SEARCH THIS SITE

Bible Reference Index

Diglot Editions

Dunash ben Labrat

Ali Ahmad Said

Verbal System of Ancient Hebrew

The Bible as seen through the eyes of . . .

« Dating Biblical Texts by Linguistic Means: Holmstedt & Cook vs. Young & Rezetko | Main | Abortion is a family issue »

Comments

Feed You can follow this conversation by subscribing to the comment feed for this post.

Calvinist

This one is pretty bad too:
http://zwingliusredivivus.wordpress.com/2011/02/24/oh-eeewww-gross/

Charles

As with most other things as well, I agree with you. About 1 in 50 posts of his had something of marginal worth but it is just not worth it anymore to have him in my blog feed.

Brian

I agree; I have stopped reading him too, for the same reasons.

Gary Simmons

Well, I suppose the ice cream could be marketable to children.

I don't follow Jim. Mostly because of his online persona, but also because he does several short posts in frequent succession, and I don't feel there is a serious and sustained argument behind it.

I get the notion that he is capable of higher thought than his online persona often suggests, but if that is kept hidden, then it may as well be untrue.

John: I'm thankful for your attempt to foster genuine dialogue and critical (as well as creative) thinking. I'm looking forward to further dialogue between you and MSH, also.

As for me, I'm trying to make sure I don't make my blogging all about my hobby horses -- complementarianism, pacifism, pro-life, need for education reform, etc. But then again, I seldom blog lately as I'm still readjusting to this thing called "employment."

Gary Simmons

In the interest of your self-reflection, John: was this post a rant? And was it wise?

You give this all of three paragraphs, and it seems your focus is more to call attention to what you believe blogging should and should not be about, and you provide a negative example and your intent to be(come) a positive example.

I can see this post as constructive, in that you intend to move blogging in the right direction.

JRG


Your post is timely, since just yesterday I removed Jim West's blog from my Google Reader feed. I used to read it to stay on top of news related to Bible and archaeology. However, posts with any substance are few and far between. It's gotten to the point that I can find better things to do with my time than work through the fluff and rants.

Thanks John for your exceptional blog.

JohnFH

One reason I enjoy blogging is that I have become part of a strong network of friends, Jewish and Christian, believing and unbelieving, "liberal" and "conservative" (such useless terms).

The network has nothing to do with traffic ratings, rants, the world of recovering fundamentalists, the world of recovering atheists, not to mention ranting fundamentalists and ranting atheists.

I don't believe for a minute that most people who now promote civility are committed to it - by their fruits you shall know them. Nor have *I* always succeeded in promoting civility. Still, in a world full of hotheads, it's a start.

Bob MacDonald

I was sorry for Jim when he lost his blog a few years ago. But he seems to have recovered it. I have not followed him for over 2 years. I used to consider him a community builder, because he has had many good things happen on the biblical studies list. But I soon grew tired of the minimalist assumptions and then I grew impatient with the total depravity posts. I hope he does not know what he is writing about. Certainly, the gifts I know from one who is greater than he are not to be spoken of in that way.

As for the woman who destroyed herself, I can only pray for someone who has no basis to continue their life. I do not find such prayer a contradiction in me, but rather a longing. Jim would do well to delete that post and all the comments. Perhaps he too can repent.

Personally, I am sorry to have to agree with you on a subject like this in writing, but I think it has to be noted that this kind of behaviour is offensive to some of us and does not seem to accord with the gospel - at least not how I have been taught it. I always have a check in my spirit when I consider that I am not trained in the guild in any way. I do not have the time unfortunately to become accredited so I must just train myself and hope that someone will not get tired of reading my reaching words that have their own error rate.

JohnFH

Your reaching words, Bob, are conceived by intent in the spirit of 1 Cor 13, so that, when all knowledge passes away, they will abide. That counts for a lot.

It would be wonderful if it were possible to say that Jim West's gifts of projection and vitriol are otherwise unknown among bloggers or among members of the guild (SBL members, for example), but such is not the case.

Carl W. Conrad

I continued to scan Jim's blog for a long time for the sake of the occasional scoops on significant news items, but the crudities and judgmental rants and smugly self-righteous put-downs of just about anybody and everybody eventually decided me that it's not worth slogging through the mud.

jim

yes i agree that all of you should put your time to better use.

in fact, i welcome your disdain. i'm not at all troubled by it nor do i intend to change my methodology to suit the views of others.

as ive always said, if you dont like what i do, stay away. i certainly stay away from those blogs that i dont find interesting.

so do, please, follow your own light and stay away.

(but of course that's the hypocrisy of each comment beginning with the post. for how could or would you know how horrible i am if it weren't for the fact that you visit?).

so do, again, please, stay away. dont soil yourselves with one more click.

JohnFH

Rest assured, Jim, I do not visit your blog.

However, I received a complaint about your blogging from a fellow SBL member. Backing up her bewilderment with links to your blog, she was wondering whether you represent the viewpoint of a typical Christian biblical scholar.

