Five articles by Rev Dr Roy Yates Now On-line

The following articles are now available on-line on my new additions page in PDF here.


Roy Yates, "A Note on Colossians 1: 24," The Evangelical Quarterly 42.2 (April-June 1970): 88-92.

Roy Yates, "The Antichrist," The Evangelical Quarterly 45.1 (Jan.-Mar. 1974): 42-50.

Roy Yates, "The Powers of Evil in the New Testament," The Evangelical Quarterly 52.2 (Apr.-June. 1980): 97-111.

Roy Yates, "Paul's Affliction in Asia: 2 Corinthians 1:8," The Evangelical Quarterly 53.4 (Oct.-Dec. 1981): 241-245.

Roy Yates, "The Christian Way of Life: The Paraenetic Material in Colossians 3:1-4:6," The Evangelical Quarterly 63.3 (July-Sept. 1991): 241-251.

Reformed Baptist Theological Review Table of Contents Online

I have created a table of contents for the Reformed Baptist Theological Review here. The journal states its Purpose and Goal as follows:

The purpose of RBTR is to be an instrument for the theological advance of confessional Reformed Baptist pastors, but also for the benefit of believers of different theological commitments. RBTR will seek to present material in a scholarly, yet pastoral manner.

The goal is to present confessional Reformed Baptist doctrine in all the branches of theology, with its practical outworking. With Scripture as the ultimate standard. RBTR will function within the theological framework of the 2nd London Confession of Faith (1677/1689).

The editor, Dr Richard C. Barcellos, has kindly granted permission for me to host three articles on the New Perspective on Paul, which I am sure many will find helpful.


Jeffery Smith, "An Overview and Critique of the New Perspective (Part I)," Reformed Baptist Theological Review 3.1 (Jan. 2006): 77-108.

Jeffery Smith, "An Overview and Critique of the New Perspective on Paul's Doctrine of Justification: Part Two - the New Perspective Critiqued (1)," Reformed Baptist Theological Review 3.2 (July 2006): 118-133.

Jeffery Smith, "An Overview and Critique of the New Perspective on Paul's Doctrine of Justification: Part Three - The New Perspective Critiqued (2)," Reformed Baptist Theological Review 4.1 (January 2007): 91-119.


You can find out more about the Reformed Baptist Theological Review here.

New Title: Paul as Missionary by Trevor Burke & Brian Rosner

Paul as Missionary

The following book is due to be published shortly:

Trevor J. Burke & Brian S. Rosner, eds., Paul as Missionary: Identity, Activity, Theology, and Practice. Edinburgh: T & T Clark International, 2011. Hbk. ISBN: 9780567604750. pp.420.

Description
Paul as Missionary: Identity, Activity, Theology and Practice takes the view that before anything else Paul must first and foremost be identified as a ‘missionary’. Using the entire Pauline corpus the contributors to this volume assess what Paul’s correspondence can tell us about how he perceived his role and identity. The work comprises four parts: in section one, Paul’s identity as priest, eschatological herald, and missionary-pastor are explored while in part two topics such as the apostle’s activity among pagans, his suffering, and Paul’s ‘missionary message’ to the church at Rome are considered. Section three comprises essays on the Spirit as the governing dynamic, the glory of God as the apostle’s missionary goal, and the importance of Paul’s Christology in shaping his mission to the Gentiles. Finally, part four addresses Paul’s missionary praxis, including his support of his missionary enterprise.

Table of Contents


Abbreviations
List of Contributors
Introduction

Part One - Paul's Identity
Paul as an Eschatological Herald Seyoon Kim
Paul as Missionary-Pastor James W. Thompson
Paul and His Ethnicity: Reframing the Cathegories James C. Miller
Paul - An Israelite Priest who offers the Gentiles as a Sacrifice to God Richard Gibson

Part Two - Paul's Activity
The Mission of God in Paul's Letter to the Romans Beverly Roberts Gaventa
Paul and the Multi-Ethnic First Century World: Ethnicity and Christian Identity J. Daniel Hays
The Sacrifical-Missiological Function of Paul's Sufferings in the Context of 2 Corinthians J. Ayodeji Adewuya
Was Paul's Grace-based Gospel True to Jesus? Paul W. Barnett

