Justin Beadles Joins the Blogosphere

One of my favorite classmates from DTS days has joined the blogosphere. The folks at Grace Bible Church in Nacogdoches, Texas are blessed to have Justin Beadles as their pastor.

And we in the blogosphere are now blessed to be able to add his blog to our google readers.

Sometimes I wonder what this guy is thinking, and I’m sure you will too:

He is one interesting bird, and I anticipate that his posts will be refreshing and godly. Well, they’ll be different, anyway:

You just can’t make this stuff up. This is real life, and this is a real pastor:

The great thing about Justin is that he’s living proof that being a conservative, expository preaching, sheep loving pastor doesn’t have to mean that you’re boring, uncreative, unadventurous, or uptight.

You can check out his first few posts on his blog, which he has entitled “Brain Spasms.” Somehow that name doesn’t surprise me. His first is “Families Adrift,” followed by “Time Management,” and then “The Value of Illustrations.”

Videos above notwithstanding, these are posts worth considering.

Welcome to the blogosphere, Justin!

Review of Hess and Carroll, eds., Israel’s Messiah in the Bible and the Dead Sea Scrolls

Israel’s Messiah in the Bible and the Dead Sea Scrolls. Edited by Richard S. Hess and M. Daniel Carroll R. Grand Rapids: Baker, 2003. 192 pages. Paperback, $19.99.

This volume is a collection of essays edited by two OT profs at Denver Seminary. The essays were presented at the second annual biblical studies conference hosted by the Denver Institute for Contextualized Biblical Studies of Denver Seminary in February of 2001. The book’s title describes its first three parts: Part 1, The Messiah in the OT; Part 2, The Messiah in the Dead Sea Scrolls; and Part 3, The Messiah in the NT. Part four reflects the name of the institute that hosted the conference: The Messiah in Latin American Theology. Each part consists of an essay and a response, but Part 1 has two responses. In my judgment the organizers and editors have rightly recognized that the question of the Messiah in the OT is far and away the most contentious and interesting issue dealt with in the volume, thus it is placed first and given two respondents. This review will reflect these priorities, giving more space to Part 1 and briefly summarizing the others.

Daniel I. Block’s massively documented study on the Messiah in the OT argues that ancient Israelites would not have understood the Messiah in either prophetic or priestly terms. In his argument against a prophetic aspect of OT messianic expectation, Block makes every effort to fit the citation of Deut 18:15 in Acts 3:22–23 and 7:37–38 into his view (28–31). Perhaps recognizing the implausibility of what he has argued, Block concludes with the question, “Even if Peter and/or Stephen viewed Jesus as a messianic prophet ‘like Moses,’ are we thereby authorized to read their use of Deut. 18:15 back into the original context?” (31). Block’s implied answer is clearly “No” (as Carroll notes in his response, p. 75).

The first respondent to Block, J. Daniel Hays of Ouachita Baptist University, asks why Block assumes that what the ancient Israelites understood is equivalent to what the OT authors intended (59). Hays also gently suggests that Block has committed a word study fallacy by equating the concept of the Messiah with the use of the term mashiach in the OT, when it is clear that the concept is much broader than the mere use of the word (59 n. 1). Hays offers thorough-going critiques of, among other things, Block’s readings of Deut 18 in Acts 3 and 7 (61–62). He argues that “David blurs the image of priest and king together, as did many kings in the region” (67), and, while making kind remarks about Block and his paper, concludes that the OT “does portray the coming messianic figure as prophet, priest, and king” (69).

The second response to Block is provided by M. Daniel Carroll R. Carroll points to three positive contributions Block makes, then faults him for too narrowly defining what is messianic in the OT (72–76) and for prioritizing some data to the exclusion of other information (77–78). The most helpful comment for understanding Block’s approach comes from Hays:

Sometimes he seems to be pushing for an ‘Old Testament only’ concept of Messianism, one in which it is not valid to use New Testament or even inter-testamental interpretation of Old Testament texts. Yet at other times he drifts over into the New Testament . . . . This is a critical issue, because if we can bring early Christian interpretation or Jewish inter-testamental interpretation of messianic texts into the discussion—and I believe we should—then several of Block’s central arguments lose much of their convincing appeal (59).

In Part 2, Craig Evans (Acadia Divinity College, Nova Scotia) surveys Messianism in the Dead Sea Scrolls. He concludes that the community’s hopes for eschatological restoration presupposed messianic expectation; that Qumran’s Messianism matches Jewish Messianism of late antiquity and was important; and that the Messianism witnessed in the Qumran scrolls is helpful for understanding what we see in the Gospels. Richard S. Hess develops what Evans presents (rather than responding/challenging) by offering brief considerations on the term “messiah” and by reviewing some “recent theories regarding the figure of the messiah” in the DSS (104).

