Have You Read These Books? 10 Interviews with Bible Scholars

Here are the 10 most memorable books and interviews with biblical scholars I have conducted over the last several years.  Have you read these books yet?

10 Interviews and Books You Should Read (actually more than that…) 

Atlas of the Biblical World (Fortress Press) – Mark Vitalis Hoffman and Robert A. Mullins

Professor Robert Mullins, a top-rated archaeologist, shares his experience regarding digging expeditions and insights into the Hebrew Scriptures based on his recent book. This one is written in user-friendly format with plenty of pictures. It is a frequently overlooked interview worth checking out! Does The Bible Have A GPS? Professor Robert Mullins Shares His Insights From Atlas Of The Biblical World.

Paul and the Resurrection of Israel (Cambridge University Press) — Jason Staples

This is the most recent interview I have conducted. Dr. Staples and I discuss Israel and Judah’s restoration, Jeremiah’s covenant, the so-called Jew in Romans 2, the telos of the Law in Romans 10, the fullness of the gentiles in Rom 11:25–26, and more: Paul and the Restoration of Israel: A Restoration Viewpoint

See also (click on): Part 2; and Part 3

An Intertextual Commentary on Romans, 3 Vols. (Cascade Books) — Channing Crisler

Dr. Crisler and I have conducted a total of six interviews together–he holds the record on my blog thus far! The interviews are all related to his three volume work, An Intertextual Commentary on Romans (Cascade Books). His first volume focuses on Romans 1-4, the second volume is on Romans 5-8, and the third is on Romans 9-11.

We discuss in from Romans 1-4 intertextual topics such as distinguishing citations and allusions. Crisler then addresses the thesis statement of Romans 1:16–17 and the influence of Psalm 98 and Habakkuk 2:4 on it, among other things: An Intertextual Commentary On Romans: In Conversation With Channing Crisler 

For my interviews with him on Romans 5-8,  see (click on):  Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3

For my interviews with him on Romans 9–11, see (click on): Part 1, and Part 2

The Word of the Cross: Reading Paul (Eerdmans) — Jonathan Linebaugh

This interview covers Linebaugh’s intersection between theology and biblical exegesis with Christ crucified (1 Cor 1:18),  the righteousness of God, faith and faithfulness, Luther, Cranmer, among other topics. This is my longest one-part interview thus far: The Word of the Cross: Reading Paul with Jonathan Linebaugh

Christobiography: Memory, History, and the Reliability of the Gospels (Eerdmans) – Craig S. Keener

This was the first interview I conducted during the Covid pandemic. World-renown scholar Craig Keener discusses his book called Christobiography, including the subjects of the Gospels a biography, memory, miracles, and more. Keener supports the historicity of the biblical Gospels in a lucid and compelling way. It is a book both informed readers and skeptics alike should read: Jesus and Ancient Biography: An Interview with Craig S. Keener on His Recent Book, Christobiography

See also my own excursus on the book: Are Miracles in the Gospels contrary to Historical Evidence?

A Jewish Paul: The Messiah’s Herald to the Gentiles (Baker Academic)— Matthew Thiessen

This recent interview delves into such topics as the works of the law, Paul as a law-abider, Paul in Acts, accommodation in 1 Corinthians 9:19–23, the translation “Judaism” in Gal 1:13, pneuma (spirit), and Christology. Dr. Thiessen writes from the perspective of Paul within Judaism: A Jewish Paul: Matthew Thiessen on His New Book.

See also (click on): Part 2; and Part 3

Paul, Then and Now (Eerdmans) — Matthew Novenson

This interview with Dr. Novenson, now at Princeton Seminary, covers such topics as Paul’s “weirdness,” Paul and cultic worship, Paul in Acts, Paul on other gods, and the nature of pneuma. In part one, I provide a brief book review of Paul, Then and Now, and parts 2 and 3 are the interview proper: Paul, Then and Now

For the actual interview, see (click on): Part 2;  and Part 3

Romans: Texts, Readers, and the History of Interpretation (Eerdmans) — Stephen Westerholm

This often-overlooked interview is conducted with a leading Pauline scholar whose works are very well known. In this recent book, Dr. Westerholm covers the unique history of interpretation on Romans from the patristic era, through the medieval era, to the Reformation, and all the way to the 20^th century. His recommendations for reading Romans commentators from previous eras is well worth your time! Romans: Texts, Readers, and the History of Interpretation. An Interview with Stephen Westerholm

1 Peter: A Commentary (Baker) — Craig S. Keener

Given the majority of the book titles on this list, it’s obvious that I myself am mostly a Pauline scholar! However, Craig Keener is not so limited. He has written a number of New Testament commentaries, including a recent one 1 Peter. Here is the interview: Marginalized Christians in a Hostile Society: Craig Keener on 1 Peter

And for the Pauline enthusiasts, here is my interview with Keener on the larger of his two Galatians commentaries: Galatians: A Commentary (Baker): The Latest on Galatians: An Interview with Craig Keener on His Recent Book.

Paul: Servant of the New Covenant (Mohr-Siebeck) — Scott J. Hafemann

This frequently visited post covers the crown of Hafemann’s many years of studying Paul’s theology. He discusses various topics such as the unconditionality and conditionality of covenants, Paul’s understanding of the new covenant, the Torah, etc.: Paul: Servant of the New Covenant: An Interview with Scott Hafemann