week seminar which I'm facilitating at my home church, Christ Church United Methodist, each of the remaining Wednesday evenings in July. If you're in town, I hope to see you there!
* "Get Busy Livin', or Get Busy Dyin'": The Shawshank Redemption as Cinematic Passion Narrative
* “Love Doesn’t End…”: A Bultmannian Study of Love in The End of the Affair
* The Quest of the Historical Jesus in Scholarship and Cinema: A Proposal
Enjoy!
* "Get Busy Livin', or Get Busy Dyin'": The Shawshank Redemption as Cinematic Passion Narrative
* “Love Doesn’t End…”: A Bultmannian Study of Love in The End of the Affair
* The Quest of the Historical Jesus in Scholarship and Cinema: A Proposal
Enjoy!
Spring Wrap-Up: History and Methods of NT Research
Among the course requirements for "History and Methods of New Testament Research," taught by Prof. Adela Collins, were a few scholarly reviews of particularly influential articles and monographs. And now, in my infinite generosity, I share them with you here:
* Adolf Deissmann, Paul: A Study in Social and Religious History (new ed.; trans. William E. Wilson; New York: Harper & Brothers, 1957), pp. 3-26.
* C. H. Dodd, “The First Epistle of John and the Fourth Gospel,” in Bulletin of the John Rylands Library 21 (1937), pp. 129-156.
* Eldon Jay Epp, “The Significance of the Papyri for Determining the Nature of the New Testament Text in the Second Century: A Dynamic View of Textual Tradition,” in William L. Petersen, ed., Gospel Traditions in the Second Century: Origins, Recensions, Text, and Transmission (Christianity and Judaism in Antiquity 3; Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame Press, 1989), pp. 71-103.
Idem, “The Multivalence of the Term ‘Original Text’ in New Testament Textual Criticism,” in Harvard Theological Review 92.3 (1999), pp. 245-281.
*John P. Meier, A Marginal Jew, Volume I: The Roots of the Problem and the Person (Anchor Bible Reference Library; New York: Anchor Doubleday, 1991). 484 pp.
Idem, A Marginal Jew, Volume II: Mentor, Message, and Miracles (Anchor Bible Reference Library; New York: Anchor Doubleday, 1994). 1118 pp.
Idem, A Marginal Jew, Volume III: Companions and Competitors (Anchor Bible Reference Library; New York: Anchor Doubleday, 2001). 703 pp.
Another requirement was a text-critical commentary concerning a problematic New Testament passage of our choice. As textual criticism is a particular hobby of mine, this was largely a labor of love!
*Romans 5:1--A Text-Critical Commentary
Enjoy!
* Adolf Deissmann, Paul: A Study in Social and Religious History (new ed.; trans. William E. Wilson; New York: Harper & Brothers, 1957), pp. 3-26.
* C. H. Dodd, “The First Epistle of John and the Fourth Gospel,” in Bulletin of the John Rylands Library 21 (1937), pp. 129-156.
* Eldon Jay Epp, “The Significance of the Papyri for Determining the Nature of the New Testament Text in the Second Century: A Dynamic View of Textual Tradition,” in William L. Petersen, ed., Gospel Traditions in the Second Century: Origins, Recensions, Text, and Transmission (Christianity and Judaism in Antiquity 3; Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame Press, 1989), pp. 71-103.
Idem, “The Multivalence of the Term ‘Original Text’ in New Testament Textual Criticism,” in Harvard Theological Review 92.3 (1999), pp. 245-281.
*John P. Meier, A Marginal Jew, Volume I: The Roots of the Problem and the Person (Anchor Bible Reference Library; New York: Anchor Doubleday, 1991). 484 pp.
Idem, A Marginal Jew, Volume II: Mentor, Message, and Miracles (Anchor Bible Reference Library; New York: Anchor Doubleday, 1994). 1118 pp.
Idem, A Marginal Jew, Volume III: Companions and Competitors (Anchor Bible Reference Library; New York: Anchor Doubleday, 2001). 703 pp.
Another requirement was a text-critical commentary concerning a problematic New Testament passage of our choice. As textual criticism is a particular hobby of mine, this was largely a labor of love!
*Romans 5:1--A Text-Critical Commentary
Enjoy!
Friday, July 4, 2008
ACCS Sale at Eisenbrauns
Throughout this month, Eisenbrauns is offering a 42% discount on no fewer than 20 titles from the noted series Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture (published by Intervarsity Press). Eisenbrauns does not permit returns on sale items, but those searching for an inviting gateway into the occasionally daunting but repeatedly refreshing world of patristic exegesis will not be disappointed.
The complete list of available items may be viewed here.
The complete list of available items may be viewed here.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Yay for Chris Beeley!
Last month's Religion Newsletter from Oxford University Press--which remained thoroughly submerged beneath a deluge of post-commencement e-mails until this evening--contained a blurb announcing the publication of a new tome by my former Patristics professor, Chris Beeley. I suppose he was working during that recent year-long sabbatical, after all. ;-) Congratulations are most certainly in order!
The concurrent Classics Newsletter included another particularly interesting title:
Gregory of Nazianzus on the Trinity and the Knowledge of God
Christopher A. Beeley
Christopher Beeley's groundbreaking study—the first comprehensive treatment in modern scholarship—examines Gregory's doctrine of the Trinity within the full range of his theological and practical vision. Long eclipsed in modern scholarship, Gregory Nazianzen is now brought into full view as the major witness to the Trinity among the Greek fathers of the Church.
The concurrent Classics Newsletter included another particularly interesting title:
Animal Sacrifice in Ancient Greek Religion, Judaism, and Christianity, 100 BC to AD 200
Maria-Zoe Petropoulou
This is a study of animal sacrifice within Greek paganism, Judaism, and Christianity during the period of their interaction between about 100 BC and AD 200. After a vivid account of the realities of sacrifice in the Greek East and in the Jerusalem Temple (up to AD 70), Maria-Zoe Petropoulou explores the attitudes of early Christians towards this practice.
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