Thursday 30 April 2009

University of Glasgow: NT Position


This announcement came through the BNTS e-list.
University of Glasgow announces an NT Position. Sounds pretty exciting!

-------------------------------------

Job Details: Lecturer in New Testament, University of Glasgow

Reference Number: 00024-1

Location: Main Campus (Gilmorehill)

Faculty/ Services: Faculty of Arts

Department: Theology and Religious Studies

Job Family: Research & Teaching

Position Type: Full Time

Salary Range: £31,513 - £35,469 (grade 7)

Job Purpose: To actively contribute to teaching at taught masters and undergraduate level, to supervise postgraduate students and to undertake research and administration as directed by the Head of Department


Main Duties and Responsibilities:
1. Contribute to the organisation and delivery of the taught masters and undergraduate programme in New Testament.

2. Maintain and further develop research profile through high quality internationally recognised publications and support the departmental research strategy.

3. Prepare grant applications and secure grant funding in a manner that supports and enhances the academic profile of the Department.

4. Share in the supervision of postgraduate students

5. Supervise individual student projects and assist with difficulties e.g. learning support/problems.

6. Contribute to the development of the curriculum in a manner that supports a research led approach to student learning.

7. Engage in professional development as appropriate

8. Participate fully in the assessment process (using a variety of methods and techniques) and provide effective, timely and appropriate feedback to students to support their learning

9. Undertake departmental administration as requested and supported by the Head of Department.


Knowledge, Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Knowledge/Qualifications
Essential
A1 Good first degree and PhD in subject related area.
A2 Excellent emerging research profile
A3 Comprehensive and up to date knowledge of research within subject area
A4 An interdisciplinary approach to research and teaching in biblical studies
Desirable
B1 Ability to make personal contribution to departmental specialisms in research and teaching. These include: dialogue between religion and contemporary critical theory; religion in relation to literature and the arts; religion and contemporary society.
B2 Be able to contribute to courses in early Christianity

Skills
C1 Excellent communication skills both orally and written.
C2 Good interpersonal skills
C3 Time/project management skills
C4 Ability to work as part of a team
C5 Ability to work with little supervision

Experience
Essential
E1 At least 1-2 years teaching experience at a postdoctoral level: Desirable
F1 Postgraduate teaching experience

Job Features

Planning and Organising
Reactive - Daily queries from departmental staff/students.
Plan and organise administrative duties on an ongoing basis

Decision Making
Prioritise own work.
Experimental design.
Decide on choice of journal for publication of research and
conferences to attend.
Content of course(s)

Internal/External Relationships
Internal
Head of Department for exchanging information, research strategy, learning and teaching strategy.
Staff/Research students to advise and motivate.
U/G students for teaching and learning support.
Academic support services for appropriate advice and for exchanging information.
Student support services, to exchange information, refer/support students.

External
Grant funding bodies (income generation)
Journals (publishing)

Problem Solving
Act as first point of contact for problems/enquiries from students involved with area of teaching/research.
Assist postgraduate students with problems relating to research.

Standard Terms & Conditions
The salary will start at the first point on the Research and Teaching grade, level 7, Scale £30,763 - £34,625 per annum.

The successful applicant (if aged under 60) will be eligible to join the Universities’ Superannuation Scheme. Further information regarding the scheme is available from the Superannuation Officer, who is also prepared to advise on questions relating to the transfer of Superannuation benefits.

All research and related activities, including grants, donations, clinical trials, contract research, consultancy and commercialisation are required to be managed through the University’s relevant processes (e.g. contractual and financial), in accordance with the University Court’s policies.

Probation Period
Lecturers, on appointment, will normally be required to serve a period of probation; exceptionally Senior Lecturers might be required to serve a period of probation, particularly when they have had no previous university experience. The period of probation, which will normally be three years, may be reduced or waived by the Director of Human Resources on the recommendation of the Appointing Committee having regard for the previous experience of the person appointed.

In exceptional circumstances, when an appointee to a Lectureship has no postgraduate degree or has not worked in a lower level academic position the Appointing Committee can recommend that 4 years of probation be completed.

