The Bible and Culture

In order to get clarity on Tom's argument about various Pauline texts referring to 'the return of YHWHW' being associated with the incarnation of Jesus, I have asked Tom to state as clearly as possible which texts in Paul definitely refer to the second coming. His short list, sent to me via email includes the following--"clearly Phil 3.20f., 1 Thess 1.10 and 1 Thess. 4 of course, Col 3.4… and I assume that Jesus’ coming/appearing is the central feature of the ‘big picture’ passages such as Rom … [Read more...]

There is a rather fine line between pandering to one's audience, and seeking to please them. Sometimes even very good writers cross the line. Stephen Saylor is indeed an excellent novelist of ancient Rome and its environs and I would recommend his sub Rosa series to anyone interested in learning more about that culture and time. Indeed, I have used one of his novels in a NT class (A Mist of Prophecies). I approached the reading of this novel with a bit of hesitation and trepidation because I … [Read more...]

It was reportedly Vince Lombardi who said 'winning isn't everything, it's the only thing'. This mantra replaced 'winning isn't everything' and the earlier one 'it's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game'. And when winning became the be all and end all of all sorts of sports and competitions, ethics went right out the window, down the street, to the airport, and flew off into the sky never to return. Things have gotten progressively worse in big time college athletics, but … [Read more...]

On the one hand, asking Darren Aronofsky to direct an 130 million dollar movie about Noah is rather like asking Machiavelli to write 'The Little Prince' instead of 'The Prince'. 'The Black Swan' meets 'two white doves and a raven'. It doesn't seem a natural alignment of the stars. But on the other hand, it certainly eliminates the 'cheese factor'. This movie (apart from its very strange comic book opening.... was that an indirect comment on the character of Biblical stories?) could in no way … [Read more...]

Here is a wonderful brief tribute to Deano from Mssrs. Tomlinson and Wolff. It's very appropriate as well to add, and ask that you pray for that good Baptist Dean Smith, as he suffers now from dementia. I remember Dean well, and personally. You see I went to his basketball camp in Chapel Hill in the summer of 1967. I was coached by Eddie Fogler and Charlie Scott at the camp. At the time, I thought I might become a basketball player. But I never grew any more after the ninth grade. What did … [Read more...]

The discussion which begins on p. 690ff. about Jesus as risen and enthroned Messiah begins by stating one of Tom's key theses for this whole project, namely that there were several reasons why Jesus' first followers cane to think of him as the embodiment of the returning Yahweh, the first having to do with messiahship, the second with their sense of his presence through the work of the Holy Spirit in their hearts. The question of course to be asked about the first of these is--- did the … [Read more...]

Of the bands that arose in the early 70s during the rising tide of folk and country rock, the Eagles have turned out to be the group with the greatest ability to sustain large audiences, even 30-40 years later. Whether the History of the Eagles Tour currently finishing its run through the States and heading for Europe is indeed their last hurrah or not, it is an interesting exercise to compare them then.....and now. I saw them when they had exactly one hit (Take it Easy, actually by Jackson … [Read more...]

At some point it must have dawned on Pat Metheny that in order to do jazz fusion, a keyboard player is a necessity, not a luxury. That epiphany apparently happened between the release of the Unity Band CD, and the new Unity Group CD, (complete with keyboard player named Guilio Carmassi, who in polymath fashion plays a dozen other things as well, and does all the singing). The result is much better. While the Unity Band CD had its moments, it frankly was much less satisfying than the new CD, … [Read more...]