The study of the Pseudo-Clementine Homilies is, in my opinion, a rather important one in light of current discussions of inerrancy and interpretative strategies. Long before there were buckets to throw Scripture in and long after Marcion, there emerged a sect of Christians struggling with passages in the Old Testament that did not seem to meet their expectations. Include in these homilies are ways Christians dealt with those passages and they sought to remain true to pre-Nicene orthodoxy. And fill in the gaps about some of the Apostles along the way.

I am truly excited about this module. The P-C Homilies reveals a stilling struggling orthodoxy involving the role of the Old Testament. They did not want to unhitch the faith from the Hebrew bible, but they struggled with passages they could not easily align with their view of God via Jesus.

The module is simple… but for those studying early Christian history — for those studying views of Scripture… and indeed, those struggling with their own views and pull to unhitch, having this module is a necessity.

Having it in Accordance makes it easy to read and to ponder in both English and the original Greek.

From Accordance:

This edition of the Pseudo-Clementine Homilies is based on the Greek column of the Migne edition. It includes two epistles to James (one from Peter and one from Clement) that serve as instructions on using the Homilies. The Homilies themselves are a sort of narrative about how Clement (either pope Clement I or a Titus Flavius Clemens) became the apostle Peter’s traveling companion and observed many of his discourses and miracles. They are considered “Pseudo-Clementines” in that while Clement I died in AD 99, these writings are commonly dated in the early 4th century, but before the Council of Nicea (c. 300-320 AD).

This product includes individual modules for 1) Greek text, 2) English translation, and 3) Notes.

While I love the Septuagint, I have purposely avoided Jobe’s 2016 work in hard copy for several, materialistic, reasons. I did not want a hard copy to have to carry around. Second, I knew soon or later a good electronic copy would come out that would allow me to experience the Reader in all of its glory, including taggings and easy look up. Behold, my patience has paid off.

Any more, I’m using Accordance more and more on my iPad pro due to the portability of it (data space). So these pics are going to be there there.

One of the best aspects of having an electronic version is the ability to quickly get to what you want i and search for what you want. Here, you can see the table of contents.

As an added feature, let me show you what this looks like alongside the Göttingen:

Besides the awesome features that bring the book to life, the book is well written, complete with introductions highlighting the features of the Greek versions.

From Accordance:

Interest in the Septuagint today continues to grow stronger. Despite that interest, students have lacked a guidebook to the text similar to the readers and handbooks that exist for the Greek New Testament. Discovering the Septuagint: A Guided Reader fills that need. Created by an expert on the Septuagint, this groundbreaking resource draws on Jobes’s experience as an educator in order to help upper–level college, seminary, and graduate students cultivate skill in reading the Greek Old Testament.

This reader presents, in Septuagint canonical order, ten Greek texts from the Rahlfs—Hanhart Septuaginta critical edition. It explains the syntax, grammar, and vocabulary of more than 700 verses from select Old Testament texts representing a variety of genres, including the Psalms, the Prophets, and more.

The texts selected for this volume were chosen to fit into a typical semester. Each text (1) is an example of distinctive Septuagint syntax or word usage; (2) exemplifies the amplification of certain theological themes or motifs by the Septuagint translators within their Jewish Hellenistic culture; and/or (3) is used significantly by New Testament writers.

First, the good:

It downloads quickly to both the iPad and my Macbook. But, it is intended to do that. Accordance is the smooth software program for Apple, but more than that… it is small and lightweight.

Second, the why:

The Göttingen Septuagint on Accordance includes everything in the print edition — except the huge amount of space one needs to have it. Further, because it is highlighted/tagged and included the apparatus, serious — and the sometimes serious— students of the Church’s first bible can easily find what they need. Because it is on Accordance, you can easily look up the Greek which helps when you are trying to find connections between Sirach and the New Testament or Church Fathers.

This is an ideal format for studying the LXX. It is tagged and tagged well.

From Accordance:

The Göttingen Septuagint (Vetus Testamentum Graecum: Auctoritate Academiae Scientiarum Gottingensis editum) is a major critical version, comprising multiple volumes published from 1931 to the present and not yet complete. Its critical apparatus presents variant Septuagint readings and variants from other Greek versions. Print value is over $2800.

This product includes the grammatically tagged critical text of the books listed below together with the accompanying apparatus.

• Genesis (Band 1: Genesis) with apparatus (1974)
• Exodus (Band 2.1: Exodus) with apparatus (1991)
• Leviticus (Band 2.2: Leviticus) with apparatus (1986)
• Numbers (Band 3.1: Numeri) with apparatus (1982)
• Deuteronomy (Band 3.2: Deruteronomium) with apparatus (1977)
  • The 5 volumes listed above are combined in a single text module (LXXG-PENT) along with its apparatus (LXXG-PENT Apparatus)
• Ruth (Band 4.3: Ruth) with apparatus (2006)
• 2 Chronicles (Band 7.2: Paralipomenon liber II) with apparatus (2014)
• 1 Ezra (Band 8.1: Esdrae liber I) with apparatus (1991)
• 2 Ezra: Ezra – Nehemiah (Band 8.2: Esdrae liber II) with apparatus (1993)
• Esther (Band 8.3: Esther) with apparatus (1983)
• 1 Maccabees (Band 9.1: Maccabaeorum liber I) with apparatus (1990)
• 2 Maccabees (Band 9.2: Maccabaeorum liber II) with apparatus (1976)
• Psalms and Odes (Band 10: Psalmi Cum Odis) with apparatus (1979)
• Job (Band 11.4: Iob) with two (2) apparatus (1982)
• Sirach (Band 12.2: Sapientia Jesu filii Sirach) with apparatus (1981)
• 12 Minor Prophets (Band 13: Duodecim Prophetae) with two (2) apparatus (1984)
• Isaiah (Band 14: Isaias) with two (2) apparatus (1983)
• Jeremiah, Baruch, Lamentations, and the Epistle of Jeremiah (Band 15: Jeremias, Baruch, Threni, Epistula Jeremiae) with two (2) apparatus (2004)
• Ezekiel (Band 16.1: Ezechiel) with two (2) apparatus (1978)

Note, Accordance is offering introductory pricing until Monday, 4 June. You can buy them separate, but why do that?

Notably, the Reformed have the best theological series — and I say that as a Wesleyan. The New Studies in Biblical Theology (InterVarsity) continues that trend, which is something I cannot decide as to how I feel. Granted, the series (edited by D.A. Carson), conforms well to the Reformed Tradition of forming the mind in response to God. But it is Reformed. It is going to be rooted in that tradition, but I do not think we can limit our reception of it, simply because Calvinists and others of that tradition have contributed to such a magnificent set of volumes.

Note, “biblical theology” is a specific category. This series focuses on three areas: “the nature and status of biblical theology, including its relationship to other disciplines;” “the articulation and exposition of the structure of thought from a particular biblical writer or text;” “the delineation of a biblical theme across the biblical corpus.” Whether or not you agree with the general principle of “biblical theology” will largely determine your reception of this series.

To highlight this in particular, I want to highlight the volume, “Christ, Our Righteousness: Paul’s Theology of Justification (NSBT Vol. 9).” Mark Seifrid, the author, takes on the “New Perspective,” (NPP) offer something of a counter to that view. Seifrid does tackle that view — and honestly, how convincing he is is going to be determined by how you view the NPP. I find his take, overall, something to consider. I usually fall in line with the NPP, so I appreciate his allowance of something good in that line of thinking. For instance, I enjoy his placement of Paul as Jew, but I do not think Paul rejected Judaism even as he was “converted” by seeing the Risen Christ. On the other hand, his work is needed to better help Protestants understand “justification” and “righteousness.”

The second volume is one by Craig Blomberg, someone I started out largely disagreeing with, but have come over the recent years to admire his work on the authority of Scripture. The 2005 Contagious Holiness: Jesus’ Meals with Sinners (NSBT Vol. 19) takes the standard idea of the meal of Jesus as something against the pharisees, giving us something that transforms our understanding of the Incarnation. In this singular work is ground for the Wesleyan view of the Eucharist as a converting ordinance. Further, Blomberg manages to do something I do not see in Seifrid, to make it possible to pose tough academic challenges to longstanding interpretations, and then tell the Church what we should do with this new information. In other words, he uses Athens to help Jerusalem.

In Accordance, these volumes are highlight to scripture passages as well as to the endnotes. This helps research and recall — especially for those of us who get engrossed either in our age or in reading that we cannot remember the exact bible verse the author does.

Anyone concerned with the way Mainline Protestantism has labored to deprive us of sound thinkers should consider this series, especially preachers and those who see themselves as theologians. You do not have to agree with every facet of their interpretation, but these authors know how to think and they are firm believers, even after their academic training — if not the more so because of it.

You can find the module here. From the description:

The Greek New Testament, Produced at Tyndale House, Cambridge has been created under the oversight of editors Dr. Dirk Jongkind (St. Edmund’s College, University of Cambridge) and Dr. Peter Williams (Tyndale House, Cambridge). Together with their team, they have taken a rigorously philological approach to reevaluating the standard text—reexamining spelling and paragraph decisions as well as allowing more recent discoveries related to scribal habits to inform editorial decisions.

Like most students of the New Testament, I used the NA or UBS Greek New Testament. However, breaking into this one has been a rather enjoyable exercise, especially via Accordance.

