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# Brent Niedergall

A Feather in Your Theological Cap

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## Posts

- [The Theology of Mississippi John Hurt](https://niedergall.com/the-theology-of-mississippi-john-hurt/) - Blues musician Mississippi John Hurt (1893–1966) didn’t write any books or articles on theology. He didn’t give any seminary lectures, and there is no record of him ever preaching any sermons. Yet he made a simple but profound statement with theological implications. On an episode of Rainbow Quest with Pete Seeger, John Hurt said, “I
- [Coffee Review – Promised Grounds](https://niedergall.com/coffee-review-promised-grounds/) - Most reviews on this blog are of books, but this review is for something most Bible scholars, students, and pastors also value and depend on—coffee. This is a review of the 2 Timothy 1:7 Decaf – Bold, Peaceful Purpose from Promised Grounds. Promised Grounds is a Texas-based coffee roaster that seeks to do good through its
- [The Seven Reads of Christmas – Days 5 through 7](https://niedergall.com/the-seven-reads-of-christmas-days-4-through-7/) - This post is the final, consolidated installment in a series of seven December reading recommendations drawn from biblical studies and twentieth-century fiction. Each selection is something I enjoy, something that relates—sometimes loosely—to Christmas, and something I think others will find helpful or interesting. The Fifth Read of Christmas A Gun for Sale by Graham Greene
- [The Seven Reads of Christmas – Day 1](https://niedergall.com/the-twelve-reads-of-christmas-day-1/) - I’m kicking off a series of December posts, highlighting a range of reading recommendations that come from the field of biblical studies, as well as from twentieth-century fiction. Each day’s pick is something I like that relates to Christmas and that I think others will find helpful or interesting. The First Read of Christmas A
- [The Seven Reads of Christmas – Day 2](https://niedergall.com/the-twelve-reads-of-christmas-day-2/) - This post is the second installment in a series of seven December recommendations drawn from biblical studies and twentieth-century fiction. Each day’s pick is something I enjoy that relates to Christmas and that I think others will find helpful or interesting. The Second Read of Christmas The Little Steamroller Several months ago, I posted a
- [The Seven Reads of Christmas – Day 3](https://niedergall.com/the-twelve-reads-of-christmas-day-3/) - This post is the third in a series of seven December recommendations drawn from biblical studies and twentieth-century fiction. Each day’s pick is something I enjoy that relates to Christmas and that I think others will find helpful or interesting. The Third Read of Christmas Oration 38 by Gregory Nazianzus Gregory Nazianzus, known also as
- [The Seven Reads of Christmas – Day 4](https://niedergall.com/the-twelve-reads-of-christmas-day-4/) - This post is the fourth in a series of seven December recommendations drawn from biblical studies and twentieth-century fiction. Each day’s pick is something I enjoy that relates to Christmas and that I think others will find helpful or interesting. The Second Read of Christmas "The Accommodations of Joseph and Mary in Bethlehem: Κατάλυμα in
- [Ranking Graham Greene's Novels](https://niedergall.com/ranking-graham-greenes-novels/) - I discovered Graham Greene more than a decade ago while passing through a military base in Kyrgyzstan. After reading The Human Factor, I kept reading his novels until there weren't any more to read—except for Rumour at Nightfall, an early novel that Greene himself considered so bad that he suppressed it. Greene was a master
- [The Ichthus Christogram and Other Early Christian Symbols](https://niedergall.com/the-ichthus-christogram-and-other-early-christian-symbols/) - A Book Review I first encountered the work of J. Daniel Hays on the eight-spoked wheel when I read his chapter on the subject in Inscriptions, Papyri, and Other Artifacts. The topic was entirely new to me, and it immediately captured my interest, prompting me to read his book The Ichthus Christogram and Other Early
- [Bad Moms of the Bible](https://niedergall.com/bad-moms-of-the-bible/) - Counting up women in the Bible we would consider good mothers is easy. But what about the bad ones? You may know some Bad Girls of the Bible, but who are some bad moms of the Bible? Herodias was bad. She told her dancing daughter to ask for the head of John the Baptist. And
- [Should I consider the new subscription-based version of Logos?](https://niedergall.com/should-i-consider-the-new-subscription-based-version-of-logos/) - Logos Review *****Special Partner Offer***** I love Logos. I use it every week to search the Bible, commentaries, lexicons, and more. That said, Logos has undergone a transformation, and now that I’ve had a chance to spend a few months using the newest version, I’m sharing a review. I have used Logos for years and
- [The Biggest Story Family Devotional](https://niedergall.com/the-biggest-story-family-devotional/) - A Book Review The Biggest Story Family Devotional from Crossway is my family’s new favorite devotional to use during our evening Bible time. This book contains 104 stories with accompanying Scripture readings and questions to guide families through the big story of Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Restoration told in the Old and New Testament. Our
- [Psalms 89–105: A Handbook on the Greek Text](https://niedergall.com/psalms-89-105-a-handbook-on-the-greek-text/) - A Book Review Psalms 89–105: A Handbook on the Greek Text by Jennifer Brown Jones is the newest addition to the Baylor Handbook on the Septuagint Series edited by Sean A. Adams and Seth M. Ehorn. As with the other volumes in this series, this resource provides the Greek text, a fresh English translation, and
- [Judgment and Salvation](https://niedergall.com/judgment-and-salvation/) - A Book Review Dustin G. Burlet’s Judgment & Salvation: A Rhetorical-Critical Reading of Noah’s Flood in Genesis uses a rhetoric-as-persuasion flavor of rhetorical criticism to argue that the Genesis flood narrative (Gen 6–9) contains elements of both judgment and salvation. Burlet goes so far as to claim that salvation and deliverance receive greater emphasis in
- [How Can New Testament Study Benefit from Ostraca?](https://niedergall.com/how-can-new-testament-study-benefit-from-ostraca/) - Introduction Ancient people wrote on a variety of surfaces. We find ancient Greek written on papyri, stone, metal, and potsherds known as ostraca. The texts on these surfaces can serve variously as textual witnesses to the New Testament, linguistic evidence, evidence of reception history, and evidence for Bible background/contextual/religious history. Students of the Septuagint and
- [40 Questions About the Apostle Paul](https://niedergall.com/40-questions-about-the-apostle-paul/) - A Book Review There is no shortage of books about Paul, but 40 Questions About the Apostle Paul by Miguel G. Echevarría and Benjamin P. Laird is an excellent survey and introduction to many significant issues surrounding this pivotal figure in the New Testament, and one you should consider reading or assigning. The book contains
- [Book Review: A Theology of Paul the Apostle, Part 2](https://niedergall.com/book-review-a-theology-of-paul-the-apostle-part-2/) - Roger Greene’s A Theology of Paul the Apostle, Part Two: Cross and Atonement is a rich study of Paul’s unique contribution to the important Christian doctrine of atonement, exploring the question of how sinners can be reconciled to God. Note that this is the second volume of Greene’s work on Pauline theology. Helpfully, this book
- [New Docs Interview: Jim Harrison (Part 2)](https://niedergall.com/new-docs-interview-jim-harrison-part-2/) - This is the second part of my interview with Prof. Jim Harrison. Anyone who knows about the New Documents Illustrating Early Christianity series (commonly abbreviated New Docs) knows these ten books are lexical gold, shedding light onto the words of the New Testament beyond what our lexicons and workbooks offer. (You can read a short post I
- [What Is the Thesaurus Linguae Graecae (TLG)?](https://niedergall.com/what-is-thesaurus-linguae-graecae-tlg/) - An Introduction and Review of the Thesaurus Linguae Graecae (TLG) The Thesaurus Linguae Graecae, hereafter abbreviated TLG, is the premier online database of Greek literature. According to the TLG website, The TLG® Digital Library contains virtually all Greek texts surviving from the period between Homer (8 c. B.C.) and the fall of Byzantium in A.D.
- [The Atonement: An Introduction](https://niedergall.com/the-atonement-an-introduction/) - A Book Review Jeremy Treat’s The Atonement: An Introduction, in Crossway’s Short Studies in Systematic Theology Series, equips readers to appreciate and grasp what Christ accomplished through his work and death. Unlike many other books on the atonement, this one does not survey the many models and theories on the topic. You will find no
- [New Book: Meaning for Your Labor](https://niedergall.com/new-book-meaning-for-your-labor/) - Publication Announcement My new devotional, Meaning for Your Labor: A Daily Devotional from the Book of Ecclesiastes, is now available for purchase! Meaning for Your Labor is a 180-day devotional that guides readers through the entire Book of Ecclesiastes, verse by verse. After presenting one or two verses from the text of the English Standard
- [Habakkuk, Zephaniah, and Haggai: A Handbook on the Greek Text](https://niedergall.com/habakkuk-zephaniah-and-haggai-a-handbook-on-the-greek-text/) - A Book Review Habakkuk, Zephaniah, and Haggai: A Handbook on the Greek Text by Joshua L. Harper is the latest installment in Baylor’s series of handbooks on the Septuagint, edited by Sean Adams and Seth Ehorn. As with other publications in the Baylor Handbook on the Septuagint series (BHLXX), this book translates and explains the
- [Biblical Theology: A Canonical, Thematic, and Ethical Approach](https://niedergall.com/biblical-theology-a-canonical-thematic-and-ethical-approach/) - A Book Review Andreas J. Köstenberger and Gregory Goswell have given us a massive theological work called Biblical Theology: A Canonical, Thematic, and Ethical Approach. In addition to a meaty introduction to the discipline of biblical theology and section overviews, the bulk of the book deals with the 66 individual books of the Bible, concluding
- [New Docs Interview: Jim Harrison (Part 1)](https://niedergall.com/new-docs-interview-jim-harrison-part-1/) - Anyone who knows about the New Documents Illustrating Early Christianity series (commonly abbreviated New Docs) knows these ten books are lexical gold, shedding light onto the words of the New Testament beyond what our lexicons and workbooks offer. (You can read a short post I wrote on the series here.) The original overly-ambitious plan to release one
- [New Documents Illustrating Early Christianity—Update](https://niedergall.com/new-documents-illustrating-early-christianity-update/) - New Docs Update Professor James R. Harrison kindly reached out to update me on the latest developments in his major project to produce the seven final volumes in the New Documents Illustrating Early Christianity series. These changes include that there are now seven volumes instead of six, and several of the cities covered in the
- [Text and Paratext](https://niedergall.com/text-and-paratext/) - A Book Review The Bible is full of words, which we expect because Scripture is a text. The Bible also includes many paratextual features that, by definition, are not the words of Scripture. Gregory Goswell, in Text and Paratext: Book Order, Title, and Division as Keys to Biblical Interpretation, discusses three such features as indicated
- [Scribes and Scripture](https://niedergall.com/scribes-and-scripture/) - A Book Review What paths and processes stand between the original written words of Scripture and modern Bibles printed today? The Bible’s history is complex and often misunderstood. You can find technical books about textual criticism and canonicity—specific aspects of the Bible’s transmission. But John Meade and Peter Gurry expertly explain the Bible’s transmission in
- [Jesus and the Gospels](https://niedergall.com/jesus-and-the-gospels/) - A Book Review Craig Blomberg’s Jesus and the Gospels: An Introduction and Survey is now in its third edition. First published in 1997, Bloomberg’s work has been updated to benefit a new generation of students, professors, and pastors. According to the introduction, it’s about 6 percent longer than the second edition, mostly due to its
- [The King of Christmas](https://niedergall.com/the-king-of-christmas/) - A Book Review The King of Christmas: All God’s Children Search for Jesus is the third book in a growing series of FatCat Books from Lexham Press. Author Todd Hains and illustrator Natasha Kennedy have, once again, made Cat-echism spiritually edifying, colorful, and fun. With a hidden cat for children to discover on every two-page
- [Five Views on the New Testament Canon](https://niedergall.com/five-views-on-the-new-testament-canon/) - A Book Review While the canon of Scripture is settled, a consensus on the questions of its formation and entailments is not. In Five Views on the Testament Canon, five biblical scholars respond to three questions: How did the 27 books of the New Testament come to be considered Scripture? What authority does the canon
- [The Lord's Prayer: For All God's Children](https://niedergall.com/the-lords-prayer-for-all-gods-children/) - A Book Review Award-winning author Harold Senkbeil has written an excellent children's book in Lexham’s FatCat series called The Lord’s Prayer: For All God’s Children. Other books in this series include The Apostles’ Creed: For All God’s Children and The King of Christmas. The talented Natasha Kennedy has drawn the artwork for each of these
- [Logos 10 Review](https://niedergall.com/logos-10-review/) - Introduction This is a review of Logos 10. (The package I used for this review is Logos 10 Academic Professional.) As a Bible curriculum editor, adult Sunday school teacher, church member, recent DMin graduate, and soon-to-be Ph.D. applicant (hopefully), I’m using Logos constantly—usually every day of the week and in a variety of use cases
- [The Book of Enoch for Beginners](https://niedergall.com/the-book-of-enoch-for-beginners/) - A Book Review Phil Long’s The Book of Enoch for Beginners: A Guide to Expand Your Understanding of the Biblical World is a clear and compact introduction to 1 Enoch, a Jewish apocalyptic work composed “as early as the third century BCE in Judea” (3). According to the biblical scholar and expert on pseudepigrapha R.
