• About

The Cruciform Pen

~ toward a cross-shaped life

The Cruciform Pen

Monthly Archives: September 2015

Did Jesus think of Israel as still suffering exile?

30 Wednesday Sep 2015

Posted by thecruciformpen in Reviews

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Craig Evans, Exile, Jesus, New Exodus, Restoration

Did Jesus think of Israel as still suffering exile? Was part of his agenda the bringing to an end of Israel’s exile and the establishing of restoration as foretold in the prophets of old? These are some of the questions that Craig A. Evans wrestles with in a chapter titled “Aspects of Exile and Restoration in the Proclamation of Jesus and the Gospels” (found in the book Jesus in Context: Temple, Purity, and Restoration published by Brill).

evans

The chapter is fairly straightforward. Evans demonstrates (with plenty of examples from Second Temple literature) that many Jews during the intertestamental period considered themselves as still in exile. Although many Jews lived in the land again, nevertheless the fact that so many Jews remained in the diaspora indicated that the great in-gathering of Israel’s exiles had not happened. Exile continued. As for those who did live in the land of Israel, under Roman rule, they knew all to well that liberation from foreign oppressors had not obtained. They were still in exile awaiting national redemption. Further, Evans shows from the NT how this exile theology sheds light on many of Jesus’ words and actions. In the end he concludes, “Jesus identified himself and his mission with an oppressed Israel in need of redemption and that he himself was the agent of that redemption. He was the Danielic “son of man” to whom kingdom and authority were entrusted. He was the humble Davidic king of Zechariah’s vision who entered the Temple precincts and offered himself to the High Priest and took umbrage at Temple polity. And, of course, he was the eschatological herald of Second Isaiah who proclaimed the “gospel” of God’s reign and the new exodus. All of this suggests that, among other things, Jesus understood his message and ministry as the beginning of the end of Israel’s exile.” (293)

This is a stimulating topic that deserves careful study. Evans has done a great service by bringing together a host of texts from Second Temple literature and suggesting how they may contribute to our understanding of Jesus in his own context. Worth the read.

Upcoming Commentary Releases

09 Wednesday Sep 2015

Posted by thecruciformpen in Resources

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Commentaries, New Releases

There are some good commentaries coming out soon. Here is a sample:

Richard N. Longenecker has written a commentary on Romans in the NIGTC series. Here is the link: The Epistle to the Romans Longenecker has previously written a top commentary on Galatians (ranked #1 on Bestcommentaries.com) for the Word Biblical Commentary series, so I am eager to see his work on Romans as well.

longenecker romans

For the Hermeneia series, J. J. M. Roberts (Old Testament professor at Princeton) has written a commentary on Isaiah 1-39. It is on pre-order now, scheduled to come out this December. Here is the link: First Isaiah

First isaiah

Daniel I. Block is coming out with one in the Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the Old Testament series. Here is the link: Ruth: A Discourse Analysis of the Hebrew Bible Block is a professor of Old Testament at Wheaton College and has also written the top rated commentary on Ezekiel for the NICOT series.

Block

And finally, Craig S. Keener’s last volume on Acts is on pre-order. With this volume (the fourth) he will have completed his magnum opus–over 4,000 total pages of exegetical commentary on Acts! Here is the link: Acts:An Exegetical Commentary

Keener

‘Christ’: a Name, a Title or an Honorific? [New Book Notices]

06 Sunday Sep 2015

Posted by thecruciformpen in Resources

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Christ, Judaism, Kingship, Messiah, Paul's Epistles, Pauline Theology, Pistis Christou

So what do you think? Is ‘Christ’ a name (i.e., a surname)? Perhaps a title (e.g., ‘King of Spain’)? Or what about an honorific (cf. ‘Augustus,’ which was given to the first century emperor Julius Caesar, who later became known simply as ‘Caesar Augustus’)?

For most of us the difference between these are not immediately obvious. However, there is a difference in meaning. And it is important that we try to understand the exact nuance that the word ‘Christ’ had for the writers of the New Testament.

Matthew Novenson

Matthew V. Novenson, Lecturer in New Testament and Christian Origins at the University of Edinburgh, has recently written an excellent book on this question. His thesis is surprisingly simple, yet with profound implications: Χριστος (Christos) in Paul’s letters means ‘Messiah.’ In other words, it is neither a name nor merely a title. It carries with it the nuances involved with “messiah language in ancient Judaism” (Novenson, pg. 3).

Here is a link to his book: Christ among the Messiahs: Christ Language in Paul and Messiah Language in Ancient Judaism

Christ among messiahs

Here is what N. T. Wright has said about it: “Novenson’s work now sets a new standard for discussion of Christos in particular, demonstrating that the way it functions linguistically, within the larger world of Greek usage in late antiquity, fits extremely well with royal ‘honorifics’ and not at all with proper names” (Paul and the Faithfulness of God, pg. 824).

