Biblical & Theological Publications by Tyndale Scholars

Preachers, Pastors, and Ambassadors: Puritan Wisdom for Today's Church

2011-10-24T18:06:00.001+01:00

Edited By: Lee Gatiss (London: Latimer Trust, 2011). Available from http://www.latimertrust.org/index.php/publications/books-and-compilations/116-ppa .

Puritan ministers saw themselves as ambassadors for God, called to proclaim his word and shepherd his people. They sought to pastor and lead people through the word clearly preached and the sacraments rightly administered, and by means of
a godly church discipline. In this second compilation of recent St. Antholin lectures (from the years 2001-2010), we see and hear the Puritans in action, and are encouraged to apply their godly wisdom in our own day.

The compilation begins with a brand new introduction by Lee Gatiss (currently working at Tyndale House on 17th century biblical interpretation). In this, he looks at a clever but failed plot by the Puritans to take over the Church of England in the early 17th century. He also contributed a later chapter on John Owenâs doctrine of infant baptism and infant salvation, called From Lifeâs First Cry.

Other contributions include:

Peter Adam

Word and Spirit: The Puritan-Quaker Debate
Wallace Benn Usher on Bishops: A Reforming Ecclesiology
Peter Ackroyd Strangers to Correction: Christian Discipline and the English Reformation
David Field "Decalogue Dod" and his Seventeenth Century Bestseller
Chad B Van Dixhoorn A Puritan Theology of Preaching
Peter Adam "To bring men to heaven by preaching": John Donne's Evangelistic Sermons
Tony Baker 1807-2007 John Newton and the Twenty-first Century
Andrew Atherstone Evangelical Mission and Anglican Church Order: Charles Simeon Reconsidered
David Holloway Re-establishing the Christian Faith: and the Public Theology Deficit

The Lessons of History

2011-10-24T18:06:00.000+01:00

By: Lee Gatiss in Churchman 125.3 (2011), pp 263-272.

An extended review of 7 recent books on church history, covering some new surveys of all 2000 years as well as more recent history. The article encourages pastors to teach church history to their congregations using some of these resources, to inspire, warn, and inform them.

The Text of the Pauline Corpus

2011-09-23T09:59:00.000+01:00

By Dirk Jongkind, in The Blackwell Companion to Paul, edited by Stephen Westerholm (Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell, 2011), 216-31.

The transmission of the text of the Pauline Corpus shows some differences with that of the four gospels and patterns and tendencies learned there are not automatically applicable to the Textual Criticism of Paul's letters. In this essay the main witnesses are introduced arranged by age and some of the key questions for the study of the Greek text of Paul are discussed.

The Acts of the Risen Lord Jesus: Luke's Account of God's Unfolding Plan

2011-08-15T09:07:00.000+01:00

By: Alan J. Thompson (New Studies in Biblical
Theology 27; ed. D. A. Carson; Nottingham/Downers
Grove: Apollos/InterVarsity Press, 2011).

This book aims to offer a biblical-theological
framework for interpreting the book of Acts so
that Luke's major themes may be identified and
related to the book as a whole. The book
especially highlights Acts as an account of the
'continuing story' of God's saving purposes: Luke
intends his work to be read in the light of Old
Testament promises and the continuing reign of
Christ in the inaugurated kingdom of God. In this
light, Luke's key themes are better understood
and integrated. Chapter topics include: 1. the
kingdom of God; 2. the resurrection and the
arrival of the last days; 3. Israel, the
Gentiles, and Godâ™s promises of restoration; 4.
the gift of the Holy Spirit; 5. the temple system
and its leaders; and 6. the role of the law.
[Available from July in the UK and October in the United States.]

In the preface of the book, Don Carson states
that the strength of Thompson's book is that "it
uncovers the main theological emphases of the
book of Acts on the book's own terms. Moreover,
although this volume focuses on Acts, Dr.
Thompson wisely keeps an eye peeled for
theological connections with Luke's Gospel. This
volume will be a treasure trove for all who seek
to understand Acts better, not least those who
teach and preach the book." (pp. 11-12)

The Puritans as Missionaries

2011-08-12T09:55:00.000+01:00

By: Lee Gatiss (Modern Reformation, March-April 2011), pages 7-9.

"Missionary" is not the first word that comes to mind when one thinks of the Puritans. Keen disciples, passionate pastors, devotional writers, powerful preachers, precise theologians yes. Radical revolutionaries and reformers even. But not missionaries. A recent companion to Puritanism has no chapter on their missionary endeavours and does not even have an entry in the index for "evangelism". Yet Lee Gatiss, currently at Tyndale House studying 17th century commentaries on Hebrews, tries to show in this article that all their efforts in theology, ministry, and even politics, were focused on bringing glory to God through the salvation of sinners. He shows how the Puritans sought to reach the lost for Christ in New England, in the dark corners of Old England (and Wales), and in the established churches.

Exploring the New Testament, volume 1: The Gospels and Acts (revised edn)

2011-07-05T10:17:00.000+01:00

By: David Wenham & Steve Walton, (2nd edn; London: SPCK/Downers Grove: IVP, 2011).

A revised edition of a well-used NT introduction which enables student to engage with the NT texts for themselves, rather than telling them lots about the NT and failing to get them to read the NT itself. Bibliographies have been updated throughout, and new material introduced to expand in areas where discussion has moved on in the ten years since the first volume, e.g. the Gospels as eyewitness testimony, apocryphal gospels. A new feature 'Thinking about Theology' provides short essays on key theological features of the five NT books studied. Volume 2, by Howard Marshall, Stephen Travis and Ian Paul, covering the Epistles and Revelation, is also published in a revised edition.

Trying Paul or Trying Rome? Judges and Accused in the Roman Trials of Paul in Acts

2011-07-05T09:23:00.000+01:00

By: Steve Walton in Luke-Acts and Empire: Essays in Honor of Robert L. Brawley. ed. Rhoads, D., D. Esterline, & J. W. Lee (Princeton Theological Monographs 151; Eugene, OR: Pickwick, 2011) 122-41.

An essay engaging with the Roman trials of Jesus (Luke 23) and Paul (Acts 18:12-17; 23-24; 25-26) in order to consider how Luke portrays the Roman empire in these stories. A mixed picture of the empire and its servant emerges, "the empire can act justly to give gospel proclamation the space to spread and flourish, but it can also act unjustly and thus seek to hinder the gospel's outward movement. It is in the midst of this setting that Luke both tells the story of the spread of the Christian testimony and encourages his readers to become part of the story themselves." (141)

Pilgrims, Warriors, and Servants: Puritan Wisdom for Today's Church

2011-06-14T09:44:00.000+01:00

Edited by Lee Gatiss (Latimer Trust, 2010)

This is a collection of the St. Antholin's Lectures on puritan theology and ministry from 1991-2000, edited and with an introduction by Lee Gatiss, who is currently working at Tyndale House researching a 17th century puritan commentary on Hebrews. The book contains chapters by Jim Packer, Peter Jensen, Peter Adam, Alister McGrath, Bruce Winter and others, covering such interesting topics as evangelical spirituality, the cross in John Owen's pastoral theology, puritan attitudes to combat with Satan, how to reform a church, and various studies of puritans such as Richard Baxter, John Bunyan, and Cambridge's own William Perkins. The introduction by Lee Gatiss is called "To Satisfy People's Hunger for the Word: St Antholin's as the Prototype Puritan Lectureship" and looks at the puritan love of preaching and why they started "lectureships" in churches.

