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In Acts 13:16–41, Paul addresses the Pisidian synagogue. In this discourse’s context, Paul asserts “we preach to you the good news concerning the promise that had come to the fathers—that this promise God has fulfilled for us their children by raising Jesus” ( Acts 13:32–33; ἡμεῖς ὑμᾶς εὐαγγελιζόμεθα τὴν πρὸς τοὺς πατέρας ἐπαγγελίαν γενομένην, ὅτι ταύτην ὁ θεὸς ἐκπεπλήρωκεν τοῖς τέκνοις [αὐτῶν] ἡμῖν ἀναστήσας Ἰησοῦν). From here, the following quotation of Ps 2:7 confirms Jesus’ resurrection by Yahweh’s hand (cf. Acts 13:37). 1 This resurrection in incorruption situates Jesus as the means by which the ancestral promise becomes actualized ( Acts 13:34–37) because it situates him as the recipient and mediator of the things vouchsafed to David ( Acts 13:34)—namely, an everlasting covenant in which the wandering return and receive forgiveness from Yahweh ( Isa 55; cf. Deut 30). 2 ...

The latest reviews from the Review of Biblical Literature include: Jewish Scriptures and Cognate Studies Milton Eng, The Days of Our Years: A Lexical Semantic Study of the Life Cycle in Biblical Israel, reviewed by Paul Korchin Kristen H. Lindbeck, Elijah and the Rabbis: Story and Theology, reviewed by Sonya S. Cronin Hayim Tadmor; ed. Mordechai Cogan, “With My Many Chariots I Have Gone Up the Heights of the Mountains”: Historical and Literary Studies on Ancient Mesopotamia and Israel, reviewed by R. Russell Mack Leigh M. Trevaskis, Holiness, Ethics and Ritual in Leviticus, reviewed by James W. Watts New Testament and Cognate Studies ...

In contemporary English parlance, to call someone a “man” or “woman of God” substantially means that individual is “godly” or “pious.” As such, the phrase is a descriptor of a person’s moral or religious standing in relation to some perceived measure. In the Hebrew Bible, however, אישׁ (ה)אלהים ([the] man of God) regularly designates a “prophet.” To be sure, these prophets were often “godly” or “pious,” but even here, there were occasional exceptions to this behavior (e.g., 1 Kgs 13). Rather, when the Hebrew Bible applies this same phrase to David, it fits him into the framework of the broader tradition of the prophet as Yahweh’s representative ( Neh 12:24, 36; 2 Chron 8:14). In these particular texts, David’s status as an אישׁ אלהים (man of God) revolves around his plans for the temple’s administration. Even so, scarcely can at least the Davidic psalms be separated from vocation as a royal אישׁ אלהים (man of God). 1 ...

Nestle-Aland Greek New Testament, 28th ed The 28th edition of the Nestle-Aland Greek New Testament is set to be available around the end of the year. The new edition features a revised and more user-friendly critical apparatus, readings for Papyrii 117–127, somewhat more than 30 changes to the main text, and additional checking of scriptural cross references (HT: Brian Davidson). ...

The latest reviews from the Review of Biblical Literature include: Jewish Scripture and Cognate Studies Christopher B. Ansberry, Be Wise, My Son, and Make My Heart Glad: An Exploration of the Courtly Nature of the Book of Proverbs, reviewed by Anne W. Stewart Beate Pongratz-Leisten, ed., Reconsidering the Concept of Revolutionary Monotheism, reviewed by Michael B. Hundley Hanne von Weissenberg, Juha Pakkala, and Marko Marttila, eds., Changes in Scripture: Rewriting and Interpreting Authoritative Traditions in the Second Temple Period, reviewed by Ian Young New Testament and Cognate Studies ...

ABC News (HT: Michael Bird) and the AFP (HT: Jim Davila) are reporting that the regional court in Cologne, Germany, has rendered a verdict that makes involuntary circumcision on religious grounds illegal, although the practice remains permissible if done for medical reasons. The decision follows on the treatment of a four-year-old Muslim boy for post-operative bleeding and the prosecution of the doctor who had performed the procedure. ...

Charles Jones notes that the May issue of the Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research is available for free online through July 31 and that ClassicsTeaching.com contains some valuable resources for teachers of classics, compiled by Steven Hunt (Cambridge) and Aisha Khan-Evans (University of London).

Logos Bible Software now has a Herman Ridderbos Collection available for order on their pre-publication program and a John Huss Collection open for bidding on their community pricing program. According to the respective product pages: ...

On the web: Joseph Kelly discusses biblical theology and history of religion research. Cary Nelson considers ownership issues for faculty-developed intellectual property. Rod Decker comments on ζῶ. Allison Friederichs discusses grade inflation.

