Two books worth noting in IVP’s Academic update are A Week in the Life of Corinth and Christ-Centered Biblical Theology: Hermeneutical Foundations and Principles. I highly recommend subscribing to IVP’s Academic update to stay informed on all of their exciting new titles. You can subscribe here:  LINK.

A Week in the Life of Corinth By Ben Witherington III

“Ben Witherington III attempts to reenchant our reading of Paul in this creative reconstruction of ancient Corinth. Following a fictitious Corinthian man named Nicanor through an eventful week of business dealings and conflict, you will encounter life at various levels of Roman society–eventually meeting Paul himself and gaining entrance into the Christian community there. The result is an unforgettable introduction to life in a major center of the New Testament world. Numerous full-page text boxes expand on a variety of aspects of life and culture as we encounter them in the narrative.”

Christ-Centered Biblical Theology: Hermeneutical Foundations and Principles By Graeme Goldsworthy

“The appeal of biblical theology is that it provides a “big picture” that makes sense of the diversity of biblical literature. Through the lens of biblical theology the Bible ceases to be a mass of unconnected texts, but takes shape as a unified metanarrative connecting the story of Israel with that of Jesus. It presents the whole scene of God’s revelation as one mighty plan of salvation.

For fifty years Graeme Goldsworthy has been refining his understanding of biblical theology through his experiences as a student, pastor and teacher. In this valuable complement to his Gospel-Centered Hermeneutics, Goldsworthy defends and refines the rationale for his approach, drawing especially on the work of Australian biblical scholar Donald Robinson.”

The good folks at InterVarsity Press sent along a review copy of Ezekiel, Daniel, Volume XII in the Reformation Commentary on Scripture series, edited by Carl L. Beckwith (Ph. D., University of Notre Dame). This latest addition to the series was preceded by Reading Scripture with the Reformers, written by series general editor Timothy George and Galatians, Ephesians, Volume X in the Reformation Commentary on Scripture series, edited by Gerald L. Bray (Ph.D., La Sorbonne).

Series editor, Timothy George says, “The biblical revolution of the sixteenth century was an explosive event that shook the foundations of the church and called all Christians ad fontes—back to the sources! The Reformation Commentary on Scripture brings many of these sources, some for the first time, into the hands of today’s preachers and laity. My prayer is that this new series will encourage a fresh engagement with the primary sources of the Christian faith, and that this will result in the kind of God-centered Reformation that shook the world of Luther and Calvin.”

The Reformation Commentary on Scripture (RCS) follows on the heels of and is a sequel of sorts to the Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture (ACCS). (Learn more about ACCS on CD-ROM from my review here:  LINK.) When complete, RCS will span twenty-eight volumes, bringing together the writings of both well-known and obscure preachers, scholars and reformers of the sixteenth-century. The stated goals for the series are:

1. Renewing contemporary biblical interpretation by bringing to light Reformation-era biblical interpretation.
2. Strengthening contemporary preaching through exposure to the biblical insights of the Reformation writers.
3. Deepening understanding of the Reformation and the breadth of perspectives represented within it.
4. Advancing Christian scholarship in the fields of historical, biblical, theological and pastoral studies

About this Volume:

“In Ezekiel, Daniel, the latest volume in the Reformation Commentary on Scripture series, the startling and intense imagery, visions and oracles of the Old Testament Hebrew prophets are explored through the eyes of the church Reformers. These unnerving stories and apocalyptic pronouncements were especially captivating to the Reformers as they strove to view their circumstances through the lens of the Bible.

Volume editor Carl L. Beckwith brings together for the first time the voices of Luther, Calvin and Melancthon, as well as many lesser-known thinkers, to allow us to understand why the books of Ezekiel and Daniel were so crucial in the Reformation-era revolution in preaching and interpreting the Bible. This volume creates a window into the biblical, theological and pastoral minds of the Reformers as they engage the texts, providing new, deeper insights into these important and familiar passages.”

(Excerpted from the Ezekiel, Daniel, Volume XII Press Kit)

Notable recommendations for the Series:

“For folks interested in reception history and historical theology, these volumes are sheer gold, and Bray’s first offerings sets a high standard. The general introduction by Timothy George introduces both the series and the various schools of Reformed exegesis like Luther/Wittenberg, Strasbourg/Basel, Zurich group, Genevan school, British Reformation, and Anabaptists and alone is worth the price of the book.”
—Michael Bird, Euangelion, January 2012

“I am delighted to see the Reformation Commentary on Scripture. The editors of this series have done us all a service by gleaning from these rich fields of biblical reflection. May God use this new life for these old words to give him glory and to build his church.”
—Mark Dever, senior pastor, Capitol Hill Baptist Church, and director of 9Marks.org Ministries

