I was happy to be interviewed by John Richard Walker at Freedom in Orthodoxy. Glad to hear that someone has actually read the book that I co-wrote with James Crossley on How Did Christianity Begin? Read more

Over at the Koinonia blog is a video I did about What is the Point of Studying Theology? In a nutshell my answer is: 1. Because of the stupid things that students say. 2. The necessity of a having a consistent and coherent theological worldview. Read more

In a follow up to my last post on Ambrosiaster and works of the law, here is what I’m thinking about such works: The phrase “works of the law” (ex ergōn nomou) has prompted a sway of debate as to its meaning (see Rom 2: 15; 3:27-38; Gal 2:16; 3:2, 5, 10).[1] At the risk of simplicity, the main options appear are: (1)   The ceremonial law (e.g., Jerome, Pelagius); (2)   The social boundary markers of the law with specific reference... Read more

I’ve been reading Gerald Bray’s excellent translation of Ambrosiaster’s commentary on Romans and 1-2 Corinthians. In my reading, Ambrosiaster’s description of works of the law really jumps out at you: In Rom 3:21, Ambrosiaster defines“law” as “law of the sabbath, the circumcision, the new moon, and revenge.” Then in Rom 3:28 he defines “works of the law” as “circumcision or new moons or the veneration of the sabbath.” Maybe Jimmy Dunn has been channeling a double portion of the spirit... Read more

My colleague, Dr. Tim Foster, has a good little article about The Rise and Fall of Hipster Churches. Its a description and critique of the phenomenon of hipster church plants. Foster concludes: There seems to be a strong drive among hipster church planters to be the hippest pastor of the hippest church full of the hippest people. Yet within each of these aspirations is a seed that will assure the future destruction of the pastor and the church. Paul’s warning... Read more

IVP is having a big sale on Paul books with several at 50% discount. Ends tomorrow! See info here. Books include: Paul and the Law by Brian Rosner Paul and Judaism Revisited by Preston Sprinkle A Week in the Life of Corinth by Ben Witherington III Introducing Paul by Michael F. Bird Spirituality According to Paul by Michael Reeves The Living Paul by Anthony Thistleton Paul Through Mediterranean Eyes by Kenneth Bailey Paul the Missionary by Eckhard Schnabel   Read more

Found this interesting quote in N.T. Wright’s Romans commentary: Paul’s whole thought is characterized by the free grace of God, and any suggestion that humans, whether Jewish or Gentile, might somehow put God in their debt, might perhaps earn their good standing within God’s people, would be anathema to him. Of course, that is not all that N.T. Wright says about salvation, works, and assurance, but sure does not sound like works-righteousness to me. Read more

Over at CT, Philip Jenkins has an article about James Ault’s new doco on African churches (esp. Zimbabwe and Ghana) called African Churches Rising. There are plenty of books describing the rapid growth of African churches. Those who can’t travel to witness this growth firsthand, though, can find it difficult to grasp. But now we have a set of impressive films: James Ault’s new series, African Christianity Rising. It is a superb resource for anyone who wants a front-row seat to... Read more

It was been a bad week of persecution for Christians in the global church. The massacre of Aramaic-speaking Christians in Syria, the bombing outside a Catholic church in Pakistani, and the terrorist attack in Nairobi which specifically targeted Christians. We should not forget, however, the continuing plight of Christian, esp. Copts, in Egypt. Over at ABC Religion and Ethics is an excellent article by Samuel Tadros on The Coptic Church in Peril and narrates the recent history of the  Copts... Read more

Fortress Press has released an excerpt of N.T. Wright’s imminently released Paul and the Faithfulness of God with  Table of Contents, the Preface, and chapter one, “Return of the Runaway?” A good teaser if there ever was. HT: Matt Montinini Read more