The organizer for the Atlanta event now has a venue. I have updated the events calendar. The meeting will take place in nearby Tucker, GA.
The organizer for the Atlanta event now has a venue. I have updated the events calendar. The meeting will take place in nearby Tucker, GA.
while I have been convalescing, one of my readers sent me The Unseen Realm because she had seen me do a teaching back about six months ago that cited your acticle, “Monotheism, Polytheism, Monolatry or Henotheism” – got it a few days ago and I am halfway through it. I know I speak for a great many students of ANE studies when I say thank you for writing a book in plain English that does not speak down to the audience. I teach normal people, not university scholars, and so I generally find myself translating stuff that is unnecessarily unreadable into plain, non-demeaning and simple language – they really want materials that do not treat them like simpletons. Your book most certainly treats them with the respect due to anyone who desires to unlock the ANE context of Scripture. As soon as I am finished with it myself, I plan on plugging your book – I would much rather have them read Unseen Realm than labor over a blogpost where I needlessly reinvent the wheel. I love to be able to present my readers with something that is beyond what I am capable of teaching but still presented in a way that they can all understand. I just love the down to earth style that both you and John H Walton have – it is very refreshing to see an actual scholar whose goal is to actually teach everyone instead of just reaching out to the academic elites in their language. It is a rare and wonderful thing when a scholar seeks to equip ordinary folks to comprehend the Bible for themselves. Blessings brother!
Thanks for that; glad you’re finding it stimulating and useful for your students.
I’ve told John before that he’s on the one hand on which I count scholars who try to intentionally translate their content to the normal person. I’d include Darrell Bock and Craig Evans there (and have told them the same). I gently complain about that lack to as many other scholars as I can.
I have not read their works and now I am very definitely going to look them up – thanks so much!
Just briefly, Dr. H. Thank you again for speaking in Tucker. My wife and I drove all the way from Marietta, GA to attend. My wife asked you the first question, which was about Satan. I asked later how, when, why Christians and the church fathers missed the biblical context of the divine council worldview. I plan to review those notes I took and get back with you with additional questions after the Thanksgiving holidays, for clarity sake. Also, I want to share a few personal experiences that I think you would appreciate. Best Regards
Thanks for the note! It was fun.