- [Postclassical Greek Prepositions and Conceptual Metaphor](https://niedergall.com/postclassical-greek-prepositions-and-conceptual-metaphor/) - A Book Review William A. Ross and Steven E. Runge, eds., Postclassical Greek Prepositions and Conceptual Metaphor: Cognitive Semantic Analysis and Biblical Interpretation, Fontes et Subsidia ad Bibliam pertinentes 12 (Berlin: De Gruyter, 2022). Introduction This book is a compilation of papers presented at the 2017 “Tyndale House Workshop in Greek Prepositions: Cognitive Linguistic Approaches
- [Wet Bread in Ecclesiastes](https://niedergall.com/wet-bread-in-ecclesiastes/) - I've spent the last year writing a verse-by-verse devotional on the Book of Ecclesiastes. Below, I've shared the original version of a devotion that was later shortened to fit on a single page. "Cast your bread upon the waters, "the Book of Ecclesiastes advises us, "for you will find it after many days" (Eccles. 11:1).
- [Jesus and the Forces of Death](https://niedergall.com/jesus-and-the-forces-of-death/) - A Book Review Jesus and the Forces of Death by Matthew Thiessen is unquestionably the most exciting book about skin disease and bodily discharge you will ever read. In this book, Thiessen addresses the popular misconception that Jesus opposed the observance of the Mosaic law. But if Jesus followed the law, did He touch unclean
- [A Journey through the World of Leviticus](https://niedergall.com/a-journey-through-the-world-of-leviticus/) - Book Review Mark Scarlata’s A Journey through the World of Leviticus: Holiness, Sacrifice, and the Rock Badger is a compact guide to some core principles for understanding the Book of Leviticus. He addresses important themes like holiness, sacrifice, and purity that have often been misunderstood or reduced to overly simplistic glosses. This book, intended to
- [An Explorer's Guide to John Calvin](https://niedergall.com/an-explorers-guide-to-john-calvin/) - A Book Review Yudha Thianto’s An Explorer’s Guide to John Calvin is a satisfying survey of John Calvin’s life and theology. It’s a well-balanced blend of biography and historical theology that's easy to read and understand. The author, Yudah Thianto, is professor of history of Christianity and Reformed Theology at Calvin Theological Seminary with over
- [Take up and listen](https://niedergall.com/take-up-and-listen/) - My posting frequency has been rather low lately, but there are some book reviews and others posts in the works. In this post, I'm just sharing three podcast recommendations. OnScript I've been listening to OnScript for years, now. Intelligent hosts interview scholars, who discuss their publications and work in the fields of biblical studies and
- [Amos: A Handbook on the Greek Text](https://niedergall.com/amos-a-handbook-on-the-greek-text/) - A Book Review Amos: A Handbook on the Greek Text by W. Edward Glenny is the second release in the Baylor Handbook on the Septuagint Series (BHLXX). Glenny is an accomplished Septuagint scholar who has authored four volumes in Brill’s “Septuagint Commentary Series” (including the one on Amos) and many articles. He also co-edited the
- [How Can I Learn More about New Testament Coins?](https://niedergall.com/where-can-i-learn-more-about-new-testament-coins/) - My interest in the coins found in the New Testament was first piqued by reading Michael P. Theophilos's Numismatics and Greek Lexicography for review (available at Reading Religion. I recently wrote a 5-lesson study on NT coins and discipleship called Uncommon Currency. In this post, I'll share several of the sources I found most helpful
- [Epigraphs and Coinage](https://niedergall.com/epigraphs-and-coinage/) - I wrote a 5-lesson study on discipleship and coinage in the Gospels called Uncommon Currency. One of the many enjoyable aspects of production was choosing epigraphs for each of the five lessons. Each epigraph is a short quotation from a beloved early-church figure. Several of these quotations are fresh translations. And I think each one
- [A Greek Reader](https://niedergall.com/a-greek-reader/) - A Book Review Mark Jeong’s A Greek Reader: A Companion to A Primer of Biblical Greek is a great new book for beginning Greek students, those who want to sharpen their reading skills, and those who enjoy Greek and want something fun to try. Designed to complement N. Clayton Croy’s 32-lesson A Primer of Biblical
- [Biblical Studies Carnival 194 for April 2022](https://niedergall.com/biblical-studies-carnival-194-for-april-2022/) - Welcome to the Biblical Studies Carnival! Although this edition covers April 2022, the theme is Star Wars since May 4th (Star Wars Day) is almost upon us. If you're tempted to complain that it's light on links, you can still enjoy the density of decent memes. Join Darth Vader, Peter Gentry, Claude Mariottini, Mike Vlach,
- [An Authentic Logion](https://niedergall.com/an-authentic-logion/) - In 1943, a classics professor at Princeton named P. R. Coleman-Norton—according to his article in a peer-reviewed theology journal—visited a Moroccan mosque, where he saw “a single unnumbered page of Greek” (439). He quickly identified the parchment as a portion of an anonymous Latin commentary on Matthew’s Gospel translated into Greek. But, what was so
- [Guide to Biblical Coins](https://niedergall.com/guide-to-biblical-coins/) - A Book Review David Hendin’s Guide to Biblical Coins (6th ed.) is the latest expansion of a book first published in 1976 as Guide to Ancient Jewish Coins. It is a detailed numismatic reference work covering Judaean coins dating from the 4th century BC to the 2nd century AD. Changes warranting this new edition include
- [Covenantal and Dispensational Theologies](https://niedergall.com/covenantal-and-dispensational-theologies/) - A Book Review If we possessed all the satisfying answers, what would we talk about and ponder? I was recently listening to a podcast, on which the two hosts were talking about their shared obsession with Twin Peaks. The show is over 20 years old and it ran for two seasons, and yet fans still
- [James—Big Greek Idea](https://niedergall.com/james-big-greek-idea/) - A Book Review Herb Bateman and Will Varner have written James: An Exegetical Guide for Preaching and Teaching as part of Kregel’s “Big Greek Idea Series.” It’s a commentary that emphasizes Greek grammar, but does not ignore textual exposition. In other words, you can expect both detailed grammatical explanations along with broader explanations on the
- [Happy International Septuagint Day!](https://niedergall.com/happy-international-septuagint-day/) - Celebrate the Septuagint! As with any holiday, people celebrate International Septuagint Day with a variety of traditions. No matter how you choose to observe this important day, you might enjoy some of my previous posts that address this worthy subject. What Should I Read on the Septuagint? Happy International Septuagint Day! And there’s no better
- [Galatians, Evangelical Biblical Theology Commentary](https://niedergall.com/galatians-evangelical-biblical-theology-commentary/) - A Book Review I’m quickly growing to love the Evangelical Biblical Theology Commentary (EBTC) series from Lexham Press. The recently published Galatians volume by Matthew S. Harmon is a solid commentary on all counts. As with the other volumes I’ve used in the series, Harmon’s work is evangelical and conservative. He makes good use of
- [The Apostles' Creed for All God's Children](https://niedergall.com/the-apostles-creed-for-all-gods-children/) - A Book Review The Apostles’ Creed for All God’s Children with text by Ben Myers and clean, bright illustrations by Natasha Kennedy marks Lexham’s first foray into children’s books. This title is the first release in their FatCat series. “Cat” stands for “catechism.” And it’s “Fat” because the catechism is weighted with significant, heavy importance.
- [Approaching the New Testament: A Guide for Students](https://niedergall.com/approaching-the-new-testament-a-guide-for-students/) - A Book Review New Testament and Old Testament introductions are useful reference tools for any Bible student. I keep several on my shelf and consult them regularly when I need an overview of a specific book of the Bible. General editors Adam McClendon and John Cartright have produced one of the NT variety titled Approaching
- [Psalms: Volume 1 by James Hamilton](https://niedergall.com/psalms-volume-1-by-james-hamilton/) - A Book Review Psalms: Volume 1 (covering Psalms 1–72) by James M. Hamilton Jr. is part of Lexham’s Evangelical Biblical Theology Commentary series. The purpose of this series, according to the General Editor’s Preface, is to “relate biblical theology to our own lives and to the life of the church” (xxvii). The result is a
- [Top Ten Posts of 2021](https://niedergall.com/top-ten-posts-of-2021/) - Blogging isn't quite dead yet. Here's a roundup of which posts drew the most readers in 2021. There's a happy mix of Septuagint, textual criticism, lexicons, and more. Thank you for your interest in what I've shared. I look forward to posting more in 2022! (Also check out my five least popular posts of 2021
- [Discourse Analysis of the New Testament Writings](https://niedergall.com/discourse-analysis-of-the-new-testament-writings/) - A Book Review Everyone is a discourse analyst. Everyone, consciously or unconsciously, processes texts and speech to identify boundaries, prominence, and cohesion. Discourse Analysis of the New Testament Writings, edited by Todd A. Scacewater, is a conscious attempt to enlist an array of competent contributors to process the texts of the New Testament in this
- [Bottom of the Barrel 2021](https://niedergall.com/bottom-of-the-barrel-2021/) - Bloggers often recap their most popular posts of the year, but what about the least popular? Continuing last year's tradition, these are the five posts on Niedergall.com from 2021 that received the least amount of traffic. Number Five THE CURSE IN THE COLOPHON: CHAPTER 1 Fans of New Testament textual criticism and manuscripts might
- [Bower Lodge](https://niedergall.com/bower-lodge/) - A Book Review “We who live in wonders / must be blind to wonders.” These lines from the middle of the poem “Right Angles,” from the middle of Paul J. Pastor’s Bower Lodge point to Pastor’s gift for seeing the wonders he lives in. The poems of this new collection from Fernwood Press are written
- [Review of Goldingay's Ecclesiastes](https://niedergall.com/review-of-goldingays-ecclesiastes/) - It could just be me, but it seems like there's an uptick in interest surrounding the Book of Ecclesiastes. I’ve been devoting a lot of study time to Ecclesiastes myself, and I recently described it to a friend as the perfect book to read when you're having a mid-life crisis. (Perhaps that says something about
- [Misquoting Jeremiah: A Christmas Post](https://niedergall.com/misquoting-jeremiah-a-christmas-post/) - With Christmas approaching, it’s timely to reflect on Mary’s expression of praise in Luke 1:46–56, known as the Magnificat. Drawing heavily upon Old Testament texts, Mary praises God for His good favor towards her and towards His people in sending Jesus. It’s not a “patchwork quilt from Old Testament texts,” (205) but there are plausible
- [The Septuagint: What It Is and Why It Matters](https://niedergall.com/the-septuagint-what-is-is-and-why-it-matters/) - A Book Review There are plenty of good books on the Septuagint, and The Septuagint: What It Is and Why It Matters by Greg Lanier and Will Ross is unquestionably the best one to begin with, but it’s also tremendously valuable for anyone already well-versed on the subject. It's a quick read and easy to
- [Don't Do It!](https://niedergall.com/dont-do-it/) - Don't introduce laypeople to verbal aspect theory. via GIPHY Photo by Kaleidico on Unsplash.
- [Daily Scriptures: 365 Readings in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin](https://niedergall.com/daily-scriptures-365-readings-in-hebrew-greek-and-latin/) - We live in a golden age of books for anyone who wants to read and grow in the biblical languages. There are reader’s editions of the Hebrew Bible, the Greek New Testament, and even the Greek Old Testament. There are lexical aids, devotionals, and even a translation of Beatrix Potter’s The Tale of Peter Rabbit
- [Perhaps](https://niedergall.com/perhaps/) - A Book Review If you ever doubt we live in an era of polarization, bellicosity, and vitriol, a quick scroll through what some of the social media posts from the sweetest people in your church might convince you otherwise. Joshua M. McNall’s new book, Perhaps: Reclaiming the Space Between Doubt and Dogmatism was written for
- [Voice and Mood: A Linguistic Approach](https://niedergall.com/voice-and-mood-a-linguistic-approach/) - Voice and Mood: A Linguistic Approach by David L. Mathewson is the first book out in Baker Academic’s Essentials of Biblical Greek Grammar series edited by Stanley E. Porter. This book covers two important areas of NT Greek study that are often overlooked. Part 1 is on voice. Part 2 is on mood. The chapters
- [Japanese Beetles and a Generous Master](https://niedergall.com/japanese-beetles-and-a-generous-master/) - Ever worked for pennies? Years ago, a friend and I got paid to catch Japanese Beetles. My friend’s neighbour and pastor had this gigantic garden. And he agreed to pay us a penny for every Japanese Beetle we could pull off his plants and throw into a bucket of kerosene. We worked under the hot
- [How Do We Live in a Digital World?](https://niedergall.com/how-do-we-live-in-a-digital-world/) - A Book Review I picked up my first smartphone last year. It’s a nice convenience, but I don’t feel tied to it. But then again, I owned an iPad for years before I got my phone. And so I check my iPad regularly for emails, blog posts, and Twitter updates. All of us are immersed
- [What Is Islam?](https://niedergall.com/what-is-islam/) - Don’t stop reading after this next sentence. Christians should believe the worst about Muslims. (Keep reading.) Christians should believe the worst about Muslims in that they—like all who are without Christ—are guilty sinners before God. But that’s not all. Christians should also assume the best of Muslims. They are created in God’s image, and God
- ["The Knowledge"](https://niedergall.com/the-knowledge/) - The path to driving one of London’s iconic black taxis requires passing what one reporter called "possibly the most difficult test in the world." Would-be cabbies must learn 320 routes and 25,000 streets plus restaurants and landmarks to pass the punishing test called “The Knowledge.” Its fuller name is “The Knowledge of London,” and this
- [Filled By or Filled With?](https://niedergall.com/filled-by-or-filled-with/) - There’s a chapter in J. Oswald Sanders’ classic book Spiritual Leadership originally called “The Indispensable Requirement,” but later revised to “Above All Else.” According to Sanders, “Spiritual leadership requires Spirit-filled people” (77). He views it as imperative for any spiritual leader. And he’s not wrong. In fact, the Apostle Paul uses an imperative—a command—when he
- [Biblical Studies and the Internet Archive](https://niedergall.com/biblical-studies-and-the-internet-archive/) - Here's a helpful tip that might help when you're looking for a book. A quick stop at the Internet Archive can save you a trip to the library or money. It might even provide access to a book you can't seem to track down. Last week alone, I was able to consult Gregory Thaumaturgos' Paraphrase
- [Bad Advertising in Ecclesiastes?](https://niedergall.com/bad-advertising-in-ecclesiastes/) - https://youtu.be/bpp3ycMvQd0 That fine feat of advertising sells us on Mentos. Solomon’s story in Ecclesiastes 9:13–15, as a testimonial to the benefit of wisdom, isn't really selling us on wisdom. I have also seen this example of wisdom under the sun, and it seemed great to me. There was a little city with few men in
- [Prepositions](https://niedergall.com/prepositions/) - Prepositions are words that tell us how one thing in space relates to another. They can be used to explain spatial relations in the physical realm as demonstrated in these three examples: The mime is in Sweden. The book is on the Volkswagen. The pig is under the blanket. Prepositions can also explain spatial relations in the abstract realm as
- [John’s Conversations](https://niedergall.com/johns-conversations/) - Conversation has been compared to a game of catch. Just as people take turns throwing a ball back and forth, people also take turns speaking. Many people converse in the Gospel of John: Jesus, John the Baptist, Andrew, Philip, Nathanael, Mary, Nicodemus, the Samaritan woman, and a royal official—those are just the ones in the
- [The Septuagint Song](https://niedergall.com/the-septuagint-song/) - Mac Lynch and I wrote "The Septuagint Song" in 2017. Evan Caddy has created a wonderful video in which he sings it with Riley Irwin on piano. They really outdid themselves. Plus, Evan wrote two new verses. I've included the video below with the original sheet music as a PDF. You'll also find the
- [Suffering and Strong Drink](https://niedergall.com/suffering-and-strong-drink/) - After twenty years of American military presence in Afghanistan, the Taliban took over the country in a week. Analysts point to corruption as a leading cause for the former government's lightning-quick demise. The watching world now fully expects human rights abuses to increase under the new regime. There was injustice before and new injustices will
- [In Praise of Solid People](https://niedergall.com/in-praise-of-solid-people/) - I meant to post this yesterday in observance of Labor Day. Hearing Aaron Copland's "Fanfare for the Common Man" caused me to remember "In Praise of Solid People" by C. S. Lewis. Below you will find an excerpt of what is one of the better poems Lewis wrote in his collection, Spirits in Bondage. You
- [The Curse in the Colophon: Chapter 1](https://niedergall.com/the-curse-in-the-colophon-chapter-1/) - Note: Fans of New Testament textual criticism and manuscripts might be interested to know Edgar J. Goodspeed wrote a novel on these subjects entitled The Curse of the Colophon. (I've written about this unique book before in a post you can find here). Unfortunately, this book is out of print and difficult to come by.
- [Biblical Studies Carnival 186 for August 2021](https://niedergall.com/biblical-studies-carnival-186-for-august-2021/) - Welcome to the Biblical Studies Carnival! Another month, another Biblical Studies Carnival. Thanks for dropping by. Below you'll find some excellent biblical studies material released to in the Wild West of the Internet in August 2021. Enjoy! Giveaway! What's a carnival without a game? Everyone who subscribes to my blog between now and September
- [A History of Evangelism in North America](https://niedergall.com/a-history-of-evangelism-in-north-america/) - A Book Review Editor, Thomas P. Johnston, along with 21 contributors collaborated in the production of A History of Evangelism in North America from Kregel Academic. This is an encouraging book about God’s work of using men and women to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ. It’s also an informative book that surveys
- [A Humdrum Life of Faith](https://niedergall.com/a-humdrum-life-of-faith/) - Of prominent Bible figures, Isaac has always struck me as one of the more humdrum ones. Sandwiched between fellow patriarchs Abraham and Jacob, he’s principally known for being the young man God commanded Abraham to sacrifice and the old man Jacob tricked. In between those two experiences, Scripture records what we might call a fairly
- [Uprooted Trees and Rooted Faith](https://niedergall.com/uprooted-trees-and-rooted-faith/) - One of Aesop’s Fables tells of a mighty oak defeated by the wind and uprooted from where it had stood for decades. The fallen oak, lying in disgrace, wonders how a tree as great as itself could be uprooted while all the weak and slender reeds surrounding him still stand. So the flimsy reeds let the
- [Labels and a Lost Tract](https://niedergall.com/labels-and-a-lost-tract/) - The only known manuscript of The Epistle to Diognetus, which may have then been the earliest gospel tract in existence, was destroyed in 1870 during a European war. Thankfully, a couple of careful folks had copied down the text of this manuscript well before its immolation (689–690). This old text sounds like you would imagine an
- [How to Read an Entry in The Cambridge Greek Lexicon](https://niedergall.com/how-to-read-an-entry-in-the-cambridge-greek-lexicon/) - I’ve found an opportunity to open my new copy of The Cambridge Greek Lexicon for a smell and a gander. (Seriously, give your copy a whiff and see if you don't detect a distinct scent.) The purpose of this post is to show what an entry looks like and offer a case study of how
- [Reading While Black](https://niedergall.com/reading-while-black/) - A Book Review Although I now live in a town that’s 64% Black or African American and only 30% White, it still feels strange that our local churches don’t even remotely reflect these demographics. Not even close. I admit I gave little thought to skin color and Scripture until recently. First, my wife and I
- [Frogs, an Eagle, Monkeys, and Giving: The Lexical Intersection Between the Greek New Testament and Aesop’s Fables](https://niedergall.com/frogs-an-eagle-monkeys-and-giving-the-lexical-intersection-between-the-greek-new-testament-and-aesops-fables/) - BDAG, the standard Greek lexicon for reading the New Testament, has somewhere around 180 references to the Greek text of Aesop’s Fables. You’re probably familiar with some of Aesop’s Fables—for instance, maybe the one about the thirsty crow who fills a pitcher with stones to raise the water level. But here’s one you probably haven’t
- [Book Review—The Shepherd of Hermas: A Literary, Historical, and Theological Handbook](https://niedergall.com/book-review-the-shepherd-of-hermas-a-literary-historical-and-theological-handbook/) - Jonathon Lookadoo The Shepherd of Hermas: A Literary, Historical, and Theological Handbook T&T Clark: London, 2021. Pp. xii + 295. Hardcover. $115.00 ISBN: 978-0-5676-979102 Amazon Rick Brannan Independent Scholar https://rickbrannan.com The Shepherd of Hermas is usually described as one of the more popular writings of early Christianity because of the large number of extant
- [Bauer, Danker, Arndt, Gingrich, and Aesop](https://niedergall.com/bauer-danker-arndt-gingrich-and-aesop/) - Did you know BDAG occasionally cites Aesop’s Fables? In this post, I’ll explain how you can benefit from this useful repository of evidence. Let me begin with a word of warning. The numbering system for the fables is unsystematic and BDAG induces some struggle because of this lack of uniformity. Here are some examples to
- [Historical Theology for the Church](https://niedergall.com/historical-theology-for-the-church/) - A Book Review What is historical theology? According to Historical Theology for the Church, a new textbook from B&H Academic and edited by Jason G. Duesing and Nathan A. Finn, “historical theology is the study of the development of Christian doctrine and tradition from the Bible by the church and for the church” (6). In
- [A Theology of Backgammon](https://niedergall.com/a-theology-of-backgammon/) - Ever play backgammon before? You know the game that folds up into a handy little briefcase? It has all the points on the board, and the checkers, and the dice. It’s a popular game in our house. It’s my favorite game. I’m no master or anything. I haven’t studied the game much. But I do know
- [Small Preaching](https://niedergall.com/small-preaching/) - A Book Review I’m not a great preacher. When I’m standing in the pulpit my manuscript retains a tight hold on my focus, my delivery is tepid, and my conclusions falter. But wanting to improve gives me a good reason to read books on preaching. Jonathan Pennington has written one such book. It’s called Small
- [Discouragement, BDAG, and Fragment 144](https://niedergall.com/fragment144/) - Lexicons are wonderful tools. BDAG, for instance, is packed with valuable data. Almost every entry contains a string of cryptic abbreviations directing you to where the headword appears outside of the New Testament. Sometimes, especially for words with shorter entries, it's worth the effort to do some digging and chase down a few of those
- [Sunday Prayer (Psalm 136)](https://niedergall.com/sunday-prayer-psalm-136/) - This is the latest in the series of corporate prayers for Sunday worship that I’m writing from the Psalms, working through them in reverse order. Our God, we give you our praise because you are good. We recognize you show loyal love to your people. You are always gracious and good. You are the supreme
- [The Existence of God](https://niedergall.com/the-existence-of-god/) - Do we need to prove God’s existence? https://youtu.be/B3Dh9jZUiOY Your cosmological and teleological arguments aren’t going to convince anyone that God exists. Neither will your ontological or moral arguments. And they don’t need to. Scripture says God has already done the heavy lifting of making Himself known. The Bible is God’s written revelation to man. In
- [WHAT IS THE PRESERVATION OF SCRIPTURE?](https://niedergall.com/what-is-the-preservation-of-scripture/) - Has God preserved a fixed master copy of the Scriptures? https://youtu.be/BD8g2ItZ3Fw God has preserved His written Word. We have the Bible. But He has done so providentially, not miraculously. Once upon a time, there were two brothers who printed a Greek New Testament in 1633. They wrote in the preface a bit of good advertising.
- [From Research to Teaching: A Guide to Beginning Your Classroom Career](https://niedergall.com/from-research-to-teaching-a-guide-to-beginning-your-classroom-career/) - A Book Review The transition from student to teacher is not automatic, nor is it natural. Years of top-tier, top-notch scholarly research does not entirely equip you to educate a classroom of undergraduate students. You are an expert on a topic, not teaching a variety of courses that might have little to do with your
- [Reboot Your Greek](https://niedergall.com/reboot-your-greek/) - A Book Review In general, many prefer the idea of Greek to reading Greek. Pastors, who studied it in seminary, retain only enough to consult with Thayer and Strong so they can tell their congregations what the Greek “really means.” Realistically speaking, the majority of us might be fooling ourselves to hope for native-speaker proficiency, but it’s a shame
- [WHAT IS THE SUFFICIENCY OF SCRIPTURE?](https://niedergall.com/what-is-the-sufficiency-of-scripture/) - What do we need God to tell us? https://youtu.be/LLB5hRsIAss The Word of God gives us everything God wants us to know. This is called the sufficiency of Scripture. All the words that God wants you to have when it comes to salvation, and trusting Him, and obeying Him are found in the Bible. That’s why
- [A Theology of Butter: BUTTER-OLOGY](https://niedergall.com/1998-2/) - Did you know the ancient Greeks had a word for “butter eater”? https://youtu.be/apeMEquOUcU βουτυροφάγος (boutyrophagous). That’s the ancient Greek word for “butter eater.” Maybe you’re a butter eater. I like butter as much as the next guy. But I’ve never really spent much time thinking about butter and the Bible. Few probably have. Is there
- [T&T Clark Handbook for Septuagint Research](https://niedergall.com/tt-clark-handbook-for-septuagint-research/) - A Book Review Who could have foreseen the current skyrocketing popularity of Septuagint (LXX) scholarship? Recently published resources abound and there are more to come. For friends of the LXX, the only preferable time to live and witness would have been when the Pentateuch was originally translated from Hebrew into Greek. The LXX is an
- [WHAT IS THE NECESSITY OF SCRIPTURE?](https://niedergall.com/what-is-the-necessity-of-scripture/) - Sure, Scripture is nice to have. But is it necessary? https://youtu.be/3ALDYDkQHKU Yes. Scripture is necessary. We need it. One dictionary of theological terms I checked gave me this definition. The necessity of Scripture means that the Bible is necessary for salvation because it alone reveals the gospel” (153). But that doesn’t go far enough. We
- [Supremes and Supremacy](https://niedergall.com/supremes-and-supremacy/) - When I think of what’s supreme, I think of Taco Bell. Fries Supreme Nachos Supreme Beef Crunchy Taco Supreme Beef Soft Taco Supreme Beef Burrito Supreme Chicken Burrito Supreme Steak Burrito Supreme Nacho Cheese Doritos Locos Taco Supreme I could keep going, but you get it. It seems like Taco Bell would have us think
- [WHAT IS THE CLARITY OF SCRIPTURE?](https://niedergall.com/what-is-the-clarity-of-scripture/) - If Scripture is clear, why is there so much in here I still don’t understand? https://youtu.be/EPmEiFEQ4uE If you’ve spent much time in the Bible, you are no doubt well aware that not everything in Scripture is clear. And when theologians talk about the clarity of Scripture, they’re not saying every reader will understand everything. And
- [A Review of Evangelical Biblical Theology Commentary: Romans](https://niedergall.com/a-review-of-evangelical-biblical-theology-commentary-romans/) - Book Review of Evangelical Biblical Theology Commentary: Romans Reviewing a commentary on Romans feels almost as intimidating as preaching through the book of Romans, and I can only imagine how intimidating it would be to write a commentary on Paul's revered treatise. So it is with trepidation and empathy that I offer my review of
- [Gospel Allegiance](https://niedergall.com/gospel-allegiance/) - A Book Review There’s an entertaining yet unsettling short story by Graham Green about a band of boys who secretly dismantle a house from the inside. While the homeowner is out of town, they strip everything from the home but the outer walls. While reading Gospel Allegiance: What Faith in Jesus Misses for Salvation in
- [WHAT IS THE AUTHORITY OF SCRIPTURE?](https://niedergall.com/what-is-the-authority-of-scripture/) - How would you have responded to a poll back in 1979? A 1979 Gallup Poll asked this question: If you, yourself, were testing your own religious beliefs, which ONE of these four religious authorities would you turn to first? What the church says What respected religious leaders say What the Holy Spirit says to me
- [The Enneagram Goes to Church](https://niedergall.com/the-enneagram-goes-to-church/) - A Book Review How do you feel about the enneagram? I had only the barest inkling of an idea what the enneagram even was before I read The Enneagram Goes to Church by Todd A. Wilson. Whether you have embraced it, ignored it, or classed it somewhere between mumbo jumbo and an Ouija board, applying
- [Life is not a treasure hunt. Life is a treasure hunt.](https://niedergall.com/life-is-not-a-treasure-hunt-life-is-a-treasure-hunt/) - So hear me all and listen good, Your effort will be worth the cold. If you are brave and in the wood I give you title to the gold. —Forrest Fenn, The Thrill of the Chase Ten years ago or so, Forrest Fenn hid a treasure chest in the Rocky Mountains. A real treasure chest filled
- [WHAT IS THE INFALLIBILITY OF SCRIPTURE?](https://niedergall.com/what-is-the-infallibility-of-scripture/) - Ask Pepsi how much error can cost you. https://youtu.be/bo07ZWOIxD0 Error can have consequences. A computer error back in the ’90s cost Pepsi their money and reputation in the Philippines when they accidentally printed the winning number for a million peso giveaway on 800,000 bottle caps (mentalfloss.com). People make mistakes. We err. But what if the
- [WHAT IS INERRANCY?](https://niedergall.com/what-is-inerrancy/) - What else comes from Chicago besides hotdogs and deep-dish pizza? https://youtu.be/zd5kSIyvHp0 Back in 1978 in the Windy City, 268 evangelical scholars signed on the line to affirm their belief in the doctrine of inerrancy. Inerrancy means the Bible is free from error (597). And this document they signed is called the “Chicago Statement on Biblical
- [Quest, Flow, and Kingdom](https://niedergall.com/quest-flow-and-kingdom/) - Have you ever spent way too much time playing a video game before? Pokemon, Fortnite, Mario Kart, Halo or Zelda? When I was younger, I spent my own fair share of time on video games. Reading about some of the psychology behind video games, I came across a concept I had never heard of before. It’s called
- [Corporate Worship](https://niedergall.com/corporate-worship/) - Think of all the ways you’ve seen churches worship. Not merely the style of worship, but the elements of worship that comprise a service: preaching, prayer, Scripture reading, drama, banner waving, ordinances, and everything else. Is God pleased with any and every form of worship we choose for our churches? Matt Merker takes on this
- [Greedy? Or Just Needy?](https://niedergall.com/greedy-or-just-needy/) - Remember that parable Jesus gave about the rich man who had some good, really productive, land? So then he makes plans to knock over his barns and build bigger ones to store all his gains so he can enjoy the good life? But what the man doesn't know is that he's going to die that
- [300SOT#4: What Is Inspiration?](https://niedergall.com/300sot4-what-is-inspiration/) - Does God breathe? https://youtu.be/GlnGELneFaI The Scriptures are God-breathed according to 2 Tim. 3:16. It says exactly this: “All Scripture is breathed out by God” Scripture is produced by God. This is called the doctrine of inspiration. Here’s a definition. Inspiration may be defined as the Holy Spirit’s superintending over the writers so that while writing according
- [The Cost of Covetousness](https://niedergall.com/the-cost-of-covetousness/) - GameStop and Reddit captured recently captured our attention with some craziness involving the stock market. At the beginning of this year—back in January—GameStop stock was selling for under 20 bucks a share. But then it started climbing. There was this whole dynamic of amateur investors battling it out against big-time Wall Street investors. And the
- [Book Review: 2 Maccabees 1–7: A Handbook on the Greek Text](https://niedergall.com/2-maccabees-1-7/) - 2 Maccabees 1–7: A Handbook on the Greek Text by Seth M. Ehorn is the first volume in the “Baylor Handbook on the Septuagint Series” (BHLXX). This might seem like a curious first choice out of all the possibilities in the Septuagint, but Ehorn, who is series co-editor along with Sean A. Adams, has indicated (in
- [300SOT#3: What Is Scripture?](https://niedergall.com/300sot3-what-is-scripture/) - "The B-I-B-L-E, Yes that’s the book for me." What about you? https://youtu.be/ECsivCZvSnc The Bible is the Word of God. Jesus is called the “Word of God” and “the Word” (Rev. 19:13; John 1:1). The “Word of God” also includes those words God has audibly spoken such as when we read: “And God said, Let there
- [Valentine's Edition: Dating Your Spouse](https://niedergall.com/valentines-edition-dating-your-spouse/) - I originally posted this on Jan. 28, 2021, as "A Theology of Dating Your Spouse." Back in 2012 on a small Army base in eastern Afghanistan, I read a book with an eye-catching cover by Justin Buzzard titled Date Your Wife. If memory serves me right, it was a good read. But what has stuck
- [What Should I Read on the Septuagint?](https://niedergall.com/what-should-i-read-on-the-septuagint/) - Happy International Septuagint Day! And there's no better way to celebrate than to immerse yourself in the exciting world of the Septuagint—a rich land of excitement, adventure, and reward. If you're new to the game or thinking about getting started, where should you start? Editions The Rahlfs-Hanhart Septuaginta is the standard hand edition to grab.
- [300SOT#2: What Is Revelation?](https://niedergall.com/300sot2-what-is-revelation/) - What if God never made Himself known? https://youtu.be/L0oXlxpZ7T0 What is revelation? As Bernard Ramm put it: "In its broadest sense “revelation is the sum total of the ways in which God makes himself known” (17). We could never know God—we could never discover God—if God did not reveal Himself to us. It would be
- [Bavinck: Religion and Relationship](https://niedergall.com/bavinck-religion-and-relationship/) - What do people mean when they say the Christian religion is a relationship? Some of the simplest and most profound words I’ve read so far in Herman Bavinck’s Reformed Dogmatics are these: To be unknown is to be unloved (1:268). In reference to God, not only is this the motivation for theology, but it’s the
- [When Will Things Get Better?](https://niedergall.com/when-will-things-get-better/) - Life is full of expectation and waiting. We’re always waiting for something! The weekend Seeing friends and family The release of a book or a movie or a video game The next season of The Mandalorian The end of COVID. We’re always waiting for something to come. We can’t wait for what’s next. I often tell my
- [Battle of the Lexicons: Septuagint Edition](https://niedergall.com/battle-of-the-lexicons-septuagint-edition/) - It’s that time again—time for another battle of the lexicons! There I was reading about David dancing before the Lord over the return of the ark, and I gave the Septuagint (LXX) a gander. And, lo and behold, there’s something a little different going on there. And it’s this different little something that I would
- [300SOT #1: What Is Theology?](https://niedergall.com/300sot-1-what-is-theology/) - https://youtu.be/Pws3-f1lhC8 What is theology? Theology is the study of God. It’s setting forth the thoughts of God. It’s what A.H. Strong called “The science of God and of the relations between God and universe” (1). It’s actually even more than that, but I’ll come back to that. Theology comes in all kinds of shapes and
- [Are These the Last Days?](https://niedergall.com/are-these-the-last-days/) - One of the "joys" of training to become a soldier in the United States Army is pulling what’s called fireguard duty. The Army used to house soldiers in wooden barracks with wood-burning stoves. So soldiers would rotate shifts through the night to make sure the place didn’t burn down. Even though there’s not so much
- [A Theology of Dating Your Spouse](https://niedergall.com/a-theology-of-dating-your-spouse/) - Back in 2012 on a small Army base in eastern Afghanistan, I read a book with an eye-catching cover by Justin Buzzard titled Date Your Wife. If memory serves me right, it was a good read. But what has stuck with me more than anything is its simple little imperatival title. Since my deployment, my
- [Sunday Prayer (Psalm 137)](https://niedergall.com/sunday-prayer-psalm-137/) - This is the latest in the series of corporate prayers for Sunday worship that I’m writing from the Psalms, working through them in reverse order. Heavenly Father, We come before you as a church family—each of us with our own mix of experiences and emotions. Over the past few weeks and months, there have
- [Bavinck: Underestimating and Overestimating Dogmatics](https://niedergall.com/bavinck-underestimating-and-overestimating-dogmatics/) - I recently had to break the news to one of my children that Africa is a continent. Africa is not a country. And Scripture is not dogmatics. Dogma (and its nearly identical twin, systematic theology) is derived from Scripture. Bavinck uses the analogy of Scripture being the gold mine and dogmatics being the currency (116).