Part Three - Paul's Missionary Theology
Paul's Christology and his Mission to the Gentiles Arland J. Hultgren
A Missionary Strategy in 1 Cor. 9.-19-23 Karl O. Sandnes
The Spirit as the Controlling Dynamic in Paul's Role as Missionary to the Thessalonians Trevor J. Burke
The Glory of God in Paul's Missionary Theology and Practice Brian S. Rosner
Reconciliation as the Heart of Paul's Missionary Theology Stanley E. Porter
Paul's Theology of the Gospel Roy E. Ciampa

Part Four - Paul's Missionary Practice
Universality and Particularity of Paul's Understanding and Strategy of Mission William S. Campbell
'The World of Life': Resurrection and Mission in Philippians James Ware
Paul, patronage and pay: what do we know about the apostle's financial support? Steve Walton
Pauline Mission as Salvific Intentionality: Fostering a Missional Consciousness in 1 Corinthians 9.19-23 and 10.31-11.1 Michael Barram
(Mis)Reading Paul's Letters Through Modern Eyes E. Randolph Richards

Index of Scripture
Index of Modern Authors

Author(s)
Trevor J. Burke,
Trevor J. Burke teaches New Testament in the Bible department of the Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, USA. Prior to this, he has taught New Testament in seminaries in Nigeria and Fiji.

Brian S. Rosner,
Brian S. Rosner took his PhD from Cambridge University, UK, and is Senior Lecturer in New Testament and Ethics in Moore Theological College, Sydney, Australia.

Visit publishers's Website

Paul and Jesus Through Jewish Eyes

The following article is now available on-line in PDF:

John Fischer, "Paul in his Jewish Context," The Evangelical Quarterly 57.3 (July-Sept. 1985): 211-236. Click here to read.

My thanks to Dr Fischer of Menorah Ministries for his kind permission to place the article on-line. His Evangelical Theological Society address Jesus Through Jewish Eyes: A Rabbi Examines the Life and Teachings of Jesus can be found here.

Stephen Smalley on Spiritual Gifts and 1 Corinthians 12-16

The following article is now available on-line in PDF:

Stephen S. Smalley, “Spiritual Gifts and 1 Corinthians 12-16,” Journal of Biblical Literature 87.4 (Dec. 1968): 427-433. Read the article here.

John L. White on Introductory formulae in the body of the Pauline letter

The following article is now available on-line in PDF:

John L. White, “Introductory formulae in the body of the Pauline letter,” Journal of Biblical Literature 90.1 (March 1971): 91-97. You can read the article here.

My thanks to Dr White for his kind permission to place this article online.

Richard E. DeMaris on Corinthian Religion and Baptism for the Dead (1 Cor. 15:29)

The following article is now on-line in PDF:

Richard E. DeMaris, “Corinthian Religion and Baptism for the Dead (1 Corinthians 15:29): Insights from Archaeology and Anthropology,” Journal of Biblical Literature 114.4 (Winter 1995): 661-682. Click here to read.

Dr. DeMaris has asked me to point out that an updated version of this article can be found in the chaper "And the Greatest of these is Death" in The New Testament in its Ritual World. London: Routledge, 2008. Pbk. ISBN-13: 978-0415438261. pp.57-71.

Charles Hedrick on the Accounts of Paul's Conversion in Acts

The following article is now available on-line in PDF:

Charles W. Hedrick, “Paul’s conversion/call: a comparative analysis of the three reports in Acts,” Journal of Biblical Literature 100.3 (Sept. 1981): 415-432. Click here to read.

G.J. Laughery on Paul: Anti-marriage? Anti-sex? Ascetic?

The following article is now available on-line in PDF;

G.J. Laughery, "Paul: Anti-marriage? Anti-sex? Ascetic? A Dialogue with 1 Corinthians 7:1-40," The Evangelical Quarterly 69.2 (Apr.-June 1997): 109-128. Click here to view

F.F. Bruce on St Paul in Macedonia

The following article in now available online in PDF:

F.F. Bruce, "St. Paul in Macedonia," Bulletin of the John Rylands University Library of Manchester 61.2 (1979): 337-354.

My thanks to the Trustees of the John Rylands University Library of Manchester for their kind permission to reproduce this article.

