Old in the New

Testing Testing 123

2008-05-12T10:15:00.001-04:00

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Thanks. It looks like it's working.

Problems with Blogger & Yahoo!

2008-05-12T09:54:00.000-04:00

I've been having problems with the blog. For the last week or so I have not been able to post through Blogger on to my Yahoo!SmallBusiness server. So, I'm going to switch blogs and switch servers. For now, Old in the New will be parked at http://oldinthenew.blogspot.com.

Pentecost Sunday

2008-05-11T22:02:00.007-04:00

My pastor, Jim Williams of Gloucester Assembly of God, preached a fantastic sermon today on Acts 2. It was perhaps the most refreshing sermon I've ever heard on the chapter. Being a Pentecostal, I can assure you, I have heard many a preacher wax eloquent on this passage! For the most part, they've tended to focus on things like "tongues" or "power" or "witnessing" or some other kind of phenomenon having to do with the Pentecostal distinctives of today, but rarely have I heard a sermon that actually "agrees" with Peter's own explanation of the events of Pentecost. The mighty rushing wind and the tongues of fire were not merely manifestations geared towards producing goosebumps on the backs of the people of Judea and beyond!* The proclamation of the "wonders of God" in other tongues (v. 11) was not meant to serve as a mere precedent for Pentecostal prayer. (There are other places in Scripture that support that!) No. The manifestations of Pentecost pointed to the exaltation of Jesus to the right hand of the Father. My pastor's homiletical point was that "believers are to be compelling evidence that Jesus is Lord and Christ." Jesus' status is made explicit in Luke's account of Peter's sermon:

God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said,
   " 'The Lord said to my Lord:
     "Sit at my right hand
   until I make your enemies
     a footstool for your feet." '
"Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."

The manifestations of Pentecost were evidence of the inauguration of the risen and exalted Christ. In today's Pentecostal circles (at least the circles where I've grown up), the issue of "evidence" is very important. For instance, the Assemblies of God "Statement of Fundamental Truths" (our "creed") states that speaking in tongues is "the initial physical evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit."** Of course, I know that this point causes a bit of a interpretive hiccup even among many professed "Pentecostals" (myself included). That's not the point of this post, though. What strikes me about Acts 2 (coming away from my pastor's sermon) is that the phenomena that attended that first Pentecost does serve as evidence - not primarily of "Spirit baptism" (at least in "Pentecostal" terms) - but rather as evidence that the once crucified Jesus was now the exalted Messiah of Israel. He was not only the promised Messiah. He was also exalted as Lord. This is a scandalous statement for a sect birthed out of monotheistic Judaism given that kurios (the Greek word translated as "Lord") is the the word often used in Greek translations of the Old Testament to translate the Hebrew name of God - Yahweh. Jesus, the exalted Messiah - Jesus, the exalted Lord, poured out his Spirit on the church that was to stand as evidence of his status at the right hand of the Father.

Well, I've rambled long enough. All that is to say that I very much appreciated my pastor's sermon this Pentecost Sunday!

* Note that Michael Barber at "Singing in the Reign" recently posted an interesting explanation of the "tongues of fire" phenomenon in Acts 2 [HERE].

Online Research at the Boston Public Library

2008-04-22T09:54:00.008-04:00

Are you studying in Massachusetts? Well, I've got some good news for you.

Students and residents in Massachusetts can sign up with the Boston Public Library for a library card. Besides allowing borrowing privileges, this card gives access to many of the electronic databases to which the BPL subscribes, including JSTOR, the ATLA Religion Database, PSYCinfo, and the full-text version of Dissertation Abstracts.

A potential patron does not need to be a resident of Boston, and the patron does not even have to be an official Massachusetts resident – they can be a student studying in Massachusetts with declared residency in another state.

Just to make things easier, the BPL also offers an “eCard” for those who do not intend to borrow books, but use the online resources. You do not have to travel to the BPL to obtain one of these cards, you can simply sign up at the library’s web site (see the “Register for a Library Card Online” link in the center column on their home page (www.bpl.org).

If you have any questions about this service, visit their F.A.Q. page.