I defend your freedom of speech: I defend the freedom of speech of Fred Phelps for that matter.

But no, despite your claimed affinity with Zwingli, the Reformation, and the Baptist heritage; despite your membership in various professional organizations, you are not in my opinion an honorable representative of any of the above in your blogging persona.

Finally, I reserve the right to take you on in the future should I be alerted of the need again.

Calvinist

Well said, JohnFH.

It's interesting that some SBL members are complaining about him.

Mark Stevens

I think Jim is just being himself. He has opinions against the moral and ethical state of the USA and he shares his opinions on his blog. Why is that wrong?

I understand people don't like the amount he posts and may disagree with what he posts about but it is his blog. He doesn't visit other people's blog and scour the comments posting long comments like some bloggers do. His blog, his interests and his views. Why is that a problem?

He is an avid scholar, Biblical and historical. These posts come through on a regular basis.

Look, I am a friend of Jim's and have found him to be wonderfully generous and friendly. He is also one of the greatest parsons I know.

Just my 2 cents.

JohnFH

Mark,

Do you mind addressing the feature of his online persona I cite? How do his offline generosity and friendliness make up for his online nastiness?

Mark Stevens

How is he morally crude? When Jim rants I have always treated it as hyperbole. He is a caring parson who asks tough questions and is a good scholar.

Have you ever asked him why he does it?

JohnFH

If you read the thread I link to, you will notice that a commenter seeks clarification over and again, and is treated to nastiness in reply.

I have received several complaints since I began blogging for the way Jim West treats people online. I might have replied, "Am I my brother's keeper?" and left it at that. But ultimately that stance is irresponsible. Are you certain that such complaints are unfounded?

I'm serious, Mark. Do you stand by your claim that West has nothing to be ashamed of?

Brian

I have found his online persona to be arrogant and mean-spirited. I have been told that he is not this way in person. Perhaps he compensates online for what he can't do in person, I don't know. But this is the persona that he chooses to display to the world through his blog. His comment above is mild compared to what I have seen him spew at other times.

Mark Stevens

I stand by the person I know. A warm and generous pastor who is frustrated at the state of the nation's morals. I don't agree with every thing he says but hey, he gets attacked a fair bit as well so maybe over the years he's become jaded. Is he harsh? Yes he can be. But I just figure it's his blog and he can do what he wants.

Like I said, the man I know is far more than the few lines you have described.

JohnFH

Mark,

I'm pleased to see that you see the need to distance yourself from Jim West's style of blogging.

The fact that you seem to think the "few lines" I link to are not typical suggests that you steer clear of his blogging, so as not to be overcome by the harshness and jadedness of his online persona.

As others have noted on this thread, and as West concedes, that is a reasonable conclusion: stop reading and stop enabling Jim West the blogger.

woofin

When I first started reading Jim, I thought he was much younger than he is, a fresh-out just getting started in the world, and I sort of liked his blog on that basis as an interesting mixture. I was taken aback when I discovered he is a mature working pastor.

Brian

Mark, I can understand Jim West's outrage at the state of morals in our world today. When I did read his blog, I would agree with him on many things, although certainly not everything. But I wonder if he isn't undermining his own moral indignation by the way he treats people online?

He regularly denounces fellow scholars and bibliobloggers and he frequently heaps verbal abuse upon people he interacts with online. I am sure that many of the attacks he receives are provoked by the caustic way he articulates things on his blog.

I wonder, as a pastor, how does he treat people who have moral failings in his own congregation or community? Does he use the same tactics as he does online?

A couple of years ago I had the opportunity to meet him personally. He passed right by me. But I found that I wasn't interested in meeting him because of his online persona. Perhaps he would serve himself and others better if he let some of that warm persona you so describe shine through more often on blog.

Calvinist

Today he is perpetuating the oldest slur in the bigot's book -- he has posted an implicit comparison of gay people with pedophiles:

http://zwingliusredivivus.wordpress.com/2011/02/26/imagine-that-a-catholic-college-firing-an-openly-gay-priest/

For his thousands of blogs readers, this is the REAL Jim West, not the friendly chap known personally to a few dozen cronies.

Bill

Is this whole thread because of "that's what she said"? John Hobbins, is that the crudity and nastiness of which you speak?

The remark has a pop culture usage as sexual innuendo, especially popularized by the US version of the TV show 'The Office'. But Jim West's remark (immediately below the comment you link to) was a statement against giving up, as in suicide. The commenter said, "I give up". Jim's reply underscored the point of his post against suicide, that one should never give up.

John, if your disgust was over the whole post itself, forgive me for misunderstanding. But if your post was against "twss", I don't see the particular crudity. "Twss" only counts as innuendo when the line it responds to can be taken as double entendre. If this does, boy, gee, I am seriously missing it.

As to how I know all this - I have crude friends, so sue me. ;-)

Bill

This also reminds me of when you (John) called Jim's blog list "antediluvian", presumably because it predated the current FLOOD of biblioblogs, at that time, with which none of us could keep up. But Jim took the word as a general insult against the list itself.

Again, maybe I'm missing something. Or maybe you guys need a translator. ;-)

JohnFH

Hi Bill,

We all need translators now and then. You are welcome to translate for me any time.

Jim West's style of blogging is in permanent need of translation. In answer to your question, he succeeds in being offensive in his blogging persona in more ways than I can easily count. It is not worth my time or yours to go over them.

I will limit myself to this recurring pattern: he sees people mistreating themselves and other people and that seems to give him permission to mistreat whomever he wishes.

I concur with Jim West's own advice: if you find him offensive - and I do, and most people I know do - stay away from his blog.

mikelioso

The anonymity of the net does bring out the sociopathic in people. Jim is defiantly of the let them eat cake variety. is that typical of his attitude, is it a comedy site?

JohnFH

Mike,

I don't appreciate the use of the word "sociopathic." It's not an insinuation to make lightly.

It might be wise to construe West's blog as a comedy routine. Then it might be referred to as a bad comedy routine. God knows the world is full of comics who ham-handedly exceed the bounds of propriety.

John Anderson

I too, have not visited Jim's blog for a while. Not necessarily because I find him offensive (it's hard to genuinely offend me), but I must confess that what annoys me most is the utter discontinuity between his online persona (and it is precisely that) and the real JW. If you have ever met this man in person you would never guess he is the one who writes those posts, frequently calling people "dolts" or whatever new derogatory word of the day he has decided upon. In person, however, he is a quiet, seemingly-shy, unassuming man who seems genuinely quite kind, if you can get him to talk to you. Does anyone who has met him agree with me on this point? I don't mind Jim having an online persona; he is surely entitled to that. I just wish he was more transparent about who he is. When I met Jim for the first time at the Boston SBL in 2008 I was quite surprised at his timidity and what seemed to be, upon first impression, a gentle and quiet kindness. I later saw Jim at the biblioblogging reception and, in passing, jokingly asked him to call me a "dolt" (something he had called me plenty of times online) to my face. He nervously smiled and shuffled on to another group of people. That's what bothers me most; be authentic.

I will admit, though, that yes, his posts are problematic in several regards, though with JohnFH I support Jim's free speech. What I do not support, however, is free speech that is hateful or detrimental to others. Since Jim deleted his original blog this discussion is lost, but I recall a post he had about homosexuality in which I pressed him on the matter, which resulted only in an ad hominem attack. Would that we had that conversation in person!

(For a fun read, BTW, search Chris Heard's blog for his detective work on Jim West's credentials; I won't link directly to it here, but there was a spirited exchange in 2008).

JohnFH

John,

It is also my experience that Jim West is shy and soft-spoken in person, whereas online, he too often is crude and mean.

Theophrastus

While Jim is free to exercise his First Amendment rights to free speech, I think that the community needs to decide if they want to allow him to continue to play a central role in events such as SBL-Bibliobloggers functions.

Jim often engages in offensive and bigoted broad characterization of Catholics, Jews, women, homosexuals and others. I'll let you folks debate whether the "shy Jim" or the "obnoxious Jim" best reflects his "true" personality, but it seems to me that Jim improperly mixes his roles by organizing his SBL activities on the same blog in which he publishes offensive remarks.

There is a further question about SBL's cooperation with Jim given the many questions about the veracity of his self-description of his academic background.

JohnFH

Jim West is not, so far as I know, on the steering committee of the SBL program unit, "Bloggers and Online Publication." He helped promote it, but he did not attend its inaugural session in Atlanta this past year - a session, BTW, that was a delight to experience.

West is an active member of SBL, ASOR, CBA, and other professional organizations. He has published book reviews in peer-reviewed journals such as Catholic Biblical Quarterly, SJOT, and RBL. He published an article, last year, on Baptist history in the peer-reviewed journal Baptist History and Heritage. He completed the research for that article while a research fellow at Mercer University.

I'm not familiar with the degrees West has earned but I have no doubt he is qualified to write in the field of the Old Testament.

I've seen others suggest that West has misrepresented his cur vitae on past occasions. Chris Heard, I believe, leveled that charge. However that once was, West does not do that now.

I think it is fair to say, and Jim West would not disagree, that he presents his own views, and not those of organizations he belongs to, when he blogs.

His blogging persona is an embarrassment to most people I know, within and without SBL, who know of it. But I wouldn't want to see SBL take action against him. He's not that important.

G. Kyle Essary

I no longer read Jim's blog, but I second John's comment about his credentials. Chris Heard's "investigative work" brought about little. Whether or not he graduated from an accredited school says nothing about how competent a scholar he is. His work has shown that he does know how to do scholarly work at the same level as most of the big school Ph.D.'s in the biblioblogging world.

John Anderson

The last three comments have been particularly interesting. I agree with Theophrastus and with JohnFH's most recent comment, largely. I disagree, however, with Kyle's statement that graduation from an (non-)accredited doctorate program says nothing about one's competence as a scholar. Let me be clear: I don't wish to say Jim is an incompetent scholar. I wouldn't know, I don't read anything he does (and actually try to avoid something if I see his name attached to it; far too caustic). But I take a bit of offense at the insinuation--intentional or not--that my 2 years at Duke in a masters program followed by 4 years of rigorous Ph.D. work at Baylor is more or less equivalent to what Jim has done. Again, I am not saying I'm a better scholar than Jim--how do you judge such a thing anyways?--we both have gifts and deficiencies. But if the criteria is that he published book reviews in RBL and CBQ, is that really the barometer to measure by? Regardless, put most simply, Jim knows (some of) his stuff quite well, but whether that has prepared him to be a true scholar--which I see as one who attempts to build the discipline of biblical studies and not launch automatically into ad hominem attacks when pressed--I begin to wonder.

I would also suggest folk try to dig up Chris Heard's original post on the topic; it is at the very least interesting reading, and some of it on the money to my eye. But I am glad to learn from John that West no longer misrepresents his CV. And after having met JW in person and seeing how he treats people online, I must echo John's final statement in his most recent post above.

G. Kyle Essary

John,
You are arguing against something that was never insinuated. Nobody is arguing that they are equivalent in terms of past education. The argument is that Jim's work is on par with much of the stuff Ph.D.'s in the biblioblogging world put out.

Regardless of how he came to such knowledge, scholars should be assessed on the quality of their work. If I'm teaching Hebrew, I don't care if you went to Princeton for your undergrad when I'm assessing the quality of your paper anymore than the student who went to junior college, did some tutoring at the synagogue and has no pedigree.

John Anderson

The dangers of reader-response, on display here!

But, I'd still disagree with the premise in your second sentence.

G. Kyle Essary

Hey John,
I can't disagree that reader-response can be dangerous, haha. Just to clarify, from which comment do you disagree with the second sentence?

1: Chris Heard's "investigative work" brought about little.
2: Nobody is arguing that they are equivalent in terms of past education.

If it is the second comment, then I can at least say that I am not arguing that your educational background and his are on par, because they aren't.

John Anderson

Kyle, actually neither comment. I was registering my disagreement with your statement that "Jim's work is on par with much of the stuff Ph.D.'s in [the] biblioblogging world put out." Yes, he has done one or two peer reviewed journals, but I can't help but smile when you click to buy one of his books published through Quartz Hill press and see they are all just listed on lulu.com. I'm not saying Jim isn't sharp and doesn't know more than the average person (or pastor). I'm saying I don't think his output is up to snuff with biblioblogging Ph.D.s. Look at Chris Heard, who has a book out, several articles, and a forthcoming two volume reception history commentary on Genesis; Mark Goodacre, who has published numerous academic works; Aren Maeir, excavator at Tel Safi; and if I can be so bold, me, with several articles, book reviews, and a forthcoming book, and chair of an SBL unit. I just don't see the similarity. This doesn't mean Jim is incapable of doing good work, but I can't get past the Quartz Hill --> lulu publishing bit.

And now that I look at the two comments in your most recent post, I'd say I disagree with each of those too! (wink)

G. Kyle Essary

You are definitely correct that he doesn't have the quality academic output of the bloggers you mentioned (only 5% of the scholars at your average SBL do either of course, haha, as they are quite a top-notch group). You should have gone ahead and thrown in Jim Davila and Chris Brady as well...heck and Larry Hurtado. Of course, these guys kind of stick out.

Chris Heard trumps the list because he made a Bible board game. Come on, how many other scholars do you know that can pull that off?

You are probably right overall on this point though, but there are a whole lot of Ph.D.'s out there and a whole lot of biblioblogging ones.

John Anderson

Kyle,

I'm hoping Chris will give me a gratis copy of his game, since we're Genesis buddies (is Chris reading this? ha!). But yes, pretty cool!

Part of the potential issue, I think, is that many of the folk who were blogging regulars when I was as well, about 2 years ago, are no longer posting, and since I was a bit busy writing a dissertation I have failed to keep up with the bulk of new bloggers. Especially those with Ph.D.s. I don't know how I feel about considering Jim among that group, though to be honest . . . but in the interest of full disclosure, I'm also a bit ambivalent about the issue (though I realize my comments above may point otherwise).

G. Kyle Essary

John,
There is no doubt that the game looks cool (in a weird, biblical studies, Christian believer, geeky kind of way).

Matt

I guess I'm not as touchy as most people - the current trend is to be polite, politically correct and sparing of other people's feelings. While this is all find and dandy (and a far cry from the gloriously amusing back-and-forths that were common in writers such as John Calvin, Martin Luther and their cronies for a few examples), it's a shame that this current creed and dogma of modern intellectual intercourse is taken to such an extreme, yet rarely applied when we run across someone we disagree with and who happens to break what we perceive as our own personal decency creed: the boycotts come out, the accusations of intellectual insipidity are flung, the ad hominem attacks begin piling up in large piles of what-cannot-be-referred-to-lest-it-offend-our-new-intellectual-Victorianism.

Have we really come to this? Is all modern discourse to be forever shackled to these new creeds and dogmas? Is it not possible to simply disagree, shake our heads, have a chuckle or groan (take your pick), leave it at that and resist the urge to commit the very same 'heretic'-burnings that got this whole thing started, in this instance? Far be it for me to cry "hypocrite" - but there it is. I just really feel the world is big enough for many people to voice their opinions without being hauled to the gallows of modern idignation for doing so. One doesn't have to literally burn someone at the stake (to once again refer to the origin of this entire thing) to produce the same results through other means.

Humor is, by many good definitions, usually derived by focusing on the misfortunes or cultural differences of others - we find examples of this strewn throughout the Bible. This works well for comedians and the Biblical authors telling funny etiological stories about the origin of the Moabites and Ammonites, but woe to the modern intellectual who attempts such a thing. There will always be loud voices using this to discredit someone they already do not care for.

Just my opinions, here - I hope they don't offend too greatly: take them as satire, if you must.

JohnFH

Hi Matt,

Is it possible to be highly critical of someone's behavior and *not* morally crude? I think so.

I reject your advice, that we "simply disagree, shake our heads, have a chuckle or groan (take your pick), [and] leave it at that."

That is often great advice, but not always. In some cases, it takes more courage, but is nonetheless more praiseworthy, to oppose a wrongdoer to his or her face.

Just my opinion. That's what I offer here: my views. It's all I can offer.

The comments to this entry are closed.

My Photo

Google Blogrolls

a community of bloggers

  • Abnormal Interests
    Intrepid forays into realia and texts of the Ancient Near East, by Duane Smith
  • After Existentialism, Light
    A thoughtful theology blog by Kevin Davis, an M. Div. student at University of North Carolina-Charlotte
  • AKMA's Random Thoughts
    by A. K. M. Adam, Lecturer in New Testament at the University of Glasgow
  • alternate readings
    C. Stirling Bartholomew's place
  • Ancient Hebrew Grammar
    informed comment by Robert Holmstedt, Associate Professor, Ancient Hebrew and Northwest Semitic Languages, Department of Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations, University of Toronto, and John Cook, Associate Professor of Old Testament, Asbury Theological Seminary (Wilmore KY)
  • Antiquitopia
    one of the best blogs out there, by Jared Calaway, assistant professor in the Department of Religion at Illinois Wesleyan University.
  • Anumma - Hebrew Bible and Higher Education
    by G. Brooke Lester, Assistant Professor in Hebrew Bible, and Director for Emerging Pedagogies, at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary (Evanston IL)
  • Awilum
    Insightful commentary on the Bible and the Ancient Near East, by Charles Halton
  • AWOL - The Ancient World Online
    notice and comment on open access material relating to the ancient world, by Charles Jones of the Institute for the Study of the Ancient World, New York University
  • Balshanut
    top-notch Biblical Hebrew and Semitics blog by Peter Bekins, Ph. D. student, Hebrew Union College, Cincinnati OH, faculty member, Wright State University (archive)
  • Believing is Knowing
    Comments on things like prophecy, predestination, and reward and punishment from an orthodox Jewish perspective, by David Guttmann
  • Ben Byerly's Blog
    thoughts on the Bible, Africa, Kenya, aid, and social justice, by Ben Byerly, a PhD candidate at Africa International University (AIU), in Nairobi, Kenya working on “The Hopes of Israel and the Ends of Acts” (Luke’s narrative defense of Paul to Diaspora Judeans in Acts 16-20)
  • Berit Olam
    by a thoughtful Matt Morgan, Berkeley CA resident, grad student in Old Testament at Regent University, Vancouver BC (archive)
  • Better Bibles Blog
    Discussion of translation problems and review of English Bible translations by Wayne Leman, Iver Larsen, Mike Sangrey, and others
  • Bibbia Blog
    A Bible blog in Italian and English by former students of the PIB and PUG
  • Bible Background research and commentary
    by Craig Keener, professor of New Testament, Asbury Theological Seminary
  • Bible Design & Binding
    J. Mark Bertrand's place
  • BiblePlaces Blog
    a spotlight on the historical geography of the Holy Land, by Todd Bolen, formerly, Assistant Professor at the Israel Bible Extension campus of The Master's College, Santa Clarita CA
  • Biblicalia
    The riches of orthodoxy brought online by Kevin Edgecomb, a seminarian at Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology (Brookline MA)
  • Biblische Ausbildung
    by Stephen L. Cook, professor of Old Testament / Hebrew Bible at Virginia Theological Seminary
  • C. Orthodoxy
    Christian, Contemporary, Conscientious… or Just Confused, by Ken Brown, a very thoughtful blog (archive). Ken is currently a Dr. Theol. student at Georg-August-Universität in Göttingen, part of The Sofja-Kovalevskaja Research Group studying early Jewish Monotheism. His dissertation will focus on the presentation of God in Job.
  • Catholic Bibles
    a thoughtful blog about Bible translations by Timothy, who has a degree in sacred theology from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome (Angelicum) and teaches theology in a Catholic high school in Michigan
  • Chrisendom
    irreverent blog with a focus on the New Testament, by Chris Tilling, New Testament Tutor for St Mellitus College and St Paul's Theological Centre, London
  • Claude Mariottini
    a perspective on the Old Testament and current events by a professor of Old Testament at Northern Baptist Theological Seminary, Chicagoland, Illinois
  • Codex: Biblical Studies Blogspot
    by Tyler Williams, a scholar of the Hebrew Bible and cognate literature, now Assistant Professor of Theology at The King's University College in Edmonton, Alberta (archive)
  • Colours of Scripture
    reflections on theology, philosophy, and literature, by Benjamin Smith, afflicted with scriptural synaesthesia, and located in London, England
  • Complegalitarian
    A team blog that discusses right ways and wrong ways Scripture might help in the social construction of gender (old archive only; more recent archive, unfortunately, no longer publicly available)
  • Connected Christianity
    a place to explore what it might be like if Christians finally got the head, heart, and hands of their faith re-connected (archive)
  • Conversational Theology
    Smart and delightful comment by Ros Clarke, a Ph.D. student at the University of the Highlands and Islands, at the (virtual) Highland Theological College (archive)
  • Daily Hebrew
    For students of biblical Hebrew and the ancient Near East, by Chip Hardy, a doctoral student at the University of Chicago
  • Daniel O. McClellan
    a fine blog by the same, who is pursuing a master of arts degree in biblical studies at Trinity Western University just outside of Vancouver, BC.
  • Davar Akher
    Looking for alternative explanations: comments on things Jewish and beyond, by Simon Holloway, a PhD student in Classical Hebrew and Biblical Studies at The University of Sydney, Australia
  • Deinde
    News and Discussion by Danny Zacharias
  • Discipulus scripturae
    Nathan Stitt's place
  • Dr. Claude Mariottini
    balanced comment by a professor of Old Testament at Northern Baptist Seminary, Lombard IL
  • Dr. Platypus
    insightful comment by Darrell Pursiful, editor at Smyth & Helwys Publishing, on the New Testament faculty of Mercer University
  • Dust
    A diary of Bob MacDonald's journey through the Psalms and other holy places in the Hebrew Bible
  • Eclexia
    The heart and mind of this Bible and theology blogger sing in unison
  • Eat, Drink, and be Merry
    The journey of a grad student with a love for ancient languages at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary (archive)
  • Elizaphanian
    Rev Sam tussles with God, and limps away
  • Emerging from Babel
    Stephen investigates the potential of narrative and rhetorical criticism as a tool for expounding scripture
  • Evangelical Textual Criticism
    A group blog on NT and OT text-critical matters
  • Evedyahu
    excellent comment by Cristian Rata, Lecturer in Old Testament of Torch Trinity Graduate School of Theology, Seoul, Korea
  • Exegetica Digita
    discussion of Logos high-end syntax and discourse tools – running searches, providing the downloads (search files) and talking about what can be done and why it might matter for exegesis, by Mike Heiser
  • Exegetisk Teologi
    careful exegetical comment by Stefan Green (in Swedish)
  • Exploring Our Matrix
    Insightful reflections by James McGrath, ass't. professor of religion, Butler University
  • Faith Matters
    Mark Alter's place
  • Ferrell's Travel Blog
    comments of biblical studies, archaeology, history, and photography by a tour guide of Bible lands and professor emeritus of the Biblical Studies department at Florida College, Temple Terrace (FL)
  • Fors Clavigera
    James K. A. Smith, professor of philosophy at Calvin College, thinks out loud.
  • Friar's Fires
    an insightful blog by a pastor with a background in journalism, one of three he pens
  • Gentle Wisdom
    A fearless take on issues roiling Christendom today, by Peter Kirk, a Bible translator
  • Giluy Milta B‘alma
    by Ezra Chwat and Avraham David of the Institute of Microfilmed Hebrew Manuscripts, Jewish National and Hebrew University Library, Jerusalem
  • He is Sufficient
    insightful comment on Bible translations, eschatology, and more, by Elshaddai Edwards
  • Higgaion
    by Chris Heard, Professor of Religion, Pepperdine University
  • Idle Musings of a Bookseller
    by James Spinti of Eisenbrauns
  • if i were a bell, i'd ring
    Tim Ricchiuiti’s place
  • Imaginary Grace
    Smooth, witty commentary by Angela Erisman (archive). Angela Erisman is a member of the theology faculty at Xavier University
  • James' Thoughts and Musings
    by James Pate, a doctoral student at HUC-JIR Cincinnati
  • Jewish Philosophy Place
    by Zachary (Zak) Braiterman, who teaches modern Jewish thought and philosophy in the Department of Religion at Syracuse University
  • kata ta biblia
    by Patrick George McCollough, M. Div. student, Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena CA
  • Ketuvim
    Learned reflection from the keyboard of Jim Getz
  • Kilbabo
    Ben Johnson’s insightful blog
  • Kruse Kronicle - contemplating the intersection of work, the global economy, and Christian mission
    top quality content brought to readers by Michael W. Kruse
  • Larry Hurtado's blog
    emeritus professor of New Testament Language, Literature & Theology, University of Edinburgh
  • Law, Prophets, and Writings
    thoughtful blogging by William R. (Rusty) Osborne, Assistant Professor of Biblical and Theological Studies as College of the Ozarks and managing editor for Journal for the Evangelical Study of the Old Testament
  • Lingamish
    delightful fare by David Ker, Bible translator, who also lingalilngas.
  • Looney Fundamentalist
    a scientist who loves off-putting labels
  • Menachem Mendel
    A feisty blog on rabbinic literature and other Judaica by Michael Pitkowsky, Rabbinics Curriculum Coordinator at the Academy for Jewish Religion and adjunct instructor at Jewish Theological Seminary (New York)
  • mu-pàd-da
    scholarly blog by C. Jay Crisostomo, grad student in ANE studies at ?
  • Narrative and Ontology
    Astoundingly thoughtful comment from Phil Sumpter, a Ph.D. student in Bible, resident in Bonn, Germany
  • New Epistles
    by Kevin Sam, M. Div. student at the Lutheran Theological Seminary, Saskatoon SK
  • NT Weblog
    Mark Goodacre's blog, professor of New Testament, Duke University
  • Observatório Bíblico
    wide-ranging blog by Airton José da Silva, Professor de Bíblia Hebraica/Antigo Testamento na Faculdade de Teologia do CEARP de Ribeirão Preto, Brasile (in Portuguese)
  • Observatório Bíblico
    Blog sobre estudos acadêmicos da Bíblia, para Airton José da Silva, Professor de Bíblia Hebraica / Antigo Testamento na Faculdade de Teologia do CEARP de Ribeirão Preto, SP.
  • Occasional Publications
    excellent blogging by Daniel Driver, Brevard Childs' scholar extraordinaire
  • old testament passion
    Great stuff from Anthony Loke, a Methodist pastor and Old Testament lecturer in the Seminari Theoloji, Malaysia
  • Old Testament Pseudepigrapha Blog
    A weblog created for a course on the Old Testament Pseudepigrapha at the University of St. Andrews, Scotland, by James Davila (archive)
  • On the Main Line
    Mississippi Fred MacDowell's musings on Hebraica and Judaica. With a name like that you can't go wrong.
  • p.ost an evangelical theology for the age to come
    seeking to retell the biblical story in the difficult transition from the centre to the margins following the collapse of Western Christendom, by Andrew Perriman, independent New Testament scholar, currently located in Dubai
  • PaleoJudaica
    by James Davila, professor of Early Jewish Studies at the University of St. Andrews, St Andrews, Scotland. Judaism and the Bible in the news; tidbits about ancient Judaism and its context
  • Pastoral Epistles
    by Rick Brannan and friends, a conceptually unique Bible blog
  • Pen and Parchment
    Michael Patton and company don't just think outside the box. They are tearing down its walls.
  • Pisteuomen
    by Michael Halcomb, pastor-scholar from the Bluegrass State
  • Pseudo-Polymath
    by Mark Olson, an Orthodox view on things
  • Purging my soul . . . one blog at a time
    great theoblog by Sam Nunnally
  • Qumranica
    weblog for a course on the Dead Sea Scrolls at the University of St. Andrews, Scotland, taught by James R. Davila (archive)
  • Ralph the Sacred River
    by Edward Cook, a superb Aramaist
  • Random Bloggings
    by Calvin Park, M. Div. student at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, South Hamilton MA
  • Resident aliens
    reflections of one not at home in this world
  • Revelation is Real
    Strong-minded comment from Tony Siew, lecturer at Trinity Theological College, Singapore
  • Ricoblog
    by Rick Brannan, it's the baby pictures I like the most
  • Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth
    Nick Norelli's fabulous blog on Bible and theology
  • SansBlogue
    by Tim Bulkeley, lecturer in Old Testament, Carey Baptist College (New Zealand). His Hypertext Commentary on Amos is an interesting experiment
  • Ancient Near Eastern Languages
    texts and files to help people learn some ancient languages in self study, by Mike Heiser
  • Midrash, etc.
    A fine Hebrew-to-English blog on Midrash, by Carl Kinbar, Director of the New School for Jewish Studies and a facultm member at MJTI School of Jewish Studies.
  • Phil Lembo what I'm thinking
    a recovering lawyer, now in IT, with a passion for a faith worth living
  • Roses and Razorwire
    a top-notch Levantine archaeology blog, by Owen Chesnut, a doctoral student at Andrews University (MI)
  • Scripture & Theology
    a communal weblog dedicated to the intersection of biblical interpretation and the articulation of church doctrine, by Daniel Driver, Phil Sumpter, and others
  • Scripture Zealot
    by Jeff Contrast
  • Serving the Word
    incisive comment on the Hebrew Bible and related ancient matters, with special attention to problems of philology and linguistic anthropology, by Seth L. Sanders, Assistant Professor in the Religion Department of Trinity College, Hartford, CT
  • Singing in the Reign
    NT blog by Michael Barber (JP University) and Brad Pitre (Our Lady Holy Cross)
  • Stay Curious
    excellent comment on Hebrew Bible and Hebrew language topics, by Karyn Traphagen, graduate, Westminster Theological Seminary, Philadelphia PA (archive)
  • Sufficiency
    A personal take on the faith delivered to the saints, by Bob MacDonald, whose parallel blog on the Psalms in Hebrew is a colorful and innovative experiment
  • The Sundry Times
    Gary Zimmerli's place, with comment on Bible translations and church renewal
  • Sunestauromai: living the crucified life
    by a scholar-pastor based in the Grand Canyon National Park
  • ta biblia
    blog dedicated to the New Testament and the history of Christian origins, by Giovanni Bazzana
  • Targuman
    by Christian Brady, targum specialist extraordinaire, and dean of Schreyer Honors College, Penn State University
  • Targuman
    on biblical and rabbinic literature, Christian theology, gadgetry, photography, and the odd comic, by Christian Brady, associate professor of ancient Hebrew and Jewish literature and dean of the Schreyer Honors College at Penn State
  • The Biblia Hebraica Blog
    a blog about Hebrew Bible/Old Testament, the history of the Ancient Near East and the classical world, Syro-Palestinian archaeology, early Judaism, early Christianity, New Testament interpretation, English Bible translations, biblical theology, religion and culture, philosophy, science fiction, and anything else relevant to the study of the Bible, by Douglas Magnum, PhD candidate, University of the Free State, South Africa
  • The Forbidden Gospels Blog
    by April DeConick, Professor of Biblical Studies, Rice University
  • The Naked Bible
    by Mike Heiser, academic editor at Logos Bible Software
  • The Reformed Reader
    by Andrew Compton, Ph.D. student in the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Cultures (focus on Hebrew and Semitic Languages) at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
  • The Sacred Page
    a blog written by three Catholic Ph.D.s who are professors of Scripture and Theology: Michael Barber, Brant Pitre and John Bergsma
  • The Talmud Blog
    a group blog on Talmud News, Reviews, Culture, Currents, and Criticism
  • Theological German
    a site for reading and discussing theological German, by Mark Alter
  • theoutwardquest
    seeking spirituality as an outward, not an inward quest, by David Corder
  • This Lamp
    Incisive comment on Bible translations in the archives, by Rick Mansfield
  • Thoughts on Antiquity
    By Chris Weimer and friends, posts of interest on ancient Greek and Roman topics (archive). Chris is a graduate student at the City University of New York in Classics
  • Threads from Henry's Web
    Wide-ranging comment by Henry Neufeld, educator, publisher, and author
  • Tête-à-Tête-Tête
    smart commentary by "smijer," a Unitarian-Universalist
  • Undeception
    A great blog by Mike Douglas, a graduate student in biblical studies
  • What I Learned From Aristotle
    the Judaica posts are informative (archive)
  • Bouncing into Graceland
    a delightful blog on biblical and theological themes, by Esteban Vázquez (archive)
  • Weblog
    by Justin Anthony Knapp, a fearless Wikipedian (archive)
  • Writing in the Dust
    A collection of quotes by Wesley Hill, a doctoral student in New Testament studies at Durham University (UK), and a Christian who seeks the charism of chastity
  • גֵּר־וְתוֹשָׁב
    by David Miller, Associate Professor of New Testament and Early Judaism, Briercrest College & Seminary, Caronport, Saskatchewan, Canada
  • ואל-תמכר
    Buy truth and do not sell: wisdom, instruction, and understanding - a blog by Mitchell Powell, student of life at the intersection of Christ, Christianity, and Christendom
  • משלי אדם
    exploring wisdom literature, religion, and other academic pursuits, by Adam Couturier, M.A. in Old Testament/Hebrew Bible (graduate of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary)

Viewing Documents

  • Adobe Acrobat Reader
    To view the documents on this blog you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you do not have this, download it from the link above.
Blog powered by Typepad

Technorati

Terms


  • Ancient Hebrew Poetry is a weblog of John F. Hobbins. Opinions expressed herein do not reflect those of his professional affiliations. Unless otherwise indicated, the contents of Ancient Hebrew Poetry, including all text, images, and other media, are original and licensed under a Creative Commons License.

    Creative Commons License

    Copyright © 2005 by John F Hobbins.