Στο τρέχον τεύχος του HR / In the current issue of HR

History of Religions 58:2 (2018)

Radek Chlup, "On the Nature of the Gods: Methodological Suggestions for the Study of Greek Divinities," 101-127

Πολιτικά πρόσωπα της Καινής Διαθήκης / Political Figures in the New Testament

Στη σελίδα Bible History Today δημοσιεύονται οι πίνακες με τα πολιτικά πρόσωπα που αναφέρονται στην Καινή Διαθήκη καθώς και θύραθεν ιστορικές πηγές για αυτά, τα οποία αποτελούσαν το παράρτημα στο άρθρο του Lawrence Mykytiuk, "New Testament Political Figures Confirmed", BAR Sept/Oct 2017: 

New Testament Political Figures: The Evidence

To τρέχον τεύχος του ZAW / The current issue of ZAW

Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft 130:4 (2018)

• Jaeyoung Jeon, "The Promise of the Land and the Extent of P," 513-528 (abstract)
• David B. Schreiner, "The Annihilation of the Egyptian and Neo-Assyrian Armies: A Proposal of Inner-biblical Typology and Some Literary Critical Implications," 529-544 (abstract)
• Bronson Brown-deVost, "1 Samuel 2:13–16 in the Context of Mediterranean Tariff Texts," 545-558 (abstract)
• Drew S. Holland, "The Form and Function of the Source Citations in 1–2 Kings," 559-570 (abstract)
• Nicholas R. Werse, "Reconsidering the Problematic Tripartite Structure of Zephaniah," 571-585 (abstract)
• Bernard Gosse, "Le réaffirmation messianique du Ps 18 dans la perspective du salut du marginal au retour de l’exil," 586-601 (abstract)
• Juan Pedro Monferrer-Sala, "Nine Post-Hexaplaric Readings in the Arabic Translation of the Book of Numbers by al-Ḥārith b. Sinān b. Sunbāṭ (10th c. CE)," 602-615 (abstract)
• Adam E. Miglio, "Prophetic Polysemy and Polemic: The »Opened« Sword of Babylon in Ezekiel 21:33–34a," 616-624 (abstract)

Ένα νέο άρθρο στο τρέχον τεύχος του JHS / A new article in the current issue of JHS

Journal of Hebrew Scriptures 18 (2018)

Jaeyoung Jeon, "The Priestly Tent of Meeting in Chronicles: Pro-Priestly or Anti-Priestly?"

Το τρέχον τεύχος του NovT / The current issue of NovT

Novum Testamentum 61:1 (2019)

• Henk Jan de Jonge, "Erasmus’ Novum Testamentum of 1519," 1-19 (abstract)
• Gregory E. Sterling, "The Body as Metaphor: The Structure of a Human and the Meaning of Scripture," 26-39 (abstract)
• Peter-Ben Smit, "Questioning Divine δεῖ: On Allowing Texts Not to Say Everything," 40-54 (abstract)
• Christopher Seglenieks, "Untrustworthy Believers: The Rhetorical Strategy of the Johannine Language of Commitment and Belief," 55-69 (abstract) 
• Jill E. Marshall, "Uncovering Traditions in 1 Corinthians 11:2-16," 70-87 (abstract) 
• Paul C.J. Riley, "Explicitness in New Testament Textual Criticism," 88–101 (abstract)

Βιβλιοκρισία του βιβλίου του Sommer, Revelation and Authority / Book review of the Sommer, Revelation and Authority

Στην ιστοσελίδα Marginalia ο Jon D. Levenson συζητά το βιβλίο του Benjamin Sommer. Revelation and Authority: Sinai in Jewish Scripture and Tradition. New Haven: Yale University Press, 2015 και θέτει ορισμένα σημαντικά ζητήματα, όπως εκείνα της σχέσης αποκάλυψης και αυθεντίας αλλά και της σχέσης της βιβλικής εξήγησης με τη θεολογία:

Do Bible Scholars Need Theology?