“Discerning the true significance of movements in theology requires acquaintance with their biblical exegesis. This is supremely so with the Reformation, which was essentially a biblical revival. The Reformation Commentary on Scripture will fill a yawning gap, just as the Ancient Christian Commentary did before it, and the first volume gets the series off to a fine start, whetting the appetite for more. Most heartily do I welcome and commend this long overdue project.”
—J. I. Packer, Board of Governors Professor of Theology, Regent College

Related Books and Media:

• Reformation Commentary on Scripture website

The good folks at InterVarsity Press sent along a review copy of Mark: The Gospel of Passion by Michael Card. This is the second book in the Biblical Imagination Series. Luke: The Gospel of Amazement, the first book in the series was released in 2011. Forthcoming titles include Matthew: The Gospel of Fulfillment and John: The Gospel of Wisdom, which will be released in 2013 and 2014 respectively.

Michael Card has a broad vision for the Biblical Imagination Series, which brings together his music, writing, and teaching ministries. The core elements of the series are an individual commentary for Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, a collection of songs for each of the four gospels, a video teaching series, and an itinerant conference series. You can find more detailed information on the Biblical Imagination Series at www.biblicalimagination.com.

About the Book:
As noted above, Mark: The Gospel of Passion is the second book in the Biblical Imagination series written by Michael Card and published by InterVarsity Press. The books in this series are not academic or devotional commentaries, but rather seek to get the reader “engaging with the Scriptures at the level  of the informed imagination.” (p. 14) The book opens with a brief introduction to the person of Mark (“Who is Mark”) and the major themes of this gospel (the so-called messianic secret, the fiery trial, and the gospel of passion: the emotional life of Jesus). The book is organized around the sixteen chapters of the gospel of Mark, with each chapter of the gospel having its own specific chapter in the book. Working through each chapter in verse order, the text alternates from biblical text to commentary throughout. Readers who want to move beyond the scope of this work and delve even deeper into the gospel of Mark, should take note of the Appendices and other end materials:

• Appendix A: Ancient Sources on the Relationship between Peter and Mark
• Appendix B: References to the Emotional Life of Jesus in the Gospels
• Appendix C: Historical References to the Period of Mark’s Gospel
• Appendix D: References to Mark in the New Testament
• Appendix E: The Additional Ending of Mark
• Notes
• Resources

Notable Recommendations:
“Michael Card has taught hundreds of thousands of us to love Jesus more deeply. Now, with this new book, he teaches us to follow Jesus more closely. Thanks, Michael!”
-Max Lucado, pastor and bestselling author

“In honoring his mentor William Lane, Michael Card illumines a forgotten path of biblical imagination by a thorough examination of the book of Luke. I have been using this book as a meditation in my studio to live and create as an artist of the twenty-first century; I found every page to be eye-opening. This book is a feast for truth seekers and creators. . . . This humble offering is a sweet aroma and an invaluable contribution to all those who desire to know the Bible and live creatively.”
-Makoto Fujimura, artist and writer

Related Books and Media:

• Facebook
• www.biblicalimagination.com

Craig L. Blomberg recently appeared on The Janet Mefferd Show (2/3/2012). The interview is about twenty minutes long and focuses on questions raised in The Historical Reliability of John’s Gospel: Issues and Commentary (IVP Academic, 2011). Topics covered in the interview are:

• Why should we care?
•  Opinions raised by scholars in the past several decades.
• Why was the Gospel of John included in the Canon?
• Authorship of John’s Gospel.
• Evidence for use of outside sources.
• Impact of the Dead Sea Scrolls on the reliability of John’s Gospel.
• Concerns raised about John 21: 24-25
• Key issues related to the reliability of John’s Gospel (lofty language for and from Jesus)

You can listen to or download the interview here: LINK.

Notable Endorsements:

“This is a book with extraordinary strengths. In form it harks back to the approach of Sanday in 1872: Blomberg not only tackles many topical questions but works through the Gospel itself, chapter by chapter, asking pertinent historical questions. The evenhandedness of the evaluation, the eminent good sense of so many of the judgments and the clarity of the exposition (not to mention the excellent bibliography) conspire to make this an outstandingly useful book.”

—D. A. Carson, research professor of New Testament, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Illinois

“The Historical Reliability of John’s Gospel accomplishes exactly what is needed at this juncture in Johannine scholarship: a decisive vindication of the integrity of John’s Gospel in matters of history.”

—Andreas Köstenberger, assistant professor of New Testament, Southeastern Baptist Seminary

“Not since John A. T. Robinson’s work has there been such a ‘tour de force’ argument about this Gospel and its origins and historical substance. Highly recommended.”

