#kregel

Book Review: Laansma and Gauthier, The Handy Guide to Difficult and Irregular Greek Verbs -

Laansma, Jon C. and Randall X. Gauthier. The Handy Guide to Difficult and Irregular Greek Verbs. Aids for Readers of the Greek New Testament. Grand Rapids, Mich. Kregel Academic, 2017. 80 pgs; Pb. $13.99 Link to Kregel

Kregel Academic recently sent me a copy of their latest volume in the “Handy Guide” series of New Testament Greek tools. The first in the series was Douglas S. Huffman, The Handy…

Jan Kregel, Professor @ Nurkse School and Senior Scholar @ Levy Institute

Given the continuing divergence between progress in the monetary field and political integration in the euro area, the German interest in imposing austerity may be seen as representing an attempt to achieve, de facto, accelerated progress toward political union; progress that has long been regarded by Germany as a precondition for the success of monetary unification in the form of the common currency. Yet no matter how necessary these austerity policies may appear in the context of the slow and incomplete political integration in Europe, they are ultimately unsustainable. In the absence of further progress in political unification, the survival and stability of the euro paradoxically require either sustained economic stagnation or the maintenance of what Hyman Minsky would have recognized as a Ponzi scheme. Neither of these alternatives is economically or politically sustainable.

A Chilling look at what may well be our future…

The First Principle is certainly what I would call a MUST READ! And I applaud Kregel Publishing for having the courage to stand up with women everywhere over a tremendously important issue!

Before I get to my review, I want to let you all know that I will be giving away 1 paperback and 1 Kindle copy of this book over the next two weeks…

Keep reading for details…

This story hits home pretty hard…

Charts on the Life, Letters, and Theology of Paul by Lars Kierspel

Find it on Kregel.com.

Official Description:

Paul's letters have fascinated and challenged most every reader of the Bible. As a result, many general introductions and specific studies on Paul are available, but none are like Charts on the Life and Letters of Paul, which provides over 100 charts to explore the apostle's background, life and ministry, letters, and theology. The charts visually offer clarity on:

Basic insights (e.g., "Autobiographical Information")

Comparisons (e.g., "Parallels between Acts and Paul's Letters")

Advanced tools for further study (e.g., "Key Words in Romans")

Analysis (e.g., "The 'New Perspective' on Paul")

Research (e.g., "Key Texts and Their Interpretations")

Comments on the charts and discussions of significant theories-with leads for further exploration-are offered together with an extensive bibliography that includes references to past and current Pauline scholarship.

Interested Bible readers as well as students of Paul's life, letters, and theology will find plenty of material to deepen their understanding. Teachers will find the charts to be a valuable teaching resource. This book is an excellent supplement to any general introduction or specific study on Paul.

Publication Information:

Charts on the Life, Letters, and Theology of Paul. By Lars Kierspel Grand Rapids, MI.: Kregel Publications, 2012. 288 pages. ISBN: 978-0-8254-2936-1. $26.99.

Endorsements:

"Lars Kierspel has taken charting to a whole new level. This book provides an incredible number of charts-often quite detailed-on virtually every dimension of Paul imaginable... Kierspel has provided a whole new level of information in various other charts on theology, comparisons of Paul to others, and a variety of contextual matters."

Stanley Porter, President & Dean, Professor of New Testament. McMaster Divinity College.

"His [Kierspel] work can be a useful tool for those who are trying to sort out both the biblical data and current questions."

Mark Seifrid, The Mildred and Ernest Hogan Professor of New Testament Interpretation, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

"This is a single resource for the data I have commonly distributed to students."

E. Randolph Richards, Professor of Biblical Studies, Palm Beach Atlantic University

About the Author: Lars Kierspel (born 1972 in Germany) received his M.Div. at the Freie Theologische Hochschule (1998 in Giessen), his Th.M. at the Covenant Theological Seminary (2001 in St. Louis) and his Ph.D. at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (2006 in Louisville). His dissertation about "the Jews" in the Gospel of John was published by Mohr Siebeck. He currently teaches at Shiloh University in Iowa. His research interests include Gospel narratives, Luke-Acts, and Pauline literature.

  Summary:

Taken as a whole, Kierspel's work can be broken into four sections. Each section contains a number of charts depicting the information at hand. The four main sections are as follows:

A. PAUL'S BACKGROUND & CONTEXT

B. PAUL'S LIFE AND MINISTRY

C. PAUL'S LETTERS

D. PAUL'S THEOLOGICAL CONCEPTS

As the title of the book and the layout of the four sections note, this is a text that organizes the many pieces of information that surround Paul's life, letters and theology.

Section A, Paul's Background and Context, includes historical and biblical details. Who reigned before and during Paul's life and ministry? What religion and politics encircled Paul? What Greco-Roman or Jewish influences had an impact on Paul's ministry? These questions and many more are answered by the charts found in Section A.

Section B looks specifically at the man of the hour, Paul himself. What was Paul's life like? How does Acts line up with what Paul says throughout his letts about his ministry? This section provides an easy to understand (and easy to teach) breakdown of the chronology of Paul and the missionary journeys of Paul.

The third segment of Kierspel's book, or the section on "Paul's Letters," is a powerhouse of information. I honestly cannot imagine the number of hours that Kierspel put into this section. From manuscript resources to OT quotations and allusions, a multitude of details are organized and easily interpreted. Also, what I believe may be the most applicable piece to this entire compilation of Pauline charts, Kierspel has provided us with what he calls "SNAPSHOTS" of each of Paul's letters (and, yes, there is a chart on page 80 seeking to provide an answer to those who wonder whether or not Paul was actually the author of a letter).

