Blogging? What’s that?
I have been a bad blogger! But I am here to tell you that I am back in Vancouver and have started classes once again here at Regent College and hopefully blogging will resume as normal. I just need to move from the “lazy-ass” mode to “lazy-ass-student” mode again and then hopefully just to “student” and if I am really on top of things I might even reach “motivated student”! We shall see.
On the plate this term: three classes instead of four, I am looking forward to a slight break from the full load in what will be my last term to physically be up in the Great White North. The classes: Intro Hebrew II with Dave Diewert, Systematic Theology A (Prolegomena, The Knowledge of God and Revelation) with John Stackhouse, and Preaching and Worship with Darrell Johnson. Should be an interesting term indeed.
I have a lot to blog about (naturally) so will hopefully get up to speed over the next few days.
Cheers!
-Matt Jones
I’m in Sys A with you, and I am already “motivated student”, because I have already read the Wright book and just under half of Begbie. I think the class will be pretty good, although part of it depends on Stackhouse’s enthusiasm.
Yeah, I am looking forward to it. I have read Begbie before (think I will have to read it again because I can’t remember much of it!) and dug it. I am definitely looking forwards to Wright’s latest, supposed to be a good read. See you tomorrow!
Yoyo matt, get that apartment of yours clean and re-stock that toilet paper - because Jae is crossing the border! Hopefully soon we can chat about the details.
Anyhow, I’m still waiting on my library to get Wright’s “The Last Word”, but I just broke down and bought “Paul, Fresh Perspectives”. It’s been a fun read so far, and for what it’s worth, it’s been a real eye opener. More or less, I’m becoming less and less impressed with Wright’s exegetical prowess with Paul’s writings. In particular, I’ve been working through the letter of Galatians for the past few months, and I’m actually in awe of what Wright “gets away with” in his conclusions. I’m a little bit concerned because there are so many Wright nut-huggers, of which I am one in many areas.
Anyhow, one common criticism that’s applied to Wright’s “fresh perspective” approach is that it is overly “reductionistic” - and that’s a criticism that sticks fairly well when you try to make sense out of what Galatians says and what Wright claims that it says. And so that I don’t end up turning a blog-comment into a treatise, I’ll just say that I think Wright often tries to lift a semi-truck (the text) solely by the strength of a fierce midget (his minimalistic thematic framework).
Heh, can’t wait to see what he’s got to say about authority and canon now.
-j
Come on over bro! Just let me know when and I will pick my underwear up off the floor!
I am definitely looking forward to reading Wright’s book. I have been a big fan of his (as you know), “The Challenge of Jesus” is one of my favorite books. That being said, it is probably pretty difficult to find a theologean / scholar that you agree with completely and I don’t think that is necessarily a bad thing or has to take away from the quality of his work. I doubt he is being heretical so I am not too worried. Overall it seems that Wright is one of the best New Testament scholars around, but all us “nut-huggers” have to keep in mind that he is one man and can’t rely on him alone to provide complete exegesis. We are discussing Wright’s book on Feb 22… in case you were curious. We’ll talk.
NFC Championship game is about to start! Go Seahawks!!
Word, I think your outlook is right on, and I agree that we can’t expect all divine truths to come through the mouth of one person (other than Christ). So, that’s certainly not a burden I try to put on Wright, or anyone else (including myself).
My primary concern with Mr. NT as of late is that he is being looked to by many (especially young bible students as ourselves) as THE bible scholar, building this unhealthy wall of hype that doesn’t help some people wrestle with the substance of what he’s teaching. In other words, I’m starting to come across people who are lazy in regard to the Scriptures, but still adamant that Wright has it right! For real, I love much of Wright’s stuff as well, but I’m really struggling with much of what he’s saying about Paul, and right now, that’s more or less the epicenter of much of the Wright-hype. Here’s a link to an article in regards to all that:
http://www.alliancenet.org/partner/Article_Display_Page/0,,PTID307086|CHID560462|CIID1660662,00.html
Anyhow, it would be great to be there on the 22nd for that discussion, otherwise I’m really looking forward to the visit whenever it may be! I’ll bring the chili and diapers!
-j
I think it is somewhat funny that he is kinda the rock star of theology with groupies and all. While I am pretty close to being a groupie, I think that I try to keep a healthy perspective on his limitations. I think that one thing Regent does try to do is offer different perspectives so we don’t just hear one voice.
I definitely don’t think I would go as far as that article does in its opposition to the NPP, I think that the NPP has a lot of good things to offer that weren’t taken into account in previous NT scholarship. My question would be this: does their have to be this huge dichotomy between the old and new? I understand that there will definitely be some disagreement, but while new doesn’t imply better, it also doesn’t necessarily imply a complete contradiction to the old. Are both perspectives completely at odds? Should they be?