the stuff of earth

hello again

2009-08-07T23:26:00.000-06:00

the stuff of earth has been resurrected.

goodbye, for now

2008-09-12T10:59:00.005-06:00

I'm taking a break from blogging. I've got lots of reasons for the hiatus, some of which I had planned to list here, none of which really need to be told. While you're waiting with bated breath for the next post at the stuff of earth (you could be waiting months, just so you know), let me refer you to some other blogs and some past posts.

If you're looking for updates and comments on recent book reviews, journal articles, and current issues in New Testament studies, you could check in with Mark Goodacre at the NT Gateway Weblog, Jim West at Dr Jim West, and Mike Bird and Joel Willitts at Euangelion. There are now a host of other blogs in a similar vein, and you can find more than a few of them in the List of Blogs at Biblioblogs.com.

If you'd like to check out some past posts from my blog, let me suggest a few. In general biblical studies and theology, you could check out my thoughts on inerrancy, some of my reflections on reading scripture, my brief description of the gospel, my thoughts on what it means to be "evangelical," my all-too-incomplete "anthology of evangelical mythology" (including posts on creationism, inerrancy, and pre-tribulationism), some of my favourite new testament scholars, and descriptions of sites I went to on my trip to Israel last May. Related to Jesus and the Gospels, you could check out my series on the historicity of Jesus or my brief attempt to sketch out some rough lines in the development of the early Jesus tradition. Related to Paul and his letters, you could check out some of my thoughts on the origins of Paul's authority and teachings, my take on the important phrase pistis Christou ("faith of/in Christ") in Paul's writings, my recent attempt to unpack Paul's teaching on justification, my introduction to 1 Thessalonians (i.e. my failed attempt at an online commentary on 1 Thessalonians), or my description of my recently completed and soon-to-be-published doctoral thesis on the "word of the Lord" in 1 Thessalonians 4:15. Other notable blog posts are highlighted in the sidebar.

Goodbye, for now.

gone

2008-08-23T09:39:00.003-06:00

Having submitted my manuscript for Discerning the "Word of the Lord," I'm now off for a couple weeks of holidays. My blogging will move from "Barely There" to "Non-Existent" on your blogroll radar as I spend time with my family, do some light reading and writing, take some pictures with my new camera, and generally ignore all reality beyond a little patch of grass and sand by a jade-colored lake.

latest currents in biblical research

2008-08-18T10:10:00.002-06:00

The latest Currents in Biblical Research is now online for those with subscription access, abstracts available for all: October 2008, Volume 7, No. 1. This issue includes "Paul's Engagement with Deuteronomy: Snapshots and Signposts" by David Lincicum and "Statistical Studies of the Verbal Agreements and their Impact on the Synoptic Problem" by John Poirier.

latest review of biblical literature

2008-08-15T10:50:00.002-06:00

The latest book reviews at RBL include the following New Testament-related items of interest:

Paul J. Achtemeier. Jesus and the Miracle Tradition.
Reviewed by Michael Labahn

Douglas E. Oakman. Jesus and the Peasants.
Reviewed by Ernest van Eck

Richard Liong-Seng Phua. Idolatry and Authority: A Study of 1 Corinthians 8.1-11.1 in the Light of the Jewish Diaspora.
Reviewed by Scott E. McClelland

Tom Thatcher, ed. What We Have Heard from the Beginning: The Past, Present, and Future of Johannine Studies.
Reviewed by Cornelis Bennema

Francis Watson. Paul, Judaism, and the Gentiles: Beyond the New Perspective.
Reviewed by James D. G. Dunn

latest expository times

2008-08-11T15:33:00.001-06:00

The latest issue of the Expository Times is now online for subscribers with abstracts for all: September 2008, Volume 119, No. 12. Among the New Testament-related items of interest is "Galilee, Jesus and the Contribution of Archaeology" by Sean Freyne.

latest review of biblical literature

2008-08-06T16:28:00.002-06:00

The latest New Testament-related items at RBL include the following items of interest:

April D. DeConick. The Thirteenth Apostle: What the Gospel of Judas Really Says.
Reviewed by Arie W. Zwiep

