Codex Sinaiticus Conference (British Library)

Last updated on: May 12, 2009 at 8:12 am By Nijay Gupta

The British Library is hosting a two-day conference on the 6th and 7th of July 2009 on behalf of the Codex Sinaiticus Project. The conference will celebrate the virtual reunification of Codex Sinaiticus, an outstanding manuscript which ranks as one of the oldest and most complete Bibles in existence. The event will offer a unique opportunity to hear leading experts from around the world speak about the making, history, text, transmission, conservation and digitisation of this monumentally important manuscript. See HERE. Read more

New Issue of Biblical Interpretation online

Last updated on: May 6, 2009 at 4:52 pm By Nijay Gupta

A leading biblical studies journal with a hermeneutical focus, Biblical Interpretation, is one that I frequently read (though I am surprised time and time again how few NT article appear). See HERE. Ideologies of Male Beauty and the Hebrew Bible pp. 265-287(23) Author: Macwilliam, Stuart Reading the Sotah Text (Numbers 5:11-31): Holiness and a Hermeneutic Fit for Suspicion pp. 288-319(32) Author: Briggs, Richard S. Seeing is Believing: On the Relative Priority of Visual and Verbal Perception of the Divine pp.... Read more

Reflections on Jerry Sumney’s Colossians Commentary

Last updated on: May 5, 2009 at 4:50 am By Nijay Gupta

Tonight I finished reading Jerry Sumney’s Colossians commentary for the New Testament Library series (WJK, 2008). The series, as a whole, has not produced seminal volumes (though Luke Timothy Johnson’s volume on Hebrews has received positive reviews). Having recently reviewed and read through Douglas Moo’s Pillar commentary on Colossians, I was not expecting a shorter commentary to impress me (the NTL volumes are quite brief). However, I was pleasantly surprised with Sumney’s overall contribution. His approach is primarily rhetorical and... Read more

Book Notice: THE PSEUDEPIGRAPHA AND CHRISTIAN ORIGINS

Last updated on: May 4, 2009 at 10:32 am By Nijay Gupta

T & T Clark’s The Pseudepigrapha and Christian Origins is a publication that arises from papers given in the Studiorum Novi Testamenti Societas from 2000-2006 (book eds. G.S. Oegema and J.H. Charlesworth; 2008). The essays are divided into 5 groups: the Pseudepigrapha (P.) and Christian Origins [introductory issues], P. and the synoptic Gospels, P. and Paul, P. and Luke-Acts, and P. and the Revelation of John. The book also contains a ‘postscript’ by Lee Martin McDonald that deals with ‘Ancient... Read more

Book Notice: Peoples of the NT World (Simmons)

Last updated on: May 1, 2009 at 8:52 pm By Nijay Gupta

This really interesting ‘illustrated guide’ to Peoples of the New Testament World (Hendrickson, 2008) would have passed right by me unnoticed had a friend not brought it to my attention. I will try and spend more time blogging on the particular contents later, but I will just give you a taste for now. From what I can tell from a quick perusal, it is an intro to the ancient world, focusing specifically on groups of people. This approach has the... Read more

New Printing of Furnish’s THEOLOGY AND ETHICS with intro by Hays

Last updated on: May 1, 2009 at 9:56 am By Nijay Gupta

One book that has influenced me significantly, certainly in my top 10, is VP Furnish’s Theology and Ethics in Paul. Originally written in 1968, WJK is releasing a new printing for the New Testament Library Series. As far as I can tell, it is the same book in terms of internal content. As a special treat, though, Richard Hays has written an introduction. The book is apparently due out in July 2009. I had hoped for a new printing of... Read more

Imperial Language in Ephesians? Need help!

Last updated on: April 30, 2009 at 2:00 pm By Nijay Gupta

I am doing some research on how the Roman empire might be critiqued (or not) in Ephesians versus one of the undisputed letters (such as Galatians). Does anyone know of a book length treatment of the political language in Ephesians with special interest in the question of resistence (subversion) or accommodation? I know the Paul and Empire and Paul and Politics essays, but I am looking for something more thorough. Any suggestions? Thanks! Read more

Gorman on Theological Interpretation – Great Resource!

Last updated on: April 29, 2009 at 10:41 pm By Nijay Gupta

Michael Gorman, a premier NT exegete and theologian, has agreed to make his published discussion of theological interpretation available on his blog. Thanks Mike! We are in your debt. See HERE. BTW – I have found his own perspective on TI[S] to be one of the clearest presentations and defenses of it. Read more

Constantine Campbell and Verbal Aspect in NT Greek

Last updated on: April 29, 2009 at 9:49 am By Nijay Gupta

I have taken probably 15 courses in classical and NT Greek, and I have taught Greek about 6 times. There are few things more difficult to understand (let alone teach!) than the meaning and exegetical utility of ‘verbal aspect’. It was a no-brainer, then, that when I saw Basics of Verbal Aspect in Biblical Greek (Constantine Campbell, Zondervan, 2008) I snatched up a copy right away. NT Grammars, at least the most recent ones, treat this issue and flag up... Read more

Brevard Childs’ Canonical Reading of Paul (Part 1; Guest Post)

Last updated on: April 24, 2009 at 5:59 am By Nijay Gupta

[Nijay: I have recently finished reading Brevard Childs The Church’s Guide for Reading Paul: The Canonical Shaping of the Pauline Corpus (Eerdmans, 2008). In the near future I would like to offer my own thoughts, praises, and criticisms for what Childs was trying to accomplish. I recognize that when it comes to theological intepretation in general and the work of Childs in particular I am a bit out of my element. As a sort of preparation, both for myself and... Read more