Bibledex: Hebrews

Another of the new Bibledex videos is on the Epistle to the Hebrews:

Teaching the Bible e-pub latest

The latest Teaching the Bible e-pub is now available from the SBL. It's the last one until September, and features articles on Sacrifice in Ancient Israel, Justice in the New Testament, and audio on Animal Sacrifice in the Hebrew Bible.

Latest Bibledex Videos: Mark

There are lots more Bibledex videos now available from the University of Nottingham. You may remember that this is the project to produce short videos on every book in the Bible. One of the latest is on Mark:

NT Pod 34: Was Luke a Historian?

I noticed the other day that I have not kept up to date here with the latest episodes of the NT Pod. So this is to mention NT Pod 34: Was Luke a Historian?.

Over on the NT Pod pages, I have also added a new media player. It's the third one I have tried. One of the problems with using blogger for podcasts is that it does not automatically add a media player for those who wish to listen directly on the web. I tried two different solutions, but both depended on a web player present on another site, and eventually they vanished. So I have finally uploaded a web player to my own site. Thankfully it seems to be working fine.

Is the Synoptic Problem tedious?

In a recent post on The Golden Rule, Mike Koke speaks of the Synoptic Problem as one of those "seemingly tedious aspects of studying the NT", echoing, perhaps unconsciously, similar remarks made my Raymond Brown in his Introduction to the New Testament.  I must admit to being somewhat baffled by those who find the Synoptic Problem boring.  It is so basic to so much of what we do in studying the New Testament that saying that it is boring is a bit like saying that New Testament study is boring.  It's a literary enigma, it's a historical puzzle, it's a theological essential.  What is not to enjoy?

I have never had anyone explain to me clearly why the Synoptic Problem is supposed to be dull or tedious.  I have a couple of theories, though, why people otherwise interested in New Testament study come to this odd conclusion:

(1) People find it dull because it is taught badly.  In fact, the Synoptic Problem is often not taught at all.  In so far as New Testament introductions and introductory courses teach it, they focus on one particular solution (the Two-Source theory) and then they refract all the data through that theory.  Simply setting out a solution deprives students of all the interest in the process of history, all the enjoyment in puzzling out the literary enigma.

(2) People find it dull because they do not actually study it.  The only way to engage in serious study of the Synoptic Problem is to get down and dirty with the Synopsis, and to spend enjoyable time working with the texts, ideally doing some colouring.  It's one of the guilty secrets of the guild that too many scholars simply do not do the work with the texts that they should, preferring instead to keep wading through the pile of largely mediocre pieces of secondary literature.

(3) People find it dull because they think that there is an obvious solution (the Two-Source Theory).  Alternatives are thought to be unpersuasive and not worth attention.  To an extent, Mike's post bears this out -- he engages only the Two-Source Theory and the Griesbach Theory.  I think that this is a shame given the strong case that can be made for the Farrer Theory, engagement with which can make the Synoptic Problem interesting again.

In my experience, students love to study the Synoptic Problem.  I have run graduate courses on the Synoptic Problem and they have produced excellent intellectual stimulation and publishable work from the students involved.  In my undergraduate classes, colouring and analyzing the Synopsis has proved to be one of the most popular assignments I have given and student feedback has been very positive.  These students had never heard that the Synoptic Problem was supposed to be dull, and found the tasks engaging, not least because it is "hands on" -- actually working seriously with texts rather than reading textbooks describing the supposed results of scholarship.

My diagnosis, then, is that the Synoptic Problem needs to be studied in detail, taught effectively and represented fairly.  It is amazing what fun it then becomes.

Philip Pullman on the Gospels on the Daily Bacon

One of my favourite podcasts these days is the Daily Bacon. I never thought I would warm to Richard Bacon when he took over from Simon Mayo in the BBC Radio FiveLive afternoon slot earlier this year, but the programme is great, and I rarely miss the podcast.

Yesterday's featured Philip Pullman talking about his novel The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ. It turns out that Pullman is surprisingly well informed about the Gospels and the interview is so interesting that it almost persuades me to read the book. At this stage it is only "almost", though.

The podcast will be available to download for the next six days or so. [Subscribe to the Daily Bacon; Programme details].

Bibledex: Titus

The latest Bibledex video from the University of Nottingham is on the book of Titus:

Bibledex: Jude and 1 Peter

The University of Nottingham's project to produce videos on every book of the Bible continues with Jude and 1 Peter:

Anthony Flew Obituary

Tomorrow's Times has its obituary of Anthony Flew, who died last week:

Professor Anthony Flew: philosopher

Anthony Flew was one of the best-known atheists of his generation but he finally repudiated the label. As an academic philosopher he subjected the question of God’s existence to careful, non-polemical analysis. When he declared himself a theist in his old age he annoyed many of his admirers — which might have been the intention . . .

Update (15.28): The Telegraph also has its obituary of Anthony Flew tomorrow.

Ellen Davis on Duke's uStream Channel Today

Last semester, I took part in Duke's new Online Office Hours project, when I answered live questions on the New Testament. Today, Ellen Davis, Amos Ragan Kearns Professor of Bible and Practical Theology in the Divinity School, is the latest victim in this format. Details here:

Ellen Davis on 'Christians and Creation' in Live Online Interview

Bibledex: Luke

There is a new Bibledex video from the University of Nottingham:



As usual, it's nicely done. My only criticism is that they should put the scholars' names on screen the first time they appear. They are Anthony Thiselton, Alison Milbank, Emily Gathergood and I think Pete Watts.

NT Pod 33: The Passion Narrative in John's Gospel

I uploaded the fourth and final episode of this week's back to back Passion Podcasts in the early hours of this morning.  In this one, we turn to John's Gospel, NT Pod 33: The Passion of Jesus in John's Gospel.

I have enjoyed this experiment in doing something a little different on the NT Pod, and to do something that is seasonal.

NT Pod 32: The Passion of Jesus in Luke's Gospel

I uploaded the third of this week's four Passion Podcasts early on Thursday morning.  In this one, we turn to Luke's Gospel, NT Pod 32: The Passion of Jesus in Luke's Gospel.

It is certainly my most ambitious plan so far on the NT Pod, but it's something I have enjoyed doing.  I am pleased that the regular release schedule is not quite so demanding, though, and look forward to returning to normal again next week.

NT Pod 31: The Passion of Jesus in Matthew's Gospel

I uploaded the second of this week's four Passion Podcasts early on Monday morning.  In this one, we turn to Matthew's Gospel, NT Pod 31: The Passion of Jesus in Matthew's Gospel. Apologies again for the lack of extended programme notes this week, but I am prioritizing recording, editing and releasing these back-to-back episodes.

The King of Kings -- 1927 Film Trailer

Among the many delights at archive.org, you can view the trailer for Cecil B. DeMille's The King of Kings from 1927:

NT Pod 30: The Passion of Jesus in Mark's Gospel

I uploaded the first of this week's four Passion Podcasts on Sunday.  Naturally, we turn to Mark's Gospel first, and NT Pod 30 deals with the Passion Narrative in Mark.  Apologies for the lack of extended programme notes this week, but I want to prioritize getting these episodes out on time.

Passion Week Podcasts

I have an ambitious plan this week to release four back to back episodes of the NT Pod on the Passion Narratives in the Gospels. The idea arose from the fact that I am focusing on the Passion Narratives in the Gospels in my New Testament Introduction class. Instead of putting out the podcasts on these episodes as I teach them, I thought it might be interesting to group them together and release them during Holy Week. I released the first tonight, NT Pod 30, on Mark's Passion Narrative. I turn to Matthew next, and hope to have all four out by Good Friday.

NT Pod 29: The Matthean Riddle

Just bringing things up to date here on the NT Blog with respect to episodes of the NT Pod, NT Pod 29 deals with what I call "the Matthean Riddle". Why is Matthew so Jewish and yet apparently so anti-Jewish? It is the latest in a series that goes alongside my New Testament Introduction class here at Duke. I apologize that I have not had the time to write fuller programme notes for this one, but it is certainly a topic that I plan to return to in due course.

NT Pod 28: The Disciples in Mark

I have just uploaded NT Pod 30 and took a look here on the NT Blog to check that I was up to date with adding notices of episodes here, and it turns out I am a couple behind. So this is a note about NT Pod 28: The Disciples in Mark. I recorded it on the back of a class here at Duke on the topic, part of my NT Introduction. Time prevents me from writing fuller notes here, but since some people access the NT Pod through this blog, I wanted at least to mention it. More anon.

Who is your favourite Herod?

Who is your favourite Herod Antipas? Jesus Christ Superstar is perhaps not as well known these days as it once was. When I mentioned it in class on Wednesday, I was surprised at how few in my New Testament Introduction class had seen it in any form, either the 1973 film or a stage production. It came up because we were talking about the distinctive elements in Luke's Passion Narrative, one of which is of course Luke 23.7-12, in which Herod appears. Here is Herod's song from Jesus Christ Superstar (1973):



Or do you prefer Rik Mayall's more recent Herod in the 2000 filmed stage version of Jesus Christ Superstar?



Although I love Rik Mayall, this performance doesn't quite do it for me. I still like Josh Moshtel's camp performance in the 1973 film version (above) directed by Norman Jewison.

But what about non-musical Herods? I think you have to go a long way to beat Jose Ferrer in The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965), earnest, brooding, menacing, troubled, understated and believable. (And his father, Herod the Great, is played by the great Claude Rains who is also great, though somewhat more manic). This is one of my favourite scenes in the film, at about the half-way point, where Salome's dance leads to the death of John:



There is an interesting segue here from the scene with Ferrer's Herod commanding the arrest of "the Nazarene", and the troops going to carry out this mission, to Jesus at the Sermon on the Mount beginning not with "Blessed are the poor in spirit" but instead, more appropriately, "Blessed are you when you are persecuted . . ."