"Sometimes one is conscious of spiritual life only because he is still struggling to maintain it, not at all because he is purposefully living it."
--Jim Elliot
5.05.2011
Knowing Theism and Knowing God
"He cannot define theism, but he knows God."
--Jim Elliot of his father
--Jim Elliot of his father
5.03.2011
The Value of a Physically Present Community in Learning
"Despite good intentions, it is almost always easier to misconstrue the arguments of others if they are not present." --Mark Noll, The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind, p. 20.
4.30.2011
Eschatological Reservation and Romans 6
"By using this imagery of a transfer of realms, or 'dominion,' with its association of power and rulership, Paul makes clear that the new status enjoyed by the believer (justification) brings with it a new influence and power that both has led and must lead to a new way of life (sanctification).
"This 'must' is very important. For, as decisive and final as is this transfer into a new realm, it would be a bad misinterpretation of Paul to think that the believer is thereby removed from all contact or influence with the old realm of sin. While belonging to a new realm, the believer brings with him into it many of the impulses, habits, and tendencies of the old life, a constant threat to putting into actual practice the realities of our new realm status. It is this 'eschatological reservation'--the fact that not until the resurrection and transformation of the body will the believer be severed from all contact with the old Adamic dominion--that explains the 'indicative/imperative' combinations that are so characteristic of these chapters: 'sin will not rule over you'/'do not let sin reign' (6:13-14); 'you are not in the flesh'/'do not live according to the flesh' (8:9, 12)."
--Douglas Moo, The Epistle to the Romans, New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1996), 352.
"This 'must' is very important. For, as decisive and final as is this transfer into a new realm, it would be a bad misinterpretation of Paul to think that the believer is thereby removed from all contact or influence with the old realm of sin. While belonging to a new realm, the believer brings with him into it many of the impulses, habits, and tendencies of the old life, a constant threat to putting into actual practice the realities of our new realm status. It is this 'eschatological reservation'--the fact that not until the resurrection and transformation of the body will the believer be severed from all contact with the old Adamic dominion--that explains the 'indicative/imperative' combinations that are so characteristic of these chapters: 'sin will not rule over you'/'do not let sin reign' (6:13-14); 'you are not in the flesh'/'do not live according to the flesh' (8:9, 12)."
--Douglas Moo, The Epistle to the Romans, New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1996), 352.
12.15.2010
Brief Review of Runge's A Discourse Grammar of the Greek New Testament
I posted my review on Amazon this morning and thought I'd add it here. It is of Runge's excellent work on Greek discourse. I recommend it to you.
His website is a resource in itself.
_______
TThough the book covers a fair bit of ground, its take-home value for me is two fold.
First, the opening chapter provides a set of controlling principles for discourse study. These are excellent for their simplicity. They include: "choice implies meaning," distinguishing "semantic meaning versus pragmatic effect," understanding "default versus marked framework," and recognizing "prominence and contrast." Chapter one will provide any student of Greek with basic linguistic wisdom. It is unusual for its depth and simplicity--a must read.
Second, Runge organizes the markedness of words used to connect propositions. His grasp of discourse is evident when he comes to presenting the data. These connecting words are assigned characteristics rather than placed in lists (explicitly in contrast to Wallace on this front). Each connecting word (8 total plus asyndeton) is considered in terms of continuity, discontinuity, correlation, forward-pointing, and additional semantic constraints. Runge compiles this in simple chart form as he moves along. This is gold for evaluating discourse and provides insight when tracing the argument of the author.
Both of the above strengths are found in Part 1, which Runge aptly calls 'Foundations.' The more rigorous student will continue to discover an accessible resource as Runge builds from here in the remainder of the book. I highly recommend his work.
His website is a resource in itself.
_______
TThough the book covers a fair bit of ground, its take-home value for me is two fold.
First, the opening chapter provides a set of controlling principles for discourse study. These are excellent for their simplicity. They include: "choice implies meaning," distinguishing "semantic meaning versus pragmatic effect," understanding "default versus marked framework," and recognizing "prominence and contrast." Chapter one will provide any student of Greek with basic linguistic wisdom. It is unusual for its depth and simplicity--a must read.
Second, Runge organizes the markedness of words used to connect propositions. His grasp of discourse is evident when he comes to presenting the data. These connecting words are assigned characteristics rather than placed in lists (explicitly in contrast to Wallace on this front). Each connecting word (8 total plus asyndeton) is considered in terms of continuity, discontinuity, correlation, forward-pointing, and additional semantic constraints. Runge compiles this in simple chart form as he moves along. This is gold for evaluating discourse and provides insight when tracing the argument of the author.
Both of the above strengths are found in Part 1, which Runge aptly calls 'Foundations.' The more rigorous student will continue to discover an accessible resource as Runge builds from here in the remainder of the book. I highly recommend his work.
9.17.2010
The Minister and His GNT
"The chief reason why preachers do not get and do not keep up a fair and needful knowledge of the Greek New Testament is nothing less than carelessness, and even laziness in many cases. They can get along somehow without it, and so let it pass or let it drop."
-AT Robertson in The Minister and His Greek New Testament, chapter 1.
-AT Robertson in The Minister and His Greek New Testament, chapter 1.
8.10.2010
Coffee and the KJV
Another story:
A guest comes into Java and asks Suemi if they make smoothies. They explain that they do not like coffee at all . . .
Wanting to put the guest at ease, she replies: "We are not respecters of persons." Suemi did not even try to explain herself.
I love my wife.
A guest comes into Java and asks Suemi if they make smoothies. They explain that they do not like coffee at all . . .
Wanting to put the guest at ease, she replies: "We are not respecters of persons." Suemi did not even try to explain herself.
I love my wife.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)