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In a 2003 article, Morna Hooker makes the following, insightful argument about the referent(s) of the λίθος ( stone) language in Rom 9:32–33: Is Paul affirming here that Israel’s problem is simply that she has failed to believe in Christ? The majority of commentators accept this interpretation, but the possibility supported by some scholars that the stumbling-block is the law should not be too easily dismissed. It should be noted after all that Christ has not been mentioned since 9:1–5 and that the two subjects under discussion in Rom 9:30–31 are the law and righteousness. Moreover, what Paul has just stated is that Israel has misunderstood the function of the law. Perhaps then the stumbling-block over which Israel has fallen is the law. ...

In the fairly short time since the initial notice, the alpha version of a browser-independent Zotero has now become available. A fully stable release is likely some time away yet, but the noticeable and rapid progress on the initiative is encouraging.

The latest reviews from the Review of Biblical Literature include: Jewish Scriptures and Cognate Fields Elie Assis, Flashes of Fire: A Literary Analysis of the Song of Songs, reviewed by Francis Landy Chris Franke and Julia M. O’Brien, eds., Aesthetics of Violence in the Prophets, reviewed by Lena-Sofia Tiemeyer A. R. George, Babylonian Literary Texts in the Schoyen Collection, reviewed by Alan Lenzi Harry A. Hoffner Jr., Letters from the Hittite Kingdom, reviewed by Ludek Vacín Reinhard G. Kratz and Hermann Spieckermann, eds., Divine Wrath and Divine Mercy in the World of Antiquity, reviewed by Michael S. Moore J. Gordon McConville and Stephen Williams, Joshua, reviewed by Ernst Axel Knauf Eckart Otto, Die Tora: Studien zum Pentateuch: Gesammelte Schriften, reviewed by Reinhard Achenbach Thomas Römer, Jean-Daniel Macchi, and Christophe Nihan, eds., Introduction à l’Ancien Testament, reviewed by John Engle Eugene Ulrich, ed., The Biblical Qumran Scrolls: Transcriptions and Textual Variants, reviewed by Aaron D. Rubin Hermeneutics ...

This week in the blogosphere: Bob Cargill notes, courtesy of Jim West, the discovery of a new manuscript of Ben Sira. Kirk Lowery highlights a list of resources for linguistic research. Phil Gons compiles a good deal of recent “Bonhoeffer Buzz.” Joe McGarry reviews Eric Metaxas’s Bonhoeffer for Christianbook.com Academics. Charles Ellwood notes open access to select theses and dissertations through ProQuest’s UMI Dissertation Publishing.

What wonderful news just came through from Logos: We are about to begin processing Pre-Pub orders for Qumran Biblical Dead Sea Scrolls Database. For a description of the resource, see here. Oh, happy day. :)

[caption id=“attachment_6870” align=“alignright” width=“80” caption=“Michael Licona”] [/caption]In his new monograph, The Resurrection of Jesus, Michael Licona summarizes as follows how he sees Paul conceiving of believers’ possible ends: Paul sees two options before believers. Some believers will die prior to the parousia and will become disembodied until the general resurrection, while believers alive at the parousia will have their earthly bodies clothed with their new resurrection body made by God. Paul certainly prefers to avoid the former. But his faith gives him confidence that, if he dies prior to the parousia, he will be with the Lord, although in a disembodied state, which he prefers over present life in the earthly body. And being with Christ is what matters most to Paul ( 435–36). ...

This week in the blogosphere: To Do: Dissertation highlights a series of time management tips. Matt Evans returns from his blogging hiatus. Deane Galbraith and Joseph Kelly discuss new policies for students’ involvement at the annual meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature. Matthew Montonini notes a video interview with Douglas Campbell. Matthew Miller excerpts Miroslav Volf’s new book Captive to the Word of God. Brian Tucker discusses You Belong to Christ on the Paul Edwards Program. Matthew reports that Borders has filed intent-to-purchase paperwork for Barnes and Noble. Carlos Alonso reflects on the commodification of graduate education. Timothy Beal discusses American Evangelicalism. Mike Aubrey begins digesting the deponency panel session at the annual SBL meeting. James McGrath quotes Daniel Kirk on “rule-proving exceptions,” notes a new “top 50” list of blogs by “theology professors,” recommends Brad Matthies’ post “Academic Blogging?” and highlights a free PDF version of Kató Lomb’s Polyglot. Milo Medin discusses the progress of Google’s developing fiber network. Brian LePort gets congratulations as he counts down. Scott Bailey reports on the winter weather’s “archaeological expedition” on Israel’s coast. Pat McCullough urges participation in the SBL Student Advisory Board’s survey for student members. Charles Jones adds a number of publication preprints to the Ancient World Online feed.

This week in the blogosphere: Chris Brady highlights the Maccabeats. Firefox gets two new representatives. Michael Holmes begins a new blog. Joel Watts notes the launch of SAGE Open on January 1, 2011 and highlights, ultimately via Everett Ferguson, a few inscriptions relevant to the discussion of infant baptism.

