Well I’m back in Nottingham but returning to London again tomorrow for more intensive German study… Schade!! Anyway, while I’m here, I’ll reply to two memes for which I’ve been tagged, and introduce an impressive competition!
Firstly, I was tagged here to do the Colossians 3 translation. I’m purposefully not looking at anyone else’s attempt until I’ve done my own, so that I’m not tempted to copy – it’s just me and the GNT:
If then you have been raised with Christ, seek that which is above – where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your thinking on that which is above, not that which is on earth. For you died and, together, your life is hidden with Christ in God.
My use of the word ‘together’ is an attempt to deal with the fact that we have no plural second person in English. Besides that, my translation is fairly simple. Of course, the meaning is not transparent, and would require more engagement with the rest of Colossians. I won’t tag anyone else, as I haven’t yet checked who has already had a go – I’ll be curious to see what other people have come up with. It’s kinda annoying being away so much at the moment – I’m missing other people’s blogs!
Secondly, I’ve been tagged with a kinda humourous meme here - I like the idea of this meme, in which you parody other bloggers! Unfortunately, due to being away, I feel like I’ve missed out on it somewhat… so I’m going to try something a little different, and parody my all-time favourite blog, Cryptotheology:
I’m going travelling again – cool, huh? I must be a pretty important theology-type, huh? I’ve just talked to Thiselton – cool, huh? I’m kinda a big deal, huh? I believe I’ve sorted out ALL of the details of 1 Corinthians that everyone else couldn’t work out – cool, huh? I rock, huh?… pleeease like me – PLEEEEAAAASE – didn’t you notice I’m a totally rockin’ important academic theologian???
And now, the moment you’ve been waiting for: The new competition: While I was in London, I encountered a couple of men who have been influential in Christian history… if you can name who they are, then I will devote an entire post to the topic of your choice, no matter how sublime or ridiculous – and I won’t qualify it by saying, “So-and-so said I had to do a post about…”
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Ha, it’s like your parody of yourself could be a template for me:
“I’m [doing something other than blogging] – cool, huh? I must be a pretty important theology-type, huh? I’ve just talked to [Schreiner/Hamilton/Mohler/various others at SBTS]- cool, huh? I’m kinda a big deal, huh? I believe I’ve sorted out ALL of the details of [theology] that everyone else couldn’t work out – cool, huh? I rock, huh?… pleeease like me – PLEEEEAAAASE – didn’t you notice I’m a totally rockin’ important academic theologian???”
Oy.
Oh, minus the “important” and add “slightly less-than” before academic.
Hehe yep that’s the way it goes… There can be a real tension between, on the one hand, genuinely stretching yourself to do the best you can in understanding the Bible/theology/whatever; and on the other hand, finding yourself wishing that people would congratulate you on how good you are…
Hmm a clue about the identity of the two people in the pic: They are a father n son duo, from the time of Josephus.
Pliny the Elder and Pliny the Younger?
herniaus and constipatus?
Dangnabbit, I didn’t read your comment closely enough — you said father and son, not just relatives (uncle and nephew in the case I provided), so I withdraw my guess.
I guess it might be a bit unfair if I enter this competition. Anyway, you know which subject I’d choose for the blog entry. Don’t you….?
Dan: Well your withdrawn guess is closer than anything else so far… which admittedly isn’t saying much…
Roger: I believe herniaus and constipatus are generally portrayed with grimaces on their faces – clenched teeth, earnest concentration…
Peter: Ich habe einen Traum… Einen traum um Bahnhoefe….
Okay one more clue about the picture: They sacked Jerusalem together, and Josephus prophesied correctly that the father would become the next Caesar.
Vespasian and Titus!
Ahhhh we have a winner: Earlier this year I visited the place where Josephus was hiding out when he was found by Vespasian – which of course led to a turnaround for Josephus: He turned from being a leader of the Jewish War to recording it for the Romans, and speaking out against it… His subsequent anti-war speeches are quite remarkable, involving significant theological argument.
Anyway, Dan has the immense responsibility of choosing the next topic to be addressed with razor-sharp wit and theological acumen in cryptotheology… just two questions remain:
1) What will Dan choose?
2) What the heck does acumen actually mean?
you, like, academically, rock dude. Hey is that my poptart?
Finally… the respect I’ve been hankering for…
What to choose… what to choose…
I’ll give you two options:
(1) Share some of your thoughts on the so-called counter-imperial readings of Paul, which are on the rise today. You know, things like if you think they are valid, strengths and weaknesses, points of applications, that sort of thing.
(2) Explain how you understand the way in which your role as an academic functions as a part of being a disciple of Jesus in today’s world.