I just received David Garland’s new Luke commentary in the post (Zondervan Exegetical series). I will give a report and review later on, but I wanted to just note that it is out and can be viewed here. Garland is a really fantastic commentator – his work on Mark (NIVAC) and 1 Corinthians (BECNT) are two very fine commentaries and ones I consult regularly. I have not read a commentary on Luke before and I look forward to dipping into... Read more

I am completing a review of James Thompson’s Moral Formation According to Paul for Interpretation (Baker, 2011) and I found this to be a valuable contribution to the subject of Pauline ethics. It is important to note that the field of “Pauline ethics” did not really exist prior to a few decades ago. Thanks to the efforts of folks like Victor Furnish, Brian Rosner, Michael Gorman, Richard Hays, Morna Hooker, and David Horrell, there is a serious interest in this subject. Thompson, essentially,... Read more

Interpretation: A Journal of Bible and Theology is one of my favorite periodicals – some of the finest articles, ones I frequently re-read and cite, come from this journal. It was recently announced that, while the editorial leadership would not change, the 2012 issues would be published by SAGE. This brings some benefits to readers for a few reasons. First, I think (?) institutions will be able to get better online access. Also, the webpage is now clearer and easier to... Read more

One of my favorite NT theologians, Steve Walton (London School of Theology), will be installed as Professor of New Testament (a senior and distinguished ranking in the UK) on March 6. This is great news! Also, he will be giving what looks to be a very interesting inaugural lecture entitled “What is Progress in New Testament Studies?” Steve – inquiring minds want to know! Do tell! To whet your apetite for this lecture, here is the description: New Testament Studies... Read more

Perhaps my biggest research interest is in the subject of discipleship in the New Testament, and especially in Paul. So, when I saw the title Spirituality According to Paul: Imitating the Apostle of Christ (Rodney Reeves, IVP, 2011), I quickly got hold of a copy. Here is Reeves’ big idea Participation in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ was the template of Paul’s spirituality. (15) Working from the confession in 1 Cor 15:3-8, Reeves breaks Pauline spirituality into three parts:... Read more

Normally, I am not excited when I order a book and find out the essays have been previously published, but I am willing to make an exception for an excellent volume I recently read entitled Getting “Saved”: The Whole Story of Salvation in the New Testament (Eerdmans, 2011), edited by Charles Talbert and Jason Whitlark. This book is unique in many regards, but it is basically a nice collection of scholarly essays by Charles Talbert and Jason Whitlark, with complementary contributions... Read more

Lincoln Christian College (Illinois) is holding a special two-day conference October 4-5 (2012) featuring contributors to a forthcoming book entitled Jesus, Criteria, and the Demise of Authenticity (T & T Clark; eds. Chris Keith and Anthony Le Donne). Conference speakers will include: Dale Allison Jr., Mark Goodacre, Chris Keith, Anthony Le Donne, Scot McKnight, Rafael Rodriguez, Jens Schroeter, Loren Stuckenbruck, and Dagmar Winter – wow! That sounds pretty good! For more information, see www.lincolnchristian.edu/jesusconference. Also, some scholarships for students are available. Read more

Last week I began a series of lectures on the Apostes’ Creed in my Foundations course. I tend to make this provocative statement to my students from the outset: God doesn’t care for you to invest in a belief that doesn’t change you. Put another way, if a core Christian belief doesn’t effect who you are and how you live, it has not served its purpose. God is not in the business of checking beliefs off of some kind of... Read more

[Welcome to Stop #2 on the Jesus Have I Loved blog tour – did you miss the first stop? Check out J.R. Daniel Kirk’s opening words here!] “When I first met Paul, I simply did not like him.” These words come from J.R. Daniel Kirk, Assistant Professor of New Testament at Fuller Theological Seminary. Some people are attracted to the Jesus of the New Testament, but find Paul “distasteful, offensive, oppressive, exclusive, confusing, arrogant, or just plain wrong.” As for me,... Read more

The blog tour for J.R. Daniel Kirk’s Jesus Have I Loved, But Paul? (Baker) begins today (Monday) and I am part of the kick-off! My official post will appear at 9AM (Pacific Time Zone). See you then! Read more