about me

My name is Matthew R. Malcolm. With my wife and 3 children, I live in Perth, Western Australia, where I’m Lecturer in New Testament at Trinity Theological College.

33 Comments »

33 Responses

on May 25, 2008 at 2:44 am | Reply Roger Mugs

on your interest in coffee… are you at all interested in the whole cat feces coffee trend?

http://www.shortnews.com/start.cfm?id=41679
on May 27, 2008 at 10:49 pm | Reply Matthew

Well we don’t get the right sort of cats in this part of the world, so I have to gather my pre-fertilised coffee beans by following along behind badgers. It doesn’t taste as good – and I can’t seem to sell it for as much – but there’s a certain sense of accomplishment that comes with creating that unique cup of coffee… also a certain sense of gastro-enteritis…
on February 28, 2009 at 11:52 am | Reply carl sweatman

This is all great stuff! I especially liked you comments on Colossians potentially being a part of the Pauline Hauptbriefe.

If it would be alright, I would like to dialogue with you further about your research. This request is partly because I have just begun my PhD studies (under Andrew Lincoln and Lloyd Pietersen) and my project is going to be an intensive study of 1 Cor 2.1-3.4. The other part is to get to know another fellow academic coffee drinker in the Pauline world.

If a digital meet-and-greet and subsequent dialogue are possible, me email is: cssweatman[at]gmail[dot]com.
on February 28, 2009 at 1:22 pm | Reply Matthew

Hi Carl – thanks for your comments. I’ll be in touch via email soon… always pleased to hear about coffee-drinking Corinthians scholars!
on June 1, 2009 at 12:38 am | Reply Andrew Pritchard

Dear Matthew, I read your review of Greg Deuble’s book, “What They Never Taught me in Church”. I am sending a copy of my book http://www.the-gospel-according2the-scriptures.com in exchange for his. Matthew, I would value your review of my book. How may I get a copy to you? My email is: andrewpritchard at mysoul.com.au
on June 10, 2009 at 9:57 am | Reply matthew

Thank you Andrew. At the moment I am not able to receive books for review unless I specifically seek them out, due to direct relevance to my research or my family. You may be interested in my recent discussion of the soul/body and immortality/resurrection on this blog. I aim to post more about this soon.
on August 19, 2009 at 6:46 am | Reply Steve Mac

Hi mate

Just wondering if you will be in UK in mid Feb as I will be over for two weeks in Sheffield and London. Dave Mullender is coming with me and we’d love to see you either in Notts or Sheffield
on August 19, 2009 at 10:36 am | Reply Matthew

Hey Steve – sounds great! I’ll email you about it…
on November 27, 2009 at 4:51 am | Reply Scripture Zealot

I didn’t know you roast your own coffee until I just read this. I do to. Who do you buy your beans from over there?

I love the Bibledex videos.
Jeff
on November 30, 2009 at 6:49 pm | Reply Matthew

Heyyy you do? How cool… Back in Australia we used to always get our green beans from one supplier, but here in the UK we just get them from various suppliers, depending on what we find on the internet – so we’re always trying different single origins. Sometimes we hit upon a good blend too, but it’s a bit hit n miss!
on July 11, 2010 at 7:06 pm | Reply Rich Griese

Nice to meet you. Found you from Larry Hurtado’s blog. I am a recently retired computer worker, and a lay schmoe interested in the study of the history of early Christianity. I friend of mine (well, haven’t seen him for years) Robert M. Price. I’ve been at it on and off for about twenty years now. Only recently started reading other people’s blogs. Or trying to make an effort to find people interested in the topic by following blogs. My interest is the very early stuff. Having a lazy weekend. Was just relistening to Early Doherty’s main articles regarding his Jesus myth view (I often turn text to mp3 via my mac, and then listen). That idea intrigues me, and would love to find others that are not insane that also are familiar with the idea. I notice that you are doing a PDH in 1 Corrinthins. Wow… can you get any more specific. Well, in any event I am sticking you on my address book list of bloggers, and I will add you to my google reader.

I started out with Bob Price learning about the historical Jesus, and the gospels. It was a very long time before I even considered Paul. But as time goes on, I am really coming to feel that Paul is the actual creator or Christianity, and I am going to make an effort to learn more about him.

