Bobby, John Mark and Henri

I’ve been following John Mark’s and Bobby’s blogs concerning their divorces, and the web of emotions, of questions, of theology, and of ministry in which they find themselves.

I hurt for my wounded friends. You can look through about the last month’s worth of blogs for their respective stories (see http://www.stoned-campbelldisciple.blogspot.com/ and http://www.johnmarkhicks.wordpress.com/). They each refer to several books they have found helpful. I’ll venture another to the list: If you haven’t read Henri Nouwen’s The Wounded Healer, you should. It ought to be required reading for every Bible and religion major and every seminarian. I think I’ve read it, or in it, about a half-dozen times in the last ten years. I plan to reread it again tonight. Thankfully the day is over, or coming to an end, when ministers were almost universally larger than life pedestal dwellers. To acknowledge the reality that both brokenness and the movement of God’s grace are the warp and woof of ministry is not only healthy for the ‘minister’ but for the rest of us as well. If we do not minister as wounded healers, if we do not minister out of our brokenness and sustained by God’s healing, then pray tell, how else will we minister? And if we as a church will not acknowledge the movement of God’s grace among our broken ‘ministers’, then how will a broken world take seriously the gospel we proclaim? At this point, Henri Nouwen has something to say to us. And I know that out of their experiences John Mark and Bobby will have a good word for us.

Another book that is now at the top of my to-read stack is Rubel Shelly’s Divorce and Remarriage, A Redemptive Theology. I’ve had it for several months, but now I think is the time to take it up. Perhaps tomorrow I will blog a few lines in reflection.

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As for other matters: baby is fine, Laura is doing well, Darby is putting the finishing touches on Kindergarten, and Ella doesn’t know what to do with herself since she will be a big sister. Had a wonderful weekend with Laura's folks. We now own a mini-van. Suburbs…minivan…don’t let the trappings fool you, we’re trying hard to keep our souls. Maybe this week I can till up the fallow ground for this season’s garden. Sunday we’ll be asked to stand up “so everyone can know you” as new members at Smyrna Church of Christ (don’t hold it against them).

A Christian Minister's Library.

To that portion of the Christian ministry who can read the Sacred Scriptures, in their original tongues, and who, from their education, must frequently stand on the walls of Zion, to defend the Ark of the Covenant from the assaults of Infidels and Heresiarchs, we recommend the following library, as a portion of their armor and munitions of war, offensive and defensive:
1. The Hebrew Bible--Simonis Biblia Hebraica
2. Analysis Critica Practica, Psalmorum. This valuable work gives a critical analysis of every word in the Psalms of David. 3. Gesenius' Hebrew and English Lexicon, or Baxter's Analytic Dictionary. 4. Leigh's Critica Sacra. 5. Septuagint, Leipsic edition. 6. The London Polyglott, containing eight languages--Hebrew, Greek, Latin, German, French, Spanish, Italian, and common English version. This is a great luxury. It may be purchased for $70, neatly bound. 7. Campbell's Four Gospels. 8. McKnight's Epistles. 9. Stuart's Translation of the Romans, with critical notes. 10. Stuart's translation of the Hebrews, with critical notes. 11. Robinson's Harmony of the Four Gospels, in Greek. 12. The Englishman's Greek Concordance of the New Testament. 13. Robertson's Greek Lexicon, Canterbury edition, 1676, if it can be found; if not, Scapula. 14. Bretschneider's lexicon. 15. The English Hexapla, London, 1841. This valuable work contains the Greek text, after Scholz, with the various readings of the received text, and the principal Constantinopolitan and Alexandrine manuscripts, and a complete collection of Scholz text, with Griesbach's edition of A.D. 1805. The six versions are Wickliffe's, Tyndal's, Cranmer's, Genevan, Anglo-Rhemish, Authorized, 1611. There is in it a valuable historical account of the English translations.
16. For everyday use, Greenfield's Greek New Testament, with a Greek and English Lexicon annexed. 17. Bloomfield's do. 18. The Critical Greek and English New Testament, with the Greek text of Scholz; readings textual and marginal, of Griesbach, with the variations of Stevens, Beza, and Elzivir, London edition. These last constitute the itinerating Christian preacher's vade mecum.
For the evangelists and elders of churches, who read only the English tongues, we commend the following. [Such of those in our first class who have not the following works, had better, if convenient, add them to their library.]
1. The Common English Version of the Polyglott Bible, London edition. 2. The Holy Bible, containing the authorized version, with some 20,000 emendations or alterations, plates and maps. It is, indeed, in itself, a condensed and valuable commentary on the Common Version. 3. Cruden's English Concordance. 4. Townsend's Bible. 5. Coit's Bible. 6. Horne's Introduction, 4 volumes. 7. Anderson's Annals of the English Bible, 2 vols., London. 8. Prideaux Connections. 9. Shuckford's Connections. 10. Calmet's Dictionary of the Bible. 11. Encyclopedia of Religious Knowledge, Ed. by J. Newton Brown. 12. Giesler's Text Book of Ecc. History, 3 vols. 13. Jones' Church History. 14. Neander's Church History. 15. Waddington's Church History. 16. Neal's History of the Puritans. 17. Josephus. 18. Lord King's Primitive Church. 19. Cave's Primitive Christianity. 20. Campbell's Lectures on Ecclesiastical History. 21. Campbell's Pulpit Eloquence. 22. Taylor's Ancient (not Primitive) Christianity. 23. Paley's works, in 1 vol. 24. Sherlock on Providence. 25. Ernesti on Interpretation. 26. Greenleaf on Evidence. 27. Taylor's Manual of Ancient History. 28. Barrow on the Supremacy of the Pope. 29. Campbell and Purcell's Debate on Popery. 30. D'Aubigne's History of the Reformation. 31. Guizot's Modern Civilization. 32. Campbell and Owen's Debate on the Evidences of Christianity. 33. Campbell and Rice's Debate on Baptism. 34. Gaussen on Interpretation. 35. The Christian Baptist, Burnet's edition, stereotype. 36. Christian Baptism, with its Antecedents and Consequents, now in press. 37. Infidelity Refuted by Infidels. 38. Webster's Unabridged Dictionary. 39. All the Bridgewater Treatises on the Being and Perfections of God in Nature. 40. Whewell's Elements of Morality. [His Bridgewater Treatise on the cosmical arrangements of the Universe, with Bell's on the Human Hand, are enough on these subjects.] 41. Comprehensive Commentary on the Bible. 42. As a work of literature, Clark's Commentary.
To these I might add, out of my library, many miscellaneous works and treatises, but these are the best works I have found in many hundred volumes. As Virgil said of farms, I say of libraries: Praise large libraries, but study, or cultivate, small ones. And as a regular hearer of the debate between Luther's party and their opponents, on seeing a reformer, who read no book but the Bible, always routing his opponents, said, so say I, Cave homini unius libri--Take care of the man of the one book. A.C.