Image:BTB vol 40 no 1.gif The latest issue of the Biblical Theology Bulletin includes: Article Callia Rulmu, “Stumbling Words for a Determined Young Lady: Notes on Ruth 2:7b” David H. Wenkel, “When the Apostles Became Kings: Ruling and Judging the Twelve Tribes of Israel in the Book of Acts” Coleman A. Baker, “Social Identity Theory and Biblical Interpretation” Eric C. Stewart, “New Testament Space/Spatiality”

Gerbrand van den Eeckhout, ‘Anna Presenting Her Son Samuel to the Priest Eli’ In due order within The City of God’s longer discussion of Hannah’s prayer at Samuel’s dedication, 1 Augustine arrives at the clause, “[a]nd [he] shall exalt the horn of His Christ” ( 1 Sam 2:10). Here, Augustine ponders: ...

[caption id="" align=“alignright” width=“175”] Louis Comfort Tiffany, “Window of St. Augustine” (Lightner Museum, St. Augustine, Florida; photo credit: Wikipedia)[/caption] Citing Varro as “a most learned man among the [pagans], and [a man] of the weightiest authority” on paganism ( Civ. 4.1 [ NPNF1 2:64]), Augustine summarizes Varro’s account of the naming of Athens ( Civ. 18.9 [ NPNF1 2:365]): ...

On the web: Randy Kennedy discusses how the current economic crisis in Greece is imperiling local antiquities. Matthew Kalman discusses documentary sensationalism and its impact on the status of biblical archaeology. Charles Jones highlights resources for Macedonian coinage, the Acta Sanctorum, Augustan Rome’s geography, and the Byzantine scholia on Homer’s Iliad. Jim Davila notes Google’s efforts to read unopenable Dead Sea Scrolls. Joel Willitts comments on selections from Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Life Together. Robert Woods discusses wisdom from a Thomistic perspective. Tokens provides part 3 of a series of YouTube clips series from their October 24, 2011 interview with Walter Brueggemann. See here for parts 1 and 2.

Via Michael Bird: I’m glad to announce that my Ph.D padwan Adam Copenhaver has passed his doctoral viva. His thesis was: “The Colossian Heresy? An Investigation of the Christological Polemics and Socio-Cultural Background in Colossians.” Adam boldly argued for M.D. Hooker’s position that there was no specific “heresy” or “heretics” in Colossae, and Colossians was written as a general exhortation against a variety of possible religious encroachments against a cluster of house churches in the interior of the Lycus Valley. ...

On the web: Jim Davila reports the discovery of some previously lost Greek homilies on the Psalms, potentially by Origen ( 1, 2). Peter Williams provides a link to a set of images of the manuscript. Roger Pearse comments on the press release and quotes Jerome’s catalogue of Origen’s writings. Alin Suciu passes along a letter from Lorenzo Perrone, provides several updates on the discussion, and releases a guest post from Mark Bilby. Dirk Jongkind comments on a textual variant in the text’s quotation of 1 Corinthians.

[caption id="" align=“alignright” width=“80”] Darrell Bock[/caption] In the second volume to be released in Zondervan’s Biblical Theology of the New Testament series, Darrell Bock takes up Luke and Acts. On the text’s product page, the Westminster Bookstore has assembled a 5-part playlist of YouTube interviews from Zondervan about the volume.

Faithlife Study Bible Although the product has already some limited availability, Logos Bible Software has now announced that the Faithlife Study Bible, which includes the Lexham Bible Dictionary, is available for free through March 2014. ...

The latest reviews from the Review of Biblical Literature include: Jewish Scriptures and Cognate Studies Robert B. Coote and Keith W. Whitelam, The Emergence of Early Israel in Historical Perspective, reviewed by Aren M. Maeir Tamara Cohn Eskenazi and Tikva Frymer-Kensky, Ruth, reviewed by Peter H. W. Lau John Kampen, Wisdom Literature, reviewed by Devorah Dimant Cotton Mather; ed. Reiner Smolinski, Genesis (Biblia Americana 1), reviewed by Mark Elliott New Testament and Cognate Studies ...

Bauckham, ‘Living with Other Creatures’ Courtesy of Baylor University Press and the Stone-Campbell Journal, Richard Bauckham’s Living with Other Creatures: Green Exegesis and Theology (2011). According to the publisher’s description: The Bible and Christian tradition have, at best, offered an ambiguous word in response to Earth’s environmental difficulties. At worst, a complex, often one-sided history of interpretation has left the Bible’s voice silent. Aiming to bridge these gaps, Richard Bauckham mines scripture and theology, discovering a firm command for Christians to care for all of God’s creation and then discusses the generations of theologians who have sought to live out this biblical mandate. Going beyond Old Testament human dominion, Living with Other Creatures consults scripture in its entirety and includes Jesus’ perspectives on creation, novel approaches to reading the gospels, and some of the most well-known “ecologists” throughout Christian history. The result is an innovative and enriching treatise that reminds readers of Gods whole creation—and humanity’s place within it. ...

[caption id="" align=“alignright” width=“80”] Colin Kruse[/caption] In recognition of the release of Colin Kruse’s Romans volume in the Pillar New Testament Commentary, the Westminster Bookstore is running several sales, including: ...

