If you are interested in the Dead Sea Scrolls, Christian Book Distributors (CBD) is running a special deal on the translations and texts that come from the Princeton DSS project. The volumes retail at $150 each, but several of the volumes are $20-30 right now. Read more

Our review of Four Views on the Role of Works at the Final Judgment is nearly at a close. We have worked through the introduction, and essays by Wilkin and Schreiner. Now we are up to James D.G. Dunn. The title of Dunn’s essay captures his overall view: “If Paul could believe both in justification by faith and judgment according to works, why should that be a problem for us?” A key example of his own perspective is found in Philippians... Read more

In seminary and on into my doctoral program, I was deeply influenced by returning again and again to Michael Gorman’s Cruciformity and Joseph Hellerman’s Reconstructing Honor in Roman Philippi: Carmen Christi as Cursus Pudorum. I have often taught students Hellerman’s point about the double-teaching of Phil 2:5-11 – Christology (who Christ is) and ethics (how he models humility and other-regard). Hellerman does a fantastic job contextualizing all of this within Roman Philippi, and then drawing out the substance of Paul’s message.... Read more

Recently a pastor asked me, I have a parishioner interested in the issue of women in ministry leadership and teaching. He wants to know the exegetical arguments in favor of supporting women in ministry. Is there a good lay-level book? I have often struggled with this question because egalitarian defenses that are convincing tend to be quite advanced (like the outstanding Discovering Biblical Equality). There are less-than-convincing discussions, but I don’t want to support those further. So, I was delighted to have Derek & Diane... Read more

I am working on lectures for my spring course called “Teaching Doctrine in the Church.” One of the first issues I will have to engage in is explaining why we teach doctrine at all. Isn’t doctrine for theologians? Isn’t doctrine an imposition on the text? Isn’t doctrine the work of mortals, while Scripture is the work of God? I think most evangelical Christians (especially in independent churches) believe that Christian growth and vitality should be nurtured by Scripture and spiritual... Read more

Carolyn Sharp has edited a book that captures the theology of Walter Brueggemann. Regarding Brueggemann’s understanding of Torah as both “Demand and Deliverance,” she writes: “Faithful memory and faithful practice have always been joined to the life of the faithful. Narrative and covenant are inextricably intertwined for us today, just as the story of Israel’s exodus from Egypt and the statutes of the law are woven together in biblical literature. Law can never be understood apart from God’s wondrous giving... Read more

If you have to buy only one theological commentary on Exodus, I would put Terence Fretheim’s Interpretation volume (WJK) at the top of the list. He always demonstrates careful exegesis, sensitivity to theological issues, and respect for a range of viewpoints. Perhaps one of the most challenging issues in the study of Exodus is dealing with the question of how to treat the text historically. Again, Fretheim does not disappoint. What is the purpose and central concern of Exodus? The book... Read more

First comes the redemptive work of God on behalf of the people. This serves to ground their precarious existence in the deliverance from both historical and cosmic enemies that God accomplishes on their behalf. The elect people is now a redeemed people. Only then is the law given at Sinai. The law is a gift to an already redeemed community. The law is not the means by which the relationship with God is established; God redeems quite apart from human... Read more

We are now up to part 3 of our review series on the book Four Views on the Role of Works At the Final Judgment (Zondervan, 2013). First up was Robert Wilkin. The second contributor is Thomas R. Schreiner (Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) Schreiner’s chapter title, which captures his overall view, is: “Justification apart from and by works: at the final judgment works will confirm justification.” Given the vast area the topic covers in the NT, Schreiner limits himself to James and... Read more

Good Christian disciples (i.e., “learners”) are faced with a difficult challenge. On the one hand, we want to be firm in belief and conviction, not getting blown and tossed by winds of public opinion and fads. On the other hand, given the fallibility of human knowledge and perspective, we need to maintain openness and humility, accepting we do not know everything rightly and perfectly as God does. I found this little comment by David Turner refreshing as I ponder this... Read more