Thursday 13 September 2007

Learning Greek


I have been thinking of posting something on learning Greek for sometime now - but I don't think I have to do it! Tony Siew has done an excellent job!

Check out his posts:




By the way, for those of you who might be interested, Tony will be in Petaling Jaya conducting a seminar on "The Relationship between the Old Testament and the New Testament."

This seminar will review the following areas:

1. What do we mean by "Old" Testament? Is the OT relevant today? The biblical canon will be covered briefly.

2. Which parts of the laws in OT are no longer applicable in the NT? Case Study: The Ten Commandments and specific laws.

3. How do we interpret the OT in the light of the NT and vice-versa?

4. The Use of the OT in the NT with respect to:
a) Prophecy and Fulfillment
b) Typology
c) Moral Laws
d) Narratives
e) Citations and Allusions

Dates: 1 & 2 October 2007 (Monday and Tuesday evenings)
Time: 8.00 pm to 10.30 pm
Venue: First Baptist Church, 38 Jalan SS17/1D, 47500 Subang Jaya.

13 comments:

pearlie said...

My husband and I was just arguing about this topic, the New overriding the Old. We were debating over the law of the Sabbath. I said that it is still applicable to us in some ways, but to him, not at all. I wonder ...

Kar Yong said...

Well, come to the seminar then! :-)

pearlie said...

I have sent it to him - timing not so good :( weekday evenings are never good for us.

Lee Chee Keat said...

o cool...I have been reading GRames Goldsworthy on "According to Plan" and Vaughn Roberts on "God's big picture" - have been inspired by them about the need of studying biblical theology. Btw, how cum STM din consider offer such course as biblical theology which is an important component esp for evangelical circles ?? A Moore graduate advised me to read myself about biblical theology since STM not offering in order to prepare myself to be a competent bible teacher. Btw, I'm sure STM courses would touch on such issues right?? So, no need to go since I'll be in STM next year.....!!

Kar Yong said...

While we do not offer a course on biblical theology, we do offer OT theology and NT theology as electives.

Biblical theology is just one approach to the canonical scripture, and it is not without problems as well. The problem I have with some of the proponents of biblical theology is that sometimes the schema is just too tight, need and may sound too forced.

I'd prefer a narrative appraoch to the hebrew canon and the NT. I find this to be a more satisfactory approach...although some argue that the narrative approach is just another way of doing biblical theology.

Reb Anthony Loke said...

on narrative approach to OT theology, see John Goldingay's massive projected 3 volumes on OT Theology. Vol 1 and 2 are out.

biblical theology, as kar yong, has pointed out has its own set of problems. BS Childs was the foremost recent proponent. See his maasive work on the OT Theology and NT Theology.

The Biblical Theology movement was very popular at one time but has died out in the US except for people like Grame Goldsworthy and W. Dumbrell in the Moore Theological college. Not surprised at all if a Moore graduate highly recommends Goldsworthy's trilogy or his single volume According to Plan.

but we all have our preferences. basically i'm a form critic and i analyze the text according to its forms.

BK said...

it may have died out in the US, but it's certainly enjoying a resurgence in the UK, thanks in part to the influence of Moore.

what's the difference between a narrative approach and a biblical theology approach? I've always wondered.

Kar Yong said...

I may be wrong here, but it seems to me that most in the UK are not in favour of biblical theology approach - some even dismiss it completely - I have yet to meet one that is enthused about biblical theology approach during my 3-year there - at least not among the BNTS and SNTS folks. A very few among the smaller evangelical colleges might be sympathetic supportes.

Reb Anthony Loke said...

kar yong is right - most of the uk doesn't seem to favour a biblical theology approach. i too have not come across enthusiastic proponents in the time i have been in the uk. most guys i come across are either into historical criticism, redaction criticism, rhetorical criticism, form criticism and the new literary criticisms like aesthetic crticism, speech act theory etc. one hardly finds a biblical theology professor in the uni!

BK said...

actually, you're probably right, I'm sure it's still mostly out of favour in the academic world. It is however, I think, starting to make a comeback (perhaps resurgence was too strong a word) in the way the Bible is taught amongst some churches here in the UK, especially in conservative evangelical circles.

Or maybe my viewpoint is totally skewed 'cause I used to attend the church where Vaughan Roberts preaches! :)

Kar Yong said...

Hi BK,
So you used to attend St Ebbe's? Good church - I used to drop by St Ebbe's whenever I was in Oxford.

So where are you now in the UK?

BK said...

that's right, i was there for 3 years during my time as an undergrad there.

I'm currently in London, soon to join the ranks of the unemployed.

Lee Chee Keat said...

Yeah, that's what I was thinking too, isn't narrative approach and biblical theology approach the same? Although i heard the cons about biblical theology by Childs (which was summarised by Osborne in his book -Hermeneutical Spiral), I still find at least it is a helpful tool for us to give us a macro picture on the God's main emphasis in His theology and His progressive revelation that is helpful to us to resolve certain micro issues. Eg. Speaking in tongues (micro issues) as to compare to God's theological emphasis in biblical theology approach would see that the issue is insignificant comparing to most Pentecostal churches which emphasised it strongly as the main theology. Furthermore, I do see that most apostles in the Scripture use biblical theology approach in addressing some arguments through using OT in NT. Isn't that a biblical theology approach ?? I have read Goldsworthy trilogy and I'm quite agree and convinced with his approach of biblical theology but not entirety especially how he appraoches the book of Revelation. Anyway, overall, I think it's a helpful tool but must approach it with cautiously and discernfully and it is used for resolving certain issues. FOrm critics mentioned by Anthony sounded like literal criticism and it also has its own limitation that sounded denying the progressive of God's revelation. Hmm...perhaps I should consider to think of doing a thesis on this for my MDiv next few years to come since no M'sians scholar are the fan of Biblical theology...except those Moore graduates..hee hee!!