Back in the Saddle aGAIN

Greetings from Jolly Ol’ England!  I have begun my studies at the University of Durham in the MA in Biblical Studies, in course toward a PhD.  Since I hadn’t completed a research project in my MDiv studies, it was necessary for me to gain this qualification.  I now hope  to post about the things I wish I had known, or hadn’t known, prior to coming to the U.K., as well as my experiences in the University.

Since school has convened once more, I thought it necessary to revisit old ways of procrastination.  With the sabbatical away from the classroom and the blog, I feel it time to renew the interest.  For the initial post, I am listing my modules for this semester.

• Advanced Aramaic and Syriac, Prof. Hayward
• The Dead Sea Scrolls and the NT, Dr. Doering
• Theological Interpretation of Scripture, Prof. Watson
• Research Seminar and Dissertation

I was disappointed that the Prof. John Barclay’s Paul and His Interpreter’s module didn’t make because of his sabbatical.  That relegated me to settle for Aramaic.  Further, as much as I really dislike the DSS, I thought it beneficial to study them as my research will focus in the Gospels.  It doesn’t hurt that a possible research supervisor is teaching the class.  When Durham hired Dr. Lutz Doering from King’s College London, it only made the choice to come to Durham easier because my research interests align with many of his.

So here we are again…  Cheers to a new course in higher education!  It’s good to be back…

 

Under Pressure

By looking at the date, I see that it has been almost two months since I have last written blogged.  I need to qualify the statement because it seems like I have done nothing but read and write this semester.  The only thing that kept me going was the fact that this would be my last semester.  The theme of this semester was “survive.”  I thought I’d get back into the swing of blogging by writing about my semester.

Here is this semester’s roll call:

• Systematic Theology II, Dr. Kevin Kennedy – Southern
• Baptist Heritage, Dr. Malcolm Yarnell – Duke/ Oxford
• Aramaic, Dr. Ishwaran Mudliar – Johns Hopkins
• Conference: Hist. of the 2nd Temple, Dr. John Mark Yeats – Oxford/Trinity
• Dir. Study: Greek Exegesis of Hebrews, Dr. John Taylor – Cambridge

Systematic Theology- I have to admit that I wasn’t too impressed by Systematic Theology.  After having Dr. Wolfe’s New Testament Theology and Dr. Lee’s Historical Theology lectures, Systematic Theology did not live up to the hype.  I came away affirming Markus Bockmuehl’s statement that systematic theology is consistent exegesis (Seeing the Word).  The redeeming factor was Dr. Kennedy’s book on the atonement in Calvin.  It was a breathe of fresh air in lieu the “hyper-reformed.”  Also, I now understand what the big commotion is about Grudem’s systematic theology.  It’s amazing how clear it is to read.

Baptist Heritage- I count myself blessed to have spent a semester watching Dr. Yarnell’s mind at work.  It is unfortunate that one of the leading scholars on Baptist Theology does not teach this class every year.  Now I see why his Systematic Theology class fills every semester.  While I don’t agree on every position, I appreciate what he does for Baptist theology from a confessional standpoint.  Moreover, his book on the formation of Christian doctrine is a true tour de force.

Aramaic- I appreciate Dr. Mudliar for showing me the usefulness of Aramaic for New Testament studies.  Unfortunately, I was the only New Testament person who took the class.   I never knew that there were so many Aramaic verses in the Old Testament (Ezra & Daniel). Luckily, Dr. Mudliar did not require us to translate from English to Aramaic.  We used Greenspahn’s Aramaic textbook, 2nd ed.  Furthermore, the 2ndedition shows remarkable improvement over the first.  This edition is relatively expensive, but it includes and an answer key.  So it is possible for a person to study independently.  However, as a warning, there are aspects of the language that are not introduced until the end that can really be confusing.

History of the 2nd Temple Period- This class was the bane andthe redemption of my semester.  I never expected so much reading.  I read a little of everything.  Most of my weekendwas spent reading Josephus, Philo, Sanders, and the Apocrypha.  The redeeming factor was Philo.  We became good friends.  It is amazing the similarities between Philo and Hebrews.

Greek Exegesis of Hebrews- This has to be one of the most humbling classes I’ve ever taken in seminary.  I signed up for the class to help out a friendwho had already taken the Exegesis of Ephesians.  I agreed to help my friend so I could formulate a biblical theology of Hebrews.  My other Greek classes focused on Luke, Acts, and James.  There was nowhere else to go but the top.  Dr. Taylor was generous to supervise us.  We met fortnightly.  Each session consisted of knowing two chapters, including all vocab, syntax, and meaning.  We read the commentaries of Lane and Ellingsworth.  The humiliating part was having the equivalent of an oral exam every meeting.  He would say, “Open your Nestle-Aland and let’s start translating.”  Everything was fair game.  So many times I had to plead ignorance.    The redeeming factor was the interaction with the professor.  Dr. Taylor helped us identify the place where we needed to improve.

Also, as I said earlier, Philo salvaged my semester.  While I read for the 2nd temple class, I did research for my exegetical paper.  Including appendices, I turned in a 47-page paper, with 30 pages on the exegesis of Heb. 6:13-20.  I aimed for 50 pages but I was not able to finish my last appendix.  All the appendices were syntheses of Philo’s thought.  My 2nd Temple paper, which also evaluated Philo, consisted of 27 pages.  So, you might say that I read some Philo this semester.

Every semester I pick a song to keep up the moral strong.  This semester, I would get in my groove to go to Hebrews class with this song.  While it is symbolic of many aspects of seminary, it holds special significance for this semester.   This is my last dance … under pressure.

 

Buying Books?

For the bibliophiles, especially those who need 1500 books to graduate SWBTS, a very useful sight which compares book prices is www.allbookstores.com.  The site compares other merchant sites, such as Amazon, Ebay, BarnesandNobles as well as some used book sites, to provide the cheapest price on a desired book.  The price comparison is comprised of shipping (cost and time), sales tax (when applicable), availability and condition (new or used).  For the international audience, stores in the U.K. and Canada are usually listed.

 

The Capitol Building as a Mega-Church

Today after lunch, I watched a segment of a special by David Barton, who detailed the faith of the Founding Fathers.  Congress, soon after the organization the Capitol building, held worship services in the chamber of the House of Representatives.  Barton says that they accomodated two thousand people in the services.  During the State of the Union address, the chamber holds around one thousand dignitaries.  Barton took his information from the Annals of Congress which records every statement and vote to inform the public of the actions and intentions of the United States Congress.

 

2 New References

As I was cruising Amazon.com today, I added two references to my Wishlist.  They are:

Carson, D. A. and G. K. Beale, eds.  Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament.  Baker Academic: Grand Rapids, Nov. 2007.

Bock, Darrell L. Acts: Baker Exegetical Commentary. Baker Academic: Grand Rapids, Aug. 2007.

Carson is well read and a leading scholar in the field of the New Testament’s use of the Old Testament.  Bock’s commentary on Acts will also be welcomed.  From recently studying the book of Acts and writing several papers on Acts, I can say that scholarship in Acts is lacking.  Bock did an outstanding job writing his commentary on the book of Luke.  I am sure that his work on Acts will not disappoint.

Currently reading:  Mathewson, Steven D.  The Art of Preaching Old Testament Narrative. Baker Academic: Grand Rapids, 2002

 

A Helpless Defense

As I read in Acts this morning, I came across a surprising subtly that is very prominent in the latter section of the book.  In Acts 26:32, Paul appeals to Caesar.  I had read it before in chapter 25, but since the verse was the last sentence in the chapter, it jumped out at me.  I was astounded because Luke had spent so much time building his case that Jesus is Lord, not Caesar (Acts 17:7).  Speeches in  Acts declare for people to call upon the name of the Lord to be saved.  In this predicament, Paul is calling on the name, that is Caesar’s authority, to save him from the Jews.

There’s no doubt in my mind that Paul is to go to Rome.   Jesus comforts Paul during his initial accusation that he must testify in Rome as he has done in Jerusalem (Acts 23:11).  The Spirit gives Paul the desire to go to Jerusalem and then to Rome (19:21)However, we have from Paul’s own words that earlier Jesus told him to leave Jerusalem because they will not receive his testimony  (22:18).  Jesus then sends him far away to the Gentiles (22:21).  After three missionary journeys, the Spirit testifies to Paul through disciples and prophets not to return to Jerusalem (21:4,  11).  They end the dialogue with a compromise that the will of the Lord may be done (21:14).  There seems to be a tension on interpreting the will of the Spirit in these later passages.

So my question is, “Would Paul have been more successful if He had listened to the disciples?”  I know more successful is a bad choice of wording.  We can always second guess history and say that maybe Paul would have made it to Spain had he not traveled through Jerusalem.  Paul’s death is not an issue for Luke (unless you consider the book ends mid-sentence).  I find it interesting that the Spirit led Paul not to got through Asia, but then allowed him to go there through an alternate route presented in a nightly vision (16:6-10).  I think that through these turn of events that Paul had the option to go or resist.  He chose the tough road.  I think that he could have gone to Rome by not appealing to Caesar, but he had to live with his decision.

It is plausible to say that Paul’s appeal to Caesar is Luke’s way of smoothing out the accusations brought against Paul’s character, in this case insubordination.   Luke here is showing a parallel between Jesus and Paul.  Jesus was accused of patriotic insubordination against Caesar (Luke 23:2).  At another place Jesus said, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”  (Luke 20:25)

 

The Health and Wealth Gospel of Luke

While I was reading in Acts yesterday, I came across a verse that made me ponder on the so-called “Health and Wealth” gospel.  In Acts 14:22 Luke says, “strenghtening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, ‘We must through many tribulations to enter the kingdom of God.”  In context, the quotation comes from the lips of Paul and Barnabus, after Paul had been stoned and dragged outside the city, being left for dead.   Paul did not stay down, though.  He “rose up” and returned to the city, where he had recently been taken to the point of death.  Then, on the following day, they went and appointed elders in their previous churches.  I’m sure that the elders knew what they were getting into when Paul showed them his massive bruises and wounds.

The passage is very reminiscent of Luke 9:23.  Directly before Jesus’ transfiguration, Luke’s foreshadowing of the resurrection and ascension, Jesus says to his disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.  Luke improves over Mark’s account in 8:34 with the addition of “daily.”  I don’t know the ad hoc interpretations that the health and wealth posse are proposing, especially dealing with suffering, but I can say with assurance, “That dog won’t hunt.”

On a side note, my roommate encourages the use of the green Health and Wealth Prayer Cloth in the Pauline tradition of Acts 19:11-2.  Green… it’s the color of money!  https://www.donstewartassociation.com/prayer.htm

 Currently Reading:  Adam, A. K. M., Stephen E. Fowl, et al.  Reading Scripture with the Church.  Grand Rapids: Baker, 2006.

 

Inaugural Post

The blog is open for business!  I thought the most reasonable topic to post would be the events that brought about the blog.  I had seen some very informative blogs.  While talking with friends from school, they encouraged me to get in on the blogging trend.  However, I didn’t want to jump in without a purpose and design.

In preaching class, I preached a sermon on Col. 2:6-10.  The sermon’s title was “Live Complete in Christ.”  On my third point, I used a Zelda illustration of the Triforce of Wisdom and related it to the power of the Trinity (2:3).  Thus, Trinity contains all we as true Christians will ever need.

After watching clips of the old Legend of Zelda cartoon on Youtube, I realized that I had found my theme, ”The Triforce of Wisdom.”  Enjoy!