Oskar Skarsaune and Reidar Hvalvik, eds. Jewish Believers in Jesus.
Reviewed by Elizabeth Boddens Hosang and Bart J. Koet

latest biblioblogger of the month

2008-08-01T13:24:00.001-06:00

Scot McKnight, author of the Jesus Creed blog, is the featured blogger of the month over at Biblioblogs.com. Here's his interview: Blogger of the Month for August 2008.

latest biblical studies carnival

2008-08-01T08:27:00.003-06:00

The latest Carnival is up in three parts at John Hobbins' Ancient Hebrew Poetry blog: Biblical Studies Carnival XXXII Part One - Biblical Studies Carnival XXXII Part Two - Biblical Studies Carnival XXXII Part Three. Be sure to check out this extensive and entertaining roundup of the best in biblical studies blogging for July 2008.

latest expository times

2008-07-25T09:40:00.001-06:00

The latest issue of the Expository Times is now online for subscribers with abstracts for all: August 2008, Volume 119, No. 11. Among the New Testament-related items of interest is "Ebbing and Flowing: Scholarly Developments in [the?] Study of the Book of Revelation" by Ian Paul.

latest review of biblical literature

2008-07-25T09:34:00.002-06:00

The latest reviews at the RBL include the following New Testament-related items of interest:

John H. Elliott. 1 Peter: A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary.
Reviewed by Pheme Perkins

Suzanne Watts Henderson. Christology and Discipleship in the Gospel of Mark.
Reviewed by W. R. Telford

Pheme Perkins. Introduction to the Synoptic Gospels.
Reviewed by Peter J. Judge

Phillip Sigal. The Halakhah of Jesus of Nazareth according to the Gospel of Matthew.
Reviewed by Roland Deines and by Dorothy Jean Weaver

codex sinaiticus digitization project

2008-07-23T10:34:00.003-06:00

Be sure to watch this site tomorrow, July 24, 2008: Codex Sinaiticus Project. That's when and where the first online phase of an ongoing project to digitize one of the world's most important books will be launched. Codex Sinaiticus is a 1600-year old Bible in Greek, including the oldest complete copy of the New Testament. The project is jointly coordinated by the British Library, the Institute for Textual Scholarship and Electronic Editing at the University of Birmingham (my alma mater), and the Institut für neutestamentliche Textforschung at the University of Münster, in cooperation with the various holding libraries.

I well remember the excitement at Birmingham surrounding this project when I was there in 2005-2006, and it's exciting to see the project progressing!

Update (07/24/08): It's up, and it looks terrific! Be sure to check it out!

peter enns leaving westminster theological seminary

2008-07-23T10:27:00.002-06:00

The saga of the Peter Enns controversy at Westminster Theological Seminary has reached a conclusion. As reported on both the WTS site and Enns' own site, "as of 1 August, 2008, Prof. Enns will discontinue his service to Westminster Theological Seminary after fourteen years." I look forward to hearing where Enns ends up, and I wish him God's rich blessings as he moves into the future.

the "gabriel's revelation" tablet

2008-07-16T12:38:00.003-06:00

The blogs have been abuzz the last while over the news of a written text on a tablet which has been dubbed "Gabriel's Revelation." The tablet has been dated to the first century BCE, though there are serious questions regarding its provenance. The text apparently makes reference to a messianic figure, "Prince of the princes," being commanded by the angel Gabriel to rise from the dead "in three days," though the text is not entirely clear in places. Obviously this is an important find that will require much scholarly sifting to determine its authenticity, wording, interpretation, and significance. For a good summary of blog posts so far, see Mark Goodacre's note here; for a transcription and translation of the actual text, see Israel Knohl's note here.

latest review of biblical literature

2008-07-16T09:35:00.002-06:00

The most recent New Testament-related items at RBL include the following of interest:

Kevin L. Anderson. "But God Raised Him from the Dead": The Theology of Jesus' Resurrection in Luke-Acts.
Reviewed by Lidija Novakovic

Adela Yarbro Collins. Mark: A Commentary.
Reviewed by Edwin Broadhead

André Munzinger. Discerning the Spirits: Theological and Ethical Hermeneutics in Paul.
Reviewed by Lee S. Bond and by Victor Paul Furnish

Stephen W. Need. Paul Today: Challenging Readings of Acts and the Epistles.
Reviewed by Steve Walton