Στο τρέχον τεύχος του Scriptura / In the current issue of Scriptura

Scriptura 117:1 (2018)

• Pieter J J Botha, "The Spelling Eye Versus the Listening Ear: Oral Poetics and New Testament Writings"
• Paul Lekholokoe Leshota, "Imperialism, Christian Identity and Masculinity: Post-Colonial Interpertations of Jesus' Arrest in the Gospel of Matthew"
• Bennie Marais - Ernest van Eck - Jacobus Kok, "Jesus as Brugbouer: Jesus en die Buitestanders in Johannes 4:1-42"
• Matthew Oseka, "History of the Jewish Interpretation of Genesis 1:26, 3:5, 3:22 in the Middle Ages"

Ένα άρθρο για την αρχαία Ιδουμαία / An article on ancient Idumaea

Klio 100:3 (2018)

Michał Marciak, "Hellenistic-Roman Idumea in the Light of Greek and Latin Non-Jewish Authors,"  877-910 (abstract)

Το τρέχον τεύχος του ASE / The current issue of ASE

Annali di storia dell' esegesi 35:1 (2018)

Religions and Monotheism

• Simon Mimouni, "Il monoteismo: una forma di totalitarismo attraverso i secoli," 7-22
• Adriana Destro, "Reflections on Religions“In Movement”: Essential, Supplementary, and Interstitial Spaces," 23-50

Jesus and Early Christianity

• Fernando Bermejo-Rubio, "Did Jesus the Galilean Redefine the Concept of Kingship? Apologetic Agendas from Ancient Texts to Modern Scholarship," 51-82
• Francesco Berno, "Marco il Mago e l’uso ireneano della letteratura enochica. Nuove proposte di interpretazione dei versi antieretici in AdvHaer I 15,6," 83-96
• Madalina Toca, "The Father-Son Relationship in the Eighth Sibylline Oracles," 07-105

Ancient Christian Churches

• Samuel Fernández, "Marcellus and Eusebius on the Gospel of John in De ecclesiastica theologia," 107-120
• Fabrizio Vecoli, "Ascétisme et monachisme: un problème de taxinomie," 121-139
• Anthony Dupont, Homiletic Perspectives on Augustine’s Sacrificial Theology: Exegetical Approaches of Sacrificium in the Sermones ad Populum," 141-160

Religion in Modern Times

• Cristiana Facchini, "Il Gesù di Leone Modena. Per una storia materiale e urbana
  del Magen we-herev di Leone Modena," 161-185
• Antonio Gerace, "Francis Lucas of Bruges’ Gospels Commentaries and the Controversy on Predestination, Grace and Free Will," 187-213
• Guglielmo Forni Rosa, "Maritain contre Baruzi. Prémystique naturelle et mystique surnaturelle," 215-230

Το τρέχον τεύχος του JSPs / The current issue of JSPs

Journal for the Study of Pseudepigrapha 28:1 (2018)

• Chontel Syfox, "Israel's First Physician and Apothecary: Noah and the Origins of Medicine in the Book of Jubilees," 3-23 (abstract)
• John R. (Jack) Levison, "Terrestrial Paradise in the Greek Life of Adam and Eve," 25-44 (abstract)
• Alexander Kulik, "On Traditions Shared by Rabbinic Literature and Slavonic Pseudepigrapha," 45-67 (abstract)
• Max Botner, "‘Then David Began to Sing this Song’: Composition and Hermeneutics in Pseudo-Philo's Psalm of David (LAB 59.4)," 69-87 (abstract)

Δύο προτομές από την Beth She'an / Two rare busts from Beth She'an

Οι δύο προτομές στο νεκροταφείο της Beth She'an (Φωτο:
Eitan Klein, IAA)

Στην ηλεκτρονική έκδοση της εφημερίδας The Times of Israel υπάρχει ένα σύντομο δημοσίευμα για την ανακάλυψη δύο προτομών της Ύστερης Ρωμαϊκής περιόδου (3ος-4ος αι. μ.Χ.) στο νεκροταφείο της Beth She'an. Αυτό το είδος ταφικού μνημείου είναι γνωστό στην περιοχή. Ωστόσο οι δύο νέες προτομές, ενός άνδρα και μίας γυναίκας, είναι οι πρώτες που εντοπίζονται στη συγκεκριμένη τοποθεσία και το εύρημα έχει επομένως μία ιδιαίτερη σημασία. 