Relocation assistance may be provided where appropriate

INTERVIEWS FOR THIS POST WILL TAKE PLACE DURING WEEK COMMENCING 22 JUNE 2009

Wednesday 29 April 2009

Lost in Translation Conference

LOST IN TRANSLATION: STUDIES OF THE SEPTUAGINT AND BEYOND IN HONOUR OF JENNY DINES
A One Day Conference
Heythrop College, University of London

All papers will take place in the Walker Room, 2nd Floor, Main Building


Wednesday 24th of June 2009
9:30-10:10:
Registration and Tea/Coffee (Walker Room)

The morning papers will be chaired by Dr Ann Jeffers, Heythrop College.

10:10:
Introduction

10:10-10:50:
Sarah Pearce, University of Southampton
"Philo's 'Family Values'".

10:50-11:30:
Charlotte Hempel, University of Birmingham
The Qumran Yahad in Recent Scholarship.

11:30-12:20:
Tessa Rajak, University of Reading
'Ancestral Laws: What Josephus Made of the Greek Bible.'

12:20-1:00:
Deborah Rooke, King’s College, London
‘Susanna in Handel's Oratorio’.

Lunch – provided (Walker Room)

The afternoon papers will be chaired by Dr Bridget Gilfillan Upton

1:50-2:30:
Jim Aitken, CJCR, Cambridge
'The Septuagint and "Alexandrian" scholarship'.

2:30-3:10:
Gillian Greenberg, University College London
'Literary Initiative in the Peshitta'.

3:10-3:50:
Sean Ryan, Heythrop College.
‘Dislocated Locusts: Re-visions of Joel
& Amos in Revelation 9’

3:50-4:30:
Jonathan Norton, Heythrop College.
‘Psuche, Pneuma, and Paul's Rhetorical Surprise’.

4:30 Tea and departure

For registration, please contact:
Ms Mariann Jakab
Heythrop College
University of London

Kensington Square
London W8 5HQ
m.jakab@heythrop.ac.uk
Tel: 020 7795 4201

Saturday 25 April 2009

Paul and Peter Mixed up?


I just realised that having had my research focusing on the Apostle Paul for the past few years has, in some ways, conditioned me to think in certain pattern.

I was preparing for my sermon tomorrow, and the text that I would be preaching from is taken from 1 Peter 4:7-11. While scripting my sermon, I kept using the phrase, "Paul says" instead of "Peter says..." several times. It became so naturally for me to say, "Paul argues..."; "Paul suggests..."; and "Paul exhorts..." when it should rightly be "Peter argues...Peter suggests...Peter exhorts..."

My goodness....is this a good or bad sign?

Friday 24 April 2009

Ordination Exam and Interview

My ordination examination and interview is schedule to be held tomorrow at 4pm. If all goes well, and if the Ordination Council unanimously agrees to pass my exam and interview, I will be ordained by the Evangelical Free Church of Malaysia at a service to be held on June 14, 2009.

More details later.

Thursday 23 April 2009

Augustana College: Conrad J. Bergendoff Fellowship

I have just come across the following announcement that may be of interest to some:

-----------------


Augustana College invites applications for a Conrad J. Bergendoff Fellowship in Religion, a program designed to foster professional development in undergraduate teaching. Preference will be given to candidates who have recently completed or will complete a Ph.D. by August 1, 2009.

The Bergendoff Fellow will be expected to teach seven class-sections over three terms; five sections to be chosen from one or two of the Christian Traditions offerings – American Christianities, Christian Ethics, Christian Origins, Christian Scriptures, Christian Theology.

To reduce the number of preparations, the Bergendoff Fellow will be scheduled to teach multiple sections of the same class. Other expectations include participation in the Augustana College programs designed to help new faculty develop their pedagogical skills, and one on-campus presentation of scholarly work.

The Bergendoff Fellowship is a one year term appointment renewable once, contingent on budgetary needs and demonstrated excellence in the classroom. Full time salary and benefits provided.

Questions may be directed to the chair of the department, Ritva Williams, at RitvaWilliams@augustana.edu.

