Review: Confronting Old Testament Controversies

Many Christians tend to be afraid of the Old Testament. Typical reasons include its confusing nature or irrelevance. These lead to a deeper issue: a distrust that the Old Testament is capable of addressing modern issues, especially when it seems to be rife with controversy. This is the problem that Tremper Longman III seeks to address in Confronting Old Testament Controversies: Pressing Questions about Evolution, Sexuality, History, and Violence (Baker Books, 2019). Longman, a respected Old Testament scholar, presents four of the most controversial subjects regarding the Old Testament and its relevance to life—evolution, homosexuality, historicity, and divine violence—and makes a biblical, theological, and historical case for each issue.

Longman’s writing is not for the faint of heart. It is heavily academic in nature, requiring a basic knowledge of the literature and state of Old Testament scholarship. He drops large theological and biblical words and expects the reader to understand him. The occasional personal story peppered among the academic weeds assists in this book’s readability. For those who are capable of following complicated arguments, this book is a valuable read. And perhaps that is Longman’s intention—not to provide a quick and easy reference but an in-depth evaluation for the careful scholar. On each issue, Longman takes a stance, which is typically traditional/conservative with latitude and grace toward opposing views. Thus, while not all will agree with his conclusions, he makes a strong argument throughout.

This book would make an excellent addition for a biblical scholar, ethics student, or interested layperson. To be sure, it is quite dense, but it is worth the read and necessary for entering into contemporary issues debates.

(A complimentary review copy was given in exchange for an honest review.)

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Product Review: LL Bean Extra-Large Rolling Adventure Duffle

Overview When adventure strikes, the right bag makes all the difference. Too often, however, luggage bags are either large, ponderous suitcases or small, flimsy duffle bags. I have traveled to Central and South America multiple times with terribly large suitcases. It added extra complication to my trip—especially lugging the bag up the steps! This is the problem which LL Bean seeks to rectify in the LL Bean Extra-Large Rolling Adventure Duffle. With a 137-liter capacity, this duffel is able to hold the items of the biggest pack-rat while being easy to transport. It features a telescoping handle, smooth-gliding wheels, and cinch straps. Specifications Capacity: Approx. 8,350 cu. in., 137 L. Weight: 9 lb. 3 oz. Dimensions: 17"H x 34"W x 15"D. Highlights This bag is sturdy. Not only is it capable of holding many items, but it is incredibly durable. It has a reinforced nylon bottom and a thick plastic frame so that the bag does not sag or become weak....

Review: NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible

A revised version of the previously published NIV Zondervan Study Bible, the NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible (Zondervan, 2018) represents the best of biblical scholarship in a compact study Bible. It introduces Biblical Theology (BT), a discipline that is intended for readers to weave individual books and stories into a larger metanarrative that reveals God's redemptive plan through the entire Bible. To that end, this study Bible includes articles introducing BT and articles on theological matters. While the emphasis of this Bible may appeal to a more Reformed/covenantal audience, the contributors span a variety of theological traditions and are respected authorities within their discipline. The verse-by-verse notes—over 20,000—are insightful and suitable for determining the historical, literary, and cultural background of the text with a view to responsible interpretation of Scripture. There are in-text cross references, a concordance, maps, and useful charts. Each bo...

Review: Behind The Scenes Of The Old Testament

The biblical drama was situated among a highly complex sociological, political, and geographic backdrop. In particular, the world of the Old Testament was a critical time for human civilization—yet most readers of the Bible tend to imagine that Israel alone was the sole nation on the scene. While most OT surveys identify cultural issues within particular sections of the text, or provide a cursory introduction to the ancient Near East in an opening chapter, Behind the Scenes of the Old Testament: Cultural, Social, and Historical Contexts (Baker Academic, 2018) provides a comprehensive entry point into the ancient world in the time of the OT. This authoritative tome brings together contributions from the world’s leading biblical and archaeological scholars to offer a variety of articles on OT background issues. It is divided into three parts. The first, “Elements of the Drama,” includes the stage (historical geography), the set and props (archaeology), the scripts (extra-biblical li...

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