Pursuing Veritas

The world is changed.

I feel it in the water.

I feel it in the earth.

I smell it in the air.

Much that once was is lost, for none now live who remember it.

It began with the forging of the Great Biblioblogs. Three were given to the Old Testament academics, immortal, wisest and oldest of all topics. Seven to the New Testament scholars, great miners and craftsmen of Christian wisdom. And nine, nine blogs were gifted to the graduate students, who above all else desired that someone notice them. For within these blogs was bound the strength and the will to govern each blogging platform.

But they were all of them deceived, for another blog was made. Deep in the land of Tennessee, in the Fires of the Reformation, the Dark Lord Jim West forged a master blog, and into this blog he poured his wit, his wisdom, and his will to dominate the entire blogging world.

One Blog to rule them all.

One by one, the free lands of the internet fell to the power of the Blog, but there were some who resisted. A last alliance of bloggers marched against the armies of West, and on the very slopes of Zwinglius Redivivus, they fought for the freedom of the blogging world. Victory was near, but the power of the Blog could not be undone. It was in this moment, when all hope had faded, that Phil Long, son of the king, took up his father’s sword.

And carried on the legacy of planning and hosting Biblical Studies Carnivals. Of which this is now the 214th edition. If you’re interested in hosting in the future, let Lord Long know. In the meantime, a big thanks to him (and to Jim West, for his charity and grace). Without further ado, here are this month’s posts.

Bob McDonald wrapped up his masterful #PsalmTweet series with Psalm 17:8. He also kicked off a series looking at the texts used by Handel’s Messiah.

Allan Bevere continues his reflections on the daily lectionary readings with a number of fascinating posts, including some thoughts on if God hated Esau and the imprecatory psalms.

Aren Maier shared some important rules for archaeologists (and the rest of us),

Jim Davila looks at abracadabra again (and offers a correction).

Why was the Bible written? Jacob Wright joins the Biblical Time Machine to weigh in.

Marc Zvi Brettler and Jed Wyrick ask if the Decalogue is better thought of as ten commandments or ten statements?

Sarah Ivill explores lessons from Haggai on how God is with us.

Raphael Magarik talks about why he teaches modern novels in his intro to the Bible course.

Thomas Creedy continues his Psalm a Day series, which has been insightful and enjoyable.

Dru Johnson, Erin Heim, and Sandra Glahn discuss the cult of Artemis in Ephesus and the way it transforms our reading of key NT passages as Glahn talks about her new book, Nobody’s Mother.

Scot McKnight shares some thoughts on if Paul wrote the pastorals from an early draft of his commentary.

Ian Paul dives into what it means that the word became flesh in John 1.

Heather Anne Thiessen studies Romans 12 (and a whole host of other passages).

Michael Bird and Nijay Gupta discuss the Ethiopian Eunuch, Isaiah 53, and Jesus.

B.J. Oropeza examines the New Testament’s use of the Old through a look at quotes, allusions, and echoes.

Marg Mowczko examines some of Sandra Glahn’s claims about Artemis myths.

Michael Bird talks about what we mean by apocalyptic. He also interviews Chris Watkins on the book of Revelation and its role in biblical critical theory.

Shayna Sheinfeld, Sara Parks, and Meredith Warren dive into Jewish and Christian women in the Greco-Roman world.

Ian Mills puts the sayings of Jesus found in P.Oxy. 5575 into some much-needed context.

In what might have been the most fascinating things I saw this month, Brent Nongbri talks about manufacturing papyrus and storing scrolls.

Peter Head notes an interesting point in the NA28 apparatus at Galatians 1:8.

Scot McKnight reviews Matthew Gordley’s Social Justice in the Stories of Jesus.

Phil Long reviews Glen Thompson and Mark Wilson’s In This Way We Came to Rome. He also reviewed Tikva Frymer-Kensjy’s Wisdom from the Witch of Endor.

Jimmy Reagan reviews Craig Bartholomew and Heath Thomas’s The Minor Prophets. And Brandon Crowe’s The Path of Faith. And Mark Awabdy’s BCOT commentary on Numbers. And the second edition of Bruce Kim’s WBC volume on 1&2 Thessalonians. And Victor Hamilton’s Exodus. AND Edward Klink’s The Beginning and End of All Things. Can we write enough books to stay ahead of Jimmy’s reviewing them?

James McGrath reviews Mireille Hadas-Lebel’s Les Pharisiens.

Peter Gurry reviews Nicholar Elder’s Gospel Media, as did Phil Long.

B.J. Oropeza interviews Matthew Thiessen on his new book, A Jewish Paul.

Jonathon Lookadoo reviews Frazer MacDiarmid’s, The Memory of Ignatius of Antioch.

Way late to the party, Jacob Prahlow reviews Phil Long’s The Book of Enoch for Beginners.

James McGrath argues that biblical illiteracy shouldn’t just worry churches.

Jim West says goodbye to the SBL and reminds us of the problem with much of biblical scholarship.

Penn State is hosting a Dead Sea Scrolls Colloquium via Zoom on March 15th.

Jacob Randolph shares what a paint color reveals about Christian history.

Consider also the 11th International Organization for Targumic Studies call for papers.

Ian Paul offers some wise advice for how we can speak up well on controversial issues.

Alex Fogelman talks about his new book on knowledge, faith, and Christian initiation.

LuElla D’Amico reflects on sabbaticals and sabbathing (and how many are bad at sabbathing during sabbaticals).

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Thanks for reading! Next month’s carnival will be hosted by either Phil Long or Jim West. Hope to see you there!