Jan G. van der Watt. An Introduction to the Johannine Gospel and Letters.
Reviewed by D. A. Carson

latest expository times

2008-07-15T11:52:00.002-06:00

The latest issue of the Expository Times is now online for subscribers with abstracts for all: July 2008, Volume 119, No. 10. New Testament-related items of interest include "New Testament Theology Since Bultmann" by Robert Morgan, along with a few book reviews.

dr. pahl

2008-07-11T11:44:00.003-06:00

Early this morning, while I was sleeping peacefully in my bed, I officially became Dr. Michael Pahl. The degree congregation for the Department of Theology and Religion in the School of Historical Studies at the University of Birmingham was held a few hours ago over in the UK and, assuming everything went according to plan, my PhD was officially conferred upon me. Funny, I don't feel any different...

latest journal for the study of the new testament

2008-07-11T10:07:00.002-06:00

The latest issue of JSNT is online for subscribers, with abstracts available for all: September 2008, Volume 31, No. 1. This issue includes articles such as "Casting out the Treasure: A New Reading of Matthew 13.52" by Peter Phillips, "The Use of 'Story' in the Letter of Jude: Rhetorical Strategies of Jude's Narrative Episodes" by Robert Webb, and a back-and-forth between John Barclay and Robert Jewett on Jewett's recent commentary on Romans.

latest review of biblical literature

2008-07-11T09:58:00.002-06:00

The latest reviews are out at RBL, including the following New Testament-related items of interest:

Paul N. Anderson, Felix Just, S.J., and Tom Thatcher, eds. John, Jesus, and History, Volume 1: Critical Appraisals of Critical Views.
Reviewed by Jan G. van der Watt

Jaroslav Pelikan. Acts.
Reviewed by John B. F. Miller

Geza Vermes. The Resurrection: History and Myth.
Reviewed by Tony Costa and by Michael R. Licona

latest biblical studies carnival

2008-07-02T09:07:00.002-06:00

Hot on the heels of the previous carnival, the one for July has now been posted by Jim Getz at Ketuvim: Biblical Studies Carnival XXXI. Be sure to check it out to see some of the best in biblical studies blogging from the month of June.

latest biblioblogger of the month

2008-07-02T08:48:00.002-06:00

And while I'm catching up on posts that should have been made a month ago, here's the interview from Biblioblogs.com with John Hobbins of Ancient Hebrew Poetry: Blogger of the Month for April 2008 (I believe that should be "June 2008"). That had in fact been posted at the beginning of June, but I missed noting it then.

latest biblical studies carnival

2008-07-02T08:45:00.004-06:00

The carnival for June has been posted by Tyler Williams at Codex: Biblical Studies Carnival XXX. Be sure to check it out for the best in biblical studies blogging from the month of May (and because it has taken on legendary status as "the carnival that wasn't - but now is!").

latest review of biblical literature

2008-07-02T08:37:00.004-06:00

The latest New Testament-related items in the RBL include the following items of interest:

Paul N. Anderson, Felix Just, S.J., and Tom Thatcher, eds. John, Jesus, and History: Volume 1, Critical Appraisals of Critical Views.
Reviewed by Mark A. Matson

David Catchpole. Jesus People: The Historical Jesus and the Beginnings of Community.
Reviewed by Paul Foster

Yuzuru Miura. David in Luke-Acts: His Portrayal in the Light of Early Judaism.
Reviewed by Steven Cox

Brant Pitre. Jesus, the Tribulation, and the End of the Exile: Restoration Eschatology and the Origin of the Atonement.
Reviewed by John A. Dennis

Magnus Zetterholm, ed. The Messiah in Early Judaism and Christianity.
Reviewed by James H. Charlesworth

unpacking justification

2008-06-27T09:00:00.001-06:00

In this series I describe my understanding of Paul's teaching on justification. This is certainly a "working hypothesis," a reconstruction based on my understanding of the relevant Pauline texts within their broader historical and conceptual contexts, an understanding which is inevitably limited by the constraints of my own reading and research to this point and thus subject to constant self-critique as that understanding changes and expands. I don't comprehensively cite references along the way - this is not an academic paper, after all - but I do try to reference enough of the primary sources to substantiate specific points, and readers who are familiar with the primary and secondary literature will surely hear echoes of that literature throughout. Readers are encouraged to read this series in light of these things, to read each post in light of the whole series, to take this proposal and "try it on for size" to see if it indeed makes good sense of Paul's statements within their context.

