Bringing the biblical texts to life
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Resources: Listing, Podcasts, Newsletter, Papers, and More
Annotated Listing
Sowers of the Seed acts as a clearinghouse to connect the church and academia to publications, resources, tools, educational programs, and more that promote sound biblical interpretation. The following links and annotated bibliographies have been provided in good faith as a public service. Information provided for each listing: category, level (general, intermediate, advanced) name, description, and web link (URL).
Intermediate to Advanced
Biblical Studies, Hebrew and Semitics, Textual Criticism, etc.
Website: Dr. Michael S. Heiser
This is the academic website of Dr. Michael Heiser, scholar-in-residence for Faithlife Corporation, the makers of of Logos Bible Software. He earned his Ph.D. in Hebrew Bible and Semitic languages and holds an M.A. in ancient history and Hebrew studies. He specializes in the Israelite religion, especially Israel's divine council, contextualizing biblical theology with Israelite and ancient Near Eastern religion, Jewish binitarianism, biblical languages, ancient Semitic languages, textual criticism, comparative philology, and Second Temple period Jewish literature.
General to Advanced
Biblical Studies
Website: Bible Odyssey
The Society of Biblical Literature has launched this website that explores the fascinating origins of the Bible and its eventful history. On Bible Odyssey, the world's leading scholars share the latest historical and literary research on key people, places, and passages of the Bible. View the promotional video here.
Intermediate to Advanced
Textual Criticism
Website: Dead Sea Scroll Digital Library
In partnership with Google Research and Development Center in Israel, the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) has launched The Leon Levy Dead Sea Scrolls Digital Library to document the entire Dead Sea Scrolls collection online in high resolution images of various scroll fragments.
http://www.deadseascrolls.org.il/
Beginning to Advanced
Spirituality
Website: Spiritual Direction International
Spiritual Directors International is an inclusive, global learning community that serves and supports the ministry and service of spiritual direction. As a multi-faith organization, we share a common concern, passion, and commitment to the ministry and service of spiritual companionship.
Intermediate to Advanced
Textual Criticism
Website: New Testament Virtual Manuscripts
This site is devoted to the study of Greek New Testament manuscripts and serves as a place where scholars and others can come to find the most exhaustive list of New Testament manuscript resources, can contribute to marking attributes about these manuscripts, and can find state of the art tools for researching this rich dataset.
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Intermediate to Advanced
Textual Criticism
Website: Early Manuscripts Electronic Library
The site uses digital technologies to make manuscripts and other historical source materials accessible for study and appreciation by scholars and the public.
General to Advanced
Various Topics
Website: Free Online Courses
Access 1,200 free online courses from the world’s leading universities, including Stanford, Yale, MIT, Harvard, Berkeley, Oxford and more. You can download these audio and video courses (often from iTunes, YouTube, or university websites) to your computer or mp3 player. Over 30,000 hours of free audio and video lectures. Relevant categories include archaeology, classics, ancient history (and art history), languages, philosophy, and religion.
http://www.openculture.com/freeonlinecourses
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Intermediate to Advanced
Various Topics
Website: Biblical Studies Online
The site collates quality academic biblical studies resources, as they become available online - for use by biblical scholars and the wider interested public. Submit your e-mail address and receive notices when various scholarly presentations/lectures have been uploaded.
www.biblicalstudiesonline.wordpress.com
General to Advanced
Hebrew Bible
Website: OT Gateway
A comprehensive, annotated, academic directory of Internet sites on the Hebrew Bible by Roy and Sue Nicholson.
Advanced
Hermeneutics (exegesis)
Book: The Eclipse of the Biblical Narrative
A careful study by Yale professor Hans Frei of the history and effects of biblical hermeneutics during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries (i.e., loss of realism and integrity of biblical narrative).
General to Intermediate
Hermeneutics (exegesis)
Book: The Hermeneutical Spiral (rev. and exp. ed.)
A comprehensive introduction to biblical interpretation by Trinity Evangelical Divinity professor Grant R. Osborne for students and working pastors (1993 Christianity Today Choice Award winner).
General
Hermeneutics (exegesis)
Book: What is Narrative Criticism?
A nontechnical, yet thorough book of the theory, principles, and procedures of narrative criticism by Trinity Lutheran Seminary professor Mark Allan Powell; also treats other literary methods as opposed to historical critical methods.