It’s great to see our Massachusetts tax dollars at work on something useful!

Lego - A Grievous Alternative

2008-04-15T09:30:00.006-04:00

Late last Friday night I spent a few hours playing with Lego blocks - my new obsession... I put together an alternate model for the 7656-1 General Grievous Starfighter. I've been reading various Lego blogs and catching up on new building techniques that have developed since I stopped playing with Legos 20 years ago, and I decided to give some of them a try. Well, here's the finished product. It was my first original model in the past two decades. Overall, I don't think it's too shabby. It's amazing how cathartic it is to have a non-academic, non-book, non-computer hobby! (Click the thumbnail/this link to see other views of the model.)

An Easter Proclamation - John 11

2008-03-22T21:57:00.002-04:00

This Easter, I've been given the privilege of speaking at our church's sunrise service. Here it is:

In John chapter 11 we read the story of a family in grief. Mary and Martha watched their brother Lazarus suffer with sickness. They called out to Jesus for help, saying, “The one you love is sick.” Jesus responded and kindled the hopes of the two sisters. He assured them: “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” Jesus promised life.

But by all appearances, Jesus did not keep his promise. While Mary and Martha sat at the bedside of their dying brother, Jesus did not arrive. He did not show up until four days after Lazarus was buried. Martha’s frustration was apparent. “If you had only come sooner, my brother would not have died.” Mary was frank as well. “If you had only come sooner, my brother would not have died.”

We live in a world of grief. Sickness, death, war, disease – they are all part of our world. Countries are embroiled in ethnic wars. Madmen dictators drive their nations into poverty. Sure, these things are all distant problems that we hear about on the news, but they are still real – no less real than the pain felt by people here in Gloucester. Abuse, alcoholism and drug addiction ruin lives and tare apart families. Our world, our town cries out to God, “If you had only come sooner, my child would not have died.” “If you had only come sooner, my family would still be together.” “If you had only come sooner, my life would not be in ruins.” “If you had only come sooner – God - we would not be in this mess.” If many of us were honest, we would sound a lot like Mary and Martha.

Jesus’ response in Bethany is the same response he has for us today. In response to Mary’s grief, “Jesus wept.” Jesus was not aloof. He shared their grief. This is the same response that God himself gave our world when he sent his son. Rather than standing aloof, he sent Jesus to live among us, to experience life, grief and disappointment, and ultimately to face the horrors of our world in death on the cross.

But we know from rest of the story that this is not God’s final response. Jesus assured Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even in death.” God’s final answer is life. His final answer is resurrection. Jesus promised Mary and Martha that the glory of God would be shown even in the death of their brother. He assured them at the grave, “If you believe, you will see the glory of God.” He called them to trust in him.

While Jesus came into this world to suffer along side us, he also came to embody life itself. He healed the sick and proclaimed liberty to the captives. His resurrection asserted God’s victory over the powers of darkness.

God does not simply answer a world of sin and death with empathy, he answers with life giving power.

Just as Jesus called Mary and Martha to believe, he calls us today to stake our lives in him – the one who embodies God’s resurrection power. As we believe in him, we are brought to see the glory of God. Jesus called Lazarus from the grave. He spoke life into death. Today he speaks life into our own dead situations. He speaks life into our own shattered dreams by replacing them with his own dreams for us. He speaks life into our families through reconciliation and healing. He speaks life into Gloucester as he asserts God’s rule over addiction and abuse.

This Easter he is resurrection. He is life. Believe in him, even in the midst of death, and you will live. Trust in him, and you will see the glory of God.

Star light! Star bright! Make me a Talmud scholar tonight!

