I am very pleased to report that my Smyth & Helwys commentary on Colossians is now published and I received my author copies yesterday. Unfortunately, Amazon hasn’t loaded it into their system yet, so for now the best way to order the commentary is through the publisher website. As most commentators will say, this was truly a labor of love. I enjoyed every single minute of it. S & H was wonderful to work with, editors polite and helpful, marketing... Read more

 In John’s Gospel, truth is not a timeless ideal that is reached by contemplation. It is a power that counters the enslaving dominion of falsehood. Truth is communicated in order to free people from bondage to sin (8:32), to awaken authentic worship of God (4:23-24), and to shape actions that are truly life-giving (3:21) Read more

 In John’s Gospel, truth is not a timeless ideal that is reached by contemplation. It is a power that counters the enslaving dominion of falsehood. Truth is communicated in order to free people from bondage to sin (8:32), to awaken authentic worship of God (4:23-24), and to shape actions that are truly life-giving (3:21) Read more

The online Methodist journal Catalyst contains a couple of noteworthy articles. First, in only a few pages, Craig Keener summarizes his Miracles book-set. Andy Crouch talks about the future of theological education. Also, J. Christian Stratton offers brief comments on commentary suggestions for Philippians, Colossians, Philemon, 1-2 Thessalonians, and the Pastoral Epistles.  (BTW – Catalyst now has a Facebook page). Real quick, here are Stratton’s suggestions: Philippians: Silva (BECNT), O’Brien (NIGTC), Fee (NICNT), Bockmuehl (BNTC), Hansen (PNTC), Still (S&H). Colossians: Dunn (NIGTC), Moo... Read more

The online Methodist journal Catalyst contains a couple of noteworthy articles. First, in only a few pages, Craig Keener summarizes his Miracles book-set. Andy Crouch talks about the future of theological education. Also, J. Christian Stratton offers brief comments on commentary suggestions for Philippians, Colossians, Philemon, 1-2 Thessalonians, and the Pastoral Epistles.  (BTW – Catalyst now has a Facebook page). Real quick, here are Stratton’s suggestions: Philippians: Silva (BECNT), O’Brien (NIGTC), Fee (NICNT), Bockmuehl (BNTC), Hansen (PNTC), Still (S&H). Colossians: Dunn (NIGTC), Moo... Read more

It would be a serious understatement to say that the subject of Paul’s understanding of the law is much studied. Indeed, there are some good studies, and there are a good number of weak studies. Brian Rosner is coming out with a new book entitled Paul and the Law: Keeping the Commandments of God (IVP, 9/2013), I have every expectation that this will be one of the finest studies on the topic. Rosner did his dissertation on Paul’s use of the... Read more

Tomorrow I will be making a day trip to the inaugural “Missio Alliance” conference held in Alexandria, VA. Thursday, the only day I can attend, will feature plenary talks by Scot McKnight & Don Coleman, as well as Cherith Fee-Nordling with Tory Baucum and Alan & Deb Hirsch. Friday will include a number of workshops and the conference will conclude on Saturday with a couple of additional plenaries. At 700 registrants, this event has sold out! But, if you are... Read more

I want to recommend a Youtube video I used in class today – a lecture by Dr. Beverly Gaventa (soon to be at Baylor). It is a lecture entitled “Listening to Phoebe Read Romans.”  The lecture is learned, articulate, and theological reflective – vintage Gaventa! I am eagerly looking forward to her Romans commentary! Read more

OK, I had my students write up a text-study assignment on 2 Corinthians and at the end of the paper they could raise questions they had about the letter. Almost every student asked about the “thorn in the flesh” (12:7). Now, I have been pretty strongly convinced for several years that the theory that makes the most sense is that the “thorn” is not a physical malady, but rather Paul’s persecutors who pester him in his ministry. This has some support from... Read more

This post is about the unbelievers, unfaithful, and the infidels – no it is not about Chris Tilling or Peter Enns or James McGrath. It is about 2 Corinthians. I think there is a serious mistake that is regularly made when interpreters approach 2 Cor 6:14-7:1 and the issue of being “unequally yoked” with “unbelievers.” Both scholars as well as my own students note how bizarre it is that Paul switches subjects all of a sudden, moving away from his... Read more