Q. You talk about active readers and warn against reading one’s own meaning into an ancient text. What safeguards do you commend as a hedge against this sort of anachronism? A. There are probably more, but I will give you two. First, as we talked about in the previous question, we should read first as if it were an ancient text addressed to an ancient audience. But second, we need to read in community. The best guard against reading one’s... Read more

Q. Why is genre so critical to understanding the meaning of texts in the OT? Does a genre mistake necessarily lead to a mistake about meaning of a particular passage? A. Old Testament texts like all literary productions are written by authors who are communicating a message to an audience (this of course needs nuancing, but still is an adequately true statement). Authors send signals to audiences as to how to take their words. These signals constitute what we call... Read more

Here, and in subsequent posts is a running dialogue between me and Tremper Longman. As you will see, his book prompts excellent reflection and pondering. Enjoy. BW3 —- Q. OT scholars have a much more difficult task than NT scholars, in my judgment, in getting at the meaning of OT texts, and the process by which they came to be formed, sometimes over many years and even centuries. In your dealing with the OT how important is it to try... Read more

Tremper Longman, Confronting Old Testament Controversies. Pressing Questions about Evolution, Sexuality, History and Violence, (Baker, 2019) 304 pages. $19.99. Tremper Longman has written a helpful and important study about some of the most difficult issues the OT raises for Christians. As the subtitle suggests, he will take on the evolution vs. creation debate, the historicity of things like the Fall, the Exodus and the Conquest, the issue of divine violence, and lastly the issue of homosexuality. This is in many... Read more

I’m very pleased to announce you can now order my latest historical novella— Priscilla: An Early Christian Life, which is only $14.00 on Amazon. It chronicles the whole story of early Christianity from 30-95 A.D. through the eyes of someone who was there for much of it. Paul’s co-worker, Priscilla. Enjoy!! Here’s the link….. https://www.amazon.com/Priscilla-Christian-Ben-Witherington-III/dp/0830852484/ref=sr_1_1?crid=V8PT21C4OYND&keywords=priscilla+the+life+of+an+early+christian&qid=155431 Read more

The following courtesy of ‘Lutheran Satire’ BW3 Read more

Blessed are those who expect nothing of God, for they shall not be disappointed. Blessed are those who vote for scoundrels, for they will get what they deserve. Blessed are those who refuse to exercise, as they shall become weighty persons. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for junk food, for you are what you eat. Blessed are those who build walls, for as God told Joshua, they shall be coming down. Blessed are those who admire the greedy,... Read more

Two more good episodes tonight on the History Channel at 8 eastern. One about Mary, one about Caiaphas and the events leading up to the demise of Jesus. Here’s a clip to whet your appetite…. BW3 Read more

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Of the great British crime/thriller/detective novelists of the last half century, all of them save one are women (e.g. Ellis Peters=Edith Pargeter, Agatha Christie, P.D. James). The one is Edinburgh’s own Ian Rankin. There have been 20 some novels, and now there is a play which has been touring the U.K. since 2018— Long Shadows. Rankin wrote the story, then it was adapted for the stage, turned into a screenplay by Rona Munro. It has now appeared as a book... Read more