Ridley Hall, Cambridge

Resources: Biblical Studies Bulletin 9

Vol 9: Sept 1998

Report: The Tyndale NT Conference

Forty or so evangelical New Testament scholars gathered at Tyndale House for three days in July to give and hear papers on the theme of New Testament Ethics.

Revd Dr Terry Griffith spoke first on sin in 1 John. He argued that whereas in 1.6-2.2 John speaks of sin which spoils fellowship with God, the sin referred to in 3.4-10 and 5.16ff is specifically the sin of apostasy. Dr Andrew Clarke then gave the annual Tyndale New Testament Lecture on the theme of imitation in Paul's letters, offering a helpful response to Castelli's claim that Paul's use of imitation language was simply designed to maintain social control among Christians.

Revd Richard Dormandy gave a fascinating paper exploring the similarities between the expulsion of the 'Legion' of demons in Mark 5 and the Jews' desire for deliverance from political oppression by Rome. Revd Dr Jey Kanagaraj offered a paper surveying the influence of each commandment of the Decalogue in the Gospel of John. Dr Brian Rosner focused on the Greek words pleonexia (Col 3.5) and pleonektes (Eph 5.5), concluding that they refer to greed characterized by not simply wanting to get more, but wanting to keep more.

The group devoted a special session to the analysis and evaluation of Richard B Hays important volume, The Moral Vision of the New Testament (T&T Clark, 1997). The book comprises three major parts: a survey of the visions of moral life in the NT, an analysis of how Scripture should be used to inform ethics (including evaluations of the different approaches adopted by Reinhold Niebuhr, Karl Barth, John Howard Yoder, Stanley Hauerwas and Elisabeth Schüssler Fiorenza), and a study of five test cases (the use of violence, divorce and remarriage, homosexuality, anti-Judaism and ethnic conflict, and abortion). Although we differed in our evaluations of his specific conclusions, all agreed that Hays' succinct overview of the ethical contributions of different NT writers was helpful. This brave book offers a way forward beyond proof-texting and makes us all think about what love that fulfils the law concretely looks like.

Challenging a common view among older commentaries, Dr Eddie Adams made a good case that Romans 12-13 is not general exhortation, but admonition particularly suited to the Roman Christians' situation. Drake Williams, a PhD student, suggested that evidence from extra-canonical Jewish texts provided the background for Paul's choice of Is 29.14 in 1 Cor 1.19; the removal of wisdom is God's judgment on divisions among his people.

The conference ended with a superb exegesis of 1 Tim 2.11-15 by Professor I. Howard Marshall of Aberdeen. Unfortunately, limited space precludes summarizing his conclusions, except to say that the letter was addressing a local problem and was not intended as a sweeping prohibition on women teaching in general. We were all left eagerly awaiting the publication of Howard's commentary on the Pastorals sometime next year.

The Editor

Apologies for the absence of a humour column in this issue; we ran out of room. Perhaps readers will still find something here to laugh at. My wife does...

News Briefs

• An Introduction to the New Testament, recently released by the fine Roman Catholic scholar Raymond Brown (New York: Doubleday, 1997), is a first-rate contribution that will become a standard reference work in many theological circles. Although readers will disagree with a number of his conclusions, Brown offers a balanced, moderately critical approach with up-to-date bibliographies in each chapter. The book summarizes the opinions of the majority of NT scholars on issues throughout; the majority is not always right, as Brown helpfully reminds us. Despite its claim to be written for beginning students, this is an advanced text.
   
• Morna Hooker's little 97-page book Beginnings: keys that open the gospels (London: SCM, 1997) offers a very readable introduction to the major themes and purposes of the four evangelists by exploring the initial few verses of each gospel. Full of wisdom, even if a bit pricey at £7.95.
   
• How does spirituality and critical study of the New Testament relate? Gordon Fee offers his own experience in a candid and fascinating essay, 'To What End Exegesis? Reflections on Exegesis and Spirituality in Philippians 4:10-20' in the Bulletin for Biblical Research 8 (1998) 75-88. The Bulletin is published by the Institute for Biblical Research, P.O. Box 275, Winona Lake, IN 46590-0275, USA.
   
• We look forward to the contribution of the Chelmsford Paul Seminar.

Comments on Commentaries

An assessment of commentaries on a book of the Old & New Testament to keep you up to date with what will help in preaching and teaching in the local church.

OT: Judges

Beginning with the classics, G.F. Moore (T&T Clark, 1895) is typical ICC with detailed notes on the Hebrew text. The replacement volume by B. Lindars (T&T Clark, 1995) regrettably covers only Judges 1-5. It remains historical-critical in approach but with sensitivity to the narrative structure of the stories. Lindars is both readable and gives some useful insights. C.F. Burney, The Book of Judges with Introduction and Notes (Rivingtons, 1920, 2nd ed) also from a historical-critical approach provides very detailed philological notes and treats Judges as 'pragmatic history'. This is no easy read.

