Academic Alert IVP Academic’s Book Bulletin for Professors • Volume 17 • Number 2 • Spring 2008

Inside Dictionary Boasts Hebrew Poets 4 | Subverting Global The seventh volume (and third volume) in IVP Academic’s Myths celebrated “Black Dictionary” series is due to be released in July. Vinoth Ramachandra delivers rousing arguments to challenge interviewed DOTWPW general editors Tremper the assumptions steering Longman III of Westmont College and Peter contemporary global discourse. Enns of Westminster Theological Seminary. Reid: The character and texture of the literature 5 | New & Noteworthy covered in this dictionary—wisdom, poetry and Andy Crouch believes cultural writings—is quite different from the Pentateuch, change is in the making, Art historical books or prophets. How would you Lindsley thinks apologetics characterize it? Tremper Peter Enns Longman: Most of the books covered by the has got heart, and the 2007 Longman III Wheaton Conference DOTWPW are poetic. That draws attention has transmigrated into a book. to the literary nature of these books. We have a The Dictionary of the Old Testament: Wisdom, Poetry number of articles that deal with the different 6 | Homosexuality & Writings (DOTWPW) covers Psalms, Proverbs, characteristics of Hebrew poetry, and then the Janelle Hallman presents new Job, , Song of Songs, Lamentations, articles on the books themselves pay considerable research for continued scholar- Ruth and Esther. IVP Academic’s Dan Reid attention to their literary features. The prose ship and clinical practice in continued on page 2 The Heart of Female Same-Sex Attraction. This Lord Was Made for You and Me Joel Scandrett has had a fabulous time editing Stephen J. Nichols’s book Jesus Made in America. Following Christ 2008 While Steve is new to entertaining and instructive introduction for We invite our Alert readers IVP Academic, he’s a vet- general readers. to join us at InterVarsity’s eran author with a spate of Joel recently interviewed Steve Nichols Following Christ 2008, the books under his belt, and about his new book. triennial conference for it didn’t take Joel long to Scandrett: Steve, let me begin by asking what graduate students, faculty figure out why. it was that led you to write this book. Was there and professionals. Major Jesus Made in America a particular event or experience that motivated speakers on the theme of is replete with mesmer- you? human flourishing include Stephen J. Nichols izing, dismaying and often Nichols: A few years back my wife, Heidi, who is N. T. Wright and Francis humorous depictions of a literature scholar, and I wanted to write a paper Collins. The event will be the “malleability” of Jesus when viewed through together for a conference. She had just finished held December 27-31, 2008, the lens of the history of American . her dissertation that was generally in the field of at the Marriott Magnificent These depictions demonstrate how, from the his- American Victorian culture and I was beginning Mile in Chicago. For more torical outset, American Christians have tended to spend some time in Christology. We came up information and online to remake Jesus in their own image, to which with the paper, “The Domestication of Jesus: registration, see Nichols offers a clear corrective. As such, this Victorian Culture and American Christology.” followingchrist.org. book would be an excellent choice as a textbook About halfway through putting the paper to- in American Christian history courses, or as an gether, I realized that there was a book here. continued on page 3 Academic Alert • 2

