Book Reviews

Scot McKnight invited me to respond to questions about John Goldingay's translation of the Old Testament, The First Testament. Here are my responses just posted on Scot's blog,… — February 18, 2019

IVP has just come out with a new book which could be very helpful to people trying to figure out how to understand the laws of the Old… — February 10, 2017

As we were driving down the highway recently as a family, I informed my college-age sons that a recent album (Reflektor) released by one of their favorite bands (Arcade… — January 25, 2017

Stephen Russell's new book, The King and the Land: A Geography of Royal Power in the Biblical World (Oxford, 2016), discusses the various ways the rulers of Israel and Judah used… — October 25, 2016

"It sets the standard for a new generation of introductions to the Bible." This endorsement comes from Mark Boda (McMaster Divinity College) about The Historical Writings: Introducing Israel's Historical… — July 11, 2016

The newest addition to IVP's Reformation Commentary on Scripture (vol. 5) just came out, on the books of 1-2 Samuel, 1-2 Kings, 1-2 Chronicles, edited by my BTS… — April 12, 2016

"I am a historian, I am not a believer, but I must confess as a historian that this penniless preacher from Nazareth is irrevocably the very center of… — November 11, 2015

As we remember MLK’s march for voting rights fifty years ago, it’s interesting to go back further in our history, we can wonder how the story of race… — March 11, 2015

The 23rd Psalm must be the best-known, most-loved psalm, or perhaps even poem, in the world. Kenneth E. Bailey, author of Jesus Through Middle Eastern Eyes, has written… — February 27, 2015

Carolyn Custis James, author of The Gospel of Ruth: Loving God Enough to Break the Rules will be teaching a course based on her book at Biblical Theological Seminary from April… — February 13, 2015

When I spoke to Paul Copan at a biblical studies conference in November 2013, he told me about a book he was co-writing on the Canaanite Genocide. I… — February 6, 2015

"You must have accurate scales and accurate weights, an accurate ephah and an accurate hin (1 gallon)" (Leviticus 19:36). If you read that verse carefully, you should have… — November 4, 2014

The Democrats are blaming the Republicans for gridlock. The Republicans are blaming the Democrats for waste. Denominations are splitting over the issue of gay marriage. Churches are dividing over… — October 16, 2014

No other city of the world has been at the center of history for four millenia. Abraham almost sacrificed his son Isaac there (Gen. 22). Adoni-bezek lost his thumbs and… — August 10, 2014

If you are into trash talking, you may want to check out my recently published article, " 'I Will Strike You down and Cut off Your Head' (1… — July 9, 2014

Most of the decisions we make in life we don’t need help with—which shirt to wear to work today (I wear Garanimals), whether to keep reading this blog… — June 6, 2014

 In 1985, when I was a grad student in Industrial Engineering at Stanford, I took a course on Organizational Death. Why do companies fail, and what lessons can… — February 24, 2014

"Goliath had as much chance against David...as an Bronze Age warrior with a sword would have had against an [opponent] armed with a .45 automatic pistol" argues historian… — February 3, 2014