2012 is the year I focus on writing my Colossians commentary (Smyth & Helwys). I have done most of the preliminary research and I have drafted about 30% of the actual chapters. Now, I am beginning a series of blog posts on important issues related to interpreting and applying this Pauline letter. Nothing I write in any of these posts will appear verbatim in the commentary. Consider these posts “extra footage!” Anyway, in this kick-off post, I wanted to raise... Read more

I have read a good number of books on the topic of Scripture and human suffering. While many of them have offered helpful exegetical insights or theological frameworks, too many seem academically sterile and impersonal. Well, I am so pleased that a new book was brought to my attention – Through the Valley: Biblical Theological Reflections on Suffering (Wipf & Stock). It is by my friend Jeff Wisdom, a wonderful teacher and writer with a pastoral heart. The book is... Read more

The latest Scottish Journal of Theology (65.1) has some very interesting articles, including a piece by John Webster on T.F. Torrance’s theology of Scripture. There is a special engagement with Doug Campbell’s Deliverance of God by Alan Torrance, with a pretty lengthy response by Campbell – the discussion continues! Simon Gathercole has a review of Gospel Fragments (Oxford Press, 2009) – does anyone else think this is an unusual choice of book review to appear in SJT? Anyway, this issue is worth... Read more

Looking back on 2011, I reviewed over 30 books! It was a good year overall for good books – lots to learn and discuss. Here are some of my favorites. Best Textbook I have to give FIRST PRIZE to David Lamb’s truly outstanding God Behaving Badly. I plan on using it repeatedly and indefinitely for my Christian Scriptures class. On my student evals, about half of the students commented on how much they learned from that book. Way to go... Read more

For my Christian Formation course, we spend 2 weeks learning from the Apostles’ Creed – I deeply enjoying studying about the early creeds and teaching them to students! I found, a few months ago, a DVD documentary on Amazon called “The Apostles’ Creed” (Christian History Institute) produced by T.N. Mohan. Originally, it was a 12 hour documentary (and you can buy that version as well!), but I opted to purchase the 2-hour abridged edition. It seems a bit old (looks... Read more

For my Christian Formation course, we spend 2 weeks learning from the Apostles’ Creed – I deeply enjoying studying about the early creeds and teaching them to students! I found, a few months ago, a DVD documentary on Amazon called “The Apostles’ Creed” (Christian History Institute) produced by T.N. Mohan. Originally, it was a 12 hour documentary (and you can buy that version as well!), but I opted to purchase the 2-hour abridged edition. It seems a bit old (looks... Read more

Prof. John Swinton (Univ of Aberdeen) will be coming to Seattle Pacific University next week to give our annual Palmer Lecture. Prof. Swinton teaches practical theology and pastoral care at Aberdeen. His Thursday evening lecture is entitled: “From Inclusion to Belonging: A Practical Theology of Disability and Humanness.” The lecture is free for the community so if you are in the area, please do come for this event. For more information, see here. Read more

I am sure most of you know J.R. Daniel Kirk: Fuller prof, blogger, and the “resurrection” guy. Sure, he is reformed. And he only managed to get a PhD from the younger Durham (=Duke). But he has written a very fine book called Jesus Have I Loved, but Paul?  Baker Academic has put together a great blog tour beginning next week (Jan 9) and I am happy to kick off the festivities. There will be over a dozen blog-stops on... Read more

I am sure most of you know J.R. Daniel Kirk: Fuller prof, blogger, and the “resurrection” guy. Sure, he is reformed. And he only managed to get a PhD from the younger Durham (=Duke). But he has written a very fine book called Jesus Have I Loved, but Paul?  Baker Academic has put together a great blog tour beginning next week (Jan 9) and I am happy to kick off the festivities. There will be over a dozen blog-stops on... Read more

While I am writing my Colossians commentary, I want to make sure that what I am writing (1) is accurate, (2), clear, and (3) helpful [especially for pastors, but also for seminary students]. So, I would like to recruit 2-3 volunteers who would be willing to read my drafts (as I write them, I am up to 2 of 5 chapters right now) and give feedback, corrections, and advisement. I already have one PhD student who has volunteered to help... Read more