DOTWPW, continued from page 1 books included in our DOTWPW—Ruth tions that ancient Hebrew poets used. they deserved. Work in this area over the and Esther—are themselves literary gems, Enns: We also treat the history of interpreta- last twenty to thirty years has sought to cor- so we also discuss the literary artifice in nar- tion of these books, and feel that this is as rect this oversight. Moreover, work in other rative as well. important a topic to cover as the Ancient Ancient Near East poetic texts has provided Enns: I would add that the books covered Near Eastern background. Interpreters a valuable calibrating factor for our under- in this dictionary are grouped in a way that today would do well to remember that they standing of biblical poetry. reflects an attempt to honor ancient catego- stand in a stream of interpretive activity that Reid: What do you think of allegorical or ries, although that cannot be done perfectly. The fact remains that wisdom elements are found in a variety of genres, and that the bib- lical wisdom books have their own unique characteristics. Also, poetry is a debated The challenge before evangelical interpreters is to try term among OT scholars, and it is certainly to understand contemporary interpretive methods as not restricted to the books covered in this being in conversation with the witness of the church dictionary. The prophetic books have signifi- cant poetic portions, and poetry also appears rather than a corrective. at important junctures in narrative texts, like Exodus 15. Reid: As you say, the literary factor plays a has been going on for the two-thousand-year christological interpretations of Song of big role in this volume, with articles on top- history of the church, and for several hun- Songs? ics like acrostic, merism, parallelism, sound dred years before that in Judaism. The books Longman: Allegorical interpretations are patterns and word play. Could you further under consideration in this volume enjoy a ways of bypassing the obviously sensual reflect on this? robust history of interpretation. nature of the Song of Songs. They also press Longman: Poetry appeals to the whole Reid: As in the broader history of OT inter- the details of the Song into illegitimate sym- person. Contrary to some, I believe it does pretation, there have been some historical bolic service. I can always get my students’ inform the intellect, but it also stimulates missteps in the scholarly interpretation of attention when I point out that Cyril of the imagination, arouses our emotions and this literature. What are some of them? Alexandria interpreted the woman’s state- appeals to our will. Poets had a number Longman: I believe that one misstep was ment that her lover is “like a sachet of myrrh of literary devices to press into service being overly fascinated by the history of lodged between her breasts” (1:13) as a refer- to achieve their communicative ends. As composition. By this I do not mean to say ence to Jesus Christ, who spans the Old and Robert Alter once said though, every culture that books did not come into being over a New Testaments. However, as a love poem writes its poems in different ways, so it is period of time or in some cases by more than in the canon, the Song should be read in the important to come to terms with the conven- one hand. However, I do believe that schol- light of the pervasive metaphor of marriage arly attention was too devoted to these ques- used to describe God’s relationship with his tions with the result that issues of the final people. form were missed. Then, of course, there are Enns: These interpretations of the Song have missteps in the analysis of individual books, been ubiquitous in the history of Christian for instance the Song of Songs, which for interpretation. For that reason alone I feel many centuries was interpreted as an alle- I am obligated to give due respect to these gory and not in reference to human love. methods. Of course, this question gets us Enns: Another area is the nature of biblical into larger issues of hermeneutics, particu- poetry. For much of the history of Jewish larly of what our modern conventions would interpretation, meaning was teased out from “allow.” The challenge before evangelical the parallelism of poetic lines that did not interpreters is to try to understand con- do justice to the poetic line itself. Christian temporary interpretive methods as being in interpretation has been highly influenced by conversation with the witness of the church Western—originally Greek—conventions rather than a corrective. This is really the of poetry. Hence, the conventions of ancient ongoing hermeneutical challenge for the Semitic poetry did not receive the attention church, to bridge the horizons of ancient con- continued on page 4 Spring 2008 • 3

This Lord, continued from page 1 She set to work on her own book on Anne of American . Without taking ics like to think we are the locus theologicus, I Bradstreet and I plied away at this one. too heavy of a hand, I do want to ask ques- think that for the most part we aren’t. She has been a wonderful and quite gracious tions of the Jesus or the Jesuses that emerge Our histories and our analyses of American sounding board throughout the whole throughout the past centuries and from our evangelicalism need to engage the trends process. own contemporary horizons. and issues of the masses—where the bulk Initially I conceived of a traditional his- Also, there’s a whole cottage industry of the faithful live and may be found. The tory, tracing out the details from the begin- on evangelical criticism, a sort of “crit lit” book gives due attention to CCM, to buyers and wearers of Christian T-shirts, and to Christian mini-golf proprietors. They have fascinating stories to tell and we in the acad- emy can learn a great deal from them. Commodification has the effect of sentimentalizing Scandrett: Is there one depiction of Jesus in and trivializing Jesus, turning Christianity and Christ your book that stands out to you as espe- into a product that is marketed, bought and sold. cially troubling or problematic? Why?