The latest issue of Themelios includes the following: D. A. Carson, “Editorial: Contrarian Reflections on Individualism” Carl Trueman, “Minority Report: Terrible Beauty, Beauty, and the Plain Terrible” Daniel Estes, “Fiction and Truth in the Old Testament Wisdom Literature” Daniel Brendsel, “Plots, Themes, and Responsibilities: The Search for a Center of Biblical Theology Reexamined” Stephen Garrett, “The Dazzling Darkness of God’s Triune Love: Introducing Evangelicals to the Theology of Hans Urs von Balthasar” Philip Graham Ryken, “Pastoral Pensées A World Servant in Christian Liberal Arts Education”

As an incentive to download and install NookStudy, Barnes and Noble is offering registered users the opportunity to download up to twelve NookBook classics for free. Among these texts are Dante’s Inferno and Plato’s Republic.

Through its pre-publication program, Logos Bible Software is now offering the fourteen-volume Eerdmans Biblical Resources Series. Series titles include: Adele Berlin, The Dynamics of Biblical Parallelism Richard Burridge, What Are the Gospels John Collins, The Apocalyptic Imagination John Collins, Between Athens and Jerusalem Frank Moore Cross, Studies in Ancient Yahwistic Poetry Joseph Fitzmyer, To Advance the Gospel Hermann Gunkel, Creation and Chaos in the Primeval Era and the Eschaton Richard Hays, The Faith of Jesus Christ Colin Hemer, The Letters to the Seven Churches of Asia Anthony Saldarini, Pharisees, Scribes, and Sadducees in Palestinian Society Anthony Saldarini, The Semitic Background of the New Testament (vols. 1–2) Mark Smith, The Early History of God Samuel Terrien, Till the Heart Sings

The Google eBookstore is now live and offering more than 3 million ebooks with an accompanying web-based ebook reader.

At this year’s Friday meeting of the Institute for Biblical Research, the folks from InterVarsity Press kindly distributed to Institute members copies of Anthony Thisleton’s The Living Paul: An Introduction to the Apostle’s Life and Thought. Then, in the book room at SBL, the folks from Wipf and Stock and Zondervan graciously passed along desk copies for a couple of next semester’s textbooks: Michael Bird’s The Saving Righteousness of God: Studies on Paul, Justification, and the New Perspective and Marvin Pate’s edited Four Views on the Book of Revelation(with contributions by Kenneth Gentry, Sam Hamstra, Marvin Pate, and Robert Thomas). Finally, before the end of SBL, two additional, biblical texts had made their way into the suitcase: The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition and Biblia Sacra Hebraica et Graeca. ...

This week in the biblioblogosphere: Bob Cargill notes that, on December 11, the National Geographic Channel will re-air its special on “Writing the Dead Sea Scrolls.” Brian LePort hypertextually ponders Derridean non-extra-textuality and deconstruction, and he notes twenty-nine doctoral theses that the University of Durham has recently made available. Michael Bird shows how to benefit most from the new SBL Greek New Testament and notes that the new Journal for the Study of Paul and His Letters now has its own blog. Google Editions are poised to hit the e-book market later this month and allow fee-based full access to copyrighted titles. For some additional details and thoughts, see Blog Kindle and Google Books Help.

Jim West and Joel Watts again top out this month’s Biblioblog Top 50. Among these entries, the top 10 student biblioblogs for the month are: StudentOverallAuthor(s)BlogAlexa Score12Joel WattsUnsettled Christianity112762210Jeremy ThompsonFree Old Testament Audio Website Blog247561311Scott BaileyScotteriology254643413Jonathan Robinsonξένος331840514Thomas VerennaThe Musings of Thomas Verenna337137617Mark StevensScripture, Ministry, and the People of God372159722Brian LePort, JohnDave Medina, and Robert JimenezNear Emmaus: Christ and Text412289824Phillip LongReading Acts441701930Stephen SmutsBiblical Paths4840941033Gavin RumneyOtagosh514808 ...

Deane Galbraith has November’s Biblical Studies Carnival available and organized into the following topics: (1) “Academy, Biblioblogging and Handy Hints”; (2) “Christian Origins”; (3) “Emerging Judaism”; (4) “Language, Text and Translation”; (5) “Reception History”; (6) “Humor and Gossip”; and (7) “Biblioblog [Qualitative] Top 30.” HT: Marc Cortez ...

While expressing doubts about the correctness of the “New Perspective(s) on Paul,” Stan Porter makes the following, interesting observation about the New Perspective(s) vis-à-vis the question of continuity between the portraits of Paul in Acts and the letters: If this new perspective is correct, then it would appear that the Jewish elements that typify the account in Acts, such as Paul’s beginning much of his local preaching with a visit to the synagogue . . . , his agreeing to participate in the ritual in Jerusalem ( Acts 21:17–26 . . . ), and his defenses focusing upon his continuity with Judaism, all point toward continuity between the Paul of Acts and of the Letters. Thus, the new perspective on Paul would appear to render this criticism of [E.] Haenchen [that Luke is unaware of Paul’s answer to the question of the law and the Gentile mission] no longer valid ( 191). ...