General to Advanced
Linguistics (Aramaic), Theology (practical)
Website: Aramaic Bible Institute
The website by Dr. Jim DeFrancisco provides accurate information, instruction, and links to publications on the Aramaic versions of the Bible. The site also offers distillations of ancient wisdom and application for contemporary life.
Sowers Podcasts
Weekly podcasts below feature discussions with specialists on various biblical studies and other topics of value to listeners.
Nature of God: Part 1 (Feb. 9, 2017) Looking for a balanced and fair discussion of the nature of God, Jesus' relation to God (YHWH), how humans relate to and describe God? Tired of the routine conversations that end in name calling and belittling of opposing viewpoints on this subject. Part 1 offers an overview of the various systems and approaches to how humans view God.
Advent, Tabernacles, and Scriptural Ritual Drama: Part 2 (Dec. 17, 2016) Rev. Dr. Tom Roberts finishes his discussion of how the plan of salvation portrayed by Advent, the first season of the church liturgical cycle, is prefigured in the biblical fall festivals, especially Tabernacles (Sukkot), and unfolds in the ritual drama of God and his Messiah in scripture. He also prepares listeners for future podcasts where the topic of the one God will be discussed in detail (Time: 27:33).
Advent, Tabernacles, and Scriptural Ritual Drama: Part 1 (Dec. 8, 2016)
Rev. Dr. Tom Roberts discusses how the plan of salvation portrayed by Advent, the first season of the church liturgical cycle, is prefigured in the biblical fall festivals, especially Tabernacles (Sukkot), and unfolds in the ritual drama of God and his Messiah in scripture. He also prepares listeners for future podcasts where the topic of the one God will be discussed in detail (Time: 28:04).
Spiritual Direction (Nov. 3, 2016)
What exactly is spiritual direction and who needs it? In this episode of the Sowers podcast, Dr. Judy Quitoriano explains what spiritual direction is and why and how it can benefit Christians who are seeking a spiritual path that reflects Christ (Time: 35:07).
Importance of Christian Education: Part 2 (Oct. 15, 2016)
In part 2 of this podcast, Dr. Tom Roberts and I discuss what a Christian continuing education program might look like, its practical importance, and how to go about starting one (Time: 32:56).
Importance of Christian Education: Part 1 (Oct. 9, 2016
How important is education to the believer? Join us for part one of a two part series in which we explore the topic. In part one, Dr. Tom Roberts explains why education is so important for individual Christians and what it traditionally looked like (Time: 29:38).
Aramaic Perspective to the Bible: Part 2 (Sept. 28, 2016)
Our concluding conversation with Dr. James DeFrancisco about the Aramaic language, its importance to understanding the Bible and its interpretation (Time: 22:29).
Aramaic Perspective to the Bible: Part 1 (Sept. 1, 2016)
A conversation with Dr. James DeFrancisco about the Aramaic language, its importance to understanding the Bible and its interpretation (Time: 30:07).
Eastern Church History and Relevance to the West: Part 2 (Aug. 27, 2016) Continued conversation with Rev. Dr. Tom Roberts, Ph.D., D.D.,
regarding apostolic travels to India and the Far East and Eastern Church history, beliefs, practices, and why it matters to the Western Church (Time: 40:04).
Eastern Church History and Relevance to the West: Part 1 (Aug. 21, 2016) An interview featuring Rev. Dr. Tom Roberts, Ph.D., D.D.,
regarding apostolic travels to India and the Far East and Eastern Church history, beliefs, practices, and why it matters to the Western Church (Time: 30:02).
Relations between Messianic Judaism and Sabbatarians
1991 Interview featuring Dr. Samuele Bacchiocchi and Dr. Tom Roberts regarding background and how to foster better relations between Messianic Jewish and general Sabbatarians groups (Time: 9:07). Please excuse the slight static.
Sowers Newsletter (quarterly)
Sign up to receive a quarterly Sowers of the Seed newsletter of relevant news and trends that might be of interest to the study of the Bible. Newsletters scheduled for publication the third month of each quarter.
Recommended Resources
Coming soon: A list of recommended resources that will provide a balanced and holistic approach to biblical interpretation.