Σύμφωνα με το δημοσίευμα, οι ταφικές προτομές εμφανίζονται κατά τον 3ο και 4ο αι. στην Παλαιστίνη κι ειδικότερα στην Σκυθόπολη (Beth She'an) και Σεβάστεια. Συνήθως αναπαριστούν σχηματικά άνδρες, γυναίκες και παιδιά και κάποιες από αυτές φέρουν και σχετικές επιγραφές, στα ελληνικά, λατινικά ή αραμαϊκά, με το όνομα και την ηλικία των νεκρών. Ενώ αρχικά ήταν ένας τρόπος απαθανάτισης του νεκρού κυρίως στα ανώτερα κοινωνικά στρώματα, από τα μέσα του 3ου αι. στην Σκυθόπολη η πρακτική υιοθετείται κι από κατώτερες κοινωνικές ομάδες, αλλά η ποιότητα των προτομών υποβαθμίζεται σημαντικά. Οι ταφικές προτομές της Σκυθόπολης διακρίνονται σε δύο τύπους, στον ελληνιστικό και το ανατολίτικο, κι οι δύο προτομές που πρόσφατα ήρθαν στο φως ανήκουν στο δεύτερο τύπο. Σύμφωνα με την εκτίμηση των αρχαιολόγων δεν ανήκουν σε Ιουδαίους ή Σαμαρείτες αλλά σε εθνικούς ή χριστιανούς, καθώς οι Ιουδαίοι και Σαμαρείτες απέφευγαν τέτοιου είδους απεικονίσεις ακολουθώντας την νομική εντολή. 

Two rare 1,700-year-old funerary busts unearthed in Beit She’an cemetery

Στο τρέχον τεύχος του JSJ / In the current issue of JSJ

Journal for the Study of Judaism 49: 4-5 (2018)

• Gregory E. Sterling, "Thunderous Silence: The Omission of the Sinai Pericope in Philo of Alexandria," 449-474 (abstract)
• J. Andrew Cowan, "A Tale of Two Antiquities: A Fresh Evaluation of the Relationship between the Ancient Histories of T. Flavius Josephus and Dionysius of Halicarnassus," 475–497 (abstract)
• G. Anthony Keddie, "Iudaea Capta vs. Mother Zion: The Flavian Discourse on Judaeans and Its Delegitimation in 4 Ezra," 498–550 (abstract)
• Constanza Cordoni, "Inheriting and Buying a Homeland: The Land of Israel and the Patriarchs," 551–580 (abstract)
• Pieter W. van der Horst, "Corpus Inscriptionum Iudaeae/Palaestinae, edited by W. Ameling, H. M. Cotton, W. Eck, A. Ecker, B. Isaac, A. Kushnir-Stein, H. Misgav, J. Price, P. Weisz, and A. Yarden," 581–598 (Book Review)

Ένα νέο υπόμνημα στη Β΄ Θεσσαλονικείς / A new commentary on 2 Thessalonians

Κυκλοφόρησε στη σειρά υπομνημάτων ΚΕΚ (Kritisch-exegetischer Kommentar über das Neue Testament) το υπόμνημα του Tobias Nicklas (Πανεπιστήμιο του Regensburg) στη Β΄ προς Θεσσαλονικείς. Πρόκειται για τον εμπλουτισμό και την επικαιροποίηση του παλαιότερου υπομνήματος στην ίδια επιστολή από τον Ernst von Dobschütz. Ο Tobias Nicklas προϋποθέτει ότι η 2Θεσ είναι ένα ψευδεπίγραφο κείμενο. Ο συγγραφέας του, άγνωστος πλέον, γνωρίζει καλά την σκέψη του Παύλου την οποία όμως προσαρμόζει σε μία νέα κατάσταση. Η επιστολή απαντά σε ένα συγκεκριμένο ερώτημα: μία ομάδα χριστιανών διακηρύσσει ότι η "ἡμέρα κυρίου" έχει έρθει (2Θεσ 2:2) κι επικαλείται για αυτό όσα γράφει ο Παύλος στην 1Θεσ. Προκειμένου να αποκατασταθεί όμως η αλήθεια η απάντηση δίνεται στη 2Θεσ στο όνομα του Παύλου. Το κείμενό της δεν είναι απλώς μία αναφορά στα έσχατα αλλά και λόγος για τον Κύριο και διδασκαλία για την ουσία και τη συμπεριφορά της κοινότητας σε περιόδους θεολογικής κρίσης. Δηλώσεις μέσα στην επιστολή για την εργασία ή το ρόλο του αποστόλου πρέπει να κατανοηθούν μέσα στην ιστορική τους συνάφεια. Βασική θέση του Nicklas στο νέο αυτό υπόμνημα είναι ότι η σημασία της Γραφής δεν έγκειται στο ότι παρέχει πληροφορίες για το μέλλον αλλά κυρίως στο ότι επαναπροσδιορίζει το παρόν της εκκλησιαστικής κοινότητας κι αυτόν την καθιστά συνεχώς επίκαιρη.

