Andy Naselli

Thoughts on Theology

humility

On the Writing of New Testament Commentaries: Festschrift for Grant R. Osborne

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OsborneIt’s a pleasure to watch a godly scholar honored with and genuinely surprised by a Festschrift. (A Festschrift is a collection of writings published in honor of a scholar.) That’s what happened to Grant Osborne on November 14, 2012, in Milwaukee at the Annual Meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society.

A few hundred people filled up a convention room to hear a 2.5-hour session on “Writing and Reading Commentaries,” but right out of the gate Eckhard Schnabel revealed the surprise that it was primarily a time to present a Festschrift to Grant Osborne. And it was moving to watch Grant receive a standing ovation from admiring peers and former students.

Here’s info on the Festschrift:

OsborneFsStanley E. Porter and Eckhard J. Schnabel, eds. On the Writing of New Testament Commentaries: Festschrift for Grant R. Osborne on the Occasion of His 70th Birthday. Texts and Editions for New Testament Study 8. Leiden: Brill, 2013.

It’s ridiculously expensive, but it’s definitely worth owning. (You can view it in Google Books.) [Read more…] about On the Writing of New Testament Commentaries: Festschrift for Grant R. Osborne

Humble Athletes

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Two excerpts from C. J. Mahaney on humble athletes:

C. J. Mahaney, “Appendix,” in Game Day for the Glory of God: A Guide for Athletes, Fans, and Wannabes   (by Stephen Altrogge; Wheaton: Crossway, 2008), 108:

When Chad and I watch a game together, I am on the lookout for ways to teach him. I want to equip him to discern true greatness in the eyes of God. [Read more…] about Humble Athletes

Warning to Calvinists: Don’t Let Your Love for Truth Excuse Factionalism

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Two new books address a familiar controversy:

  • Michael Horton. For Calvinism. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2011.  [PDF sample]
  • Roger E. Olson. Against Calvinism. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2011. [PDF sample]

(Horton wins hands-down on the more attractive book cover—not to mention the argument!)

Horton’s last chapter is entitled “Calvinism Today: A SWOT Analysis.” Here’s how he introduces it:

We know from daily experience that our greatest strengths can also become our greatest weaknesses.

  1. Persistence can become stubbornness;
  2. sympathy can devolve into sentimentality; and
  3. genuine concern for others sometimes turns into an obsequious craving for approval.
  4. Remarkable gifts of leadership and creativity can be used for good or ill, depending on the motivation and the goals.
  5. The same is true of movements, since they are largely the collective activity of people like us.

It has become popular for businesses and organizations to conduct a periodical “SWOT” analysis, [Read more…] about Warning to Calvinists: Don’t Let Your Love for Truth Excuse Factionalism

Themelios 36.3

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TGC published the latest issue of Themelios this morning.

I contributed two book reviews:

  1. Review of John Dickson, Humilitas: A Lost Key to Life, Love, and Leadership. (I highlighted this book last month.)
  2. Review of Steven E. Runge, Discourse Grammar of the Greek New Testament: A Practical Introduction for Teaching and Exegesis.

Note also Rod Decker’s “An Evaluation of the 2011 Edition of the New International Version.” (It revises a paper I mentioned in July.) Related to Decker’s article is a recent unpublished one:

William W. Combs. “The History of the NIV Translation Controversy.” A paper presented at the Mid-America Conference on Preaching in Allen Park, MI (hosted by Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary). October 20, 2011 (MP3).

Honor and Shame

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I recently read three books in a row that each happen to highlight a common theme: how the honor-shame culture of NT times differs drastically from our culture. Not only is it fascinating; it’s important for understanding the Bible.

1. Ben Witherington III. Is There a Doctor in the House? An Insider’s Story and Advice on Becoming a Bible Scholar. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2011.

[Excerpt from a section entitled “Rhetorical Conventions or Apostolic Hubris? (pp. 63–64)]

Let’s consider an example of socio-rhetorical conventions. What in the world is going on in 2 Corinthians 10–13, especially considering what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 1 that he will boast in nothing but the cross of Christ? Isn’t he boasting about himself in 2 Corinthians 10–13 (or in Phil. 3)? What should we make of Paul’s autobiographical remarks in such texts?

As it turns out, there were rhetorical rules about boasting. In fact, Plutarch wrote a little treatise on what constituted “Inoffensive Self Praise.” What is interesting about 2 Corinthians 10–13 is that while Paul does follow these rules in a self-deprecating sort of way, he also subverts the whole way that ancients would normally boast about themselves by boasting of things they would never brag about. No one would brag about how many times they had been stoned, how many times they had been run out of town, how many times they had been shipwrecked, and how many times they had been pursued and betrayed by their co-religionists, and especially no one would have bragged about how they escaped danger by being lowered over a city wall in a basket under the cover of darkness. I like to call this story (mentioned in both Acts 9:25 and 2 Cor. 11:32–33) St. Paul the Basket Case. [Read more…] about Honor and Shame

Practicing Affirmation

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Earlier this month I read a book that I desperately needed:

Sam Crabtree. Practicing Affirmation: God-Centered Praise of Those Who Are Not God. Wheaton: Crossway, 2011.

And I already need to read it again.

Sam Crabtree is executive pastor at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, and John Piper, that church’s pastor for preaching and vision, writes the foreword.

Here’s an interview with the author (audio):

https://vimeo.com/51221224

And here are some excerpts from the book:

[T]he praising of people does not necessarily preclude the praising of God, if the people are commended ultimately for his glory. God is glorified in us when we affirm the work he has done and is doing in others. (p. 12)

Good affirmations are God-centered, pointing to the image of God in a person. (p. 18)

Proportionality matters when it comes to affirmation, for affirmation can be choked out by criticism, correction, or mere indifference and neglect. (p. 44)

It takes many affirmations to overcome the impact of a criticism, because criticisms are heavier and sting more. (p. 48)

Corrections tend to cancel affirmations, and the closer the proximity to correction, the more crippled the affirmation. (p. 64)

I can be so quick to point out the negative while taking the positive for granted, assuming people around me will behave the way I think they should and forgetting that I might have a role to play in encouraging them to behave in certain ways. (p. 74)

Not only commend people to their faces (or in letters), but commend them behind their backs, whether or not the report ever gets back to them. (p. 109)

Related: Bob Kaulflin on receiving compliments

Update: I named this book one of the top three of 2011.