Mark Biddle - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Mark Biddle
Review & Expositor, May 1, 2001
obvious and will hopefully be corrected in future editions. The headings at the top of alternatin... more obvious and will hopefully be corrected in future editions. The headings at the top of alternating pages describe the work as an "Introduction to Biblical Hebrew." The header is confusing in light of the fact that the work presents itself as a review and reference tool, rather than an introductory grammar. Another limitation of the book is the lack of indices. The defect is somewhat ameliorated by a very thorough table of contents. In spite of these defects, Horsnell has provided a reference grammar that will be very useful to intermediate students and those needing a grammatical review. Its most significant contribution is the thoroughness of its morphological paradigms.
Review & Expositor, Nov 1, 2022
One can easily argue that Protestant attitudes toward a doctrine of the created order have permit... more One can easily argue that Protestant attitudes toward a doctrine of the created order have permitted, if not exacerbated or even promoted, the environmental abuses that have produced the current climate that threatens human existence. An essential starting point for believers, individually and as members of the body of Christ, will be the recovery or construction of a sound theology of creation rooted in biblical tradition. This essay examines the deficit in Protestant thought in this critical realm by first tracing the history of Protestant attitudes toward creation as expressed specifically in a distrust of so-called “natural law”/revelation/theology (how we got here) and then by examining contemporary Protestant thinking (where we are), before outlining a modest proposal for correcting the deficit (where we can go).
Mercer University Press eBooks, 1996
... three parts: Jeremiah 1-10 contains Jeremiah's "early"... more ... three parts: Jeremiah 1-10 contains Jeremiah's "early" preaching warning about the "enemy from the North";6 Jeremiah 11-20 represents a group of several blocks of material organized around a prose sermon/prophetic confession/divine response pattern;7 and Jeremiah 21-25 ...
Page 1. SEPTUAGINT AS* CHRISTIAN SCRIPTURE I TS AND THE PROBLEM OF ITS CANON MARTIN HENG INTRODUC... more Page 1. SEPTUAGINT AS* CHRISTIAN SCRIPTURE I TS AND THE PROBLEM OF ITS CANON MARTIN HENG INTRODUCTION BY ROBERT HANHART 59 VH Page 2. Page 3. Page 4. Page 5. Page 6. Page 7. THE SEPTUAGINT AS CHRISTIAN SCRIPTURE Page 8. Page 9. ...
Review & Expositor, Feb 1, 2003
Review & Expositor, Dec 1, 2011
the study is that it tends to minimize differences between Paul and Acts by inserting data from t... more the study is that it tends to minimize differences between Paul and Acts by inserting data from the letters into the broader contexts of Acts. If Acts attempts to rehabilitate Paul, as Phillips argues, should we not expect Acts to be slanted in a way that lessen its historical reliability? In spite of these concerns, however, this is a very helpful introduction to key issues in the relationship between Acts and the undisputed letters of Paul. It should prove helpful to seminarians, pastors and academicians with an interest in this topic. Phillips is a lively, engaging and clear communicator.
Review & Expositor, Aug 1, 2009
Journal of Biblical Literature, 2003
The influence of Julius Wellhausen (1844-1918) as Orientalist and biblical historian and critic i... more The influence of Julius Wellhausen (1844-1918) as Orientalist and biblical historian and critic is legendary. Wellhausen's sweeping knowledge of Eastern languages enabled his exhaustive studies of the history of Israel and of biblical literature. He is famed for his analysis of Old Testament texts. In Pharisees and Sadducees Wellhausen turned his attention to Jews at the turn of the era. In this little volume -- which he termed an "essay" -- Wellhausen provides a firm foundation for understanding Judaism's influential Pharisees and Sadducees and a keen analysis of their importance in the context of the beginnings of Christianity.