Tobias Nicklas, Der zweite Thessalonicherbrief. ΚΕΚ 10,2, Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht 2018

ISBN: 978-3-525-51639-3

199 σελίδες

39,99 € 

Στο τρέχον τεύχος του JAJ / In the current issue of JAJ

Journal of Ancient Judaism 8:3 (2017)

• Mira Balberg, Simeon Chavel, "The Polymorphous Pesah:  Ritual Between Origins and Reenactment," 292-343 (abstract)
• Pieter B. Hartog, "The Qumran Pesharim and Alexandrian Scholarship: 4Q163/Pesher Isaiah C and Hypomnemata on the Iliad," 344-364 (abstract)
• Yael Wilfand, "The Roman Context for the Rabbinic Ban on Teaching Greek to Sons," 365-387 (abstract)
• Ari Mermelstein, "Beauty or Beast? The Pedagogical Function of Metaphor and Emotion in Midrashim on the Law of the Lovely Captive," 388-409 (abstract)
• Hayim Lapin, "Feeding the Jerusalem Temple: Cult, Hinterland, and Economy in First-Century Palestine," 410-453 (abstract)

Το τρέχον τεύχος του TynBull / The current issue of TynBull

Tyndale Bulletin 69:2 (2018)

Matthew B. Leighton, "Mosaic Covenant' as a Possible Referent for Νομος in Paul," 161-182

Any serious enquiry into Paul's view of the law must include lexical considerations regarding the meaning of νόμος ('law') itself. A general consensus has emerged that νόμος predominantly refers to Mosaic legislation. A few scholars, however, have suggested that νόμος should sometimes be taken as a synecdoche for the Mosaic covenant administration. This article attempts to substantiate the plausibility of that referent by appealing to precursors for it in the OT and intertestamental literature, examples of a few of Paul's uses of νόμος, and linguistic considerations related to word choice. 

Cornelis Bennema, "Moral Transformation Through Mimesis in the Johannine Tradition,"  183-204

Johannine ethics is a problematic area for scholarship but recently there has been a breakthrough. In this new era of exploring Johannine ethics, the present study examines the concept of moral transformation through mimesis. The argument is that when people live in God's world, their character and conduct are shaped in accordance with the moral beliefs, values, and norms of the divine reality, and that mimesis proves to be instrumental in this process of moral transformation. The study also explores how Johannine Christians in the late first century could imitate an 'absent' Jesus and what they were seeking to imitate. 

Christopher S. Northcott, "'King of Kings' in Other Words: Colossians 1:15a as a Designation of Authority Rather Than Revelation," 205-224

Colossians 1:15a is typically understood to designate Jesus as the way in which the otherwise unknowable God can be known by human beings. Support for this conclusion is drawn from Hellenistic Judaism, Greek philosophy, and theology merely inferred from the 'image of God' concept in Genesis 1:26-28. However, a more satisfactory reading of this verse sees in it a presentation of Jesus as Yahweh's representative ruler of the earth. There are several supports for this reading: (1) the explicit development of the 'image of God' concept in Genesis; (2) parallel uses of the 'image of God' concept in ancient Near Eastern and Greco-Roman sources; (3) the modification made to the preposition in Colossians 1:15a; (4) an alternative reading of the word 'invisible'; and (5) the subsequent phrase in Colossians 1:15b, 'firstborn of all creation'. By describing Jesus in such a way, he is presented as the legitimate ruler of the world, potentially in deliberate contrast to the world rulers of that day: the emperors of Rome, who were thus viewed by the merit of their special relationship with their gods.

