As I mentioned in a previous post, one of my ‘picks’ from SBL was a handy resource from Baker (2004) entitled The Face of New Testament Studies: A Survey of Recent Research (eds. McKnight and Osborne). What these contributors set out to do was help scholars to cross-over (even if just occasionally) into other NT fields without unknowingly stepping on landmines. There is a strong move, in more recent years, towards cross-disciplinary capabilities. Some people that come to mind who... Read more

Like many others, I did not have too many books on my list of things to pick up. Here are my ‘picks’ from SBL Mike Gorman’s Elements of Biblical Exegesis, revised and expanded (Hendrickson). This is one of the best exegetical textbooks and is written in a simple, but comprehensive way that covers all major steps of interpretation. Three new elements made this appealing for me to pick up in this new version: (1) Gorman has added a new section... Read more

I just received a copy of my new article in Irish Biblical Studies called ‘ “But you were acquitted…”: 1 Corinthians 6.11 and Justification and Judgment in its Socio-Literary and Theological Context’ (27.3; December 2008). In this article I argue that the language of ‘justification’ (dikaioo) is not ‘traditional’, but intricately related to the antecedent discussion of lawsuits and justice.  Thus, Paul is not just saying ‘you were justified’ as if this came from a common baptismal liturgy (as some... Read more

The latest issue of Neotestamentica (December 2008) will include my ‘”I Will Not Be Put to Shame”: Paul, the Philippians, and the Honourable Wish for Death’ (pp. 253-268). This article, a draft of which I presented in 2007 at the British NT Conference, is an exploration of a Jewish literary tradition I call the ‘honourable wish for death’ and how Paul re-expresses this concept.  This traditional normally involves a Jewish person (whether Moses, Elijah, Jonah, Job, Jeremiah, etc..) who is... Read more

As mentioned in an earlier post, I interviewed for an NT position with the SBL Career Center at the conference.  Prior to the SBL, the college/seminary arranges a time and day to meet with you.  The interview is usually 20-30 minutes; some may last 40-60 minutes if the institution has only a few candidates by the time of SBL. Tip#1: DO YOUR HOMEWORK – know everything you possibly can about the institution.  You need to know, if possible, in advance... Read more

I just returned today from cold and rainy Boston. Now I am here in slightly warmer and slightly drier Durham, England. Its good to be back! This year was very special and exciting for me for several reasons. In the first place, I did my Masters work in Massachusetts (on the north shore) and so it was nice to be in familiar surroundings. Secondly, I presented a paper in the new 2 Corinthians working group involving ‘theology in the making’.... Read more

Congratulations are in order for Bruce Longenecker who is now moving to Baylor to become their chair in the Religion department.  This is, sadly, another blow to Scottish Universities, especially St. Andrews which saw the retirement of Prof. Bauckham and the Oxford-ward move of Prof. Bockmuehl. After so many years in the UK, this will be quite a transition for Dr. Longenecker, but certainly a highly respected position at a leading institution.  Best wishes to you, Dr. Longenecker. I read... Read more

I will be arriving a couple of days early in Boston before SBL.  I had hoped there were good sessions, if not on Thursday evening, then perhaps on Friday – I guess I was wrong!  I didn’t see anything really interesting until Institute for Biblical Research on Friday evening.  Oh well. I have decided to try and make it to a theological library to do a bit of research (specifically looking for some of those things that we do not... Read more

…They care about, at least in part, good textbooks!  Kregel’s new basic NT introductory textbook caught my eye: What the New Testament Authors Really Cared About: A Survey of Their Writings (2008). There were several things that appealed to me about this book.  First of all, it is authored by multiple contributors who all teach undergraduate students.  Secondly, it attempts to survey key themes and ideas (in a simple, non-jargon way) in less than 250 pages.  Thirdly, it is chock... Read more

This is both an opportunity to call attention to some good resources out there on job hunting and interviewing, and to ask any of you out there who are experienced in interviewing some question. First of all, I am thankful to say that I do have one (and maybe two) interviews at SBL this year.  Thus, I am scouring the internet, looking for good resources on interviewing and how to be prepared. One resource, which is more generally geared towards... Read more