There is a second edition of Richard Bauckham’s Jesus and the Eyewitnesses: The Gospels as Eyewitness Testimony (2nd ed.; Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2017). There’s a nice forward by Simon Gathercole noting the significance of Bauckham’s book when it came out in 2006. The volume includes three new chapters on: Eyewitnesses in Mark (Revisited) – Furthering the case for Petrine perspectives and women as eyewitnesses, esp. in light of studies of eyewitnesses in other biographies. Also, more on why the Gospels... Read more

Logos Mobile has released a second video I made with them about last year’s Trinity debate. The next video includes: – My account on how the debate got started. – My take on how this was actually good for the complementarian movement. – Plus pictures of me dressed as a 17-year-old infantry soldier. If you want to watch the whole series, and I suggest you do, because the videos are great, then make sure you buy the whole package from... Read more

I just heard the news that Lexham Press (Logos/Faithlife) will be releasing  Plain Theology for Plain People by Charles Octavius Boothe, who was ex-slave and founding pastor of a number of churches. According to Lexham Press: Boothe was born into slavery in 1845 in Mobile County, Alabama. Despite the oppressive circumstances he was born into, he was afforded a number of opportunities to educate himself from a young age. He took these opportunities to study Scripture and was baptized in... Read more

Over at Faith and Theology, Ben Myers tweets the Trinity, it’s a must read! Here’s a few highlights #1. Start by abolishing Trinity Sunday, that fateful day on which preachers think they have to explain the Trinity. #10. How does Augustine differ? He takes just one principle of “Greek” theology (the inseparability of persons in action) and proves that it’s not absurd or unthinkable. That’s all. #16. Ancients: the word “Father” must be stripped of all connotations except mere relation.... Read more

I have just read the SBL statement on Academic Freedom, Critical Inquiry, and Participation in the Society of Biblical Literature. All in all, I think it is a healthy and sensible statement. I particularly liked the core paragraph: Members participating in meetings of the Society of Biblical Literature contribute to the intellectual community of SBL, and thereby agree to engage in an open academic discussion guided by disciplinary norms and in scholarly discourse characterized by critical inquiry and investigation. SBL... Read more

E. Randolph Richards & Joseph R. Dodson A Little Book for New Bible Scholars: Why and How to Study the Bible Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 2017. Available at Amazon.com This really is a charming and helpful little book about how to be a biblical scholar. It is necessary reading for anyone starting a PhD in biblical studies and worthwhile for anyone who is serious about taking the Bible seriously! This book is filled with the type of pastoral advice I... Read more

Over at the LAB, you can find a short promo video featuring myself about the Trinity War that took place among evangelicals about this time last year! This is part of Logos Mobile’s mini-documentary/short course on the Trinity that explains what the debate what was about, what was at stake, and what has happened as a result. My advice, watch the video, then order it, and get 40% off!!! You won’t be disappointed. The video features some big hitters like Wayne... Read more

Over at Ethics and Culture is a great review of What Christians Ought To Believe, here’s my favourite part: Everything Bird writes is entertaining. His punchy prose springs from the page, even when he’s writing deep theology. He intentionally uses attention grabbing language and examples to make important points memorable. The purposefulness of Bird’s exuberant writing is what keeps his books from being over the top. He uses snappy rhetoric only to punctuate the most important points, not merely to entertain.... Read more

James W. Thompson and Bruce W. Longenecker Philippians and Philemon (Paideia Commentaries on the New Testament) Grand Rapids, MI: Baker. Available on Amazon.com Out of all the commentaries I’ve read and reviewed recently, I definitely like Thompson (on Philippians) and Longenecker (on Philemon). Thompson is very good on the Roman context of Philippi and the counter-imperial context of Paul’s epistle. He favors the literary integrity of Philippians noting the verbal and thematic links across the letter. Though I opine that... Read more

For those interested, I’ve started a blog in collaboration with some friends called The Thermidorian, with a view to offering centrist commentary on political, social, economic, and religious issues. Trying to embody confident pluralism as a socio-political philosophy. Means I can focus more on biblical and theological studies on this blog without bringing in my thoughts on news and stuff.   Read more