A few of the highpoints:

• The Greek is scientifically reconstructed, even from within the same manuscripts. From the preface, “To do this it uses careful analysis of the scribal habits and typical transmission errors of individual manuscripts to establish which readings are likely to be prior.”
• There is little added to the Greek, such as capitalizations and punctuation, except as needed. When I read things like this, I keep thinking of St. Paul’s introduction to Romans (and Romans as a whole) and how often punctuation obscures the connection of thought.
• Of particular, and peculiar, note is their attention to spelling. “For spelling we have particularly relied on manuscripts from the fifth century and earlier, finding that such manuscripts frequently display different arrays of spelling from the later ones. These manuscripts contain much spelling variation that may appear random, but within the variation some patterns are detectable and at times manuscript testimony has led us to accept spellings that have not usually been adopted in printed editions.” (From the Appendix).
• The goal of the text is not the original autographs (if such a thing exists), but an original canon. “(W)e have not felt it our job as editors to go back behind the witnesses that survive. Rather, in this edition we seek to constrain editorial choice to what is found in Greek manuscripts, not only in these matters, but also in other ones such as paragraph divisions, spelling, breathings, and accents.”

To this later point, I want to issue a congratulations to the editors. In working through the Gospel of Mark, it has become important for me to discover two things: one, what might have been said by the author and secondly, what might have been transmitted to Mark’s audience. I firmly believe Matthew had Mark’s Gospel in hand while writing his work (Luke and John as well). Further, the Church Fathers would have had copies of copies as well. What copies did they possess? This is a canonical discussion, of course, but I think it is very important as we dig into what was said and what was heard (passed down), even to the letters in the words (for instance, John 2.24, see below).

Now, on to the Accordance version. The electronic version somes tagged to the Greek tools included in various packages of the software. Further, it allows notes, highlights, and some really in-depth searching. I’ve included some images below showcasing of the features.

One of the neat things about this module is tagging to a deeper thread on the various manuscripts. Maybe it is just me, but I like to read about the various manuscripts, even if it is merely where they are now. The apparatus section also includes such things as what the manuscript is missing.

Accordance, again, makes a text immediately usable (notably, because it takes all of a few seconds to download, install, and start to search). Further, with Accordance, there is added value due to the instant tagging and searching.

Find the link — AND  the special offer here.

There are a few commentaries I turn to — namely those examining Scripture with the Fathers as well as a few examining it from a critical, but theological, source. The Library from Westminster/John Knox fits into the latter category. With Accordance…

Wait….!!

That sounds like a review. This is a review, but it doesn’t have to sound like an infomercial.

I like Accordance. I like WJK. I REALLY like the introductory price. Why? Because the Library is solidly important to the reader of Scripture as well as to those who are critically engaged in an ancient text continuing to make waves across the world. Further, because it is on Accordance, rather than 68 volumes I would have to carry around with me? I can access it on my phone, tablet, or mac without worrying that it will eat up all of my rather important space.

One of the features of this library? The feature common to Accordance modules? The NT Library is literally one volume (if you purchase the entire library) — and the OT Library is as well. I find this distinctly useful as it helps to combine the the whole of canon so that we aren’t searching for each book and do not have the need to open up window/tab after window/tab needlessly. They are all interrelated anyway, right?

The New Testament Library contains volumes by some of the best known, and most influential modern schools — such as Boring, Martyn, and Thompson.The Old Testament Library contains scholarship reaching back before we had this software, or even thought of software — but von Rad is time tested as is Childs and the host of other contributors to this longstanding and highly important series. Not only that, but the companion volumes now approach not simply the books, but particular needs raised by periods as well as the theology of certain books (for instance, John’s two-audience approach).

Luke Timothy Johnson, one of the most brilliant New Testament scholars — and Catholic theologian — afforded us today, writes the Hebrews volume. He does not shy away from combining both a critical view — including surrounding works — and pointing out how such things (such as Hebrews 1.3) became important to the Church.

With the Accordance  (there is that review language again) you get to have the Library keyed up next to your favorite translation.

One of my absolute favorite volumes is John Collins’s Jewish Wisdom in the Hellenistic Age. 

Jewish wisdom flourished under Hellenism in the books of Ben Sira and the wisdom of Solomon, as well as in a recently discovered sapiential text from Qumran. In this book, internationally known author John Collins presents a compelling description and analysis of these three texts and their continuing wisdom traditions.

I want to return to the NTL commentary volumes for a minute. They do not shy away from controversial topics — topics important to modern theological thinkers and critical engagers of the Sacred Text.

With von Rad and Genesis… You are going to get some detail there that approaches Creation from a critical but connected way.

Finally, because Accordance 12 is packed with features, you get access to those features with the WJK Library.

I love the ways I can easily access workspaces…and move things around in a user-intuitive way.

I’ve been reviewing the Interpretation Series, now available on Accordance (product link). This morning, I was preparing my iPad for an upcoming trip and decided to see how it looked on that. This is what I came up with. Be warned, I’m using the NET bible because I haven’t yet purchased the REB.

And as quickly as I amplified it, I am back to the starting point via the back button.

There is no load speed issues. I am running an iPad 2 with iOS 9.3.5.

Also, let me say… if I were to download my entire Accordance Library – a few hundred books – I would only need about 5 gbs of space.

Just playing around this morning. One of the neat things I’ve seen in Accordance 12 was the tracking of the verse. The program quickly and without reentering new data (verses, etc) updates my library offerings according to the verse I am on. Also, the new Interpretation Series matches up pretty well. Cousar even includes Barth!