2008-03-12T11:50:00.008-04:00

James Davila at Paleojudaica notes that Madonna supposedly cited the Talmud in her recent acceptance speech at her induction into the Rock-N-Roll Hall of Fame. The pop star stated:

There’s a saying in the Talmud that for every blade of glass there’s an angel that watches over it and whispers grow, grow. And I could still hear those angels whispering. And even the naysayers, the ones that said I was talentless, that I was chubby, that I couldn’t sing, that I was a one hit wonder, they helped me too. (Quoted from "The Bangkok Jungle")

Well, it turns out that the "Material Girl" was a bit mistaken. She did not quote from the Talmud, but from the Zohar:

The Holy One brings out all the hosts, camps, and stars, each one is called by its own name, and "not one faileth" (Isa 40:26). Over all these stars and constellations of the firmament there have been set chiefs, leaders, and ministers, whose duty is to serve the world each one according to his appointed station. And not the tiniest grass-blade on earth but has its own appointed star in heaven. Each star, too, has over it a being appointed who ministers before the Holy One as its representative, each according to his order. All the stars in the firmaments keep watch over this world: they are appointed to minister to every individual object in this world, to each object a star. Herbs and trees, gras and wild plants, cannot flourish and grow except from the influence of the stars who stand above them and gaze upon them face to face, each according to his fashon. (Soncino Zohar, Shemoth, Section 2, Page 171b)

While she's certainly no Talmud scholar, her lyrics have a new (and potentially more profound) meaning:

You must be my lucky star
‘Cause you make the darkness seem so far
And when I’m lost you’ll be my guide
I just turn around and you’re by my side

Starlight, star bright first star I see tonight
Starlight, (star bright) make everything all right
Starlight, star bright first star I see tonight
Starlight, (star bright) yeah

Come on shine your heavenly body tonight
‘Cause I know you’re gonna make everything all right

Update: Manuscript Boy (from Hagahot) e-mailed Jim Davila of Paleojudaica with the following quote from Genesis Rabbah 10.6:

א"ר סימון אין לך כל עשב ועשב ברקיע שאין לו מזל ברקיע שמכה אותו ואומר לו גדל

Neusner's translation:

Said R. Simon, 'There is not a single herb which is not subject to the influence of a planet in heaven, which smites it and says to it, "Grow!"'

As Manuscript Boy notes, it's "Not whispers but beatings. Other than that, it's pretty close."

Huckabee & Allusions to/in the Bible

2008-02-08T18:11:00.000-05:00

On the way home from work today, I was listening to NPR's "All Things Considered." In one piece they noted biblical allusions strewn throughout Huckabee's speeches. Certainly references to biblical allusions are in no way "new" to the political scene. From Lincoln to MLK to Obama the Bible has been a seedbed of imagery to suit political agendas. The NPR slot noted, however, that Huckabee's allusions were being lost on biblically illiterate ears. For instance, Huckabee stated in one address, "Sometimes, one small smooth stone is even more effective than a whole lot of armor." This is a rather easy allusion to pick out for the few folks who may happen to read this blog. Clearly Huckabee is speaking in a code that his conservative Evangelical supporters can decipher without too much trouble. NPR interviewed several folks in DC about these statements and most did not have a clue as to what a "widow's mite" was or the significance of "loaves and fishes." Many of these folks were born into Christian homes and attended Sunday school, but they still could not recognize Huckabee's allusions. I even had to think a little bit harder than usual to completely take in the allusion to the little boy named David. So, while Huckabee may be speaking in the "Bible code", many folks - even those who have had a "Christian" upbringing are hearing gibberish. Is Huckabee intentionally alluding to Scripture? Or is he simply speaking the language of a Baptist minister- turned-public-servant without intentionally trying to send encoded messages to his Christian constituency?

This got me to thinking about the debates concerning the New Testament's use of the Old Testament, particularly the detection of allusions and echoes to Jewish Scripture. Why would Paul put allusions to Scripture in texts that were primarily written for a Gentile, and (some assume) "biblically illiterate" audience? Did Paul simply speak the language of a learned Jewish Christian? Did he always intentionally encode his message with the intent of the audience knowing what he was talking about? Is it possible that Paul meant his allusions to "shout out" to those who could understand, while leaving others confused in a fashion similar to Jesus' parables? How intentional was Paul? Are biblical allusions only meaningful from the standpoint of the author's (or speech writer's) intent? Or, do allusions and echoes take on a valid meaningful life of their own in the mind of the audience?

