Category Archives: Research

My academic (I flatter myself!) inquiries into the biblical texts, the ANE, historical and literary criticism, and the social sciences.

Why Is Plagiarism So Bad? A Comparison to Ancient Literature

Why am I as a professor so panicked about students following–for example–the authors of the New Testament in quoting without quotation marks, or alluding without footnotes? Continue reading

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Dear Undergraduate Student…

I am pleased that you have chosen to take my course this term. I would like to communicate to you my expectations for our time spent together…. Continue reading

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Teaching Hebrew Bible in Eastern Europe

My observations on teaching Hebrew and Hebrew Bible in Lithuania so far… Continue reading

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Jaroslav Pelikan on Tradition and Traditionalism

Tradition is the living faith of the dead; traditionalism is the dead faith of the living. Tradition lives in conversation with the past, while remembering where we are and when we are and that it is we who have to … Continue reading

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Best of 2013

I’m going through the thinkhardthinkwell archives and highlighting some of my favorite posts. 2013 was a lighter year for blogging… Continue reading

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What Was Chronicles for the NT Authors?

What did the New Testament authors and the earliest Christians think of the book of Chronicles? How could we possibly know, and why should we care? Continue reading

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The Academic Life (or, How to Think Thoughts Professionally)

Up until this point in my life, the academic pieces–reading for general knowledge, class preparation, research and writing–have fit in around the larger, immovable blocks of my life. But now, I have been hit with an avalanche of “free time,” and it’s hard to know how best to use it all…. Continue reading

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Five-Year Plan (non-Soviet-style)

In May 2010, we made a five-year plan… Continue reading

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Audio Streams in the Desert (Or, My Free Post-Graduate Education)

Over the last eight years, I listened to thousands of hours of teaching from top teachers at top institutions–mostly for free! Continue reading

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Keeping an Open Mind

“I wish to examine [Luke’s] Gospel with the sober reserve of a scholar and with the confidence of a believer. For I hope in this manner to arrive at genuine understanding. I also realize that this becomes possible only if God leads me into his Word.” Continue reading

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