Todd Scacewater

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

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…

Review: Introduction to Discourse Analysis by Gee

November 5, 2013

Todd Scacewater

Gee, James Paul, An Introduction to Discourse Analysis: Theory and Method. 3rd ed. New York: Routledge, 2011. 224 pp. This work provides a methodology for doing discourse analysis in terms of critically analyzing the use of language as saying, doing, and being (3). The author utilizes speech act theory as well as later Wittgenstein’s “language game” theory. Language games have rules that produce winners and losers; winners receive “social goods,” which are “anything some people in a society want and value”…

Review: Analyzing Discourse by Dooley & Levinsohn

November 2, 2013

Todd Scacewater

This work is brief and introductory, with most chapters spanning only 4-10 pages. It covers various concepts utilized in discourse analysis and uses language that is, for the most part, accessible for most readers. Chapters 1-4 cover respectively the four different dimensions of a text: (1) number of speakers (monologue or dialogue)….