Faculty application procedures-
You must provide the following information:
  • Letter of application
  • curriculum vitae
  • two proposed syllabi (at least one for a Christian Traditions offering)
  • graduate transcripts
  • three letters of recommendation
All application materials should be submitted directly to:

Search #123-09 RE/Fellow Cmte.
C/O Jeff Abernathy
Dean of the College
Augustana College
639 - 38th Street
Rock Island, IL 61201

Review of applications will begin May 4, 200

Wednesday 22 April 2009

Signs and Wonders: Perspectives from Acts and Implications for the Church Today

This is a short article that I wrote for Kairos magazine some months ago. Since it has been requested, I decided to publish it here in my blog.

Signs and Wonders: Perspectives from Acts and the Implications for the Church Today

“Whatever sickness that you may have – migraine, backache, gastric problems, cancer – God wants to heal you. So, take that step of faith, get out of your seat and come to the altar….”

The invitation was given by the preacher in a healing meeting I attended some years ago. Many responded to the “altar call” to be prayed for healing. Subsequently, those who were healed publicly shared that their sufferings had ended and their material well-being had been restored.

I felt a little bit uneasy. It is not that I do not believe in signs and wonders - I take it for granted that God still performs them today. My uneasiness was with the reason given in encouraging one to seek for signs and wonders: that miracles were normative in the daily life of the early Christian community in Acts and so it should be the same today. After all, how would one otherwise account for the impressive amount of space given to the recording of signs and wonders?

But can this claim be substantiated with a close reading of Acts? Do signs and wonders exist merely for the sake of alleviating human pain and suffering? Are they to be sought and experienced as part of our spiritual experience? To help us address these concerns, I hope to explore two questions in this essay. First, what was the purpose of signs and wonders in the early Christian community? Second, what are their implications in the church today?

The Purpose of Signs and Wonders in Acts

Luke uses the unique phrase “signs and wonders” with higher frequencies in Acts compared to the rest of the New Testament (see 2:19, 22, 43; 4:30; 5:12; 6:8; 7:36; 14:3; 15:12). Apart from this phrase, the word commonly translated “sign” can be found in 4:16, 22; 8:6, 13 while the word frequently translated “miracle” or “power” appears ten times elsewhere (1:8; 2:22; 3:12; 4:7, 33; 6:8; 8:10, 13; 10:38; 19:11).

In addition to the frequent use of these words, approximately forty supernatural and miraculous stories are also recorded. These include healings (e.g., 3:1-10), exorcisms (e.g., 16:16-21), angelic and heavenly visions (e.g., 10:1-48), speaking in tongues (e.g., 2:5-12) and other similar occurrences with clear demonstration of God’s power. As such, it is undeniable that Luke’s emphasis on signs and wonders is remarkably impressive.

What could possibly be the purpose for the abundant reference to the supernatural? Firstly, Luke was undoubtedly conscious of the significant role signs and wonders play in the expansion of the kingdom of God as expressed in the rapid growth of the early church. In fact, Luke anticipates that these signs and wonders will characterize the ministry and witness of the church in the “last days” (2:16-21).

It is interesting to note that these supernatural events in Acts are not recorded merely for their own sake, nor are they recorded as isolated events. Rather, the primary emphasis for these narratives is the results of these occurrences. Almost without exception, the direct result of signs and wonders is the expansion of the kingdom of God. The empowering of the Holy Spirit enables the apostles to perform signs and wonders and to proclaim the gospel with increased boldness and renewed zeal. This results in the conversion of the masses and Luke makes numerous explicit references to the numerical growth of the early Christian community (see 2:47; 4:4; 5:14; 6:1; 8:4-6, 14; 9:31, 42; 11:19-21; 12:24; 13:42-43, 48-49; 14:1, 21; 16:5 17:4; 18:8; 19:10, 20). This pattern is constantly repeated throughout Acts (e.g., 2:1-41; 2:42-47; 3:1-4:44). As such, it would be hard to dispute the Luke is a strong advocate for signs and wonders.

While Luke’s attitude towards signs and wonders is positive, he is not uncritical about it. He is careful to warn against the preoccupation with signs and wonders for wrong motive, particularly those who seek it for personal gains. The story of Simon’s fascination with signs and wonders and his attempt to buy the ability to impart the gift of God (8:9-24) and the account of the seven sons of Sceva (19:13-16) serve as sober warnings against those who seek this power for selfish and corrupt motive. In this respect, Luke is not unaware of the potential abuses of signs and wonders.