—Ben Witherington III, professor of New Testament, Asbury Theological Seminary

About the Author:
Craig L. Blomberg (Ph.D., Aberdeen) is Distinguished Professor of New Testament at Denver Seminary in Denver, Colorado. His books include Interpreting the Parables (IVP Academic, 1990), Neither Poverty nor Riches (IVP Academic, 2000), Jesus and the Gospels: An Introduction and Survey (B&H Academic, 2009), The Historical Reliability of John’s Gospel (IVP Academic, 2011), commentaries on Matthew and 1 Corinthians, Making Sense of the New Testament: 3 Crucial Questions and Preaching the Parables (Baker Academic, 2004).

Where to Buy:

• Amazon
• WTS Books
• Christian Book

Happy Monday! No new books in the mail today, but I did get the IVP Academic Catalog for spring 2012. Below is my list of “must haves” from the catalog:

• Ezekiel, Daniel (Reformation Commentary on Scripture), Edited by Carl L. Beckwith (March 2012)
• The Wonder of the Universe, Karl W. Giberson (April 2012)
• A Week in the Life of Corinth, Ben Witherington III (May 2012)
• Christ-Centered Biblical Theology, Graeme Goldsworthy (May 2012)
• Biblical Hermeneutics: Five Views, Edited by Stanley E. Porter & Beth M. Stovell (June 2012)
• Dictionary of the Old Testament Prophets, Edited by J. Gordon McConville & Mark Boda (June 2012)

Welcome to day 4 of the 4th Annual 12 Days Before Christmas Book Giveaway! Today’s giveaway is sponsored by Accordance Bible Software, InterVarsity Press and Zondervan. We have three prize packs up for grabs, which will be explained below. The resources featured in today’s giveaway are:

	The Scholar’s 9 Introductory Level offers a basic Greek and Hebrew study package at an affordable price. Perfect for the seminary student on a limited budget, the Scholar’s Intro includes the Greek New Testament (NA27) and Hebrew Bible (BHS) with full grammatical tagging, Thayer’s Greek Lexicon and Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon, the King James with Strong’s numbers, your choice of an additional modern English Bible, and a basic package of study aids. That’s the equivalent of $585 worth of print resources for a retail price of just $149***Click here to find the answer to question 4.
	This volume focuses on five views of justification and calls on representative proponents to set forth their case and then respond to each other. The five views are:Traditional Reformed (Michael S. Horton) Progressive Reformed (Michael F. Bird) New Perspective (James D. G. Dunn) Deification, or Theosis (Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen) Roman Catholic (Gerald O’Collins and Oliver Rafferty)
	For over twenty years, Craig Blomberg’s The Historical Reliability of the Gospels has provided a useful antidote to many of the toxic effects of skeptical criticism of the Gospels. Offering a calm, balanced overview of the history of Gospel criticism, especially that of the late twentieth century, Blomberg introduces readers to the methods employed by New Testament scholars and shows both the values and limits of those methods. He then delves more deeply into the question of miracles, Synoptic discrepancies and the differences between the Synoptics and John. After an assessment of noncanonical Jesus tradition, he addresses issues of historical method directly.
	Uncovering this North African tradition and offering it to a wide reading audience is the task that Tom Oden sets for himself in this fascinating tour de force. The book, originating as lectures delivered at the Islamic Da’wa University in Tripoli in 2008 and later expanded as the W. H. Griffith Thomas Lectures in 2009 at Dallas Theological Seminary, has been expanded and refined to provide additional insights and references, surveying the texts, architecture and landmarks of this important period of Christian history. It also serves as a valuable companion to Oden’s earlier offerings in How Africa Shaped the Christian Mind and The African Memory of Mark.***Click here to find the answer to question 3.
	Spirituality often evokes images of quiet centeredness, meditative serenity and freedom from life’s pressures. It’s become a chic commodity, with its benefits evoked by images of sunrises and secluded retreats. Contrast the apostle Paul, who promotes a cross-shaped spirituality for fools making their way though life’s trials.As he explores this ancient spiritual path, Rodney Reeves probes our understanding of what Christian spirituality should be. And to illuminate its transformative power, he gives us living illustrations of what it means to follow Paul as he followed Christ. Here is a book that joins a deep understanding of Paul with a pastoral and spiritual wisdom born of experience. ***Click here to find the answer to question 2.
	According to author Con Campbell, making a small, regular time commitment and utilizing the right tools can make all the difference in preserving and improving the abilities Greek students work so hard to obtain. This primer sets out the basic practices pastors and former language students can follow to retain their Greek language skills.***Click here to find the answer to question 1.

Today’s Prizes

This contest is now closed. Winners will be announced soon.

