As many of you know, November is generally the time when we set aside time to remember, pray for, and publicize the plight of the persecuted church. Do watch this video introduced by Baroness Berridge! On the subject of religious persecution, religion journalist Barney Zwartz has a great piece on The Age about Age of Intolerance: The War on Religion. This is how it begins: As Christian villager Asia Bibi languished in a Pakistani jail awaiting death by hanging for... Read more

Tom Wright’s Paul book was just released yesterday, and I’m told that Amazon already has an “Temporarily Out of Stock” notice. Well, I have a suggestion: Let’s not forget the older books! When I say “let’s not forget the older books” I’m not talking about those of a different generation. I’m also not specifically talking about what some might call the “great books”, although these would easily be included in this reflection. I’m more referring to the very recently old... Read more

Here is a cool song about Martin Luther based on the Bangles hit song “Manic Monday.” HT: Josh Dinale Read more

In my last post I celebrated recent church planting efforts in the big cities, but raised a few concerns about over-crowding and some ecclesiological questions about these ventures. I also raised the prospect of investing less in church planting and more in church rejuvenation. For case in point let me tell you about my good friend Joe Khan and the work he’s doing at Rosalie Baptist Church in inner city Brisbane. Rosalie Baptist Church is located in an inner city Brisbane... Read more

It is said often that Paul has reconfigured Judaism around Christ . Perhaps this could be said to be Tom Wright’s major thesis in his new book on Paul according at least to Scot McKnight and Mike Bird (here at Euangelion) – Although I wouldn’t know. I’ve not been one of the privileged to have received a complementary per-publication copy. This is, I think, when you know you’ve made it as a NT scholar, which reveals I’ve not!  – when publishers... Read more

In the course of evangelical trends, it seems that church planters are the new front line ninja, guru, jedi master, seal team six, hip, cool, people to be. There is a lot of resources being put into planting new churches in large cities in the USA, UK, and Australia. And let me say, that this is a good thing. Planting more Christ-centered and Bible-preaching churches is a must for the growth of the church in major urban centers. It is... Read more

Today is the day that Evangelical Theology: A Biblical and Systematic Introduction is officially released. I’ve written several books and been proud of each one as each has its own story and its own place in the world. However, EvTh is my attempt to help shape the theology of emerging evangelical leaders by helping them to develop a genuinely gospel-shaped theology. It has not been for me just an academic enterprise, but one of worship. This book is my offering... Read more

A while ago I blogged on Hal Taussig’s New New Testament, noting its addition of several Gnostic documents (mainly Nag Hammadi stuff) to a New Testament collection. Any ways, Craig Evans lets rip in a review in the latest issue of BBR (23.3 [2013]: 429-31) and here are the highlights: A New New Testament raises a myriad of questions. First, why have Taussig and his colleagues drawn so heavily on Gnostic writings? Why not include some of the so-called Apostolic Fathers? After... Read more

Yesterday I had the pleasure of celebrating Reformation Day at a wonderful inner-city Anglican church in Melbourne, St. Matt’s Prahan, speaking on Rom 3:21-26. Its a great day to get your Luther on, unleash your inner Calvin, channel some Bucer, reconnect with your “sola” power panels, thank God for Tyndale, and play with your Ridley and Latimer action figurines. But such a day does lead to a question or two. Is Reformation Sunday a bit like commemorating a divorce, vindicate... Read more

Here is a video I made with Zondervan with advice to my theological students about their study: Read more