Andy Naselli

Thoughts on Theology

Exegesis

My Favorite Four Bible Atlases

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I have 17 Bible atlases in my library, and I’ve used several others. I’m very much an amateur at this (I still haven’t visited the Middle East!), but for what it’s worth, these are my favorite four Bible atlases:

  1. Beitzel, Barry J. The New Moody Atlas of the Bible. Chicago: Moody, 2009. See my book note (Themelios 34 [2009]: 367) and a later Themelios review.
  2. Rasmussen, Carl. Zondervan Atlas of the Bible. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2010. Themelios review.
  3. Currid, John D., and David P. Barrett. Crossway ESV Bible Atlas. Wheaton: Crossway, 2010.  This expands on the maps and related notes in the ESV Study Bible.
  4. Brisco, Thomas. Holman Bible Atlas: A Complete Guide to the Expansive Geography of Biblical History. Nashville: Broadman & Holman, 1998. This was my text for an undergraduate course on Bible geography. Good graphics.

Related:

  1. Todd Bolen’s Pictorial Library of Bible Lands
  2. The Gospels: Photo Companion to the Bible

The Extent of the Atonement in Paul’s Theology

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This new book argues exegetically that Paul affirms definite atonement:

Jarvis J. Williams. For Whom Did Christ Die? The Extent of the Atonement in Paul’s Theology. Paternoster Biblical Monographs. Milton Keynes, UK: Paternoster, 2012.

It has five chapters:

  1. Introduction, Thesis, and History of Research
  2. Humanity’s Spiritual Plight in Paul’s Anthropology
  3. Divine and Human Agency in Paul’s Soteriology
  4. The Purpose of Jesus’ Death in Paul’s Atonement-Theology
  5. Conclusion [Read more…] about The Extent of the Atonement in Paul’s Theology

Defiance: Illustrating Genesis 3

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D. A. Carson, The God Who Is There: Finding Your Place in God’s Story; Leader’s Guide  (Grand Rapids: Baker, 2010), 33–34:

A young school teacher in Northern Ireland once told me how she taught the substance of these early chapters of Genesis. Fresh out of college, she found herself a job teaching “religious education” (still common in the United Kingdom) to young boys in a rather rough school. She was making no headway at all. She decided to try another approach. [Read more…] about Defiance: Illustrating Genesis 3

D. A. Carson on William Webb

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In January, Bob Yarbrough and Don Carson spoke at the EFCA’s theology conference: “Understanding the Complementarian Position: Considering Implications and Exploring Practices in the Home and the Local Church” (TGC report). The MP3s are well worth listening to.

In a Q&A someone asked Don Carson about William Webb’s redemptive-movement hermeneutic, and Carson replied that it is unconvincing. Carson followed up with an email (which the EFCA made available but that isn’t online now): “As for bibliography,” writes Carson, “the literature is pretty extensive, but the two most substantive review articles evaluating Webb’s book are” these: [Read more…] about D. A. Carson on William Webb

Jim Hamilton on Revelation

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If you’re preaching through Revelation, you’ll want to include this book on your shortlist of helps:

James M. Hamilton Jr. Revelation: The Spirit Speaks to the Churches. Preaching the Word. Wheaton: Crossway, 2012. 457 pp. (20-page sample PDF)

Jim embraces historic premillennialism.

His sermons in print follow this basic structure (pp. 15–16, formatting added):

In the introduction I seek to do five things:

  • (1) Grab attention.
  • (2) Raise awareness of a real need that people have, a need that is addressed by the teaching of the text. The goal is to make people feel that they need to listen closely. Ideally, the need we have will be connected somehow to the opening attention-grabber.
  • (3) State the main point of the text. [Read more…] about Jim Hamilton on Revelation

The Torn Veil

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This is the most thorough resource I’m aware of that explains why the temple’s curtain tore in two when Jesus died:

Daniel M. Gurtner. The Torn Veil: Matthew’s Exposition of the Death of Jesus. Society for New Testament Studies Monograph Series 139. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2007.

It focuses on Matt 27:51a but takes into account the other Synoptic references and the explanations in Hebrews.

Dan Gurtner teaches New Testament at Bethel Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota and serves as an elder at Bethlehem Baptist Church (where John Piper is pastor for preaching and vision). He earned his PhD at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland under Richard Bauckham, and this book is the published version of his dissertation on the tearing of the temple’s curtain in Matthew 27:51a. [Read more…] about The Torn Veil