Secondly, Luke also intimately links signs and wonders to intense opposition and persecution. The ability to bear bold witness for Christ in the face of persecution as a result of renewed faith and church growth is central to Luke’s understanding of divine empowerment. After the healing of the crippled beggar, Peter addressed the crowd, testifying that Jesus is the Christ. This led to his arrest (3:1-4:31). Again the pattern of performing signs and wonders and preaching the gospel followed by persecution can be found in 5:12-6:1. The experience of Apostle Paul is also similar (14:8-25).

The reality of suffering and hardships in the midst of our experience of God’s miraculous works remind us to avoid a superficial self-seeking perspective towards signs and wonders. It is unfortunate that modern charismatic signs of healing are often associated with the overall preoccupation with material well-being of granting some physical relief, a preoccupation that believers in biblical times would have found scandalous. It rightly cautions us that in our promotion of the ministry of signs and wonders, we should avoid the extreme danger of triumphalism.

Finally, the presence of signs and wonders also carries with it missiological implications in overcoming barriers and obstacles that might otherwise prevent those genuinely seeking God from coming to faith. In the narrative of Cornelius coming to faith, angelic visions appear to both Cornelius and Peter (10:1-48) resulting to the conversion of his household. In this incident, not only the gift of the Holy Spirit is given thereby enabling them to speak in tongues (10:45-46), it also serves as a sign for the Jewish believers that God does not show favoritism (cf. 10:34-35) - a sign needed to change their negative perception of the Gentiles. This subsequently led Peter to confess: “So if God gave them the same gift as he gave us who believed in the Lord Jesus Chirst, who was I to think that I could stand in God’s way?” (11:17) As such, Luke places special emphasis that the conversions of the Gentiles would not have been made possible if not for the miraculous works of God that remove all barriers and obstacles that hinder them to faith.

From our discussion, we can conclude that the primary purpose of signs and wonders according to Acts is for the sake of the expansion of the kingdom of God. Signs and wonders are visible manifestations of the coming of the kingdom of God, resulting in the numerical growth of the early Christian community; the strengthening of their faith as they face intense persecution; and the removal of barriers and obstacles that might otherwise hinder others from coming to faith. As such, the primary purpose of signs and wonders are for the benefits of the church, and not for the individuals.


The Implications for the Church Today

Reading Acts is a timely reminder that the primary purpose of signs and wonders two thousand years ago is still the same today – it is for the expansion of the kingdom of God and a witness to the unbelieving world. They testify to the reality of God so that the faith of believers could be strengthened with renewed boldness and increased inspiration to the witness of the gospel. They are also a demonstration of the power of God to an unbelieving world so that those who have yet to believe may be persuaded to place their trust in God.

The direct result of signs and wonders resulting in the expansion of the church may inevitably leads to opposition and persecution, particularly in situations where Christians constitute a minority or live within a hostile environment to the gospel. Acts reminds us that in this life, suffering will often not be removed. Although signs and wonders have been the focal point particularly among Pentecostal and Charismatic churches, we need to be reminded that true biblical Pentecostal missions has always been the reliance on the divine enablement to remain faithful in the midst of suffering and persecution.

We must also not discount that God will continue to use signs and wonders to reach out to those who seek him, particularly those who may have been hindered from coming to faith as a result of the imposition of legal, religious and social restrictions. Like the incident of Peter and Cornelius (10:1-48), the church must be sensitive to the leading of the Lord in reaching out to this particular group of people.

It is unfortunate that some Christian circles have abused signs and wonders in an unbiblical way for personal benefits. At the same time, it is also regrettable that some circles have also discounted the possibility of signs and wonders by arguing that they have ended in the apostolic age. As such, Acts helpfully remind us that signs and wonders and the proclamation of the gospel are complementary, and they belong together in the missionary endeavour of the church – both in the apostolic age and in the church today.

Tuesday 21 April 2009

Don't Mess with the Budding NT Scholar


A friend sent me this creatively reengineered photo - just to give me a good laugh and to cheer me up! Take heed of the message!

Monday 20 April 2009

SBL International Meeting Online Programme Book Now Available

The 2009 SBL International Meeting Online Programme Book is now available.

