Wish Lists

Michael Bird has an interesting "wish list" of books that he would like. I would like to note that as a student, I think any generous benefactor should probably sponsor me first! Nah, just joking. But I am surprised at the list of books that he wants, that he doesn't have. I agree, that the fact that he considers himself a historical Jesus specialist and doesn't own a copy of these books suggests that he could be slapped in the face with a very soggy fish, or that some benefactor should be very gracious indeed...

I recently obtained Meier's 3rd volume in the Marginal Jew series, which is very good! Jesus and Judaism was a present when I left New Zealand, so that one's close at hand. Davies & Allison, along with Keener and Bockmuehl are on my shelf, and Nolland hasn't been published yet, so there's hope for me yet! The rest are outside the gospels, so I'm not desperate for them. The joy of being single [and a nerd who spends so much time reading] does afford me the opportunity to buy a few more books! [But the being single bit, might change very soon!!!] I share the desire to get Hengel's Four Gospels and the One Gospel of Jesus Christ but that will have to wait... There are more pressing issues desiring [actually demanding] my $$$.

Phil Jenkins book, The Next Christendom is a fantastic read. There's a summary article by the author, available entitled, The Next Christianity.

I feel sorely convicted by Bird's post 10 ways to tell if you're a NT Buff. I lucked out on #'s 3 and 4, and my Greek paradigms are on my bedroom wall - so I guess that's worse? My copy of BAGD is electronic, so it can't sit on my non-existent coffee table. So is my copy of the Mishna for that matter. #6 is becoming so annoying. Don't people realise the importance of this stuff? Umm, nope! But other than that, # 1 is the worst. I always think, and can sometimes even hear, the echoes of a certain commentary when someone is preaching. Or I realise the sore truth that the person doesn't know what a commentary is, and I'm being subjected to a torturous reading of the text which is making me think crazy things for which I shall have to repent later.

I am really inspired by Ben Witherington's quote that: Good exegetes are not born, they are made and molded, and the process is more helpful and less painful if you are learning from the best. That's why I'm enjoying England so much. I definitely plan to do my Ph.D. here. There are so many good universities and academic institutions. Now if only I could convince Scot McKnight to come back to the UK, so that he could supervise my thesis! Or maybe Tom Wright will take up an academic post again? Or George Caird will be proleptically raised from the dead? That would be cool!

I digress. Nottingham is FAB at the moment, and we have around 5000 people on site - so that is just great. My Seminar on The Mettanarrative of Scripture is on Saturday morning. Please pray. The notes are written, the research done, but if the god and Father of the LORD Jesus the King isn't gracious and kind, I'm merely wasting people's time and my own. And I don't want to do that... So please...

Then I fly home on Tuesday! YAY! I can't wait to be back with ......

I'll leave you guessing.