The new Tom Hanks movie may not be what you are expecting, but it’s so Mr. Rogers. Mr. Rogers was all about other people, not himself, about loving other people as they are and helping them become their best selves, and in particular helping children learn how to be kind, gentle, compassionate, loving, forgiving human beings. This movie, which is over too quickly (less than two hours) focuses on a relationship Fred Rogers, an ordained Presbyterian minister, and a pacifist,... Read more

Two months ago I snuck into Wilmington N,C. one Sunday midnight to surprise my Mom for her 93rd birthday. We drove down to our favorite beach Cherry Grove Beach S.C. and a good time was had by all. Here’s a video I did of sunrise at Cherry Grove Beach, and some candid shots. Here we are with one of Mom’s fellow piano teachers and her husband, Carolyn and Randy Nelson, at supper at a restaurant in Wilmington… Here’s the Cherry... Read more

Here’s a review by Dr. Randy Saultz, a former student of mine. An Exciting Time for a Biblical Theology Have you ever started reading a great novel and get swept into it in ways that don’t let you put it down? That is kind of like what happens when I read biblical theology. Yes, I know that not everyone finds this to be exciting reading but I am glad to have started reading Biblical Theology: The Convergence of the Canon.... Read more

Advent is now upon us, and just as there are a plethora of ways to celebrate Advent, in this season especially we ask the question— Why are there so many differing translations of the Christmas story? Of the making of new translations there is no end…. and you may be surprised to hear me say this is a good thing, though for the laity it also is confusing. There are several good reasons why we continue to need fresh translations... Read more

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Sometimes the difference between a genuine ‘whodunnit’ and a spoof is very little. This movie, which is a real treat, tries to plow the middle furrow and do some of both. There’s a real mystery, there’s a death (but is it murder?) and there are laughs and absurdities along the way (not the least of which is Daniel Craig’s Foghorn Leghorn southern drawl. It’s so bad, it’s good.) This movie is one part ‘Murder She Wrote’ and one part Agatha... Read more

BEN: In discussing Rom. 5-8 you talk about Sin, Death, Flesh being causative agents in this world. What exactly does that mean? They are not personal entities, so are you saying that there are cosmic bad guys, fallen angels and such, who are plaguing humanity with these things, or are you simply saying that humanity is enmeshed in sin and it’s a downward spiral into death? Or both? SCOT: I was particulary impacted by the fine study of Agency through... Read more

BEN: pp. 120ff. It’s good to see that pistis Christou is taken to mean the faithfulness of Christ. I wonder if you agree with Sander’s latest book that when Paul says ‘righteoused’ he is not using the language of the law court, and so forensic justification, but rather discussing God setting right a human being, which includes both being given right standing and being made right, whole, holy? God wants his righteous character replicated in us. Comments? SCOT: I can’t... Read more

The Annual SBL Meeting is almost always a time for enjoyable reunions with old friends whom one seldom gets to see, and this meeting in beautiful San Diego (on which see blogs in December) was no different, in that Ann and I got to see my old college roommate and his wife— Dr. Scott and Nancy Sunquist. See the top picture above. Scott is now the new President of Gordon-Conwell Seminary, and mighty proud of him I am. He’s been... Read more

BEN: p. 120—‘works of the Law’. What 4QMMT actually says is ‘these are some of the works of the Law’, and while it is right to emphasize that Paul is referring specifically to the Mosaic Law, circumcision being the gate way into it, I don’t see any reason why Paul doesn’t mean all the works of the Mosaic law when he uses the phrase. After all, as you say Paul emphasizes that Torah-keeping is not necessary for Jews or Gentiles... Read more