Hey preachers, I was invited to write the “Working Preacher” commentary this year on weeks 3-5, 7 of Easter in the lectionary (on 1 John). This was a fun challenge because I have not done a lot of work on the Johannine Epistles – I was blessed! Check it out if you are interested: Working Preacher. Read more

As I was perusing the latest issue of Interpretation (April 2015, 69.2), the hair stood up on the back of my neck when I saw that Andrew Lincoln had reviewed my Colossians commentary (Smyth & Helwys, 2013). I read his review with much trepidation – he is one of the world’s finest New Testament scholars, not least on Ephesians/Colossians! Well, I was deeply relieved to see that he found it not so bad, better than not so bad! At my age and... Read more

I am doing a bit of research on Paul and the Law (just a small scholarly discussion, of course!), and I found Richard Longenecker’s discussion of the subject interesting (Paul, Apostle of Liberty). Longenecker argues that Paul pushes for the “end of nomism” for believers in Jesus. Christ has “brought to an end the possibility of a valid nomistic piety” (154). The work of Christ alone makes one righteous, so the Christian ought not to walk according to Torah. He ends... Read more

The most recent issue of NTS (61.2) has a summary of the SNTS conversation that took place between George Van Kooten, Oda Wischmeyer, and N.T. Wright on the subject “How Greek Was Paul’s Eschatology?” Van Kooten urges that there are such clear substructural similarities between Paul and Stoic thought and this should affect how we analyze Paul’s eschatology. N.T. Wright is obviously suspicious of such an argument and argues that Paul’s eschatology fits entirely within a Jewish-religious framework transformed through... Read more

At the end of 2014 I had high hopes of blogging chapter by chapter through Richard Hays’ new work, Reading Backwards (Baylor, 2014). Truth be told, I got sidetracked and by the time I finally got back into the book there were a number of good online reviews and I really don’t have much to add to that discussion. So, please permit me now to simply provide some reflections on the book. Main arguments Richard Hays has two interests in this... Read more

Justo L. González is an impressive theologian – not only is he the author of the popular The Story of Christianity textbook, but he has written as well on preaching, Christian theology, and even biblical studies. In particular, has written books on Revelation and Acts. In 2010, he published the Luke volume in the WJK Belief series. This year (2015) he wrote a book, probably growing out of his commentary, called The Story that Luke Tells: Luke’s Unique Witness to the Gospel (Eerdmans). It... Read more

Marcion is one of the figures oft-mentioned in scholarship, but few of us know more than superficial information. Leave it to the excellent Prof. Judith Lieu to offer a thorough examination of Marcion and his disputants in the second century. The book is entitled, Marcion and the Making of a Heretic: God and Scripture in the Second Century (Cambridge Press, April 30, 2015). Here is the description: A comprehensive and authoritative account of the ‘heretic’ Marcion, this volume traces the development... Read more

Recently I received my copy of issue 4.2 of Journal for the Study of Paul and His Letters (fall issue; Eisenbrauns) – if you do not already know, Mike Bird and I were the first co-editors of the journal, and beginning with issue 4.2 the editorship has passed to Stanley Porter and Christopher Land. Stan gives a nice brief history of the journal, a word about its growth and strength, and his hopes for the future – in particular he hopes that... Read more

The sad news was circulated today that Prof. Charles Cranfield (Emeritus, Durham) has passed away (1915-2015). It was about seven years ago that I sat in his home and had tea with him, while we talked about Romans, theology, getting old, and politics. I had a look back on my notes from my conversation with him and what strikes me is how warm and pastoral he was. He has left a great legacy in his written works. He wrote on... Read more

Since I regularly teach NT survey courses, I am always on the lookout for good textbooks. In fact, I like all the textbooks I am currently using, but there is a tendency for textbooks to get longer and longer, which poses serious challenges for the busy student and the need to have time to read and study the NT text itself. In this regard, I found very impressive the new textbook by Daniel Lynwood Smith called Into the World of the New... Read more