F.F. Bruce on Paul's Letter to the Romans

The following 5 articles are now on-line in PDF:

F.F. Bruce, "St. Paul in Rome, Part 1" Bulletin of the John Rylands Library 46.2 (March 1964): 326-45. [Part 1 of 5]

F.F. Bruce, "St. Paul in Rome. 2. The Epistle to Philemon," Bulletin of the John Rylands Library Manchester 48.1 (Autumn 1965): 81-97.[Part 2 of 5]

F.F. Bruce, "St Paul in Rome. 3. The Epistle to the Colossians," Bulletin of the John Rylands Library Manchester 48.2 (Spring 1966): 268-285. [Part 3 of 5]

F.F. Bruce, "St. Paul in Rome: 4. The Epistle to the Ephesians," Bulletin of the John Rylands Library Manchester 49.2 (Spring 1967): 303-322. [Part 4 of 5]

F.F. Bruce, “St, Paul in Rome: 5. Concluding Observations," Bulletin of the John Rylands Library Manchester 50.2 (Spring 1968): 262-279. [Part 5 of 5]

My thanks to the Trustees of the John Rylands Library of Manchester for their kind permission to reproduce these articles.

F.F. Bruce on Paul's Letter to the Galatians

The following 5 articles are now available in PDF:

F.F. Bruce, “Galatian Problems. 1. Autobiographical Data,” Bulletin of the John Rylands Library Manchester 51.2 (Spring 1969): 292-309.

F.F. Bruce, “Galatian Problems. 2. North or South Galatians?” Bulletin of the John Rylands Library Manchester 52.2 (Spring 1970): 243-266.

F.F. Bruce, “Galatian Problems. 3. The ‘Other’ Gospel,” Bulletin of the John Rylands Library Manchester 53.2 (Spring 1971): 253-271.

F.F. Bruce, “Galatian Problems. 4. The Date of the Epistle,” Bulletin of the John Rylands Library Manchester 54.2 (Spring 1972): 250-267.

F.F. Bruce, "Galatian Problems. 5. Galatians and Christian Origins," Bulletin of the John Rylands Library Manchester 55.2 (Spring 1973): 264-284.

My thanks to the Trustees of the John Rylands Library of Manchester for their kind permission to reproduce these articles.

Andrew C. Clark on Apostleship: Evidence From the New Testament and Early Christian Literature

The following article is now available on-line in PDF:

Andrew C. Clark, "Apostleship: Evidence From the New Testament and Early Christian Literature," Vox Evangelica 19 (1989): 49-82.

An interesting an wide-ranging study of what it the term "apostle" meant in the early church. The summary reads:

W Bauer comments that in early Christian literature generally, ‘the number twelve stands so fast that exceedingly often twelve disciples are spoken of where actually only eleven can be meant eg Gospel of Peter 5:9; Ascension of Isaiah 3:17; 4:3; 11:29; Kerygma Petrou’. Much is said in the apocryphal Acts and Epistles of the various views and activities of the apostles after the ascension, especially of their missionary work throughout the world. Paul is not deliberately excluded from the number, but ‘it was only when Marcion and later Jewish Christianity began to play Paul against the earliest apostles that thought was given to the circle of apostles, and the Early Catholic Church maintained that “the twelve and Paul” qualified as apostles’. As regards the apostolic writings, it was probably the rise of Montanus, who advocated ‘the new prophecy’, that is the continuing revelation of the Holy Spirit as in apostolic times, that raised the hermeneutical question of the status of apostolic and post-apostolic writings respectively. Gerald Bray comments that ‘Tertullian is the first Christian writer to regard the apostolic age as definitely over, and to quote the writings of the apostles on a par with the Old Testament Scriptures as a matter of course’. He points out, however, that ‘the fact that he could do this without argument shows that the apostolic writings must have been regarded as Scripture even before his time’.

Stephen Motyer on The Relationship Between Paul's Gospel of 'All One in Christ Jesus' (Gal. 3:28) and the 'Household Codes'

The following article is now available on-line in PDF:

Stephen Motyer, "The Relationship Between Paul's Gospel of 'All One in Christ Jesus' (Gal. 3:28) and the 'Household Codes'," Vox Evangelica 19 (1989): 33-48.

Michael Parsons on Slavery and the New Testament Equality and Submissiveness

The following article is now on-line in PDF:

Michael Parsons, "Slavery and the New Testament Equality and Submissiveness," Vox Evangelica 18 (1988): 90-96.

Michael Parsons concludes:

First, we can see that the apostles used the contemporary form of house codes in their ethical instruction with creative and imaginative pastoral insight. Keeping the idea of order and submission, the New Testament writers show by their motivation and expectations that slaves and masters are equal in standing in Christ and are equally responsible to him. Paul employs the Haustafeln to emphasize that liberty does not mean disordered and unruly behaviour. It may mean the transforming of the relationships within hierarchical structure. Peter draws the church together in unity within the context of suffering. Second, there is a need to begin with the Haustafeln and then to proceed to Galatians 3:28. We thereby see that the ideas of equality and hierarchy are not incompatible within the influence of the gospel.

