Biblische Ausbildung

In the News: The Robert Wilson Festschrift

2009-12-08T11:37:00.003-05:00

The latest issue of Yale Divinity School's "Notes from the Quad" has a nice write-up of our presentation to Robert Wilson of his Festschrift, Thus Says the Lord: Essays on the Former and Latter Prophets in Honor of Robert R. Wilson (Library of Hebrew Bible/Old Testament Studies)

The write-up paints a very nice portrait of Bob and quotes some of his words at the event. To view/download the article as a PDF, click here.

To see my earlier post on the event, click here.

YOCHANAN MUFFS, 1932-2009

2009-12-07T14:28:00.002-05:00

I met the esteemed biblical scholar and teacher, Yochanan Muffs, only a few times in the early 1990s when I was on the faculty across the street from the Jewish Theological Seminary. He was retired and somewhat frail, being assisted by student helpers, at that time. Nevertheless, I certainly noticed with what great respect and affection folks on academic acropolis spoke of him.

Word spread over the weekend that Dr. Muffs has died, and the following brief biography has circulated:

*************************************************

DR. YOCHANAN MUFFS, for more than four decades a beloved teacher at The Jewish Theological Seminary of America (JTS), held the distinguished Service Professorship in Bible and Religion and made major contributions in biblical studies, Semitic languages, the history of the ancient Near East and Jewish religion and thought in general. Dr. Muffs’ central work has been in the understanding of biblical text through comparative philological study. His most recent book was The Personhood of God: Biblical Theology, Human Faith and the Divine Image).

For an affectionate portrait of Muffs from his JANES Festschrift, click here (PDF download).

VTS Lights Up for Advent

2009-12-04T09:36:00.002-05:00

Gone are the days of a solemn, suppressed Advent at the Seminary. Most people seem to love the brighter new atmosphere.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Virginia Theological Seminary, Alexandria,VA, United States

A Peek at the NOAB Fourth Edition

2009-12-03T21:21:00.003-05:00

At the SBL in New Orleans, I stopped by the Oxford University Press booth in the book display to hear how the NOAB-4 is coming along, the latest version of the New Oxford Annotated Bible, to which I am one of several contributors. It is a major revision, with 50% brand new material, a 36-page section of full color New Oxford Bible Maps, etc. They say it will be in print by summer time, ready for the Fall 2010 semester.

I saw some page-proofs from the section on Matthew, and they look very good. Although each page is packed with information, the text is quite readable---even to my 47-year-old eyes!

Saturday at the SBL

2009-11-21T21:40:00.002-05:00

A busy, productive day today at SBL. Heard many fascinating talks, and my own session on the Levites was great. Well attended---fifty people were there for my talk.

In the exhibit hall I discovered how to get interactive biblical Greek and Hebrew on my iPhone: Olive Tree Bible Software. I made the purchase...

To see their scholary original language texts, visit their site here.

"The Story of My Life"

2009-12-02T11:32:00.002-05:00

Stephen, a student in OT-1, sent this cartoon in today:

Departure from SBL

2009-11-24T16:40:00.002-05:00

Took one final walk into the French Quarter before heading to the New Orleans airport. Here is a photo in front of the St. Louis Cathedral, taken just after lunch today:

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Sunday at SBL

2009-11-22T18:45:00.002-05:00

My second paper went well today, with about 70 in attendance in the Exile / Forced Migrations Consultation.

Also today I attended a Social Sciences section and a session reviewing Marvin Sweeney's new book, Reading the Hebrew Bible after the Shoah [Holocaust]. Here is a snapshot of that panel:

From right to left we have: Dennis Olson, Walter Brueggemann, Frederick Greenspahn, Patricia K. Tull, and Marvin Sweeney.

Monday at the SBL

2009-11-23T17:36:00.001-05:00

The meetings here in New Orleans continue to go strong. We did take a break to have some nice receptions last night. Here's a snapshot from the Yale reception:

From left to right we have: Carol Bechtel, Stephen Chapman, Mark Smith, Myself, and Jim Watts.

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Arrival at SBL

2009-11-20T16:32:00.001-05:00

Here is the view from my plane of Lake Pontchartrain as we landed in New Orleans today, 14 minutes early. Su, wife of my colleague John Yieh drove me and John to National airport. She even packed us bag lunches. Thanks Su! On our plane was Carolyn Sharp from Yale, who had a stop-over in DC.

My room here at the Sheraton is very nice:

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A Fine Tea with Bishops of Tanzania

2009-11-19T20:02:00.003-05:00

Here's a snapshot taken right after a lovely tea at my house with Bishop Jacob Chimeledya (center), my former VTS student, and immediately to his left, Bishop John Lupaa of the Rift Valley Diocese (he is the new Provincial Dean). Both are fine persons, and it was wonderful to converse with them in my home. As you can see, Rebecca also got a chance to meet them! I want to thank my current student Narcis Sebikwekwe (immediately to my left) for making all the arrangements.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

The "Public" Nature of Circumcision

2009-11-18T16:19:00.004-05:00

My Old Testament Interpretation students got to talking the other day about the role of circumcision as a "sign" of inclusion in God's covenant with Abraham. Two students emailed with cross-cultural illustrations of the public visibility of circumcision in some places around the globe even today. These students wondered whether biblical circumcision was a more communal and public phenomenon than most of us today might tend to imagine. As always, comments are welcome.

