By Africans, for Africans

This past academic year, as I read two of the late German theologian Karl Barth's books I was struck by three things (beyond his theologizing):

• his faith was warm and personal
• he was eloquent, and at times, gently humorous
• and ... he was obviously writing to a different context than my 21st century milieu

Many of the theological questions he wrestled with and many of the academic foes that he answered were particular to early 20th-century Europe, a time that was in need of stability after two world wars decimated Europe and Japan, and deflated the optimistic liberalism that Barth grew up in. All of that - plus his genius - serves to make his prose, though eloquent, a dense thicket. (There is also, of course, the matter of the books I read not having been in his native language). Conversely, I live in a debt-plagued society, that mainlines entertainment digitally 24 hours a day, and where many take their cues about spirituality from afternoon talk show hosts.

My conclusion? Barth's writings are valuable; however, because of contextualization, they are covered by layers of complexity and would not, therefore, be my first choice to read on a lazy summer afternoon. In other words, when I want my theology straight and direct, so that it may be quickly and easily digested, I am much more likely to choose a writer closer to my time and within my culture. If I want to stay in a more or less straight line with Barth, I could choose the late Donald Bloesch or the late Ray Anderson. Or, better yet, if I want a contemporary with similar spiritual 'DNA' to mine in his background (read: Pentecostalism), I might choose Roger Olson.

I imagine it is much the same for our African brothers and sisters as they attempt to sate their spiritual appetites on the writings of western theologians and bible scholars. Though such writers may be thinking clearly and exegeting carefully, they are still going to be communicating in idioms, jargon, and very likely, worldviews, that may be unfamiliar to African ears, and produce in them the reaction that I had to Barth. It's something akin to walking knee-deep in snow; it can be done, but it isn't as enjoyable experience as you might desire. 

Think about it. It's like doing exegesis ... twice. First, we have to try to bridge our way back to antiquity, so that we can make an honest attempt at determining what the biblical author meant his initial readers to understand. Then, whether it's Jon trying to read Barth, or, someone in Chad trying to read J. I. Packer, there is a second ... well, unpacking, to do. How much better if Jon has Olson, and our friend in Chad has Ndjerareou (not to worry, you'll know before the end of the piece).

That's why it's a cause for rejoicing (and a project to consider supporting) when we hear about the Africa Study Bible, scheduled for release in 2013. It's being published by Oasis International, in cooperation with its partners, most especially, Tyndale House Publishers. As you will see in the video below, the excitement about the project is generated by the fact that this is a study bible for Africans, by Africans.

New Testament scholar Craig Keener, who has been featured here on Word & Spirit many times (including an eight-part interview series), has been enlisted as a consultant for the project. While he is not from Africa, Craig's wife Dr. Medine Keener, also a scholar (they both serve at Asbury Theological Seminary), is from the Republic of Congo.

The Keeners

"It is exciting to see this project by and for African Christians," Keener told Word & Spirit yesterday. "It is an honor for me to be one of the outside consultants - I lived in Africa for only a year, one of the others did for many years, and the other two still do. Being married to Medine, of course, I get to experience some of Africa on a regular basis, and we have been able to team up on some points."

A full list of the editors, managers, and coordinators can be seen here. The study notes are being written by African pastors and scholars. Medine Keener is among those contributing notes, as are several African PhD candidates from Asbury (located in Wilmore, Kentucky).

"I have been pleased with the sensitivity to African culture that is involved - the use of African proverbs, stories, and illustrations," Craig Keener said. "As a consultant, I offer advice where requested on particular books and especially when highlighting some ancient cultural background. Medine has contributed her insights on Africa much more directly, and very concretely."

According to the preview on the Africa Study Bible website, the initial release will use the New Living Translation text in English, though there are plans for releases in other languages, as well. Features of the Africa Study Bible include: introductions, relevant articles, touch points, African proverbs and stories, application notes, and learn notes. A topical concordance/index is also being included. The text of the Africa Study Bible can be sampled here.

This resource is obviously a huge undertaking, and even after its release in 2013, there will still be the future releases in other languages. Those interested in contributing financially can find out more about how to do that here.

A FORERUNNER

Back in 2006, Oasis International was also involved in the distribution of a commentary on the entire Bible written by 70 African scholars and published in Africa by WordAlive Publishers. Entitled the, Africa Bible Commentary, it is published by Zondervan everywhere else in the world. (The aforementioned Abel Laoundoye Ndjerareou of Chad and Nigeria's Yusufu Turaki were two scholars chosen to work on both the Africa Bible Commentary and the Africa Study Bible).

