New Books in Biblical Studies

Powerful religious elements for living in the aftermath of trauma are embedded within North African Christian hagiographies. The texts of (1) The Passion of Perpetua and Felicity, (2) The Account of Montanus, Lucius, and their Companions, and (3) The Life of Cyprian of Carthage are stories that offered post traumatic pathways to recovery for its historical readership. These recovery-oriented beliefs and behaviors promoted positive religious coping strategies that revolved around a sense of safety, re-establishing community relationships, an integrated sense of self, and a hopeful story beyond trauma. This book vividly demonstrates that hagiographies played a vital therapeutic role in helping early Christian trauma survivors recover and flourish in the aftermath of disastrous persecutions.Scott Harrower (PhD, Systematic Theology) is Associate Professor of Theology, Church History, and Philosophy of Religion at Ridley College (Melbourne, Australia). He is also an ordained Anglican minister and has wide-ranging ministry experience in several countries. Dr. Harrower has published and regularly presents papers on topics such as early Christianity in Roman contexts, and philosophical responses to the problem of evil. In addition to Trauma and Recovery in North African Christianity (Medieval Institute Publications, 2024), his books include Trinitarian Self and Salvation and God of All Comfort: A Trinitarian Response to the Horrors of This World.Jonathon Lookadoo is Associate Professor at the Presbyterian University and Theological Seminary in Seoul, South Korea. While his interests range widely over the world of early Christianity, he is the author of books on the Epistle of Barnabas, Ignatius of Antioch, and the Shepherd of Hermas, including The Christology of Ignatius of Antioch (Cascade, 2023). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/biblical-studies

The book of Job is challenging. Its Hebrew is often obscure, its length and subject matter are intimidating, and its meaning has been debated throughout the history of biblical interpretation. Thankfully, in Job: Evangelical Exegetical Commentary (Lexham Academic, 2024), Duane A. Garrett presents a fresh argument for the book's meaning. Job demonstrates the inability of Wisdom, as a theological tradition, to solve the problem of evil.Tune in as we speak with Duane Garrett about the book of Job!Duane Garrett is the John R. Sampey Professor of Old Testament Interpretation and Professor of biblical theology at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.Michael Morales is Professor of Biblical Studies at Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, and the author of The Tabernacle Pre-Figured: Cosmic Mountain Ideology in Genesis and Exodus (Peeters, 2012), Who Shall Ascend the Mountain of the Lord?: A Biblical Theology of Leviticus (IVP Academic, 2015), and Exodus Old and New: A Biblical Theology of Redemption (IVP Academic, 2020), and a recent 2 volume commentary on Numbers. He can be reached at mmorales@gpts.edu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/biblical-studies

Diana V. Edelman and Philippe Guillaume, co-editors of a new introduction to biblical scholarship, delve into the significance of their book, designed for both students and general readers. They discuss the challenges of authorship and dating the Old Testament, exploring its historical context and relevance to modern issues. The narrative of Ruth is examined through an economic lens, providing insights into survival and justice. Their collaborative effort aims to make complex concepts accessible, revolutionizing how Old Testament education is approached.

In The Countercultural Victory of 1 John in Greco-Roman Context: Conquering the World (T&T Clark, 2023), Ahreum Kim re-examines conquering language in 1 John, arguing that when the letter is read with the context of Greco-Roman culture in mind, the conflict extends beyond in-fighting within the Johannine community. She suggests that the letter's author presents a consistent countercultural narrative due to concern about the predominant world, and proposes that the author exhorts the minority Johannine community to hold onto their belief while proclaiming that they are triumphant conquerors against the prevailing “world”.Kim first examines how conquering language toward a Johannine nike utilizes militaristic undertones already familiar in Greco-Roman culture. She argues that each of the opponents mentioned is affiliated with “the world”, and it is ultimately the conquering of the world itself which marks the Johannine victory. Kim demonstrates that the author references the negative fear of the divine in the polytheistic world which contrasts with the Johannine love of God, and that his countercultural message continues to the very end, with a concluding warning against the many worldly idols. Finally, she posits that the battle with the Greco-Roman world is ultimately a conflict of pistis, comparing Roman soldiers achieving military victories with a pistis to their emperor, and the repeated emphasis on Jesus as the true Son of God.Ahreum Kim recently completed her PhD under the supervision of Professor George van Kooten at the University of Cambridge. Her research spans across the New Testament and early Christianity, including Johannine literature, Jewish-Christian relations, and the disciples closest to Jesus. She is also the editor of Old and New: Essays on Continuity and Discontinuity in the New Testament, by Morna Hooker (Mohr Siebeck 2024).Jonathon Lookadoo is Associate Professor at the Presbyterian University and Theological Seminary in Seoul, South Korea. While his interests range widely over the world of early Christianity, he is the author of books on the Epistle of Barnabas, Ignatius of Antioch, and the Shepherd of Hermas, including The Christology of Ignatius of Antioch (Cascade, 2023). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/biblical-studies

Mark Sweetnam, a scholar from Trinity College Dublin, shares insights from his new commentary on the Second Epistle to Timothy. The conversation reveals the epistle's deep personal nature, as Paul urges Timothy to uphold his duties amidst challenges. Sweetnam discusses the impact of the King James Version on interpretation and the themes of faith and responsibility in maintaining sound doctrine. He also connects Paul's final thoughts to contemporary church leadership and highlights ongoing research linking biblical texts to Irish hymnody.