The Sermons of George Whitefield (2 volumes)

2011-06-14T09:42:00.001+01:00

Edited by Lee Gatiss (Tentmaker Publications, 2010)

Two volumes of sermons from the great evangelical preacher of the eighteenth century Great Awakening, George Whitefield. A brand new, unique, edited and annotated edition - the first such since Whitefield death - giving valuable historical and theological insight into his powerful and passionate preaching which set the world on fire. Lee Gatiss, currently at Tyndale House doing research into 17th century biblical interpretation, edited the text, wrote an introduction, and has added many notes of historical and theological interest to the text, to make this a readable and informative edition.

The True Profession of the Gospel: Augustus Toplady and Reclaiming our Reformed Foundations

2011-06-14T09:42:00.000+01:00

By Lee Gatiss (Latimer Trust, 2010)

At every Coronation for over three hundred years, British Monarchs have promised to maintain, "the true profession of the gospel... the Protestant Reformed religion." At a time when many Evangelicals and Anglicans are questioning their theology and re-thinking their identity, it is more important than ever for us to remember this gospel of sovereign grace.
This book shows how God has used the Reformed gospel of "grace alone" to revitalise churches riddled with immorality and flagging in meaning and purpose. With a focus on hymn-writer and theologian Augustus Toplady, it retells the story of Reformation and Revival for a new generation looking to draw strength from its roots.
Tyndalers helped to choose the cover during coffee one day!

Shades of Opinion within a Generic Calvinism: The Particular Redemption Debate at the Westminster Assembly

2011-06-14T09:39:00.000+01:00

By Lee Gatiss. Reformed Theological Review 69.2 (2010): 101-118.

This article looks at the debate about the extent and intent of the atonement during the Westminster Assembly in 1645, where the writers of the Westminster Confession asked whether it was possible to disagree with what is now sometimes called âlimited atonementâ without being an Arminian, and whether God intended to save some people or just to secure an offer of conditional salvation for all. It examines the background to the debate in the work of Archbishop James Ussher, the Synod of Dort, and hypothetical universalism or Amyraldianism. Lee Gatiss, currently working at Tyndale on 17th century biblical interpretation, concludes that the debate shows there was a spectrum of Reformed views on the subject within an overall Calvinist umbrella.

A Deceptive Clarity? Particular Redemption in the Westminster Standards

2011-06-14T09:38:00.000+01:00

By Lee Gatiss. Reformed Theological Review 69.3 (2010): 180-196.

This article looks at the effect of the debate about so-called "limited atonement" at the Westminster Assembly in 1645 on the text of the Westminster Confession and Westminster Catechisms. Drawing on a previous article looking in depth at that debate, it shows that sophisticated hypothetical universalists of a Calvinist variety from the 17th century itself could happily have signed up to the doctrine set forth in the Standards, even though that is not the way the Confession has been read in more modern times. It calls for those who hold to different varieties of Calvinism/ Reformed theology to be more tolerant of diversity within their own ranks, and to recognise this historically within the Reformed constituency and Reformed confessions.

The Unerring Word of God

2011-06-14T09:36:00.000+01:00

By Lee Gatiss. The Gospel Magazine, September October, 2010, pp.152-154.

In the context of the current debate over "inerrancy", which is apparently a nineteenth century invention, this article looks at how Evangelicals spoke about this issue in the eighteenth century. It shows how George Whitefield, Augustus Toplady, John Newton and others spoke of the Bible as "God's unerring word". It suggests possible backgrounds for this in a 17th century Psalter and in the Book of Common Prayer and Thirty-nine Articles of the Church of England. It encourages evangelicals today to again speak and think of the word of God as "unerring".

Traditions of the Rabbis in the Era of the New Testament. Feasts and Sabbaths: Passover and Atonement.

2011-06-10T11:50:00.000+01:00

By: David Instone-Brewer (Eerdmans 2011)

The series collects all the rabbinic texts originating before 70 CE. This volume deals with mainly with Sabbath, Passover, Temple Tax and the Day of Atonement. Each tradition is given in full with a literal translation and discussions about its meaning in the context of Judaism and the dating of its development. More at www.T-R-E-N-T. com

Tight Fists or Open Hands? Wealth and Poverty in Old Testament Law

2011-06-10T11:03:00.000+01:00

By David L. Baker (Eerdmans, 2009)

Any Christian response to today's ever-growing problem of poverty around the globe must be firmly rooted in biblical teaching. While books on various aspects of wealth and poverty in the Old and New Testaments have been published, so far there has been no thorough study of Old Testament law on the topic. David Baker argues here that an understanding of that law is not only fundamental for interpreting the entire Old Testament, but it is also assumed by the writers of the New Testament. Tight Fists or Open Hands? fills this gap in Old Testament scholarship and lays a foundation for considering the relevance of these laws to everyday life in the twenty-first century.

The heart of this book is a study of all the biblical laws concerned with wealth and poverty. Baker groups these laws together by topic, considering the similarities and differences between the Decalogue, Book of the Covenant, Holiness Code, and Deuteronomic laws. He then places these in the context of ancient Near Eastern law in order to make clear which attitudes are distinctly biblical and which are held in common with other civilized peoples.

Each section of Tight Fists or Open Hands? includes an extended conclusion that summarizes the main ideas, considers relationships with other biblical texts, and points to the significance of the laws for today's world. Such thorough exegesis and modern application make this book relevant to pastors, scholars, and students in a variety of courses. Buy in UK or US.

The Eschatological Anthr pos in Marks Gospel

2011-06-10T10:58:00.001+01:00

By: Stuart T. Rochester (Kaleidoscope at http://www.dur.ac.uk/kaleidoscope/issues/v3i2/)

It explores the theological anthropology of Mark.

'Letter Carriers in the Ancient Jewish Epistolary Material'

2011-06-10T10:55:00.000+01:00

By Peter M. Head in Jewish and Christian Scripture as Artifact and Canon (eds. C.A. Evans & H.D. Zacharias; SSEJC 13; LNTS 70; London: T & T Clark / Continuum, 2009), 203-219.

This article discusses letter delivery in letters identifiably Jewish (or reported within Jewish sources) between 200 BC and AD 200 with a view to considering whether (and to what extent) the letter carrier has a role in the communication between sender and receiver. These include manuscript letters (from the Dead Sea area and from the papyri), rabbinic letters, letters in 1 & 2 Maccabees, Josephus and Philo.
Here is the conclusion:
Given the variety of material considered it is important to note that any generalizations will be a little dangerous. It is clear that the letter carriers do sometimes have an important role in the communication process (esp. when named, where it is generally assumed that they will have a larger role). An important place is given to specifically ambassadorial language in connection with the role of envoys/embassies in the delivery of official and royal letters. This can be both real/historical and redactionally introduced (e.g. in Maccabean literature and Josephus). From the notes of the Bar Kokhba revolt through to the royal letters of Jewish kings we do find letter carriers involved in reinforcing and supplementing the message of the written letter and thus facilitating the communication process envisaged by the author and sender of the letter.

Challenging to change: dialogues with a radical baptist theologian: Essays presented to Dr Nigel G. Wright on his sixtieth birthday

2009-08-11T16:53:00.000+01:00

Pieter J. Lalleman (editor), (London: Spurgeon�s College, 2009).

Fourteen contributions on Baptist identity, ministry, ministerial training and much more, all in response to the writings of Nigel G. Wright. Target audience ministers and ministerial students in all Free Churches.

