It’s certainly been a while since I’ve been able to update Withering Fig. “What could have possibly brought me out of my Salinger-like public coma?” you ask. Well, images of papyri, of course!

Goodacre, over at the NT Gateway, has called my attention (via his excellent blog) to some new images of papyri that Harvard is making available. Here’s is Goodacre’s post:

Harvard Papyri Online

I must say that the quality of these scans is quite good. During my 18 months on Harvard’s LDI (Library Digital Initiative) Project (via.harvard.edu), I was always pleased with the images that we were putting out. It looks like the folks in charge of this project have done superior work.

Categories: Biblical Studies · Technology · Bible Tech · New Testament

It’s the 21st century, and anyone studying the Bible should be aware of a few technological advances that can really help them. So, here are my “Top 5 Bible Study Technologies.” If you’ve got some others, feel free to post ‘em in the comments!

1. Accordance — I’m a Mac guy, so Accordance is my Bible software of choice. Accordance is a full-featured Bible software package that allows you to compare texts, look up Greek and Hebrew words, write your own notes, draw maps, look at commentaries and lexica, etc. You can do it all, if you’re willing to spend the money. Everyday at my fingertips I’ve got a fountain of information, right here on my little iBook—no need to lug around a million different books. If you’re not hip to the Mac, if you’re stuck with Windows, check out Logos (which is also now available for Mac).
2. Zhubert.com — Sometimes you just aren’t near your own computer, and you’re just dying to know exactly what Greek word Paul is using here, or how to parse this verb in Luke…Zhubert.com to the rescue. As long as you’ve got someone’s computer with internet connectivity, you can satisfy your Greek dorkiness. There’s also online flashcards, vocab lists, and a bunch of other features that you can personalize and customize. It’s the closest thing to Web 2.0 that Greek Geeks have got!
3. Biblioblogs (see a list of Biblioblogs on Unspun) — Monographs are annual. Peer-reviewed journal articles are quarterly. Blogs are instantaneous. Over the last few years, biblical scholars have flooded the blogosphere with “biblioblogs”—blogs devoted to biblical study. Whether you are just a casual browser, or you really are interested in finding out more about Prof. April DeConick’s thoughts on “The Fourth Quest”, there is a ridiculous amount of information to be gleaned from biblioblogs. However, don’t forget this important rule of thumb: check everything out, trust no one. Just as the web can be a fantastic source of information, it is also full of misinformation.
4. Google Scholar — Google Scholar is one of those things that isn’t great yet. But, one day, it will be. Coupled with Google Book (which I believe used to be known as “Google Print”) Google Scholar can help you separate the wheat from the chaff and work on the fly, miles from a library, miles from a book. While I was in grad school, there were so many times that these two services as well as JSTOR and other online repositories of information bailed me out. The wonderful thing about Google services is that they are totally free. God bless ‘em!
5. Reading Glasses — An oldie but a goodie. First crafted by some cool Italians (check it out) in the 13th century, reading glasses have been indispensible to scholars and lay folks alike for centuries. As the years go by, our eyes start to go a little wacky. At the same time, the print in Bibles is forever diminishing…my wife’s Bible has a 7.5 point font. Cramp! More on glasses…

What are your favorite Bible Study Technologies?

Updates

• Daniel Foster informed me that Logos for Mac is not currently shipping. I’ve left it in the text the way it is, however, because someday it will be shipping…hopefully! [05/10/2007]

Categories: Biblical Studies · Bible Tech

UnSpun by Amazon: Best Blogs about Biblical Studies

UnSpun has a list of the top blogs for Biblical Studies. Withering Fig is a glaring omission, but that’s OK…I’ll live to blog another day.

There are some surprises, however. For example, Josh McManaway with his blog “A New Testament Student” currently comes in at #9. By calling this a “surprise,” I do not mean to impugn Josh’s blog or his blogging abilities. Rather, I am just surprised that it ranks so highly considering how new it is! So, good work Josh. He and I have exchanged some emails, and he’s a downright pleasant dude!

Of course, all that said, I have no idea how this ranking system works. But get out and vote! I’m sure it’ll change your life!

Categories: Bible Tech

This past weekend was Easter which naturally brings with it contemplation of the cross and the resurrection.

A good friend of mine was asking me about Psalm 22 and the Crucifixion. In Mark 15:34 and Matthew 27:46, Jesus utters the following question while on the Cross: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (NB: Matthew and Mark are very slightly different).

Most Bibles will note that this is an Aramaic translation of Psalm 22:1. My friend asked me whether or not I thought that this should be understood as a quotation of the entire psalm, or just the first line.

Allow me to explain a little further. Often in ancient literature, a quotation of a familiar text was identified by writing just a few lines. This was probably because writing materials (e.g., papyrus) could be quite expensive. It was basically a paper-saving technique.

How does the reading of this text change if we take Jesus to be quoting the entire psalm, rather than just the first verse?

