Sean the Baptist (in the UCA)

Durham PhD Studentship: The Fourfold Gospel and its Rivals

This from Francis Watson via the the British New Testament Conference mailing list:

My AHRC-funded project on “The Fourfold Gospel and its Rivals” has a PhD studentship attached that will provide three years worth of home fees (or equivalent) and living expenses in 2013-16. The double focus of the project is on early Christian gospels (canonical and noncanonical) and on gospel reception in the patristic era, which should cater for applicants wishing to work primarily in the New Testament field or in patristics – although some overlap would be likely. I’d be most grateful if colleagues would draw this opening to the attention of current or recent students who may be interested in pursuing a PhD in this area. The following suggestions illustrate the kind of PhD topic that would fit the terms of the proj ect, but many others are equally possible: (1) The Protevangelium of James in its relationship to Matthew and Luke, and its later historical and theological significance. (2) Patristic views on gospel origins, from Papias to Augustine. (3) The relationship between selected “gnostic” gospels (e.g. Mary, Judas, Philip, etc.) and the canonical ones. (4) The construction and purpose of either Marcion’s Luke or Tatian’s Diatessaron. (5) Revelatory discourse in John 14-16 and selected “gnostic” gospels. (6) The role of writing in the transmission of the early Jesus tradition: how far back does it go? (7) Tradition, reception, and the “historical Jesus”. (8) Factors involved in the construction of the four-gospel collection. (9) The hermeneutical significance of the four gospel collection. (10) Public responses to publication of newly discovered gospel literature, c.1890-2012. Applicants should have a good first degree in theology/religious studies, a completed or a current MA, and experience in the study of the Greek New Testament. Applications will be submitted in the normal way (for which see the Durham Department of Theology and Religion website), specifying the AHRC project studentship. A detailed research proposal will not be essential, although it may be an advantage. Preliminary enquiries may be addressed to Prof Francis Watson ([email protected]). The closing date for applications for this position will be Monday, 25 February 2013, and the successful applicant will be notified in early March.

Beverley Gaventa to move to Baylor

News just in from Nijay Gupta. Good news for Baylor. No doubt Princeton already have a shortlist of potential replacements.

Come and Work at the United Faculty of Theology

The United Faculty of Theology here in Melbourne is looking for a new Dean. If Academic administration and leadership is your thing (i.e. you have the right experience and qualifications) and you would enjoy working in an exciting and challenging ecumenical environment in theological education, then take a look at the formal information below.

The United Faculty of Theology (UFT) calls for applicants for the position of a full-time Dean.

In renewing its commitment to ecumenical theological education, the UFT is seeking a Dean who will serve the policies and priorities of the UFT and give leadership in the context of the present opportunities and challenges. The position requires experience in theological education and expertise in working with academic teachers, students and administrative staff.

The position will commence in March 2013, but a later starting time would be negotiable. The position is offered in the first instance for a period of three years.

Applications close: 31 January 2013 and should be sent to Margaret Tropea [email protected]; Ph +613 9340 8892

c/o United Faculty of Theology, 29 College Crescent, Parkville 3052, Victoria.

A Position Description is available on request.

Ebeling on Interpretation

"...the task of interpretation can never be replaced by a kind of sieve, with which it may be hoped to separate the religious wheat from the historical chaff."

Gerhard Ebeling, Introduction to a Theological Theory of Language (London: Collins, 1973), 22.

New Book on Baptism: Recovering the Evangelical Sacrament

News has come through of the imminent publication of a new book on baptism by Anthony Cross.

The subject of baptism continues to be of considerable interest—though it frequently appears within broader studies of sacraments, liturgy, worship, and ecumenical studies, and within confessional bounds: credobaptist or paedobaptist—yet it is rarely discussed by Evangelicals. This book, however, is neither an apologetic for credobaptism nor paedobaptism; rather Cross believes that, as practised today, both forms are a departure from New Testament baptism, which, he maintains, was an integral part of becoming a Christian and part of the proclaimed gospel. He argues that the “one baptism” of Ephesians 4:5 is conversion-baptism and that the baptism referred to in the various New Testament strata refers to this “one baptism” (of Spirit and water). The study sets out the case for this interpretation and contends that in key passages “baptism” is an example of synecdoche. The case is then made for a sacramental interpretation of baptism from a thoroughgoing Evangelical perspective. Cross concludes with reflections on the necessity of baptismal reform and the relevance of a return to conversion-baptism for the contemporary church in a post-Christian, post-Christendom, mission setting.

‘The challenge of this thesis … is essentially simple: we are called and challenged simply to accord the significance to baptism that it is accorded within the New Testament.’
John E. Cowell, Minister, Budleigh Salterton Baptist Church, UK, and Senior Research Fellow, Spurgeon’s College, London
 
‘This is a remarkably detailed, biblically focused, and ecumenically sensitive book on the sacrament of baptism. Like Beasley-Murray in his classic study on baptism, Anthony R. Cross brings new insight to the indispensable role of Christian initiation both in personal faith and the life of the church. Highly recommended!’
Timothy George, Founding Dean, Beeson Divinity School, Samford University, Birmingham, Alabama; Chair of the Doctrine and Christian Unity Commission of the Baptist World Alliance
 
‘This rich theological work on such a significant subject is a gift to the whole church. It is full of good scholarship, wise in judgment, and practical in its insights. We are given a timely contribution on the meaning of Christian identity, inviting us all to reflect again on the biblical teaching, our doctrinal affirmations, our sacramental understanding, and what amounts to faithful practice in the church of Christ.’
Brian Haymes, former Principal of Northern and Bristol Baptist Colleges, and President of the Baptist Union of Great Britain
 
‘Carefully using an impressive range of biblical, theological, and historical scholarship, Anthony R. Cross argues that baptism lost the importance that it had in the New Testament and pre-Nicene church; but that in post-Christendom baptism’s significance is re-emerging. When it embodies New Testament themes of conversion, faith, community, and ethics, baptism once again emerges as a sacrament of untold potential, enriching discipleship, and empowering mission.  This mature fruit of “Baptist sacramentalism” offers gifts to Christians of all traditions. I recommend it enthusiastically.’
Alan Kreider, Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Elkhart, Indiana
 
‘Anthony R. Cross makes a compelling case both for the inseparability of faith and baptism and of water and Spirit baptism. The evangelical insistence on justification by faith alone, he contends, should and must make room for “baptism” as a biblical term encompassing all three: faith, water baptism, and Spirit baptism. Arguably the most important book on baptism since George Beasley-Murray’s Baptism in the New Testament, extending and enriching the argument of that seminal work.’
J. Ramsey Michaels, Missouri State University
 

You might also like to know about two other really good books on baptism from Pickwick. I only have a flyer for the former, but the latter can be found on their website: https://wipfandstock.com/store/Baptism_Historical_Theological_and_Pastoral_Perspectives
 
I've also attached a flyer for Brandon Jones' Waters of Promise. Brandon is a young, North American Baptist scholar who has published his doctorate on a covenantal approach to baptism. It's very good and an important addition to the study of baptism from a Baptist perspective. https://wipfandstock.com/store/Waters_of_Promise_Finding_Meaning_in_Believer_Baptism
 
 
Gordon L. Heath and James D. Dvorak, eds.
Baptism: Historical, Theological, and Pastoral Perspectives. Eugene,Ore.: Wipf and Stock, 2011.
271 pages. $32, from the website $25.60. Attempted to attach the cover image from the website. Gordon is a Baptist, but I don't know about James, though he too teaches at McMaster Divinity College.