Critical Companion to the Bible: A Literary Reference

2009-08-11T16:52:00.001+01:00

By Pieter J. Lalleman with Martin H. Manser, David Barratt and Julius Steinberg. (New York: Facts on File, 2009).

A 500-page introduction to the Bible in a secular series written by conservative Evangelicals. Factual information with emphasis on the literary form, aimed at a wide audience.

2 Korintiërs: Profiel van een evangeliedienaar

2009-08-05T09:30:00.000+01:00

By Rev. Dr. T.E. van Spanje, (Kok: Kampen, January 2009)

This integral commentary on 2 Corinthians is written in Dutch (in the CNT-3 Series) and contains 336 pages. It incorporates the latest relevant results of Pauline studies. Paul's opponents are identified with the Sophists. It appears to be possible to offer a consistent antisophistic reading of 2 Corinthians.

How to add your own publications

2009-05-08T13:01:00.006+01:00

We welcome you to add publications of work carried out wholly or partly while at Tyndale House

If you did work on a paper or book or chapter in a multi-author book, this is an appropriate place to draw attention to it.

Please send an email to TyndaleNotices@gmail.com with

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By A. N. Author, (Publisher, Date) OR Journal Title 99 (1999) 20-35

Summary of the paper or book in five sentences or less (the shorter it is, the more likely it will get read).

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Please bear in mind that although the primary viewers of these notices are friends of Tyndale House, they are nevertheless public.

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"Is God Moral? On the Saul Narratives as Tragedy"

2009-02-18T18:19:00.000Z

By Peter J. Williams, in R.P. Gordon, ed., The God of Israel: Studies of an Inimitable Deity (CUP, forthcoming).

This examines recent approaches, especially those of Gunn, Humphreys and Exum, claiming that the Saul narratives are tragic. It is found that when the textual clues of the narratives are considered carefully there is significant evidence against a tragic reading. Tragic readings can only be achieved by ignoring significant elements within the narratives.

Traditions of the Rabbis from the Era of the New Testament (TRENT), vol.2 Feasts and Sabbaths: Passover and Atonement

2009-01-01T21:31:00.004Z

By David Instone -Brewer (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2009) (online-version)

This volume covers the first half of Order Moed, including laws of Sabbath, Community Markers, Passover, the Half Shekel tax and the Day of Atonement. These provide many enlightening insights into NT background, including details of the Sabbath disputes of Jesus, the Passover in the Gospels, Jewish tax and payments to the Temple, the theology of Hebrews and first century Jewish soteriology.

"Jewish Associations in Roman Palestine: Evidence from the Mishnah"

2009-01-01T18:57:00.001Z

By David Instone -Brewer and Philip A. Harland (Journal of Greco-Roman Christianity and Judaism 5, 2009) (online-version)

Associations were a widespread social structure in the first century Roman world, of individuals who shared a common interest and bonded together by means of communal meals, often in temples which had dining facilities. Judaism used a comparable term (haburah) to describe similar gatherings especially at festival times. The Jewish associations included groups who met in public halls for a festival meal, reclining on triclinia and were waited on by servants. Separate associations met privately, even though they occupied the same public hall as others. Unlike Gentile associations, there is some evidence that Jewish associations rejected the custom of following the meal by a drinking party.

‘Named Letter-Carriers among the Oxyrhynchus Papyri’

2009-01-01T17:31:00.000Z

By Peter M. Head, JSNT 31.3 (2009), 279-299

Shows that letter-carriers generally supplemented the epistolary communication with additional oral communication. Important for thinking through Paul's letter delivery through authorised and named carriers. First publication of a new research project in this area.

"Scandals from the New Testament"

2009-01-01T09:43:00.001Z

By David Instone -Brewer (a series of articles in Christianity, 2009)

The morals of a society is marked at the place where they perceive a scandal has occurred. By studying scandals in the NT and the NT world, we get a very clear picture of NT morals.

"Singular Readings in Sinaiticus: The Possible, the Impossible, and the Nature of Copying,".

2008-01-01T19:18:00.000Z

By Dirk Jongkind, in Textual Variation: Theological and Social Tendencies?: Papers from the Fifth Birmingham Colloquium on the Textual Criticism of the New Testament, Texts and Studies, Third Series, Volume 6, ed. D.C. Parker and H.A.G. Houghton (Piscataway, NJ: Gorgias Press, 2008), 35-54.

There is a long-standing tradition in Textual Tradition to explain variant readings by 'what we think the scribe did or thought'. But how realistic are such explanations? This essay argues that any explanation should start with the mechanics of normal copying, and with a proper understanding of what mental processes are involved. A proper model of copying is suggested.

"Balaam-Laban as the key to the Old Testament quotations in Matthew 2"

2008-01-01T19:06:00.001Z

By David Instone -Brewer in Built upon the Rock: studies in the Gospel of Matthew, ed. Daniel M. Gurtner (Grand Rapids, Mich. ; Cambridge, U.K. : Eerdmans, 2008) 207-227 (online-version)

Matthew chapter 2 appears to pull proof texts out of the Hebrew Scriptures in an almost random way. However, when it is read in the light of the ancient additions to the story of Balaam, the texts form the structure of a sermon based on Balaam's star. Early Jewish sources allude to a story about Balaam who, in the identity of Laban, tried to kill Rachel's children which included a messianic baby. They were protected in Egypt but after the Exodus Balaam attacked again. Matthew's four quotations are each linked to this story, and a first century Jewish reader would have recognised the story behind these links. The underlying message is that Jesus is the Messiah, and that Herod was like Balaam-Laban, the super-enemy of the Jews who tried to destroy the Messiah.

‘The Gospel of Mark in Codex Sinaiticus: Textual and Reception-Historical Considerations’

2008-01-01T17:32:00.000Z

By Peter M. Head, TC: A Journal of Biblical Textual Criticism (SBL on-line journal, October 2008, 38 pages) [online ]

A fascinating exploration of the way in which Mark's Gospel is presented in Codex Sinaiticus.

‘Five New Testament Manuscripts: Recently Discovered Fragments in a Private Collection in Cambridge’

2008-01-01T17:29:00.000Z

By Peter M. Head, Journal of Theological Studies 59 (2008), 520-545. [on-line: doi: 10.1093/jts/flm177]

The definitive publication of five NT manuscripts identified and studied here at Tyndale House. Includes full discussion, texts and photographs.

‘Scribal Behaviour and Theological Tendencies in Singular Readings in P. Bodmer II (P66) ’

2008-01-01T17:28:00.001Z

By Peter M. Head, in Textual Variation: Theological and Social Tendencies? The Fifth Birmingham Colloquium on New Testament Textual Criticism (eds H.A.G. Houghton & D.C. Parker; Texts and Studies, Third Series; Gorgias Press, 2008), 55-74.

This is important. P66 is a careless Christian scribe. If Christian scribes were involved in 'orthodox corruption' of the text of the NT on a significant scale we might expect this to appear in the singular readings of such a careless Christian scribe. But they do not. There is no evidence for particular theological tendencies in the singular readings of P66. Spells the beginning of the end for Bart Ehrman.

‘P. Bodmer II (P66): Three Fragments Identified : A Correction’

2008-01-01T17:28:00.000Z

By Peter M. Head with D.M. Wheeler & W. Willker, Novum Testamentum 50/1 (2008), 78-80.

This paper offers an important correction to an earlier paper. Not for general viewing.

