Just three minutes after the manic frenzy of denuding the presents of their wrappings (the confetti of paper had still yet to reach the floor) and the downing of the last pickled onion, I would long for something fresh, something real, something that would cut through the jaded palette from which Christmas was painted. That was when I would reach into the bottom of my pillowcase and pluck from it the satsuma.
And so, as you blearily gaze at these words through the claustrophobic fug and lethargy of post-Christmas excess, I offer to you the revivifying qualities of the modern day satsuma of Christmas – the December Biblical Studies Carnivals… Continue reading
Astronomical conjunctions are pretty common and outside the astronomical fraternity they often go unremarked – unless it happens near Christmas when someone rattles off a newspaper column about having just discovered the true meaning of the star of nativity.
So I am delighted to inform you of a much rarer conjunction – this month sees the conjunction of Biblical Studies Carnivals. Instead of the normal two, we have… (drum roll)… wait for it… ONE Carnival!!! Continue reading
Soft dawn light garlanded with mist and crimson Virginia creeper on warm Cotswold stone means that time has come for the September Biblical Studies Carnivals.
The September 2015 Biblical Studies Carnival is hosted by William Brown on his splendid The Biblical Review site. Divided into categories (Hebrew Bible, New Testament, Reviews, Journals and Events, and Miscellaneous) William has harvested some very interesting posts. Continue reading
I’ve been particularly busy during the past month (yes, I do have to actually do some work from time to time) and this is when the carnivals really come into their own. Lindsay has divided the post into three subsections: News and Events, Reviews and Posts and Media/Podcasts. Each section offers a wide selection of offerings. As might be expected the responses to the Gospel of Jesus’ Wife makes an appearance as well as a link to the New Testament Studies special issue which was devoted to it.
One issue that I think will be receiving greater attention over the coming months/years relates to the question of a (very) early high Christology. Larry Hurtado’s work (a summary of his work can be found in his How on Earth did Jesus become a God?) in this area has prompted a number of us to reconsider our existing models (that a high Christology was introduced by later non-Jewish Christians). As significant as a number of Hurtado’s arguments are, important questions remain about how such an understanding of Jesus could be framed and developed within a distinctly Jewish environment. This month’s carnival includes an exchange between Mike Kok and Larry Hurtado – I think it would be fair to say that not only is this an important issue, Mike and Larry’s response to it demonstrate scholarly debate at its best; rigorous, courteous and robust.
Summer Greek participants might like to follow the link to the Exegetical Tools site!
Zwinglius Redivivus‘ non-fattening and (74.23%) snark free Avignonian Carnival, springs, panther-like, onto an unsuspecting world. With sections on Archaeology, Hebrew Bible, New Testament and General, it is, as always, a thumping good read.
Please do have a look and please also follow the link to sign the petition for Zurich Central Library to allow internet access and use of their archive materials. As Jim argues, even if you are not interested in Reformation Studies, signing the petition demonstrates an international concern relating to issues of access to this archive…. I’ll even provide a link to it here (so no excuses!!)… online petition.
Firstly, I am delighted to say that it is time for the June 2015 Biblical Studies Carnival. This month’s festival of delights is hosted by William Ross, a doctoral candidate at Cambridge.
Once again there is plenty here to amuse, stimulate and inspire. It’s a great chance to catch up with what is happening in the world of biblioblogging and William’s selection demonstrates the wide variety of topics being discussed.
Claude Mariottini is the genial host of this month’s Biblical Studies Carnival and he offers an eclectic bill of fare with something to tempt most palates.
Claude’s observations about the state of biblioblogging today has, in turn, opened a debate with important questions being asked about its purpose and its possible future(s). For example, see Jacob Prahlow’s reflections on his Pursuing Veritas blog. Readers might also be intereseted in Claude’s earlier post on Are Biblioblogs Dying?, posted in March 2014.
Bioarchaeologist Kristina Killgrove‘s blog Powered by Osteons is a personal favourite of mine, full of really great material. This month Kristina hosts the Roman Bioarchaeology Carnival LXXII. It is full of wonderful posts which help us to build a far richer understanding of the Roman period that had so much impact upon the formation of Christianity. It really is essential reading if we are to understand the world of the first Christians. This months wonders include: gutter burials, Julius Caesar’s health and a stash of teeth extracted by a Roman dentist!
As usual it is packed full of good stuff and Jeff has included some really interesting finds. He also includes a number of hilarious tweets taken from one of my favourite Twitter sites ‘Bible Students Say’ (definitely worth following if you are on twitter: @BibleStdntsSay)
Enjoy…
Newman Research Centre for the Bible and its Reception 