Hone Your Craft as a Biblical Scholar
The International Business Times is reporting the discovery of the tomb of Ptolemy IV Philopator. According to the Times,
The remains of this ancient temple include its walls with engravings and inscriptions carrying the name of the pharaoh Ptolemy IV, as well as the limestone walls and floors.
For more, see the Times‘s full article.
HT: Jim Davila
Carl Rasmussen and Jesse Gavin have made openly available a number of photographs from various Mediterranean and Near Eastern sites.
HT: Randall Bailey
The Council for British Research in the Levant has begun releasing a new digital monograph series via open access. The first volume is WF16 The Excavation of an Early Neolithic Settlement in Southern Jordan.
HT: AWOL
According to the Times of Israel,
The earliest written use of the word “Hebrews” may have been found upon an inscribed Moabite altar discovered during ongoing excavations at the biblical site of Atarot (Khirbat Ataruz) in Jordan.
The article’s discussion revolves around both this inscription and the Mesha Stele.
HT: Jim Davila
On 5–6 April, I attended the annual Stone-Campbell Journal Conference. One of the most fascinating papers was that by David Fiensy.
The paper was rather innocuously titled “Interpreting Acts: The Value of Archaeology.” But David delivered a fascinating, eye-opening discussion of disease in the ancient Mediterranean.
David’s primary evidence is archaeologically preserved in bones and (yes) fecal deposits. This may make some of the content a bit awkward. But David’s research helpfully clarifies (and likely corrects) to how we should imagine the authors and audiences of the NT.
Another very interesting paper was by Jerry Sumney on Paul’s use of pre-formed material in 1 Corinthians. Jerry’s argument leads him to paint a picture of Paul in 1 Corinthians as less antagonistic to existing leadership and tradition.
This is ultimately more consistent with the portrayal of Paul in Acts. Jerry then understands Paul’s criticisms in Galatians to derive from the very particular context that letter addresses.
Also included at the beginning of this recording is a short reflection on Christian education that I was privileged to give when the scheduled speaker wasn’t able to attend.
Douglas Estes (and others) have picked up the story of the excavation of a Nathan-Melech bulla in Jerusalem.
“The greatest danger for most of us is not that we aim too high and we miss it, but we aim too low and reach it.” – Michelangelo via Michael Hyatt
Daily Gleanings for 12 April 2019 with @DouglasEstes and @MichaelHyatt