ἐνθύμησις

Old Fashion Shaving Kit

Posted on December 22, 2012 by jacobcerone

Over the past couple days Mary Beth has been giving me Christmas presents. She often selects an individual to do 12 days of Christmas for, and this year it was me. Today marked the last in a series of gifts she has been giving me. I received a Double Edge shaving razor. As you can see in the picture, some of the other shaving gifts she gave me include a badger hair brush, stand, shaving soap, and aftershave.

This may seem quaint to many of you, and I will admit that it is to a certain degree, but it is quite the experience. I have always hated shaving. I am sure many of you know this by the fact that I will often walk around with about a week’s worth of stubble before I get around to shaving it. This is partly because the regular commercial razors will give me insufferable razor burn, which irritates the skin to such an extent that I will break out.

The razor is a tad tricky to operate. Too much pressure, the wrong angle, or a hasty stroke will cut your face up pretty good, but patience will produce the smoothest shave you’ve ever had, and a very happy wife.

I could bore you a little longer talking about shaving, but instead, I would like to thank Mary Beth for always being kind and loving. I love you dear.

Posted in Life | Tagged Christmas, Shaving | 1 Comment

Pseudepigrapha and Apocrypha: It Could Be Yours

Posted on December 19, 2012 by jacobcerone

Today I am giving away a copy of the 2 Volume set of the Pseudepigrapha, which is edited by Charlesworth. I am also throwing in a copy of the Apocrypha. The books are lightly used, as are all the books I have and will give away. On a personal note, I thoroughly enjoyed reading all these volumes (cover to cover) for an independent study with Dr. Tracy McKenzie. My task was to comb the Dead Sea Scrolls, Pseudepigrapha, and Apocrypha to find references to the Gentile inclusion in God’s covenant with Israel. While the material in these books is non-canonical from a Protestant perspective, it is fascinating and eye-opening to see how early interpreters tried to make sense of perceived difficulties in the texts and to see how they have applied biblical texts to their own contexts.

Amazon’s product description for the Pseudepigrapha is as follows:

Key second-temple texts with introductions and notes by an international team of scholars– now available in affordable softcover bindings.

The writers of the Bible lived in a world filled with many writings. Some of these documents are lost forever, but many have been preserved. Part of these extant sources are the Pseudepigrapha. This collection of Jewish and Christian writings shed light in early Judaism and Christianity and their doctrines.

This landmark set includes all 65 Pseudepigraphical documents from the intertestamental period that reveal the ongoing development of Judaism and the roots from which the Christian religion took its beliefs. A scholarly authority on each text contributes a translation, introduction, and critical notes for each text. Volume 1 features apocalyptic literature and testaments. Volume 2 includes expansions of the “Old Testament”: legends, wisdom, and philosophical literature; prayers, psalms, and odes; and fragments of lost Judeo-Hellenistic Works.

For this contest, you are free to enter in any way that lets me know that you want the books.

Tweet with @ceronej in your message with the link to this post (or without it).
Email me at jacobncerone@gmail.com
Like the post
Comment in the comments section of the post

I hope to hear from you, and if you wind up being the lucky winner, I hope that these volumes will further your intellectual and spiritual growth.

[[edit: I forgot to include an end date/time. This giveaway will end this Friday at 12:00PM]]

Posted in Book Giveaway | Tagged Apocrypha, Book Giveaway, Pseudepigrapha | 5 Comments

Pennington on Publishing Houses

Posted on December 19, 2012 by jacobcerone

I just came across this wonderful quote in Jonathan Pennington’s work Reading the Gospels Wisely:

In the massive onslaught of books that pour forth from the publishing houses every year like orces from the gates of Mordor, only a few will the future look back on as significant. One such book is Richard Bauckham’s “Jesus and the Eyewitnesses: The Gospels as Eyewitness Testimony.”

Pennington, I commend you for your awesome use of imagery. I’m not so sure the simile holds water too well since the orcs that do survive after funneling through the gates of Mordor flee for their lives never to be seen again in Middle Earth (book version, not the movie version where they all just vanish into nothingness after the ring is destroyed). But for the sake of awesomeness, let’s avoid pushing the simile to its breaking point.

In other news, I am well aware that it is high time to give away my next book, but I haven’t been able to decide which one(s) come next: Robertson’s “Word Pictures in the New Testament,” Spurgeon’s “Treasury of David,” Charlesworth’s two volume set of the Pseudepigrapha, a couple volumes on Biblical Theology edited by D.A. Carson, or “The Dictionary of Biblical Imagery.” Other than the Dictionary, I’m not even sure if anyone will want the other books…I guess I will make a decision before the day is over.

Posted in Biblical Studies, Book Giveaway, Life | 4 Comments

New Dictionary of Theology: It Could Be Yours

Posted on December 14, 2012 by jacobcerone

Today, I am giving away the New Dictionary of Theology. Amazon’s product description for the book reads:

Since its publication, the has rapidly established itself as a standard, authoritative reference work in systematic and historical theology. More than 630 articles cover a variety of theological themes, thinkers and movements:

Firmly anchored in the evangelical tradition, the is nevertheless wide-ranging in its scope. Over 200 contributors, experts in their individual fields, offer both Western and international perspective. Concise and comprehensive, biblically grounded and historically informed, even-handed and free from unduly technical language, this dictionary has been praised by general readers, pastors and scholars.

All you need to do to win this book is to tell me you want it. Click the “like” button, retweet this link with “@ceronej” in the tweet, let me know you would like to have the book in the “comments” section of this post, or email me jacobncerone@gmail.com.

Just like last time, if more than one person wants the book, then I will draw a name from a hat. The giveaway ends at 8:00PM this Sunday.