The late evangelical leader John Stott was asked to write one of the forewards for that commentary. In part, he wrote, "The Africa Bible Commentary is a publishing landmark. and I congratulate its contributors and editors on their achievement. Its foundation is biblical, its perspective African, and its approach to controversial questions balanced. I intend to use it myself in order to gain African insights into the Word of God. Indeed, I hope it will have a worldwide readership, so that we may better grasp 'with all God's people' the full dimensions of Christ's love (Eph. 3 : 18)."

The Africa Bible Commentary's coverage of the book of James can be read here.

The importance of both of these works is underscored by the teeming millions of African believers that need clear, accessible instruction. Asbury Seminary President Timothy Tennent points out, "Today there are over 367 million Christians in Africa, comprising one fifth of the entire Christian Church." - Theology in the Context of World Christianity: How the Global Church is Influencing the Way We Think About and Discuss Theology (Zondervan, 2007).

Fee video from CBE International

The video above is a clip from a talk given by Dr. Gordon Fee for Christians for Biblical Equality International.

Entitled, "Cultural Context of Ephesians 5:18-33," the entire lecture can be purchased on DVD from CBE here.

Studying Romans with N. T. Wright

         ~ be sure to see the video below ~  

Not only does N. T. Wright write topical books like his latest, How God Became King: The Forgotten Story of the Gospels (HarperOne, 2012), he writes bible commentaries, both scholarly ones and those for lay readership.

The professor of New Testament from the University of St. Andrews has provided both for the book of Romans. His scholarly commentary can be found in volume 10 of the New Interpreter's Bible: A Commentary in Twelve Volumes, while the commentary for lay readership (a two-volume effort) is entitled, Paul for Everyone: Romans (Parts One & Two).

The scholarly commentary uses the texts of the New Revised Standard Version and the New International Version side-by-side, while Paul for Everyone contains Wright's own translation of Romans.

Those who are only interested in the scholarly commentary yet want Wright's translation, as well, can have access to it in, The Kingdom New Testament (HarperOne, 2011), Wright's translation of the entire New Testament.

Ten hours of lecture on Romans that Wright delivered at Regent College in Vancouver are available for purchase in MP3 format by linking to the Regent College bookstore here.

There are three lengthy articles on Romans written by Wright that can be accessed for free online:

• Paul and Caesar: A New Reading of Romans (20 pages)
• Romans and the Theology of Paul (37 pages)
• The Law in Romans 2 (16 pages)

In the video below, Wright gives an 18-minute introduction to the book of Romans.

Help for studying the Revelation

Back in 2005, Gordon Fee was asked to speak at Calvin Theological Seminary on how to preach the book of the Revelation.

In his introductory remarks he gave some advice that I want to pass on today:

"At the outset, let me encourage you to buy three books. The first is Richard Bauckham, The Theology of the Book of Revelation (Cambridge University Press, 1993), which is the absolutely best book on the Revelation that has ever been written. Written by one who has unusual expertise in apocalyptic, he has captured the essence of the theology of this book in seven brief chapters. This is a book that should set your heart on fire to take this great biblical book and make it known to your congregations. When I teach the Revelation, it is the one book that I require everyone to read and write a review of within the first three weeks of term." Calvin Theological Journal (April 2006).

The other two books he recommended were Grant R. Osborne's commentary in the Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament series, and Gregory K. Beale's commentary in the New International Greek New Testament Commentary series. The Denver Seminary Journal's 2012 exegesis bibliography also recommends the works by Osborne and Beale. In the category, "best detailed, critical commentaries using the Greek text," they are both given an asterisk, meaning, "top priority for acquistion and/or use." That exegesis bibliography can be accessed here.

Since 2005, Fee has written his own commentary on the Revelation. It is part of the New Covenant Commentary Series.

Gundry v. Wright on translation

Our morning meetings, held directly after breakfast each day, were going along so well  ... Tom, Bob, and me. Then Bob had to harsh my mellow (a phrase I heard one of my sons use a couple of years ago, and which I playfully could not resist employing today. My understanding is that it means what I mean when I say, "rained on my parade.")

The catalyst for the meetings has been the study of the Gospel written by Mark. Tom --- N. T. Wright --- has written a commentary on that Gospel. Entitled Mark for Everyone, it is written to help lay people gain greater understanding. Bob --- Robert H. Gundry --- has written a one-volume commentary on the entire New Testament called, Commentary on the New Testament.