My paper is scheduled on 3rd July. It is very interesting to note that almost the entire session on Paul and Rome (4 out of 5 papers) is represented by my alma mater, University of Wales, as highlighted below. And I am very pleased to discover that I am slotted in together with my doktorvater and his dear wife in this session as well. Both Kathy's and my book will be released by T&T Clark in May, and we all agreed that there is much for all of us to celebrate in Rome!


Paul and Pauline Literature
7/03/2009
1:30 PM to 4:30 PM
Room: Room TBD - Hotel TBD

Theme: Paul and Rome

Anthony Cogliolo, University of Wales
Where Did Paul’s Addressees in Rome Reside ?: Trastevere and Beyond (25 min)

William S. Campbell, University of Wales
‘All God’s Beloved in Rome’: Who Did Paul Think they Were? (25 min)

Mark D. Nanos, Rockhurst University
When in Rome, Would the Paul of 'All Things to All People' (1 Corinthians 9:19-23) Do as the Romans Do? (25 min)

Break (30 min)

Kathy Ehrensperger, University of Wales Lampeter
‘…Nothing is in Itself Unclean’: Hospitality and Paul’s Discussion of Koinos and Katharos in Romans 14.1-15.13 (25 min)

Kar-Yong Lim, Seminari Theoloji Malaysia
Reading Romans 13:1-7 with Multiple Lenses: Some Reflections from A Multi-Faith Context with Malaysia as A Test Case (25 min)

Not Pastoral = Academic?

I am visiting this issue once again. I have heard many students in the seminary echoing the sentiment that we are not pastoral enough, hence we are too academic.

If I were to put this in a mathematical equation, it would look like this:

Not pastoral = too academic.

But is this an accurate picture?

Now, that brings me to consider what is "academic".

How would one rate an institution that is considered "academic"? My criteria would include at least the following:

  1. active academic publication of international repute and recognition
  2. cutting-edge and groundbreaking research in one's field of expertise
  3. staying updated on the current scholarship in one's field of expertise
  4. presenting papers of one's current rersearch in international conferences
  5. well-equipped library including access to online database
and I could go on with the list.

So, let's be honest - are we anywhere near being "academic"? Is it right to say that just because some feel that we are not "pastoral" enough, therefore, we should be labeled as "too academic"? Or is there a deeper issue?

Just thinking aloud....

Sunday 19 April 2009

Happy 80th Birthday, Dad


The nurses at the home where Dad stays helped decorated the place.


Dad celebrated his 80th birthday today. We threw him a small little dinner party at the home he is currently staying in. My eldest sister returned from New Zealand to join in the celebration. My aunt and cousin from Penang also made a trip here to rejoice with Dad.

Dad is suffering from dementia, and caring for him is increasingly difficult now. His memory is also slowing failing now. We wish him God's abundant blessings.

Happy Birthday - Dad's birthday cake!

Dad and all his "angles" that care for him daily


Dad, Mum, and sis

JSNT Vol 31 No 4 Now Available

A new issue of Journal for the Study of the New Testament (1 June 2009; Vol. 31, No. 4) is now available.

Articles in this issue include:

Nurslings, Milk and Moral Development in the Greco-Roman Context: A Reappraisal of the Paraenetic Utilization of Metaphor in 1 Peter 2.1-3
Philip L. Tite

Matthew and the Pauline Corpus: A Preliminary Intertextual Study
David C. Sim

Welcoming a Child as a Metaphor for Welcoming God's Kingdom: A Close Reading of Mark 10.13-16
Peter Spitaler

`Do not Judge who is Worthy and Unworthy': Clement's Warning not to Speculate about the Rich Young Man's Response (Mark 10.17-31)
Andrew D. Clarke

The Layers of the Apocalypse: An Integrative Approach to Revelation's Macrostructure
Alan S. Bandy

Saturday 18 April 2009

Review of Biblical Literature, April 16, 2009

The following new reviews have been added to the Review of Biblical Literature on April 16, 2009. A dear friend's work (Kathy Ehrensperger) is being reviewed.