- [Jesus the Great Philosopher](https://niedergall.com/jesus-the-great-philosopher/) - Jesus is the solution to mankind’s greatest problem, but He also offers the answers to mankind’s greatest questions. We would do well to consider Him, as Jonathan Pennington encourages us, as a philosopher of the ancient variety who thought and taught wisdom. Ancient philosophers quested for truth and knowledge, the right, and the good. All
- [Bavinck: What is dogmatics? Why do we need it?](https://niedergall.com/bavinck-what-is-dogmatics-why-do-we-need-it/) - Yesterday, while writing a short presentation on the general topic of theology (Coming soon!), I flipped through a dozen or so theological works to see how others have defined theology and its goal. Not everyone does it well. Some do it better than others. Herman Bavinck does it really well. Even in Chapter 2, he’s
- [Charitable Writing](https://niedergall.com/charitable-writing/) - We are writers. Whether we’re writing for school, work, or enjoyment—we write. But how is a Christian supposed to write? Richard Hughes Gibson and James Edward Beitler III, in their book Charitable Writing: Cultivating Virtue Through Our Words, remind us that every act of writing is an opportunity to serve God and others. This writing guide
- [What Should I Read on Discourse Analysis?](https://niedergall.com/what-should-i-read-on-discourse-analysis/) - If you saw my previous post, “What Should I Read on New Testament Textual Criticism?”, you know what to expect here. This time the subject is discourse analysis (DA) and particularly for its use in NT exegesis. These are my categorized recommendations according to the path I've taken in my own study. Know that there
- [Sunday Prayer (Psalm 138)](https://niedergall.com/sunday-prayer-psalm-138/) - This is the latest in the series of corporate prayers for Sunday worship that I’m writing from the Psalms, working through them in reverse order. Our God and heavenly Father, we are thankful we can approach you boldly as your children because of the finished work of Christ. We also approach you with humility as
- [Bavinck: What is dogmatics? What is dogma?](https://niedergall.com/bavinck-what-is-dogmatics-what-is-dogma/) - Last night, my youngest son, Allister, and I were reading Richard Scarry's Best Word Book Ever. It was a simple joy to point at objects on the page and hear him name juice, jets, and pigs. He couldn’t identify every object. And he did call a pear a pineapple, but he’s steadily growing his four-year-old
- [What Should I Read on New Testament Textual Criticism?](https://niedergall.com/what-should-i-read-on-new-testament-textual-criticism/) - What should you read if you want to learn about New Testament textual criticism? Others have put together some great lists that will point you in the right direction. Here’s one here from my friend Mark Ward. Tommy Wasserman also shares his “Top Ten” here at The Evangelical Textual Criticism Blog. My suggestions below trace
- [How Do These Go Together?](https://niedergall.com/how-do-these-go-together/) - Fried chicken and Christmas? A standalone proverb in James? What's the connection? https://youtu.be/uovqOXpTIVU
- [Why All This Law?](https://niedergall.com/why-all-this-law/) - In this Christmas edition, I ask if James is beating a dead horse. Lots of law. Lots of Hershey's Kisses. https://youtu.be/pxD_V6Y_FnA
- [2021 Biblical Studies and Theology Challenge](https://niedergall.com/2021-biblical-studies-and-theology-challenge/) - Are you more of a Westcott or a Hort? We know Hort had a thirst for bold ambitions and undertakings while Westcott was more of a realist. (Check out Peter Gurry’s excellent treatment of their collaboration here in pre-pub form.) I’m an unabashed member of Team Hort. There is plenty on my to-do list and
- [Bottom of the Barrel](https://niedergall.com/bottom-of-the-barrel/) - Bloggers often recap their most popular posts of the year, but what about the least popular? These are my five posts since Niedergall.com launched in late 2019 that received the least amount of traffic (excluding content like videos and Sunday Prayers). Number Five Facing Death with Bergman Here I shared some theological reflections after watching
- [O Little Town of Bethlehem](https://niedergall.com/o-little-town-of-bethlehem/) - [et_pb_section admin_label=”section”] [et_pb_row admin_label=”row”] [et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text”]A visit to Bethlehem by famed Boston preacher Phillips Brooks inspired him to write a carol for a Christmas Sunday school service. And folks in 1868 sang this carol, “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” for the very first time. This beloved song draws attention to the wonderful fact that
- [Is Laughter Wrong?](https://niedergall.com/is-laughter-wrong/) - Watch me do bad etymology as I trace our English word Jell-O back to the Greek word γέλως to figure out whether James wants us to laugh or not.
- [Book Review: Hebrew for Life](https://niedergall.com/book-review-hebrew-for-life/) - Ever heard the one about the two frogs on the farm who inadvertently ended up in a pail half full of milk? The first frog, viewing the situation as hopeless, soon gives up hope and succumbs to a milky grave. The second, refusing to be intimidated, kicks and kicks his little frog legs. He refuses
- [Biblical Studies and Theology Christmas Gift Ideas?](https://niedergall.com/biblical-studies-and-theology-christmas-gift-ideas/) - I’ve posted almost thirty book reviews on my blog since launching niedergall.com last year. Based on my recollections, I’ve haphazardly ordered these reviews counting down to my number one favourite. Keep in mind that I requested or bought all of these books so just because a book appears to rank low doesn’t mean I don’t
- [Best Exegetical Tools for NT Greek?](https://niedergall.com/best-exegetical-tools-for-nt-greek/) - The abundance of tools for studying the New Testament in its original language can be overwhelming. I took my first seminary Greek course in 2014 and have come across many tools since then as a pastor who likes to think he stays abreast of what’s available for exegesis. Below I’ve ranked the resources I’ve found
- [Serendipity for Singing, Not Sinning](https://niedergall.com/serendipity-for-singing-not-sinning/) - Christmas is the only holiday you never want to arrive because that means Christmas is going to end. What makes the Christmas season so enjoyable is the season itself and the anticipation. So we’ll take down the lights. We’ll pack away the decorations. And eventually, we’ll stop listening to Christmas music. No more “O Holy
- [The Reformed Dogmatics of Vos](https://niedergall.com/the-reformed-dogmatics-of-vos/) - Geerhardus Vos was a Dutch theologian who taught in American seminaries for over four decades spanning the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. He’s probably best known for his Biblical Theology, but that’s changing now that his work in systematic theology has been translated into English by Richard B. Gaffin Jr. Lexham Press has just published Reformed
- [My First Year of Blogging](https://niedergall.com/my-first-year-of-blogging/) - It was just over one year ago that www.niedergall.com launched with its inaugural post: The Simplest Explanation of the Coherence-Based Genealogical Method? My blog’s subtitle “A Feather in Your Theological Cap” gives a sense of my overall theme. I’ll wait for 2021 to recap the most popular posts, but here’s a brief reflection on my
- [Family Devotions: Short Enough and Sweet Enough](https://niedergall.com/family-devotions-short-enough-and-sweet-enough/) - There’s lots of good material out there on why you should do family devotions. But here’s a short post on how our family is spending time in family worship together. We’ve tried different things in the past, but this is what we’ve settled on lately that really seems to work well for us. In case you're
- [Thankful for Systematicians](https://niedergall.com/thankful-for-systematicians/) - Here are three good reasons to express gratitude for published works of systematic theology.
- [Jesus Devotion Early and Modern](https://niedergall.com/jesus-devotion-early-and-modern/) - Introduction Like many Americans around my age, I grew up watching Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. I was a fan. And sometime after Fred Rogers' death, I read about how he made it a point to respond to every letter he received from his fans. It made me wish I would have written to him when I
- [Do I Really Need a Logos 9 Base Package?](https://niedergall.com/do-i-really-need-a-logos-9-base-package/) - I’m an admitted double-minded waverer when it comes to Bible software. I recognize the convenience, the power, and the cost benefit. But I like the comfort of tangible books. Software feels ephemeral and transitory. Here today, gone tomorrow. You just never know what could happen. Am I right? Books are safe on my desk and
- [The Curse in the Colophon](https://niedergall.com/the-curse-in-the-colophon/) - Edgar J. Goodspeed was Professor of Biblical and Patristic Greek at the University of Chicago, eventually becoming Chairman of the Department of New Testament and Early Christian Literature. He also wrote a novel back in 1935 entitled The Curse in the Colophon. And it’s one that any NT Greek fan worth their NA28 textual apparatus
- [What Is the Antidote?](https://niedergall.com/what-is-the-antidote/) - Mr. Yuk? Poison and speech? Here's another short devotional from the book of James.
- [Linguistics and New Testament Greek](https://niedergall.com/linguistics-and-new-testament-greek/) - Last year, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary hosted a conference dubbed “Linguistics and New Testament Greek: Key Issues in the Current Debate.” I was there. It was fun. And I was happy to see Baker has released a book with the same name—Linguistics and New Testament Greek: Key Issues in the Current Debate. The presenters packaged
- [The Need for Creeds Today](https://niedergall.com/the-need-for-creeds-today/) - Do you feel the need? The need for creeds? Does the church have such a need? J. V. Fesko effectively says, “You bet it does.” He makes his case over the course of five chapters in what is a useful and fairly short book from Baker Academic—The Need for Creeds Today: Confessional Faith in a
- [Sunday Prayer (Psalm 139)](https://niedergall.com/sunday-prayer-psalm-139/) - This is the latest in the series of corporate prayers for Sunday worship that I’m writing from the Psalms, working through them in reverse order. Our Lord, We praise you. Wonderful are your works. Wonderful is your knowledge. Precious are your thoughts. You hear our words. You know our thoughts. Because you have searched us. You know
- [Why Shouldn't I Teach?](https://niedergall.com/why-shouldnt-i-teach/) - Here's another short, hopefully engaging, and hopefully informative Bible challenge from the book of James. This time on the danger of stumbling in the use of our speech (something that's easy to do with verbal speech and digital speech).
- [New Testament Commentary Guide](https://niedergall.com/new-testament-commentary-guide/) - How do you decide which commentaries to include in your exegetical arsenal? As an expository preacher, I’ve always felt the responsible thing to do is load up on good commentaries before delving into a new book of the Bible for a sermon series. And there are flocks and herds of commentaries to choose from. How
- [Facing Death with Bergman](https://niedergall.com/facing-death-with-bergman/) - Halloween must be approaching because my neighbour has a giant inflatable jack-o'-lantern on his roof. And while our family doesn't make a big deal out of the holiday, I’ve seen The Nightmare Before Christmas. Halloween is the closest many in this world ever come to celebrating anything dealing with death. Death also happens to be
- [Is New Docs Something New to You?](https://niedergall.com/is-new-docs-something-new-to-you/) - For those who study the Greek New Testament, there’s a set of lexical tools that don’t receive enough attention. It’s a set of slim-ish, mismatched volumes that offer a glimpse into how the words of the New Testament were used in real-life historical contexts. There are currently ten volumes in the New Documents Illustrating Early
- [Is Your Faith Dead?](https://niedergall.com/is-your-faith-dead/) - What does the film with the longest production time in motion picture history have in common with the book of James?
- [Three Meals, Two Covenants, One Kingdom](https://niedergall.com/three-meals-two-covenants-one-kingdom/) - Two chicken-fried steaks with gravy and sliced onions. A triple-patty bacon cheeseburger. Cheese omelet with ground beef, tomatoes, onions, bell peppers, and jalapenos. A bowl of fried okra and ketchup. One pound of barbecued meat with half a loaf of white bread. Three fajitas. A meat lovers pizza. One pint of ice cream. A slab
- [Sunday Prayer (Psalm 140)](https://niedergall.com/sunday-prayer-psalm-140/) - This is the latest in the series of corporate prayers for Sunday worship that I’m writing from the Psalms, working through them in reverse order. O Lord, we praise you. We give thanks to your name. We honour you. You are the strength of our salvation. You are our strong deliverer. Thank you for your mercy. Thank
- [Sunday Prayer (Psalm 141)](https://niedergall.com/sunday-prayer-psalm-141/) - This is the latest in the series of corporate prayers for Sunday worship that I’m writing from the Psalms, working through them in reverse order. O Lord, we call unto you and trust that you will hear us. You are our help and our shield. We trust in you. Our help comes from you, the
- [Why All This Waking?](https://niedergall.com/why-all-this-waking/) - We all know that feeling of waking up in the morning. You’re moving slowly. Your head is swimming in a fog. Your brain isn’t ready to think until you drink your coffee or take a shower. You could use a jolt of energy. You need energized. I like how David, in the book of Psalms,
- [Public Reading of Scripture](https://niedergall.com/public-reading-of-scripture/) - Others have written helpful material for the public reading of God's Word in a church service. (I included links to some good ones at the end of this post.) But here is what we came up with so we can hand something short and instructive for those serving in this ministry at our church. The
- [Greek New Testament Manuscripts Missing No Longer](https://niedergall.com/greek-new-testament-manuscripts-missing-no-longer/) - The romance of old-fashioned detective work and Tischendorfesque manuscript discoveries has been largely reduced to emails and library searches. On the plus side, this means that almost anyone can jump in and give it a try. Case in point: me. Look at what just arrived on my doorstep from Germany. As a kind expression of
- [Remembering Farid Ahmad Khpalwak (1989–2020)](https://niedergall.com/remembering-farid-ahmad-khpalwak/) - On Saturday 26 September 2020 at approximately 8:00 am local time, my good friend Captain Farid Ahmad Khpalwak was killed by insurgents at a Taliban checkpoint in Pul-e Qandahari, Logar Province. His three fellow Afghan National Army soldiers travelling with him on their return journey from Kabul to FOB Thunder in Gardez, Paktiya were also
- [What Do You Buy Time For?](https://niedergall.com/what-do-you-buy-time-for/) - Did you get everything accomplished this past week that you wanted to accomplish? Do you have deadlines and projects looming over you for the week ahead? We all want more time. We all want to be as productive as possible. And each of us probably approaches the challenge of getting things done differently. Carson Tate,
- [Biblical Studies Carnival 175 for September 2020](https://niedergall.com/biblical-studies-carnival-175/) - September is over, biblio-blogging’s still alive. Let’s celebrate with Carnival Number One Seventy-Five. It was September ‘91 that Dr. Suess died, In his memory, this rhyming carnival I tried. Have a ball. Scroll down. Scroll up.Enjoy a blogging assortment in one handy rollup. Archaeology A cavity was discovered that could’ve been real neat,Guess we’ll never know since
- [Why This Choice?](https://niedergall.com/why-this-choice/) - Always chosen last? Dear Abby? Why the poor? A short devotional from Pastor Brent Niedergall as a ministry of Victory Baptist Church in Port Coquitlam, BC.
- [Sunday Prayer (Psalm 142)](https://niedergall.com/sunday-prayer-psalm-142/) - This is the latest in the series of corporate prayers for Sunday worship that I’m writing from the Psalms, working through them in reverse order. Our Merciful Lord, we come before you with praise and petition. We humbly ask that you would hear our pleas and accept our worship. There are some today who may
- [The Sovereignty of Ancient Babylonian Gods](https://niedergall.com/the-sovereignty-of-ancient-babylonian-gods/) - You probably don’t think you know much—probably nothing—about the gods of ancient Babylon. But you might know a little more than you think. Remember Mordecai? Esther’s cousin in the book of Esther? And, from the book of Daniel, remember King Nebuchadnezzar? Well, Mordecai—he gets his name from Marduk, the supreme Babylonian god. King of the Gods.
- [Why This Title?](https://niedergall.com/why-this-title/) - Chocolate Thunder? The Glory? What's going on with this title in the book of James? Here's this week's video (8 minutes long) in an ongoing series for my church and anyone else who wants to watch it.
- [Good, Not Safe](https://niedergall.com/good-not-safe/) - Towards the beginning of the book of Revelation, there are these seven letters written to seven churches. Seven letters to seven actual churches from John’s day. And one of these churches John writes to is the church of Thyatira. And he says there’s a lot of good stuff going on there. They have love, faithfulness, service,
- [Book Review: Going Deeper with New Testament Greek](https://niedergall.com/book-review-going-deeper-with-new-testament-greek/) - I purchased and read the original edition of Going Deeper with New Testament Greek by Köstenberger, Merkle, and Plummer back in August 2016 when it first came out. So it was somewhat of a surprise to see B&H Academic releasing a revised edition of this intermediate Greek grammar so soon. My curiosity was piqued to
- [Sunday Prayer (Psalm 143)](https://niedergall.com/sunday-prayer-psalm-143/) - This is the latest in the series of corporate prayers for Sunday worship that I’m writing from the Psalms, working through them in reverse order. Lord, we humbly ask that you would hear our prayer. We thank you for being a merciful God who hears our pleas. Please hear our pleas for help and mercy.
- [What If Your Religion Is Worthless?](https://niedergall.com/what-if-your-religion-is-worthless/)
- [Sunday Prayer (Psalm 144)](https://niedergall.com/sunday-prayer-psalm-144/) - Lord, Every believer here can think back to how you have been a help to them. You are our help Everyone who has put their trust in the Lord Jesus has experienced your loyal love. You are our rock. Our fortress, shield, and deliverer. We find our refuge in you. Our trust is in you.
- [Two Spheres](https://niedergall.com/two-spheres/) - Back when we lived in North Carolina, our drive home often brought us down a road where our favourite radio channel would turn to broken static. Our CD player stopped working years ago, but we had a top-notch classical music station. But our listening was always interrupted when we would travel down into this little
- [How Is Hearing Like Seeing?](https://niedergall.com/how-is-hearing-like-seeing/) - The book of James is immensely practical and generally pretty easy to understand, but it raises all kinds of great questions. Why do you think James compares hearing with seeing to make his point in James 1:23–24. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man
- [Sunday Prayer (Psalm 145)](https://niedergall.com/sunday-prayer-psalm-145/) - This is the latest in the series of corporate prayers for Sunday worship that I’m writing from the Psalms, working through them in reverse order. Our God and King, we give praise to your glorious name every day, forever and ever. You are great. And you deserve our praise because of your immeasurable greatness. We
- [Ancient Mariners, Psalms, and Prayers](https://niedergall.com/ancient-mariners-psalms-and-prayers/) - I’ve always been intrigued by The Rime of the Ancient Mariner. It’s an old poem. A long, old poem by a guy named Coleridge. Out of the whole thing, I think the part most of us have any knowledge of is this one: Water, water, every where,Nor any drop to drink. Coleridge wrote this all the
- [Are You Angry?](https://niedergall.com/are-you-angry/)
- [Sunday Prayer (Psalm 146)](https://niedergall.com/sunday-prayer-psalm-146/) - This is the latest in the series of corporate prayers for Sunday worship that I’m writing from the Psalms, working through them in reverse order. Lord, we wholeheartedly praise you from within our inmost being. Our soul's response is Hallelujah. “Praise the Lord.” We commit ourselves to a life of praise, affirming your goodness for
- [Dancing David and C. S. Lewis](https://niedergall.com/dancing-david-and-c-s-lewis/) - What gets you excited? I have to admit I don’t get excited about sports. As far as outward expressions of excitement over anything goes, I might smile or occasionally clap to fit in with everyone else. But do you remember how excited King David was when they were bringing the Ark of God—the Ark of
- [Are You Deceived?](https://niedergall.com/are-you-deceived/)
- [Who Blames God?](https://niedergall.com/who-blames-god/)
- [Sunday Prayer (Psalm 147)](https://niedergall.com/sunday-prayer-psalm-147/) - This is the latest in the series of corporate prayers for Sunday worship that I'm writing from the Psalms, working through them in reverse order. Lord, thank you for the privilege to gather today and do what is good, and pleasant, and fitting—and that is to give you our praise. We praise you because in your
- [Book Review—Exegetical Guide to the Greek New Testament: Mark](https://niedergall.com/book-review-exegetical-guide-to-the-greek-new-testament-mark/) - The average exegete’s array of tools and equipment includes the Greek text, grammars, lexicons, and commentaries. Joel F. Williams has written Exegetical Guide to the Greek New Testament: Mark to help the exegete bridge those gaps that appear between Greek text and grammar or Greek text and commentary. A grammar may tell you what an
- [Puritans, Work, and the Cause of Christ](https://niedergall.com/puritans-work-and-the-cause-of-christ/) - I struggle sometimes to get a lot from the Puritans. They wrote centuries ago when the English language was very different than from how we speak and write today. But that doesn't I mean I don't enjoy a good Puritan quote! And the Puritans had a lot to say about work. The Puritans had a
- [What Is This Crown of Life?](https://niedergall.com/what-is-this-crown-of-life/)
- [Book Review: The Greek of the Pentateuch](https://niedergall.com/book-review-the-greek-of-the-pentateuch/) - The Septuagint reminds me of the Zarephath widow's jar of flour and jug of oil. It’s an inexhaustible source of benefit to its owner. And it would be wrong to restrict its study and use to the academy. Pastors can and should use the Septuagint in their exegesis. And there’s a book by John A.
- [Paradox in James 1:9–10](https://niedergall.com/paradox-in-james-19-10/)
- [Sunday Prayer (Psalm 148)](https://niedergall.com/sunday-prayer-psalm-148/) - We praise you, our excellent Lord, with joy in our hearts. We join the heavenly heights in issuing your praise. You are the God who must be praised. The sun, moon, and shining stars are even commanded to praise you. How can we not recognize, confirm, and affirm the excellence of your name? We ask
- [Another James Video](https://niedergall.com/another-james-video/) - I've enjoyed writing and editing these videos on James. Here's the latest.
- [BDAG vs. BrillDAG: Battle of the Greek Lexicons](https://niedergall.com/bdag-vs-brilldag-battle-of-the-greek-lexicons/) - Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to a unique single-round matchup in the ongoing battle of the lexicons—the bout you’ve all been waiting for. Introducing to you first on my right, bound in a burgundy cover, hailing from Chicago, and weighing in at just over 1100 pages...please welcome the number one New Testament Greek lexicon in the
- [Sunday Prayer (Psalm 149)](https://niedergall.com/sunday-prayer-psalm-149/) - Each Sunday, like most churches, we include corporate prayer as an important component of our worship service. I thought I would start sharing the ones I prepare for each week. The current plan is to just work backwards through the Psalms and adapting them to a prayer. We praise you this day, Lord. We are
- [Discovering Hope](https://niedergall.com/discovering-hope/) - Discovering Hope: Exploring the Good News of Jesus Christ By Micah ColbertIllustrated by Andrew Kilcup Evangelistic Bible studies are legion. They’re widely available. But have you ever used one with someone before? Have you ever met regularly with someone to show them the—from the Bible—the good news of Jesus? Micah Colbert has put together a simple,
- [A New YouTube Series on James](https://niedergall.com/a-new-youtube-series-on-james/) - I've been answering some questions about James in an ongoing devotional series for my church. Check it out!
