(Another Tuesday Time Travel…) “For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men.” — 1 Corinthians 4:9 Spectacles where quite common in the Roman empire. Essentially, a spectacle provided a citizen the opportunity… Continue Reading
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Category Archives: NT
From Jerusalem to Rome
Loveday Alexander in Acts in Its Ancient Literary Context (2005) says: The predominance of the Ionian mental map and the centrality of the sea for the voyages of Greek romance throw into relief the rather different geographical perspectives of Acts. Luke’s story really has two mental maps, one centred on Jerusalem and one on the… Continue Reading
Gird up the loins of your mind!
Tuesday Time Travel to the Roman Empire… “Therefore, gird up the loins of your mind…” 1 Peter 1:13 The phrase translated “gird up the loins” (ἀναζωσάμενοι τὰς ὀσφύας) refers to an action ancients would take to prepare themselves for some activity (hence many modern versions translate this phrase something like “prepare your minds for action.”) Because… Continue Reading
Preserving Archaeological Finds: What to Do?
Haaretz recently reported: One of the country’s leading archaeologists has publicly condemned the Israel Antiquities Authority’s failure to object to a plan to construct a building over a site in the Western Wall plaza where a well-preserved ancient Roman road was recently excavated. Interestingly: Tsafrir argued that the construction is being approved because the findings… Continue Reading
Powell's "Introducing the NT" and the Synoptic Problem
Mark Goodacre has posted an important discussion of the treatment of the Synoptic Problem in Powell’s Introducing the New Testament. Referring generally to introductory textbooks, Goodacre laments: …I have done what I can, through books, articles, websites, blogs, to try to generate some awareness of a major alternative to the consensus view. Sometimes, this has… Continue Reading
Ancient Hairstyles and the NT
Another Tuesday Time Travel… Ancient Hairstyles. “Your adornment must not be merely external–braiding of the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dress; but let it be the hidden person of the heart…” – 1 Peter 3:3-4 (cf. 1 Tim. 2:9; 1 Cor. 11:2-16) In New Testament times, women’s hairstyles held a place in… Continue Reading
Dan Wallace Comments on the Conservative Bible Project
Read the whole post here. Wallace says: Apart from using the best currently available Greek text which tags the long ending of Mark and the story of the woman caught in adultery (Mark 16.9–20 and John 7.53–8.11) as inauthentic, there is very little to commend in this translation. And a bit later… My friend and former… Continue Reading
Inconsistency in Authorship or Not?
I was recently reading through a relatively older work by David Hall, The Seven Pillories of Wisdom. Essentially he offers a critique of seven common arguments used in NT scholarship. In the sixth chapter, he examines the ‘argument from consistency’. The question he raises is one which I, too, have asked: “How far should we… Continue Reading
How to Pray: Two Ancient Views
“And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words.” — Matthew 6:7 As Jesus teaches on prayer in Matthew 6, he transitions from the example of “the hypocrites in the synagogues” (Matt 6:2, 5) to “the Gentiles” (Matt… Continue Reading
Treasure-filled Jars of Clay: The True Prosperity Gospel
Another Tuesday Time Travel to the Roman Empire… “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves.” – 2 Cor. 4:7 Paul’s view of accreditation seems backwards to us (and apparently to some in Corinth). From Paul’s perspective, his ministry… Continue Reading