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Loading...I have received several responses to my post yesterday about my being on leave; most of them can be summed up in two questions: What am I doing during my leave (besides spending my days watching soaps and eating bon-bons)? And will I keep my blog going after I’m done with the leave and return to teaching?
I’ll answer the second question first. Yes, my plan is to keep the blog going. I started it while I was teaching last Spring (though it was a the tail end of the term; but the planning had been going on for months), and I intend to keep it up once I’m back in the classroom in the Fall. I won’t lie: it’s a lot of work. Posting an average of six times a week is a bit hard sometimes. But I’m blessed with the ability to write fast, and doing this blog has made me even faster! I have to budget at least 45 minutes a day to focus on the blog (not to mention the time I’m reading the comments as they come to me on email). I absolutely want to keep it going. And I want more and more people to join up – so please, if you know anyone who might be interested (or lots and lots of anyones) do let them know about it. As you know, the main point is to raise funds for charities dealing with homelessness and hunger, and the more people we reach on the blog, the more we can help those in need. This more than anything else is what keeps me at it.
As to the first question: yes, that was actually what I was originally going to talk about in my post yesterday (I find often that I’ll have a post in mind, and that as I type, something else starts appearing on my screen!). So, what am I doing on my time “off”? (Btw: I don’t believe I’ve ever watched a soap or eaten a bon-bon; I’m clearly missing out on something….).
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What are the key issues on which you’ve drastically changed your views? That should make for some interesting posts.
I definitely know what you mean about being busy! I work a 9-5 job, then I head off to teach and train Martial Arts– usually for about 3-4 hours. On top of that, I have a ton of hobbies, and a lovely wife to whom I try to dedicate as much of my free time as possible. I’m always busy, but that keeps me pretty happy, to be honest.
Incidentally, the latest hobby that I’ve picked up is an attempt to learn Koine Greek. It has always been something I’ve wanted to do, but your books have been the kicker which finally pushed me into motion on that goal. I’m starting with “Learn to Read New Testament Greek,” by David Alan Black. It’s a fantastically helpful book, so far, but the digital version has some transcription problems. On occasion, I’ve found Upsilon’s where Nu’s should be, but most of the Greek was scanned in as images, instead of Unicode text, and the images are very small and hard to read.
Any suggestions for resources for people trying to learn Greek, outside of a classroom setting?
Thanks!
I’m afraid I don’t know what resources are available! I’ve only dealt with Greek in the classroom. But possibly someone else on the blog knows?
Search for William Mounce. He publishes recorded lectures for a systematic self-study program on biblical Greek.
Ya, Bill Mounce has a very good online video course. He has a free one as well as more comprehensive one you need to pay for: http://www.teknia.com/greek
For me KungFuJoe, I picked up a several materials. But the best for me were the “flash cards.” I would take ten or so and try and remember the words. Learn them, move on. Mostly, common words appearing numerous times in the NT. I then moved on to read my Greek NT with English translated under it. Reading the easiest texts: Mark, Philemon (because its short!), John. This helped me because I just have a few mintues a day. I use William B Mounce’s cards and book. As Ehrman would tell you, don’t learn to write or speak it. Its a dead language, for the most part. My way has you reading like this “cat….hill…fall..” Focusing on nouns and names foremost. After you learn the common words, the verbs will follow, in between the nouns. Hope it helps. My NT Greek/English has an concordance showing how many times a word appears and such. Flipping through it will show you in a lot of cases, the words are easy to translate. They are almost the same spelling from English.
How did Jesus become God? This is the single most important Christian question I can think of. If you go about telling people that Jesus was an apocalyptic preacher who probably didn’t think of himself as divine, you will get all sorts of Christians (not just the conservatives) replying with, “Oh yeah? Then why does the bible say he is God? Those apostles would have known better than you!” I believe that N T Wright wrote a whole book to that effect. What’s needed is a well laid out and compelling explanation of how it could have happened and why it is the best explanation for the evidence. God speed! [Sorry, it just slipped out 🙂 ]
I was wondering why your posts were available at about 8 pm the last couple of months; I used have to wait til 2 am to read them….mystery solved!
Will any of your promotional work (for your books) bring you to Ireland, Bart? Have you done any work here before?
I’ve never done any work there, but I’ve played there. I took my daughter there for two weeks when she graduated from high school. I *loved* it!!
Doing the research for the book has taught me a lot (that almost never happens for the writing of trade books for a general audience) and I’ve changed my views drastically on some rather key issues.
can you elaborate please on what views have been changed Bart?
cheers
Sam
Try the bonbons; I think you will enjoy them…..Soap operas, not so much; thats beneath your intelligence……
Thanks so much for updating what’s in the pipeline.
Sounds very good…especially #4. Enjoy.
“I’ve changed my views drastically on some rather key issues.” That’s really cool to hear 🙂 I can’t wait to see what’s been going on in your head. Where will we find out about these changes of perception?
Hi,
Since you’re doing a textbook on the entire Bible, how about doing something like a critical commentary on the entire Bible? Explaining all the contradictions and other controversies verse by verse or chapter by chapter. Good luck on your research.
Now *that* would be a lot of work!!
All four projects sound very worthwhile especially the last one which seems destined to provoke substantial controversy, but I very much look forward to reading your ideas about how Jesus became God. I have now worked my way through about half of your New Testament textbook which is a really incredible book. I have completed all of your Teaching Company courses and was wondering when another course was coming out. Please keep plugging away.
Bart, I think I first encountered your work in a Teaching Company course. I hope they weren’t unkind enough to justify their latest decision by saying “you have a face for audio-only…” 🙂
Maybe they don’t like my wardrobe….
I have over 20 of the Great Courses. Audio-only invites distractions from an iPhone or iPad. I don’t buy that media any more. I hope they (and you) re-consider.
Not my decision! I much prefer video. But I’d prefer playing second base for the Yankees too. Some things just ain’t gonna happen….
Great come back! In your spare time you need to try some stand up comedy. Spare time-RIGHT?
You are God’s gift to the lay seeker. Keep up the great work.
Ron