Malcolm meets Bauck-ardo

Here’s how it began: I was presenting my paper at the “Reversed Thunder” Psalms conference at St Andrews, and one of the people in the audience, known to me only as “Richard”, had a cross expression on his face and his head in his hands.  “Sheesh”, I thought, “He is NOT happy with my work!”  Anyway, I later found out that, like me, he would be attending the British New Testament Conference in Aberdeen.  On the train to Aberdeen I started thinking, “Hmm… that guy looked mighty familiar.  Are there any famous “Richards” in theology at St Andrews?”  Suddenly it hit me: RICHARD BAUCKHAM!

When I got to the BNTC, sure enough, it was him.  I had to find out – what did he think of my paper???  I found myself alongside him and asked him if he would mind giving me any feedback about the paper I’d given on Paul’s reception of the Psalms.  He paused for a moment, and then looked at me: “I think you were right!”  PHEW!  He liked it!  Michael Bird later explained to me that there are three different facial expressions that are easily confused by the casual observer: Consternation, Concentration, and Constipation – the three Cs.  Turned out I’d thought Bauckham was doing number one when in fact he was doing number… the second one.

Anyway, Bauckham and I sat down over dinner at BNTC and kept chatting about my paper and research – and then, lo and behold, Larry Hurtado asked if he could join us.  We spent the next hour or two chatting about 1 Corinthians, the arts, universities, and theology.  I confess I did think at the time that Nick Norelli would be envious!  Both of them were really nice, and didn’t even mind me admitting that the two of them merge in my mind whenever I think of their works.  Bauckham helpfully suggested I could have a general mental image of “Bauck-ardo”.  Good stuff!  Further reports on the conferences will follow, as I think of them…