"Rabbinic Reflections on Living Sacrifices at Romans 12:1"

2008-01-01T09:43:00.001Z

By David Instone -Brewer (Jerusalem Perspective, 2008) (online)

Rabbinic traditions speak about Temple offerings which were kept alive and pastured till they were blemished. They could not be slaughtered for a variety of technical reasons, but while they lived, their profits (from wool or milk) went to the Temple, so long as they remained pure. This is the likely background to the 'Living Sacrifices' who are told to remain spotless.

"Links with Tabernacles and Hanukkah in the Gospel Accounts of Palm Sunday"

2008-01-01T09:42:00.001Z

By David Instone -Brewer (Jerusalem Perspective, 2008) (online)

Waving palm branches and crying Hosanna were associated with the festivals of Tabernacles and Hanukkah, both of which celebrated a ruler riding in to free Jerusalem. When these familiar chants occurred before Passover at Jesus' entrance, the officials were understandably worried.

Scribal Habits in Codex Sinaiticus,.

2007-01-01T19:17:00.000Z

By Dirk Jongkind, Texts and Studies, Third Series, Volume 5 (Piscataway, NJ: Gorgias Press, 2007).

The result of Jongkind's doctoral work, covering a variety of scribal phenomena found in the oldest complete Greek New Testament in existence (it also includes a large part of the Greek Old Testament). Particular attention is given to noticeable differences between the two scribes who worked on the New Testament text, but also issues such as the use of nomina sacra and the Eusebian canon system are covered.

"P115 and the Number of the Beast"

2007-01-01T17:08:00.001Z

By Peter J. Williams, Tyndale Bulletin 58 (2007) 151-153.

In Revelation 13:18 the occurrence of the number 616 in P115 has been taken as offering support to the view that the number refers to Nero. Here, an alternative or perhaps additional explanation of the number 616 is given by the suggestion that this number visually mimics designations of Jesus.

"The Gospel of Judas and the Qarara Codices"

2007-01-01T17:08:00.000Z

By Peter M. Head, Tyndale Bulletin 58.1 (2007) 1-23. [ online]

Note the sub-title: Some Preliminary Observations. An important early effort to examine the manuscript and contents of this important new fine. Described by April De Conick as "one of the best pieces I have read so far on the Gospel of Judas."

"Jesus` Sabbath Dispute with Pharisees in a Cornfield"

2007-01-01T09:49:00.001Z

By David Instone -Brewer, (Jerusalem Perspective, 2007) (online)

Why did Jesus quote the story of David eating the Bread of the Presence to show that disciples could eat plucked wheat on a Sabbath? Eating a handful of corn was allowed on a Sabbath, and what concerned the Pharisees was eating the one part in a hundred which was the priest's tithe within the handful of corn. So Jesus pointed out that David also ate food intended only for priests.

"What God has Joined"

2007-01-01T09:44:00.003Z

By David Instone -Brewer, Christianity Today (Oct. 2007) 26-29. (online-version)

This summary of Divorce and Remarriage in the Church caused a terrible controversy because it implied one could divorce for minor emotional neglect. John Piper blogged to say that this was a misunderstanding, but somehow this just fueled the fire.

(Time magazine interview): "An Evangelical Rethink on Divorce?"

2007-01-01T09:44:00.002Z

By David Instone -Brewer by David Van Biema, Time (Nov. 5th 2007). (online-version)

A British academic does not often get embroiled in USA political debates about Democratic Presidential candidates, until most of them are divorcees. Time magazine was interested to find out the Biblical basis to the new Evangelical thinking on divorce. When Time magazine phoned, I was unavailable because it was tea time at Tyndale House, so they had to call back later. One has to get priorities right!

"Not lost in translation"

2007-01-01T09:42:00.001Z

By David Instone -Brewer, Christianity magazine (Dec. 2007) 28-31 (online-version)

The NIV and tNIV translation committee sits every year to work on minor revisions. This view from the inside shows that a committee really can work well, and sometimes have fun too.

"Evangelical Separation Anxiety: What the Bible says about Divorce"

2007-01-01T09:41:00.001Z

By David Instone -Brewer, The Wall Street Journal (Apr.6 2007). (online-version)

The Wall Street Journal is interested in theology when Evangelicals suddenly stop rejecting Presidential Candidates who are divorced.

"Rabbinic Writings in New Testament Research"

2006-01-01T21:10:00.001Z

By David Instone -Brewer in vol.II of The Handbook of the Study of the Historical Jesus (4 vols, eds. Tom Holmén & Stanley E. Porter; Leiden: Brill, 2006) (online-version)

The value of rabbinic writings for interpreting the NT is limited by the difficulty of dating them. Halakhic traditions are the easiest to date, because even anonymous traditions can show historical development from case laws which led up to them and other which resulted from them. Agadic traditions can sometimes be dated - eg the charge sheet against Jesus which appears to have survived against all odds. Parables are common but only a couple can be dated before 70 CE - including one which gives an insight into true Jewish motives for obeying the Law. Targums are the most tantalising traditions and the hardest to date, but these too can sometimes be dated by relating them to other datable teaching.

"On the Representation of Sahidic within the Apparatus of the Nestle-Aland Novum Testamentum Graece"

2006-01-01T19:27:00.000Z

By Peter J. Williams, Journal of Coptic Studies 8 (2006) 123-25.

I consider a limited number of examples of the representation of Sahidic Coptic in the apparatus of the Greek New Testament, concluding that sometimes the editors have been too ready to suppose that a particular Greek was the basis for the Sahidic translation.

"`The Lilies of the Field` Reconsidered: Codex Sinaiticus and the Gospel of Thomas," .

2006-01-01T19:26:00.001Z

By Dirk Jongkind, Novum Testamentum 48 (2006) 209-16.

Years ago it was noted that the original reading of Codex Sinaiticus in Mat 6:28 (erased and rewritten by a corrector) reflects the Greek Gospel of Thomas (the particular reading is absent from the Coptic translation of Thomas). Some have suggested that both Sinaiticus and Thomas go back to the source that underlies all the other manuscripts. However, it may be that Sinaiticus here, as also in a number of other places, reflects non-biblical literature and is dependant on Thomas rather than on a shared source.

"One Codex, Three Scribes, and Many Books: Struggles with Space in Codex Sinaiticus,".

2006-01-01T19:26:00.000Z

By Dirk Jongkind, in New Testament Manuscripts: Their Texts and Their World, ed. Thomas J. Kraus and Tobias Nicklas, Texts and Editions for New Testament Study; vol. 2 (Leiden; Boston: Brill, 2006), 121-35.

If more than one scribe are working simultaneously on different part of the same manuscripts, how do they fit the pieces together? In Sinaiticus the scribes calculated how much space each scribe would need, so that the next part could be started. This calculation went sometimes wrong with the result that the scribes had to do all sorts of things to cover up their error.

"The Scandal of Equality in Jesus' Ethical Teaching"

2006-01-01T19:23:00.003Z

By David Instone -Brewer (Priscilla Papers 20, 2006, 2:17-22) (online-version)

If we asked anachronistically whether Jesus was egalitarian or complementarian, we could look at his teaching on polygamy, divorce and singleness. In each case he took what could be regarded as an egalitarian stance - he rejected polygamy as unequal, forbade the men-only no-fault divorce, and allowed both men and women to remain single. His own singleness was a scandal in a society where procreation was regarded as a divine command. He was probably unable to marry because he was an unofficial mamzer (illegitimate), so no decent girl would be allowed to marry him.

‘A Newly Discovered Manuscript of Luke’s Gospel ( de Hamel MS 386; Gregory-Aland 0312)’

2006-01-01T17:27:00.000Z

By Peter M. Head, in New Testament Manuscripts: Their Texts and Their World (eds Thomas J. Kraus & Tobias Nicklas; Texts and Editions for New Testament Study 2; Leiden: E.J. Brill; 2006), 105-120.

A discussion of the palaeography, codicology and text of an important new manuscript of Luke (discovered right here at Tyndale House).

"What God has Joined Together"

2006-01-01T09:44:00.001Z

By David Instone -Brewer in Christian Reflection: Marriage (Baylor University, 2006). (online-version)

A summary of Divorce and Remarriage in the Church.

‘Is P4, P64 and P67 the Oldest Manuscript of the Four Gospels? A Response to T.C. Skeat’

2005-01-01T17:27:00.000Z

By Peter M. Head, New Testament Studies 51 (2005) 450-457

This paper argues that Skeat was quite wrong to think that P4, P64 and P67 were once part of a four-gospel codex. Probes problems in Skeat's method and argument. For further follow-up see Scott Charlesworth's article in a more recent issue of NTS.

‘P. Bodmer II (P66): Three Fragments Identified’

2005-01-01T17:26:00.000Z

By Peter M. Head, Novum Testamentum 47 (2005), 105-108.

This paper discusses three fragments of P66 which had never been identified (not in the whole history of mankind). Significant for the geek factor. Also because I made a mistake on one of these and some colleagues helped with a follow-up: (with D.M. Wheeler & W. Willker), �P. Bodmer II (P66): Three Fragments Identified: A Correction� Novum Testamentum 50/1 (2008), 78-80.

"An Unidentified Theological Fragment from the Fifth Century in a Private Collection in Cambridge (De Hamel Ms 373)"

2005-01-01T17:08:00.000Z

By Peter M. Head, Tyndale Bulletin 56 (2005) 35-38. [ online]

Fame and fortune awaits the person who can identify this mysterious piece.

"The historical Jesus among the rabbis : prayer, divorce and earthly rewards"

2005-01-01T09:43:00.001Z

By David Instone -Brewer (Anvil 22, 2005, 173-182) (online-version)

Some examples of how rabbinic traditions enlighten our understanding of Gospel traditions.

Traditions of the Rabbis from the Era of the New Testament (TRENT), vol.1 Prayer and Agriculture

2004-01-01T21:26:00.001Z

By David Instone -Brewer (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2004) (online-version)

A lengthy introduction shows the methods for dating early rabbinic traditions, as well as the potential inaccuracies involved. This volume covers the first Order of Mishnah which deals with regular prayers such as the Shema and Eighteen Benedictions and the various aspects of tithing and growing crops. All the traditions which can arguably originate before 70 CE are analysed, dated and related to the NT where appropriate.

"The Linguistic Background to Jesus` Dereliction Cry (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34)"

2004-01-01T19:28:00.000Z

By Peter J. Williams, in P.J. Williams, A.D. Clarke, P.M. Head and D. Instone-Brewer, eds., The New Testament in Its First Century Setting: Essays on Context and Background in Honour of B.W. Winter on His 65th Birthday (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2004) 1-12.

The forms of the dereliction cry in Matthew and Mark ('My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?') are different. This article proposes a historical model that can account for the precise differences in the Aramaic wording between the two gospels and attribute the differences to eyewitness report.

"Comparing Neusner's and Guggenheimer's Translations of the Jerusalem Talmud"

2004-01-01T19:15:00.001Z

By David Instone -Brewer (Review of Rabbinic Judaism 7, 2004, 176-184) (online-version)

Guggenheimer has started to publish a new translation of the Jerusalem Talmud which till now has only been translated into English by Jacob Neusner. A detailed comparison of a few portions shows that they have very different styles. Guggenheimer's translation uses more flowing English and assumes knowledge of Jewish background by the reader, while Neusner tends to translate literally and explains things which a non-expert may not understand.

"James as a Sermon on the Trials of Abraham"

2004-01-01T18:45:00.001Z

By David Instone -Brewer in The New Testament in Its First Century Setting: Essays on Context and Background in Honour of B.W. Winter on his 65th Birthday, eds P.J. Williams, Andrew D. Clarke, Peter M. Head, David Instone-Brewer (Eerdmans, 2004): 250-268. (online-version)

The epistle of James appears unstructured with a confusing mixture of OT allusions, until it is viewed as a sermon on the theme of the Trials of Abraham. This theme, which was a commonplace in first century Judaism, was a catalogue of ten temptations which Abraham faced and triumphed over. These trials, which included a temptation by Satan similar to Job's, were to test Abraham's self-control and to see whether his faith was matched by his works.

‘The Temple in Luke’s Gospel’

2004-01-01T17:25:00.000Z

By Peter M. Head, in T.D. Alexander, S.J. Gathercole, eds. Heaven on Earth: The Temple in Biblical Theology (Carlisle: Paternoster, 2004), 101–119.

A discussion of the role and place of the temple in Luke's Gospel. Doing the research for this paper made me lose my faith ... in redaction criticism.

‘Singular Readings in the Early Fragmentary Papyri of John: Some Observations on the Habits of New Testament Copyists’

2004-01-01T17:24:00.000Z

By Peter M. Head, Biblica 85.3 (2004), 399–408

A follow up to my earlier study on the Synoptic texts (see either above or below - I really am not sure how this blog is being read). Continues the important work which is discussed appreciatively in James R. Royse, Scribal Habits in Early Greek New Testament Papyri (NTTS 36; Leiden: Brill, 2008), 720-723.

‘Papyrological Perspectives on Luke’s Predecessors (Luke 1.1)’

2004-01-01T17:23:00.000Z

By Peter M. Head, in The New Testament in its First Century Context: Essays on Context and Background in Honour of B.W. Winter on His 65^th Birthday (eds. P.J. Williams; A.D. Clarke; D.I. Brewer; P.M. Head; Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2004), 30–45.

This paper, presented in a Festschrift to Bruce Winter, uses papyrological resources to consider three words in Luke 1.1. It offers an important corrective to Loveday Alexander's work on Luke's prologue and demonstrates how papyrological material can be integrated with other aspects of our knowledge of the ancient world in order to illuminate the NT text. (with thanks to Bruce for his constant encouragement to do just that)

‘The Nazi Quest for an Aryan Jesus’

2004-01-01T17:20:00.000Z

By Peter M. Head, Journal for the Study of the Historical Jesus 2 (2004), 56–90.

I know that educationalists worry about the Nazification of history; and internet users worry about Godwin's rule, but this article (although yes it does quote from Hitler) tackles an extremely neglected area of historical Jesus studies and raises broader questions about the relationship of theological presuppositions and historical research. Originally presented as a paper to the Jesus Seminar.

Early Syriac Translation Technique and the Textual Criticism of the Greek Gospels

2004-01-01T16:09:00.000Z

By Peter J. Williams (Texts and Studies; Gorgias Press, 2004).

There has been a longstanding assumption by scholars that the Vorlage or text behind a translation can be reconstructed easily and in the case of the Syriac gospels scholars have been very quick to conclude that a particular form of Greek wording has stood behind the Syriac text even though they have not investigated systematically precisely how the translation deals with its Vorlage. This practice has led to a number of incorrect notes concerning the Vorlage of the Syriac being present in the Nestle-Aland Novum Testamentum Graece. Here, for the first time, many phenomena are investigated in a systmatic way. Investigations are made of various phenomena, including the use of personal proper nouns, pronominal objects, particles, and formulae introducing speech. It is shown that a better appreciation of the way a translation was made can lead to significantly different conclusions as regards the textual support for specific readings.

"Theology of Hermeneutics"

2004-01-01T15:08:00.001Z

By David Instone -Brewer in Encyclopedia of Midrash: biblical interpretation in formative Judaism eds. Jacob Neusner and Alan J. Avery Peck (Brill, 2004) (online-version)

The theology of hermeneutics in Judaism's foundational literature tells us the assumptions with which early Judaism regarded Scripture. The forerunners of the Tannaim (the Pharisees and various named individuals living before 70 CE) followed mainly Nomological assumptions, ie: Scripture is totally self-consistent; every detail in Scripture is significant; Scripture is understood according to its context; Scripture does not have any secondary meaning; there is only one valid text form of Scripture. Hellenistic Judaism (eg Philo and Josephus) and Sectarian Judaism (mainly Qumran) had an inspirational hermeneutic theology, viewing Scripture as though it contains hidden or spiritual meanings which are not obvious to the casual or uninspired reader. Rabbis after 70 CE introduced methods of the inspirational approach to find Scriptural foundations for new rulings.

"A Study on Translation Technique in the Peshitta to Jeremiah"

2003-01-01T19:31:00.000Z

By Peter J. Williams, Aramaic Studies 1.2 (2003) 289-98.

I present an extensive critical view of Gillian Greenberg, Translation Technique in the Peshitta to Jeremiah (Leiden: Brill, 2002). The particular area of focus of my critique is on Greenberg's attempt to reconstruct a Vorlage to the Peshitta of Jeremiah which is seen as an intermediate stage between the text of the LXX and the Masoretes.

‘A New Manuscript of Jeremiah in Greek according to the Lucianic Recension (de Hamel MS 391; Rahlfs 897) ’

2003-01-01T17:25:00.000Z

By Peter M. Head, Bulletin of the International Organization of Septuagint and Cognate Studies 36 (2003), 27–37.

This manuscript, which I identified here in my office at Tyndale House (with some help and encouragement from Leslie McFall and Pete Williams) is the earliest manuscript of the Lucianic type by some four or five hundred years. Only a small portion survives, but as the photo shows, it once was part of a beautiful manuscript of the prophets in Greek.

"Q Review"

2003-01-01T17:08:00.002Z

By Peter M. Head and Peter J. Williams, Tyndale Bulletin 54 (2003) 119-144 [ online]

A review of the Critical Edition of Q and related publications. This includes a lengthy analysis of Maurice Casey, An Aramaic Approach to Q (Cambridge: CUP, 2002), including an investigation into one of Casey's favourite examples of alleged Aramaic mistranslation in the Gospels.

"Fragments of Six Newly Identified Greek Bible Manuscripts in a Cambridge Collection: A Preliminary Report"

2003-01-01T17:08:00.000Z

By Peter M. Head, TC 8 (2003). [ online]

Don't read this anymore. This preliminary report has now been superceded by the final publication in JTS.

"Beginning to Study the Old Testament"

2003-01-01T17:07:00.000Z

By Peter J. Williams, in Philip Duce and Daniel Strange, eds., Encountering God`s Word: Beginning Biblical Studies (Leicester: Apollos, 2003) 13-64.

This really does exactly what the title says it does. It looks at how one and when one should begin academic study of the Old Testament. While it is particularly informed by the experience of studying the Old Testament in a British University, it seeks to draw lessons for how Old Testament study is best done. It tackles questions of learning Hebrew, method in discussing Old Testament history, literary and historical criticism of the Old Testament, and a couple of moral objections to the Old Testament. It ends with a discussion of resources for further study.

"The Eighteen Benedictions and the Minim Before 70 CE"

2003-01-01T14:56:00.001Z

By David Instone -Brewer (Journal of Theological Studies, NS, 54, 2003, 25-44) (online-version)

The earliest wording of the 18 Benedictions says God's glory dwells in the Jerusalem Temple, which suggests that at least some of this wording originated before its destruction in 70CE. The curse against the "minim" was probably directed against the Sadducees, replacing the curse against Pharisees (which is referred to but is now lost). The anti-Christian curse against "Natzerines" is referred to by 2nd C Tertullian and Justin Martyr but it is unlikely to be as old as the mutual curses of Sadducees and Pharisees.

"The Two Asses of Zechariah 9:9 in Matthew 21"

2003-01-01T14:42:00.001Z

By David Instone -Brewer (Tyndale Bulletin, 54, 2003, 87-98 ) (online-version)

Matthew appears to depart from the Synoptics, Johannine tradition and from common sense when he gives Jesus two asses to ride on for his grand entrance into Jerusalem. Most commentators have assumed that Matthew misunderstood the meaning of the parallelism in Zechariah 9:9, which caused him to create another animal to enable Jesus to fulfill the prophecy. This paper suggests that Matthew understood the concept of parallelism, but that he did not believe that Scripture should be interpreted in that way. This is in line with rabbinic thought of the first century which rejected the concept of parallelism in Scripture.

Divorce and Remarriage in the Church: Biblical Solutions for Pastoral Realities

2003-01-01T09:45:00.000Z

By David Instone-Brewer (Carlisle, Cumbria: Paternoster Press 2003) (online-version)

A summary of the findings in Divorce and Remarriage in the Bible for non-scholars, with the addition of pastoral concerns and Group Study material.

"Divorce for `Any Cause`"

2003-01-01T09:41:00.001Z

By David Instone -Brewer; Whitefield Briefing (8.5, Dec. 2003). (online-version)

A summary of Jesus' teaching on divorce, as detailed in Divorce and Remarriage in the Bible

"The Difference between the Roots mlt and plt"

2002-01-01T19:29:00.000Z

By Peter J. Williams, Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft 114 (2002) 438-42.

People have tended to assume that the roots MLT and PLT are essentially synonyms, and that their distribution is complementary. I demonstrate here that MLT focusses much more on escape from a horizon of danger, and PLT much more on the state of safety reached.

"Israel outside the Land: The Transjordanian Tribes in 1 Chronicles 5"

2002-01-01T16:09:00.000Z

By Peter J. Williams, in V. Philips Long, David W. Baker and Gordon J. Wenham, eds., Windows into Old Testament History: Evidence, Argument, and the Crisis of "Biblical Israel" (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2002) 147-60.

Information given about the Transjordanian tribes in 1 Chronicles 5 is compared with information about the Transjordan in other biblical texts and in the Mesha Stele. It is found that a prima facie chronological placing of the narratives also produces a historically plausible sequence of events and reveals significant independent coincidences in detail between the narratives.

Divorce and Remarriage in the Bible: the social and literary context

2002-01-01T14:36:00.001Z

By David Instone -Brewer (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2002) (online-version)

This re-examines biblical divorce teaching in the light of discoveries in the Ancient Near East, Jewish documents from 5th C BC to 5th C AD and Graeco-Roman legal documents. The legal terminology in early rabbinic debates about a new form of "Any Cause Divorce" in Dt.24.1 are mirrored in the debates with Jesus who agreed with the Shammaite conclusion that Dt.24.1 refers to "nothing except immorality" so he rejected the Hillelite no-fault divorce for "Any Cause". Judaean Desert and Karaite documents show that the three rights in Ex.21.10-11 (food, clothing and marital love) were grounds for divorce in early Judaism, the details of which are discussed in rabbinic texts. Jesus was not asked about these grounds and said nothing, though Paul is not silent - in 1.Cor.7 he appears to assume these are fundamental rights within marriage. This historical context suggests that both Jesus and Paul affirmed the OT teaching about specific grounds for divorce against the no-fault divorce of Jewish revisionists and Roman law respectively.