Below are the books that caught my eye in the Winter 2012 IVP Academic Catalog.

You can view the full catalog below:

Many thanks to the kind folks at InterVarsity Press for sending along a review copy of Early Libyan Christianity: Uncovering a North African Tradition by Thomas C. Oden.  This is the third book in a series that calls the western church to consider the rich church history to be found on the continent of Africa.  I will be devouring Early Libyan Christianity as soon as I complete my review of The African Memory of Mark:  Reassessing Early Church Tradition (IVP, 2011). In the meantime, you can see my review of How Africa Shaped the Christian Mind (IVP, 2008) here:  LINK.  You can get a sense of where Oden intends to go with Early Libyan Christianity with this brief description from the IVP web site:

“Buried for more than a millennium beneath sand and the erosions of time are the remnants of a vital, formative Christian presence in Libya. From about A.D. 68 till the Muslim conquest of A.D. 643, Libya housed a vibrant, creative Christian community that contributed to the shape of the faith even as we know it today. By the mid-190s A.D., Leptis Magna could claim favorite sons as the Roman pontiff, Victor the African, and as the Roman emperor, Septimius Severus.

A rich and energetic community produced a wide variety of key players from early martyrs to great thinkers to archheretics. Tertullian, the great theologian, and Sabellius, the heretic, are relatively well known. Less well known are the martyrs Wasilla and Theodore and the great poet-philosopher-bishop Synesius of Cyrene.

Uncovering this North African tradition and offering it to a wide reading audience is the task that Tom Oden sets for himself in this fascinating tour de force. The book, originating as lectures delivered at the Islamic Da’wa University in Tripoli in 2008 and later expanded as the W. H. Griffith Thomas Lectures in 2009 at Dallas Theological Seminary, has been expanded and refined to provide additional insights and references, surveying the texts, architecture and landmarks of this important period of Christian history. It also serves as a valuable companion to Oden’s earlier offerings in How Africa Shaped the Christian Mind and The African Memory of Mark.”

About the Author:
Thomas C. Oden (Ph.D., Yale University), formerly Henry Anson Buttz Professor of Theology at The Theological School of Drew University in Madison, New Jersey, is now director of the Center for Early African Christianity, at Eastern University, St. Davids, Pennsylvania. He is the general editor of the Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture and the Ancient Christian Doctrine series as well as the author of Classic Christianity, a revision of his three-volume systematic theology.

Related Books:

I have come to strongly respect the scholarship of Thomas C. Oden during my previous encounters with his work including How Africa Shaped the Christian Mind (IVP, 2008) and the Ancient Christian Commentary Series (IVP, 2010).  Many thanks to the kind folks at InterVarsity press for sending me a copy of this new title for review, allowing me to dig even deeper into Oden’s work and research.  In The African Memory of Mark, Oden builds on the work he began in How Africa Shaped the Christian Mind and explores the broader picture of the author of Mark’s Gospel that is found within African tradition.  Oden compels his audience to consider a fresh portrait of Mark that vividly comes to life with this reassessment of early church tradition.

Key topics covered in the book are:

• Call for a fresh assessment of early church tradition from Africa
• Examination of parallels between the New Testament and the African account
• Review of historic archaeological evidence from Alexandria
• Readers are introduced to African synaxaries and other written sources often neglected in the West

The African Memory of Mark is widely available from Amazon and other book retailers.

Update:  I just got word from IVP that they will sponsor a giveaway in conjunction with my review.  Stay tuned for the upcoming giveaway I’ll be hosting for 5 copies of The African Memory of Mark, the week of August 22nd.

From the back cover:

The book of Job, Proverbs and Ecclesiastes are rooted in the order created by the one true God. Their steady gaze penetrates to the very nature of created reality and leads us toward peace and human flourishing. Craig Bartholomew and Ryan O’Dowd tune our ears to hear once again Lady Wisdom calling in the streets.

“Craig Bartholomew and Ryan O’Dowd have given the church a theology of Wisdom literature that is like apples of gold in settings of silver. Its apples of gold are its profound, penetrating and accurate insights into Old Testament wisdom. These are set in the silver settings of discerning evaluations, an engaging style, and the best of ancient and modern scholarship.”

—Bruce Waltke, Professor Emeritus of Biblical Studies, Regent College, and Distinguished Professor of Old Testament, Knox Theological Seminary

“Be not misled: this is much more than a theological introduction to the Old Testament wisdom books. It is a wide-ranging survey of their significance against their ancient Middle Eastern background and in the context of modern study. It stresses and explicates their poetic nature, and it makes illuminating links with modern and postmodern thinking.”

—John Goldingay, Fuller Theological Seminary

You can learn more about this new Old Testament resource at IVPress.com: LINK.