Edith M. Humphrey Scripture and Tradition: What the Bible Really Says. Acadia Studies in Bible and Theology. Eds. C.A. Evans and L.M. MacDonald Grand Rapids, MI: Baker, 2013. Available at Amazon.com This book by my lovely friend Edith Humphrey of Pittsburgh Theological Seminary is about how Scripture and Tradition relate to each other. The blurb reads: In some of the church’s history, Scripture has been pitted against tradition and vice versa. Prominent New Testament scholar Edith Humphrey, who understands the issue from... Read more

The new Anglican Archbishop of Sydney is Glenn Davies. You can read about more at Sydney Anglicans. Glenn is a former lecturer at Moore College, he studied at both Moore and Westminster Theological Seminary, he’s been the bishop of North Sydney since 2002, and he wrote his Ph.D thesis at Sheffield University on Faith and Obedience in Romans (Sheffield: JSOT Press, 1990). I confess that I was rather convinced by his argument for paedocommunion which I summarized here. According to the COE... Read more

I just got my copy of Todd Wilson, Galatians: Gospel-Rooted Living (PTW; Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2013). It is a great volume, a wonderful exposition, neither overly technical, nor a light weight in its handling of the text. I wrote a blurb for the volume: Todd Wilson has written deeply pastoral and theologically competent commentary on Galatians that is an exemplary effort at biblical exposition. There are some doozey passages in Galatians, especially on the Law, and Wilson provides a plain explanation... Read more

Over at TGC, Andy Naselli gives a cautious “yes,” to the question as to whether or not knowledge of historical background is ever necessary to understanding the Bible. It’s a good article and weighs the options wisely. His article is all the more interesting in light of the recent presidential address by Chris Tuckett at the recent SNTS meeting in Perth just last week. Tuckett said in his address: [I]t would be accepted by all that some (considerable) knowledge of... Read more

In the latest issue of Early Christianity, James Dunn has an article on “A New Perspective on the New Perspective on Paul,” largely interacting with German scholarship as he expounds what the benefits of the NPP have been. A few interesting quotes: [T]he ‘new perspective’ should not be defined or regarded as an alternative to the ‘old perspective’. The ‘new perspective’ does not pretend or think or want to replace all elements of the ‘old perspective’. It does not regard the... Read more

Josh Mann (Ph.D cand. at Edinburgh Uni) interviews me about academic blogging here. Read more

Jonathan Penning (SBTS) has a great little piece over at SBTS Resources on Gospels as Archway into the Canon. There was a time in the not so distant past when many conservative Christians were suspicious of any preacher or professor who emphasized the Gospels too much. On the surface this seems like an odd thing to say and an odd position to take. After all, are not the Gospels Holy Scripture and indeed the place where we see Jesus himself?... Read more

It is heartwarming to hear about how the lifetime work of Christian missionaries is celebrated by those among whom they ministered. This week saw the passing of an Australian missionary to Uganda Irene Gleeson. Her memorial in Uganda was attended by 10, 000 people including members of the Ugandan government. The ABC News (hardly given to singing the accolades of Christians) has a wonderful summary of her ministry to orphans in war torn Uganda. It is a truly wonderful story... Read more

The Brisbane School of Theology (formerly Crossway College) is seeking a new principal to begin January 2014. Here’s the advert: Brisbane School of Theology is a gospel-centred, evangelical and interdenominational Bible college which has trained men and women for ministry and mission for the past 70 years. We invite expressions of interest and applications for the position of Principal (to begin January 2014, negotiable). The successful candidate will demonstrate: an exemplary character, a vibrant Christian faith, a willingness to embrace the... Read more

In the latest issue of Currents in Biblical Research 11.3 (2013) including the following: Jason Hood and Matthew Y. Emerson “Summaries of Israel’s Story: Reviewing a Compositional Category” Coleman A. Baker “Peter and Paul in Acts and the Construction of Early Christian Identity: A Review of Historical and Literary Approaches” Bruce Worthington “Alternative Perspectives beyond the Perspectives: A Summary of Pauline Studies that has Nothing to Do with Piper or Wright” Worthington looks at recent philosophical, post-colonial, ecological, feminist, and social-scientific... Read more