Review & Expositor, Aug 1, 2005
Bruce A. Little critiques and rejects the"greater-good" approach theodicy as unable to ... more Bruce A. Little critiques and rejects the"greater-good" approach theodicy as unable to fulfill its intended apologetic function and as insufficient to serve pastoral needs (p. 22). Instead, he proposes a "creation-order" theodicy focused on the interplay between God's will and authentic human freedom. Greater-good theodicies respond to the problem of evil by claiming that God "permits only that evil from which He can bring a greater good or prevent some greater evil" (p. 2). In Little's view, two fundamental tenets of this theodicy ironically reveal its weaknesses. (1) In a greater-good theodicy gratuitous (pointless, never observably rectified) evil does not exist. Yet, common evidence clearly contradicts this tenet, or at least renders it unverifiable. (2) The theory posits that greater good obtains in all cases. Given the hypothetical nature of the question of whether an alternative to existing reality would have been worse, evidence cannot confirm this claim either. Furthermore, the apologetic
Review & Expositor, May 1, 2003
Review & Expositor, Feb 1, 2007
Review & Expositor, Dec 1, 2002
The initial chapter deals with the historical setting of the prophets, compares biblical prophets... more The initial chapter deals with the historical setting of the prophets, compares biblical prophets to prophecy in the broader cultural context, outlines literary aspects of prophetic literature (genre, poetic techniques, etc.), discusses the process of collection, editing and anthologizing that produced the prophetic corpus, and concludes with a synopsis of the major theological and ethical emphases of the prophetic corpus. In particular, Petersen calls attention to (1) the ".imperi~l".or international perspec~ve of biblical prophecy alongside ItScovenant focus and (2) the prophet's care to balance judgment and hope. Petersen follows the structure of ~e Hebrew canon in the body of his mtroduction, devoting a chapter to each of the three major prophetic books (Isa, [er, Ezek), one to the "Book of the Twelve" (the Minor Prophets, as they are often and unfortunately called), and one to prophetic literature outside prophetic books. The decision to treat "the Twelve" as a single unit points to a significant distinctive of Petersen's introduction in comparison to others of its kind. As the bibliographies that conclude each Book Reviews Review and Expositor, 99, Fall 2002
Review & Expositor, May 1, 2001
without grounding his solution in evidence supplied by the text. As a rule, for example, Wallace ... more without grounding his solution in evidence supplied by the text. As a rule, for example, Wallace seems to operate on the assumption that Joseph always acted piously, even pastorally, toward his brothers. The text can be understood otherwise with equal ease, however. Wallace's responsibility is to demonstrate, not to assume. Pastors and Christian educators may find this book a useful resource for group Bible study, but only if the group includes members, or has a leader, skilled in close readings of biblical texts. Wallace's version of the Joseph story is certainly viable, but, as presented, it obscures a range of other options.
Review & Expositor, May 1, 2009
Review & Expositor, May 1, 2014
Review & Expositor, May 1, 2002
Review & Expositor, Aug 1, 2006
Review & Expositor, May 1, 2001
obvious and will hopefully be corrected in future editions. The headings at the top of alternatin... more obvious and will hopefully be corrected in future editions. The headings at the top of alternating pages describe the work as an "Introduction to Biblical Hebrew." The header is confusing in light of the fact that the work presents itself as a review and reference tool, rather than an introductory grammar. Another limitation of the book is the lack of indices. The defect is somewhat ameliorated by a very thorough table of contents. In spite of these defects, Horsnell has provided a reference grammar that will be very useful to intermediate students and those needing a grammatical review. Its most significant contribution is the thoroughness of its morphological paradigms.
Review & Expositor, Nov 1, 2022
One can easily argue that Protestant attitudes toward a doctrine of the created order have permit... more One can easily argue that Protestant attitudes toward a doctrine of the created order have permitted, if not exacerbated or even promoted, the environmental abuses that have produced the current climate that threatens human existence. An essential starting point for believers, individually and as members of the body of Christ, will be the recovery or construction of a sound theology of creation rooted in biblical tradition. This essay examines the deficit in Protestant thought in this critical realm by first tracing the history of Protestant attitudes toward creation as expressed specifically in a distrust of so-called “natural law”/revelation/theology (how we got here) and then by examining contemporary Protestant thinking (where we are), before outlining a modest proposal for correcting the deficit (where we can go).
Mercer University Press eBooks, 1996
... three parts: Jeremiah 1-10 contains Jeremiah's "early"... more ... three parts: Jeremiah 1-10 contains Jeremiah's "early" preaching warning about the "enemy from the North";6 Jeremiah 11-20 represents a group of several blocks of material organized around a prose sermon/prophetic confession/divine response pattern;7 and Jeremiah 21-25 ...
Page 1. SEPTUAGINT AS* CHRISTIAN SCRIPTURE I TS AND THE PROBLEM OF ITS CANON MARTIN HENG INTRODUC... more Page 1. SEPTUAGINT AS* CHRISTIAN SCRIPTURE I TS AND THE PROBLEM OF ITS CANON MARTIN HENG INTRODUCTION BY ROBERT HANHART 59 VH Page 2. Page 3. Page 4. Page 5. Page 6. Page 7. THE SEPTUAGINT AS CHRISTIAN SCRIPTURE Page 8. Page 9. ...
