Books I am currently reviewing and reading…

Last updated on: April 23, 2008 at 11:53 pm by Nijay Gupta

Books I am currently reviewing and reading… 2008-04-23T23:53:36-08:00 Nijay Gupta

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

I returned back home to Durham (England) last week from a two week holiday in the US with my family. While in my hometown (Ashland, Ohio) I like to stop in the seminary (Ashland Theological Seminary) and visit with some of the profs there. Strangely enough, some of them I know because I went to high school with their kids! In any case, one of these profs (David Baker, OT scholar) is also the editor of Ashland Theological Journal and allows me to take back a few books in NT to review for the journal. I thought I would share what I am reading. At first I thought posting on ‘what I am reading’ is a bit self-centered, but I thought, (1) this is a blog based my interests and research, so where else would be better?, and (2) I can offer a brief word about these relatively recent books and why I think they are interesting.

Paul: Missionary of Jesus (Paul Barnett): Intro books on the Apostle Paul are rather plentiful (for a short one I like Horrell, for a longer one M. Gorman), but I am always looking for good potential textbooks. Barnett is a good scholar and we have seen good commentary work from him (2 Corinthians, NICNT). He is critical of the New Perspective, so I am interested to see how he treats the subject. The book is endorsed by Hengel and Carson, but that is not too surprising. Also, Barnett tries to draw from both Acts and the Pauline corpus and sometimes this is done well and sometimes not so much. So, I am eager to see how he works out that approach.

Greed as Idolatry (B. Rosner). Rosner is an excellent exegete and also an expert in Pauline ethics. Interest in how metaphors shape reality is increasing interest among theologians and so this is a timely study as well.

Aspects of the Atonement (I.H. Marshall). This short book engages in the topics of cross, resurrection, and reconciliation. I have always enjoyed Marshall’s work (his NT Theology is quite good). This should be a fun read. As Mike Bird pointed out on his blog, Marshall rightly draws attention to the significance of resurrection as a theme in NT soteriology.

Central Themes in Biblical Theology (Ed. S. Hafemann and P.R. House). An evangelical project, this collection of essays treats subjects such as covenant, commandments/law, atonement, the ‘servant of the Lord’, judgment, the people of God, and the history of redemption. Contributing scholars include Frank Thielman and Elmer Martens (as well as pieces by the editors). My mentor from Gordon-Conwell, Roy Ciampa, has an excellent piece on heilsgeschichte. I think, though I will confirm after I read it!, that this might make a good textbook for a ‘whole-Bible’ survey class or an intro to biblical theology.

The New Perspective on Paul (Dunn; revised edition). This collection of older essays and inclusion of some new material was previously published by Mohr Siebeck and was unbearably expensive. Luckily Eerdmans picked it up and now it seems very affordable (though I was lucky to get it free for review!). Interestingly he dedicates it to Tom Wright, ‘friend, co-worker, fellow soldier, and bishop’ (the quote is in Greek). The only new piece chapter/essay is one on Philippians 3 – I am very interested to see what Dunn has to say since I have my own thought on 3.2ff.

As a Christmas present, my father-in-law gave me a gift certificate to Borders and I didn’t have an opportunity to spend it until we went to the US, so I also picked up a couple of books for ‘fun’ reading:

The Hauerwas Reader – I really enjoy reading about theology and ethics. I have only read the first essay so far, but I was very impressed at how readable he is.

Wesley for Armchair Theologians (W. Abraham) – Personal confession – I know very little about historical theology. I have spent so much time specializing in NT that I barely qualify as ‘armchair’! So, truth be told, this is about where I need to begin. I have read about 1/3 and this series is really excellent. Fun for pastors and a really good starting place for committed laypeople. Plus, a professional cartoonist does illustrations throughout the book and he is excellent. I would like to read the volume on Barth next, and Aquinas after that.

The Life and Work of Caravaggio. I love art (especially paintings) and I really like art that portrays biblical scenes. Caravaggio has quite a number of ‘biblical’ paintings, his Paul on the Road to Damascus being a well-known piece. I have only read a couple of chapters, but his life is so fascinating. He was quite a controversial figure – very anti-estabishment, lived on the street, offended everyone – that sort of thing.

So, I have a lot on my plate, but (for me) it is quite an appetizing plate!

Uncategorized

Previous Post

April 15, 2008

$100 well spent for doctoral students

Next Post

May 6, 2008 Scholars Who Have Influenced Me Most

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category (Mis)Understanding Philippians 10 Things I Can't Live Without 2023 New Books 30 OT HB Scholars to Read and Follow 5 Books Series 50-2-Follow Academia Christian Theologians to Read and Follow Cruciform Scripture: Contributor Reflections Crux Sola TV Editors Behind Great Books in NT Studies Education Gendering the Holy Spirit Gupta FB Live Lectures In Faith and Doubt In Their Own Words Living the King Jesus Gospel My Top 6 OT Commentaries New Testament Resource Guide New Word Biblical Themes Nijay's A Very Library Christmas Shopping Guide Notes from an Editor Notes on New Books NTRG OT in the NT Paul Seminary Now The Bible in God's World The Word Felt Among Us SPENCER Translating Philippians Uncategorized Why I Use Accordance Women in Ministry

Select a Month March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 May 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz