SBL Purchases

Every scholar and theologian I know loves the famous Erasmus quote, "When I get a little money I buy books; and if any is left I buy food and clothes." Except Chris Keith, he loves his clothes. Is he the best dressed historical Jesus scholar?

One of the highlights of SBL is always the massive book display. Some of the prices are no better than Amazon, but there are deals to be found. Here's what I bought this year:

  A popular translation of Augy's Confessions from penguin for only $5!

An introduction to Sahadic Coptic for $18

An intriguing anthology of essays: A Companion to Second-Century Christian 'Heretics' for $20


Rafael Rodriguez's new guide for those of us perplexed by Oral Tradition and the New Testament $18


Stanley Porter's new introductory book on text criticism that goes after Ehrman, How we Got the New Testament $13

Steve Mason's Commentary on Josephus's Life $20   

Wayne Choppins' much anticipated translation of Jens Schröter's Von Jesus zum Neuen Testament, released by Baylor as From Jesus to the New Testament: Early Christian Theology and the Origin of the New Testament Canon $40

A fantastic new monograph from a younger scholar, Ryan S. Schellenberg, Rethinking Paul's Rhetorical Education: Comparative Rhetoric and 2 Corinthians 10-13 $32

The books with Bigger pictures are the ones I'm most excited to read. Be jealous.