- [Need a CBGM Crash Course?](https://niedergall.com/need-a-cbgm-crash-course/) - If you’re familiar with New Testament textual criticism, you’re well aware that the Coherence-Based Genealogical Method is touted to be about as easy to grasp as the Voynich manuscript or Kryptos sculpture. Joey McCollum has done us all a kind service by explaining the CBGM in a simple-to-understand manner with plenty of instructive illustrations. It’s
- [Bel and the Dragon Reader: Part 11](https://niedergall.com/bel-and-the-dragon-reader-part-11/) - Bel is back after a brief break! This time we look at verses 23–24. Series Introduction I’m facilitating an online Koine Greek reading group and we’re working through the short and apocryphal book of Bel and the Dragon. The text we’re using is the Old Greek (OG) version from Henry Barclay Swete’s 1909 edition of The
- [Bel and the Dragon Reader: Part 10](https://niedergall.com/bel-and-the-dragon-reader-part-10/) - Series Introduction I’m facilitating an online Koine Greek reading group and we’re working through the short and apocryphal book of Bel and the Dragon. The text we’re using is the Old Greek (OG) version from Henry Barclay Swete’s 1909 edition of The Old Testament in Greek: According to the Septuagint. I will be posting the text
- [Book Review: Preaching the Word with John Chrysostom](https://niedergall.com/book-review-preaching-the-word-with-john-chrysostom/) - John Chrysostom is one of those guys most Christians don’t know much about. He lived a long time ago and it’s kind of fun to say his name. I’m a fan, but not everyone digs ancient church fathers. So it’s rather surprising that Lexham Press would publish a popular-level book about the man and his
- [Book Review: An Introduction to Biblical Greek](https://niedergall.com/book-review-an-introduction-to-biblical-greek/) - There’s something different about this one. John D. Schwandt’s An Introduction to Biblical Greek: A Grammar with Exercises is different from pretty much every other grammar I’ve ever seen before. Schwandt tells hopeful students they must learn to read and write in Greek if they want the best possible understanding of the language of the
- [HALOT vs. DCH: Battle of the Hebrew Lexicons—The Final Fight](https://niedergall.com/halot-vs-dch-battle-of-the-hebrew-lexicons-the-final-fight/) - Welcome to the final installment of the series where I pit biblical language lexicon against biblical language lexicon. Accordance Bible Software has kindly sponsored three matches between the Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament (HALOT) and the Dictionary of Classical Hebrew (DCH). Each match consists of three rounds where we’ll consider three words
- [NMF and Textual Criticism](https://niedergall.com/nmf-and-textual-criticism/) - It’s becoming increasingly apparent that the advances of our digital age are making a dramatic impact within the field of New Testament textual criticism. Computer processing can perform analysis that would have previously been impossible. At the same time, this also puts a new requirement on textual critics to be versed in the realm of
- [Book Review: The Whole Counsel of God](https://niedergall.com/book-review-the-whole-counsel-of-god/) - Many vocations come with a goal to aim for. A soldier seeks promotion to a certain rank. A UPS driver aspires to enter the “Circle of Honor” for making it 25 years without an accident. A lawyer hopes to make managing partner. And Tim Patrick and Andrew Reid set forth a worthy goal for pastors
- [Book Review—Exploring the Bible Together: A 52-Week Family Worship Plan](https://niedergall.com/book-review-exploring-the-bible-together-a-52-week-family-worship-plan/) - It’s 7:30 pm, do you know where your children are? Kicking a football into the neighbor’s yard, playing video games, watching Andy Griffith or Disney Plus? Families have some kind of evening routine, whether it’s done intentionally or by default. Most of us like the idea of being intentional. Just like we like the idea
- [Book Review: Myths and Mistakes in New Testament Textual Criticism](https://niedergall.com/book-review-myths-and-mistakes-in-new-testament-textual-criticism/) - Book Review of Myths and Mistakes in New Testament Textual Criticism by Hixson and Gurry
- [DIOTI Deep-Dive: Part 1](https://niedergall.com/dioti-deep-dive-part-1/) - Chris Fresch recently raised an intriguing desideratum during the Amos session of the Cambridge Septuagint Series. Someone needs to analyze the pragmatics of the conjunction διότι. I won’t be the one to produce a clean linguistic analysis, but I would like to record my observations and conclusions as I explore this conjunction. Usually translated as
- [HALOT vs. DCH: Battle of the Hebrew Lexicons—The Rematch](https://niedergall.com/halot-vs-dch-the-rematch/) - Welcome to the series where I pit biblical language lexicon against biblical language lexicon. Accordance Bible Software has kindly sponsored three matches between HALOT and DCH. These are the acronyms for the Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament (HALOT) and the Dictionary of Classical Hebrew (DCH). And they’re the heavyweight competitors in the
- [Book Review: A Concise Dictionary of Theological Terms](https://niedergall.com/book-review-a-concise-dictionary-of-theology-terms/) - Pastors, students, theologians, and scholars rely upon reference works—big heavy ones and handy little concise ones. But pastors, students, and theologians aren’t the only ones who should own some helpful books for understanding God’s Word. What about Sunday school teachers, small group leaders, and church members? Why don’t more Christians own a volume of systematic
- [Biblical Studies Carnival 169 for March 2020](https://niedergall.com/biblical-studies-carnival-169-for-march-2020/) - Introduction Welcome to the Biblical Studies Carnival 169 for March 2020! After weeks of social distancing, you can now peruse the best of biblical studies—the thrills, the fun, and all the excitement churned out across the Internet and curated here. And don’t miss the tempting prizes and games! There’s an exclusive steal of a coupon
- [Announcement: New Max & Moritz in Biblical Greek Page](https://niedergall.com/announcement-new-max-moritz-in-biblical-greek-page/) - I've added a new page to promote the book I had the privilege of co-editing: Max and Moritz in Biblical Greek. You can view the page here.
- [Bel and the Dragon Reader: Part 9](https://niedergall.com/bel-and-the-dragon-reader-part-9/) - Series Introduction I’m facilitating an online Koine Greek reading group and we’re working through the short and apocryphal book of Bel and the Dragon. The text we’re using is the Old Greek (OG) version from Henry Barclay Swete’s 1909 edition of The Old Testament in Greek: According to the Septuagint. I will be posting the
- [Book Review—Spirits in Bondage: A Cycle of Lyrics](https://niedergall.com/book-review-spirits-in-bondage-a-cycle-of-lyrics/) - You know all those great books by C. S. Lewis? The Chronicles of Narnia, The Screwtape Letters, The Great Divorce, Mere Christianity, and a bunch more. But what is Spirits in Bondage: A Cycle of Lyrics, other than a generally ignored and forgotten book of poetry by a young, unconverted Lewis? This is not the
- [HALOT vs. DCH: Battle of the Hebrew Lexicons—Match 1](https://niedergall.com/halot-vs-dch-battle-of-the-hebrew-lexicons-match-1/) - Welcome to the series where I pit biblical language lexicon against biblical language lexicon. Accordance Bible Software has kindly sponsored three matches between HALOT and DCH. These acronyms are for the Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament (HALOT) and the Dictionary of Classical Hebrew (DCH). And they’re the heavyweight competitors in the relatively-recently-published
- [Biblical Studies Carnival 169 Giveaway Winners](https://niedergall.com/biblical-studies-carnival-169-giveaway-winners/) - Congratulations to the winners of the Biblical Studies Carnival 169 giveaways! Lexham English Septuagint WINNER Ken N. Special thanks to Lexham Press for providing a copy of the new Lexham English Septuagint for this giveaway! Max and Moritz in Biblical Greek WINNERS Duncan J. Mark K. Congratulations! And thanks to everyone who participated. I hope
- [Book Review—Reformation Commentary on Scripture: Joshua, Judges, Ruth](https://niedergall.com/book-review-rcs-joshua-judges-ruth/) - The breadth and depth of commentaries available to us are astounding. There are exegetical, homiletical, pastoral, devotional, textual, and grammatical commentaries. There are commentaries on cultural backgrounds and historical context, not to mention biblical context and a host of others. And the beauty is that almost every one of these has at least something helpful
- [Bel and the Dragon Reader: Part 7](https://niedergall.com/bel-and-the-dragon-reader-part-7/) - Series Introduction I’m facilitating an online Koine Greek reading group and we’re working through the short and apocryphal book of Bel and the Dragon. The text we’re using is the Old Greek (OG) version from Henry Barclay Swete’s 1909 edition of The Old Testament in Greek: According to the Septuagint. I will be posting the
- [Bel and the Dragon Reader: Part 8](https://niedergall.com/bel-and-the-dragon-reader-part-8/) - Series Introduction I’m facilitating an online Koine Greek reading group and we’re working through the short and apocryphal book of Bel and the Dragon. The text we’re using is the Old Greek (OG) version from Henry Barclay Swete’s 1909 edition of The Old Testament in Greek: According to the Septuagint. I will be posting the text
- [BDAG vs. Thayer: Battle of the Greek Lexicons](https://niedergall.com/bdag-vs-thayer/) - In a previous post, I compared the two most widely used Hebrew lexicons, BDB and HALOT. Now, I want to do the same thing for Greek lexicons. The question to answer this time is If I’m using Thayer, should I get BDAG? This may sound like a nonsensical, no-brainer question to some. But there are
- [Bel and the Dragon Reader: Part 6](https://niedergall.com/bel-and-the-dragon-reader-part-6/) - Series Introduction I’m facilitating an online Koine Greek reading group and we’re working through the short and apocryphal book of Bel and the Dragon. The text we’re using is the Old Greek (OG) version from Henry Barclay Swete’s 1909 edition of The Old Testament in Greek: According to the Septuagint. I will be posting the
- [BDB vs. HALOT: Battle of the Hebrew Lexicons](https://niedergall.com/bdb-vs-halot/) - I’ve been studying the book of Haggai for a Sunday school series I’m teaching, and I’ve used it as an opportunity to help answer a common question among pastors, If I already have BDB, should I get HALOT? This is a question about Hebrew lexicons. BDB is short for Brown-Driver-Briggs, the editors of The Brown-Driver-Briggs
- [Why the Movie is Better than the Book (Sometimes)](https://niedergall.com/why-the-movie-is-better-than-the-book-sometimes/) - The often profound Seth Lewis recently shared a reflective post on why books beat movies (check it out here; he has a way with words). But is this always the case? What would it take for a film to outrank its printed counterpart? I have heard Lord of the Rings fans preach their preference for
- [A. W. Tozer on Christmas](https://niedergall.com/a-w-tozer-on-christmas/) - Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory. -1 Tim. 3:16 (ESV) The birth of Christ was a divine declaration, an eternal statement to a race of fallen
- [Friday Favorites (10 JAN 20)](https://niedergall.com/friday-favorites-10-jan-20/) - Findings From Around The Web to Butter Your Grits Greg Ross somehow manages to find the craziest examples of King James Version gematria you’ve ever seen. His most recent deals with the millionth digit of π. And here’s an older one on Shakespeare. Charlotte Higgins offers a comprehensive overview of some recent dubious dealings in
- [Book Review: Preaching for a Verdict](https://niedergall.com/book-review-preaching-for-a-verdict/) - After reading Preaching for a Verdict: Recovering the Role of Exhortation by J. Josh Smith, I have a new criterion for evaluating preaching. Is the preacher urging his hearers to action? On Sunday, I listened to two sermons. This morning, I read over my manuscript for the next sermon I intend to preach. Is there
- [Present, Past, and Purpose: The Historical Present in the New Testament](https://niedergall.com/present-past-and-purpose-the-historical-present-in-the-new-testament/) - My TV stopped working. Or my TV remote stopped working. I couldn’t tell which because I could get the TV to do some things, but not others. Thankfully, there’s a simple test to see if your remote is working. Remotes emit infrared light. And although the naked eye can’t see infrared light, you can with
- [Friday Favorites (31 JAN 20)](https://niedergall.com/friday-favorites-31-jan-20/) - Findings From Around The Web to Butter Your Grits Joey McCollum offers an introduction to his work of producing an open-source implementation of the Coherence-Based Genealogical Method (CBGM) in a guest post at Evangelical Textual Criticism. The Biblical Studies Blog continues to update their list of commentaries in the Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools series
- [Birds, Bats, Hearts, and Love](https://niedergall.com/birds-bats-hearts-and-love/) - An early Valentine’s dinner last night led to chicken parmigiana on the table. When you’re eating chicken parm, you probably don’t give lots of thought to the reality that you’re eating a dead bird. What other birds have you eaten before? Turkey, maybe duck, pheasant. I’ve had dove. But we have a pretty short menu
- [Can You Return to Somewhere You’ve Never Been?](https://niedergall.com/can-you-return-to-somewhere-youve-never-been/) - There are plenty of places I could conceivably return to. I could return to Canada, Afghanistan, or Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania. I could return to those places because I’ve been to those places before. I could not, on the other hand, return to Cuba, Albania, or Punxsutawney. I could not return to those places because I’ve
- [The Lexham English Septuagint And Its Place In History](https://niedergall.com/the-lexham-english-septuagint-and-its-place-in-history/) - Lexham Press kindly sent me a beautiful copy of the new The Lexham English Septuagint. The introduction is only several pages long, but it packs in a lot of excellent information. One topic that caught my attention was the history of English translations of the Septuagint. How many English translations of the Septuagint have there
- [Speedgate: A Review](https://niedergall.com/speedgate-a-review/) - Amidst fears of artificial intelligence taking over the world, it has created a new sport. It’s called Speedgate. And when I first heard about a sport that combines elements of rugby, ultimate frisbee, soccer, and croquet—I wanted to try it. You can check out the official website here. According to the game’s AKQA, the people
