This past week was busy, as you can tell by my busy face to the left…because obviously your face gets smaller and your hat bigger when you are so busy. I was busy with a midterm, reading the pseudepigrapha for my independent study course, working on the Hebrew computer code for Accordance Bible Software, editing and rewriting a book review for RBL, writing articles for a forthcoming Bible dictionary being edited by Tremper Longman, III and Peter Enns, and with trying to get a lot of reading done before I head to Ohio tomorrow morning for the rest of week to attend Allyson (Liz’s sister) and BJ’s wedding. I’ll be back in Philly on Sunday night…hopefully with a huge “the-Red-Sox-are-in-the-World-Series” grin on my face.
I’ll be back to reviewing books on Monday. I’ll be reviewing Beginnings: Ancient Christian Readings of the Biblical Creation Narratives by Peter C. Bouteneff early in the week and Exploring the Origins of the Bible: Canon Formation in Historical, Literary, and Theological Perspective by Craig Evans and Emanuel Tov later in the week. I hadn’t reviewed a book in a week or so because I have been reading a few books that are not for sale yet…so, they cannot be blogged…so, I never really read them (wink, wink).
A few things I thought I’d point out in case you haven’t yet heard. The ESV Study Bible is now available at the Westminster Bookstore for the cheapest price you will find online. I took a look at it in the WTS bookstore on Friday (but was unable to purchase one because they legally couldn’t sell it until the 15th) and it looks pretty good. I took a gander through five or six known ‘trouble passages’ and though the study notes did well in their explanations. There are eight different options to choose from. As exciting as that is, I’m more excited about Cambridge deciding to publish the ESV. I have word that they will be arriving at the bookstore within a few weeks. I’ll most likely get the Pitt Minion with French Morocco leather, just like my current Bible, which is a Cambridge Pitt Minion NRSV with the Deuterocanonicals and French Morocco black leather. I just hope they offer a non-red letter edition as I really can’t handle red letter editions. If you haven’t seen a Cambridge Bible, they are my favorite. The font and layout are so much nicer than the Bibles that Crossway is putting out.
Ideally for me would be a Cambridge ESV Bible with the Deuterocanonicals, but it looks like Oxford University Press will be the exclusive carrier of ESV’s with the Deuterocanonicals.
I’ve also had word from my bookstore buddies that Tim Keller’s new book, The Prodigal God: Recovering the Heart of the Christian Faith will be in stock within the next two weeks. Some of our good buddies have already chimed in on Tim’s new book, although seemingly without having read it. Be sure to pick it up when it’s in stock. I’m also really excited to pick up Daniel Kirk’s first book, Unlocking Romans: Resurrection and the Justification of God, which is sure to blow your mind.
Other books I’m looking forward to:
Psalms, Vol. 3: Psalms 90-150 by John Goldingay
Ecclesiastes by Craig G. Bartholomew
Psalms 1-50 (ACCS) Edited by Craig A. Blaising and Carmen S. Hardin
Beginning from Jerusalem: Christianity in the Making, Volume 2 by James D.G. Dunn
The Word Leaps the Gap: Essays on Scripture and Theology in Honor of Richard B. Hays edited by J. Ross Wagner, A. Katherine Grieb, and C. Kavin Rowe
I’m also really interested in seeing what Apple pulls out of its hat tomorrow when they update their notebook line. I have been hearing rumors of a new $800 MacBook and aluminum casing for all the MacBooks.
If this is the new MacBook Pro then I might have to start a high paying job in order to save up for one. Guess we’ll find out tomorrow afternoon (1:00PM EST).
14 October 2008 at 9.30 am
“hopefully with a huge “the-Red-Sox-are-in-the-World-Series” grin on my face.”
It won’t matter man… this is OUR year baby! GO PHILLS!!
14 October 2008 at 5.14 pm
Art,
If you’re looking for a good non-red letter calfskin Bible check out the ESV check out the classic reference calfskin edition. Its not red-lettered like the others in its category. Its the one I use and I like it alot.
While the new MBP was pretty sweet I think the star of the show is def. the new MacBook.
14 October 2008 at 6.25 pm
When you say Hebrew computer code does that mean you write script/code?
14 October 2008 at 6.30 pm
it’s a script that was written for a diiferent module. I’m updating it so it is compatible with the ESV. I’m doing the OT historical books
14 October 2008 at 11.25 pm
I’m assuming it is what then, php? python? merely xml data?
14 October 2008 at 11.34 pm
It’s a perl script.
15 October 2008 at 7.16 am
For a theologian to know perl causes me to give you props. Perl is quite a fun language, and while my exposure is minimal I’ve hit many other languages and so know some of the differences.
16 October 2008 at 5.08 pm
My wife’s ESV Study Bible arrived yesterday, and it is extremely impressive. Absolutely the best study Bible I would recommend to any Christian who doesn’t have a formal seminary education.
That’s cool that you’re doing that for Accordance. I am hoping to start classes at Calvin College in January to finish my theological studies degree, and need to invest in some Bible software. Logos has a Mac version in beta, but I know about Accordance as well. Any insight you can share would be greatly appreciated =D.
What articles are you working on for the dictionary? Is it part of the black-covered series that is getting so much attention? That is too cool, dude.
PS- The new MacBooks make me droooooooool. It’s a bad time to be broke, lol.
I only have 2 semesters before seminary, maybe then I’ll upgrade… ;-D.