Another thing struck me regarding this NPR piece. Ultimately, when Huckabee uses these veiled references to Scripture in a country where only a relative few "know the code", he is in effect speaking gibberish. Preachers and teachers beware! We need not confound people with allusions they don't understand - we don't want their "biblical illiteracy" to get in the way of them hearing the Gospel. Of course, we are to teach people the content of Scripture – for their souls' sake – but until they "learn the language" we just sound like the builders of Babel.

Read the NPR print version of the segment "Understanding the Gospel According to Huckabee," by Barbara Bradley Hagerty.

Captain Kirk Wanted to be a Librarian

2008-02-08T08:18:00.000-05:00

Librarianship: a job "no less challenging," but "a lot less dangerous."

Legomania

2008-02-05T09:50:00.000-05:00

So, I've decided to embark on a new hobby - one that does not involve "reading" or "research" and one that takes me back to the family room floor during my childhood. I'm going to start building with Legos again. Boy, I wish I had all the bricks I had when I was a kid. I had pirate ships, space ships, and castles. I remember fondly having all of the collection in one big tupperware container. My younger brother and I would fight over all the "good pieces" (the neat little intricate guns, walkie-talkies, and swords that went with the minifigures). I think I lost a certain frequency range of my hearing from all the times I clawed my way through the big bin looking for that one tiny little piece that would complete my latest creation (it's a sound I'll never forget). So, forgive my waxing nostalgic, but I figured I'd vent my desire to regress into childhood. If you happen to have Legos and want to get rid of them, contact me!

Oh, and by the way - "lego" in Homeric Greek (λέγω) can mean "to gather" (LSJ), and it is used at least once in the context of "picking out stones for building a wall" (Ody. 18.359). A similar meaning is given to the Latin, lĕgo (Lewish & Short). The original name "Lego" is derived from the Danish leg godt, meaning "play well" (Wikipedia).

Wikindx anyone? Anyone? Anyone?

2008-01-12T20:52:00.000-05:00

Does anyone out there know how to implement Wikindx on a site hosted by Yahoo? Anyone . . . ? Anyone . . . ? The James Bibliography on ΑΓΑΠΗΣΕΙΣ reminds me of a project I've had on the back burner. I've been meaning to put together a James bibliography for some time now, but I've wanted to do it in the database format that the "Paul and Scripture" section of SBL has been using [link]. I haven't done so, mainly because of my ignorance with MySQL and PHP (which are needed to implement Wikindx). So, if there is anyone out there who knows how to implement Wikindx on a site that's hosted on Yahoo, I'd love some pointers!

UPDATE: Thanks to the help of the wikindx creator, Mark Grimshaw, I have been able successfully install the program. See http://www.oldinthenew.org/wikindx3. Of course the bibliography is not fully developed yet - given that there are only 3 entries!

Epistle of James Bibliography at ΑΓΑΠΗΣΕΙΣ

2008-01-12T20:44:00.000-05:00

"Zephyr," at ΑΓΑΠΗΣΕΙΣ, has been posting a running bibliography on "Recent Scholarship" on the Epistle of James [link]. It's a great list, and I'm sure it will continue to grow [see his latest update]. If you know of any more texts, be sure to submit them by way of the comments!

Overdue Overhall

2008-01-12T20:31:00.000-05:00

I just realized that this site does not display correctly in Internet Explorer. I'm gonna have to fix that. I'm thinking about moving over to WordPress as well... Hmmm... Sorry for the inconvenience. Though I doubt I inconvenienced many!

Bono's Beatitudes

2008-01-01T16:04:00.000-05:00

My brother gave me the 20th anniversary box set of U2's Joshua Tree. This little gem not only has remastered versions of the original album; it has a second CD with tracks either originally intended for the album or closely associated with it (released with singles, etc.). Anyway, one of the songs on the second CD was particularly striking - Track 11, "Wave of Sorrow (Birdland)". Bono wrote it in the wake of his experiences in Ethiopia. I've transcribed the lyrics below from the accompanying booklet (I could not find the lyrics anywhere on the web with a cursory search).

