JETS Vol. 53 No. 1 March 2010

Article 1: "The Man Christ Jesus," by Bruce Ware. Very fine reminder of the necessity of remembering, and being exegetically aware of, the two natures of Christ.

Article 2: "An Overlooked Scriptural Paradox: The Pseudosorites," by Richard D. Patterson. You don't know what a pseudosorites is? You probably won't after reading this article either. Patterson's definitions and his presentation are unclear. Ultimately unhelpful.

Article 3: "Deuteronomy 6-8 and the History of Interpretation: An Exposition of the First Two Commandments," by Justin M. Fuhrmann. This focuses on understanding Deut 6-8 as a way of dealing with the arguments for a late date for Deuteronomy. Probably will not convince anyone already convinced of the Documentary Hypothesis, but useful. Unfortunately written in a turgid style that makes it hard to read. Probably a dissertation chapter.

Article 4: "What Does Theology Have to Do with the Bible? A Call for the Expansion of the Doctrine of Inspiration," by Norris C. Grubbs & Curtis Scott Drumm. Interesting, but overstates the problem. Seems to imply that the theologians don;t deal sufficiently with the problems raised by such things as the use of an amanuensis (secretary) in the writing of Paul's letters, and such. Also seems to assume that the biblical scholars are absolutely right in all their proposals. ultimately unhelpful.

Article 5: "Jesus is Our Jubilee" . . . But How? The OT Background and Lukan Fulfillment of the Ethics of Jubilee," by Christopher R. Bruno. Good biblical theology of the Jubilee, though I think he misses the context of the Ezekiel passage. Demonstrates that most modern attempts to "apply" the Jubilee are no doubt well-intentioned, but theologically unsound.

Article 6: "'Men of Galilee, Why Stand Gazing Up Into Heaven': Revisiting Galileo, Astronomy, and the Authority of the Bible," by H. J. Lee. Don't be misled by the title. This is really a discussion of the doctrine of accommodation as it applied to Galileo, Generally helpful, with some careful definitions. Especially helpful with regard to the modern misuse of the doctrine of accommodation by Peter Enns and others.

Article 7: "The Origins and Limitations of Pannenberg's Eschatology," by David J. Zehnder. I assume it is a fair presentation of Pannenberg, but I don't really see any usefulness of P. for evangelical theology. Is this perhaps a dissertation chapter?

Article 8: "Review Article: Locating Udo Schnelle's Theology of the New Testament in the Contemporary Discussion," by D. A. Carson. This is Carson at his best. In nine pages he not only gives a summary and substantive critique of Schnelle, he also surveys the current state of New Testament Theology. Highly recommended.

Article 9: "Review Article: The Deliverance of God: An Apocalyptic Reading of Justification in Paul by Douglas A. Campbell," by Douglas J. Moo. A must-read. The discussion of justification in Paul is moving beyond the New Perspectives, and Campbell's critique of traditional Protestant exegesis is one of the directions. Moo provides a careful and substantive response to Campbell. One wonders in our circles how quickly some of Campbell will show up Federal Vision theology.

JBL Spring 2010

Welcome to my journal review (and other more technical works) blog. My intent is to post critical summaries of the journals I read for the help of others. I begin with the Spring 2010 issue of the Journal of Biblical Literature

Article 1: "Learning, Teaching, and Researching Biblical Studies, Today and Tomorrow," David J. A. Clines.

This article is the Presidential Address from the 2009 national meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature. In it, he addresses the issue of teaching biblical studies. I have no doubt that Clines is an excellent teacher. He also gives some good advice here that many struggling with teaching would do well to consider. However, most of the article reads like it was cribbed from a first-semester "Education Philosophy" class in an American university education department. Take what you can use, and ignore the rest.

Article 2: "The Function of the Chronicler's Temple Despoliation Notices in Light of Imperial Realities in Yehud," by Paul S. Evans.

This article deals with the issue of temple despoliation (that is, the giving away of temple treasures) by some of the kings of Judah, as it affects the evaluation of those kings in both Kings and Chronicles. There may be some useful information here, but mostly not worth the time.

Article 3: "Death, Disinheritance, and Job's Kinsman-Redeemer," by Matthew S. Suriano.

This article speculates that the kinsman-redeemer in Job refers to a member of Job's extended family who would be responsible for seeing that he was properly buried, and thus that his name lived beyond his own time. Admittedly speculative, and blind to the theology of Job in its larger biblical context.

Article 4: "Gog's Grave and the Use and Abuse of Corpses in Ezekiel 39:11-20," by Francesca Stavrakopoulou.

Argues that the "corpse abuse" in Ezek 39 is intended to display Yhwh's ownership of the land as well as his defeat of Israel's enemies. This, coupled with the resurrection of the people in Ezek 37, validates Israel's ownership of the land. Helpful in its way, but seems to think that the meaning of the text is determined by what we know about burial practices in the ANE.

Article 5: "Jewish Identity Under Foreign Rule: Daniel 2 as a Reconfiguration of Genesis 41," by Matthew Rindge.

Posits that Daniel reworks (or at least reflects off of) Gen 41 in such a way as to show Daniel as exemplifying a middle way between the cultural accommodation of Joseph and cultural rejection of the Maccabees. Maybe.

Article 6: "Donkey Domain: Zechariah 9:9 and Lexical Semantics," by Kenneth C. Way.

This is apparently part of Way's dissertation. A useful discussion of the various words translated "donkey" in the Bible, and their significance.

Article 7: "The Gospel of John and the Five Senses," by Dorothy Lee.

Demonstrates the significance of the five senses in the Gospel of John, tying in the significance for the incarnation. Has to stretch a bit for the sense of smell, perhaps, but it also makes the opening of 1 John all the more important.

Article 8: "Spirit and Covenant Renewal: A Theologoumenon of Paul's Opponents in 2 Corinthians," by Thomas R. Blanton, IV.

Rightly sees covenant renewal in 2 Cor 3-4, but misreads the OT "new covenant" passages in a legalistic way, and contrasts Paul's "law-free" gospel with the legalistic "new covenant" of his opponents. Manages to misunderstand new covenant and Paul in the same article.

Article 9: "Why Is There No Thanksgiving Period in Galatians? An Assessment of an Exegetical Commonplace," by Robert E. Van Voorst

Revisits the question of why there is no "I give thanks for you all" following Paul's initial greeting in Gal 1:1-5. Shows that such a thanksgiving period was not (contrary to common opinion) a regular part of comparable letters. Further, the reason for the absence is found in Paul's greeting, which prepares the reader for Paul's "I am amazed" in Gal 1:6ff. Useful reading of the opening section of Galatians.

Article 10: P.Oxy 2949--Its Transcription and Significance: A Response to Thomas Wayment," by Paul Foster.

A small discussion over the reading in one of the Oxyrhynchus Papyri. Useful for those who follow such things.

Article 11: "How Accurate Are Eyewitnesses? Bauckham and the Eyewitnesses in the Light of Psychological Research," by Judith C. H. Redman.

Part of the continuing response to Bauckham's Jesus and the Eyewitnesses. Casts doubt on the reliability of eyewitness testimony. Posits that some of the differences among the gospels may be accounted for by what we have learned about eyewitness testimony, rather than assuming redactional intent. Having not read Bauckham's work, I don't know what he said. But Redman herself fails to take two things into account. First, the role of inspiration and the work of the Holy Spirit (see John 14:26, especially the part about "bring to your remembrance"). Second, the likelihood that Jesus, in his three plus years of itinerant ministry, spoke on the same topics more than once, and that gospel differences may also be accounted for distinct events.