Koinonia

Wednesday Giveaway - Theology of the New Testament

This week’s giveaway, Theology of the New Testament, has been praised by professors as an essential introductory text to the theological themes students will encounter from Matthew to Revelation.

“Frank Thielman’s Theology of the New Testament is an outstanding achievement. The book is marked by scholarly depth, exegetical rigor, and theological profundity. Both students and professors will profit immensely from this lucid treatment of the theology contained in the New Testament documents.” – Thomas Schreiner 

“An accessible presentation of the key theological points of the New Testament books by an accomplished New Testament scholar and teacher. Its clear style, lucid organization, and sound theological insight make it a prime resource for serious students in both the academy and the church.” – Karen Jobes

Theology of the New Testament takes an approach which seeks to honor both the theological diversity of the various books and the theological connections between them. 

Thielman presents his New Testament theology in a way that is careful to take into account the cultural and historical circumstances surrounding each book, and the New Testament as a whole. He examines each book’s theological content individually, as well as in relation to the rest of the New Testament, particularly within each of the three theological units that comprise the New Testament: the gospels and Acts, the Pauline epistles, and the general epistles and Revelation. 

In the end, Thielman finds a unified theological vision of the New Testament, anchored in the centrality of Jesus Christ.

To enter the giveaway, comment below with your answer to this question: What topics would you most hope see addressed in a theology of the New Testament? 

Also, a bonus entry is available if you comment a second time letting us know that you shared a link to this giveaway on Facebook, Twitter, or your blog.

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*If you are reading this via Facebook, email, or RSS, please visit the blog to enter. One winner will be determined by Random Integer Generator. Giveaway ends midnight Thursday EDT. Due to the cost of international shipping, this giveaway is only open to contestants in the US.*

Pre-order Savings on The Zondervan Textbook Bundle from Logos

Zondervan Textbook Bundle

Special pre-order price: $169.95  |  Regular Price $237.92

That's 29% off, if you order by June 20!

The Zondervan Textbook Bundle provides everything a first-year or second-year Bible college student would need in the course of their studies. Spanning Christian history, philosophy, ethics, New and Old Testament studies, and spiritual formation, these texts have established themselves as leading resources in their fields. 

Whether you are a professor, pastor, student, or interested layman, these are invaluable books. And now, The Zondervan Textbook Bundle gives you access to them with the convenience and power of Logos.

With Logos, these texts become open doorways to even greater learning. Explore Greek and Hebrew words with a click, and, with mouseover, follow references to the Bible, primary source texts, or other modern texts in your library. Take notes on any page, and they automatically sync across devices, showing your notes whether you’re on your tablet, smartphone, or computer. Logos, together with classic Zondervan textbooks, makes learning fast, convenient, fun, and affordable.

The Zondervan Textbook Bundle includes:

• A Survey of the New Testament, Fifth Edition by Robert Gundry

“I first used Gundry's Survey while in seminary over 30 years ago. The book has only improved with age. The addition of color images, insets explaining and illustrating technical terms, and the availability of audio-visual aids to support the text make the new addition a valuable addition to the Bible student's, lay or professional, library...The book is written for use in a New Testament Survey college course or as a supplement in a seminary course on New Testament Introduction. It would also fit well into the local public or church library.” – Patrick, Amazon Reviewer

“I have read a few New Testament survey textbooks and Robert H. Gundry does a GREAT job of presenting complex material in a simple manner. His breakdown of the Book of Revelation, a complex and symbolic book in the New Testament, is simple and straightforward. Sections in each chapter contain a precise range of scripture references (allowing you to read those sections almost as a commentary)… The best N.T. survey book, in my opinion, thus far.” – Amazon Reviewer

• Grasping God's Word, Third Edition by Scott Duvall and Daniel Hays

“Christians generally know they're supposed to read the Bible and that they're supposed to do something about it, but the Bible doesn't always make sense. The Bible was written to an audience that is removed from us by time and culture, so it's easy to miss what the original author intended to communicate to the original biblical audience... In Grasping God’s Word, J. Scott Duvall and J. Daniel Hays walk us through a clear and helpful process for responsibly reading, interpreting, and applying the Bible. They call it the Interpretive Journey, and it's an imaginative and motivating description for what encountering God through the Scriptures is meant to look like” – Tom Farr, Amazon Reviewer

