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On Submitting to the Local Church
I’ve been reading and listening to a lot of Jonathan Leeman over the last few days, and I’m definitely benefiting from his skill in teaching. I’ve read him writing in a more academic tone, and loved it. Pleasant to find he can write equally well in a style that is more down-to-earth. I’m almost done with Church Membership, in the 9Marks series, and I would definitely recommend it for every Christian. This is a quick and easy read to situate the believer as a citizen of a kingdom and a member of a body, striking at both the structural and the organic nature of the church in the life of…
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The First Step – Reflecting on Nehemiah 2:17-18
I’m finished reading Nehemiah: A Pastoral and Exegetical Commentary, but am behind in sharing the few quotes that stood out to me. Many of the quotes that did so are longer, but this one, not so much: God often uses his messengers and his word to shine a light on matters in our lives that are unacceptable to God and yet have become accepted by us. Jerusalem is “desolate.” Perhaps they have grown accustomed to the disgrace. The first step in changing a situation is to honestly assess the situation. Only then will one recognize the need for the change. Nehemiah: A Pastoral and Exegetical Commentary, p.43 What in your…
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In The Mail – Elementary Hebrew Texts
Woohoo! Hebrew textbooks and Old Testament hermeneutics in the mail. Can’t complain about that. This upcoming semester I’m taking 20400 WW, otherwise known as “Elementary Hebrew”, with Dr. Garrett. There are two textbooks (really a book and an associated workbook), two recommended texts, plus an extra credit book. So, for text and workbook, and the extra credit, all pictured above, I’ll be working with: A Modern Grammar for Biblical Hebrew and A Modern Grammar for Biblical Hebrew Workbook and The Problem of the Old Testament: Hermeneutical, Schematic & Theological Approaches (Extra Credit) The “recommended” texts are A Concise Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament and Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia…
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The Conscience, As Illustrated by Ezra and Nehemiah
I’m currently reading Nehemiah: A Pastoral and Exegetical Commentary, as part of Introduction to Old Testament I (SBTS). Really enjoying it so far. It strikes a good balance between textual matters and application in the life of the church. In Chapter 2, in the section concerning 2:7-8a, I ran upon this section, that made me stop and think: Nehemiah basically makes two requests. The first request is for letters ensuring his safe passage to Judah. As noted in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah, Judeans faced stiff resistance and oppression from their enemies (see Ezra 4-6; Neh 4). Obviously, Nehemiah knows of the dangers and asks the king for help.…
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Planning For Travel
I just started reading Owen Strachan and Gavin Peacock’s The Grand Design: Male and Female He Made Them. So far, definitely enjoying it. But page 11 (really the first page of text) made me stop and remark on how Strachan gets me. That comment will take a brief explanation! When I travel, internationally, domestically, whatever, I like to plan ahead. And that planning includes something that many people likely find bizarre. I like to look for the best book stores in the area. So, I’ve drug Kim to bookstores in Italy (Libreria Acqua Alta, in Venice, for instance, and it was pretty awesome) and asked her wait for me as…
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A Retreat to the Mountains
A have the great blessing to have a couple days to myself up in the mountains. I’ll be spending it working during the day, but it does afford some evening pleasantry. Currently, I’m making chili, starting a puzzle, and marveling at the Creator’s work. But I think I am going to try to get a head start reading for my next class (Intro to OT 1), as well. As I said, chili. This burner does not want to offer a stable “low” heat: And a puzzle. This one is my father-in-law’s, and I’ve been meaning to finish it so I might return it: And what beauty (and a critter living…
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Dropping The Book For A Moment
So, this morning, I just need to put the textbook down for a moment and write. My hope is to give you a brief, inside look into what it feels like to be in non-vocational pastoral ministry. And I’d say vocational pastoral ministry, too, though I don’t have that exact experience. I don’t often write like this, because often it is hard to know what I should share. Other times, it is a chore to determine whether sharing something will be received as a targeted rebuke, rather than a general encouragement, etc. The thing I most want to say is that, in my experience, if you are a member of…
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Out with the New, In with the Old
Week 6 of 8 is almost complete for spring term 2 (Introduction to New Testament I). I’ve enjoyed Dr. Pennington quite a lot. Nevertheless, time to start planning and registering for summer and fall. To that end, I signed up to take Introduction to Old Testament I over the summer with Dr. Betts, and then in the fall, consuming both terms, will be Elementary Hebrew with Dr. Garrett. I think they usually suggest Greek first, then Hebrew – and I can understand it at least on the fact that Greek is closer to English than Hebrew is. If it is a first or even second time doing another language, it…
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The Gospel and The Gospels
This week’s reading lays the framework for a deeper study of the Gospels according to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John in coming weeks. So far, that reading includes Who Chose the Gospels?, by C.E. Hill, Reading the Gospels Wisely, by Jonathan T. Pennington, and Four Portraits, One Jesus (2nd Edition) by Mark L. Strauss. The reading for this week surveys the gospels themselves (what they are), the gospel message (what the gospels are for), and how the gospels have been (and are) used and studied. Great stuff, really – healthy does of history and hermeneutics. Two passages in the reading stand out to me, both from Pennington. And why not,…
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Learning Through Fiction
The final “textbook” for NT1 came in the mail today. It is interesting to be assigned a fictional work, Killing a Messiah by Adam Winn. I find the idea behind it reasonable though…sometimes we get caught up in our assumptions about the backdrop, the context, of historical (and in this case religious) events. Fiction can be a way of looking at things from a slightly different angle. Probably be a bit before I get started n this one, but looking forward to it. Already neck deep in Who Chose The Gospels, by Hill. Chapter one got right down to business countering arguments that non-canonical gospels were on an equal footing…
The Pleasant Study
Theology, Linguistics, Brewing and More