Thanks to Chris Brady for making available a series of podcasts with the papers from this year’s SBL Blogger and Online Publication Section: James Davila, University of St. Andrews, “What Just Happened: The Rise of ‘Biblioblogging’ in the First Decade of the Twenty-first Century” Christian Brady, Pennsylvania State University, “Online Biblical Studies: Past, Present, Promise, and Peril” Michael Barber, John Paul the Great Catholic University, “Weblogs and the Academy: The Benefits and Challenges of Biblioblogging” James McGrath, Butler University, “The Blogging Revolution: New Technologies and Their Impact on How We Do Scholarship” Robert Cargill, University of California-Los Angeles, “Instruction, Research, and the Future of Online Educational Technologies” Having unfortunately been unable to attend this particular session, I am very much looking forward to catching up on the presentations there through these podcasts. Thanks, again, Chris! ...

Zondervan has recently added the following volumes to the Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament series: Grant Osborne, Matthew; Thomas Schreiner, Galatians; and Chilton Arnold, Ephesians. According to Zondervan, ...

This year’s second issue of Ecclesia Reformanda includes: John Frame, “Review of Michael Horton, Christless Christianity: The Alternative Gospel of the American Church, Part 2” Simon Wakeling, “The Minor Prophets as a Unity Developing Theodicy” Neil Jeffers, “Reformed Defences of God’s Righteousness in Ordaining the Fall”

[caption id=“attachment_6620” align=“alignright” width=“80” caption=“Anthony Thiselton”] [/caption]Anthony Thiselton’s volume on the Thessalonian correspondence is the latest in the Blackwell Bible Commentaries series and is due to be released this December. A sample chapter is, however, available from the product page on the publisher’s website, and other previews are also available from Google and Amazon. As a whole, the Blackwell series is devoted primarily to reception-historical commentary, and for each pericope in the Thessalonian letters, Thiselton’s commentary divides this task among: ...

[caption id=“attachment_6600” align=“alignright” width=“80” caption=“Peter Enns, Douglas Green, and Michael Kelly”] [/caption]Now in the rolling queue on the Westminster Bookstore’s home page is a freshly published festschrift for the late Al Groves. I never had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Groves, but I am certainly and often thankful for his work and the personal blessing that he was in the lives of so many others. ...

Michael Bird announces a new, semiannual journal dedicated to Pauline studies and that is chiefly edited by himself in association with Nijay Gupta.

Yesterday, Tyndale Tech released the following series of helpful posts: Writing a Book or Thesis Research You Can Re-search Surviving the Death of Your Hard Drive Writing Greek and Hebrew on a Computer Translating Online Finding and Reading Online Books and Periodicals

Just a bit ago, on the Document Foundation’s listserv, the following press release came out: “The Document Foundation is about documents and the associated software is pivotal to create, exchange, modify, share and print documents”, says Thorsten Behrens, a software developer and a member of TDF Steering Committee. “LibreOffice 3.3 is the first flavour of this long term strategy, but the journey has just begun, and the enormous advantages of our developer-embracing environment are not yet fully reflected in the upcoming software release”. ...

Emanuel Tov has posted a number of his publications online in openly-accessible, PDF format. Hearty thanks to Dr. Tov for this contribution to digital scholarship in biblical studies. HT: Tommy Wasserman.

In working on the phrase εἰς ἐπίγνωσιν τοῦ μυστηρίου τοῦ θεοῦ, Χριστοῦ in Col 2:2 ( NA27 punctuation), I stumbled upon J. B. Lightfoot’s commentary on Colossians in full view, PDF format on Google Books. According to Lightfoot ( 239), ...

Over at Academia.edu, Charles Jones, Head Librarian at New York University, has requested suggestions for additions to a new list of “Ancient World Open Bibliographies.” Of course, as it develops, the bibliography should certainly list New Testament Gateway. Maintainers of ancient world bibliographic resources can note additions on Academia.edu or the bibliography page itself. ...

In conjunction with the Coalition on the Academic Workforce, the Society of Biblical Literature is conducting a survey about contingent faculty, and the survey has already garnered more than 20,000 responses. To continue making the survey results as complete and informative as possible, this afternoon, SBL has written the membership’s current survey respondents to request help in attracting additional participation from contingent faculty members. ...

This post is a bit late, but among the top 50 biblioblogs for October, 2010, the top 10 student biblioblogs are: StudentOverallAuthor(s)BlogAlexa Score12Joel L. WattsUnsettled Christianity9552128Scott BaileyScotteriology212042312Jeremy ThompsonFree Old Testament Audio Website Blog294803415Jonathan RobinsonXenos300343518Brian LePort, JohnDave Medina, and Robert JimenezNear Emmaus: Christ and Text382933621Mark StevensScripture, Ministry, and the People of God420079722Phillip LongReading Acts431256825S. DemmlerYou Can’t Mean That!503362926Gavin RumneyOtagosh5039271029Bacho BordjadzeReading Isaiah533766 ...