His contextualized "beatitudes" at the end of the song are worth noting -- as are his references to Solomon (the son of the shepherd boy, David), the Queen of Sheba and Menelik (the Son of Sheba and Solomon according to the pseudepigraphal work, the Kebra Nagast [see Wikipedia article/Eng. trans.]).

I also found a great little clip on YouTube where Bono sings along with the song and explains its significance.

Wave of Sorrow (Birdland)

Heat haze rising on Hell's own hill
To wake up this morning too an act of will
You walked through the night to get to today
To bring your children to give them a way

Oh, oh this cruel sun
Its daylight never done
Cruelty just begun
To make a shadow of everyone

And if the rain came
And if the rain came now

Souls bent over without a breeze
Blankets on burning trees
I'm sick without disease
Nobility on its knees

And if the rain came
And if the rain came
Now

Would it wash us all away
On a wave of sorrow
A wave of sorrow

Where now the holy cities
Where all the ancient holy scrolls
Where now the emperor Menelik
And the Queen of Sheba's gold
You my bride wear her crown
On your finger a precious stone
Has every good thing now been sold

Oh son of shepherd boy now king
What wisdom can you bring
What lyric could you sing
Where is the music of the seraphim

And if the rain came
And if the rain came now
Would it wash us all away
On a wave of sorrow
A wave, a wave of sorrow

Blessed are the meek who scratch in the dirt
For they shall inherit what's left of the earth
Blessed are the kings who have left their thrones
They are blessed in this valley of dry bones
Blessed are you with an empty heart
For you have nothing from which you cannot part
Blessed is the ego if it's all we've got this hour
Blessed is the voice that speaks truth to power
Blessed is the sex worker's body sold tonight
She works with what she got to save her children's life
Blessed are the deaf who cannot hear her scream
Blessed are the stupid who can dream
Blessed are the tin can cardboard slums
And blessed is the spirit that overcomes

high-octane low church

2007-12-19T19:57:00.000-05:00

NBC Nightly News recently aired Rev. Eugene Rivers' description of Pentecostalism and its appeal to the poor. Rev. Rivers is pastor of Azusa Christian Community in Boston. While I do not accept his emphasis on movement from "poverty to prosperity", I understand that as a white middle-class AG Pentecostal I have my own biases when it comes to the social implications of Gospel. I would like to think that Pentecostalism can be socially-concerned without being "prosperity" driven. I cannot endorse a prosperity-Gospel in the vein of Osteen or Roberts, but I do believe that a Spirit-driven Gospel must confront materialism and the systemic oppression of the poor.

The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
    because he has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
    and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free
    to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.
Luke 4:18-19

HT: Paul Grabill of Beside the Point & Jeff Leake of FutureAG.

Gordon-Conwell Christmas: Library Style

2007-12-12T13:46:00.000-05:00

Each year the Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary staff have a Christmas door decorating contest. This year, Goddard Library entered with a large, door-sized mosaic of theological book covers depicting Mary, Joseph and Jesus.

The images of book covers were gleaned from my own library on LibraryThing.

The images were then compiled into a photo mosaic using the free program, AndreaMosaic.

The original artwork is titled "Prince of Peace (2)" by Hanna-Cheriyan Varghese, an artist in Malaysia (see thumbnail below).

Many thanks to Hanna for permission to use her artwork. I have enjoyed her work for some time, as she envisions the biblical text with a non-Western Christian's imagination.

Update: The library's door won third place (as judged by an independent panel of employees), but we won the all-seminary community vote. Because of this we get to pick the cookies of our choice to be baked for the library staff. Yum!

Sage Theological Journal Trial

2007-12-11T08:22:00.000-05:00

Sage Journals Online is hosting a free online trial of their theological journals, including:

Journal for the Study of the New Testament
Journal for the Study of the Old Testament
The Expository Times
Currents in Biblical Research
Irish Theological Quarterly
Feminist Theology
Journal for the Study of the Pseudepigrapha
Journal of Anglican Studies
Studies in Christian Ethics
Theology and Sexuality

On James the Just see in particular:

Matti Myllykoski, "James the Just in History and Tradition: Perspectives of Past and Present Scholarship (Part I)," Currents in Biblical Research 5 (2006): 73-122.
--------, "James the Just in History and Tradition: Perspectives of Past and Present Scholarship (Part II)," Currents in Biblical Research 6 (2007): 11-98.

Mea culpa. Mea maxima culpa.

2007-12-07T22:12:00.000-05:00

I have sinned against biblioblogdom, and I am sorry. As Tyler Williams (Codex) and Doug Chaplin (Metacatholic) have noted, the person responsible for Biblical Studies Carnival XXIV canceled at the last minute. Not only did he trample upon the sacred institution of the carnival - he actually desecrated it during the high-holy month of SBL.

Unfortunately, I am that person.

Thankfully Doug has has put together "A little unofficial Biblical Studies carnivalette," and Tyler is still taking submissions.

Let me express my deepest regrets and apologies to the community and to Tyler in particular for backing out. I've felt like a louse for it.

So, in the spirit of works-righteousness (I do, after all like the Epistle of James), perhaps some of the community could chime in with appropriate penance for the guilty to perform in order to receive absolution.

Is there any penance appropriate? Flogging? Cilice?

Jesus Dances with Peanuts

2007-12-02T13:42:00.000-05:00

Life's been pretty hectic lately! I have not been able to blog at all. Still, I could not help but post this video.

Boston Bible Software Training

2007-10-13T22:26:00.000-04:00

Do you live in New England? Have you ever been to Boston in the Fall?* Do you use one of the big three--BibleWorks, Logos or Accordance? If so, then you may want to mark your calendars for a few upcoming events.

The Accordance seminar is free, and open to the public. This all-day seminar will be held at the Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary South Hamilton campus in the Academic Center, Saturday, October 27th. Visit the Accordance web site for more information. register by sending an email to seminars@accordancebible.com.

The BibleWorks seminar is open to the public, but it is not free. You can sign up and pay for either the morning beginner's section or the afternoon intermediate section (or both). Both sections will be held at the GCTS South Hamilton campus in the Academic Center on Saturday, November 10th. Visit the BibleWorks web site for more information and registration.

Finally, Morris Proctor Seminars will be holding "Camp Logos" for users of Logos Bible Software at Jubilee Christian Church International in Boston on Thursday and Friday, November 15 & 16. Camp Logos has a registration fee of $200.

I plan on attending all three seminars, so if you're there be sure to say hello!

*Note veiled reference to the Pirates who don't do anything. They've never been to Boston in the Fall!

Going to the CBD sale?

2007-09-07T11:24:00.001-04:00

Tomorrow is the big CBD sale in Peabody, Massachusetts. At this sale, you can get some of the best prices possible on Christian books. I've found expensive books for pennies on the dollar. For all the new seminarians in the area that may be going tomorrow, here are a few hints.

Wear comfortable shoes. You’ll do a lot of walking.
Wear layers.
Bring a suitcase with rollers or a small luggage dolly that you can use to cart books around.
Bring water. You’ll get very thirsty.
Some folks like to get up at 3:00 in the morning and get in line for the warehouse opening at 7:00 am! You don’t have to do it, but some folks do. If you’ve got a good eye, you’ll be able to find good books at good prices any time of the day.
Adhere to a budget. You don’t want to have to tell your spouse, parents or supporters that you spent all their money on commentaries!
Don’t just look at the “academic” tables. A lot of times really good books will be mixed with homeschooling or general Christian books and Bibles.
Be careful. Just because it’s on sale, does not mean you’re getting a good deal. A $50 book could be marked off at a sale price of $35, but available at Amazon for $30 with free shipping.
Steer away from buying commentary sets – for the most part. Many commentary sets are inconsistent in quality. Choose the best couple of commentaries for each book of the Bible. For recommendations see:

The book lists at the Denver Journal are extremely helpful, and usually very up to date.
Master’s Seminary “850 books” is out of date (it lists the NA26 as the best Greek New Testament!). Still, it lists a lot of good solid resources for a pastor.

