Another One Bites the Dust

Dr Wallace on Codex Sinaiticus at the British Library

Gospel of Mark: Longer or Shorter Ending? (Is 16:9-20 Authentic?) Matthew Everhard

Interesting to say the least. What are thoughts on the long ending of Mark 16?

Start Your Study of Biblical Archaeology with these Two Books

I've always found the archaeology in Palestine fascinating. I'm a self confessed armchair Biblical archaeologist. I just can't get enough. Its not only just plain interesting, it repeatedly confirms our Christian faith. So, if you want to get started in digging into our Christian past (pun intended) let me suggest two books, by the same author.

Doing Archaeology in the Land of the Bible: A Basic Guide by John Currid is the best place to start.

Within this slim and fact filled volume the reader will discover, a brief history on Biblical archaeology, definitions of basic archaeological terms, how archaeologists determine where and why to dig, what is a tel, why is stratigraphy and pottery so important, and much more.

If you want to go further, grab Currid's, The Case for Biblical Archaeology: Uncovering the Historical the Record of God's Old Testament People.

Though another introduction, this work is far more in depth (and worth every penny). Currid breaks down time periods (Bronze Age, Iron Age, etc.), definitions of terms are expanded, there are numerous maps, color photos, diagrams, and much more, all to assist the reader with a broader understanding of the subject. Many digs from north to south and east to west are detailed in their findings and each is given a "For Further Reading" section for the reader to explore much more.

Dig in friends, there is so much to learn!

There are paid links in this post.

Quick Book Review: Translation of the Seventy by Edmon L. Gallagher

My last book review of  The Septuagint: What It Is and Why It Matters really whet my appetite for more history on the Septuagint. I dug deeper and found Edmon L. Gallagher's, Translation of the Seventy. It was a true delight to read, or maybe devour is a better way of putting it. 

Though still an introduction to the Septuagint (LXX), this work delves deeper into the many issues that surround the LXX. 

The book is written in three sections:

I. Starting points - The reader is introduced to the LXX, its origins and why its important.

II. Canon and Text in Early Judaism and Earliest Christianity - In this section Gallagher begins to go deep. Most interesting here is how the biblical canon affected the growth of the LXX. 

III. The Text of the Septuagint among the Fathers - What is most intriguing in this section is the roles that Jerome and Augustine played in the history of the LXX.

I've only highlighted some aspects of the work, there is far more the reader will find of interest within its pages.  If church history, text criticism, early Judaism, early Christianity, are your interests or field of study this book is for you.

This work extremely insightful and helpful in gaining a greater understanding of the Septuagint.

There are paid links in this post.

Book Review: The Septuagint: What It Is and Why It Matters by Gregory Lanier and William A. Ross

If your latest field of study, like mine, is New Testament textual criticism you'll likely come across references to the The Septuagint. Like many Christians I had this rather amorphous idea of what it is. It finally came to the point that I had to investigate what it is and where it came from and why it is important. This is where The Septuagint: What It Is and Why It Matters by Lanier and Ross comes in.

The authors do a fine job of revealing what it is, where it came from and why it mattered in history and still does today. Written in clear language for the layman it proved to be a concise introduction to The Septuagint. 

Broken down into to two parts, the work explains the history and development of The Septuagint and in part two, why it still matters today. There are many misconceptions about it and that are laid out clearly by the authors. Definitions are frequent allowing the reader to better understand the text. I would even suggest heading directly to the appendix that answers many key questions and will allow the reader a head start comprehending the subject matter.

A quick look at the table of contents is revealing

Part 1 What Is the Septuagint? 

1 What (If Anything) Is the So-Called Septuagint? 

2 Who and Where Did the Greek Old Testament Come From? 

3 How Was the Greek Old Testament Translated? 

4 How Did the Greek Old Testament Develop? 

Part 2 Why Does It Matter?

(William A. Ross; Greg Lanier. The Septuagint (Kindle Locations 108-115). Crossway. )

Would I recommend this book? Most assuredly! It is instructive and an eye opener. The reader will be pleased with this excellent starting point in this field.

Click below to learn more about the authors. 

William A. Ross  and Greg Lanier

Crossway has graciously provided a copy of this book. Thoughts and opinions are my own. There are paid links on this page.

 

Want to go further? Check out Edmon Gallagher's book, Translation of the Seventy: History, Reception, and Contemporary Uses of the Septuagint.

 

Handbook on the Gospels by Dr. Benjamin L. Gladd

 Excellent book from an excellent series by Dr. Ben Gladd. Take some time and watch the video. It's worth it.

