Author Archives: Benj

Unknown's avatar

About Benj

I’m a native North Jerseyan, transplanted to Pennsylvania...lived and taught in Eastern Europe for six years…Old Testament professor, author, minister, musician, liturgist…husband to Corrie…father to Daniel and Elizabeth.

Sermon: “A Future and a Hope?”

Posted on 1 July 2015 by Benj

The danger in taking the promises in Jeremiah 29:11 out of context and applying them directly to our lives is that we can so easily replace God’s plans, God’s future, and God’s hope with our plans, our future, and our hope. And yet, when we accept God’s plans for our future, we can see that they are infinitely better than our own plans. Continue reading →

Posted in Bible-Theology | 2 Comments

Too Soon? (or, When Is It OK to Comment on Tragedy?)

Posted on 20 June 2015 by Benj

Both gun rights advocates and gun control advocates use shootings as an opportunity to further their ideas. How soon is too soon for advocacy, and how would we know? Continue reading →

Posted in Bible-Theology, Culture-Economics-Society | 2 Comments

Links: 5 June 2015

Posted on 5 June 2015 by Benj

I haven’t posted in a few weeks, so I have accumulated more links to share. Think hard, think well! Culture/Society: On conservative religious activism, the numbers speak for themselves – The Washington Post. What is Marriage to Evangelical Millennials? | … Continue reading →

Posted in Links | Leave a comment

Review of Biblical Literature: Josef Forsling, “Composite Artistry in the Book of Numbers”

Posted on 27 May 2015 by Benj

My review of Josef Forsling’s Composite Artistry in the Book of Numbers: A Study in Biblical Narrative Conventions, has been recently published in the Review of Biblical Literature. Continue reading →

Posted in Bible-Theology, Research | Leave a comment

May Update: Greetings from Perkasie!

Posted on 17 May 2015 by Benj

Dear Friends and Family: Below you will find our monthly update for May. Be sure to write back and tell us how we can pray for you. Giffone May 2015 Update In Christ, Benj and Corrie Giffone (for Daniel and … Continue reading →

Posted in Giffones in Lithuania | Leave a comment

Walton and Sandy on “Inerrancy”

Posted on 16 May 2015 by Benj

“Inerrancy is no longer the clear, defining term it once was. Its semantic qualities have made it a strong and useful descriptor, but some have also found it almost infinitely pliable, even though extensive attempts have been made to define it….” Continue reading →

Posted in Bible-Theology | Leave a comment

What Can We Learn from Job’s Friends?

Posted on 14 May 2015 by Benj

How do we understand the speeches of Job’s friends? In isolation, they seem to contain good wisdom theology, but they are juxtaposed with Job’s valid objections for which we also must account… Continue reading →

Posted in Bible-Theology, Research | 1 Comment

Thoughts on Canon

Posted on 13 May 2015 by Benj

Some undigested thoughts in response to the conference at the University of Edinburgh entitled, “Power, Authority and Canon.” Continue reading →

Posted in Bible-Theology, Research | 1 Comment

Quick Giffone Update: Preaching, Travel, and Conference

Posted on 2 May 2015 by Benj

First year in the can… Continue reading →

Posted in Giffones in Lithuania, Travels | Leave a comment

There should be a word for…

Posted on 28 April 2015 by Benj

…the phenomenon of a smart-phone photo capturing another smart phone being used to take a picture of the same scene/event.

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment