When I teach a course in NT, I see my responsibility as three fold: (1) Teach CONTENT – for a course on Romans, I want the students to know what is in Romans, of course. (2) METHOD – It is not just about the WHAT?, but also HOW? One of the most important things that Seminary does for students (as it did for me), is teach good hermeneutics – how do we know how to study the text, and derive... Read more

I am currently reading/reviewing Thomas Schreiner’s new Galatians commentary for the Zondervan Exegetical series. I knew, going into it, that there would be some things I disagree with. Overall, I have been surprised at how much I DO agree with him on and that, overall, he is not as hostile to the New Perspective as I had expected. More than anything else, I was upset by his treatment of Galatians 3:28 and the issue of the “oneness” of the church... Read more

I am looking forward, in mid-May, to the Pacific Northwest SBL meeting. I will be involved in two sessions. First, I was excited to have my paper accepted. The Title and Abstract are below: Door Locks Only Stop Mortals: The Isaianic Key That Unlocks the Mystery of the Johannine Resurrection House Appearances (John 20:19-29) Only Luke and John recount resurrection appearances of Jesus to his disciples in a home (Luke 24:36-44; John 20:19-29). John’s account is more vivid, twice mentioning... Read more

I noticed recently that Todd D. Still (Truett Seminary) has a Philippians commentary coming out soon in the Smyth & Helwys series. You can see the sterling endorsements he receives here. The book is due out in March (next month) and Todd showed me the text a few months ago and it is really excellent. Paired with the flavor of the series (lots of pictures and charts), I think students will be thoroughly impressed. Read more

Lately I have been reading two very useful introductions to the Gospels. The first is Francis Moloney’s The Living Voice of the Gospels (Hendrickson/Baker, 2007). This is a very easy-to-read, accessible introduction that focuses on the literary and theological messages of the Gospels. After each introductory chapter on the four Gospels, he gives a commentary-like reading of a key passage (Mark 1; Matthew 1; Luke 22-24; John 6). There is a strong push for a narrative-critical reading, theological interpretation, and... Read more

Some time ago I interviewed UMC Bishop William Willimon regarding his role as editor of the Wesley Study Bible. When I saw that he had a new book on Jesus (Why Jesus, Abindon), I immediately ordered it. Might this be a good textbook for the course I teach on Christian Formation? It is an excellent and interesting book, indeed, written for a semi-popular audience, stripped of Christianese jargon, and full of whit. It basically raises the question: Why bother with... Read more

In the latest issue of Catalyst, an evangelical United Methodist online publication, I have an article on “Scripture and Ethics.” I am pleased for it to appear alongside an excellent little piece by my friend Michael Gorman on “Missional Musings on Paul.” Read more

It is my pleasure to present to you an interview with Brenda Colijn, Prof. of Biblical Interpretation and Theology at Ashland Theological Seminary. This interview focuses on her new book, Images of Salvation in the New Testament (IVP, 2010). Not unlike Paul Minear’s book on images of the church in the NT, but with more methodological rigor and more accessible, this book offers penetrating insight on what the NT says about way God has delivered and saved his people. 1.... Read more

The very helpful commentary website “bestcommentaries.com” lists 75 commentaries on Romans written in the last 100 years (and I am sure that list is not exhaustive). It also lists almost another twenty that are contracted for the future (Porter, Gaventa, Longenecker, etc…). Do we really need more and more and more on Romans? Certainly this huge interest in Romans is a testament to the importance of the book. And, we Paul scholars can’t help ourselves – when a new commentary... Read more

Studying at Gordon-Conwell gave me a passion for Biblical theology –  “whole-Bible theology.” A nice short treatment I read recently is by T. Desmond Alexander, one of the editors of the New Dictionary of Biblical Theology (IVP), entitled From Eden to the New Jerusalem. In this book, Alexander is inspired by all sorts of connections between Genesis and Revelation. At many times this felt like he was channeling Greg Beale. In the first two chapters, he makes connections between Eden... Read more