Warmed by recently-ingested toast and coffee, I look forward to the morning meetings, facilitated by Kindle. Tom usually gets to 'talk' first. His style is a combination of scholarship and smooth-as-silk story-telling. When Bob's 'voice' gets heard, it's shown that his interest is precision, defining words and explaining the action in Mark without the rhetorical flourish of Tom. Both approaches enhance my understanding: in these works, Tom paints pictures and Bob dissects. Being adept at Greek, both have also provided a fresh translation of Mark. That's how Bob came to harsh my mellow.

Gundry

It turns out Bob doesn't think much of Tom's translational style. He takes issue with it in his review of Tom's recently-published translation of the entire New Testament, The Kingdom New Testament: A Contemporary Translation (the translation of Mark in Mark for Everyone is virtually the same as what can be found in The Kingdom New Testament). Bob's substantive review, "Tom's Targum: N. T. Wright's 'Kingdom New Testament,'" can be read on Christianity Today's Books & Culture website.

Now, when I say Gundry has harshed my mellow, I overstate the case a bit. Having just finished this morning's readings, it would be more accurate to say I was surprised - and taken aback - when I opened my e-mail and learned from a friend that my two 'conversation partners' were experiencing discord. Not having encountered anything in Wright's translation of the first three chapters of Mark that alarmed me, I was curious as to what the fuss was about. To be honest, I was disinclined to believe that Gundry could find much fault with Wright's translation.

But, he does find fault (and in places, praises the translation, as well). When his trained eye went over the whole of The Kingdom New Testament, it found instances where Wright had not translated the New Testament's Greek into English as well as one might want (especially if the reader uses American English. A few of Gundry's complaints arise because Wright's British expressions can be confusing to American readers).

Those who want Gundry's thorough appraisal can link to the review, but in summary, Gundry is concerned about, "Too much unnecessary paraphrase. Too many insertions uncalled for. Too many inconsistencies of translation. Too many changes of meaning. Too many (and overly) slanted interpretations. Too many errant readings of the base language." Ouch.

Wright's translation is not totally without merit for Gundry, though. He does praise it as being very accurate in places. However, the crux of the matter is Gundry's assertion that Wright has not actually provided a translation, but a paraphrase (Gundry admits that he has worked on a similar effort - the New Living Translation. He says those that helped revise it from its original state, the Living Bible, "were told at the start to keep it recognizable as a paraphrase by [Kenneth] Taylor.")

While I find Gundry's criticisms important to consider in my use of both Mark for Everyone and The Kingdom New Testament, I contend that both are helpful when used alongside others that approach the text differently . Wright is one of the premier New Testament scholars today and is proficient in Greek. Using his thought-for-thought rendering of Greek and artfully crafted illustrations alongside Gundry's more word-for-word translation and exegetical comments has been useful to this point.

I expect it will be same at tomorrow morning's meeting.

Is Barack Obama a Christian?

When President Obama ran against Sen. John McCain in 2008, I - like you - received some very nasty e-mails about him (many of which were composed by senders who had an odd predilection for pastel-colored text set in 24-pt type).

Then we all saw the bombastic Rev. Jeremiah Wright. Things were not off to a good start.

Well, here we are four years later and many people are still in a quandry about whether or not the President is a Christian (I am aware, of course, that there are millions who do not care).

Now, despite the fact that the title of this post once more raises the question, there is no definitive answer provided here. HOWEVER, what is being provided has value; you have access in this post to what I believe are the most pertinent links for probing that question. In effect, you now have access to your own ... what shall we call it ... well, Obama's Religious Faith Kit.

The meatiest source of information about the President's faith is surely Stephen Mansfield's 208-page book, helpfully entitled, The Faith of Barack Obama, revised edition (Thomas Nelson, 2011). Now, before you stop reading because you aren't eager to be bamboozled by authors who are Democrat Party operatives, grinding out the political equivalent of pulp fiction, let me explain who Stephen Mansfield is.

Those that read this blog with any regularity know that I am an evangelical with Pentecostal and charismatic interests. That describes Stephen Mansfield, as well. Before becoming a full-time writer, Mansfield pastored an evangelical church. As an author, among his works are the New York Times best-seller, The Faith of George W. Bush (Charisma House, 2004), as well as, a biography of the late charismatic Bible teacher, Derek Prince, also helpfully entitled, Derek Prince: A Biography (Charisma House, 2005).

Simply put, Mansfield is not a Democrat operative ... and he is a reliable guide to examining a claim to Christian faith. You can sample the updated 2011 version of The Faith of Barack Obama here. Mansfield talks about the update in this three-minute video. There is also an interesting 44-minute video of a talk Mansfield gave about Obama's faith for C-Span.