I actually don’t feel like the reading changes much, in fact, I feel like its a strong position. What may be bothersome is for people to take the hope evoked by Psalm 22:19ff. and twist it into saying that God had not forsaken Jesus while Jesus was on the cross. I find this position untenable.

Paul’s Position on “Forsaken”

If we look at Paul, I think we’ll find that his attitude is in accordance with the concrete meaning of these verses in Matthew and Mark. Jesus was in fact forsaken, separated, from God.

For our sake he made him who knew no sin to be sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Cor 5:21)

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith. (Gal 3:13–14)

In both of these verses, it appears that Christ experienced separation from God. First, in 2 Corinthians, Paul says that he was made to be sin. We know that sin and God cannot coexist. The two are oil and water and do not mix. At the crucifixion, Jesus took the sin of the world upon him, at which point he was separated from God by his filthiness.

In the second quotation, Paul refers to Jesus as “cursed.” This too shows a separation from God. How can a curse be wholly God? Just as I explained above, at the moment of the crucifixion, God indeed turned his back on Jesus.

What’s Hebrews 2:9 Got to Do With It?

Here is how the ESV translates Hebrews 2:9:

But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

This seems pretty innocuous at first. However, lurking underneath this text is textual variant that alters the theology of this statement. The crux of the matter is the idea that “by the grace of God” Jesus died. There is strong textual evidence to support this reading: “so that separated/apart from God he might taste death for everyone.” I have written rather extensively about this particular topic in a paper called “Hebrews 2:9: Separated by Grace”.

If my argument is correct, if “by the grace” should be replaced with “separated” this would make rock solid the understanding that Jesus did indeed die separated from God.

Categories: Bible Tech · New Testament

OK, I am a Bible consumer. Step one is admitting my problem.

In other posts, I have talked about how I have shopped around for translations (here), and how I ultimately settled down with the ESV. Additionally, there are blogs out there, such as the Better Bibles Blog, which can really illuminate all of the possibilities.

However, while I find myself disgruntled with various translations, angry at the lack of useful notes (usually, notes at the bottom are just not interesting to me) or cross-references, I still find myself drawn to the Bibles section of bookstores. Initially, I’m hoping to find the perfect Bible that fits all of my criteria. Then, I realize, that what I’m really looking for is just the latest and greatest thing.

Bibles are always going to be a bit of a disappointment for me. Why? Because I’m not designing them. Until Thomas Nelson or Crossway or Zondervan talks to me, there just isn’t going to be a perfect Bible in my eyes. Until they commit to the Hebert Edition, I’ll just have to make do.

I may be disappointed, but this doesn’t stop me from thirsting after different editions.

The latest Bible to tickle my fancy is Crossway’s “Journaling Bible.” Essentially, it’s a moleskine-inspired Bible. If you don’t use moleskine notebooks, either you’re not cool, or you’re way too cool. Essentially, a moleskine is a small, hard cover notebook. Typically, they are black with an elastic band and a handy-dandy pocket inside. You can get them ruled, squared, blank, sketch papered, etc. They look really nice sitting in a pretty row on a shelf. Love ‘em.

Crossway’s Journaling Bible looks and feels exactly like a huge moleskine. The aesthetics here are a big draw. But an even bigger bonus is that each page features a 2″ ruled margin for writing notes. This is one of my dream Bible features!!!

But, it’s not perfect.

First, it lacks cross-references. For me, this is almost essential. I’m not sure how I’ve managed to survive without them in my current Crossway “TruTone Slimline” ESV edition. Nevertheless, I have survived—so, it must be possible.

The second drawback is that the font is 7.5 point. That’s pretty tiny. There is no way I can possibly use this Bible 20 years from now…my failing eye-sight won’t allow it.

But the paper feels so nice, and the margins look so good.

I’m a hopeless Bible consumer. I want it. I’ve already told my wife that this is what I need for Christmas.

Will I have to wait until December 2007? Probably not…

Categories: Bible Tech

April DeConick, of Rice University, right here in my hometown of Houston, has just entered herself in the blogosphere with The Forbidden Gospels Blog. I don’t know much about Prof. DeConick, but it appears that her research interests include early Jewish and Christian mysticism, Gnostic thinkers, etc. Additionally, a quick portrait in front of some pyramids always lends credibility!

Danny Zacharias of deinde.org welcomes her to the blogosphere with a bit of criticism. Danny pretty much sums up my attitude about her initial post (“Beyond the New Testament Canon”). But, that’s what we’re all about—discussion!

Categories: Bible Tech

Joe Weaks of the Macintosh Biblioblog notes that the makers of the ESV (English Standard Version) have used a data visualization technology (Many Eyes) to create a social networking map of new testament characters.

I don’t know much about data visualization, but it appears to be a technology that is being used more and more outside the hard sciences.

Do you think the other dots are jealous of the size of the Jesus dot?

UPDATE: Brandon Wason of Novum Testamentum Blog posted another use of Many Eyes data visualization technology. Brandon mapped out the length of New Testament books.

Categories: Technology · Bible Tech · New Testament