I have been “slated” for two paper presentations at the upcoming Southwest Commission on Religious Studies on March 13-14 in DFW (http://www.swcrs-online.org/).
I use the word “slated” because one of its meanings is to ” put a list of the candidates” together. Having tried several times to present at SBL, I’m excited that my proposal has been accepted.
At the 2:30 pm meeting of SBL NT 2, I will present a paper with the title, “The Divine Messiah: Reexamining John’s Use of “Christos” in the Purpose Statement of John 20:30-31.”
That evening for IBR (Institute of Biblical Research), I will present a paper at 8:10 pm entitled, “Christology of the Gospel of John.”
To see the list of everyone “slated,” go to: http://www.swcrs-online.org/annual-meeting/meeting-program-and-schedule.
2010 is here and Americans are trying to keep their New Year’s Resolutions. Most resolutions are about budget, body, behavior, or busyness. Americans want to lose weight, get fit, and eat healthy. They want to get control of their finances by spending less, earning more, and paying off debt. They want to relieve the stress of work and life. They want to change their behavior by cutting smoking and reducing drinking.
These are all admiral resolutions, but there is something inherently missing. There is very little that is “spiritual” in that list. Most of it is motivated by pride, greed, and indulgence. Where is the desire to grow closer to God? Where is the resolution to be committed to the church, to reading Scripture, prayer, and focusing on things of eternal value?
Do you remember your first bicycle? My son Dawson does. He is almost 3 years old and on Christmas Day his Mimi and Papaw gave him brand new red bike.
It may seem a bit early to be thinking about New Year’s resolutions, but because I am working on a new message series in January at my church (I pastor Woodlawn Baptist Church in Austin, TX @ http://woodlawnbc.org), I have been thinking about it for weeks.
One of the most interesting things I have found so far is a list of America’s top resolutions. The US Government has a main internet website calling usa.gov. According to USA.gov, America’s top New Year’s resolutions are as follows:
- Lose Weight
- Manage Debt
- Save Money
- Get a Better Job
- Get Fit
- Get a Better Education
- Drink Less Alcohol
- Quit Smoking Now
- Reduce Stress Overall
- Reduce Stress at Work
- Take a Trip
- Volunteer to Help Others
- Health-e-Cards for Holidays and New Year
I have decided to divide this list into four categories for four messages. I think that America’s top interests can be summarized as Body, Budget, Busyness, and Behavior.
The big surprise for me was that the list did not include anything of spiritual or religious nature. The top list did not say for example: read my Bible more, pray more, attend church more, etc. Now that could be because the list simply overlooked those items because it is non-religious website; however, I think it is more likely this list reflects Americans (Christians included) primary interests. I suspect that this is an indicator of the void of a God-focused lifestyle and that it probably reflects the current mindset of most Americans. What do you think?
I heard a wonderful series of lectures by Rice University assistant professor of Sociology, Dr. D. Michael Lindsay. Lindsay’s dissertation was published under the title Faith in the Halls of Power. For his research on the faith of people in political office as well as the CEOs of leading corporations, he did a series of over 360 interviews. He found that many of the most significant leaders in our nation are people of faith who regularly express their faith with other people. He is a winsome and warm communicator and expressed his own spiritual journey. I would recommend his book and his research which provides unqiue insight into this important issue. I took away a better understanding of the way people express their faith who are in these positions of power. He described the difference between “cosmopolitan faith” and “populace faith.” The former is possessed by those in high positions and the latter by most evangelical Christians.
I stumbled across a blog posting from 2007 at Tyndale House talking about the copy of N. T. Wright’s dissertation there. Apparently, it was no easy to read and might be edited in someway. It was written under this title.
Wright, N. T. (1980). “The Messiah and the People of God: A Study in Pauline Theology with Particular Reference to the Argument of the Epistle to the Romans.” Oxford University. Doctor of Philosophy Dissertation.
The blog can be found here: http://tyndalehousejournal.blogspot.com/2007/02/todays-research-n-t-wright.html
Praise the Lord! I passed my written comps for PhD in New Testament. Now on to my dissertation… 
It feels so good to have finished by written comprehensive this week. Wednesday and Thursday of this week I traveled to Arlington and took my written comps. The first day consisted of four hours and four questions. The second day was four hours with eight questions. I felt very prepared, but you never know what question might come up to which you do not have an answer to which you can offer “one hour’s worth” of intelligent response. Thankfully none of the questions were beyond my preparation.
I am excited now to focus my energy on my dissertation, having completed all other coursework.
I am student at B. H. Carroll Theological Institute. I am pursuing a PhD in New Testament Studies. I am currently serving as a pastor of Woodlawn Baptist Church in Austin, TX. We run about 400-500 in worship each Sunday. The hardest thing about being a pastor and a PhD student at the same time is juggling all of the financial and time constraints involved. I never thought PhD work would be so expensive. I am fortunate that B. H. Carroll is a relatively inexpensive school. However, even just $3,000/year is a lot when you are a pastor with two young boys (ages 2.5 and 1 years old). I am hope that I qualify for the seminary scholarship at www.seminaryscholarship.com.
I could really use the $200 cash or $400 in credit from Logos.com. I love Logos software and use it, almost exclusively.
I. Howard Marshall edited the work New Testament Interpretation: Essays on Principles and Methods (Grand Rapids: Eedmans, 1977). This book was published in the year I was born. It has been reprinted by Wipf & Stock but not redone. Howard Marshall provides the introduction. The book is divided into 4 parts: (1) background to interpretation, (2) use of critical methods in interpretation, (3) the task of exegesis, (4) the new testament and modern readers.
Part 1: Background of Interpretation.
This section contains two chapters. One is by F. F. Bruce, “The History of New Testament Study.” This focuses literally on the history of intepretation (Luther, Calvin, etc.): (1) the early church and middles ages, (2) renaissance, reformation, and counter-reformation, (3) post-reformation period, (4) nineteenth century, (5) twentieth century. Graham Stanton did the second chapter “Presuppositions in the New Testament Criticism.”
Part 2: The Use of Critical Methods in Interpretation.
Many methods are covered: semantics (Thisleton), questions (Donald Guthrie), religious background (Drane), historical criticism (Marshall), source criticism (David Wenham), form criticism (Stephen Travis), tradition history (David Catchpole), redaction criticism (Stephen Smalley).
Part 3: The Task of Exegesis
Three chapters on the New Testmanet use of the Old (Ellis), approaches to NT exegesis (Ralph Martin), and exegesis in practice (R. T. France).
Part 4: NT and Modern Readers
James Dunn wrote a chapter on demythologizing. Thiselton did one on “the new hermeneutic.” Robin Nixon did the “authority of the NT.” John Goldingay wrote one on “expounding the NT.”