“This is a highly readable, entry-level textbook on biblical hermeneutics. The authors assume no prior knowledge of biblical hermeneutics on the part of the reader. As such, the material is conveyed in simple, straightforward terms, along with a healthy dose of wit. The book also strikes a good balance between theory and application. Topics discussed include levels of meaning, different literary genres in the Bible, and the role of the Holy Spirit. Every chapter also ends with applicative exercises serving to reinforce learning… A book that I'd recommend every Christian read in order to interpret the Bible correctly.” – T.P. Ang, Amazon Reviewer

• Moral Choices: An Introduction to Ethics, Third Edition by Scott Rae

• Introduction to Christian Education and Formation by Ronald Habermas

• And more!

Save 29% when you order before June 20, 2013. Pre-order today, time is short!

Pre-order the Textbook Bundle

Free Theology Resource from Bill Mounce

Bill Mounce has a new addition to the free resources available at BiblicalTraining.org, Louis Berkhof’s Systematic Theology.

Available as either a PDF or ePub, this is a classic text in Reformed thought. Below, Mounce give us an introduction to Berkhof and the influence he had on 20th century theology.

“1873-1957. American Calvinist theologian. Born in the Netherlands, he emigrated as a child to the USA, where his family joined the Christian Reformed Church, at that time still small and using the Dutch language. Attracted to the ministry, he attended and graduated from the church's fledgling Calvin Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He went on to postgraduate work at Princeton and after a brief pastorate was called to teach at Calvin Seminary (1906). There he spent three decades as teacher, and from him almost every Christian Reformed preacher learned systematic theology.

During the 1920s he played a leading role in the controversies of the day, including the debates over Herman Hoeksema's “hyper-Calvinism,” which led to Hoeksema's formation of the Protestant Reformed Church. Berkhof's main interest was in systematics, and he followed closely the Dutch Calvinist theologians Abraham Kuyper and C. Hodge and B.B. Warfield. Berkhof wrote extensively; his major work is his Reformed Dogmatics (3 vols., 1932), which in popularized form (Manual of Reformed Doctrine, 1933) was used extensively in the schools of the Christian Reformed Church. His last book, written at eighty, was The Second Coming of Christ (1953).”

Extra-Curricular Activities 06.15.13

Liam Thatcher - Who Died and Made You King of the Zombies?

“The death and resurrection of Jesus sent shockwaves throughout all of creation, Matthew even speaks of there being an earthquake. This miniature anticipatory resurrection was merely a ripple, pointing to the greater resurrection that is yet to come.”

 [Image Credit: Nobody's Home by Angels Gate, on Theology Matters]

Peter Leithart - Gospels and Creed

“The creeds don’t predetermine what the gospels say; but the creeds do create a predisposition and a set of expectations about what the gospels will say. Those predispositions, Hays argued persuasively, actually produce better readings of the gospels than anti-creedal modernism.”

Mary Berry - Wendell and Me

“My father’s name is Wendell Berry and I have been crazy about him for 54 years now. Wendell is married to my mother, Tanya. It is nearly impossible for me to think of one without the other.”

Robert Bruce - Five Myths About Reading & How to Put Them to Death

“If you think you can’t learn anything from fiction, then you’re reading the wrong fiction. Sure, the novel can serve as an escape. But to say you can’t learn anything from 1984 or To Kill A Mockingbird or Harry Potter, or thousands of other novels, just isn’t true. Jesus taught in parables — in other words, a story, a form of fiction — because it’s an effective teaching method.”

And the winner is...?

Congrats to James, who was randomly selected as the winner of this week’s giveaway! James will receive a copy of the Zondervan Illustrated Bible Dictionary.

Thank you to everyone who participated and answered our question about Abdon. At least for me it was one of those names that sounded incredibly familiar as soon as I heard it, but I could not have actually placed until I read the article. 

If you would like to learn more about the Zondervan Illustrated Bible Dictionary check out these reviews from Clint Walker and Phil Long. This title can be purchased here, or at your favorite bookstore.