ning of the story to the end. In the process if you will. This book does flirt with this of writing, however, the book transformed genre. While this book primarily traverses into something more like a “cultural history.” the ghetto of American evangelicalism, The first four chapters more or less follow however, it nevertheless meanders through the historical route from the Puritans to the the broader contours of American culture. fundamentalist/modernist controversy in I found the subject of Christology to be a the 1920s with Harry Emerson Fosdick and helpful focal point for this fascinating inter- J. Gresham Machen locked in debate over, play between church and culture. Stanley with due respect to Charlie Brown, “the real Hauerwas once summarized John Howard meaning of Christmas.” The second half of Yoder’s contribution by claiming, “Prior the book roams more freely in the twentieth to Yoder the subject of Christian ethics in century, picking up the strands of music, America was always America.” This book, cinema, commodification and consumer very humbly and on a much smaller scale, culture, and lastly politics. That last chapter wants to help American evangelicals think on politics was initially not part of the book. about the subject of theology in America. But once I had the phrase “Jesus on the We need to avoid the stinging indictment Nichols: Can I claim two? These would Right Wing,” I knew it had to be in there. that the subject of American theologians be commodification and politics. Jesus has Scandrett: There are a couple of other books and their work is always America. been sold as everything from action figures about Jesus in America already in publica- Scandrett: What do you think your readers to bracelets, from bobble heads to T-shirts. tion. What sets this book apart? might be surprised to learn from reading This commodification has the effect of sen- Nichols: Like the other books that are avail- this book? timentalizing and trivializing Jesus, turning able, this book also looks at the broader Nichols: For the more academic readers, I Christianity and Christ into a product that contours of American religion. Unlike think the surprise consists of how much we is marketed, bought and sold. This has not those books, however, this one focuses on in the academy can learn by paying attention gone unnoticed by a skeptical public. Our American evangelicalism. Further, the other to popular American culture and popular commodification of Christ isn’t only harmful books, most notably Richard Wightman American evangelical culture. For most in for us as evangelicals, it ends up damaging Fox’s Jesus in America and Stephen Prothero’s the church, their theological education and our witness as we become almost a comic American Jesus, are not all that interested in discipleship is coming from the songs of con- caricature by the way we flippantly wear and being prescriptive. In those books the cul- temporary Christian music, from novels, and consume Christ. tural Jesuses that emerge are a cause for cel- from bumper stickers and T-shirts. Andrew Then there’s politics. Jesus has been ebration. My aim is not just to describe the Greeley has written of popular culture as claimed on both the right wing and the left Jesus of American Christianity and the Jesus the locus theologicus. As much as we academ- wing of American political ideologies. We

continued on page 4 Academic Alert • 4

DOTWPW, continued from page 2 text and contemporary setting. seen some interesting and productive advanc- their lives to bring these sacred words to bear Reid: Do you think that the ancient wisdom es in understanding. As Pete mentioned ear- on the life of God’s people. And I cannot and poetry of the OT has a particular draw- lier, even in an area as basic as parallelism, we enumerate how often, during editing a sen- ing power in our contemporary cultural have come to a richer, better understanding of tence here or there, I paused to consider how context? how this literary convention works. This dic- my thinking is benefiting from reading these Enns: Absolutely. These books hit you right tionary would function not just as a refresher articles. between the eyes with the difficulties of life course, but a continuing education course for and present struggles in an unflinching, even readers who have not studied this literature This Lord, continued from page 3 jarring, manner. No one can accuse biblical for twenty or thirty years. tend to be too easily seduced by the powers faith of being about picket fences and flower Enns: I agree and would add things like a of the market and by politics. Jesus came to boxes. It is quite serious and unafraid to tell more developed understanding of the struc- free us from such seductions. Ironically, we it like it is. In our postmodern world, these ture of the Psalter, that Qohelet is an honest, as American evangelicals have attempted to books are both appealing as well as pointed struggling Israelite rather than a fool or her- bind him to them. in their challenge to the unreflective life. etic, and that Job’s friends actually have some Scandrett: Finally, what sort of impact do Longman: If it is correct to characterize the “correct” things to say to Job. you want this book to have? present generation as one that inclines to Reid: Both of you have spent a good deal of Nichols: We all have our blind spots when it images rather than propositional statements time in this neighborhood of the OT. Did you comes to reading and understanding the and that is not afraid of emotions and the learn anything new in editing this dictionary? Bible, confessing our theology, and serving in imagination, then these books are really Longman: I can’t even begin to count the worship and praxis. Rather than just snicker appealing. But it is more than that. Think number of new insights I gained from the at others—and, honestly, there are many of the message of Ecclesiastes: “there is no other contributors as I edited their work. occasions for humor in the story of the meaning under the sun.” We struggle with We have an article on the history of inter- American evangelical Jesus—we shouldn’t finding meaning today, and many deny that pretation of each of the books covered by the miss the opportunity for some self-examina- it is available. Ecclesiastes is a book that DOTWPW. Such study is becoming a main- tion and self-criticism. Along these lines, I speaks to this question. stay of the field. I am presently writing a Job think that it could be helpful for academics Reid: What would you say to someone who commentary, and the article on Job was an to think of ways not simply to criticize what last had a course in this literature twenty excellent launching point for my own research they see as not so helpful in popular Christ- or thirty years ago? Are there things they into the subject. ian literature or music. Rather, we could can look forward to discovering in the Enns: I was reminded of how wonderful and serve the church greatly by asking what types DOTWPW that are “new and different”? vast our Scripture is, and how many thought- of positive impacts we could be making out- Longman: Wow! This area of the canon has ful people, past and present, have devoted side of the academy and beyond writing for each other.