Look up the shelf numbers of items that you know you want to buy before going to the sale. See the CBD web site for more info.
Treat each other with courtesy. I’ve seen cute Christian grandmothers go head to head over a study Bible. Resist the impulse to be selfish, mean or rude.

forgive me for not reading

2007-08-26T20:06:00.000-04:00

I'm taking a course on theological librarianship through ATLA and University of Illinois Urbana/Champlain. I enjoyed the following snippet from a book on medieval libraries:

On the Monday after the first Sunday in Lent, before brethren come into the Chapter House, the librarian (custos librorum) shall have a carpet laid down, and all the books got together upon it, except those which the year previous had been assigned for reading. These the brethren are to bring with them, when they come into the chapter house, each his book in his hand....

Then the librarian shall read a statement as to the manner in which the brethren have had books during the past year. As each brother hears his name pronounced, he is to give back the book which had been entrusted to him for reading; and he whose conscience accuses him of not having read through the book which he had received, is to fall on his face, confess his fault, and entreat forgiveness.

The librarian shall make a fresh distribution of books, namely a different volume to each brother for his reading.

From Archbishop Lanfranc's statute for English Benedictines, dated 1070; quoted on page 35 of Clark, J. W. Libraries in the Medieval and Renaissance Periods. The Rede Lecture, 1894. Chicago: Argonaut, Inc., 1968. (Google Books)

Imagine the difference such a practice would make in theological education today. While I know that to be competent in biblical studies or theology, one must be familiar with an array of books from multiple disciplines, imagine what it would be like to assign a single book by a master theologian to each individual student, who would then be responsible for reading the book--devouring it. I have so many books on my shelves that I have not yet even tasted, let alone devoured.

Another quote is worth noting. This one is from a letter written by Sidonius Apollinaris to Nymphidius (ca. ad 472):

It is high time for you to send the book back; if you liked it, you must have had enough of it by now; if you dislike it, more than enough. Whichever it be, you have now to clear your reputation. If you mean to delay the return of a volume for which I have to ask you, I shall think that you care more for the parchment than for the work. Farewell.

Sidonius Apollinaris, Letters. Tr. O.M. Dalton (1915) vol. 2. p. 51; Book V (Tertullian.org)

Part of this quote was printed on the overdue notices put out by the British library at some time or another (see p. 52 in John B. Trotti, “The Theological Library: In Touch With the Witnesses,” in Christian Librarianship: Essays On The Integration of Faith and Profession, Ed. Gregory A. Smith. Jefferson, N.C.: Macfarland, 2002, 48-54).

It seems that not much has changed over the years, when it comes to overdue books!

Assemblies of God Progressive Theology

2007-08-24T23:05:00.000-04:00

I'm new to Facebook, and I've just started a new group called "Assemblies of God Progressive Theology." This group is

dedicated to reframing the theological and practical Pentecostal distinctives of the Assemblies of God for the 21st century.

If you're in Facebook, and you're interested come and join.

New Testament Reading List?

2007-08-08T23:01:00.000-04:00

Has anyone developed a reading list that would help someone to become conversant with the main issues of the field? What are the must reads? What books would you expect someone graduating with a PhD in New Testament studies to have read and gained understanding?

Please respond or blog with your answers.

For Sale: Dictionary of Classical Hebrew (vols. 1, 2, 4)

2007-08-08T10:18:00.000-04:00

Forgive the shameless self-promotion. I'm selling three volumes of the Dictionary of Classical Hebrew on Amazon.com for $100 each. Check out the price listings at used.addall.com:

Also compare prices at Dove & Eisenbrauns.

While $100 is not cheap on a scholar's budget, the price is not bad in comparison to others. These volumes are nearly new. They only have a few bumped corners and very light shelf-ware. All three volumes are listed on my Amazon Storefront.

David J. A. Clines described the method behind the dictionary's madness in On the Way to the Postmodern: Old Testament Essays 1967-1998, Volume 2 (JSOTSup, 292; Sheffield: Sheffield Academic Press, 1998), 602-12 [link]. See also reviews/critiques here, here and here.