Millennial Harbinger, May 1851, 259-260.

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I promised this little gem a couple weeks ago. A few observations: First of all, notice the assumption that the Christian ministry is educated in the classical languages. Campbell's primary recommednations are Hebrew and Greek texts with the best critical apparati then available. Supporting these, besides several lexica, are the best and most recent contintental, British and American translations then available. For those who do not have capacity with the languages (notice also how he assumes elders will be as well read as any minister) Campbell lists an array of helps to Bible study: heavy on critical translations, with strong doses of Christian history and evidences, as well as a plug for a few of his own works (which are themselves works on Christian history and evidences). An outright commentary set, Adam Clark[e]'s, is noted with what appears to be a vague (backhanded?) compliment. Does Campbell value Clarke's insight, couched as it is in rich literary form, or is commedning Clarke for his literary accomplishment and not his Biblical scholarship? Good question. Also somewhat vague is that last line: Take care of the man of the one book. Is that to say that you should beware of the man who, in the 'defense' of the faith shuns all learning or education (read: books); or is this Campbell's way of stating how all of these helps are helps to the study of the one book that in the end matters? Considering that Campbell had an exquisite library (have you been to Bethany? It is in the middle of nowhere) at a time when most folks didn't have glass in their windows, and given that he has just recommended some of the higher quality Biblical scholarship of his day to his readers, indicates to me that it is the former and not the latter. In other words, beware of these folks who disdain an educated ministry.

Books, Books

“By some strange casuality, a small lot of books, bound volumes of the “Millennial Harbinger,” have been lost. They were in the possession of brother S. W. Leonard of Jeffersonville, and by him sent, by some one not known to me, by way of Salem, Indiana, but never came to hand! I am extremely anxious to obtain the books, and the object of this notice is, to enquire if any one knows where they are. Any one who can inform me where they are, will be entitled to my warmest thanks, and a liberal reward for his trouble. Ed.”

--“Books, Books,” Christian Record March 1854, p. 284.

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I’m working from a bound volume and the covers of the individuals issues have been removed, so I don’t immediately know who the editor is. My money is on either Elijah Goodwin or James M. Mathes, but since I don’t have time to check, he will for now remain simply Ed.

Alexander Campbell in the MH for 1851 issued some recommendations for a minister’s library that will take a moment to transcribe. Perhaps by the weekend.

"The office was seldom swept and almost never scrubbed.

Some garden seeds that were lying on top of the bookcase had started to sprout and grow there, in the dust and dirt." (Dale Carnegie, Lincoln the Unknown, Forest Hills, N.Y.; Forest Hills Publishing Co., 1932, p.80)

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My office, on the other hand, is in fine order (there’s something about a Board of Director’s meeting that helps in getting the place under control).

