Gegraptai

In case anyone has been wondering where I’ve been, since the semester has ended I’ve been cramming for the GRE, working on preliminary reading and a site report for the Tel Rehov dig (I’m leaving in a few weeks!), reviewing a bit of Hebrew, and working on a book with a colleague and a professor. I won’t be blogging at least until I’ve taken the GRE on June 21, and probably not until after I get into Israel after June 27.

So don’t worry, I’m not dead. I just have higher priorities at the moment.

I’ve been really busy for the past few weeks, which is why my blog has been neglected. But, my big project for Archaeology class, which is what I’ve been spending every minute of my time working on lately, is now finally finished. Also, it’s Reading Week.

So, I am bound and determined to post a few things this week now that I have a bit of free time, including continuing my reading of Ignatius’ Epistle to the Romans. Keep an eye out this week.

I just haven’t been able to squeeze it into my schedule since my semester began. Anyway, since all the cool kids are doing it (namely Cody and Jack), and since at the moment I neither have the time nor the urge to post anything substantive, here’s what’s been going on lately:

• Brandon got a new LCD HDTV for the living room. I try not to waste too much time watching it, but it is pretty sweet.
• I owe the book store $750. Ouch. I must admit, though, I did get a bit carried away. One of the books that I bought, finally, was the Liddell-Scott lexicon—and I must say, it is worth its $190 price tag. And it weighs a ton, so I can work out and translate Greek at the same time. (Yeah, I’m a huge nerd.)
• Speaking of Greek, I’m doing an independent study in Classical Greek this semester with Dr. Long, and, sick and twisted as it may sound, I’m having a blast. We’re translating Epictetus’ Enchiridion. Coming from a biblical Greek background, this is tedious, time-consuming work. I’m learning a lot, though, about the evolution of the Greek language, a bit about Stoic philosophy, and quite a lot about the milieu of the New Testament. It’s a lot of fun.
• I’m also learning Latin through an independent study with Dr. Dongell, and it’s coming along very well.
• Just today I turned in my application letter for the Biblical Archaeology Program Scholarship. It’s a $2500 scholarship, so that will be a huge help in paying my way to excavate in Israel this summer if I get it. Pray that I do!
• For Lent, I’ve committed to something that is difficult for me, because it conflicts radically with my OCD nature. I would like for this to become a lifestyle change, and not just a ‘Lent thing,’ so please pray that I might trust in God more fully.
• I got some cool shoes.

That’s about it, folks. Perhaps next time I’ll have something more interesting to talk about. And I hope next time will be sooner than later.

I haven’t posted in a couple of weeks. My January course on Acts has kept me too busy to find the time to keep my blog updated. I intended to post a major entry this weekend after finishing up my J-term course, but then I got the flu (and now my three housemates have it too). Since I’m feeling rather swimmy-headed and tired, anything I write will probably be incoherent. So, I’m putting productivity off for the next couple of days. I do still plan to take full advantage of this week of freedom, though. Here’s what I still hope to accomplish in the next eight days:

• Post one major blog entry;
• Continue blogging my NT Greek readings daily;
• Review Greek morphology, syntax, and vocabulary;
• Read Dennis R. MacDonald, Does the New Testament Imitate Homer? It should prove … um … interesting.
• And last, but not least, spend an hour each morning in prayer.

So, this flu has held me up, but look for something new up here in the next few days. And pray that I and my housemates get over this mess quickly!

Besides all of that, I’m getting very excited about beginning the Spring term next week. My classes are really going to be a lot of fun. Here’s what I’m taking:

• Biblical Archaeology
• Non-Canonical Writings for NT Studies
• Directed study in Ecclesiastical Latin
• Directed study in Classical Greek

I’m anticipating an exciting semester! Now, I must rest so I can take advantage of this next week off…

By the way, the latest Biblical Studies Carnival is here. It is extremely thorough, and quite worth reading.

I’ve decided to spend my break learning Coptic. I don’t know why, really. I just can’t stand to sit around and watch TV for very long. I’d much rather be doing something worthwhile. Plus, I figure I’ll need to know it eventually anyway.

As an effort to stay regular both in my daily devotions and in my Greek readings, I’m going to (try) to begin posting a verse or two in Greek each day or so, along with a translation. Here is today’s reading from John 1:14:

Και ο λογος σαρξ εγενετο και εσκηνωμεν εν ημιν, και εθεασαμεθα την δοξαν αυτου, δοξαν ως μονογενους παρα πατρος, πληρης χαριτος και αληθειας.

“And the Word became flesh and dwelled [or 'tabernacled'] among us, and we beheld his glory—glory as of the only begotten One from the Father—full of grace and truth.”