"Choosing a Legal System in Early Judaism"

2002-01-01T14:02:00.001Z

By David Instone -Brewer in Review of Rabbinic Judaism, Ancient, Medieval, Modern (forthcoming) (online-version)

When a Jew wrote a document such as a marriage contract, he (or his scribe) would use the formulae, language and legal concepts of whichever legal system was best suited to his situation, and when a he had a dispute, he would choose whichever court was most likely to rule in his favour. One individual wrote his own marriage contract based on the law of the Sages, and then another for his daughter based on Graeco-Roman law. Even the Sages, who felt that their legal system was divinely ordained, were willing to accept the validity of competing legal systems. This suggests that ordinary Jews were only loosely affiliated to specific religious groups and had an eclectic approach to legal matters.

"Bread and the Peshitta in Matthew 16:11-12 and 12:4"

2001-01-01T19:43:00.000Z

By Peter J. Williams, Novum Testamentum 48 (2001) 331-33. [ online-version]

Scholars have tended to take inadequate notice of the patterns of the target language when considering ancient translations. Here I give examples of where the Nestle-Aland 27th edition of the Greek New Testament wrongly attributes readings to the Syriac (Peshitta) of Matthew by assuming that the plural of the Greek word for 'bread' will be represented by a plural in Syriac. However, Syriac has a natural preference for the singular.

"Corinth in the First Century AD: The Search for Another Class".

2001-01-01T19:26:00.000Z

By Dirk Jongkind, Tyndale Bulletin 52 (2001) 139-48. [online]

The Roman world is sometimes portrayed as being constituted of a small and extremely rich elite and a large mass of poor people. In this article Jongkind takes a look at the archaeological evidence of excavated houses and shows that a wide range of housing was available: not all houses were inhabited by the very poor or very rich - there was truly a large group of people in between.

"The Role of Eyewitnesses in the Formation of the Gospel Tradition: A review article of Samuel Byrskog`s Story as History - History as Story"

2001-01-01T17:08:00.000Z

By Peter M. Head, Tyndale Bulletin 52 (2001) 275-294 [ online]

This is an article-length review of Samuel Byrskog's book (I guess the subtitle does give that impression); which even Samuel Byrskog seemed to appreciate. Even Richard Bauckham hasn't taken my cautions about the transferability of results from historiography to biography seriously enough (but that is another story). There is some interesting material in the last page or two as well, which no one has yet developed.

Studies in the Syntax of the Peshitta of 1 Kings

2001-01-01T17:05:00.000Z

By Peter J. Williams (Monographs of the Peshitta Institute, Leiden 12; Leiden: E.J. Brill, 2001).

This monograph looks at syntax and translation technique in the Peshitta of 1 Kings. The two most extensive chapters are on the various ways of expressing the genitive and on the object marker, but a number of different phenomena are discussed, including the word kl 'all', the conjunction 'and', verb tense equivalences between Hebrew and Syriac, asyndeton, speech formulae, reference to the address in introductions to speech, infinitives, prepositions, demonstratives, and the word commonly rendered 'behold'. I think it contains lots of exciting new discoveries!

"1 Corinthians 7 in the light of the Jewish Greek and Aramaic Marriage and Divorce Papyri"

2001-01-01T13:51:00.001Z

By David Instone -Brewer (Tyndale Bulletin, 52, 2001, 225-243) (online-version)

Comparisons with Jewish marriage and divorce papyri show that the lifestyle and morals that Paul wishes the Corinthians to adopt are based primarily on the Jewish interpretation of the Old Testament. This is illustrated from both Greek Jewish papyri, which show a Judaism thoroughly embedded in the Graeco-Roman world, and Aramaic papyri, which use concepts very closely aligned to Paul's. Ultimately Paul wishes to take them beyond the Jewish models to the teaching of his Lord, and at significant positions Paul is found to stand in contrast to all the contemporary marriage and divorce papyri.

"1 Corinthians 7 in the light of the Graeco-Roman Marriage and Divorce Papyri"

2001-01-01T13:45:00.001Z

By David Instone -Brewer (Tyndale Bulletin, 52, 2001, 101-116) (online-version)

The language and social background of 1 Corinthians 7 are compared with that of the Greek and Latin marriage and divorce papyri. These papyri are ffound to be particularly useful for illuminating the issue of divorce-by-separation, which Paul appears to be combating in vv. 10-15. They also give insights into Paul's unusual use of aphiémi for 'divorce', and the curious absence of teaching about remarriage in this chapter. Paul is found to have a positive approach to marriage, emphasising the commitment it involves, while warning that bringing up a family was difficult at the present time of famine.

"Jesus's Last Passover in the Synoptics and in John"

2001-01-01T13:38:00.001Z

By David Instone -Brewer (Expository Times, 112, 2001, 122-123) (online-version)

John says Jesus died on Passover while the Synoptics portray his Last Supper as a Passover meal. Of the various explanations, the best are those of Jeremias (that there was a dispute about when the new moon started the month) and Pickl (that Galileans ate Passover on the 13th), but neither found evidence that this ever happened. Maurice Casey has now highlighted Mishnah Zeb.1.3 which shows that early 2nd C Jews remembered that some people did celebrate Passover on the 13th, but they weren't sure why.

Divorce and remarriage in the 1st and 21st Century

2001-01-01T09:45:00.000Z

By David Instone -Brewer; Grove Biblical Studies booklet (Cambridge: Grove Books, 2001). (online-version)

A summary of Divorce and Remarriage in the Bible for busy ministers.

"Some Recently Published NT Papyri from Oxyrhynchus: An Overview and Preliminary Assessment"

2000-01-01T17:08:00.000Z

By Peter M. Head, Tyndale Bulletin 51 (2000) 1-16. [online]

Really this was just a survey of recent work, but clearly many many thousands of scholars have found this a valuable survey. Dan Wallace (I think it was) actually published a review-article of my article - so that proves that it was significant. Probably about time for another one which up-dates things again.

"Jesus' Old Testament Basis for Monogamy"

2000-01-01T13:24:00.001Z

By David Instone -Brewer in The Old Testament in the New Testament: Essays in Honour of J.L.North ed. Steve Moyise, JNTS Supp 189 (Sheffield: Sheffield Ac Press, 2000) 75-105 (online-version)

There was a growing consensus against polygamy in 1st century Judaism, as seen by the addition of "two" to Gen.2.24 in all the early versions other than Hebrew, and the exegetical arguments at Qumran based on "male and female" in Gen.1.27 which they called "the foundation of creation". The use of a similar phrase by Jesus to introduce his quotations from Gen.2.24 and Gen.1.27 in Mk.10.6-8 suggests that he is summarising an argument about monogamy which is hearers were already familiar with.

"`According to all` in MT and the Peshitta"

1999-01-01T19:44:00.000Z

By Peter J. Williams, Zeitschrift für Althebraistik 12 (1999) 107-109. [ online-version]

The Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia wrongly assumes that the Hebrew phrase k 'according to' followed by kl 'all' ought to be translated literally in the Syriac and frequently refers to the Syriac as if it was based on a variant Hebrew text. In fact when the Syriac is investigated it appears that it does not go back to a variant Hebrew text, but that the Syriac repeatedly avoids representing the phrase literally, preferring a number of forms of paraphrase to do so.