The most extensive interview anyone has ever conducted with Obama about his faith was done by former Chicago Sun-Times religion writer Cathleen Falsani. Though that interview comprises a chapter in her book, The God Factor: Inside the Lives of Public People (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2006), she also makes it available online on free. It can be read here. While Mansfield's 208-page book has more room to explore the topic, if I were only going to check out one source, it would be the Falsani article.

As primary source documents, Obama's two books also have to be factored into the mix. Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance reprint edition (Crown, 2007) can be sampled here, and The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream (Crown, 2006) can be sampled here.

Rounding out our 'kit' are: the video of Obama being interviewed by megachurch pastor Rick Warren in 2008 at the Saddleback Civil Forum on the Presidency; a column by New York Times columnist David Brooks; and, Cameron Strang's brief interview with Obama that was published in Strang's, Relevant magazine. You will hear Obama answer Warren directly, "... Jesus Christ is my Lord and Savior." You will read in Brooks' piece, "Obama, Gospel and Verse," which theologian it is that Obama calls, " ... one of my favorite philosophers." Finally, you will get clarification on the President's position on abortion in Strang's piece, "Q & A with Barack Obama."

Failing all of that, the pastel-colored, 24-pt text e-mails are once more in circulation, and then there is Bill Maher's flat-out rejection of Obama's faith in this video ("I just don't believe it.")

What do I think? Frankly, with your 'kit' here before you, I cannot imagine that my opinion on the President's faith is the least bit meaningful. Your informed opinion will surely be as valid as mine. Besides, I am currently reading a book about Mormonism ;-)

"Rethinking Heaven" with Meacham and Wright

Four years ago, TIME magazine engaged New Testament scholar N. T. Wright on the topic of heaven, and in the current issue of TIME (April 16) Jon Meacham does so again.

You'll have to get access to the magazine to find out what Wright's take on the subject is, but I can tell you this much, Meacham takes Wright very seriously, as in this comment he made last week, "... N. T. Wright, an Anglican bishop and New Testament scholar whose books I find enormously compelling ..." (you can find that remark here).

What Wright said to TIME about heaven in the February 7, 2008 issue can be read in its entirety here. Shortly after that issue of TIME came out, Wright was interviewed about heaven on ABC News by Martin Bashir. The video of that interview can be seen here.

[UPDATE 4/10/2012, 6:39 p.m. PDT --- One of Wright's fellow evangelical New Testament scholars, Larry Hurtado, blogged today that he picked up a copy of the magazine. You can read that blog entry here.]
[UPDATE 4/13//2012 --- My favorite blogger, theologian Roger Olson, opined on the TIME article and strikes, I think, the appropriate, balanced note on the subject. You can read it here.]

CT Interviews Keener about "Miracles"

The December issue of Christianity Today magazine features an interview with New Testament scholar Craig Keener about his brand new book, Miracles: The Credibility of the New Testament Accounts (Baker Academic).

The article was posted online yesterday and can be read here. [UPDATE 12/27/11 --- Christian Book Distributors has also posted an interview. You can access the audio of Matthew Miller's chat with Keener here.]


[UPDATE 1/5/2012 --- CBD's Miller selects Miracles as the book of the year for 2011.]


[UPDATE 4/9/2012 --- The Foundation for Pentecostal Scholarship has given its 2012 Award of Excellence (in books) to Keener's, Miracles. You can read about the award either at the Foundation's website, or, in this news bulletin on the Asbury Theological Seminary website.]

Keener is professor of New Testament at Asbury Seminary. He has authored several scholary works on the NT including commentaries (such as, The Gospel of John) and monographs (such as, The Historical Jesus of the Gospels).

Top biblical scholars are not spare in their praise of Miracles. Craig Evans, professor of NT at Acadia Divinity College, says, "Craig Keener has written arguably the best book ever on the subject of miracles."

Richard Bauckham, professor emeritus of NT Studies at St. Andrews University, adds, "Craig Keener's discussion of New Testament miracles adduces a uniquely -- indeed staggeringly -- extensive collection of comparative material .... Keener mounts a very strong challenge to the methodological skepticism about the miraculous to which so many New Testament scholars are still committed. It turns out to be an ethnocentric prejudice of modern Western intellectuals. So who's afraid of David Hume now?"

Other scholars weigh in with their endorsements here.

Keener's blog can be read here and a video of him discussing his journey to faith can be seen here.

Craig has been featured on this blog many times, including an eight-part interview series, Fridays with Craig Keener, in 2008.