Some of the most important early papyri of the NT are the Chester Beatty Papyri housed in Dublin Ireland, EXCEPT for one piece which can be found in the papyrus museum in the basement of the Österreichische Nationalbibliothek, Vienna. The small fragment which is found there is from the Gospel of Matthew containing Matt. 25:41-26:39 (Pap. Vindob. G. 31974). And sparing no expense, here it is.....This papyrus likely dates to the third century A.D. The Gospel of Matthew was the most copied … [Read more...]
Scary Papyri II– Self Help Medicinal Cures
November 1, 2014 by
Medicine in antiquity was one part home remedy, one part common sense, and one part Hippocratic let the body heal itself. But the desperate also would go to the gods and the healers, and what passed for ancient doctors and medicine. Such treatments as listed above could be of relevance to NT studies, as it seems quite possible Paul had eye troubles (see Galatians 4.12-16 (why the metaphor about tearing out their eyes and giving them to Paul). Since the eyes were viewed as the windows of the … [Read more...]
Polling Questions I Wish I’d been Asked!
October 31, 2014 by
Joel Pett is our local pundit cum political cartoonist in the Lexington newspaper...... … [Read more...]
Scary Papyri I– I want my Mummy
October 31, 2014 by
The Kunst Museum in Vienna in fact houses several museums, including the papyrus museum in a small room in the basement, and the Ephesos museum in one of the upstairs great halls. Despite both being rather small, there were some very important items in each, and we will begin, appropriately enough for the end of October, with paintings on top of mummy sarcophagi, and some mummy wrappings from the Greco-Roman period (yes, you are right, those folks don't look very Egyptian. They are Greeks and … [Read more...]
Blomberg’s Can We Still Believe the Bible?–Part Eight
October 30, 2014 by
The last main chapter in Craig's book deals with the subject of miracles, both ancient and modern. Craig relies not only on the various analyses of the Biblical miracles available in scholarly works, but also the recent large compilation of modern testimonies about miracles compiled by my Asbury colleague, Craig Keener. To this Craig adds some personal testimonies about miracles in his own life, or that of his close family. While reading this chapter I remembered a conversation I once had … [Read more...]
Sir Paul surpasses All– The Louisville Concert
October 29, 2014 by
The concert in Louisville was supposed to happen last June, but then Paul got sick. Pretty seriously sick. Worse still, Louisville was the last concert date on the tour--- think no voice left, no energy left, especially when you are 73 years of age! You must kidding. Bear in mind that while Ringo is still out there doing concerts, of course Ringo did not write any of the classic Beatles songs, and sang lead only rarely, so if you really wanted to see a concert full of Beatles songs--- Paul is … [Read more...]
Blomberg’s Can We Still Believe the Bible– Part Seven
October 29, 2014 by
Chapter Five (pp. 147-78) deals with the issue of multiple genre of literature in the Bible, and walks through some of the usual pitfalls and questions people raise when a more literarily sensitive approach to the Biblical text is taken. Here Craig deals with Genesis 1-3, Jonah, Job, the possibility of multiple Isaiahs, pseudonymity in the NT, and some related issues. The over arching theme of the chapter is that we must recognize the type of literature we are reading, and interpret it within … [Read more...]
Blomberg’s Can We Still Believe the Bible?– Part Six
October 28, 2014 by
First of all, I am on record as to my views on the inerrancy controversies in Evangelicalism. You may check out my article in the Spring issue of JETS of this year entitled 'The Truth Will Out'. You may also read what I say about the doctrine of Scripture at length in my The Living Word of God. Here I will simply interact with Craig's presentation. Sadly, a good deal of what he honestly chronicles is the story of Evangelicals behaving badly, especially in the Robert Gundry cause celebre when … [Read more...]
Blomberg’s Can We Still Believe the Bible?– Part Five
October 27, 2014 by
The chapter on translations is in some ways the most useful one for those lost in the sea of different versions, different editions, etc. Yet despite the many many different Protestant translations of the Bible available (and the vast majority of them are done by Protestants), really only four have been able to capture more than 10% of the market in the last decade or so--- they are the NIV (despite all the unnecessary polemics against it), the New Living Translation, the NKJV, and the old KJV. … [Read more...]
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