Craig Blomberg limits his investigation of the Messiah in the NT to an argument that “There is no unambiguous evidence to demonstrate that ‘Christ’ in any of its 531 New Testament uses ever ‘degenerated’ into a mere second name for Jesus” (141, italics his). In other words, just as “President” is not President Lincoln’s first name, Christ is not Jesus’ last name. This conclusion is based squarely on a thorough consideration of the evidence, including 18 separate arguments that Paul means something more like “Messiah Jesus” or “Jesus, the Messiah,” than he does “Jesus Christ” with Christ amounting to little more than “Smith” or “Jones.” Blomberg’s colleague at Denver Seminary, William W. Klein responds with cautious agreement and suggestions that the methodology could be tightened and the conclusion could be softened.

Gerardo A. Alfaro González, who teaches at Central American Theological Seminary, offers a proposal and assessment from Latin America. Karen H. Jobes (Westmont College) concludes the volume with reflections on Jesus as Liberator.

This book is significant because the Messiah is one of the Bible’s most central themes (some say the central). The exchange between Block, Hays, and Carroll raises the issue of how the OT is to be interpreted among evangelical Christians. Block represents the older insistence on interpreting the OT without regard to the NT—even among those who think that the NT is inerrant. Block is perhaps the preeminent representative of this school, and his paper is astonishingly good according to the standards of this approach. Hopefully this way of reading the OT will be replaced by the likes of Hays and Carroll, who build on the strengths of the older approach by interpreting the OT in its historical context, but who also read it as a messianic document, written from a messianic perspective, to sustain a messianic hope. Understanding the OT as a collection of messianic documents (rather than a random collection of the national lit. of ancient Israel) explains the Messianism of the inter-testament lit. and allows for the possibility that Jesus and his apostles read and cited the OT according to its intended meaning. If this is how we view their use of the OT, we can use their methods as a model for our own interpretation of it as we preach and teach the OT in our contemporary Christian context. Block expresses a wish that the apostles would have preserved what Jesus said on the road to Emmaus. I think that Hays and Carroll would agree with Earle Ellis that they have, in fact, done just that in the NT’s use of the OT. That to say, the authors of the NT learned to read the OT from the teaching of Jesus.

The Warrior

I’ve posted on Dr. John Hannah before. He had a profound influence on my while I was at DTS. Now that I’ve figured out how to do single spacing (shift then enter), I’m posting this poem that was inspired by his teaching.

The Warrior

Inspired by Distinguished Professor
Reverend Doctor John D. Hannah

Proud generals do plot and plan
Deployments and stratagems,
But wise men know that wars depend
Not upon the diagrams.
No, battles shift when in the fray
Stalwart strong the men do stay.

When all seems lost and death most sure,
When sheer fear retreat would cure,
There and then momentum is turned
When the dreadful lie is spurned:
That there’s no cause worth more than life;
And bold men stand and face the scythe.

A name is given to such men,
It means more than “soldier” can,
We dub the resolute and pure
With the firm title, “Warrior.”
The warrior knows love and truth,
And he will die for their worth.

Like a warrior my teacher stands;
With the Sword his post he mans.
Proud generals do come and go;
Fighting men are more than show.
And when their clever tricks won’t do
Men fit for the task are few.

There’s nothing new that’s needed here,
Call forth courage, drive out fear,
Wave the banner, and bang the drum,
With loud hurrahs let them come
And they will meet a reckless charge
Of the wise whose hearts are large.

Aye, large, and filled with holy dread
—all other fears by it dead—
Of God so great and pure and true
Gracious, loving, and just too;
Indeed, courage that comes from fear
Is just the thing that’s needed here.

Where? Where? Pray-tell can this be found?
You won’t find it gazing round
At nifty tricks and strategies,
Nor in the new psychologies.
What drum to bang, what flag to wave
To swell hearts bold and make them brave?

Just hear the warrior-teacher’s charge;
Feel what makes your own heart large.
Hear him speak of the Lord most high,
Find that you don’t fear to die,
For such a God and such a Name
Gladly you’ll be put to shame.

Yes hear the warrior prophet preach;
Depths of soul his words do reach.
Hands on hips and his head held high,
Love to Christ beams in his eyes,
As valiantly he speaks again
Of the great offense of sin

Which God so hates that evermore
Wrath ‘gainst it He has in store.
This wrath does vindicate His name,
Shows His worth and spreads His fame.
While many think that sin is slight
God loathes it with all His might.

To spurn the Lord is no small thing—
That’s the song my teacher sings.
And in the music’s melody
If you listen you will see
The worth of Christ made clear and plain,
For His death takes all sin’s claim

And makes it null and sets us free
Righteous now in Him to be.
The banner’s waving in the strife;
Here is truth worth more than life.
So let us join the warrior’s song,
Voices loud, clear, and long

Will raise anew the Gospel’s tones,
Its truth like fire in the bones.
Hear now the warrior teacher’s word,
“None love I more than the Lord,
For He loved me when loved me none
And my life bought with His Son.

My debt all paid, His wrath all spent
—meant for me, to Christ it went—
Here by His grace I’ll stand and fight,
Christ to serve with all my might.
And I will wait for that Great Day
When knees will bow and tongues say,

‘Praise and glory to God most high!’
O Lord Jesus, draw Thou nigh.”