Sri Lankan Intellectual Speaks

It caught even our way we experience the world. and professors against a backdrop of militant attention when The book takes up six areas of contem- religious and secular ideologies in a country Stanley Hauerwas porary global discourse—terrorism, religious which has suffered from “terrorism” and a wrote us, “I have violence, human rights, multiculturalism, “war on terror” that has claimed over 60,000 read few books science and postcolonialism. Here powerful lives. The book also reflects his experience from which I have myths energize and mobilize a great deal of of living and traveling extensively not only in learned more. I public funding as well as academic produc- the West but in several of the trouble spots of really hope this tion. Asia today. book will have the Ramachandra speaks from a unique Slow, thoughtful and critical readers impact it deserves.” vantage point as a public intellectual liv- who care to explore reality rather than flip Vinoth Ramachandra’s Subverting Global ing in Sri Lanka. With a Ph.D. in nuclear from one reality show to another will Myths is one of those paradigm-shifting books engineering from the University of London, appreciate this invitation to engage the that takes on the public, large-scale narratives he draws on his own experience working as a heretical subversion of the present reality. that engage our imaginations and shape the pastor-theologian among university students Spring 2008 • 5 New & Noteworthy

Many Christians in the On November 22, 1963, Andreas J. Köstenberger academy, especially those three great men died— and Scott R. Swain bring who came of age in the C. S. Lewis, John F. us Father, Son and Spirit, the era of L’Abri and Francis Kennedy and Aldous latest in the New Studies Schaeffer, have engaged Huxley. That set Peter in Biblical Theology series. culture through the lens Kreeft thinking about They locate and explicate of cultural critique. Andy what would happen if the triune God as portrayed Crouch argues that it’s not enough to critique they met on the other side and how the con- in the fourth Gospel, considering John’s rep- culture (or copy or consume it). In Culture versation might go. The result was Between resentation of the Godhead in light of the Making, Crouch shows why the only way to Heaven and Hell, a classic of apologetics. monotheism of Second Temple Judaism and effect cultural change is to create culture. This expanded edition includes a new dia- the mission of the church. logue in which Kreeft imagines “A World In Understanding Evangelical Edward R. Brown pairs an Without an Easter.” accessible biblical case for Media, Quentin J. Schultze environmental steward- Weaving together con- and Robert H. Woods Jr. ship with practical concern temporary illustrations have convened a summit for the local and global with insight from the life of sorts, bringing together church. Our Father’s World of Moses, Strengthening Christian scholars of com- creates a new paradigm for the Soul of Your Leadership munication to assess the “environmental missions,” in which care for explores topics such as the state of evangelical media in a rapidly chang- creation translates into holistic mission and loneliness of leadership and ing social and technological environment. ministry for both people and the land that community discernment. Ruth Haley Barton IVP Academic is pleased to sustains them. explores what happens when leaders neglect announce the release of a their own spiritual formation. Mere Christianity meets newly revised and expanded Tuesdays with Morrie! In Art Lindsley’s new book edition of the standard philosopher Robert has been developing for textbook Authentic Human Velarde’s imaginative apol- years, as he has become Sexuality by veteran profs ogetic, a dying man in a more aware of the need Jack and Judith Balswick hospital room encounters for thought and action to of Fuller Seminary. Updated throughout and C. S. Lewis, who takes cohere in Christian wit- now available in paper, the book offers a new him through a wardrobe for a tour of Lewis’s ness. Love, the Ultimate chapter on sexual development throughout ideas. Conversations with C. S. Lewis models Apologetic takes an unusual approach to the human life span and a stronger theological narrative apologetics, treating such topics apologetics, showing the unique character and foundation, grounded in a trinitarian model as Christianity’s uniqueness, morality foundation for Christian love. of relationships. and theodicy. There’s a whole world The selection of essays in The Ancient Christian in one verse, says Chris Ancient Faith for the Church’s Commentary on Scripture Wright in Salvation Future, named after the continues with the release Belongs to Our God, the 2007 Wheaton Theology of 1-2 Kings, 1-2 Chronicles, latest volume of the Conference, explores the Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther Christian Doctrine in importance of the early (Old Testament Volume 5), Global Perspective series. church for interpreting edited by Marco Conti. Beginning and ending with Revelation 7:10, Scripture, engaging in missional witness, The church fathers were largely interested in we see salvation in all its permutations. We’re renewing our worship and prayer, grasping typological and moral interpretation of the left with the assurance, whatever our context, afresh our salvation, and even authentically persons and events in these historical books. that God is “mighty to save.” engaging our surrounding culture. Academic Alert • 6 Academic Alert Modern Mythmakers Book Bulletin for Professors