Michael Parsons on the Term "in Christ" in Paul

The following article is now on-line in PDF:

Michael Parsons, "'In Christ' in Paul," Vox Evangelica 18 (1988): 25-44.

Paul uses the term "in Christ" 216 times in his writings, but what did he mean by it? Michael Parson's concludes:

We have seen, then, that the ‘in Christ’ formula is important in the thought of the apostle Paul. It primarily designates a close and indissoluble relationship with the Lord, but more than that it speaks of solidarity with Christ in his death and resurrection as the representative head of his people, the church. However, in its implication the term underlies much of the apostle’s explanation of the believer’s awareness of the sanctifying work of Christ’s Spirit conforming him to the image of the Lord to whom he belongs and in the manifestation of this relationship in the life and communion of the body of Christ, the church. We have also seen, in passing, the importance of this teaching as it relates to Paul’s ethical thinking and exhortation. Lives in the present are to evidence the believer’s characteristic union with Christ in godliness and in obedience to him within the context of his church and by the power of his Spirit.

John F. Balchin on Colossians 1:15-20 - is it an Early Christian Hymn?

The following article is now on-line in PDF:

John F. Balchin, "Colossians 1:15-20: An Early Christian Hymn? The Arguments from Style," Vox Evangelica 15 (1985): 65-94.

This will prove of interest to those interested in Colossians, but its implications for similar arguments from style and vocabulary are applicable to other books in the New Testament as well.

Max Turner on Spiritual Gifts then and now

The following article is now on-line in PDF:

Max Turner, "Spiritual Gifts Then and Now," Vox Evangelica 15 (1985): 7-64.

This article makes up the large part of Volume 15 of Vox Evangelica provides some valuable insights to those (like myself) interested in the subject of spiritual gifts. This passage in particular caught my attention:

3.2.2.3 Tongues as an Aid to Private Devotion?

This, the usual explanation given by Pentecostals, Charismatics and, for that matter, by most New Testament scholars, has been vigorously denied by Edgar who insists: (1) that such a view contradicts the purpose stated in 1 Corinthians 14:22; Mark 16:15-17 and implicit in Acts 2:1-13. (2) A private gift would not be for the edification of the church and makes it unique. (3) Such a gift would be self-centred. (4) If the gift of tongues could edify it would surely be given to all. (5) If the purpose is private devotion directed to God why should there be a gift of interpret­ation? (6) Anyway Paul says that tongues do not edify the believer; his mind remains fallow. (7) It is clear that in 1 Corinthians 14:2 using a gift to speak ‘only to God’ is equivalent to ‘speaking into the air’ (14:9): it is, for Paul, a negative concept, not something to be exercised. (8) In 14:14-16 Paul discourages praying with the Spirit alone (which is not tongues anyway) and urges praying with the mind also.

These points need not delay us long. We take them seriatim: (1) There is no contradiction between tongues viewed as an aid in devotion and what is said in 1 Corinthians 14:22; Mark 16:15-17 and Acts 2:1-13 unless one arbitrarily asserts tongues may only have one function. Edgar does just this, but he is inconsistent here for he is forced to admit that Acts 10:46; 19:6 do not denote sign-gifts of evangelistic import. Edgar is wrong in giving exclusive place, or even primary place, to the function of tongues stated in the long ending of Mark and implied in Acts 2: in doing this he almost certainly misrepresents Paul. (2) As exercised in the church, with interpretation, the gift does edify. And if used privately to build up the individual this also (albeit indirectly) edifies the church. But the notion that no gift could possibly be given to benefit the receiver/user (rather than the church he serves) is quite arbitrary and fails to see that all the other gifts build up the endowed as well (though we admit not exclusively). (3) Why can the gift not be God-centred? (4) If tongues is merely one gift amongst many by which an endowed person might be built up then he who has not received the gift is not thereby necessarily impoverished. (5) On Edgar’s view it should be an anomaly that the gift of interpretation is required at all: but on the view presented above the speaker who has tongues and interpretation will not only edify the church more, but also edify himself more (note that Paul assumes that it is the tongues-speaker who should interpret usually, vv.5, 13). (6) Edgar’s antithesis is false; Paul allows that spiritual activity not cognitively recognized by the practitioner may edify (cf. Rom. 8:26). (7) To be sure, Paul bans the phenomenon (if uninterpreted) from the assembly; but he fully recognizes that it is genuinely a speaking to God (14:2, 28)―the problem for the assembly is that unless interpreted it is ‘only to God’. It is perfectly right of Edgar to say that Paul does not hereby positively advocate private devotional tongues; but what Paul says nevertheless entails that he considered it an appropriate use. Later, however, in 1 Corinthians 14:28 Paul commands that if glōssai are not interpreted the speaker should then be silent in church; he should speak rather ‘to himself and to God’. As it is improbable that Paul is counselling private use of tongues in church when another is ministering, this seems to be a positive injunction to private use. (8) Praying and singing with the Spirit are almost certainly tongues (or, at least, not forms understood to the speaker) else the contrast with prayer en nō(i) makes contextually less sense. This is confirmed by the contrast en glōssē(i)/en nō(i) lalein in verse 19. However much we agree with Edgar that Paul encourages prayer ‘with the mind also’, he clearly recognizes―as valid―prayer that is not with the mind, but is merely glōssē(i) (14:14).

