Andy Naselli

Thoughts on Theology

Exegesis

Two New Bible Translations

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Recently I’ve been reading two new Bible translations:

  1. The Expanded Bible: Explore the Depths of the Scriptures While You Read. Translated by Tremper Longman III, Mark L. Strauss, and Daniel Taylor. Nashville: Nelson, 2011. 1910 pp. [Preview the front matter and the Gospel of John.]
  2. The Kingdom New Testament: A Contemporary Translation of the New Testament. Translated by N. T. Wright. New York: HarperOne, 2011. 526 pp. [Preview it using Amazon’s “Look Inside” feature.]

Neither translation is one that churches will adopt as their primary one for preaching, teaching, and memorizing. But [Read more…] about Two New Bible Translations

Reading the Bible without Chapter and Verse Numbers

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[I]t is important to remember that the Reformers did not break the epistles down into verses in the way that we do (verses were not invented until about 1550, after Luther’s death!) and were struck by the force of their overall argument more than perhaps we tend to be. To appreciate them it is useful to read the epistles straight through, without paying too much attention to the internal divisions, and feel the impact.

—Gerald Bray

Related:

  1. Review of Christopher R. Smith, The Beauty Behind the Mask: Rediscovering the Books of the Bible. Themelios 34 (2009): 109–10.
  2. Review of The Books of the Bible. Themelios 34 (2009): 108–9.
  3. Review of The Story: Read the Bible as One Seamless Story from Beginning to End. Themelios 34 (2009): 106–7.

Video:

 

The Perseus Collections: Nearly 1,500 Free Books for Logos 4

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Logos Bible Software is giving away nearly 1,500 books: The Perseus Collections.

You heard that right: nearly 1,500 free books.

I’ve already downloaded and browsed the collections, and I’m impressed. I love having all these resources in Logos format.

Learn more about the Perseus Collections here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yo8MgoI2p6k&feature=player_embedded

You can pre-order these collections by selecting these items:

  1. Perseus Classics Collection (1,114 vols.)
  2. Perseus Civil War and 19th Century American Collection (340 vols.)
  3. Perseus Arabic Collection (39 vols.)
  4. Perseus Renaissance Collection (22 vols.)
  5. Beowulf
  6. Duke Databank of Documentary Papyri (256 vols.)
  7. Richmond Times-Dispatch (6 vols.)

There are no strings attached, but there is a timing-issue: When the Perseus Collections go live on September 30, Logos won’t be able to continue taking orders for a while as they process all the pre-orders they’ve received. So if you want to get the Perseus Collections as soon as possible, pre-order them before September 30.

 

Two Ways to Read the Bible

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Mike Bullmore, The Gospel and Scripture: How to Read the Bible  (The Gospel Coalition Booklets; Wheaton: Crossway, 2011), 16–17 (formatting added):

The Bible is endlessly interesting because it is God’s story, and God by nature is himself endlessly interesting. . . .

There are actually many methods of reading the Bible, and because the Bible is inexhaustible, many methods can prove fruitful. However, we are not so much concerned here with what might be called “methods” as we are with what we can call “approaches.” Two main approaches to the Bible usefully unlock its treasure, which is the gospel.

  1. Reading the Bible as Continuous Narrative (or History) . . . .
  2. Reading the Bible as a Compendium of God-Inspired Perspectives (or Theology) . . . .

Whichever of these two ways the Bible is read, its message is the same. [Read more…] about Two Ways to Read the Bible

Prodigal Love for the Prodigal Son

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That’s the title of a sermon. But it’s not one by Tim Keller, author of The Prodigal God.

This sermon was preached in 1891 by Charles Spurgeon.

The text is three words from Luke 15:20: “And kissed him.”

Some excerpts:

  • When sinners come to God, he gives them a loving reception, and a hearty welcome.
  • He forgives like a God.
  • Their past lies hidden under the blood of atonement.

HT: J. D. Crowley

 

Tom Schreiner’s Top Three Commentaries on Each of Paul’s Letters

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Thomas R. Schreiner, “Select Commentaries on the Pauline Epistles,” in Interpreting the Pauline Epistles (2nd ed.; Grand Rapids: Baker, 2011), 163–66 (numbering added).

Here I list not necessarily the most scholarly commentaries but what I consider to be the three best for students, teachers, and pastors.

Romans

  • C. E. B. Cranfield. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Epistle to the Romans. 2 vols. International Critical Commentary. Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1975–79.
  • Douglas J. Moo. The Epistle to the Romans. New International Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1996.
  • Thomas R. Schreiner. Romans. Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1998.

1 Corinthians [Read more…] about Tom Schreiner’s Top Three Commentaries on Each of Paul’s Letters

Rod Decker Reviews the Updated NIV

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Rodney J. Decker recently reviewed the updated NIV.

The PDF is 50 pages, but the review itself is under 40 pages. (The appendixes start on page 39.)

I read this review carefully last week, and it’s well done.

Decker is professor of New Testament at Baptist Bible Seminary. He’s the author of several books and articles, including these:

  1. Temporal Deixis of the Greek Verb in the Gospel of Mark with Reference to Verbal Aspect. Studies in Biblical Greek 10. Edited by D. A. Carson. New York: Lang, 2001.
  2. “The English Standard Version: A Review Article.” Journal of Ministry and Theology 8, no. 2 (2004): 5–56.
  3. “Verbal-Plenary Inspiration and Translation.” Detroit Baptist Seminary Journal 11 (2006): 25–61.
  4. Koine Greek Reader: Selections from the New Testament, Septuagint, and Early Christian Writers. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2007.

Update on 3/31/2017: In my latest attempt to explain how to interpret and apply the Bible, I include a chapter on Bible translation (pp. 50–81).