James Herrick has noticed Crick and Carl Sagan; filmmakers such as George Andy Le Peau that the promotion of alter- Lucas and Steven Spielberg; and investigating the Associate Publisher, Editorial native “spiritualities” to our science fiction of writers such as Olaf Stapledon, James Hoover Associate Editorial Director Judeo-Christian tradition is (the late) Sir Arthur C. Clarke and Isaac Asimov, & Senior Editor, IVP Academic not necessarily conducted by Herrick offers a fascinating study of the curious col- Daniel G. Reid religious leaders, philosophers lusions of scientists with religion and science fiction Senior Editor, IVP Academic

or theologians, but often writers with science. These amalgams are not only Gary Deddo comes from much less aca- generating interest in tabloids but are influencing Senior Editor, IVP Academic demic and much more popular political, scientific and religious perspectives as well. Joel Scandrett media. In fact, Herrick shows As we learned in science class, when a vacuum Associate Editor, IVP Academic in this book how science fiction writing and filmmaking occurs in the natural world, something will attempt Al Hsu often bring together mythological themes with scientists to fill the void. Herrick shows us how this is equally Associate Editor, IVP Books and (at least purported) scientific elements to create a true of the growing spiritual vacuum we’re experi- David A. Zimmerman Associate Editor, IVP Books potent religious alchemy. encing now with the erosion of our own Judeo- Observing scientists such as Francis Bacon, Francis Christian tradition in the West. Ellen Hsu Rights Manager

Kristie Berglund IVP Academic Sales Female Same-Sex Attraction & Marketing Manager

Adrianna Wright Janelle Hallman has re- therapists, counselors and pastoral staff for dealing Print Publicity Manager, IVP Academic searched, taught, presented sympathetically and realistically with those women Addenda & Errata Blog: seminars and done extensive they seek to serve. Interweaving research analysis, ivpress.com/blogs/addenda- errata/ counseling with women theoretical considerations, practical guidance and struggling with same-sex interactions with her clients, this will be a welcome attraction. Much of her resource to the counseling community and those The IVP Academic Alert is published experience involved taking seeking competent help. three times a year by InterVarsity what was being learned “Therapists, pastoral counselors, mentors, moth- Press. To order any books featured in this bulletin, return the accompanying about men and finding ers, and, most significantly, women wrestling with sexual reply card or contact:

how such insights did and identity and emotionally dependent patterns will find a InterVarsity Press P.O. Box 1400 did not illuminate the trials of women dealing with gold mine in this book. . . . A new standard in this area of Downers Grove, IL 60515-1426 their unwanted attractions. Now Janelle combines therapy and ministry.” (630) 734-4321 [email protected] her research and teaching with counseling experience —Wendy Gritter, national executive director, ivpacademic.com to provide a truly comprehensive guide for Christian New Direction Ministries. Manuscripts and book proposals should be sent to the appropriate aca- demic editor. Questions, comments, change of address notifications and all other correspondence may be sent to McGowan Proposes Divine Spiration [email protected].

For information about translations of A. T. B. McGowan of calls our attention to a European evangelical tradi- InterVarsity Press titles, please contact Ellen Hsu, Rights Manager, at Highland Theological College tion exemplified in James Orr and Herman Bavinck. [email protected], or visit our website at ivpress.com/info/ in Scotland has written a Notably, McGowan wants to retrieve Bavinck’s translations. thought-provoking book thinking as a valuable theological resource for a con- Academic journal editors, for media on the nature and function temporary evangelical doctrine of Scripture. copies visit ivpress.com/media. of Scripture in evangelical I. Howard Marshall writes: “[McGowan] Vol. 17, No. 2 Christianity. Convinced that steers a wise course between the dangers of an Copyright © 2008 by InterVarsity Christian in formulating our doctrine of unthinking fundamentalism and a skeptical liberal- Fellowship/USA. All rights reserved. Scripture we need to review ism, and suggests that terms such as spiration and our vocabulary, our theology and our use of Scripture, infallibility express concepts that are basic to a sound he offers a reassessment of key concepts like inerrancy. doctrine that will have practical relevance to the In order to maintain a high view of Scripture, McGowan preaching of Scripture.”