Teresa Morgan, an author specializing in New Testament studies and theology, highlights the essential role of trust in Christian faith. She argues that trust is often overlooked but is central to understanding the relationship between God, Christ, and humanity. Morgan discusses the concept of 'therapeutic trust,' emphasizing its risks and transformative potential. She also presents a fresh model of atonement, showcasing how trust can release humanity from sin and suffering. The conversation reveals trust as a dynamic, life-changing partnership in the Christian experience.

Marc Redfield, a professor at Brown University, delves into his book, examining the concept of 'shibboleth' from biblical origins to modern implications. He discusses how language shapes community identity and boundaries, reflecting on personal experiences of exclusion. The conversation highlights Paul Celan’s poetry, exploring themes of trauma and loss through a philosophical lens, notably Jacques Derrida's insights. Redfield connects poetry to memory and political engagement, revealing the intricacies of belonging and the nuances of cultural narratives.

In A History of the Hasmonean State: Josephus and Beyond (T&T Clark, 2019), Kenneth Atkinson tells the exciting story of the nine decades of the Hasmonean rule of Judea (152 - 63 BCE) by going beyond the accounts of the Hasmoneans in Josephus in order to bring together new evidence to reconstruct how the Hasmonean family transformed their kingdom into a state that lasted until the arrival of the Romans.Atkinson reconstructs the relationships between the Hasmonean state and the rulers of the Seleucid and the Ptolemaic Empires, the Itureans, the Nabateans, the Parthians, the Armenians, the Cappadocians, and the Roman Republic. He draws on a variety of previously unused sources, including papyrological documentation, inscriptions, archaeological evidence, numismatics, Dead Sea Scrolls, pseudepigrapha, and textual sources from the Hellenistic to the Byzantine periods.Atkinson also explores how Josephus's political and social situation in Flavian Rome affected his accounts of the Hasmoneans and why any study of the Hasmonean state must go beyond Josephus to gain a full appreciation of this unique historical period that shaped Second Temple Judaism, and created the conditions for the rise of the Herodian dynasty and the emergence of Christianity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/biblical-studies

Written in Rome as a book with revelatory intentions, the early Christian work known as the Shepherd of Hermas flourished especially in the second, third, and fourth centuries CE, was quoted as scripture by several church fathers, and, on the balance of manuscript attestation and translations from Greek to other languages, “is one of the most widely attested early Christian texts” (Lookadoo, 25). By contrast, outside of a niche of scholars, the book is widely unknown and underappreciated in the 21st century. In The Shepherd of Hermas: A Literary, Historical, and Theological Handbook (Bloomsbury T&T Clark, 2021), Jonathon Lookadoo seeks to enable a wide range of readers to engage with this unfamiliar book via a focus on the text and message of Hermas, the theological themes with coherence to more familiar books of the New Testament, metaphors unique to Hermas’s “apocalyptic” imagination, and a digestible introduction to the enduring questions of critical scholarship such as authorship, date, authority/canonicity of the Shepherd, and its complex history of reception within the church. Dr. Lookadoo joined the New Books Network to discuss these issues and more from his worthy attempt to invite a wider circle of readers into the range of books that inspired forms of early Christian piety.Jonathon Lookadoo (Ph.D., University of Otago, 2017) is Associate Professor at the Presbyterian University and Theological Seminary in Seoul, South Korea. His research interests range across the first two centuries of Christian history, with a particular focus on the Apostolic Fathers, while also taking interest in the writings of Paul and John and their reception in the second century. In addition to the present handbook on the Shepherd of Hermas, he is the author of The Christology of Ignatius of Antioch (Cascade Books, 2023) and The Epistle of Barnabas: A Commentary (Cascade, 2022). In his spare time, he enjoys running, hiking, and KBO baseball.Rob Heaton (Ph.D., University of Denver, 2019) hosts Biblical Studies conversations for New Books in Religion and teaches New Testament, Christian origins, and early Christianity at Anderson University in Indiana. He recently authored The Shepherd of Hermas as Scriptura Non Grata: From Popularity in Early Christianity to Exclusion from the New Testament Canon (Lexington Books, 2023). For more about Rob and his work, or to offer feedback related to this episode, please visit his website at https://www.robheaton.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesSupport our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/biblical-studies

A. J. Berkovitz, an author and expert on ancient Jewish culture, dives into the influential role of the Psalter in Jewish life during late antiquity. He discusses how the Psalms shaped both personal devotion and communal practices. The conversation covers fascinating topics, such as the emotional connections individuals had to the Psalms and the artistic fusion seen in a Gaza synagogue mosaic depicting King David. Berkovitz also explores the complexities of psalm scrolls from Qumran, shedding light on their significance in understanding the intersection of faith and culture.