Bock's Blog

Secret Gospel of Mark April 16

Posted by Darrell L. Bock on 16 Apr 2010

Peter Head has just posted a summary on the debate over whether the Secret Gospel of Mark is authentic or a modern forgery. This supposed source still has a cloud over it with some contending it is not an ancient document and others sure it is a modern one.

Here is his post:

New Look

Posted by Darrell L. Bock on 15 Apr 2010

Welcome to our new look. Same blog. New face. We hope you like the change.

McKnight, Historical Jesus and Beliefnet.com April 14

Posted by Darrell L. Bock on 14 Apr 2010

Scot McKnight has responded to the CT responses of Tom Wright, Craig Keener, and myself at beliefnet.com. This was the topic of my previous blog. The full McKnight response article is at:

Good discussion on Historical Jesus at Christianity Today April 11

Posted by Darrell L. Bock on 11 Apr 2010

There is a good exchange involving Scot McKnight, Tom Wright, Craig Keener and myself on the Christianity Today web site. Rather than repeat the key elements here I will link the key article by Scot and the responses.

Back from Israel, Still Reading March 31

Posted by Darrell L. Bock on 31 Mar 2010

I returned just over a week ago from Israel, touring with Insight for Living for a week and a half. As always it was a great trip. I really enjoyed my Jewish guide, Mark Sugarman, who is so full of information and a joy to be around. However, this trip also involved a trip to Bethlehem to a conference hosted by Palestinian Christians called Christ at the Checkpoint.

Social Gospel? Beck Should Read the Prophets, John the Baptist, and Jesus March 14

Posted by Darrell L. Bock on 14 Mar 2010

I am in Israel but am reading about what I see as a strange controversy in the USA. It is Glenn Beck's call for people to leave church's that preach a "social gospel", but then goes on to discuss social action and issues of justice as if to do so is unbiblical. The confusion is that these are NOT all the same thing. Let's be clear: the gospel is NOT about doing social work.

World Vision Catches the Eye of the New York Times Feb 28

Posted by Darrell L. Bock on 28 Feb 2010

Every now and then the work of evangelicals catches the attention of those around us. Nicolas Kristof of the New York Times has an editorial today praising the relief work of World Vision, noting how it is the largest relief organization in the world. Richard Stearns' book The Hole in the Gospel is also noted. It does take a while.

Solomonic Wall Found in Jerusalem Feb 22

Posted by Darrell L. Bock on 22 Feb 2010

Reports of a find of a 3000 year old wall appeared in the Jerusalem Post today. Here is the link to the article.

http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=169388

Lifeway in Nashville Feb 10, Chapel at DTS (Revised Feb 22)

Posted by Darrell L. Bock on 10 Feb 2010

I am heading out to Nashville to present my book (out in the fall) to Lifeway's sales staff at their invitation. This book is about the gospel as good news. It is a biblical theology of the gospel and tries to make the point that the gospel is more than death for sin but not equal to social action (though such action is a result of a response to the gospel).

Tebow Commercial Subtle and On Target Feb 7

Posted by Darrell L. Bock on 07 Feb 2010

The Tim Tebow commercial was fun and made a simple point. Look at the life my "miracle baby" has given me as a Mom. The point was subtle but profound. Nothing angry, just joy about life. Well played. Just pause and consider the life that might be lost.

Before one protests about an ad, it might help to see it.

My Visit to Liberty University Feb 7

Posted by Darrell L. Bock on 07 Feb 2010

The following is a blog report by Dr. Gary Yates on my visit to Liberty University. It focuses on issues I will raise in my book on the gospel that will be released next fall. Thanks to him for this. Here is the blog entry from him:

Whatever Happened to Free Speech? Can Tim Tebow Ad Play? Jan 27

Posted by Darrell L. Bock on 27 Jan 2010

I am watching with interest the reaction to Tim Tebow's telling his story on CBS in a Super Bowl ad. USA TODAY reports that some advocacy groups want CBS to pull the ads because of issues it will raise about abortion and who is associated with it (Focus on the Family). I am wondering what is happening to free speech in our country.

Thank God for Young Life and Ministries Like Them Jan 19

Posted by Darrell L. Bock on 19 Jan 2010

In the next two days I complete 5 days and 15 hours of teaching on Jesus for new Young Life staff. I am sitting in my room near Fraser, Colorado, at Crooked Creek Ranch (a Young Life property) looking at the snow capped Rockies and reflecting on the time I have had here with about 160 new staff.

Ancient Hebrew Inscription from c 1000 BC Jan 14

Posted by Darrell L. Bock on 14 Jan 2010

News last week out of Israel of the deciphering of an inscription from 1000 BC. If so, it is the oldest piece of Hebrew writing we have. Details can be found at this site:

http://www.physorg.com/news182101034.html

John 3:16 Is Jesus or John Commenting Here?

Posted by Darrell L. Bock on 13 Jan 2010

This entry is in response to a question I received today from Steny. Here it is:

Jesus Era House Found in Nazareth Dec 22 (Expanded Dec 24)

Posted by Darrell L. Bock on 22 Dec 2009

The initial report on this story can be found here:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gau86WiP40-jUcR3edModbbeWmYA

Back after All These Days: A Book to Note Dec 21

Posted by Darrell L. Bock on 21 Dec 2009

First of all, let me wish everyone a Merry Christmas season.

I have been away for a while. I had a full load this semester and several projects to complete, so the docket was full and the blog went silent. I am back now.

Positive Movement on the Evangelical Bible Translation Front Oct 13

Posted by Darrell L. Bock on 14 Oct 2009

Christianity Today is reporting that Bill Mounce, who was a key figure in the ESV, has joined the NIV translation committee. Bill is a good friend from Aberdeen days and has interacted with Mark Strauss, another good Aberdeen friend, over these translations as well as the TNIV for the last several years. This includes an exchange of papers that will be a part of the ETS meetings this year.

Professor Claims God is Not Creator according to Genesis Oct 12

Posted by Darrell L. Bock on 12 Oct 2009

In one of the more unusual theories to come out about Genesis, a professor of Old Testament in the Netherlands claims that Genesis 1:1 is not about creation of the material world but separation within it, removing God from being the Creator in line with the rest of the Bible and the literature of Mesopotamia. The view was announced in the London Telegraph last week. The URL is:

ABC Nightline on 10 Commandments Sept 25

Posted by Darrell L. Bock on 25 Sep 2009

ABC just opened a series on Nightline on whether the 10 Commandments are relevant in today's world.

About Bock

Darrell L. Bock is Senior Research Professor of New Testament Studies at Dallas Theological Seminary, where he has taught since 1982. He also is Executive Director of Cultural Engagement at the Howard G. Hendricks Center for Christian Leadership and Cultural Engagement at the Seminary. You can see his blog here. He hosts the Seminary's Table podcasts at www.dts.edu/thetable.

His doctoral degree is from the University of Aberdeen (Scotland) and as a Humboldt scholar he was a guest researcher at the University of Tubingen in Germany in 1995-96. He is a Past President of the Evangelical Theological Society (2000-2001) and has written a major commentary on Luke, as well as having served as a translation consultant on various translations of the New Testament. He is editor-at-large for Christianity Today and is an author of over 30 books, including one as a New York Times best seller.