NT scholar M. Eugene Boring (Brite Divinity School) has written a NT Introduction (coming Oct 2012, WJK). He is well-known for work on the Gospel of Mark and Revelation. Apparently it will be a hefty volume (700+ pages). I am still on the lookout for a good introductory textbook so — fingers crossed!

I love Currents in Biblical Research and the new 10.3 issue has a couple of interesting articles, one on the reception of the Gospel of John in the second century. Check it out.

A few years ago, when Richard Hays was in Durham (UK) for a special lecture, he told a group of us that he is knee-deep in a Gospels book and has basically turned down further offers to talk about Paul – he has spent decades studying Paul (to all of our benefit!) and is excited about researching the use of Scripture in the Gospels.

Well, I was also pleased to see the soon-coming release (July 2012) of a book he has edited on another non-Pauline text: Revelation and the Politics of Apocalyptic Interpretation (Baylor Press; edited with Stefan Alkier). Don’t forget to wipe the drool off of your face as you read this table of contents:

1  What Has the Spirit Been Saying? Theological and Hermeneutical Reflections on the Reception/Impact History of the Book of Revelation

Michael J. Gorman

 

2  Models for Intertextual Interpretation of Revelation

Steve Moyise
3  The Reception of Daniel 7 in the Revelation of John

Thomas Hieke

 

4  Faithful Witness, Alpha and Omega: The Identity of Jesus in the Apocalypse of John

Richard B. Hays

 

5  God, Israel, and Ecclesia in the Apocalypse

Joseph L. Mangina

 

6  Revelation and Christian Hope: Political Implications of the Revelation to John

N. T. Wright

 

7  Witness or Warrior? How the Book of Revelation Can Help Christians Live Their Political Lives

Stefan Alkier

 

8  The Apocalypse in the Framework of the Canon

Tobias Nicklas

 

9  Reading What Is Written in the Book of Life: Theological Interpretation of the Book of Revelation Today

Marianne Meye Thompson

I WANT THIS BOOK! Where did I put that SBL wishlist…?

The latest issue of Interpretation focuses on the book of Acts with excellent contributions by folks like Carl Holladay, Kavin Rowe, Robert Tannehill, Loveday Alexander, and Pamela Hedrick. This is one worth checking out!

I am currently reviewing the FS Celebrating Paul (honoring Fitzmyer & Murphy-O’Connor) for a journal and after reading through the eclectic set of essays, I wondered: what do you say in a review? Space does not really permit in-depth discussion of the 19 essays (400+ pages). There is obviously no central thesis. Each contributor makes his or her own argument towards an issue in Paul’s letters.

So, I went looking for examples. I went on the RBL page and looked at various reviews of Festschriften. Basically, everyone struggles with this and many opt to focus on a handful of interesting essays. One example, in particular, stuck out to me and made me laugh: see here. It is what I would call a “minimalist” review (if it can be called a review! Keep in mind RBL asks for a 1000-word review that aims to be analytical and “critical” in an academic sense).

The latest HBT is now online here. It is very OT/HB heavy this issue, FYI.

I love Jimmy Dunn – he is one of the reasons I went to Durham (2006-2009). I love Jimmy’s wit and intellect, which always shine through in his lectures and writings. Recently, Jimmy reviewed M. de Boer’s Galatians commentary (WJK) in RBL, offering a gracious and also incisive critique. Check it out.

Bake has some discounts in e-books for the month of June -including Biblical studies books such as P.S. Williamson’s commentary on Ephesians. See here (I think most of these books will show the discount from June 5th on).For TODAY ONLY (June 4), Baker is giving away for free the theology title Death and Afterlife: A Theological Introduction by Terence Nichols.(after today it will just be discounted)  In Nichols’ book he treats the afterlife in early Judaism, NT, and the Christian tradition. He also looks at scientific challenges to afterlife. Looks worth downloading for free! Thank you Baker!

This information has been circulating for a while, but I recently saw it on Facebook and it gave me so much pleasure. Apparently when Tolkien’s publisher wished to open The Hobbit to a German audience, the German press they were to coordinate with requested disclosure of Tolkien’s Aryan (“arisch”) background. In 1938, he wrote this exquisite response.

25 July 1938
20 Northmoor Road, Oxford

Dear Sirs,

Thank you for your letter. I regret that I am not clear as to what you intend by arisch. I am not of Aryan extraction: that is Indo-Iranian; as far as I am aware none of my ancestors spoke Hindustani, Persian, Gypsy, or any related dialects. But if I am to understand that you are enquiring whether I am of Jewish origin, I can only reply that I regret that I appear to have no ancestors of that gifted people. My great-great-grandfather came to England in the eighteenth century from Germany: the main part of my descent is therefore purely English, and I am an English subject — which should be sufficient. I have been accustomed, nonetheless, to regard my German name with pride, and continued to do so throughout the period of the late regrettable war, in which I served in the English army. I cannot, however, forbear to comment that if impertinent and irrelevant inquiries of this sort are to become the rule in matters of literature, then the time is not far distant when a German name will no longer be a source of pride.

Your enquiry is doubtless made in order to comply with the laws of your own country, but that this should be held to apply to the subjects of another state would be improper, even if it had (as it has not) any bearing whatsoever on the merits of my work or its sustainability for publication, of which you appear to have satisfied yourselves without reference to my Abstammung.

I trust you will find this reply satisfactory, and

remain yours faithfully,

J. R. R. Tolkien