- [Book Review: Who Is the Holy Spirit?](https://niedergall.com/book-review-who-is-the-holy-spirit/) - What do you do for a living? It’s one of the first things most of us do when we meet someone new. We conceptualize our identities in terms of what we do. Who is the Holy Spirit? Systematic theologies speak to His deity and personality, before moving on to His work. But it’s the work
- [Thoughts on Spirits in Bondage by C. S. Lewis](https://niedergall.com/thoughts-on-spirits-in-bondage-by-c-s-lewis/) - “I am the bomb…” —C.S. Lewis, Spirits in Bondage: A Cycle of Lyrics I’ve been slowly working my way through Letters of C. S. Lewis and in these letters, Lewis discusses his first book, Spirits in Bondage: A Cycle of Lyrics. He wrote to his father in 1918 about how he had amused himself over
- [Bel and the Dragon Reader: Part 5](https://niedergall.com/bel-and-the-dragon-reader-part-5/) - Series Introduction I’m facilitating an online Koine Greek reading group and we’re working through the short and apocryphal book of Bel and the Dragon. The text we’re using is the Old Greek (OG) version from Henry Barclay Swete’s 1909 edition of The Old Testament in Greek: According to the Septuagint. I will be posting the
- [Review of High Definition Commentary: Galatians](https://niedergall.com/review-of-high-definition-commentary-galatians/) - Every Sunday, more preachers than we would like to think stand behind pulpits and incorrectly explain various features of the Greek language in the New Testament. Grammatical misunderstandings of the aorist tense form and the present active imperative have been carefully passed down from generation to generation along with lexical misconceptions of words like ἀγαπάω
- [Bel and the Dragon Greek Reader: Part 1](https://niedergall.com/bel-and-the-dragon-greek-reader-part-1/) - [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.3.2″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.3.2″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.3.2″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.3.2″] Series Introduction I’m facilitating an online Koine Greek reading group and we’re working through the short and apocryphal book of Bel and the Dragon. The text we’re using is the Old Greek (OG) version from Henry Barclay Swete’s 1909 edition of The Old Testament in Greek: According to
- [Bel and the Dragon Greek Reader: Part 2](https://niedergall.com/bel-and-the-dragon-greek-reader-part-2/) - Series Introduction I’m facilitating an online Koine Greek reading group and we’re working through the short and apocryphal book of Bel and the Dragon. The text we’re using is the Old Greek (OG) version from Henry Barclay Swete’s 1909 edition of The Old Testament in Greek: According to the Septuagint. I will be posting the
- [Bel and the Dragon Reader: Part 3](https://niedergall.com/bel-and-the-dragon-reader-part-3/) - Series Introduction I’m facilitating an online Koine Greek reading group and we’re working through the short and apocryphal book of Bel and the Dragon. The text we’re using is the Old Greek (OG) version from Henry Barclay Swete’s 1909 edition of The Old Testament in Greek: According to the Septuagint. I will be posting the
- [Bel and the Dragon Reader: Part 4](https://niedergall.com/bel-and-the-dragon-reader-part-4/) - Series Introduction I’m facilitating an online Koine Greek reading group and we’re working through the short and apocryphal book of Bel and the Dragon. The text we’re using is the Old Greek (OG) version from Henry Barclay Swete’s 1909 edition of The Old Testament in Greek: According to the Septuagint. I will be posting the
- [Book Review: Superheroes Can't Save You](https://niedergall.com/book-review-superheroes-cant-save-you/) - It’s pretty rare to find Superman, Batman, and Spider-Man in a book on theology. Theologians typically draw the line at Jesus Christ when it comes to who can save the world. So where do superheroes come in when it comes to theology? Well, Jesus Christ is, in fact, the subject and even superhero of Superheroes
- [He or She? The KJV, the MT, and Gender Mismatch](https://niedergall.com/he-or-she-the-kjv-the-mt-and-gender-mismatch/) - Who is he, he is she, and me is who. That’s a phrase Hebrew students learn to remember how the Hebrew word pronounced WHO means “he,” the Hebrew word pronounced HE means “she,” and the Hebrew word pronounced ME means “who.” Slightly confusing (and this is probably the only time Christians will ever want to
- [Book Review: Introduction to the Septuagint](https://niedergall.com/book-review-introduction-to-the-septuagint/) - We just can’t seem to get enough of the Septuagint. It appears to be approaching the levels of demand usually reserved for stuff like coffee, chocolate, friendship, and sunlight. It’s fair to say that I own more Septuagint-related books than I reasonably require. And I’m not alone. The Septuagint business is booming, and I’m thankful
- [Book Review: von Siebenthal’s Ancient Greek Grammar for the Study of the New Testament](https://niedergall.com/book-review-von-siebenthals-ancient-greek-grammar-for-the-study-of-the-new-testament/) - How I wish I could say I’ve internalized Koine Greek! How nice it would be to sit down and read my Greek New Testament with the same level of proficiency I have with English! But the reality is, I haven’t spent the thousands of hours of immersion necessary to equip me with such a degree
- [Friday Favorites (24 JAN 20)](https://niedergall.com/friday-favorites-24-jan-20/) - Findings From Around The Web to Butter Your Grits Timothy N. Mitchell at The Textual Mechanic explains how an ancient author could exercise control over a message by tasking their messenger to deliver an oral message along with their letter. Clint Archer at The Cripplegate says communion isn’t communion if you have too few or
- [Corn and Unicorns: Misleading Mental Representations from the KJV](https://niedergall.com/corn-and-unicorns-misleading-mental-representations-from-the-kjv/) - Mark Ward, both on his blog and in his book, has done a lot of good work on exposing “false friends” in the King James Version. These are words that meant something different to the 1611 translators than they mean to readers today. And the KJV is crawling with them (e.g., bowels, conversation, swellings). The
- [Release Announcement: open-cbgm](https://niedergall.com/release-announcement-open-cbgm/) - It was only a matter of time until someone reverse engineered the Coherence-Based Genealogical Method. The “black box” is now open and freely available thanks to Joey McCollum. His C++ implementation is open-source, compact, fast, and compliant with established standards of the field. It runs on Windows, MacOS, and Linux. And for a first, it can
- [Friday Favorites (17 JAN 20)](https://niedergall.com/friday-favorites-17-jan-20/) - Findings From Around The Web to Butter Your Grits Ever wonder if there’s a better way to learn Greek? Here’s a thread over at B-Greek: The Biblical Greek Forum on the weaknesses of the standard “grammar translation method.” Who is Melchizedek? Peter Goeman gives some good answers in this blog post. Rob Plummer has just
- [John: A Canonical Discipleship Manual](https://niedergall.com/john-a-canonical-discipleship-manual/) - Christians love to talk about discipleship. We know it’s our responsibility, and we have all kinds of programs to do it. As a pastor, I have a shelf of books on the subject. Discipling others is critical. Making disciples is critical. It's the Great Commission. But discipleship isn't just something we do to others. We
- [Book Review: A Little Book for New Preachers](https://niedergall.com/book-review-a-little-book-for-new-preachers/) - Like many, I’ve worked a variety of jobs over the years. There was the quintessential paper route, in high school I did odd jobs around a funeral home, and later sold clothing at a retail outlet. In college, I washed cars for two different dealerships. Since then, I’ve taken on other job titles like soldier,
- [You and Your Cheer](https://niedergall.com/you-and-your-cheer/) - I like how different states take pride in their own unique regional sodas. In New York, they have Manhattan Special. In Michigan, they drink Vernors Ginger Ale. In North Carolina, we have Cheerwine. If you’ve never heard of Cheerwine before, don’t let the name fool you. There’s no alcohol. You won’t find any wine in
- [Book Review: Reformed Preaching (Part 1)](https://niedergall.com/book-review-reformed-preaching-part-1/) - Introduction It may say “Reformed Preaching” in bold letters on the cover, but non-reformed readers shouldn’t let the title of this book scare them away. With a title long enough to make a Puritan proud, Reformed Preaching: Proclaiming God’s Word from the Heart of the Preacher to the Heart of His People is a great
- [Friday Favorites (03 JAN 20)](https://niedergall.com/friday-favorites-03-jan-20/) - Findings From Around The Web to Butter Your Grits Mark Ward critiques the response of the Triniarian Bible Society’s handling of five questions on the readability of the King James Version. Read his insights here. Alex Finkelson has posted Biblical Studies Carnival 167 covering December 2019 at Scribes of the Kingdom. You’ll find a host
- [Harmonizing with 'Biblical Inerrancy Eyes'](https://niedergall.com/harmonizing-with-biblical-inerrancy-eyes/) - I couldn’t find the quote, but I remember reading somewhere—maybe it was Robert Capon, who said it’s not the actual day of Christmas that’s so enjoyable, but the weeks leading up to it. That’s what most of us truly like about Christmas. We find a large part of our joy in the anticipation. And then
- [Top Ten Reads of 2019](https://niedergall.com/top-ten-reads-of-2019/) - Taking a cue from others, I looked back over the books I read in 2019. These are my top ten by rank. Who knows, you might see a title or two that piques your interest! ONE God’s Battle Plan for the Mind By David W. Saxton How to meditate like a Puritan. TWO Reformed Preaching
- [How to Turn a Book into a Sunday School Series](https://niedergall.com/how-to-turn-a-book-into-a-sunday-school-series/) - Introduction Teaching a Sunday school class, especially one for teens or adults, can be tough. Prefabricated curriculum can feel a bit canned. People aren’t looking for another sermon knowing they’ll get one right after class. They want to participate in something that’s engaging and practical. One way Sunday school classes attempt to provide this is
- [Friday Favorites (27 DEC 19)](https://niedergall.com/friday-favorites-27-dec-19/) - Findings From Around The Web To Butter Your Grits William A. Ross equips Septuagint readers for a productive 2020 by offering some helpful suggestions and tools at Septuagint & C. Peter Gurry dusts off a helpful statement from Bernard Ramm on textual criticism at the Evangelical Textual Criticism blog. This 2007 Tyndale Bulletin article by
- [A Theology of Running: Prolegomena](https://niedergall.com/a-theology-of-running-prolegomena/) - Introduction It was Christmas morning—four o’clock Christmas morning. I woke up, checked the temperature outside, and dressed accordingly for a run. With the temperature in the upper thirties, all you need is shorts, long sleeves, and gloves. My hands seem to get cold easily. I did a few quick stretches and took off up the
- [Book Review: Exegetical Gems from Biblical Greek](https://niedergall.com/book-review-exegetical-gems-from-biblical-greek/) - “Use it or lose it” doesn’t just apply to corporate budgets, Flexible Spending Accounts, and high school Spanish (¡Lo siento Señora LaRosa!). It’s the well-known reality of many with a few semesters of Greek under their belt. So here’s a book for anyone who wants to sharpen their biblical Greek skills. In Exegetical Gems from
- [An Obscure Greek Question No Longer Waiting for an Answer](https://niedergall.com/an-obscure-greek-question-no-longer-waiting-for-an-answer/) - Internet message boards and social networks normally serve as bustling forums where people can ask questions and expect rapid answers. Recently, however, I came across one question that had been languishing in the data dunes for years. Someone was re-asking a question from eight years before that they felt never got its day in court.
- [Friday Favorites (20 DEC 19)](https://niedergall.com/friday-favorites-20-dec-19/) - Findings From Around The Web To Butter Your Grits Stephen Kneale analogizes from soccer to underline the importance of balancing underwork and overwork in the church in When Doing Less May Be Doing More. Chris Fresch talks problems and solutions for biblical language students learning vocab in Some Thoughts on Hebrew (and Greek) Vocabulary Acquisition.
- [Consider a Reading Challenge](https://niedergall.com/consider-a-reading-challenge/) - 2020 Christian Reading Challenge
- [The Simplest Explanation of the Coherence-Based Genealogical Method?](https://niedergall.com/the-simplest-explanation-of-the-coherence-based-genealogical-method/) - Despite its forbidding name and associated jargon, conceptually, the CBGM is not as complicated as everyone makes it out to be. Essentially, it is all about the direction of flow between readings. The user makes anterior/posterior decisions on all the variants. The CBGM uses the power of computers to incorporate all of those directional decisions and reveal their combined influence on relationships between textual witnesses. You might choose one direction between readings (and the witnesses which contain those readings) in one instance and then choose another direction between readings that reflect a different direction between some of those witnesses. Based on the consistency of the resulting textual flows between witnesses, the user can then make subsequent passes to adjust their textual decisions to harmonize where directions conflict.

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- [Bible Software](https://niedergall.com/tag/bible-software/)
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- [Christmas carols](https://niedergall.com/tag/christmas-carols/)
- [Proverbs](https://niedergall.com/tag/proverbs/)
- [Devotion](https://niedergall.com/tag/devotion/)
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- [Frame](https://niedergall.com/tag/frame/)
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- [Reformed Dogmatics](https://niedergall.com/tag/reformed-dogmatics/)
- [Bernard Ramm](https://niedergall.com/tag/bernard-ramm/)
- [Old Testament](https://niedergall.com/tag/old-testament/)
- [historical theology](https://niedergall.com/tag/historical-theology/)

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