Book review: Reformation Anglican Worship: Experiencing Grace, Expressing Gratitude by Michael Jensen

 It has been my pleasure to read and digest two works on the Anglican faith in the recent months.  J.I. Packer's, The Heritage of Anglican Theology was a delight. So I dug in again with Michael Jensen's, Reformation Anglican Worship which is part of the series, Reformation Anglicanism Essential Library available from Crossway.

Whereas Packer's book focuses on Anglican history through the centuries, Jensen's book focuses on the development of Anglican worship. Rich in history, Jensen outlines the development of Anglican worship with a close eye on Cranmer and his work. He states in the introduction, "My objective is to uncover the roots of the Reformation theology and practice of worship." He continues, "The origins of the distinctive Anglican worship— for which it is best known— lie in a clear step away from the worship of the medieval Catholic Church and the theological convictions that it represented." "...for Cranmer as a liturgist. He was a genuinely theological liturgist, seeking to enshrine a particular gospel by means of his revision of English worship." And, "In this book, therefore, I will be less concerned to outline my preferences for a particular style of church meeting than to explore the theological convictions that made the Anglicanism of the Reformation what it was and is today— and what it could be in the future."

This book is a wealth if information, not just for the Anglican or would-be Anglican, but for all of us who seek true, Biblical worship that is edifying and pleasing to our Triune God.

 Casting our eye over the table of contents, we see that Jensen covers a range of topics that historically and currently are of interest.

Introduction   

1   The Heart of Christian Worship   

2   Worship in the English Reformation   

3   Reading and Preaching the Scriptures   

4   The Gospel Signs: The Sacraments   

5   Prayers of Grace   

6   Music: The Word in   Song Acknowledgments Bibliography

Acknowledgments 

Bibliography

General Index 

Scripture Index

This work is well written, easy to understand, and quite an enjoyable read. Highlights for me were the last three chapters on The Sacraments, Prayers of Grace, and Music though none of the book should be discounted.

I thoroughly recommend this book for your edification and understanding of true worship.

Quotations taken from: Michael P. Jensen; Ashley Null; John W. Yates III. Reformation Anglican Worship (Kindle Locations 168-213). Crossway.

Crossway has graciously provided a copy of this book. Thoughts and opinions are my own. There are paid links on this page.

Book Review: The Heritage of Anglican Theology by J. I. Packer

 

For sometime now I've been interested in Anglican theology but was slow to investigate my interest. So when the opportunity to review The Heritage of Anglican Theology  by J. I. Packer appeared, I jumped at the chance. Who better to explore and explain the history of the Anglican church than by J.I. Packer?

 

Almost immediately I was drawn into the web of Anglican history, the good and the bad, the ebb and flow, and the main players down through time. Beginning in the early 1500's, Packer takes us all the way through today's current standing in the Anglican church. As with any theological persuasion or denomination, there is both the bad and the good, the mainstream and the fringe, the conservative and the liberal. Theology and worship, true worship of God, can be messy and so it was in Anglican history.

 

The writing style was most pleasant; an easy read.  Complex terms and ideas are explained for the unfamiliar with Anglicanism. Of course, the worship of God, church history, and theology never operate in a vacuum. When, and it was often necessary, British history, culture, and politics are explained. Though this was a work on Anglican history, Packer always explained the correct method of worship and Biblical understanding.

 

To get a flavor of of the book, below is a list of chapter titles

1   Taking the Measure of the Anglican Mainstream   

2   The English Reformation   

3   Puritan Theology   

4   Richard Hooker   

5   The Caroline Divines   

6   Rational Divinity   

7   Revival Theology   

8   The Oxford Movement and Anglo-Catholicism   

9   Nineteenth-Century Broad Church Theology   

10   Anglican Modernism   

11   Early Twentieth-Century Anglican Theology   

12   Concluding Thoughts on Anglican Theology 

Afterword: Further Thoughts on the Anglican Concept of Doctrine 

Recommended Reading 

Index

Overall the reader will get a thorough understanding of the state of Anglicanism both past and present. 

I would give this five out of five stars! Excellent book. I enjoyed it thoroughly.

For more on Packer's theological thought check out his work, Knowing God. 

Crossway has provided a complimentary copy of this book through Beyond the Page and includes paid links. Opinions are my own.

For more on the Anglican Book of Common Prayer, see my post here.

Looking to Enhance Your Devotional Time?

 Sometime ago I was looking for a way to change up my devotional time. As I was exploring different avenues I came across this video by Matthew Everhard on the Book of Common Prayer. Though I'm not Anglican I've always heard good things about it. So, I purchased one and followed the directions Matthew has given in his video below. It was well worth the time and small expense.

A less expensive option for the BCP is here (paid link).

Be blessed!