On another front, Joshua W. Jipp, over at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, is coming out with a new book on this topic soon. His position will bolster that of Novenson. “In the process, Jipp offers new and noteworthy solutions to outstanding questions concerning Christ and the law, the pistis Christou debate, and Paul’s participatory language” (from the blurb on the Fortress Press website)

Here is a link to his book: Christ is King: Paul’s Royal Ideology

Joshua Jipp_Christ is King

Here is a sample from the table of contents:

  1. Paul’s Christ-Discourse as Ancient Kingship Discourse
  2. King and Law: Christ the King as Living Law
  3. King and Praise: Hymns as Royal Encomia to Christ the King
  4. King and Kingdom: Sharing in the Rule of Christ the King
  5. King and Justice: God’s Righteousness and the Righteous King in Romans
  6. Conclusion

On Evaluating Children’s Story Bibles, and New Book Notices:

06 Sunday Sep 2015

Posted by thecruciformpen in Resources

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Children, Family

I recently read two very interesting articles by David A. Shaw discussing how children’s story Bibles work and also providing a framework for evaluating them. The articles are excellently written and should be read by every parent or teacher who uses/reads these books to kiddos. One of the results of the articles is that I now realize a level of depth to the children’s story Bibles that we own and read. There is more to them than I first supposed.

Here are links to the articles (can be read for free over at Themelios):

  • Telling the Story from the Bible? How Story Bibles Work (Themelios 37:2)
  • Telling the Story from the Bible? (Part 2): Reviewing the Big Picture Story Bible and The Jesus Story (Themelios 38:1)

Speaking of children’s literature…there are some fantastic family titles being released soon. Here is a sample of some theologically rich children’s pieces on pre-order:

  • The Ology: Ancient Truths, Ever New

The Ology (kids systematic theology)

This is what you get when you combine a systematic theology and a children’s storybook. It’s a brilliant idea!

  • The Biggest Story: How the Snake Crusher Brings Us Back to the Garden

The Biggest Story

The illustrations alone make this book worth it, not to mention the focus on the grand narrative of Scripture!

  • God Made All of Me: A Book to Help Children Protect Their Bodies

god made all of me

There is an important message here, especially relevant for kiddos growing up in this generation!

Commentary Sale!

04 Friday Sep 2015

Posted by thecruciformpen in Resources

≈ Leave a comment

Logos Bible Software has all the Word Biblical Commentaries for sale right now for $9.99 They are normally about $45 each.

Be sure to pick up a few!

Here is a link.

New Book Notice (and other links):

04 Friday Sep 2015

Posted by thecruciformpen in Resources

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Gospel of John, Gospels, Johannine Studies, Marianne Meye Thompson

I am looking forward to Marianne Meye Thompson’s new commentary on the gospel of John being released soon (New Testament Library series):

John commentary (NTL series)

John (NTL series) by Marrianne Meye Thomspon

She has also written the following books:

  • A commentary on Colossians & Philemon in the Two Horizons New Testament Commentary series.
  • A commentary on 1-3 John in the IVP New Testament Commentary series.
  • The God of the Gospel of John (Wm. B. Eerdmans)
  • The Promise of the Father: Jesus and God in the New Testament (Westminster John Knox)
  • Humanity of Jesus in the Fourth Gospel (Fortress Press)

Also here is a YouTube video of Thompson giving a paper (“The Gospel of John Meets Jesus and The Victory of God”) at the Wheaton Theology Conference in 2010.

Categories

  • Biblical Studies (18)
  • Historical Studies (12)
  • People to Know (25)
  • Poetry (2)
  • Prayers (7)
  • Research Topics / Book Ideas (3)
  • Resources (50)
  • Reviews (24)

Posts

  • October 2020 (1)
  • February 2020 (1)
  • December 2019 (1)
  • August 2019 (1)
  • February 2019 (3)
  • December 2018 (1)
  • June 2018 (1)
  • May 2018 (2)
  • March 2018 (6)
  • January 2018 (1)
  • November 2017 (1)
  • October 2017 (1)
  • May 2016 (4)
  • April 2016 (3)
  • March 2016 (10)
  • February 2016 (1)
  • January 2016 (4)
  • December 2015 (5)
  • October 2015 (1)
  • September 2015 (6)
  • February 2015 (1)
  • January 2015 (6)
  • December 2014 (12)
  • November 2014 (8)
  • October 2014 (1)

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 116 other followers

Currently Reading

Blogs I Follow

  • Malcolm Guite
  • The Cruciform Pen
  • Crux Sola
  • βιβλιοσκώληξ
  • Holy Writ & Sacred Witness
  • Griffin Paul Jackson
  • Koine-Greek
  • Biblical Studies
  • Bible Design Blog
  • Theological Studies
  • καὶ τὰ λοιπά
  • Euangelion
  • Evangelical Textual Criticism
  • NT Blog

Blog at WordPress.com.

Malcolm Guite

Blog for poet and singer-songwriter Malcolm Guite

The Cruciform Pen

toward a cross-shaped life

Crux Sola

A Biblioblog with Nijay K Gupta

βιβλιοσκώληξ

βιβλιο: "book"; σκώληξ: "worm"

Holy Writ & Sacred Witness

...eyes on the Word; ears to the ground...

Griffin Paul Jackson

Word architect.

Koine-Greek

Studies in Greek Language & Linguistics

Biblical Studies

Making Biblical Scholarship Accessible

Bible Design Blog

Theological Studies

An Internet Resource for Studying Christian Theology

καὶ τὰ λοιπά

A blog by Daniel R. Streett all about Early Judaism, Biblical Studies, Koine Greek, καὶ τὰ λοιπά

Euangelion

toward a cross-shaped life

Evangelical Textual Criticism

toward a cross-shaped life

NT Blog

toward a cross-shaped life

  • Follow Following
    • The Cruciform Pen
    • Join 116 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • The Cruciform Pen
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...