Michael Bird Archives – J. David Stark

Biblical references in writing theology

Earlier this month, Rick Brannan posted an analysis of the most frequently cited in a selection of systematic theologies. Rick has since made available on his blog the bibliography of systematic theologies that fed this analysis.

Meanwhile, Christianity Today picked up the post for further discussion. According to CT,

Perhaps most interesting—and potentially disturbing—is the dearth of Old Testament references among the 100 most-cited verses. This raises the question of whether the Old Testament is necessary for Christian theology, and whether it should be included in systematic theology more often.

Is such a strong preference for the same key verses, especially those in the New Testament, a problem in systematic theology? CT asked experts to weigh in.

There then follows a paragraph each from Kevin Vanhoozer, Craig Keener, John Stackhause, Michael Bird, Michael Allen, and William Dyrness.

Now Brannan has followed up at theLAB with the promised corresponding analysis for biblical theologies. This new analysis comments in part,

What is immediately striking to me is the frequency of Old Testament references. Systematic theologies had nine OT references in the top 100. In Biblical theologies, seven of the top ten references are from the Old Testament, and 29 of the top 100.

Twenty-nine is markedly larger than nine. But, the still-substantial slant to the New Testament perhaps suggests a tendency to do primarily “New Testament biblical theology” in practice, if not always in title. As a balancing resource, perhaps we need a new sub-publishing genre of “Old Testament biblical theology”?

Review of Biblical Literature Newsletter (April 15, 2013)

The latest reviews from the Review of Biblical Literature include:

Jewish Scriptures and Cognate Studies

Gary M. Beckman, Trevor R. Bryce, and Eric H. Cline, The Ahhiyawa Texts, reviewed by Paul Sanders
Walter Brueggemann, David and His Theologian: Literary, Social, and Theological Investigations of the Early Monarchy, reviewed by Andrea Ravasco
James L. Crenshaw, Reading Job: A Literary and Theological Commentary, reviewed by Norman Habel
Jonathan Grossman, Esther: The Outer Narrative and the Hidden Reading, reviewed by Kelly A. Whitcomb
Irene Schulmeister, Israels Befreiung aus Ägypten: Eine Formeluntersuchung zur Theologie des Deuteronomiums, reviewed by Peter Porzig

New Testament and Cognate Studies

Thomas R. Schreiner, Luke Timothy Johnson, Douglas A. Campbell, and Mark D. Nanos, Four Views on the Apostle Paul, edited by Michael F. Bird, reviewed by Arthur J. Dewey
Markus Bockmuehl, Simon Peter in Scripture and Memory: The New Testament Apostle in the Early Church, reviewed by Finn Damgaard
William Loader, The New Testament on Sexuality, reviewed by Colleen M. Conway

Miscellaneous

George W. E. Nickelsburg and Michael E. Stone, eds., Early Judaism: Text and Documents on Faith and Piety, reviewed by David M. Maas
John J. Pilch, A Cultural Handbook to the Bible, reviewed by Jeremiah W. Cataldo

Review of Biblical Literature Newsletter (November 30, 2012)

The latest reviews from the Review of Biblical Literature include:

Jewish Scriptures and Cognate Studies

A. Graeme Auld, First and Second Samuel: A Commentary, reviewed by Phillip G. Camp
Eva Cancik-Kirschbaum, Margarete van Ess, and Joachim Marzahn, eds., Babylon: Wissenskultur in Orient und Okzident, reviewed by Michael S. Moore
Alan T. Levenson, The Making of the Modern Jewish Bible: How Scholars in Germany, Israel, and America Transformed an Ancient Text, reviewed by George Savran
Hans-Peter Mathys, Das Astarte-Quadrat, reviewed by Sven Petry
Vincent Sénéchal, Rétribution et intercession dans le Deutéronome, reviewed by Paul Sanders
Marvin A. Sweeney, Tanak: A Theological and Critical Introduction to the Jewish Bible, reviewed by Jason M. Silverman

New Testament and Cognate Studies

Michael F. Bird and Joel Willitts, eds., Paul and the Gospels: Christologies, Conflicts and Convergences, reviewed by Thomas P. Nelligan
Gordon D. Fee, Revelation, reviewed by Alexander Stewart
Mavis M. Leung, The Kingship-Cross Interplay in the Gospel of John: Jesus’ Death as Corroboration of His Royal Messiahship, reviewed by Michael Labahn
J. Brian Tucker, “Remain in Your Calling”: Paul and the Continuation of Social Identities in 1 Corinthians, reviewed by H. H. Drake Williams III

Bird, ed., Four Views on the Apostle Paul

The folks at Zondervan sponsored this year’s Institute for Biblical Research meeting reception. In addition to the deserts there, they very kindly provided attending members with a copy of the recent (2012) Counterpoints volume on Paul, edited by Michael Bird. According to the publisher’s description:

The apostle Paul was a vital force in the development of Christianity. Paul’s historical and religious context affects the theological interpretation of Paul’s writings, no small issue in the whole of Christian theology.

Recent years have seen much controversy about the apostle Paul, his religious and social context, and its effects on his theology. In the helpful Counterpoints format, four leading scholars present their views on the best framework for describing Paul’s theological perspective, including his view of salvation, the significance of Christ, and his vision for the churches.

Contributors and views include:

Reformed View: Thomas R. Schreiner

Catholic View: Luke Timothy Johnson

Post-New Perspective View: Douglas Campbell

Jewish View: Mark D. Nanos

Like other titles in the Counterpoints: Bible and Theology collection, Four Views on the Apostle Paul gives theology students the tools they need to draw informed conclusions on debated issues.

General editor and New Testament scholar Michael F. Bird covers foundational issues and provides helpful summaries in his introduction and conclusion. New Testament scholars, pastors, and students of Christian history and theology will find Four Views on the Apostle Paul an indispensable introduction to ongoing debates on the apostle Paul’s life and teaching.

On the Web (October 19, 2012)

On the web:

Jim Davila and Hershel Shanks, among others, pay tribute to the fallen titan, Frank Moore Cross.
Michael Bird joins Joel Watts in reflecting on Justin Martyr, Xenophon, and the Gospels.
The Cornell University Library has a collection of Eleusinian inscription images available (HT: Charles Jones).

Review of Biblical Literature Newsletter (July 11, 2012)

The latest reviews from the Review of Biblical Literature include:

Jewish Scriptures and Cognate Studies

Stephen J. Bennett, Ecclesiastes/Lamentations: A Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition, reviewed by Russell L. Meek
Alicia Suskin Ostriker, For the Love of God: The Bible as an Open Book, reviewed by Barbara Green

New Testament and Cognate Studies

Michael F. Bird and Joseph R. Dodson, eds., Paul and the Second Century, reviewed by Joseph B. Tyson
Gary Alan Chamberlain, The Greek of the Septuagint: A Supplemental Lexicon, reviewed by Peter Burton
Bruce W. Longenecker, Remember the Poor: Paul, Poverty, and the Greco-Roman World, reviewed by Kathy Ehrensperger and by L. L. Welborn
Charles B. Puskas and C. Michael Robbins, An Introduction to the New Testament, reviewed by J. Samuel Subramanian

Miscellaneous

Christian A. Eberhart, ed., Ritual and Metaphor: Sacrifice in the Bible, reviewed by Greg Carey and by John Dunnill
Ben Zion Rosenfeld, Torah Centers and Rabbinic Activity in Palestine 70–400 C.E.: History and Geographic Distribution, reviewed by Joshua Schwartz