H. Ausloos, F. García Martínez, M. Vervenne, J. Cook, and B. Lemmelijn, eds.
Translating a Translation: The LXX and Its Modern Translations in the Context of Early Judaism
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6624
Reviewed by Tuukka Kauhanen

Lytta Basset
Holy Anger: Jacob, Job, Jesus
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6350
Reviewed by Jutta Jokiranta

Elizabeth V. Dowling
Taking Away the Pound: Women, Theology and the Parable of the Pounds in the Gospel of Luke
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6530
Reviewed by James A. Metzger

Kathy Ehrensperger
Paul and the Dynamics of Power: Communication and Interaction in the Early Christ-Movement
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6503
Reviewed by Thomas R. Blanton IV

Tamara Cohn Eskenazi and Andrea L. Weiss, eds.
The Torah: A Women's Commentary
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6637
Reviewed by Susanne Scholz

J. Cheryl Exum and Ela Nutu, eds.
Between the Text and the Canvas: The Bible and Art in Dialogue
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6357
Reviewed by Hennie Stander

Harry Alan Hahne
The Corruption and Redemption of Creation: Nature in Romans 8.19-22 and Jewish Apocalyptic Literature
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6458
Reviewed by Ron Fay

George Heyman
The Power of Sacrifice: Roman and Christian Discources in Conflict
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6487
Reviewed by Giovanni Battista Bazzana

Heidi J. Hornik and Mikeal C. Parsons
Illuminating Luke: Volume 3: The Passion and Resurrection Narratives in Italian Renaissance and Baroque Painting
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6345
Reviewed by Hennie Stander

Elizabeth A. McCabe
An Examination of the Isis Cult with Preliminary Exploration into New Testament Studies
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6536
Reviewed by John S. Kloppenborg

Kathryn McClymond
Beyond Sacred Violence: A Comparative Study of Sacrifice
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6694
Reviewed by Leigh Trevaskis

Saul M. Olyan
Disability in the Hebrew Bible: Interpreting Mental and Physical Differences
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6601
Reviewed by David M. Maas
Reviewed by Hector Avalos

T. A. Perry
God's Twilight Zone: Wisdom in the Hebrew Bible
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6516
Reviewed by Thomas M. Bolin

Johannes Taschner
Die Mosereden im Deuteronomium: Eine kanonorientierte Untersuchung
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6937
Reviewed by Dominik Markl

Karel van der Toorn
Scribal Culture and the Making of the Hebrew Bible
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6755
Reviewed by Frank Polak

Friday 17 April 2009

Even More Books...


Further to my earlier post about the latest additions to my library, here are the rest of my book shopping spree that exhausted my book allowance for 2009! I am a happy man for the next few weeks.

I have thoroughly enjoyed J. R. Daniel Kirk's Unlocking Romans. I might write a review later on, if time permits.

Next on my immediate reading list is Seyoon Kim's Christ and Caesar: The Gospel and Roman Empire in the Writings of Paul and Luke. It would be interesting to see how Kim goes against the tide in arguing that the dominant anti-imperial interpretation is, in reality, difficult to sustain. If Kim's thesis can be sustained (and that will have to wait until I finish interacting with Kim and whether I am persuaded by his argument), then the prevailing scholarship on Paul and the Empire will have much to reconsider.

Thursday 16 April 2009

It is Finished.....


I am really glad when I finally completed going through the proofs of my upcoming book to be published by T&T Clark. With the assistance of some friends who helped me check the references and compiled the indexes, I can now look forward to seeing the "real thing" in May 2009!

Wednesday 15 April 2009

Books again....

I know. It's only mid-April and I have already exhausted more than 2/3 of my book allowance for the year. And by the end of next month, the entire year's allowance will be GONE!

Anywhere, here's my latest collection.


Monday 13 April 2009

King's College London: Temporary Lecturer in NT

The following announcement came through the BNTS e-list:

KING'S COLLEGE LONDON TEMPORARY LECTURER IN NEW TESTAMENT
Department of Theology and Religious Studies
School of Humanities

Applications are invited for a fixed-term 0.7fte lectureship in New Testament in the Department of Theology and Religious Studies at King's College London, starting in September 2009, for 1 year. The vacancy arises from the award of a Leverhulme Research Fellowship to Dr Edward Adams.

