– There has been substantial debate across the blogosphere over the meaning of Deut. 25.11-12. Paul Copan argued in his book Is God a Moral Monster? that this text does not say a woman should have her hand cut off for grabbing a man’s genitals while he is in a fight with another man. He says it is about shaving a woman’s private area as punishment. Hector Avalos wrote a respond in defense of the traditional interpretation. Paul Copan has written a response. In Avalos’ post he quoted an article by my advisor, Marc Cortez. Copan took issue with Marc’s reading so Marc has also written a response (though from a different angle than Avalos, obviously).

– Clifford Kvidahl ponders Mk. 15.39.

– Tim Gombis reflects on reading Paul after the New Perspective. Andrew Perriman responds.

– Michael Bird has been writing a series on the church’s relationship to Israel: Part 1; Part 2; Part 3; Part 4; Part 5.

– Andrew Finch discusses Jonathan Edward’s view of Trinitarian redemption. Billy Cash compares Edwards to David Brainerd.

– W. Travis McMaken discusses Barth’s understanding of evangelical theology’s relationship to Scripture.

– Kevin Brown provides “a four-point scale on the type of Christian you are“. I think I am #2.

– Michael Patton tells us why he is not a charismatic; Sam Storms tell us why he is a charismatic.

– Kevin DeYoung asks if it is OK to believe in the doctrine of hell and not like it.

– Mason Slater asks “What happened to sin?”

– Daniel Kirk continues his series on Christianity and homosexuality: Part 5 and Part 6.

– Marc Driscoll is in hot-water again. This time it is for a Facebook comment in which he encourages people to tell stories about ‘the most effeminate anatomically male worship leader you’ve ever personally witnessed’. Kevin Brown has some straight-forward thoughts in response as does Dianna Anderson. Rachel Held Evans calls him a “bully” and begins a campaign asking the elders of Mars Hill Church to take action. Kurt Willems has written an open letter to the church. Anna Blanch calls out leaders in the digital age. Joel Watts calls us to pray for Driscoll whom he sees as a product of a culture that has made manhood too macho. Related, former cage fighter Matt Morin discusses masculinity and Driscoll’s understanding of it. And for a little comic relief there is this.

– Marc Cortez shares a funny comic: “A Prayer for Graduate Students“.

– James Smith discusses nostalgia in Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris. See my mini-review.