Alice R. emailed this picture from Islamic Turkey:

She comments, "When I was in Turkey I saw young boys dressed up in costume. I found out that this was part of their circumcision ritual. The boys I saw were about 12, but apparently this is done between the ages of 4 and 12."

Another student, Ben, emailed some of his experience of circumcision in one nook of the Island of Madagascar (specifically, Andrombovato, which is made up of a diverse population---a melting pot or fruit salad of traditions). Ben writes, "The ceremony took place at the local charasmatic church (I do not know of it being associated with any particular larger church), and throughout the night there were drums, singing, praying, and dancing (we could hear the whole thing from our house down the hill). I do not recall if it was a minister or a doctor that performed the circumcision. As the morning broke, the boys ( I think only 2 or 3 were circumcised) were taken throughout the village and dressed in dresses and the fathers would show that their sons had been circumcised by raising the dresses as they approached people in the village. The whole event was very much a public event and the young boys seemed to have reached a new role in the village (one of many rites of passage to come). Also it appeared that the young boys became more connected with their fathers than their mothers at that time."

International Student Day at Our Seminary

2009-11-14T09:13:00.001-05:00

I had goat for lunch, among other neat recipies from my students.

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

2009-11-09T21:08:00.002-05:00

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

2009-11-08T21:54:00.005-05:00

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

2009-11-06T15:36:00.006-05:00

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

2009-11-03T13:03:00.005-05:00

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

2009-10-31T12:36:00.002-05:00

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

2009-10-30T04:45:00.001-05:00

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

2009-10-29T09:43:00.001-05:00

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

Trick-or-Treating Day at the Seminary

2009-10-28T17:30:00.001-05:00

-- Posted from my iPhone

The Episcopal Church: Who Are We?

2009-10-27T13:39:00.003-05:00

My friend the Rev. Frank Logue recently sent me this video his church has put on youtube with a vision of who the Episcopal Church is. It was partially inspired as a more humorous alternative to the video posted by the national church ("815") at: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/AroundOneTable/. It is at once powerful and lighthearted. Comments welcome...

Invitation to a Festschrift Honoring Professor Robert Wilson

2009-10-23T08:20:00.002-05:00

Here is the invitation to next Thursday's Festschrift Presentation to Robert R. Wilson issued by the Dean's Office at Yale Divinity School (click to enlarge):

My Sessions at the 2009 SBL Conference

2009-10-22T15:39:00.005-05:00

Following up on yesterday's post, here are the sessions where I am on the 2009 SBL program:

21-326b
Levites and Priests in History and Tradition
11/21/2009
4:00 PM to 6:30 PM
Room: Regent - MR
Theme: Levites in Urban and Rural Social Context
Sarah Shectman, Binghamton University, Presiding

Jeremy Hutton, Princeton Theological Seminary
Modern Perspectives on the Levitical Cities Lists and Levitical Function (20 min)
Diana Edelman, University of Sheffield
Non-‘Priestly’ Roles of the Kohanim in the Hebrew Bible (20 min)
Stephen L. Cook, Virginia Theological Seminary
Those Stubborn Levites: Overcoming Levitical Disenfranchisement (20 min)
Joel S. Baden, Yale University
The Violent Origins of the Levites: Text and Tradition (20 min)
Mark A. Christian, Middle Tennessee State University
Middle-Tier Levites and the Plenary Reception of Revelation (20 min)
Jeffrey Stackert, University of Chicago
The Cultic Status of the Levites in the Temple Scroll: Historical and Exegetical Considerations (20 min)
Discussion (30 min)

22-215
Exile (Forced Migrations) in Biblical Literature
11/22/2009
1:00 PM to 3:30 PM
Room: Grand Ballroom B - SH
Theme: Exilic Prophetic Gattung: North American Perspective
John Ahn, Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Presiding

David L. Petersen, Emory University
Prophetic Rhetoric and Exile (30 min)
Louis Stulman, University of Findlay
Speaking on Behalf of the Losers: Reading Ezekiel as Disaster/Survival Literature (30 min)
Christopher Seitz, Wycliffe College, University of Toronto
Provenance and Interpretation: Isaiah 40--66 (30 min)
Stephen L. Cook, Virginia Theological Seminary
Second Isaiah and the Aaronid Response to Judah's Exile (Forced Migrations) (30 min)
David McLain Carr, Union Theological Seminary
Markers of Potential Exilic Dating of Biblical Literature (30 min)

In addition, John Ahn and I will be doing a special presentation of Robert Wilson's Festschrift at the Yale University Reception:

M22-406
Yale Alumni Reception
11/22/2009 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Room: Gallery - SH

2009 SBL Annual Meeting, New Orleans, November 21-24

2009-10-21T19:52:00.002-05:00

As of today, the 2009 Annual Meeting of the Society of Biblical Literature is just one month away. It will be held in New Orleans from November 21-24. To see an overview and links, click here. To accessthe online program booklet, click here. (To see the entire preliminary program book, leave all the fields blank and click the submit button. )

I have made my plane reservation, and will be flying in a smaller size jet called an Embraer-175. Here is a file-shot of the interior of one: