BibleScholar

 Health update Happy Thanksgiving everyone. I hope all is well. I will be undergoing a minor surgery on November 28, 2025, for a venous stasis ulcer that has developed an abscess. I will be away from my computer and unable to work for approximately 4 to 6 weeks during my recovery.

       The “messianic secret” in the Gospel of Mark refers to the repeated instances in which Jesus instructs people not to reveal his identity as the Messiah. Throughout the narrative, Jesus performs miracles, exorcisms, and teachings that demonstrate his divine authority, yet he often commands silence to those he heals or to witnesses of his works. This motif creates a sense of narrative tension, as readers witness the powerful actions of Jesus while understanding that full recognition of his identity is intentionally delayed. Scholars suggest that Mark uses this secrecy to manage expectations about the Messiah, particularly to prevent misunderstandings that he would be a political or military leader.       By keeping his identity hidden, Mark emphasizes that Jesus’ messianic role is defined not by worldly power but by obedience to God’s plan and the path of suffering. The secrecy also highlights the gradual development of understanding among th...

  The Meaning of the Dead Sea Scrolls by James C. VanderKam and Peter Flint      The Meaning of the Dead Sea Scrolls offers a clear, comprehensive introduction to the discovery, contents, and significance of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Written by two leading scholars, the volume synthesizes decades of research into an accessible yet academically responsible survey. The book is structured to move from discovery and archaeology to textual analysis and theological implications. VanderKam and Flint carefully explain the nature of the scrolls—biblical manuscripts, sectarian writings, and parabiblical texts—while emphasizing their diversity. Particularly strong is their treatment of textual plurality, showing that the Hebrew Bible existed in multiple forms prior to its later standardization.     A  central contribution of the work is its nuanced portrayal of Second Temple Judaism. The authors resist simplistic identifications of the Qumran community with late...

  A Survey of Old Testament Introduction by Gleason Archer Jr.      A Survey of Old Testament Introduction is a classic evangelical treatment of Old Testament authorship, dating, and historical reliability. Archer’s primary aim is apologetic as well as scholarly, seeking to defend the traditional views of the Old Testament against higher critical approaches.      The book proceeds canonically, addressing each Old Testament book with attention to questions of authorship, composition, and historical context. Archer consistently argues for early dating and Mosaic or traditional authorship where applicable, while engaging critical theories such as source criticism and form criticism. His method is characterized by detailed harmonization of apparent discrepancies and a strong confidence in the coherence of the biblical text.      One of the volume’s strengths is its clarity and organization. Archer presents complex debates in a structured ...