Of the slightly shorter commentaries, J.A. Soggin (Old Testament Library, SCM, 1987, 2nd ed) concentrates on historical and critical issues without addressing questions of relevance to contemporary faith. J. Gray (New Century Bible, 1986) Joshua, Judges and Ruth improves on this by giving some good analysis in the introduction followed by comments on the text. He treats Judges as 'preached history'. R.G. Boling (Anchor Bible, Doubleday, 1975) gives his own translation, detailed textual notes and some helpful theological comments but leaves application to the reader.

A.D.H. Mayes (Old Testament Guides, JSOT, 1985) provides a useful introduction, a good overview of contents and a fairly full discussion of the debates about historical and social context. It is accessible and more valuable than many of the introductions in the longer commentaries. A.G. Auld (Daily Study Bible, The Saint Andrew Press, 1984) is short, concise, and readable. This treatment of Joshua, Judges and Ruth expresses skepticism regarding historicity but is insightful and theologically sensitive. A.E. Cundall (Tyndale Old Testament Commentary, IVP, 1968; with Ruth by Leon Morris) is another short but comprehensive introduction which concentrates on historical and literary questions with frequent reference to the underlying message about human frailty and divine compassion. M. Wilcock (Bible Speaks Today, IVP, 1992) subtitled Grace Abounding emphasises God's presence throughout, the Judge standing by his people, ensuring that they never destroy themselves. Although outdated in some of its attitudes, e.g. to women, this readable commentary repeatedly asks the question, 'What does this story tell us about God?' A similar but better book is D.R. Davis's Such a Great Salvation, Expositions of the Book of Judges (Baker, 1990), unfortunately currently out of print.

H. Wolf, 'Judges' in F.E. Gaebelein (ed.) Expositor's Bible Commentary, vol.3, (Zondervan, 1992) provides good background material. He views Judges as 'epic literature' which shows that Israel's spiritual condition is determined by its political and material situation. J.M. Myers & P.P. Elliott, 'Judges' in Interpreter's Bible, vol II, (Abingdon, 1953) disappoints, with dated exposition and not a little eisegesis!

The application of narrative criticism to Judges has yielded much fruit. L.R. Klein's The Triumph of Irony (Sheffield Academic Press, 1988) systematically investigates irony and the literary structure of the Book. This relatively easy read illuminates and provokes thought. B.G. Webb The Book of Judges: An Integrated Reading (JSOTS 46, 1987) uses rhetorical criticism to focus on the literary unit in a precise and unique formulation, treating it as history-as-plot. Another useful piece of work but not so readable, M. Bal's Death and Dissymmetry: The Politics of Coherence in the Book of Judges (University of Chicago Press, 1988) gives us a fascinating feminist analysis focusing on characters rather than storyline, practices rather than events. She looks at the relationship between text and social reality, raising painful questions and stretching some of her interpretations. Her work also appears in A. Brenner (ed.) A Feminist Companion to Judges (JSOT, 1993) which looks at the apparent prominence of female figures in Judges (19 personae in all), which nevertheless retains a very strong male perspective.

E.J. Hamlin Judges: At Risk in the Promised Land (International Theological Commentary, Eerdmans, 1990) aims at a theological interpretation. Key words and phrases (in transliteration) are explained, with fresh insights from the author's extensive experience of Asian cultures. He challenges the reader to approach the text from different viewpoints, especially that of the oppressed. J.E. Goldingay's After Eating the Apricot (Paternoster, 1996) contains stimulating interpretations of the stories about Deborah and Ya'el (chapter 11) and Samson and Delilah (chapter 12) based upon a profound knowledge of Judges but from a post-modern perspective.

Answers to some of the tough questions raised by the stories in Judges include such responses as: 'just because it is in the Bible doesn't mean it's right' and 'the morals of the age were just what we might have expected them to have been'! I have to ask, 'What about the morals of this age which has seen two World Wars, the atomic bomb, concentration camps and ethnic cleansing?' Personally, I find the approaches which seek to look at the characters as mirrors for our own identity to be most powerful. If you can obtain a copy of Davis do, otherwise refer to Cundall and Wilcock for preaching; for those with more time (and money) dive into Webb and Klein for further inspiration.

