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.”

I have schedule my Written Exams for PhD in New Testament in November. I am busy studying for this. If anyone has any advice about this, let me know. As it is, I am researched a syllabus of New Testament Studies and reading many comprehensive textbooks, articles, an the like.

I like the looks of this theme better. I have not been keeping up with the blogging at all. We have two kids under three years of age and I am busy at church and trying to finish my PhD in New Testament. No big deal, right?

My paper on Divine Sovereignty in the Gospel of John was recently published by the online international journal Testamentum Imperium. The link to the PDF version can be found here: http://www.preciousheart.net/ti/2009/21-041_Ritsema_Imagery_Sovereignty_in_John.pdf.

I upgraded my broken phone to a refurbished iphone. I am writing this post from it.

Here is recent picture of the fam. Spencer is the youngest now (5 months) and Dawson the older (2 years).

Spencer (Left), Angela, Dawson, and David (me, on the right)

I teach a Pastor’s Small Group at the church and also attend our Young Adult Small Group. Here are some of the people in the group.

The book entitled “Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light – The Private Writings of the Saint of Calcutta” contains fascinating details about Mother Teresa’s state of mind during her tremendous ministry. During the latter years of her life, there appears to have been a real darkness that hung over her life. Since I am working on a sermon on Depression, it made me ask the question: Was Mother Teresa depressed?