Gareth Lee Cockerill , "Hebrews 12:18-24: Apocalyptic Typology or Platonic Dualism?," 225-240

Those who have approached Hebrews either from the point of view of apocalyptic eschatology or from the perspective of neoplatonism have often misinterpreted the two 'mountains' in Hebrews 12:18-24. The first understand these 'mountains' as representing the Old and New Covenants; the second, the earthly and heavenly worlds. This paper argues that the two 'mountains' represent two present possibilities. The first is the present state and future destiny of the disobedient who are excluded from fellowship with God; the second, the present state and future destiny of the faithful who enter into that fellowship. 

This interpretation is substantiated by a careful examination of the text and confirmed by the way this interpretation fits with Hebrews' rhetorical strategy and use of the Old Testament. Crucial to the argument is the total lack of continuity between the two mountains that would be essential to substantiate either of the traditional interpretations.

Coleman Ford, "'Tantum in Domino': Tertullian's Interpretation of 1 Corinthians 7 in His Ad Uxorem,"  241-258

Tertullian of Carthage (c. AD 155–240) is most remembered for his adherence to the Montanist sect and subsequent moral rigidity. While various opinions exist as to the Montanist influence upon his writings, signs of such adherence are evident from an early period. This is true of his treatise Ad uxorem, written in the early third century. His views of marriage, specifically in light of the Pauline injunctive from 1 Corinthains 7:39, provide readers with an early, and relatively unexplored, perspective on Christian marriage. This essay examines this early treatise from Tertullian, and his interpretation of Paul, in order to better understand the complexities of Tertullian's early view of marriage. Addressing the work of Elizabeth Clark on this topic, this essay presents the tantum in Domino ('only in the Lord') phrase as pivotal for understanding Tertullian's view of marriage (and subsequent remarriage) as a created good. 

Paul R. Williamson, "The Pactum Salutis: A Scriptural Concept or Scholastic Mythology?," 259-282

One of the three foundational covenants Reformed/Covenant theology is built upon is the Pactum Salutis or covenant of redemption. This refers to an intratrinitarian covenantal agreement, purportedly made before the creation of the world, to secure the salvation of God's elect. The theological rationale and exegetical support for such a pre-temporal covenant is set out and examined, and it is argued that there are serious exegetical problems with the alleged biblical foundations for such a theological construct. 

Anthony N. S. Lane, "Justification by Faith 1517–2017: What Has Changed?," 283-303

Justification was a key issue at the Reformation, and Protestants and Catholics have polarised over it. There was a brief moment of agreement at the Regensburg Colloquy in 1541, but this was swept away by the Council of Trent, whose Decree on Justification (1547) took care to demarcate itself from Protestantism. Hans Küng initiated a new approach, seeking points of agreement rather than difference. That approach eventually gave birth to the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification (1999). This does not pretend that no differences remain but claims that they are acceptable. It is fruitful to consider the differing concerns of each side.

The focus of this paper is what may or may not have changed in Protestant–Catholic relations on justification, not the changing picture of modern biblical studies. In particular, I will not be looking at the New Perspectives (plural) on Paul nor at John Barclay's recent magnum (if not maximum) opus. 

In memoriam +2018

Joachim Gnilka (1928-2018)

Gene M. Tucker (1935-2018)

William Robb Baird (1925-2018)

Alexander J.M. Wedderburn (1942-2018)

Philip R. Davies (1945-2018)

Ευάγγελος Θεοδώρου (1921-2018)
Gary N. Knoppers (1956-2018)

Στo τρέχον τεύχος του ExpT / In the current issue of ExpT

Εxpository Times 130:5 (2018)

• Daniel K. Eng, "The Widening Circle: Honour, Shame, and Collectivism in the Parable of the Prodigal Son," 193-201 (abstract)
• Chelcent Fuad, "The Practice of the Lord’s Supper in 1 Corinthians 11:17–34 as a Socio-Religious Ritual Failure," 202-214 (abstract)

Στο τρέχον τεύχος του HTR / In the current issue of HTR

Harvard Theological Review 111:4 (2018)

• David C. Flatto, "Constructing Justice: The Selective Use of Scripture in Formulating Early Jewish Accounts of the Courts," 488-515 (abstract)
• Benjamin Hansen, "Preaching to Seneca: Christ as Stoic Sapiens in Divinae Institutiones IV," 541-558 (abstract)