The new “Biblical Theology Briefings” are an opportunity to share observations, arguments, outlines, books, articles, reviews, sermons, videos, diagrams — anything I’ve found that could foster a clearer understanding of the Bible’s parts as they relate to its whole. “Biblical Theology” is a specific discipline within biblical studies (it doesn’t mean “theology that’s biblical in … More Biblical Theology Briefing (#1)
Four years ago, on August 11, 2008, I preached my first message as Associate Dean of Men at The Master’s College. With 14 pages of single-spaced notes on a music stand and 45 staffers and student leaders packed into the corner of a dorm lounge, I told “The Story Above All Stories” — my first … More The Story Above All Stories
I enjoyed three main courses this past school year in addition to doctoral colloquia and other projects. For those who may be interested, below are summaries of the three major papers I wrote for my Ph.D. seminars. TITLE: “Exegesis of Romans 1:18-25” COURSE: Exegesis of Romans with Dr. Tom Schreiner Thesis/Summary: “In Romans 1:18–25 Paul … More Ph.D. Papers
If you want to be a scholar, you have to know your field. The seminal works, the major contributions, the game-changing periods, the ebb and flow of dialogue throughout the decades or centuries or millennia. You have to join the conversation. There’s one problem with this (well, more than one, but one I’m going to … More Controlling the Questions: Circular Scholarship and the Cul-de-Sac of Inquiry
I recently took a one-day Ph.D. colloquium on the Messiah in the Old Testament. The entire day consisted of student presentations where each student summarized and critiqued a relevant book. Though time and content required that we paint in broad strokes, it was still an insightful day — mostly education by general exposure. Here are the books … More The Messiah in the Old Testament
From the “Exodus” entry in the New Dictionary of Biblical Theology: More directly than any other NT book, Hebrews argues for the superiority of the new epoch. In this new Exodus (3:7-19), Jesus, attested by signs and wonders and gifts of the Spirit (cf. Is. 63:11; Num. 11:25), is greater than both the angels who gave the … More The Exodus Pattern in Hebrews
Winter is here, snow is falling, and carols are playing in the living room. We just finished our first two-on-one snowball fight in the backyard and the sky is greying over to tell us that yet more snow is on the way. The seven-foot noble fir stands dignified and beautiful in the corner, decorated according to custom in all … More Life in Louisville
Here are some nuggets of wisdom on academic research, quality argumentation, and dissertation writing. These come from Wednesday’s NT Colloquium meeting (faculty discussion) in which a NT student presented a working proposal for his dissertation. The ensuing dialogue was instructive on numerous counts. I’ll give credit where credit is due, unless I sense that (public) … More Notes from the Ph.D. (3)
Did you know that beginning in Greco-Roman times, the Greek infinitive began to decline in popular usage, and by the Byzantine period had all but disappeared in common communication? There are a lot of little linguistic jewels in this description by Antonius Jannaris in his Historical Greek Grammar: Notwithstanding its convenience, the Greek infinitive, compared … More The Decline of the Greek Infinitive
If you missed the first installment of “Notes from the Ph.D.” (and if you care about these very technical and academic posts), you might want to go back and read the introduction so you know the guidelines I’m using as I share some of what I’m learning. Most importantly, I want to make sure that … More Notes from the Ph.D. (2)
I’ve been deliberating about how to share the twists and turns of my Ph.D. journey without turning this site into an academic center. One of my solutions is to regularly share collections of notes, snippets, and observations from my seminars and studies. If an experience prompts more full-orbed reflection, so be it. But most often I will simply … More Notes from the Ph.D. (1)
My Good Friend, At many points in our academic journey together, we will meet surprises, obstacles, setbacks, and disappointments. Some will be merely annoying. Others will be devastating. We will be overwhelmed, overworked, and overworried. We will theorize about “balancing life” and will do our best, but such balance will remain an ideal, a mystery, … More See You at the Top
My semester class schedule is now finalized. I’ve already completed the initial online course consisting of nine brief online lectures introducing us to the Southern Baptist Convention and its main funding mechanism, the Cooperative Program. On Thursday I completed the helpful Graduate Research Seminar, the introductory course for all doctoral and Th.M. students which centers on research and writing. And Friday, … More The Classroom and the Crucible
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