Cheers! RichGriese.NET
on July 11, 2010 at 7:11 pm | Reply Rich Griese

oh! I forget. I ALSO was a coffee roaster. I had a coffee roasting company in the mountains of california for like 5 years. Noticed that you roast your own. you mean for personal use, or professionally? In your oven, popcorn poper, or do you have like a 1 pound roaster. this is the one I had

http://www.coffeeper.com/SF-25B.html

Guy makes a great one pound roaster for home use.

http://www.coffeeper.com/SF-1LB.html

Cheers! RichGriese.NET
- on July 11, 2010 at 8:17 pm | Reply Matthew
  
  Nice to meet you… We just roast for our own personal use. I’ve had a little roasting machine before, but it died so nowadays I do it in a pot on the stove top. It’s not exact, but it gets reasonable results as an interim measure!
  - on July 12, 2010 at 3:25 am Rich Griese
    
    it’s pretty amazing how much smoke comes off even just a handeful of coffee eh? Here’s something you might try. Remember those old air popcorn poppers? You can find them in 2nd hand stores for like $2. Get one, get an extension cord, so you can deal with the whole process on the front porch (avoid the smokey house), throw a handful of coffee in, just enough for the few cups you are making, and start it up. have a big mixing bowl ready, and when it hit’s the doneness you like dump the coffee in the mixing bowl and stir to cool. It works pretty good. And if you get one of those 20 or 50 foot extension cords you can rig up a system where you have the extension cord set all the time, and just keep the popcorn popper in an old milk box on your portch. Then you are ready to make coffee at all times. Which… as you know is important. Speaking of which… I got water boiling.
    
    Cheers! RichGriese.NET
on July 14, 2010 at 7:14 pm | Reply Hannah

This is Hannah Bevills, Editor for Christian.com which is a social network made specifically for Christians, by Christians, to directly fulfill Christian’s needs. We embarked on this endeavor to offer the ENTIRE christian community an outlet to join together as one (no matter denomination) and better spread the good word of Christianity. Christian.com has many great features aside from the obvious like christian TV, prayer request or even find a church/receive advice. We have emailed you because we have interest in collaborating with you and your blog to help us spread the good word. I look forward to an email regarding the matter, Thanks!

God Bless
|Hannah Bevills|Christian.com|
hannah.bevills@gmail.com
on August 18, 2010 at 8:13 pm | Reply Jason Nicholas Corning

Greeting and Blessings,

First, greetings from America. I will be short and completely honest. I am new on-line Blogger and scholar who has experienced some hostile feedback because of my anti-Americanism. It seems one cannot be that way and succeed with today’s American theologians and Biblical scholars. I was born in Australia and took my A-levels in 1989, but decided to go to University in Chicago rather than here, a very big mistake. I’m looking for fellow English-speaking Biblical scholars to perhaps start a group, a micro-blog, or something free and popular to get our ideas out into the (I believe very closed) American mind via the net. May the LORD God bless you in the name of St. Judas Maccabaeus.
on February 11, 2011 at 5:05 am | Reply Esteban Vázquez

I almost never read people’s “About Me” pages, but I must say that after perusing some of the, um, peculiar comments here, I’m going to have to change my habits!

So, I was trying to look you up on Facebook to friend you, but I couldn’t find you. Could it really be that you live outside the grid? (Tron reference complimentary.)

Anyway, let me know if you’re around to be found. Please feel free to delete this comment and email me.
on February 11, 2011 at 5:19 am | Reply Matthew

Tron. I should watch that I suppose – I’m probably missing allusions all over the place. But as it happens I am outside the grid It’s because I have a fear of what I have dubbed OAS (Old Acquaintance Syndrome). Having experienced this from time to time in real life (“So… umm… hi… err… so what have you been up to since high school? Oh, divorce, huh? cool…”), I’ve been too scared to get on facebook in case it happens again. Is that what it’s like??
on February 11, 2011 at 5:21 am | Reply Matthew

Incidentally, it’s not me who’s divorced, it’s the hypothetical old aquaintance who I’m too scared to talk to
on February 11, 2011 at 6:59 am | Reply Esteban Vázquez

Blessed are you, Matthew bar Malcolm, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you! That is indeed a recurring problem, and one for which there is no apparent solution (well, not anymore). Anyway, I admire you for being off the grid, which I myself have tried to do one or twice precisely because of my rather acute case of OAS — but not permanently, I’m afraid.

