“For Paul, some things are Jewish, others goyish (or rather, in Paul’s Greek idiom: ἐθνικóς, ethnikos, gentile). Paul is Jewish. The apostles are Jewish. The addressees of Paul’s letters are goyish. Circumcision is Jewish. Having a foreskin is goyish. Idol temples are so goyish that Jews won’t go near them. Lust is goyish. Men having sex with other men is definitely goyish. Torah study is Jewish. Diaspora Jews are Jewish. Judean Jews are very Jewish. Greeks are goyish – bad sauce.”
– Matthew V. Novenson, Paul and Judaism at the End of History (Cambridge University Press, 2024), 135-136. (Novenson is channeling the legendary Lenny Bruce.)
- Ron Hendel talks Abraham, maximalism vs. minimalism (and why both tend to be wrong), and much more. Fascinating stuff!
- Since late last year, I’ve been getting back into Magic: The Gathering. I play semi-regularly at my local game store. (I suck, though, so don’t ask me for advice or anything.) In any event, a game store in Australia posted this clever video about an MTG Commander Deck based on the Bible (i.e., BIB3L).
- Dale Tuggy will be debating Michael Bird on the deity of Christ in the NT. It’s supposed to be posted online sometime after the debate, so I’ll be interested in seeing how it pans out.
- T.M. Lemos writes about genocide in the Hebrew Bible over at ANE Today. (HT: Lex Lata.) She draws attention to the Mesha Stele which uses the language of total annihilation of various groups of people with whom the Moabite king Mesha did battle. Despite this language, it is obviously hyperbolic, but that, Lemos contends, should not cause us to minimize the violence that nations did to other nations.
- Heather Thiessen reminds us that not all American evangelicals are rabidly anti-immigrant.
- Lance Janott talks with Shirley Paulson about the Gospel of Judas.
- Takamitsu Muraoka has passed away and William Ross discusses his life and influence. My interaction with Muraoka came in the form of his work on the LXX, especially his lexicon. May his memory be a blessing.
- I’m still reading!
The Amateur Exegete 