Toward an Initial Description:

Some Further Observations:

Toward an Expanded Description:

Some Further Questions:

A Concluding Summary

Note: This series is also available as a single PDF file here.

unpacking justification: a concluding summary

2008-06-27T08:52:00.005-06:00

Click here for the series outline.

Rather than providing yet another condensed summary description, let me now summarize the central elements of my understanding of Paul's teaching on justification in a series of points:

"Righteousness" has to do with the fulfilment of covenant obligations, the responsibilities entailed in a formalized relationship. "Righteousness" is not about adherence to an abstract, universal moral code, nor does it signify moral perfection.
To be "justified" by God means to be "considered righteous" by God, divinely considered to have fulfilled one's relational, covenantal responsibilities before God. "Justified" does not mean "made righteous," nor is justification simply a synonym for "salvation" or "forgiveness," nor does it in itself refer to the fulfilment of all of God's redemptive purposes for humanity and creation.
One cannot be "justified by works," a shorthand expression for the idea that God could consider one to have fulfilled one's covenant responsibilities solely by keeping the Torah, doing the deeds prescribed by the Law of Moses. The problem Paul sees with the Law is not related to any "legalism" or "works-righteousness" in the Judaism of Paul's day, but rather for Paul the problem with the Law is that: 1) the fullness of God’s righteousness in dealing decisively with sin could not possibly come through an impersonal written Law code; 2) in resurrecting the legally "unrighteous" crucified Christ God has demonstrated that Law-keeping is irrelevant to being considered righteous by God; and 3) the relentless pursuit of Torah-righteousness blinds one to the eschatological righteousness of God revealed in the resurrected crucified Christ.
Rather, one is only "justified by faith," a shorthand expression for the reality that: 1) God considers one to have fulfilled one's covenant responsibilities solely by virtue of the steadfast, obedient faith of Jesus Christ in God as enacted in his redemptive death and vindicated through his resurrection; and consequently 2) one participates in this reality by one's own faith in God by which the person is spiritually united to Christ who is Israel's and all humanity's substitute and representative, a faith patterned after Christ's faith - steadfast and obedient, enacted in Spirit-prompted, cross-shaped living in anticipation of the vindication of resurrection. "Justified by faith" does not in its most immediate sense refer to being considered as righteous by virtue of the person's faith in either God or Christ, and it is not "imputation" but rather "union with Christ" that is the crucial dynamic at play in the inner mechanics of justification.
Therefore, the person who is "justified by faith" will necessarily live out a life patterned after the crucified-and-resurrected Christ with whom he or she is spiritually united. This is not for Paul a matter of "doing good works" to maintain one's saved status, but rather it is the inevitable result of a genuine union with Christ and an authentic, ongoing experience of the Spirit of Christ.
Moreover, the person who is "justified by faith" will experience the "righteousness of God," God's fulfilment of his relational, covenantal obligations to his people, the blessings of the coming age inaugurated now but fulfilled in the eschaton, including forgiveness of sins, blessed life with God, wholeness and peace with God and all humanity, indeed, the full eradication of sin and death in a restored creation. God's righteousness is not a commodity or status which we receive in order for us to be justified; rather it is his fulfilment of covenant obligations which we experience in being justified in Christ.
Furthermore, this understanding of "justification by faith" has a few key implications worth noting in summary. First, justification is exclusively through Christ's faithfulness, and so it cannot be through anything else, including any religious system or anyone's individual goodness; that is, although Paul's doctrine of justification was not a direct response to "legalism" or "works-righteousness," it does in the end still deny the legitimacy of such an approach. Second, justification is inclusively for all people regardless of their ethnicity, gender, or social status; although this is not what justification in itself is all about, it is a crucial implication repeatedly emphasized by Paul. Third, justification is a reality for individuals-in-community - it is individuals who are justified, but they are justified in union with Christ and therefore in union with all who are in Christ; that is, justification is not merely about "how the individual sinner gets saved," nor is it directly about "who the people of God are," but individual and corporate dimensions are both crucial to Paul's teaching on justification.