Category: Biblical Scholars
‘What Jesus Learned from Women’ by James F. McGrath – A Brief Review
Jesus is often a mirror. If we lean toward socialism, he becomes a socialist. If we believe in women’s equality, he becomes a feminist. If we believe that marriage should be open to non-heterosexual couples, he becomes pro-gay marriage. Whatever we are for, Jesus… Continue Reading “‘What Jesus Learned from Women’ by James F. McGrath – A Brief Review”
‘The Pharisees,’ edited by Joseph Sievers and Amy-Jill Levine – A Brief Review
“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!” If your upbringing was anything like mine, then perhaps you heard those words spoken from the pulpit from time to time. In my home church, it was usually uttered by some fiery evangelist directing his ire at… Continue Reading “‘The Pharisees,’ edited by Joseph Sievers and Amy-Jill Levine – A Brief Review”
‘The Atheist Handbook to the Old Testament’ (vol. 1) by Joshua Bowen – A Brief Review
For all their boasting of how reading the Bible is a great way to make an atheist, atheists tend to be the least biblically literate people on the planet.1 (I say that as an atheist.) There are a few reasons for this: poor hermeneutical education,… Continue Reading “‘The Atheist Handbook to the Old Testament’ (vol. 1) by Joshua Bowen – A Brief Review”
‘The Origins of Early Christian Literature’ by Robyn Faith Walsh: A Brief Review
For whom were the Gospels written? The community of the faithful or something else? And to which genre of ancient literature do they belong? These are the two fundamental questions that Robyn Faith Walsh, assistant professor of the New Testament and Early Christianity at the University… Continue Reading “‘The Origins of Early Christian Literature’ by Robyn Faith Walsh: A Brief Review”
‘Christology in Mark’s Gospel: Four Views’ – A Brief Review
Arguably, the central question of the Gospel of Mark is one that comes from the lips of the Markan Jesus himself: “Who do you say that I am?” (Mark 16:29) In the nearly two-thousand years since Mark wrote those words there have been myriad… Continue Reading “‘Christology in Mark’s Gospel: Four Views’ – A Brief Review”
“Stay in Your Lane” – Why David A. Falk Should Refrain from Impersonating a Biblical Scholar (Guest Post by Dr. Kipp Davis)
Recently I was asked by Dr. Kipp Davis if I would be willing to post a piece he has written in response to Egyptologist David Falk (Ph.D. University of Liverpool, 2015) concerning his understanding and reading of Deuteronomy 32:8-9. For those of you who… Continue Reading ““Stay in Your Lane” – Why David A. Falk Should Refrain from Impersonating a Biblical Scholar (Guest Post by Dr. Kipp Davis)”
Book Review: ‘The Beloved Apostle?’ by Michael Kok
Author: Michael J. Kok Book: The Beloved Apostle? The Transformation of the Apostle John into the Fourth Evangelist Publishers: Cascade Books Date: 2017 Page Count: 186 pages Price: $24.00 (paperback) INTRODUCTION Indispensable to my dad’s conversion to Christianity, an event that happened when he… Continue Reading “Book Review: ‘The Beloved Apostle?’ by Michael Kok”
‘Paul the Apostle’ by J. Albert Harrill: A Brief Review
In J. Albert Harrill’s 2012 volume Paul the Apostle: His Life and Legacy in Their Roman Context (Cambridge University Press), the professor of classics brings to life one of history’s most enigmatic characters. Situating him in his ancient Jewish and, fundamentally, Roman contexts, Harrill… Continue Reading “‘Paul the Apostle’ by J. Albert Harrill: A Brief Review”
Book Review: ‘Scripting Jesus: The Gospels in Rewrite’ by L. Michael White
For more book reviews, check out the book reviews page. Author: L. Michael White Book: Scripting Jesus: The Gospels in Rewrite Publisher: HarperOne Year: 2010 Page count: 528 pages Price: $28.99 (hardcover) INTRODUCTION Nine years ago, I walked into a bookstore known as Hastings… Continue Reading “Book Review: ‘Scripting Jesus: The Gospels in Rewrite’ by L. Michael White”
The Amateur Exegete 