Todd Scacewater

Todd (PhD, Hermeneutics) serves with Wycliffe Bible Translators as a professor of international studies at Dallas International University.

Hafemann’s Review of Beale’s NT Biblical Theology

January 3, 2014

Todd Scacewater

Scott Hafemann reviewed G. K. Beale’s NT Biblical Theology at least year’s annual ETS conference. Beale has recorded some replies to Hafemann’s concerns. Here, I provide a summary of Hafemann’s critiques and Beale’s replies, as well as an evaluation of the discussion. Hafemann first objects to Beale’s method of reading the OT in light of its “transformed” fulfillment in the NT, citing Beale’s agreement with Hays’ theory of creative transformation of meaning in light of Christ’s fulfillment. He also suggests…

D. Wallace’s Plan for Reading Gk. NT in 1 Year

December 31, 2013

Todd Scacewater

Daniel Wallace has provided students a 1 year plan for reading through the Greek NT in 1 year. He orders the reading plan from easiest (John) to most difficult (Hebrews) and recommends reading three chapters a day, one being a new chapter and the other two being review (see his longer explanation). He has grouped them in segments of 6-10 chapters, so that if you tackled one segment a day you would finish the entire plan in a month, a…

Carson’s 7 Elements of NT Theology

December 30, 2013

Todd Scacewater

The variety of views on biblical theology current in the academy are interesting, perplexing, and at times daunting. Finding the most faithful methodology for reading Scripture as both historical and theological is perhaps one of the most pressing Christian academic pursuits today. D. A. Carson’s article on NT Theology lists seven elements that he believes are essential for NT Theology.[1] Seven Elements 1) Theology cannot be left out (contra Baur), nor can it be divorced from history (contra Bultmann). 2)…

Preaching Syllabus for Hebrews

December 29, 2013

Todd Scacewater

Hebrews is rarely preached. It is considered impractical due to its heavy use of the OT, frequent quotations, and first-century argumentation and subject matter. I, however, believe it is perhaps the most practical book in the NT, since it addresses the dire situation of imminent apostasy, which is a perpetual concern for the church. More preaching of Hebrews would facilitate greater stability and perseverance in the faith. That is why I am providing here a syllabus for preparing to preach or teach Hebrews….

Redemptive History and the New Testament Scriptures, by Herman N. Ridderbos

November 14, 2013

Todd Scacewater

This book is a classic and deserves to be read still today for the topics of canon, apostleship, authority, and redemptive history. Ridderbos, writing during a time dominated by existentialist interpretation, subjectivist hermeneutics, and canonical turmoil sought to establish a connection between the NT Scriptures and redemptive history. General historical investigation….

Discourse Analysis of Biblical Literature, ed. by Walter Bodine

November 9, 2013

Todd Scacewater

Walter Bodine opens the work with an essay on a brief history of discourse analysis and why biblical scholars should be interested in it. In conclusion, Bodine says the “purpose of the volume is to encourage biblical scholars to join in welcoming into their circle this now established and rapidly growing field (11).

In chapter 1, Robert Longacre examines Exodus 25:1-30:10 with the intention to “delineate clearly instruction as a discourse type and to present in some detail the structure and discourse-effectiveness of this passage” (23). He examines both the macrostructure of each section, as well as microstructures within each section, explains the discourse features of the Hebrew….

Discourse Analysis (Cambridge Textbooks in Linguistics), by Gillian Brown and George Yule

November 8, 2013

Todd Scacewater

Brown and Yule survey the work done thus far on discourse analysis and the various components of what have been included in such work. They deal both with written and with oral texts, sometimes more with oral in order to see language-in-use more effectively. They appreciate the work done by Chomsky and other structural linguists to analyze grammar…

The Semantic Structure of Written Communication, by John Beekman, John Callow, and Michael Kopesec

November 8, 2013

Todd Scacewater

The “assumption underlying this work is that meaning is also structured, and that this structure is amenable to linguistic analysis and theory. Indeed, the purpose of this presentation is to set forth a theory of the structure of meaning—to give it a technical title, semantic structure” (14). The semantic structure that the authors lay out is hierarchical….

New Release: Paul and the Faithfulness of God by Wright

November 6, 2013

Todd Scacewater

N. T. Wright is one of today’s most well-known and prolific NT scholars. His largest series, Christian Origins and the Question of God, has already seen three installments: The New Testament and the People of God, Jesus and the Victory of God, and The Resurrection of the Son of God. Wright originally intended his volume on Paul to be the third volume, but he decided to write a third work on the resurrection since he was criticized for seemingly downplaying…

New Release: Festschrift for G. K. Beale

November 5, 2013

Todd Scacewater

G. K. Beale has labored long and hard over explicit quotations of the OT in the NT as well as subtle allusions and “echoes.” He has exemplified a disciplined methodology for doing biblical theology and helped clarify the apostolic hermeneutic through his research. Many students, pastors, and scholars are indebted to Beale’s writings. Hendrickson has announced the release of a festschrift in honor of G. K. Beale (currently available to pre-order): Gladd, Benjamin L. and Daniel M. Gurtner. From Creation…