The successful candidate will have a PhD in New Testament or, exceptionally, will be near to completing a PhD in New Testament, and will be able to teach undergraduate courses on Gospels and Letters, Paul in Context, Intermediate Texts in Greek and New Testament Theology, and an MA course on The Passion: Text, History and Representation. You will be expected to take on administrative duties within the Department.

The appointment will be made at Grade 6 point 31, currently £23,041.90 (70% of £32,917) inclusive of £2,323 London Allowance, per annum.

Benefits include an annual season ticket loan scheme and a final salary superannuation scheme.

Further details and application packs are available on the College’s website at www.kcl.ac.uk/jobs, or by clicking here, or alternatively by emailing Human Resources at strand-recruitment@kcl.ac.uk. All correspondence should clearly state the job title and reference number A6/AAT/057/09.

The closing date for receipt of applications is 27 April 2009

Interviews will be held on Friday 8 May 2009.

Equality of opportunity is College policy.

Friday 10 April 2009

Review of Biblical Literature April 9, 2009

The following new reviews have been added to the Review of Biblical Literature on April 9, 2009

Jacques Cazeaux
La contre-épopée du désert: Essai sur Exode-Lévitique Nombres
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6270
Reviewed by Philippe Guillaume

Craig A. Evans and Emmanuel Tov, eds.
Exploring the Origins of the Bible: Canon Formation in Historical, Literary, and Theological Perspective
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6846
Reviewed by Everett Ferguson

Travis L. Frampton
Spinoza and the Rise of Historical Criticism of the Bible
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6418
Reviewed by Seán P. Kealy

John Goldingay
The Message of Isaiah 40-55: A Literary-Theological Commentary
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=5219
Reviewed by Francis Landy

Robert P. Gordon, ed.
The God of Israel
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6404
Reviewed by Bruce A. Power

Daniel M. Gurtner and John Nolland, eds.
Built upon the Rock: Studies in the Gospel of Matthew
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6500
Reviewed by J. Christopher Edwards

Norman C. Habel and Peter Trudinger, eds.
Exploring Ecological Hermeneutics
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6599
Reviewed by Johan Buitendag

Justin K. Hardin
Galatians and the Imperial Cult: A Critical Analysis of the First-Century Social Context of Paul's Letter
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6651
Reviewed by Wilhelm Pratscher

John Jarick
2 Chronicles
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6531
Reviewed by Louis C. Jonker

Leonid Kogan, Natalia Koslova, Sergey Loesov, and Sergei Tishchenko, eds.
Babel und Bibel 3: Annual of Ancient Near Eastern, Old Testament and Semitic Studies
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6742
Reviewed by Lena-Sofia Tiemeyer

Larry J. Kreitzer
Philemon
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6680
Reviewed by Torrey Seland

Carmel McCarthy, ed.
Biblia Hebraica Quinta: Deuteronomy
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6643
Reviewed by Mark McEntire

Jacob Neusner and Alan J. Avery-Peck, eds.
Encyclopedia of Religious and Philosophical Writings in Late Antiquity: Pagan, Judaic, Christian
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6314
Reviewed by Mark D. Nanos

Mikeal C. Parsons
Body and Character in Luke and Acts: The Subversion of Physiognomy in Early Christianity
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=5830
Reviewed by Glenn E. Snyder

Judith Perkins
Roman Imperial Identities in the Early Christian Era
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6938
Reviewed by Ilaria Ramelli

Ephraim Radner
Leviticus
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6607
Reviewed by Leigh Trevaskis

Walther Sallaberger
Das Gilgamesch-Epos: Mythos, Werk und Tradition
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6490
Reviewed by Gerhard Karner

Patrick E. Spencer
Rhetorical Texture and Narrative Trajectories of the Lukan Galilean Ministry Speeches: Hermeneutical Appropriation by Authorial Readers of Luke-Acts
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6444
Reviewed by Stephan Witetschek

David T. Sugimoto
Female Figurines with a Disk from the Southern Levant and the Formation of Monotheism
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6467
Reviewed by Aren Maeir

David Andrew Thomas
Revelation 19 in Historical and Mythological Context
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6642
Reviewed by David L. Barr

Steven J. Voris
Preaching Parables: A Metaphorical Interfaith Approach
http://www.bookreviews.org/bookdetail.asp?TitleId=6630
Reviewed by Ernest van Eck