Wednesday Giveaway - Zondervan Illustrated Bible Dictionary

This week’s featured giveaway, the Zondervan Illustrated Bible Dictionary, provides a visually stimulating journey for anyone interested in learning more about the world of the Bible.

Through the articles, sidebars, charts, maps, and beautiful full-color images included in this volume, the text of the Old and New Testaments will come alive for you as never before. 

As a condensation of the The Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible, the information contained within this reference work presents first-rate scholarship in an accessible way. Within its pages are over 7,200 entries, 500 full-color photographs, charts, and illustrations, 75 full-color maps, and a Scripture index.

These features and more make this Bible study resource a must-have whether you are a general reader of the Bible, a pastor, or a student.

To enter the giveaway, comment below with your answer to this question: Who was Abdon? (Not sure? Find out in this excerpt) 

Also, a bonus entry is available if you comment a second time letting us know that you shared a link to this giveaway on Facebook, Twitter, or your blog.

_________________                

*If you are reading this via Facebook, email, or RSS, please visit the blog to enter. One winner will be determined by Random Integer Generator. Giveaway ends midnight Thursday EDT. Due to the cost of international shipping, this giveaway is only open to contestants in the US.*

Pre-order Savings on the Zondervan Biblical Languages Collection from Logos

Zondervan Biblical Languages Collection

Special pre-order price: $429.95  |  Regular Price $616.65

That's 30% off if you order by June 20!

This collection of thirty-five language resources is the one-stop product for biblical language teaching and learning through Logos.

Including everything from study guides to audio vocabulary downloads, and covering every skill level from beginner to teacher, this package is a treasure trove for those of us learning, studying, or even re-learning the biblical languages.

The Biblical Languages Collection includes:

• Basics of Biblical Greek, Third Edition by William D. Mounce

"This is my first exposure to actually learning Greek. I've seen words, learned some terms, etc., but nothing in-depth. With 3 days of learning so far, I am absolutely amazed at how comfortable I am beginning to feel. Naturally I have a long way to go, but if you are new to Greek and looking for a great place to begin the worthwhile effort of really learning,  Basics of Biblical Greek Grammar will provide that." – P. Bradley, Amazon Reviwer

“Dr. William Mounce has continued to improve his textbook on the Basics of Biblical Greek. Having read all three editions, the third edition is by far the best… Perhaps the best new feature is a new section called Exegesis, which discusses the different approaches to translation of each tense at the end of each chapter… His user-friendly book is the most preferred Biblical Greek text in the nation, and has become a standard in its own right.” – Mark, Amazon Reviwer 

• Prepositions and Theology in the Greek New Testament by Murray Harris

• Basics of Biblical Hebrew Grammar by Gary D. Pratico and Miles V. Van Pelt

“This is by far the best update to the Basics of Biblical Hebrew text book to date. Lay open design with extra wide margins for notes. Red letters to show endings and changes to words. Very easy to read and very logical instruction… Great instruction by a great instructor. Very nice companion CD for further study. A must for anyone wanting a better understanding of the Hebrew text. Appropriate for pastors, teachers, and students of the Bible.” - Scott Vantrease, Amazon Reviwer

“The definitive text for basic Hebrew. Hands down. I bought this book as a precursor to me learning biblical Aramaic. I was astounded by the easy language and encouragement that this text brought me. It teaches you in a logical order the tools you need for reading and translating biblical Hebrew, while at the same time realizing the limitations of the average person.” - Merrill Greene, CBD Reviewer

• Basics of Biblical Aramaic by Miles V. Van Pelt

• And many more!

Save 30% when you order before June 20, 2013. Pre-order today!

Pre-order the Biblical Languages Collection

The difference between knowing and being sure - Luke 1:18 (Monday with Mounce 191)

Before I get into today’s blog, I want to mention something I was asked recently. The question has to do with why learn Greek.

“It seems there are many cases where this is true [referring to multiple interpretations], and it seems the Greek leaves us with nothing definitive. Then I see all of the Greek cases on your website, all the possibilities to consider ... then throw in verbal aspect or Aktionsart and it makes the idea of wanting to know New Testament Greek seem so much less appealing. In light of all of this, what would be the benefits of me (Joe Pew-sitter) to try to learn and understand New Testament Greek?”