The latest issue of Currents in Biblical Research includes: J. Kenneth Kuntz, “Continuing the Engagement: Psalms Research Since the Early 1990s” Joel R. White, “Recent Challenges to the communis opinio on 1 Corinthians 15.29” Dan Batovici, “The Second-Century Reception of John: A Survey of Methodologies” Benjamin Edsall, " Kerygma, Catechesis and Other Things We Used to Find: Twentieth-Century Research on Early Christian Teaching since Alfred" Simon Lasair, “Current Trends in Targum Research”

All four Gospels report Peter’s adamant affirmation of fidelity Jesus, no matter what may come ( Matt 26:33–35; Mark 14:29–31; Luke 22:31–34; John 13:36–38). A key feature in the Synoptics’ presentation is Peter’s persistence about remaining with Jesus ( Matt 26:35; Mark 14:31; Luke 22:33). In so presenting his declaration, Matthew and Mark focus exclusively on Peter’s commitment to die with Jesus ( Matt 26:35; Mark 14:31). Beyond this affirmation, Luke also explicitly mentions Peter’s readiness to accept the lesser affliction of imprisonment with Jesus ( Luke 22:33). ...

The latest reviews from the Review of Biblical Literature include: Jewish Scriptures and Cognate Studies Brian Britt, Biblical Curses and the Displacement of Tradition, reviewed by Brian Doak David M. Carr, The Formation of the Hebrew Bible: A New Reconstruction, reviewed by Christoph Berner Marjo Korpel and Johannes de Moor, The Silent God, reviewed by Lena-Sofia Tiemeyer Janet Smith, Dust or Dew: Immortality in the Ancient Near East and in Psalm 49, reviewed by Philippus J. Botha New Testament and Cognate Studies ...

The Journal of Biblical Literature 131, no. 2 includes several noteworthy articles.

On the web: The Society of Biblical Literature releases Christo Lombaard, ed., The Old Testament and Christian Spirituality: Theoretical and Practical Essays from a South African Perspective. Brian LePort comments on Craig Evans, Joel Lohr, and David Petersen, eds., The Book of Genesis: Composition, Reception, and Interpretation. Michael Kruger anticipates Carl Trueman, The Creedal Imperative.

On the web: Stephen Carlson’s dissertation on Galatians’ textual history is now available online in PDF format. Joel Willitts ponders “what to do with the story of Israel.” Tony Peterson reviews the recent Tokens show at Lipscomb University that featured Miroslav Volf, Saeed Khan, and Fred Gray, among a number of musicians. Brian LePort considers Everett Ferguson’s discussion of Tertullian. Joseph Kelly reviews some recent discussion of the referent(s) of “Torah” when used in the Hebrew Bible. ...

Thanks to the folks at Zondervan, Michael Horton’s For Calvinism and Roger Olson’s Against Calvinism came in yesterday’s mail, as the volumes are doing for a number of others too. According to the publisher, ...

Image representing New York Times as depicted … Sunday’s New York Times had a disquieting article about a potentially dramatic increase in substance abuse among teens for the sake of improved academic performance: The boy exhaled. Before opening the car door, he recalled recently, he twisted open a capsule of orange powder and arranged it in a neat line on the armrest. He leaned over, closed one nostril and snorted it. ...

First Chronicles 16 reports the ark of the covenant’s placement in the tent David had prepared for it (1 Chron 16:1). The middle of the chapter is a poetic section that celebrates Yahweh’s greatness toward Israel (1 Chron 16:8–36). The first part of this section (1 Chron 16:8–22) corresponds to Ps 105:1–15, the second (1 Chron 16:23–33) to Ps 96:1–13, and the third (1 Chron 16:34–36) to Ps 106:1, 47–48.1 The Chronicler does not explicitly describe David as this hymn’s composer, although this supposition appears reasonable.2 In any event, the hymn is offered in David’s presence and at his behest (1 Chron 16:7, 37). ...

New Testament Studies The latest issue of New Testament Studies includes: Luc Devillers, “Le prologue du quatrième évangile, clé de voûte de la littérature johannique” Jeffrey A. D. Weima, " ‘Peace and Security’ (1 Thess 5.3): Prophetic Warning or Political Propaganda?" Julien M. Ogereau, “The Jerusalem Collection as Κοινωνία: Paul’s Global Politics of Socio-Economic Equality and Solidarity” Michael W. Martin and Jason A. Whitlark, “Choosing What Is Advantageous: The Relationship between Epideictic and Deliberative Syncrisis in Hebrews” Philip Maertens, " ‘Vos pères’ ou ’nos pères’: la question de l’appartenance ethnique dans le texte grec du livre des Actes du Codex Bezae (D 05)" Lukas Bormann, " ‘Auch unter politischen Gesichtspunkten sehr sorgfältig ausgewählt’: Die ersten deutschen Mitglieder der Studiorum Novi Testamenti Societas" Tjitze Baarda, " ‘And they thought that the time of his decease…had come’ [TA XXIV:5–6]"