"The Use of Rabbinic Sources in Gospel Studies"

1999-01-01T13:17:00.001Z

By David Instone -Brewer (Tyndale Bulletin 50, 1999, 281-298) (online-version)

A review article of how three authors have succeeded in using rabbinic background to illustrate the NT: Brad Young on the Parables; Roger Aus on the woman caught in adultery; Maurice Casey's search for the Aramaic behind Mark. They have employed traditional scholarship, historical criticism and literary criticism, but they and similar studies would greatly benefit from the additional use of redaction criticism of rabbinic material, as developed by Neusner.

"Jewish women divorcing their husbands in early Judaism: the background to papyrus Se'elim 13"

1999-01-01T13:11:00.001Z

By David Instone -Brewer (Harvard Theological Review, 92, 1999, 349-57) (online-version)

A divorce certificate from the Judaean Desert lay unpublished for 50 years, perhaps to hide its unorthodoxy. A recent English translation has emended the lettering in order to show it was authored by a man, but the original lettering clearly shows that a woman hired a scribe to write a divorce certificate against her husband. This concurs with other evidence that first century Jewish women could divorce their husbands, as found in early rabbinic traditions and Mark 10.12.

"Jesus` Resurrection in Pauline Thought: A Study in Romans"

1998-01-01T17:08:00.000Z

By Peter M. Head, in Proclaiming the Resurrection: Papers from the First Oak Hill College Annual School of Theology (ed. P.M. Head; Carlisle: Paternoster, 1998) 58-80. [ online-version]

Well, if you don't want to have to wade through Daniel Kirk's fine recent monograph Unlocking Romans: Resurrection and the Justification of God, you can read this brief offering. As Daniel said (footnote 40, page 11): "The pervasive nature of resurrection in Romans has gone largely unrecognized. An exception to this rule is Peter Head, "Jesus' Resurrection in Pauline Thought: A Study in the Epistle of Romans," in Proclaiming the Resurrection: Papers from the First Oak Hill College Annual School of Theology (ed. Peter Head; Carlisle: Paternoster, 1998), 58-80."

"Nomological Exegesis in Qumran 'Divorce' Texts"

1998-01-01T13:02:00.001Z

By David Instone -Brewer (Revue de Qumran, 18, 1998, 561-579) (online-version)

The law against "taking two wives in their lives" in Damascus Document 4.21 was thought to be a prohibition of remarriage. However, the subsequent discovery of regulations at Qumran concerning divorce has given weight to Rabin's earlier study showing the link with Lev.18.18 which forbids marrying a sister "within the lifetime" of the other. Qumran theology regarded all Israelite women as sisters, so this passage is an argument against polygamy, not remarriage.

"Deuteronomy 24:1-4 and the Origin of the Jewish Divorce Certificate"

1998-01-01T12:37:00.001Z

By David Instone -Brewer (Journal of Jewish Studies 49, 1998, 230-243) (online-version)

The only words necessary on early rabbinic divorce certificates was "You are now free to marry any [one] you wish", as found on the Massada Get dated 72 AD. Very similar wording can be traced back through Neo-Babylonian documents and to the certificate for widows of officers missing in action in the ANE laws of 1400 BC. Lower caste women who were abandoned or widowed without evidence could not remarry because their former spouse could return and claim both her and any children she had by another man. In this context, the divorce certificate of Moses gave all Israelite women the legal protection which enabled them to remarry - a right which was shared only by high-status women outside Israel.

"TMR in 1 Kings ix 18"

1997-01-01T19:44:00.000Z

By Peter J. Williams, Vetus Testamentum 46 (1997) 262-65. [ online-version]

It is often assumed that Kings and Chronicles are more different than they need to be. I consider 1 Kings 9:18 and demonstrate that the Kethiv reading TMR need not be read as Tamar, but could be a variant spelling of the name Tadmor.

"The Duration of Divine Judgement in the New Testament"

1997-01-01T17:08:00.003Z

By Peter M. Head, in The reader must understand: Eschatology in Bible and Theology (eds K.E. Brower and M.W. Elliott; Leicester: Apollos (IVP), 1997) 221-227.

A brief reply to Earle Ellis' argument for limited duration; argues that "eternal" is not particularly time-bound.

"Re-inking the Pen: Evidence from P. Oxy. 657 (P13) concerning unintentional scribal errors"

1997-01-01T17:08:00.002Z

By Peter M. Head, and M. Warren, New Testament Studies 43 (1997) 466-473. [ online]

Described by a nice lady I met once at a conference as the best article on the New Testament that she had ever read. I forget her name, she may have been an Italian papyrologist. Doubtless not very widely read in academic NT studies, but you have to take encouragements however they come to you. A land-mark study in scribal analysis, widely cited in the relevant scholarly studies since then. Credit to Mike Warren for his part in it (actually discovering the phenomena).

"The Curse of Covenant Reversal: Deuteronomy 28.58-68 and Israel`s Exile"

1997-01-01T17:08:00.001Z

By Peter M. Head, Churchman 111 (1997) 218-226.

Yes, this is a little out of the normal character of my publications; and rather reminds me of the monograph on the Exile that I never wrote. A careful exegetical discussion of the passage. Rejected at the time by proper academic publications. Use with discretion.

Christology and the Synoptic Problem: An argument for Markan priority

1997-01-01T17:08:00.000Z

By Peter M. Head (SNTSMS 94; Cambridge: CUP, 1997) [ Contents + reviews]

This is the book which solves the Synoptic Problem once and for all. Based on years of extensive research in Cambridge and around the world. Or, as one generous reviewer observed more realistically: 'it inches the discipline forward'.

"Jesus and the Psychiatrists"

1996-01-01T12:24:00.001Z

By David Instone -Brewer in The Unseen World: Christian Reflections on Angles, Demons and the Heavenly Realm, ed Anthony N.S.Lane (Baker Books, Grand Rapids, Paternoster, Cumbria, 1996) pp. 133-148.) (online-version )

The Gospel descriptions of Jesus' interactions with demons are both different and similar to experiences of the author during psychiatric training. The descriptions are similar but significantly different to the symptoms of voices and compulsion found in some psychiatric illnesses such as schizophrenia, mania or psychotic depression. However, they are very similar to the details of an unexplained case where the patient was able to answer someone speaking inaudibly behind their back, with a series of personalities claiming to possess the person.

"Three Weddings and a Divorce - God's marriage to Judah, Israel and the Church"

1996-01-01T12:15:00.001Z

By David Instone -Brewer (Tyndale Bulletin 47, 1996, 1-26) (online-version )

The OT prophets portray God as marrying Israel and Judah at Sinai and both those marriages going wrong. Israel committed adultery with idols and was sent away as a divorcee. Judah was warned that if she continued in the same way, she would suffer the same fate. But she was never actually given a certificate of divorce. Jeremiah pondered how God could remarry Israel, till he (and other prophets) found that she would be reunited with Judah and together they would remarry as a virgin bride. The third wedding is when Christ marries his bride, which the NT portrays as the one and only bride encompassing Israel and Gentiles.

"The Date of the Magdalen Papyrus of Matthew (P. Magd. Gr. 17 = P64): A Response to C.P. Thiede"

1995-01-01T17:08:00.002Z

By Peter M. Head, Tyndale Bulletin 46.2 (1995) 251-285. [online]

Very topical at the time, this article does what it says on the tin. Thiede had argued for a first century date of this manuscript. I show just how wrong he was. But with pictures.