Review & Expositor, Feb 1, 2003
Review & Expositor, Dec 1, 2011
the study is that it tends to minimize differences between Paul and Acts by inserting data from t... more the study is that it tends to minimize differences between Paul and Acts by inserting data from the letters into the broader contexts of Acts. If Acts attempts to rehabilitate Paul, as Phillips argues, should we not expect Acts to be slanted in a way that lessen its historical reliability? In spite of these concerns, however, this is a very helpful introduction to key issues in the relationship between Acts and the undisputed letters of Paul. It should prove helpful to seminarians, pastors and academicians with an interest in this topic. Phillips is a lively, engaging and clear communicator.
Review & Expositor, Aug 1, 2009
Journal of Biblical Literature, 2003
The influence of Julius Wellhausen (1844-1918) as Orientalist and biblical historian and critic i... more The influence of Julius Wellhausen (1844-1918) as Orientalist and biblical historian and critic is legendary. Wellhausen's sweeping knowledge of Eastern languages enabled his exhaustive studies of the history of Israel and of biblical literature. He is famed for his analysis of Old Testament texts. In Pharisees and Sadducees Wellhausen turned his attention to Jews at the turn of the era. In this little volume -- which he termed an "essay" -- Wellhausen provides a firm foundation for understanding Judaism's influential Pharisees and Sadducees and a keen analysis of their importance in the context of the beginnings of Christianity.
Review & Expositor, Aug 1, 2005
Bruce A. Little critiques and rejects the"greater-good" approach theodicy as unable to ... more Bruce A. Little critiques and rejects the"greater-good" approach theodicy as unable to fulfill its intended apologetic function and as insufficient to serve pastoral needs (p. 22). Instead, he proposes a "creation-order" theodicy focused on the interplay between God's will and authentic human freedom. Greater-good theodicies respond to the problem of evil by claiming that God "permits only that evil from which He can bring a greater good or prevent some greater evil" (p. 2). In Little's view, two fundamental tenets of this theodicy ironically reveal its weaknesses. (1) In a greater-good theodicy gratuitous (pointless, never observably rectified) evil does not exist. Yet, common evidence clearly contradicts this tenet, or at least renders it unverifiable. (2) The theory posits that greater good obtains in all cases. Given the hypothetical nature of the question of whether an alternative to existing reality would have been worse, evidence cannot confirm this claim either. Furthermore, the apologetic
Review & Expositor, May 1, 2003
Review & Expositor, Feb 1, 2007
Review & Expositor, Dec 1, 2002
The initial chapter deals with the historical setting of the prophets, compares biblical prophets... more The initial chapter deals with the historical setting of the prophets, compares biblical prophets to prophecy in the broader cultural context, outlines literary aspects of prophetic literature (genre, poetic techniques, etc.), discusses the process of collection, editing and anthologizing that produced the prophetic corpus, and concludes with a synopsis of the major theological and ethical emphases of the prophetic corpus. In particular, Petersen calls attention to (1) the ".imperi~l".or international perspec~ve of biblical prophecy alongside ItScovenant focus and (2) the prophet's care to balance judgment and hope. Petersen follows the structure of ~e Hebrew canon in the body of his mtroduction, devoting a chapter to each of the three major prophetic books (Isa, [er, Ezek), one to the "Book of the Twelve" (the Minor Prophets, as they are often and unfortunately called), and one to prophetic literature outside prophetic books. The decision to treat "the Twelve" as a single unit points to a significant distinctive of Petersen's introduction in comparison to others of its kind. As the bibliographies that conclude each Book Reviews Review and Expositor, 99, Fall 2002
Review & Expositor, May 1, 2001
without grounding his solution in evidence supplied by the text. As a rule, for example, Wallace ... more without grounding his solution in evidence supplied by the text. As a rule, for example, Wallace seems to operate on the assumption that Joseph always acted piously, even pastorally, toward his brothers. The text can be understood otherwise with equal ease, however. Wallace's responsibility is to demonstrate, not to assume. Pastors and Christian educators may find this book a useful resource for group Bible study, but only if the group includes members, or has a leader, skilled in close readings of biblical texts. Wallace's version of the Joseph story is certainly viable, but, as presented, it obscures a range of other options.
Review & Expositor, May 1, 2009
Review & Expositor, May 1, 2014
Review & Expositor, May 1, 2002
Review & Expositor, Aug 1, 2006