Andy Naselli

Thoughts on Theology

Biblical Theology

Jim Hamilton’s Whole-Bible Biblical Theology

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“We live in an age of increasing specialization (owing in part to the rapid expansion of knowledge), and disciplines that a priori ought to work hand in glove are being driven apart.”

Don Carson wrote that in 1983. The fragmentation in theological disciplines almost two decades later is palpably worse.

So it’s not surprising that few people are writing whole-Bible biblical theologies these days. And it’s refreshing to see the recent release of this one:

James M. Hamilton Jr. [SBTS bio] God’s Glory in Salvation through Judgment: A Biblical Theology. Wheaton: Crossway, 2010.  640 pp.

  • Sample 36-page PDF and 1:45-minute video
  • Endorsements by Tom Schreiner, Kevin Vanhoozer, Desi Alexander, and Steve Dempster
  • Time-line of this book’s history
  • Audio of Jim Hamilton presenting the book’s argument (along with the book’s TOC)
  • Guest-posts on the Crossway blog: Part 1 | Part 2
  • Guest-post for the ShareFaith blog
  • Interview with Matthew Miller: Part 1 | Part 2
  • Interview for 9Marks Blog
  • Steve Dempster’s review for the 9Marks eJournal

Jim gave me the honor of reading through his manuscript last Christmas break, and I profited immensely from both his big-picture connections and his more detailed exegetical observations. He impressively demonstrates how the whole Bible coheres.

If a big book like this seems too daunting for you to read, soberly consider what the Internet (and TV, movies, video games, etc.) might be doing to your brain. (I just read Nicholas Carr’s The Shallows, and I’m convicted about how frequently I check email and Google Reader.)

Video for Don Carson’s The God Who Is There

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“Free audio and HD video downloads are now available for Don Carson’s 14-part overview of the Bible titled, ‘The God Who is There: Finding Your Place in God’s Story'” (TGC announcement). Previously, only 10-minute video previews were available.

D. A. Carson. The God Who Is There: Finding Your Place in God’s Story. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2010.

Leader’s Guide:

Related:

  1. “The God Who Is There“
  2. Recommended Resources in Carson’s Leader’s Guide: Introduction | Chapters 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10–14

Bob Bell’s Magnum Opus

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I’ve eagerly anticipated this 500-page book for several years:

Robert D. Bell. The Theological Messages of the Old Testament Books. Greenville, SC: Bob Jones University Press, 2010. Amazon | BJU Press

It revises Bob Bell’s biblical theologies of each book of the OT that he has been working on for forty years. The table of contents is simple: an introduction to biblical theology and book theologies followed by thirty-three chapters on each book of the OT (Bell combines Judges-Ruth, treats 1–2 Samuel, 1–2 Kings, and 1–2 Chronicles as single chapters, and combines Obadiah-Joel-Zephaniah.) The book is

Dedicated to the scores of Advanced OT Theology students, who since 1970 have been writing outlines and papers on the book theologies of the Old Testament; especially to those OT PhD students who wrote book theologies as their dissertations [Read more…] about Bob Bell’s Magnum Opus

Dissertation Abstract

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In my last post, “Dissertation Defended,” I wrote, “I’ll share the abstract in a forthcoming post.” Here it is:

Doctoral Student: Andrew David Naselli
Dissertation Mentor: D. A. Carson
Dissertation Title: Paul’s Use of Isaiah 40:13 and Job 41:3a (Eng. 41:11a) in Romans 11:34–35

This dissertation examines the use of Isa 40:13 and Job 41:3a (Eng. 41:11) in Rom 11:34–35. Its structure generally follows the six-step approach used in Commentary on the New Testament Use of the Old Testament (ed. G. K. Beale and D. A. Carson; Grand Rapids: Baker, 2007). It addresses

    1. the NT context of Rom 11:34–35 [ch. 2]
    2. the OT context of Isa 40:13 and Job 41:3a [chs. 3–4]
    3. textual issues in Isa 40:13, Job 41:3a, and Rom 11:34–35 [ch. 5]
    4. relevant uses of Isa 40:13 and Job 41:3a in Jewish literature [ch. 6]
    5. Paul’s hermeneutical warrant for using Isa 40:13 and Job 41:3a in Rom 11:34–35 [ch. 7]
    6. Paul’s theological use of Isa 40:13 and Job 41:3a in Rom 11:34–35 [ch. 8]

    It concludes that when Paul quotes Isa 40:13 and Job 41:3a, he includes their larger OT contexts, which reveal a remarkable typological connection between the two OT passages and the end of Romans 11. The three rhetorical questions in Rom 11:34–35 communicate three of God’s characteristics that correspond to his ways in salvation history, and each carries simple and profound theological implications. By quoting Isa 40:13 and Job 41:3a in Rom 11:34–35, Paul typologically connects Isaiah 40 and Job 38:1–42:6 with Romans 9–11 in order to exalt God’s incomprehensibility, wisdom, mercy, grace, patience, independence, and sovereignty.

    The God Who Is There

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    Coming this July:

    D. A. Carson. The God Who Is There: Finding Your Place in God’s Story. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2010.

    • Leader’s Guide:
    • The chapters correspond to Carson’s fourteen-part overview of the Bible that he presented at Bethlehem Baptist Church in February 2009.
    1. The God Who Made Everything
    2. The God Who Does Not Wipe Out Rebels
    3. The God Who Writes His Own Agreements
    4. The God Who Legislates
    5. The God Who Reigns
    6. The God Who Is Unfathomably Wise
    7. The God Who Becomes a Human Being
    8. The God Who Grants New Birth
    9. The God Who Loves
    10. The God Who Dies—and Lives Again
    11. The God Who Declares the Guilty Just
    12. The God Who Gathers and Transforms His People
    13. The God Who Is Very Angry
    14. The God Who Triumphs
    • See Carson’s brief introduction to the series.
    • The corresponding audio and video should be available later this year.
    • This resource will serve the church well because it simultaneously evangelizes non-Christians and edifies Christians by explaining the Bible’s storyline.

    Update on July 29, 2010: Audio and video are available.

    Update on December 1, 2010: Unabridged video is now available.

    Jesus Storybook Bible Deluxe Edition

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    A guest post by Jenni Naselli

    deluxe

    Our family was recently delighted to obtain The Jesus Storybook Bible, Deluxe Edition . Here’s what Andy and I wrote last year about this book in our review of theology books for kids:

    Sally Lloyd-Jones. The Jesus Storybook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name. Illustrated by Jago. Grand Rapids: ZonderKidz, 2007. 352 pp. $16.99.

    This is the most well written children’s book we have read. It brilliantly summarizes the Bible storyline from creation to the consummation, and it emphasizes Jesus and the gospel as the key to understanding the Bible’s storyline. The subtitle captures exactly what the book does: at the end of each story, Lloyd-Jones points ahead to the story’s fulfillment in Christ (though the pointing-ahead theme seems slightly stretched for some of the stories). Lloyd-Jones acknowledges that she has “liberally borrowed” from her pastor, Tim Keller, “whose teaching informs every story” (p. 7). She skillfully crafts words that are captivating, making it hard to stop reading. Some readers may become so entrenched in the story that they will find themselves wishing that it is true (perhaps forgetting that this well written story is not a fairy tale) and then rejoicing that it is! The illustrations are simple, creative, and almost fanciful.

    The deluxe edition enhances this excellent Bible-story book by adding the complete book on three audio CDs. We’ve already thoroughly enjoyed listening to several of the stories together as a family. The tracks are divided by story, and each story is approximately four minutes long—perfect for a young child’s shorter attention span. The stories are each read by British actor David Suchet.  Our family loves audiobooks, and we’re thrilled now to have The Jesus Storybook Bible audiobook!

    Master Scripture Index for New Studies in Biblical Theology

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    I recently prepared a master Scripture index for the New Studies in Biblical Theology series edited by D. A. Carson. I combined the Scripture indexes into a single spreadsheet and placed an asterisk by each page number where there is a discussion rather than merely a reference or brief comment. This is an especially valuable resource for those who are working on individual texts and would like to consult substantive discussions in the NSBT series.

    See the NSBT page hosted by The Gospel Coalition for the following:

    1. more information on how to use the master Scripture index (i.e., a massive Excel spreadsheet)
    2. Carson’s two-paragraph introduction to the NSBT series
    3. Carson’s introduction to each voulme in the NSBT series

    Below are the volumes in the series thus far:

    1. David Peterson, Possessed by God: A New Testament Theology of Sanctification and Holiness (1995).

    [Read more…] about Master Scripture Index for New Studies in Biblical Theology