Beginning assumptions are important, and Romans is no exception to that rule. But one’s starting orientation is crucial as well, so in this post a few comments need to be made about the assumption of Nanos that the earliest Jewish and even Gentile Christians primarily met in synagogues with Jews in Rome and elsewhere. This is because, it is assumed, the ‘parting of the ways’ between Jews and Christians had not happened yet. The problem with this theory, at least... Read more
In the first place, one of the major agreements I have will Bill’s approach to Romans is that Romans is not a general treatise or handbook to Pauline theology and ethics. To the contrary, it is a word on target for a specific audience in a specific place at a specific time. And what makes this letter almost entirely unique is Paul by and large is addressing a group of people who he did not convert in the first place.... Read more
There is now a new series of commentaries that uses the methodology called Social Identity Theory or SIT for short. This particular theory has been developing for some decades now and is especially helpful in getting late Western persons through their heads that ancient culture was a different animal than our modern or post-modern Western cultures. In particular, this way of analyzing New Testament things makes clear that group identity was primary and individual identity entirely secondary in antiquity. In... Read more
This is a fine film about an historical figure, but as usual, Hollywood couldn’t resist the temptation to alter the plot in some ways. For example, George Bologne, the father of Joseph did not simply drop him off at the music conservatory in Paris and run back to Guadalupe, his home. He in fact became the chevalier d’ St. George before his son did, and was a famous fenceman as well. Secondly, Joseph did indeed make it to England to... Read more
And I thought that Moses was just the first to hear the doctor’s prescription ‘take two tablets and call me in the morning’. Turns out it was much more than that that he heard. Read more
It’s good to listen to the wisdom of ole North Carolina Andy. Read more
Certainly, Dungeons and Dragons has been one of the more popular games to play with others online, for a very long time. I’m quite surprised it hasn’t been made into a movie well before now. And the cast is quite good– especially Chris Pine, Hugh Grant (to add a certain amount of whimsy to a villain), and Michelle Rodriguez of Fast and Furious Fame are all excellent in their roles. The movie is rated PG-13 due to violence and a... Read more
This is an interesting post by the NY Times columnist, with a nice shout out to my friend Richard Bauckham for his landmark book Jesus and the Eyewitnesses. Read more
Pickwick Press has now made it possible for you to have the whole series of seven archaeological thrillers in one box set. This is a painless way to learn a good deal about the lands of the Bible, about archaeology, and about inter-faith friendships. At the heart of these novels is a friendship between a Jewish scholar, Grace Levine who teaches at Hebrew University, Khalil el Said, a Sufi or mystical Muslim who with his daughter runs an antiquities shop... Read more
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