  The last for the four sections, and the most important of sections for students interested in theology, is dedicated to Paul's Theological Concepts. Are you curious as to what Paul thought concerning idolatry or are you looking for a collocated arrangement of Paul's opinions on vices? This section also systemizes theological ideas, such as Paul's statements on soteriology, gifts of the Spirit or the millenium (i.e., where does Paul mention the "already-not-yet" millenium?).

** Having spent so much time in Paul's writings, it would be hard to sum up everything that needs said in the charts. Therefore, at the back of the book, Kierspel also adds additional comments/thoughts/notes for each of his charts.

  Evaluation:

This is the second of the KREGEL CHARTS OF THE BIBLE SERIES that I have had the opportunity to review (the first was Bateman's compilation on Hebrews, found here). The series, as a whole, has a lot to offer biblical scholars and theologians (some other topics include Charts on the Book of Revelation, Systematic Theology, and Open Theism/Orthodoxy). That said, this title does does fits right into the series. This title is not an easy read for people who have not been introduced to the many layers of Pauline theology. I would suggest this title most prominently for teachers/professors who are looking to present portions of Paul's life and theology to others. 

The lists are exhaustive and very well researched. In the time that I spent with Kierspel's work, I did not come across any errors and, refreshingly, the book is more a display of texts and opinions rather than a one-sided argument for a particular stance on Pauline theology. I highly recommend this text for whoever desires to dig deep into the world of Paul's writings (and how Paul's transcripts link beyond Pauline letters). 

      Charts on the Book of Hebrews

by Herbert W. Bateman IV

The reality of studying the Bible is that the deeper you dive into your study, the wider the arguments and possible ways there are to interpret a pericope. When knowing a particular way to understand a verse or word, drawing definite lines is not always easy. With the series that Kregel has launched, drawing the lines (literally) has become their main objective.

Bateman has done his homework and you can tell he has spent years pouring over the subject at hand. An easy way to explain the book is to first say that it is divided into four sections:

I. INTRODUCTORY CONSIDERATIONS IN HEBREWS (Authorship, destination, recipients, dating, genre & structure)

II. OLD TESTAMENT AND SECOND TEMPLE INFLUENCES IN HEBREWS (OT quotes and allusions, Jewish cultic system, Second Temple high priesthood, Second Temple messianic figures)

III. THEOLOGY IN HEBREWS (The Godhead, theological themes, words of exhortation

IV. EXEGETICAL MATTERS IN HEBREWS (Interpretive issues, text critical issues, figures of speech, important words).

  If you want to know what people have believed throughout the years, all of the way up until the present age, than this book lays information such as that out in a clean and understandable way. Bateman has sorted through the commentators himself, leaving you with the raw data. The same goes for dates or recipients and the like. Bateman supplies a lengthy, well-respected bibliography at the close of his text for further study. Where a text like this is most helpful is in displaying the wide-range of perspectives that the book of Hebrews has stirred. That is not to diminish any one opinion on the book (such as who we are to view is the audience, which in turns has a result on how we interpret the manuscript), rather, a text like this shows the magnitude of God. God has provided a beautifully complex book that begs His children to worship the King, of which all of Scripture speaks of.

  This book is great for both scholars and clergymen, professors or pastors. What makes this particularly appealing to professors is the size of the book. It's 8 1/2 by 11!! That's perfection if you're looking to make copies for your students (or, pastors, you can make copies for your audience as well! Churches are allowed to get all studious, too!).

  I'd encourage anyone who wishes to tread through the book of Hebrews to pick up a copy, as it gives the learner much broader of a context when seeking to understand the book of Hebrews. Yes, charts can be a little dry sometimes, but it sure does help to organize all of the information that commentaries seem to throw at you.

  Publication Information:

Herbert W. Bateman, IV. Charts on the Book of Hebrews.

Grand Rapids, Mich.: Kregel, 2012. 266 pages, pb. $26.99.

Find it at Kregel or Amazon 

:)

  Endorsements:

"Herbert Bateman's latest contribution on the book of Hebrews is truly excellent. I appreciate the effort he put into it. Anyone willing to dig into the treasures of this book of charts will not be disappointed."

- David Alan Black, Professor of New Testament and Greek, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

"Professor Bateman has managed to distill and organize an astonishing variety of perspectives, problems, and data into charts that provide almost immediate visual access to a wide range of issues and problems that must be faced by all interpreters of Hebrews. His survey of contemporary views provides a judicious cross section of English scholarship on contested areas of Hebrews. The perennial questions of authorship, manuscript support, canon, background, structure, Old Testament citations, and much more are well represented. The range, reliability, and clarity of the charts will make this a gold mine for both beginning and advanced students of this challenging but vital New Testament discourse."

- Jon Laansma, Associate Professor of Ancient Languages and New Testament, Wheaton College

" Contemporary commentaries and monographs offer rich help for navigating the book, but most students find digging for their treasures overwhelming. Bateman has pulled together a phenomenal amount of useful information in a way that is clear and easily accessible. What a helpful, substantive resource! This will be a standard tool in my classes on Hebrews from this point on."

- George Guthrie, Benjamin W. Perry Professor of Bible, Union University

"This will be a godsend to students and pastors working their way through this sometimes enigmatic book."

- Samuel Lamerson, Professor of New Testament, Knox Seminary

"Herb Bateman is eminently qualified to write on Hebrews."

- David L. Allen, Dean, School of Theology, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary