Here’s a link to the entire 2010 program (WordDoc), but I have also listed belong the relevant sessions on NT, HB, early Christianity, and archaeology:

FRIDAY, March 5

6:00-8:00 pm (SESSION I)

SBL: Hebrew Scriptures/Old Testament I

Brian Alderman, Lee University, Presiding

Brandon J. Simonson, Vanderbilt University

• Was Sarai a naditum? Examining the Sexuality of Sarai in an Ancient Near Eastern Milieu

Kristen L. Cox, University of Georgia

• Moses and the Motif of Water: From the Nile to the Jordan River

William L. Lyons, Regent University

• The Forgotten Casualty: Children and War in the Hebrew Bible

Joseph F. Scrivner, Samford University

• Wisdom as Cultural Capital: Socioeconomic Interests in Proverbs 1-9

SBL: New Testament I

Theme: New Testament Themes

Mark Proctor, Lee University, Presiding

Alexander Stewart, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

• Eschatology and Soteriology in 1 Peter

Kevin Larsen, Mid-Atlantic Christian University

• Neglected Considerations in Understanding the Structure of the Book of Revelation

Ricky Shinall, Vanderbilt University

• One Saturday in Capernaum: Mark’s Gentile Appropriation of the Sabbath

John Daniels, Flagler College

• Gossiping Jesus Into Being: The Oral Processing of a Social Personage in the Gospels

AAR: History of Christianity I

Theme: Early Christianity

Michael Simmons, Auburn University, Presiding

Ryan T. Woods, Emory.

• Providence, Punishment, and Perfection: Clement and Basilides on the Suffering of Martyrs

Annie Tinsley, University of Birmingham, U.K.

• Response to Harold O. Maier’s ‘A Sly Civility — Colossians and Empire’

Jonathan Schwiebert, Lenoir-Rhyne University.

• The Meaninglessness of Baptism

Alan Knox, Southeastern Theological Seminary.

• Theological Sources of Ignatius of Antioch

John Stokes, Auburn University Montgomery

• The Cult of Mithras and the Early Christians: Conflict and Competition in the Second and Third Centuries

8:15-9:30 pm

Presidential Addresses:

AAR: Michelle Tooley, Berea College

• Beyond the Peace Dividend in Guatemala: Re-membering Women’s Bodies

SBL: Jodi Magness, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

• Truth and Fiction: The Talpiyot Tomb in Context

SATURDAY, MARCH 6

9:00-10:45 am (SESSION II)

ASOR/SBL: Archaeology and the Ancient World I

Theme: ASOR Presidential Address

Greg Linton, Johnson Bible College, Presiding

James Riley Strange, Samford University

• Economics and the Archaeological Field School: Some Thoughts on the Production and Consumption of Education in the 21st Century

SBL: Hebrew Scriptures/Old Testament II

Robert Wallace, Shorter College, Presiding

Douglas Watson, Emory University

• The Rhetoric of Lament in the Book of Joel

Callie Plunket-Brewton, University of North Alabama

• Aesthetics and Architecture: The Rebuilding of Zion in Isaiah 49-55

Todd Hibbard, University of Tennessee, Chattanooga

• From Name to Book: Another Look at the Composition of the Book of Isaiah

Jerry Gladson, Columbia Theological Seminary

• The Deus Absconditus in Lamentations and in Postmodern Life

SBL: New Testament II

Theme: The Gospels

Kavin Rowe, Duke University Divinity School, Presiding

James W. Barker, Vanderbilt University

• John’s Use and Disuse of Matthew

David Moffitt, Duke University

• Jonah, Jews, Jesus, and Gentiles: Matthew’s Appropriation of the Sign of Jonah Saying in Light of the Gentile Mission

Tim Wardle, Wake Forest University

• Mark, the Jerusalem Temple and Jewish Sectarianism

Jason Robert Combs, UNC Chapel Hill

• Locating Luke 6:5d: Toward a Social Context for the Sabbath Worker

2:30-4:15 pm (SESSION III)

ASOR/SBL: Archaeology and the Ancient World II

Theme: Jesus and the Galilean Economy

Ralph K. Hawkins, Kentucky Christian University, Presiding

Mordechai Aviam, The Institute for Galilean Archaeology — Kinneret College, in Collaboration with the Miller Center for Contemporary Judaic Studies,

University of Miami

• Socio-Economic Conditions in Galilee at the Time of Jesus

SBL: Hebrew Scriptures/Old Testament III

Bryan Bibb, Furman University, Presiding

Theme: Emerging Technologies that Enhance Biblical Scholarship and Teaching

Panelists: TBA

SBL: New Testament III

Theme: Theological Issues in the Interpretation of the New Testament

Richard Vinson, Salem College, Presiding

Jason Staples, UNC Chapel Hill

• Lord, Lord: Jesus’ Use of the Divine Name in the Synoptics

Douglas A. Hume, Pfeiffer University

• The Economics of Friendship: An Interpretation of the Narrative Summaries in Acts 2:41-47 and 4:32-35

Michael Zolondek, Florida International University

• And They Threw Him Out of the Vineyard: An Analysis of the Parable of the Wicked Tenants

Alan Knox, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

• A Theology of Mutuality

4:30-6:00 pm (SESSION IV)

ASOR/SBL: Archaeology and the Ancient World III

Theme: Jesus and the Galilean Economy

Ralph K. Hawkins, Kentucky Christian University, Presiding

Panelists: Tom McCollough, Centre College

David Fiensy, Kentucky Christian University

Doug Oakman, Pacific Lutheran University

Mordechai Aviam, The Institute for Galilean Archaeology — Kinneret College, in Collaboration with the Miller Center for Contemporary Judaic Studies, University of Miami

SBL: Hebrew Scriptures/Old Testament IV

Nancy L. deClaissé-Walford, McAfee School of Theology, Mercer University, Presiding

Steve Cook, Independent Scholar

• The Biblical Hermeneutics of Margaret Walker: The Case of “Girl Held Without Bail” and Jephthah’s Daughter

B.J. Parker, McAfee School of Theology, Mercer University

• The Sublime, Terrible and Ezekiel 16

Jackie Wyse, Emory University

• A Book of Daniel(s): Characterization in Bakhtinian Perspective

Joshua Vis, Duke University

• The Sacrificial System of Leviticus in the Book of Hebrews

AAR: History of Judaism II

Theme: Second Temple Judaism

Gilya Schmidt, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Presiding

Edmund Gallagher, Heritage Christian University

• The Greek Bible among Ancient Jews

Bennie Reynolds, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

• Lost is Assyria: Locating ’svr on the Maps and the Lexicons of Jewish Writers from the Hellenistic Period

David Stark, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

• mvrh tzdqh as a Hermeneutical Functionary in the Qumran Sectarian Manuscripts

Kenneth Henson, University of Central Florida

• Prophetic “Light” Versus Qumranic “Darkness”: Isaiah’s Audacity of Hope

SUNDAY, MARCH 7

8:30-10:15 am (SESSION V)

ASOR/SBL: Archaeology and the Ancient World IV

Theme: Archaeological Investigations and Reports

Terry W. Eddinger, Carolina Evangelical Divinity School, Presiding

Dan Warner, The Virtual Bible Project

• A Re-Assessment of Canaanite Cultic Structures Based Upon a Functional/Utilitarian Approach

Sharon Lea Mattila, University of North Carolina at Pembroke

• Was There an Economic Crisis under Antipas? Revisiting the Questions of Royal Estates and Taxation in Herodian Galilee

Jeff Hudon, Andrews University

• Judahite Expansion into Philistia during the Early Eighth Century BCE: What is the Historical and Archaeological Evidence?

John Wineland, Kentucky Christian University

• A Report on the 2009 Season at Khirbet Mudaybi

AAR: History of Judaism III and Hebrew Scripture/Old Testament V (joint session)

Theme: The Handwriting on the Wall and Other Tales of Old

David Garber, McAfee School of Theology, Mercer University, Presiding

Cameron B. R. Howard, Emory University

• A Basic Conceptual Metaphor in the Serek ha-Yahad

Michael Fuller, Lee University

• Divine Intervention and Israel’s (”History’ of) Passivity in Josephus and Other Early Jewish Documents

Marian Broida, Emory University

• Textualizing Divination: The Writing on the Wall

SBL: New Testament IV

Theme: Reception History of the New Testament

Doug Hume, Pfeiffer University, Presiding

Diane Lipsett, Wake Forest University

• Stones, Scandal, and Seeing God: John Donne in the Reception History of Matthew

Wayne Coppins, University of Georgia

• Paul’s Juxtaposition of Freedom and Positive Servitude in 1 Cor 9:19 and its Reception by Martin Luther and Gerhard Ebeling

Ben White, UNC Chapel Hill

• How to Read a Book: Irenaeus and the Pastoral Epistles Reconsidered

Jeremy Barrier, Heritage Christian University

• The Earliest Christian Novels: An Analysis of the Manuscript and Literary Evidence for Christian Novel Writing in the Pre-Constantinian Era

10:30 am-12:15 pm (SESSION VI)

ASOR/SBL: Archaeology and the Ancient World V

Theme: Archaeological Method and Theory

Sharon Lea Mattila, University of North Carolina at Pembroke, Presiding

Ted Carruth, David Lipscomb University

• A Sculpture Fragment from Iron II Moabite Khirbet Mudaybi’: A Case Study of Inter-Disciplinary Inquiry for Interpretive Purposes

Robert Darby, University of Missouri-Columbia and Erin Darby, Duke University

• “Re”-Covering the Past: How Do We Protect and Study Jordan’s Threatened Ancient Sites? Approaches at “Ayn Gharandal”

Frederick L. Downing, Valdosta State University

• When the Center Cannot Hold: A Paradigm for Reading Near Eastern Archaeology

SBL: New Testament V

Theme: Paul

Diane Lipsett, Wake Forest University, Presiding

Mark Proctor, Lee University

• If Christ Has Not Been Raised — The Inefficacy of a Qualified Gospel in 1 Cor 15:17

Thomas Whitley, Gardner-Webb University

• From Qumran to Philo: Precedence for Paul’s Use of “Israel”

Annie Tinsley, University of Birmingham (UK)

• “Colossians and Empire”: A Response to Harold O. Maier

Presian Burroughs, Duke University

• Why Await the Apocalypse of the Sons of God? Reflections on Creation’s Liberation in Romans 8:18—22

Personally I’d prefer to attend a lecture about dessert and ancient Israel, but this should prove to be interesting nevertheless. Definitely consider attending the lecture if you’re in the Atlanta area on next Tuesday.

1. Clarity of language, as in “plain speaking”
2. A reliable, genuine, and credible power to transform lives
3. An emotional expectation to find the love of God
4. A rational expectation to find the knowledge of God

I’m not entirely sure if these goals are measurable, except possibly the first one. Nevertheless, it is nice to see a translation in the works that combines good scholarship with the assumption that the text is powerful and offers a deep sense of service to faith communities.

The list of translators shows a diverse group of capable scholars, although primarily from North America (there are a few from the UK, Australia, and South Africa).

In the comments of my previous post on BDB, James Aitken informed us that the 2005 SBL paper given by Huehnergard and Hackett was just published this week in Foundations for Syriac Lexicography III edited by Janet Dyk and Wido van Peursen. Since Professor Huehnergard was also kind enough to send along a PDF of this chapter, I thought I would highlight some of its contents.

Etymology is one of BDB’s strongest areas, yet it is obviously quite dated at the same time. They plan to retain this strong emphasis on etymology in the revision. “A BDB with thoroughly revised and updated etymological information will fulfil a long-felt need and will stand out among all other current lexica” (228). In order to update the cognate section of BDB, Huehnergard and Hackett plan to take advantage of the recently published lexica. I won’t rehearse it here, but the article lists the resources for the following languages/topics: Northwest Semitic Inscriptions; Akkadian; Northwest Semitic Words in Akkadian; Jewish Palestinian, Jewish Babylonian, and Judean Aramaic; Syriac; Ethiopic; Ugaritic; Old South Arabian; Modern South Arabian; Arabic; Eblaite; and Comparative Semitics (see pages 228-30).

As far as the style of the book, they will keep the famous BDB organization based on roots, so that (presumably) future generations can suffer just like we did and those who went before us. They will, however, put the roots on the page headers, rather than the individual words, which should make it easier to locate entries. Also, they will add an alphabetical index containing all the headwords, which will help the user locate their word in BDB much quicker. I guess the future generation won’t suffer as much!

There will also be a number of presentational improvements. Verbal roots will be listed as roots (not Qal 3ms verbs), which will do away with all those bracketed (not attested) forms. English instead of Latin abbreviations will be used, and they will transliterate other scripts (e.g., Arabic). They will also include a bibliography or update existing bibliographies for controversial topics.

Lastly, they remind readers that BDB is a revision of previous lexica and its need for revision is long overdue. The process will consult other lexica and relevant articles. The final product will be roughly the same size as the current BDB.

People interested in lexicography will will want to read the article for themselves, since I just highlighted a portion of its contents.

• Hackett, Jo Ann and John Huehnergard. “On Revising and Updating BDB.” Pages 227-33 in Foundations for Syriac Lexicography III: Colloquia of the International Syriac Language Project. Ed. by Janet Dyk and W. Th. van Peursen. PSL 4. Piscataway, NJ: Gorgias, 2009.

Jo Ann Hackett and John Huehnergard plan to create a revision of the standard English dictionary of Biblical Hebrew, the Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament of F. Brown, S. R. Driver, and C. A. Briggs (Oxford 1906). While still the most reliable and most frequently used English dictionary of Hebrew, BDB has also been showing its age for many decades in one of the aspects for which it was most noteworthy, namely, the presentation of cognate information in related Semitic languages — the information on which, in part at least, the meaning of the Hebrew roots is based. This is the aspect of the dictionary that Hackett and Huehnergard plan to revise most thoroughly.

As one who uses BDB fairly frequently, I have often wondered why it has taken so long for a good scholarly revision to appear. Many lexica in our field are revised for newer generations (think of the various versions of BDAG or LSJ) and it has been over a century since BDB was first published by Oxford. The appearance of a new edition will be much appreciated especially since there have been major developments in the study of the Hebrew Bible since BDB’s original publication. For starters, the Ugaritic language was discovered which helps lexicographers and biblical scholars better understand the meaning of the Hebrew cognates. Also, the biblical texts from the Qumran which were discovered in the ’40s and ’50s give alternative readings to the Hebrew Bible. Further, the sectarian writings from the Judean Desert give scholars more context to better understand the meanings of Hebrew words much in the same way that the discovery of the papyri shed light on the New Testament lexicography. Of course, students of the HB can always consult the multi-volume HALOT or its abridgement Holladay, but as Goldilocks might say, the amount of information in BDB is usually just right. Clearly a revision of BDB is in order, and I greatly look forward to their work.

If anyone has more information on this, I’d be very interested to learn about it. When is the expected publication date? Will it still be published by Oxford? Will this new edition be affordable? Will it be coded to the Strongs concordance? Just kidding on that last one.

I noticed that Jo Ann Hackett and John Huehnergard gave a paper on this at the Philadelphia SBL in 2005: “Updating the Brown–Driver–Briggs Hebrew Lexicon.” Unfortunately I missed it and was probably off at some Didache paper instead.

H/T: John Anderson

Update: Charles Halton asks whether a revision of BDB is even necessary. Jim West chimes in as well.

I recently received a copy of BibleWorks 8 and have been familiarizing myself with the application. So far, the program seems very robust and useful. I am definitely looking forward to becoming well acquainted with its features and learning more about its tools. It would have been very nice (or very bad) to own while I was learning Greek and Hebrew.

I plan to write a number of posts on BibleWorks 8 once I know the program better. For now, I’ll just mention the first couple of changes I made after loading it on my computer. First, the Hebrew text was a little too small to read easily, so I increased the font size of the Hebrew to 24 in both the Search Window and Browse Window.

Second, I changed the default Display Versions. One of the real strengths of BibleWorks is the myriad of Bible versions and other texts in various modern and ancient languages. Yet for one reason or another, when BibleWorks is first loaded, the default translations are the KJV, NASB, and the Majority Text NT (Greek), in addition to the standard Greek and Hebrew Bibles (LXX/GNT and Lenigrad Codex). I quickly removed the KJV and NASB, and though the Majority Text edited by Robinson (1995) is interesting, I removed that as well since it’s not something I plan on referring to frequently. Then I added a number of other Display Versions, so here’s what I settled on for now:

Of course, this does not mean that I am restricting access to other versions, but these are the ones which will automatically show up in the Browse Window (main center window). Note also the order in which I have arranged these versions. I like to have the ancient languages at the top, English in the center, and German and French at the bottom, when applicable. For the English translations of the Bible, I chose the NRSV, since that tends to be the main version used by scholars and the TNIV, which I’ve heard good things about, but haven’t used much myself yet.

It would be nice to know what other users include in their Display Versions. What am I leaving out that should be included? For a complete listing of versions included in BibleWorks 8, see here.

Joel from the The Church of Jesus Christ blog has also recently acquired BibleWorks 8 and he gives his first impressions of the program here.

Samuel Byrskog has written a helpful survey of how the term Sitz im Leben is used in gospel studies, but he also offers his own definition of the term in relation to the Jesus tradition:

Is there a future for the Sitz im Leben? Is it possible to maintain a feasible minimum definition of what it stands for and use it as a heuristic label for the study of tradition and the formation of early Christian groups and their identities? This is difficult to say. In conclusion, I propose we think of it as that recurrent type of mnemonic occasion within the life of early Christian communities when certain people cared about the Jesus tradition in a special way and performed and narrated it orally and in writing. This is, to be sure, a tentative definition in need of further reflection and testing. It seeks to synthesize the various tendencies of earlier research, while at the same time avoiding the impasses of its previous use. (20; italics original)

He unpacks the definition a little more in the last seven pages or so of his article, which I recommend to anyone interested in the term.

• Byrskog, Samuel. “A Century with the Sitz im Leben: From Form-Critical Setting to Gospel Community and Beyond.” Zeitschrift für die neutestamentliche Wissenschaft und die Kunde der älteren Kirche 98.1 (2007): 1-27.