The blurb above is about Abraham Lincoln. There’s more to it, plus some photos of the home office/study of James D. Bales, longtime prof. at Harding, here: http://www.jonbales.com/family/Office/Office.htm

When Laura comments about my study at home, I remind her of Bales’ book house. That’s right, an entire house: next door, backyard, I forget, but he had an entire house. Actually Laura is very gracious and understanding. She has a collecting bent of her own (holiday plates among other things). And our children do very well. I’ve got a few books with crayon scribbles in them, but they are not from my children. Having plenty of books of their own keeps them well-occupied. It also helps that one of our house rules is that Dad’s books are not toys. Another is no jumping in Dad’s study. Laura is afraid the books on top of the shelves will fall off, not a totally unfounded fear.

I’ll post a couple photos of my own when I can get around to it. I may even submit one to this site: http://yourhomelibrary.wordpress.com/

Your Study is on Fire

and you only have time to grab a box or two of books and papers (or worse, maybe one or two books). Which ones would you choose and why?

With good reason the Malibu fires have been front and center the last few days. On the drive in (made painfully slow this morning by the first rain we've had in months) I thought about what it must be like to have to decide what to pack in a car trunk or backseat as you abandon your home and its contents.

Assuming that Laura and the girls are safe, I wonder what I would, if I could, do about all our blasted stuff.

Truth be told, I have no deep sentimental attachment to our house. I feel the same way about most everything in it, with very few exceptions. Of all the furniture we own, we only purchased one piece (an antique couch for our living room, and that a fabulous deal). There are about 5 pieces of furniture that hold sentimental value to either or both Laura and I. We have a few things that are important to us, but they are important because of who gave it to us or what it means in intangible terms to us and our girls; but the rest is filler I could easily live without.

My books, though, are a different story. Having inherited about 500 items (books, periodicals, and tracts) of Restoration material, I admit to no mean anxiety over being compelled to choose from among them.

At or near the top of the list would be a copy of Alexander Campbell's Lectures on the Pentateuch inscribed by my great-great grandfather in 1867. I have a few volumes with my great-grandfather's and grandfather's notes inscribed within. I have some portraits and photographs I would grieve over if lost. There are some textbooks with my own notes inside (which are not at all valuable aside from the memories they hold and courses and colleagues they represent). I have a few hundred handwritten sermons from KC Ice and MC Ice.

The rest of my library took a long time to acquire, were a joy to acquire, and remains a privilege to own and read and study. But I could manage without them (I would hope so). There are any number of books I'd love to keep, but the ones I'd grieve over are special not because they are rare or valuable or in super condition (though I have some that are all the above), but they are special for other, deeper, reasons.

The images of Malibu puts in perspective our worst materialistic tendencies. At the same time, already we are hearing stories of heroism, sacrifice and service. If we are patient we will see emerge before us and within us reminders of those things which fire cannot destroy. And if we are discerning, those things which distract us will become more and more perspectivized and we will see them as they are: of little true worth. And finally, if we are wise, we will cling all the more tenaciously to the former even as we shed ourselves of the latter.

And so to bed.

Add these to the stack

The two newest additions to my library are both by Bart Erhman: Misquoting Jesus and The Lost Gospel of Judas Iscariot. I picked them up at Smyrna Public Library for a buck apiece. Gotta love the book sale table!

I'm reading Harry Emerson Fosdick's autobiography, The Living of These Days, now. When finished I may work up a little review of it. I'm eager to read Erhman (especially Misquoting Jesus). Note this blurb from the jacket: "In Misquoting Jesus, Ehrman tells the story behind the mistakes and changes that ancient scribes made to the New Testament and shows the great impact they had upon the Bible we use today. He frames his account with personal reflections on how his study of the Greek manuscripts made him abandon his once ultraconservative views of the Bible." If that blurb won't sell a book, nothing will. I'm expecting a lively and engaging read.

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In other news, I heard something about the World Series. What's a World Series? I haven't followed baseball since the strike. Humpph... Now, back to my coffee, which I'll be drinking from a blue enameled cup (that one's for you, Mark Manry). :)

"The library is not...

...a shrine for the worship of books. It is not a temple where literary incense must be burned or where one's devotion to the bound book is expressed in ritual. A Library, to modify the famous metaphor of Socrates, should be the delivery room for the birth of ideas - a place where history comes to life."

So goes the blurb on the front of the flyer advertising the mix-and-mingle celebrating of the completed renovation of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library. I didn't make the social gig, but I have spent some time recently in their delivery room being that I am now a card-carrying, borrowing-privileged local clergyperson.

I particularly appreciate the breadth and depth of the periodical holdings and the friendly staff, not to mention that the lunch-hour walk to VDS from my office takes all of 27 seconds. Its a real swanky joint now that the renovation is finished. Swanky enough, in fact, to burn some literary incense.

Adventures in Book-hunting

One of the newest additions to my library is a splendid copy of George Milligan's New Testament Documents, Macmillan, 1913, first edition. Furthermore, it bears the signature of Bruce Metzger, Emeritus Professor at Princeton Theological Seminary. Furthermore, it also bears the signature of J. E. Frame, Professor at Union Theological Seminary and author of one of the definitive commentaries on 1-2 Thessalonians of a previous generation. Frame's commentary, 1912, was published as part of the prestigious International Critical Commentary Series by T. and T. Clark of Edinburgh.

I had seen Milligan (by the way, he is half of the famed Moulton-Milligan duo of lexicographers and linguists of the early 20th century) referenced in some of my reading on papyrology and textual criticism and did a quick online search. Desiring a copy anyhow, I was doubly pleased to learn that this volume was from Metzger's library (he is still living, now in his upper 90's and will be immortalized for his contribution to New Testament textual criticism and his research into the history of the New Testament as a document. Among the things I recently finished is his autobiography, Reminiscences of an Octogenarian, Hendrickson, 1997. What a fantastic man! Get that autobiography and read it!).

At any rate, upon opening the package I was intrigued by the signature above Metzger's. Frame, Frame, I've seen that name before. As it happens one bookcase of NT commentaries is close by my desk in the study at home and I saw Frame's volume on Thessalonians. It couldn't be?!? The next Monday evening I checked out Metzger's memoir from the Lipscomb library and wouldn't you know it, but he referenced his friendship with the aging Frame, and how the elderly man gave his several books!:



"In Princeton it was my good fortune to be able to consult occasionally with two other senior professors of New Testament. One of these was James E. Frame, [the other is W. H. P. Hatch]who in 1938 had moved to Princeton after retiring from teaching at Union Theological Seminary in New York. A graduate of the famed Boston Latin School and of Harvard, where he took a master's degree in Assyrian, he became instructor in New Testament at Union and eventually Baldwin Professor of Sacred Literature. Since his Princeton home was located one block from the seminary campus, in the course of time I became acquainted ith him and would visit him occasioanlly....Among the books that from time to time Dr. Frame presented to me was a copy of his A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Epistles of St. Paul to the Thessalonians in the International Critical Commentary series..."

How about that! A fine book (truth be told, Milligan's research has been superseded since 1913) on a fascinating topic which is doubly significant as a double-association copy.

A pair of books for your consideration

These came in the mail recently from Blackwell Publishing. I've only briefly scanned them, but I like what I see; and on that basis alone I'll make a recomendation. (I'm not going to bother with a scad of fancy links; if you can find my little blog in all of cyberspace then you are surely adept enough to find these online).

David M. Gunn. Judges. Blackwell Bible Commentaries Series, 2005. 329 pages. softcover.

This is a history of interpretation, get this, on the entire book of Judges, pericope by pericope rather than a traditional commentary. Assuming you've done your Hebrew exegesis, you'll want to engage Dunn. This book could well by itself form the heart of a intruiging class on Judges/hermeneutics/Western history. After a brief introduction Gunn takes the reader through the major stories thusly: synopsis of the text followed by a survey of how the text has been engaged and interpreted by 1) ancient and medieval commentators and 2) Early modern and modern ones. Laws a mercy (tip of the hat to Brad Denton) what a study! From the back cover: "The commentary traces the reception of Judges through the ages, not only by scholars and theologians, but also by preachers, teachers, politicians, poets, essaysists, and srtists. it shows how ideology and the social location of readers have shaped the way the book has been read, disclosing a long history of debate over the roles of women and the use of force, as well as Christian prejudice against Jews and "Orientals." In this way, it offers a window onto the wider use of the Bible in the Western world."

I'm again teaching Judges, Ruth and Samuel this fall. While there's no way my students can get their noggins around Dunn, I 'll be reading him closely the first six-weeks or so of the new semester. More on the series at http://www.bbibcomm.net

Tony Bennett, Lawrence Grossberg, and Meaghan Morris. New Keywords, A Revised Vocabulary of Culture and Society. 2005. 427 pages. softcover.

This one will help me get a handle on the language of culture vis-a-vis some summer studies in Postmodern theologies. (What did you do on your summer vacation? I studied postmodernism; I will now deconstruct you. I'd write an essay about it, but it would be nonsensical). Anyhow, this is a collection of "142 signed entries - from art, commodity, and fundamentalism to utopia, virtual, the West, and youth - that capture the practices, institutions, and debates of contemporary culture and society." (another back-cover blurb).

I doubt I'll be reading it all, but it looks like a fine starting point.

What're you reading?

Grace and peace.

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