Now in Print: Feasting on the Word, Year C, Volume 1

I'm pleased to report the publication of three of my expository essays: “Genesis 45:3–11, 15, Exegetical Perspective,” “Isaiah 55:10–13, Exegetical Perspective,” and “1 Kings 8:22–23, 41–43, Exegetical Perspective,” in Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary, Year C, Volume 1 (ed. Barbara Brown Taylor and David L. Bartlett; Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox, 2009) 363–367, 387–391, and 411–415.

In the News: A New Assyrian Tablet from Ziyaret Tepe in Turkey

Ziyaret Tepe appears to have been an important Assyrian outpost in Turkey from about 800 to 600 B.C.E. It has been identified as Tushan, a provincial Assyrian capital. In the news recently has been the find of an Akkadian tablet listing the names of 144 women who appear to have been agricultural workers employed by the palace. The names on the tablet are not Assyrian, and if the individuals are not from the non-Assyrian indigenous population they may represent workers brought in from different conquered areas. If this is the case, the tablet would then attest to the Assyrian practice of scattering and intermixing the populations of conquered areas as a strategy to subdue and pacify their empire.

Dr. Alan Tull, 1933 - 2009

One of my religion professors back at college in the early 1980s has died: Prof. Alan Tull. I remember very fondly the many deep discussions and lively arguments we had over the Greek New Testament in his big stone office within the towering Gothic college chapel. Alan always had plenty of time to tutor me, to argue with me, and of course, to try to shock me out of dogmatic slumber. Here is his obituary graciously forwarded to me by my NT colleague, Dr. Tony Lewis:

The Rev. Canon Dr. Alan Condie Tull
July 7, 1933 - November 4, 2009

Canon Alan Tull passed away peacefully November 4, 2009. He was born July 7, 1933 in Salt Lake City to Verna Condie and Alan Tull. He earned a BA with Distinction from Stanford University in 1955 and a Theological Doctorate from General Theological Seminary in 1968. Fr. Tull was ordained deacon by Bishop Watson, June 10, 1958 and priest on December 13, 1958.

Canon Tull served the church in many capacities. From 1958-1961 he was Vicar of St Paul's in Vernal; and priest in charge at Holy Spirit in Randlett, St. Elizabeth's in White Rocks and St. Timothy's in Rangeley, Colorado; 1961-1964 Tutor at General Seminary; 1964-1990 Chaplain and Professor at Trinity College. In 1990 he returned to Utah and served as Rector of St. Mary's in Provo until his retirement in 1997, after 51 years of service in various capacities including Canon Theologian to the Bishop of Utah.

Canon Tull was a firm believer in equal rights. He was an avid reader and enjoyed traveling. He was passionate about good food and good drink as any of his emails from his travels to his friends would confirm.

He is survived by his brother Darrell (Joe) (Gloria); nephew Kevin; niece Tiffany; 2 grand nieces; and 1 grand nephew. He was preceded in death by his parents.

A Requiem Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, November 14th at 11 a.m. at St. Mark's Cathedral, 231 East 100 South, Salt Lake City. A reception will follow in the Deans' Hall at the Cathedral.

Update: Dr. Gettier forwarded this obituary that was sent to the Trinity College Community:

A native of Utah, Dr. Tull attended Stanford University as an undergraduate and received a Bachelor of Sacred Theology from the General Theological Seminary in 1958. He served as a vicar in the Episcopal Missionary District in the state of Utah, and then returned to the General Theological Seminary as a fellow and tutor and as a candidate for the Th.D. degree. With his academic background in Patristics, Dr. Tull came to Trinity in 1964 as an instructor of religion and taught courses in church history and in ethics. He was officially named Chaplain in February 1965 and became Assistant Professor in 1968. He was the third Episcopal priest to be installed as Chaplain here after the post was created in 1946. (Prior to that the College President also served as Chaplain.) Dr. Tull served Trinity College for 25 years as Chaplain and 26 as a member of the Religion department. He retired from Trinity at the end of the spring semester in 1990. After leaving Trinity, Chaplain Tull went on to serve as Episcopal Chaplain at Brigham Young University and rector of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Provo, Utah. He was later named canon theologian for the Episcopal diocese of Utah.

Respected by his students as “a faithful priest, a fine scholar, and a friend and mentor,” Chaplain Tull is most vividly remembered for his activism during the civil rights and Vietnam eras. During his tenure, Chaplain Tull oversaw many projects in the Chapel—the organ, organ case and music gallery, addition of bells to the carillon, stained glass windows on the North Porch, memorial garden, sedilia, entryway, gates to the Friendship Chapel, and others. He was very sensitive to the integrity of the building. Upon his retirement from Trinity, in 1991 friends and colleagues of Tull commissioned a stonecarving in the Chapel in the likeness of Dr. Tull. Remembered with affection for his wit and sense of adventure in retirement, we are grateful today for this playful and lasting remembrance of our former Chaplain. A funeral is planned for Saturday, November 14th, at St Mark's Cathedral, Salt Lake City, Utah.

Claude Levi-Strauss 1908 - 2009

Claude Levi-Strauss, the famous French social anthropologist known for his approach of Structuralism, died over the weekend at the age of 100. I first heard lectures on Levi-Strauss in English courses during college in the mid 1980s, and subsequently realized his impact on biblical studies when I was a seminary and graduate student. I continue to find his work helpful for a critical understanding of the nature of mythology, and I still lecture on him briefly in my Old Testament Interpretation course when we cover contemporary literary approaches to the Bible. Levi-Strauss influenced generations of intellectuals with his ideas on culture.

For more obituary comment, click here.

Encyclopedia of the Bible and Its Reception

The new Encyclopedia of the Bible and Its Reception is now appearing on library shelves, and the VTS library now has the first two volumes, up through the entry on "Atheism." One of my contributions is in vol. 2, “Apocalypses and Apocalypticism, II. Hebrew Bible / Old Testament,” in Encyclopedia of the Bible and Its Reception. Volume 2, Anim – Atheism (ed. Hans-Josef Klauck, et al.; Berlin and New York: de Gruyter, 2009) cols. 321–324.

A Wonderful Occasion

The celebration for Bob Wilson was a marvelous event, and one I will long remember. The book has come out beautifully, and Bob was delighted to see it for the first time---just perfect. The attendance was huge and the many speeches a delight.

In Transit to New Haven

I'm between Wilmington and Philadelphia on the Acela Express in route to Yale to present our new Tribute Volume to Dr. Robert Wilson. The event tonight promises to be very special, with plenty of major OT scholars in attendance.


-- Posted from my iPhone