Via Chris Spinks. It has some typos, and awkwardly places the period before the end of the sentence (I have a lot of students who do that when ending with a parenthetical citation, too). But it still seems useful. Read more
Via Chris Spinks. It has some typos, and awkwardly places the period before the end of the sentence (I have a lot of students who do that when ending with a parenthetical citation, too). But it still seems useful. Read more
And Jesus said to her, “It is not appropriate to take the birds’ food and throw it to the squirrels.” The Syrophoenician woman replied, “But sir, even the squirrels eat seeds that fall from the birds’ feeder!” People with bird feeders who also know the Gospels will get it… Read more
This cartoon has been making the rounds. It is a pity that some are treating it as a condemnation of Christians, when it clearly is a condemnation of a group that I think ought to be labeled CINA: “Christians in Name Only.” If you fear others, hate others, judge others, and fail to hold yourself to a high standard of love and self-sacrifice, and fail to be humble and repentant because you fall so far short of that high standard,... Read more
Rick Brannan and Chris Brady both shared their papers from this year's Blogger and Online Publication session at SBL. Bart Ehrman shared his thoughts about the session, in which he was a panelist. And Tony Burke shared his perspective, having been in the audience. It should not be allowed to go unnoticed that blogging led these scholars to be involved in a session about blogging at the biggest conference in their field, which they have now in turn blogged about.... Read more
I recently found myself reminded of the famous sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.” And for some reason, it occurred to me to reverse the phrase. And when I did so, I found that it made more sense. One can talk about a supposed future in which sinners will be at the mercy of a seemingly merciless God. But for that to be plausible, one really must explain why that same God is not punishing/torturing them already.... Read more
When Mike Kok shared a classroom handout which included the criteria for inclusion in the New Testament canon back in August, I created a draft post, to remind myself to come back to the canon game that I talked about wanting to make. Ultimately, the issue of catholicity or general widespread use matters most; apostolicity doesn’t depend on the name on the work but the case made for accepting the name on a work, or assuming one that isn’t there; orthodoxy... Read more
“There has only been one time in American history where the fear of refugees coming to wipe out the people here actually came true, and we'll be celebrating it this Thursday.” -John Oliver Read more
Via Michael Heiser. Read more
Traditions or Eastern Late Antiquity co-sponsored a session with the SBL section on Religious Worlds of Late Antiquity, focused on exploring and problematizing the phenomena that have been labeled “Christianization” and “Islamicization.” The papers looked at topics at the intersection of the two traditions, such as celibacy, and sacred space. I was delighted to see how well-attended it was. Read more
The SBL student advisory board put together a wonderful luncheon with great speakers who gave great advice. The funniest was when one speaker, who had become a dean, shared what a colleague told him: now that you are a dean, in two years you will stop writing; in four years you will stop reading; and in six years you will stop thinking. The rest of the session had faculty like myself sitting at a table with students and talking informally.... Read more
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In