Revd Sue Groom, Harefield, Middlesex

[Ed: In addition to being a full-time vicar, Sue is engaged in postgraduate research]

NT: The Gospel of Mark

A quick overview of the dates for commentaries on Mark reveals the gospel's popularity during the 70's and 80's. Although interest has largely shifted to Luke/Acts and Matthew, there have been a few significant contributions to Markan studies in the 90's. For those with Greek in their arsenal and an intense need for detail, the most technical works might appeal. Blow the dust off any copy of H.B. Swete (1909; Kregel reprint, 1978) and discover a rewarding commentary, especially on the Greek text. Although C.E.B. Cranfield (CUP, 1959) also demands a thorough knowledge of Greek and is in some respects dated, it is a model of brevity and remains useful.

R.A. Guelich (Vol 1, 1:1-8:26, Word Biblical Commentary, 1989) produced a moderately conservative, technical commentary, whose halting, dense style makes it slow going. It is, however, one of the best out; sadly, he died before completing the project. The voluminous edition by R.H. Gundry (Eerdmanns, 1992), which runs to an astounding 1069 pages, is crammed with detail. Although awkward at points, Gundry is a safe bet for an exhaustive, middle of the road reference commentary. C.S. Mann (Anchor Bible, 1986) has not produced a model commentary. The view of the trees can be exceedingly good at points, but the wood can scarcely be seen.

W. Lane (NICNT, 1973), C.F.D. Moule (CBC, 1965), and E. Schweizer (Westminster & John Knox, 1970) are all worth consulting, but are uneven. The recent commentary by M. D. Hooker (Black's NT Commentary, A & C Black, 1991) is not cluttered with the detail of many of those mentioned so far. Her style is clear and concise, and her commonsense exegesis helpful. Of this group I would recommend Gundry, Hooker, and Guelich (listed third only because it is incomplete).

'Light' commentaries, which generally offer a more engaging read while retaining something of a critical edge, do exist. Of these, L. Hurtado (New International Biblical Commentary, 1989) blends sound exegesis and a winning style. J. Brooks' thin volume (New American Commentary, 1991), one of the more conservative on this list, is even-handed in his exegesis and discussion. L. Williamson (Interpretation, 1983) is very thin. D. Hare, (Westminster Bible Companion, 1996) is more intentionally holistic, and B. van Iersel's Reading Mark (T&T Clark/Liturgical, 1989), as its title suggests, is an early, good example of the literary approach. Of these, van Iersel is perhaps most interesting, followed by Hurtado and Hare.

Rick Beaton, Tyndale House, Cambridge

[Ed: Rick is finishing his Cambridge PhD while he teaches part-time for the University]

Computer Corner

Although thoughtful scholars question its value, a vast and growing storehouse of information awaits anyone with the computer equipment and time needed to explore the World Wide Web's treasuries. However, the budding 'Web Surfer' will quickly discover a number of problems. A search for documents using the word 'Bible', for example, produced 2.5 million articles. Some of these will be whole sites or collections of documents devoted to Biblical issues; many others will be irrelevant.

For the basics of searching for information, the cybercafé for the annual Christian Resources Exhibition is a good place to start. It offers a useful set of links and search tools together with helpful introductions to searching for material. Searching for 'Biblical' or 'Theological Studies' produces hefty numbers of university theology department prospectuses and course outlines together with English and Greek texts but few other really valuable resources. An exception to these is the Biblical Resources links page offered by the Association for Religion and Intellectual Life (http://www.aril.org/Bible.html). At first sight this organization's home page seems unpromising, but their links can be exceedingly useful.

Much of what makes the Web valuable is its cooperative, community spirit. The ease of publishing means that anyone can produce material on their favourite subject and invariably they do! Often Web pages are little more than lists of links to other pages on their chosen subject. Robert Bradshaw has done just that, providing a series of connections to organisations such as the Biblical Studies Foundation and the Resource Pages for Biblical Studies (prepared by Torrey Seland) which focus on the early Christian writings and their social world.

Another omnibus resource is the Internet Theology Resources site, which provides links to nearly forty scholarly societies in fields such as international history, religion, science, sociology, anthropology, papyrology, philosophy and theology
(http://www.csbsju.edu/library/internet/theoscho.html).

I found two sites to be immensely valuable in my search through cyberspace. The on-line edition of Oxford University Press' Journal of Theological Studies (http://jts.oupjournals.org/) allows you to consult back issues of the Journal [Ed: & see the text if you or your library has a subscription]. The second is even more valuable for the scholar - especially those remote from a college or university library. The Oxford University Library catalogue can be consulted for details of books held in Oxford (http://www.lib.ox.ac.uk/olis). Other university libraries also have on-line access.

Andrew Steele, Senior Associate with the International Christian Media Commission (http://www.icmc.org)

Grove Biblical Series

This month's booklet is The Christmas Stories in Faith and Preaching by John Proctor, Director of New Testament Studies at Westminster College, Cambridge. The Christmas story can sound the same every year. Yet Scripture offers a range of approaches that can enrich our own understanding. This fresh exploration offers an exciting resource for personal and public use.