And now you have me all paranoid-like about Old Acquaintances who might find these comments and try to track me down on the grid! Where’s the delete button?

Anyway, you must indeed watch Tron, but do go to the local video store and rent the first one before you do.
on February 11, 2011 at 8:01 am | Reply Matthew

I have a vision of what I’ll be like in the future: I picture myself as a crotchety old man, sitting on the front porch in a rocking chair, stroking a shotgun, and suspecting every passerby of being a leering Old Acqaintance in disguise. “Keep right on movin’,” I’ll growl…
on February 11, 2011 at 9:42 pm | Reply Scripture Zealot

I have this syndrome too. I’ve developed chronic back problems but worst of all, mental illness, chronic fatigue syndrome and all the other stuff. So I don’t want to see anyone from my past. “So how’s your music career going and where have all your big muscles gone?” Well, my endurance went down the tubes, I switched to photography which became too stressful, then my web design career never really took off, then everything got 6x worse and here I am.

I afraid of that happening. That’s partly why I use Scripture Zealot but my name has gotten out there now. I make myself hard to find on FB. I’m glad I’m not the only crazy one.

And BTW, you should read my and others’ About pages! I read yours. You can learn a lot. (smiley)
Jeff
on February 11, 2011 at 9:47 pm | Reply Scripture Zealot

Matthew, aren’t you on the grid because of your blog and links to social media sites?

And I was referring to Esteban with reading About pages.
Jeff
on February 11, 2011 at 9:49 pm | Reply Scripture Zealot

One more thing, very sorry.

I confess I haven’t been here in a while, and I see you have a job after studying with Thiselton. Congrats! You made quite a move.
Jeff
on February 12, 2011 at 1:11 am | Reply Matthew

Hey Jeff – thanks – I’m enjoying the challenge of the new job. I suppose I’m somewhat on the grid with the blog, but I’ve managed to steer clear of facebook or twitter or the like. Mind you, at least I can send texts – I discovered yesterday that instead of texting or emailing each other from different parts of the house, my parents WRITE each other notes – like with a pen and paper – how quaint is that?!!!

Anyway, yes, I agree about how awkward the reconnection with old friends can be – there are certain assumptions and expectations about “success” that are hard to overcome – for others and for ourselves

Okay, I’m off to check out your “about” page…
on February 12, 2011 at 6:36 am | Reply Esteban Vázquez

Matthew> You and me both! That picture is most definitely in my future.

Jeff> But I don’t have an “About Me” page!
on February 12, 2011 at 6:32 pm | Reply Scripture Zealot

Esteban, but I’m sure you used to. It said theologically conservative, politically liberal, makes jokes he expects others to get, knows facts about unimportant things, a Greek geek, loves Paul Simon–I could go on.
Jeff
on March 2, 2011 at 10:58 am | Reply brianfulthorp

I your book – thanks so much. I appreciate it.
on March 2, 2011 at 12:42 pm | Reply Matthew

you’re welcome – my pleasure
on May 17, 2011 at 4:28 pm | Reply Shannon

A celebrated cryptographer has discovered through an in depth study of the Cave Four Dead Sea Scroll that the biblical book of Romans has been misunderstood.

He has proven the ’Golden Rule’ is all that matters.
A teaching that has been rejected and downplayed for 1500 years. In fact, conservative Christians have been using the book of Romans to berate liberals who believe in making the humanitarian needs of others equal to our own.

Please email me direct. I would like to end you more information and a brief summary on Michael Wood’s discovery.

Regards ~
Shannon
on November 9, 2011 at 11:15 pm | Reply Jason

Would you mind emailing me? I am preparing for a major research project (thesis) on 1 Corinthians and wanted to ask about some resources. I would greatly appreciate it!

Thanks,

Jason
jgar @ suddenlink.net
on March 21, 2012 at 4:05 pm | Reply John Harris

Matthew, are you on Twitter? It would be easier for folks to follow your blog that way. If so, let me know @johnmarkharris
- on March 22, 2012 at 3:02 pm | Reply Matthew R. Malcolm
  
  Sorry John, I’m not on Twitter