Posted in Book Giveaway | 4 Comments

Greek Grammar I Course

Posted on December 12, 2012 by jacobcerone

I have just set up the blog for Greek Grammar I, which will begin January 17th, 2013. Here is the link for that site. Hope to see you there.

Posted in Greek, Teaching | Leave a comment

New Office

Posted on December 12, 2012 by jacobcerone

I know that it looks the same as before, but it has changed locations. My office is now upstairs in the loft. I have spent the last two days cleaning, boxing up books that I am unlikely to use, cataloging the packed books so that they can be found on off-chance they are needed, and moving desk, bookcases and books upstairs. I kinda like it up here. It feels like college all over again. I have my mini fridge filled with Mountain Dew Pitch Black and I am surrounded by books. Also, there is a lot more space…not so much like college.

I still have to pick up the odds and ends that are left in the old office. But for now, I have my desk back, a clean room, and caffeine. It’s time to get a reading. Here’s some of the “light” reading I will be doing over the “break.”

Posted in Life | 2 Comments

Book Giveaway: Christmas 2012

Posted on December 10, 2012 by jacobcerone

Over the past couple of months it has become abundantly clear that I need to get rid of books. While some of the books I need to get rid of are dated and will most likely end up at Goodwill, some are real gems. I am getting rid of these books because I now have them in electronic format. Instead of spending the time waiting for someone to buy them on Half.com, I have decided to give them away. My loss is your gain.

In celebration of my recently concluded “Pre-Reformation Interpretation of the Old Testament” class, I am giving away a copy of Dictionary of Major Biblical Interpreters. This is a kind of thanks to those of you who have patiently read my posts about Justin Martyr.

This is an incredibly helpful resource for anyone interested in the thought of major interpreters throughout Church History.

How to win? Respond via email (jacobncerone@gmail.com) or in the comments section to this question: “Who is your favorite interpreter from before the 1500s and why?”

Some of the details:

The contest ends 12/13/12 at 8:00PM.
Though it won’t win you extra entries, feel free to share this opportunity on facebook or twitter. I have plenty of good books to giveaway, and I am hoping they will find their way into good homes.
This is a giveaway from my personal library; the book has been slightly used.
You are not responsible for shipping.
I apologize to my international readers (I know I have at least one in Münich). I do not have the funds to ship internationally.
If I have more than one response, names will be drawn from a hat at random.
I will announce the winner in the comments section. If you are picked, please shoot me and email with your address, and the book will be in the mail the following business day.

Posted in Book Giveaway | 2 Comments

End of the Semester

Posted on December 10, 2012 by jacobcerone

The time has finally come. The semester has ended. The last paper had been written. The last final has been submitted. I’m not sure how I feel right now. Was it the year I took off from school that made paper writing an arduous task this semester, was it the fact that I am compose 10-15 pages of research material each week for my job, or was it the knowledge that I was writing a paper for a class that wouldn’t count towards my degree requirements? Or maybe all three. Or maybe it was the fact that I am a bit too disorganized?

Now that my work is completed, I can breath a bit more in my office.

One final task remains: a two hour round trip trek up to the seminary to submit my paper and return this stack of books.

What’s next, you ask? Well, while I am up at the seminary, I will be checking out books on Greek Grammar and Ezekiel. It is time to start preparing for the next semester. I have two great classes lined up: Advanced Greek Grammar and a Seminar on Ezekiel. I’m already chomping at the bit.

In my free time I will be relocating my office, finishing the remodel work on the pantry, and setting up a nursery.

[[I almost forgot…I doubt any of you will take the time to read a 20 page paper, but if the interpretive practices of Justin Martyr applied to the Old Testament interests you, I have attached the document in pdf here.]]

Posted in Early Church Writings, Exegesis, Greek, Hebrew, Life, NT Greek, Old Testament Studies | 2 Comments

The Church Fathers

Posted on December 5, 2012 by jacobcerone

This semester’s class The Pre-Reformation Interpretation of the Old Testament has reminded me of a former passion, the writings of the early church. This passion first appeared in Historical Theology I with Dr. Quiggle. More than any other professor at Moody, Dr. Quiggle taught his students how to read. Read for the thesis. Read for the methodology employed by the author. Read for the specific points he is trying to make and how he goes about making them.

Dr. Thomas has forced us to do the same in this course. Our purpose was to look at a host of interpreters and analyze their interpretive methods. At the end of the class, as is expected in most classes, we are required to turn in a term paper on a specific period of interpretation or interpreter.

Throughout this experience I am once again reminded of the importance of the Church Fathers. What is it about modern culture that makes us think that we have moved beyond the wisdom of our fathers? This does not mean that we read the fathers uncritically. It does mean that they have meditated on the Scriptures and have faced the same issues presented by the text as we do today. Why is it that we think that Mark Driscoll, John Piper, or Matt Chandler are more equipped to deal with our theological quandaries than Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Augustine, and many others? Yes, so much of the conversation has changed. And yet, so much of it has remained the same.

Dr. Thomas made this point the other day in class. As Protestants we are prone to think that we do not read the Scriptures through tradition. We read Scripture with our own eyes. Yet, we do exactly that the moment we pick up a commentary, listen to another’s sermon, or read a theological treatise by our contemporaries when we seek to better understand the text.

So I challenge you, pick up a work from a dead theologian. Investigate the context in which that author is writing. What were the exegetical and theological practices of the day. How is he similar or dissimilar. Will this not better equip you to analyze your own methods? Won’t our methodological principles be better refined by sharpening them against the Apostolic Fathers, Apologists, Nicene Fathers, Post-Nicene Fathers, and Scholastics, Reformers, Puritans, etc.? The Protestant cry of ad fontes “to the sources” applies to those sources that have shaped the way we currently see or read Scripture as it does to the Scriptures themselves.