We conclude that Paul saw a variety of functions to be fulfilled by tongues-speech, but probably saw its major role to be a private one.

F.F. Bruce on St Luke's portrait of St Paul

The following article is now online in PDF:

F.F. Bruce, "St Luke's portrait of St Paul," George Dion. Dragas, General editor., Aksum - Thyateira. A Festschrift for Archbishop Methodios of Thyateira and Great Britian. London: Thyateira House, 1985. pp.181-191.

I found this a particularly interesting study. I would guess that, given its somewhat obscure source, that very few people would have read it before. One of my favourite parts is Bruce's suggested answer to the question why Luke seems reluctant to mention Paul's collection for the poor of Jerusalem in Acts:

The reason, I suggest, was apologetic. When the time came for Paul’s accusers to formulate their charges against him at the hearing of his appeal before the imperial tribunal, the Jerusalem relief fund could well have been misrepresented as an inter­ference with the collection and delivery of the annual half-shekel tax to the temple authorities in Jerusalem. The organization and conveyance of this tax enjoyed the express protection of Roman law. But the half-shekel tax was exacted from Jews; Paul’s relief fund was contributed by Gentiles. Even so, it could have been argued that the Gentile contributors were po­tential proselytes to Judaism, whom Paul had enticed away from the synagogue into an association of his own, and that the relief fund represented an improper diversion of money which, but for Paul’s activity, would have gone ultimately to swell the temple re­venue. The accusation that Paul had violated the sanctity of the temple by bringing Gentiles within pro­hibited bounds (Acts 21:28; 24:6) could not be su­stained since no witnesses could be produced; but here was a more subtle attempt to convict Paul of infringing the temple privileges, and one which a skilled advocate could present in a persuasive way. In former times it was argued by more than one scholar that Luke’s narrative was written to provide Paul’s counsel for the defence with factual material to be used at his trial before Caesar; if this thesis can no longer be sustained in its earlier form, it may still be argued that a document prepared for this purpose served Luke as one of his sources for this part of his narrative. (Why could such a document not have been prepared by Luke himself?) The issue of the relief fund would in that case have been too delicate to be treated in detail; Luke, or the author of his source, judged that Paul’s reference to “alms and offerings” in his defence before Felix was as much as it was politic to say on this subject. If the “alms and offerings” are said to have been designed for Paul’s “nation”, this should not be dismissed as a suggestio falsi: Paul himself hints here and there in his letters that he envisaged the relief fund not only as a gift to the church of Jerusalem but also as a witness to the whole Jewish nation at the centre of its life.

F.F. Bruce on the Two Sons of Abraham - a Study in Pauline Hermeneutics

The following article is now available in PDF:

F.F. Bruce, "Abraham had two Sons: A Study in Pauline Hermeneutics," Huber L. Drumwright, & Curtis Vaughan, eds., New Testament Studies: Essays in Honor of Ray Summers in His Sixty-Fifth Year. Waco, TX: Markham Press Fund, Baylor University Press, 1975. Hbk. pp.71-84.

I am extremely pleased to be able to make this available, thanks to the kind permission of Baylor University Press. As far as I can determine, no copy of this book exists in the United Kingdom Library system and few copies are available for sale, so this may well be a very rare article.