One can never have enough books, even in the case of second and subsequent editions! This is the case with Craig Blomberg's Jesus and the Gospels: An Introduction and Survey, Second Edition (B&H). The first edition, which I have owned for about 10 years, is a truly outstanding resource. The only other Jesus and Gospels survey that matches it is Mark Strauss' wonderful Four Portraits, One Jesus: An Introduction to Jesus and the Gospels. The second edition, is slated for a July release, and will be well worth the money and wait.
A second notable release is one by my a mentor and friend, David deSilva. Seeing Things John's Way: The Rhetoric of the Book of Revelation (WJKP) is slated for a late June release. David is a brilliant scholar and I know of no finer interpreter of the Apocalypse and the language it employs than he. Two books, 800 plus pages, and anywhere from $70-100 will put these two neatly on your shelf. As Augustine said, "Take up and read," or my version "Save up, and read!"
I have the first edition of Blomberg’s “Jesus and the Gospels” and have also found it to be a great resource.
ReplyDeleteI was wondering what changes are made for the new edition and if they will be comprehensive enough to warrant an upgrade if you already have the older version?
Mason,
ReplyDeleteHello. That is a good question. I have a feeling Blomberg updated the scholarly literature as well as the survey of recent approaches taken by those who pursue Historical Jesus/Gospel studies. The blurb sort of hints at this on Amazon.
The changes are probably much like the ones he made for "The Historical Reliability of the Gospels" (IVP; 2nd edition) that came out last year.
Thanks, Matt, for your all-too-kind words and for the notice of my forthcoming work. I am very excited about this one -- the closest thing I've done to a "Habilitationsschrift."
ReplyDeleteDavid
these both look like really interesting books! I'd like to look more in to the one on the Gospels.
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