James Merrill Hamilton Jr.
December 25, 2000

Denny Burk Named Dean of Boyce College

Big news from the undergraduate arm of Southern Seminary:

July 7, 2008

For immediate release

Criswell College professor Denny Burk named new dean of Boyce College

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Denny Burk, associate professor of New Testament at Criswell College in Dallas, TX, has been appointed dean of Boyce College, the undergraduate school of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Burk is an SBTS alumnus, having earned his Ph.D. from Southern Seminary in 2004. He also received a master of theology degree from Dallas Theological Seminary and a bachelor of arts from Louisiana Tech.

“We have the leader for the next era at Boyce College,” said Southern Seminary President R. Albert Mohler Jr. “I am really excited about the coming of Denny Burk as the new dean of the college.  He is a great young leader, a promising scholar, a tested teacher, and a man of great vision and conviction.  He has a solid track record at Criswell College and left his mark during his doctoral studies at Southern Seminary.  He is one of our own, and he is a man who is well prepared to lead Boyce College into the future.”

Burk has published numerous books and articles and writes a popular blog on theology, politics and culture. He is also a favorite teacher at the First Baptist Church of Dallas.

“Denny Burk is one of Southern Baptists’ most perceptive young scholars,” said Russell Moore, senior vice president for academic administration at Southern. “He also is keenly in touch with culture, especially those issues facing the next generation of young Christians. He will be one of the few deans, I’m sure, anywhere who can discuss articular infinitives in the Greek, contemporary challenges for youth ministry, and how to share the gospel with a Mormon, all while turning flips on a skateboard with a group of college students in the parking lot.

“Denny will be loved by students, respected by faculty, and trusted by Southern Baptists as he leads Boyce College students toward their callings in the pastorate, global missions, youth ministry, women’s ministry, and other fields of service to our Christ. I am proud to have him on the Southern Seminary team.”

Burk and his wife Susan have been married for eight years and have two daughters. He says his aim is for Boyce College to become known as the premier training center for ministers who want to know the word of God and to make it known.

“I couldn’t be happier about the prospect of moving back to Louisville to lead Boyce College,” said Burk. “Boyce is poised to be the leading evangelical institution for training undergraduates for Christian ministry, and I can’t imagine a more exciting time to be joining the team at Southern Seminary.”

Burk assumes his new post on August 1. He replaces Jimmy Scroggins, who was elected pastor of the First Baptist Church of West Palm Beach, Florida in June.

Scroggins said Burk is an excellent choice to succeed him, citing his commitment to training pastors and leaders.

“He has a great love for our seminary and our college,” said Scroggins. “It was a great honor for me to serve at Boyce College, and I have full confidence that Denny will provide excellent leadership as he moves Boyce into the future.”

Mohler said Burk will continue the legacy of great leadership at Boyce.

“Boyce College has been so well led in the past by great deans — each of whom has left his mark,” said President Mohler. “Denny Burk will serve in that great tradition and will make his own mark.”

–30–

The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary is the flagship seminary of the 16-million member Southern Baptist Convention. More information is available at www.sbts.edu.

What If the Muslims Won? By Gene Edward Veith

This article: “What If the Muslims Won?” is a must read.

I smell a great sermon illustration in that shield wall.

HT: Challies

Dr. Mohler on Education

An insightful post on what education is and what schools do from Dr. Mohler:

Schools are never just about education. For that matter, education is never just about education. The school as an institution is founded and supported as a means to some end. In ancient Israel, education was to produce a faithful member of the chosen nation — a son who would bring pride to the family and his people and glory to God. In ancient Greece the school was to produce a productive citizen, wise and mature. Rome followed the example of Greece.

In the Christian tradition, education was first about making disciples. The earliest Christian schools were catechetical schools for new believers. The early church borrowed from the classical models and established new traditions.

Read the whole thing.

Dostoevsky on Jesus

From The Brothers Karamazov, Book VII “Alyosha,” Chapter 4 “Cana of Galilee”:

Do you fear Him. He is terrible in His greatness, awful in His sublimity, but infinitely merciful. He has made Himself like unto us from love and rejoices with us. He is changing the water into wine that the gladness of the guests might not be cut short. He is expecting new guests, He is calling new ones unceasingly for ever and ever. . . .

Douglas Wilson Loves America

I love the way Doug Wilson hands out the berries in his use of language.

Go read this tasty post (Deep Affection for America) to see what I’m talking about. The end of the second paragraph had me laughing out loud, and the rest of it is pure fun to read.

God Glorified in Numbers, the Universe, and People

My scientist brother in law is lured by infinity, and he has some thought provoking posts up:

asking “What Makes You Shudder?”

and exploring “The Singularity of Humanity“

These two posts highlight God’s unique glory: the first in a recounting of the massive proportions of the universe and the distance between the numbers 0 and 1, and the second in helping us realize the power in weakness realized in the creation of human beings.

CCEF Annual Biblical Counseling Conference

Those interested in biblical counseling might want to consider attending the 2008 Annual Conference hosted by CCEF.

This year’s theme is “The Addict in Us All.” I think this conference would be beneficial for anyone interested in (or practicing) biblical counseling.