I answered. “Remember that I focus on the difficult passages. The vast majority of the Greek Testament is clear in terms of its meaning. What Greek does, for those confusing passages, is show you the legitimate options and the tools to make the decision.” So don’t get discouraged.

I ran across Luke 1:18 a few days ago. In response to the angel’s message about the birth of his son John, Zechariah responds, “How shall I know (γινώσκω) this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years” (ESV). Wrong response.

But more than that, on a surface a really dumb response. “Your wife is going to be pregnant,” the angel says. “How shall I know this” Zechariah responds. What does that mean? Look at the words carefully, and you will see that a word for word translation makes no sense. “Oh, I don’t know,” Gabriel responds. “Maybe her stomach will get big. Maybe she will have strange food cravings. In nine months you might hear some screaming.” (I am being sarcastic.)

Certainly Zechariah was not asking the question of “how?” That makes no sense.

Enter the task of the translator.

Extra-Curricular Activities 06.08.13

Shaun Tabatt - Author Talks Episode 33, with Michael Williams

"In this episode of the Author Talks with Shaun Tabatt Podcast I interview Michael Williams about his book How to Read the Bible through the Jesus Lens." 

Kevin DeYoung - A Conversation About the Law

"There are few theological issues more important and more difficult than the relationship of the Christian to the law… We all know we are justified by faith apart from works of the law, but what is the place for obedience to the law after we are justified?"

Joe Carter - Why Are There Calvinist Baptists But No Lutheran Baptists?

“To be a Calvinist Baptist in 2013 (which I am) almost requires one to choose the tradition and to defend that choice to people who think such a category can't even exist. The same isn't necessarily true for Arminian Baptists.”

C Michael Patton - Folk Theology: Twenty Urban Legends in Theology

“Folk theology describes beliefs, generally shared by a large group of people, which said adherents have rarely thought through in a critical way. These beliefs are normally inherited (passed on through rote teaching and tradition).”

Two New Logos Packages: Zondervan Biblical Languages Collection and Zondervan Textbook Bundle

We're excited to announce two new packages from Logos! Both are on sale.

Pre-order the Zondervan Biblical Languages Collection before June 20, 2013 to secure your order at 30% off.

Pre-order the Zondervan Textbook Bundle before June 20, 2013 to secure your order at 29% off.

These packages will soon increase in price, so we recommend you pre-order today!

 

Zondervan Biblical Languages Collection

Special pre-order price: $429.95  |  Regular Price $616.65

 

This collection of thirty-five language resources is the one-stop product for biblical language teaching and learning through Logos.

Including everything from study guides to audio vocabulary downloads, and covering every skill level from beginner to teacher, this package is a treasure trove for those of us learning, studying, or even re-learning the biblical languages.

The Biblical Languages Collection includes:

• Basics of Biblical Greek, Third Edition by William D. Mounce
• Prepositions and Theology in the Greek New Testament by Murray Harris
• Basics of Biblical Hebrew Grammar by Gary D. Pratico and Miles V. Van Pelt
• Basics of Biblical Aramaic by Miles V. Van Pelt
• Many more!

Save 30% when you order before June 20, 2013. Pre-order today!

Pre-order the Biblical Languages Collection

 

Zondervan Textbook Bundle

Special pre-order price: $169.95  |  Regular Price $237.92

The Zondervan Textbook Bundle provides everything a first- or second-year Bible college student would need in their studies.

These new and classic texts span the disciplines of New and Old Testament studies, hermeneutics, ethics, philosophy, Christian history, and spiritual formation. Discover the latest text to use in your course, or add these texts to your personal reading to gain deeper understanding in your favorite fields.

The Zondervan Textbook Bundle includes:

• A Survey of the New Testament, Fifth Edition by Robert H. Gundry
• Grasping God's Word, Third Edition by J. Scott Duvall and J. Daniel Hays
• More!

Save 29% when you order before June 20, 2013. Pre-order today!

Pre-order the Textbook Bundle