I have finished my second week officially on the Seattle Pacific University faculty, and we just returned from an all-faculty retreat on Whidbey Island where the univ owns a retreat center called Camp Casey (a former military compound right on the beach!). Let me say, this place (SPU) is amazing on all levels. My family and I love Seattle – we love the food, the coffee, the people, the nature, the culture, the innovative and creative environment! The people at... Read more

If you are a pastor and/or teach the Bible in any way (university, sunday school, home bible study), you really need to know about Bible Study Magazine. It is relatively new, but extremely well produced and full of outstanding content. Some of their charts and graphics are stunning and will reach students and young adults in ways that surpass other forms of communication. This magazine is not cheesy or parochial. Nor is it obsessively trendy. It is the right balance... Read more

You may have come across the launch volume of the Mohr Siebeck journal Early Christianity, a fine set of articles and reviews that show a lot of promise for the journal. Also, the editors are top notch and the international flavor of the journal is appealing. So, what is next? A table of contents for the next volume is available. I am particularly interested in Attridge’s piece. Read more

Did you know that Larry Hurtado has written a book called God in New Testament Theology (Abingdon) which will probably be out at SBL? This has definitely made my “SBL” list… Read more

Though I am a “Paul” guy by education, I have a strong interest in Jesus studies as well. Currently I am reviewing a number of books on the Historical Jesus. Here are some notes… Finding the Historical Christ (Paul Barnett; Eerdmans, 2009). In this third volume in a series entitled “After Jesus,” Barnett sets his sights on deconstructing the popular academic assumption that there are two Jesus (of history, and of faith) and that Jesus only became “the Christ” to... Read more

Thank you to all those who sent proposals in to the contest to receive a copy of my monograph. I will pleased to have a number of participants and to get to know a segment of those who read my blog.  Thank you for reading! I was surprised to find that a number of entries came from outside the United States – from Canada, Australia, Germany, and India! Unfortunately, I am not in a position to send the monograph outside... Read more

Well….it has been a long journey this summer from finishing up my one-year appointment in Ohio to moving to Seattle and (just today) completing orientation here at Seattle Pacific University. I have, thus, had very little time for blogging, in part because my mind and hands have been occupied with transporting boxes. (sigh) I am finally situated in my new office in Alexander Hall. I have shelved all of my books and I am delighted to resume working through the... Read more

As a personal celebration of getting this dissertation published, I am giving away one copy of my Walter de Gruyter monograph. In order to participate, send me an email with 1-2 paragraphs stating why you would like a copy of my monograph and how it would benefit your current education/research. This is not so I can boost my own ego, but so I know that the recipient will really get value out of it (since monographs are such specialized resources).... Read more

I don’t normally indulge in personal celebrations publicly like this, but perhaps just this once: I am excited to have received my 15 gratis copies of my monograph with Walter de Gruyter entitled Worship That Makes Sense to Paul: A New Approach to the Theology and Ethics of Paul’s Cultic Metaphors (2010). A couple of notes: the folks I worked with were very nice and skilled. While I labored for too many hours reformatting and typsetting the manuscript, from their... Read more

One of my doctoral supervisors, John M.G. Barclay, is someone who has commanded deep respect from nearly everyone in the guild. He is wise, patient, judicious, and warm (when he is not examining!). I think he could have gone the route of being prolific and taking up every book-writing opportunity – he certainly has the brains and clout for it. But he has taken a different path – he has chosen his projects carefully and has worked (from our perspective)... Read more