What I’d like to see sometime in an analysis of a scholarly theory. The only value in Smith’s proposal is that no one has ever thought of it before. He has substituted imagination for analysis, creativity for evidence. While this is likely to garner acclaim in the scholarly world, it is worthless for determining truth.… Read More »
Gunner is interviewing me this week on his blog. You can read the first part today.
Here are a couple of Bible questions for you: 1. What book of the New Testament has allusions or echoes to the Old Testament in nearly every verse? (Hint: it’s not a short book.) 2. What book of the New Testament has no direct quotations from the Old Testament? (Hint: it’s not a short… Read More »
Last night John Piper spoke on “The Pastor as Scholar: A Personal Journey.” There are many things he said that resonate with me. If you ‘re pursuing scholarship, you might put this on your “to read” list. I ‘ll pick out one statement that I agree with and one that is not true for me.… Read More »
If you think the ESV is a dream translation and you want to continue in your ignorant bliss, don’t read this. The rest of you will have some good laughs. (Part 1 talks about the problems of translating too literally. Parts 3, 4, 5, and 6 give more examples. Oops. There were two parts when… Read More »
I just received this brief email concerning the PhD program: Congratulations! You passed the written qualifying exam. If I hadn’t passed, I would have had a lot of extra free time. No future, but a lot of free time. The oral exam is scheduled for Nov 1, 1:00 p.m. There a group of professors will… Read More »
I took that exam for the PhD program on Friday and I think it went well enough. If it was a comprehensive exam (to be taken at the end of coursework), then it was a miserable failure. But for an entrance exam, I’m guessing they won’t keep me out. I’m not allowed to talk about… Read More »
Some months ago I commented here that I was unhappy that I couldn’t find a copy of the 1 Kings commentary in the Anchor Bible series for less than $2,736.18. That may improve, as the Anchor Bible series has been bought by Yale and the press release seems to indicate that out-of-print titles will be… Read More »
I was looking for books on Matthew recently and saw Studies in Matthew, by Dale C. Allison, Jr. with a positive comment by Dr. Varner: “If you are writing on Matthew or preaching through it, you must get this volume.” For the class, I must do 75 minutes of reading per class period, and so… Read More »
Yesterday was Bethany’s first day of school, and today was mine. There’s actually not been a semester that I’ve not been in school since preschool, but for most of the last 11 years, I’ve been giving assignments, not receiving. Jesus said it is more blessed to give than to receive, and in this context, I… Read More »