Jim West (biblical scholar and biblioblogger)
Encyclopedia
Jim West or James E. West (August 29, 1960 - ) is a biblical scholar and biblioblog
ger. He is an adjunct professor at the Quartz Hill School of Theology, California. He holds a Doctorate of Theology from the unaccredited Andersonville Theological Seminary of Camilla, Georgia. West also pastors the Petros Baptist Church in Tennessee.
, also known as biblioblog
ging, highlighting trends in biblical studies, new findings in archeology, and acting as a pundit on cultural events. He currently (from January 8, 2010) blogs at Zwinglius Redivivus. He previously blogged at Jim West (deleted December 31, 2009), and before that at Dr. Jim West (deleted February 20, 2008), and before that at First Baptist Church of Petros (deleted October 2006), and originally at Biblical Theology (deleted January 1, 2006). His blog has frequently featured as the number one biblioblog of the month according to the rankings at Free Old Testament Audio Website Blog and previously at The Biblioblog Top 50.
Jim West was a key negotiator in the decision on September 11, 2009 by the Society of Biblical Literature
(SBL) to grant bibliobloggers affiliate status. He was a founding member of the steering committee responsible for reviewing proposals for biblioblogging sessions at the SBL, the first of which is at Atlanta, November 2010, although he no longer serves on that committee.
, and biblical archeology. He is a member of the American Schools of Oriental Research
(ASOR) Media Relations Committee, which is responsible for debunking spurious archeological claims.
, "because for Baptists repentance can't be confined to a mere 40-day period preceded by the most intense gluttony and occupied with the setting aside of trivial pleasantries and followed by a return to the same-old, same-old". West is also against the trend of some Baptists who are abandoning the public school system in favor of private religious education. West wrote on his blog at time: "The only people who pull their kids from public schools out of fear are the same sort who haven't ever read the Bible in Greek
or Hebrew. In other words, they are the sort of people who get all their information second-hand. This whole crusade is nothing but another in the long line of senseless crusades entered into by frenzied, uninformed, twaddling and prattling mobs of unwashed peasants. And it is doomed to failure. Fortunately." West is also against home schooling, declaring "In short, in my estimation, the problem with homeschooling from a theological point of view is that it embodies a 'theology of glory' and ignores, or even discounts the 'theology of the cross'. It fears; it lives in fearfulness, and it has forgotten that 'perfect love casts out fear'" and "finally it supposes that society, social structures, and God ordained offices are evil."
Biblioblog
A biblioblog is a blog with a significant focus on biblical studies. A blogger of a biblioblog is termed a "biblioblogger." The activity of blogging on a biblioblog is termed "biblioblogging."-Society of Biblical Literature Affiliate Status:...
ger. He is an adjunct professor at the Quartz Hill School of Theology, California. He holds a Doctorate of Theology from the unaccredited Andersonville Theological Seminary of Camilla, Georgia. West also pastors the Petros Baptist Church in Tennessee.
Biblioblogging
Jim West was one of the first biblical scholars to blogBlog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
, also known as biblioblog
Biblioblog
A biblioblog is a blog with a significant focus on biblical studies. A blogger of a biblioblog is termed a "biblioblogger." The activity of blogging on a biblioblog is termed "biblioblogging."-Society of Biblical Literature Affiliate Status:...
ging, highlighting trends in biblical studies, new findings in archeology, and acting as a pundit on cultural events. He currently (from January 8, 2010) blogs at Zwinglius Redivivus. He previously blogged at Jim West (deleted December 31, 2009), and before that at Dr. Jim West (deleted February 20, 2008), and before that at First Baptist Church of Petros (deleted October 2006), and originally at Biblical Theology (deleted January 1, 2006). His blog has frequently featured as the number one biblioblog of the month according to the rankings at Free Old Testament Audio Website Blog and previously at The Biblioblog Top 50.
Jim West was a key negotiator in the decision on September 11, 2009 by the Society of Biblical Literature
Society of Biblical Literature
The Society of Biblical Literature, founded 1880, is a constituent society of the American Council of Learned Societies , with the stated mission to "Foster Biblical Scholarship"...
(SBL) to grant bibliobloggers affiliate status. He was a founding member of the steering committee responsible for reviewing proposals for biblioblogging sessions at the SBL, the first of which is at Atlanta, November 2010, although he no longer serves on that committee.
Areas of Focus
Jim West is primarily concerned with studies focused on Zwingli, the ReformationReformation
- Movements :* Protestant Reformation, an attempt by Martin Luther to reform the Roman Catholic Church that resulted in a schism, and grew into a wider movement...
, and biblical archeology. He is a member of the American Schools of Oriental Research
American Schools of Oriental Research
The American Schools of Oriental Research, founded in 1900, supports and encourages the study of the peoples and cultures of the Near East, from the earliest times to the present. It is apolitical and has no religious affiliation...
(ASOR) Media Relations Committee, which is responsible for debunking spurious archeological claims.
Pastor
As a Baptist pastor, West has been outspoken on issues within the Baptist Church. West has rejected moves by some Baptists to observe LentLent
In the Christian tradition, Lent is the period of the liturgical year from Ash Wednesday to Easter. The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer – through prayer, repentance, almsgiving and self-denial – for the annual commemoration during Holy Week of the Death and...
, "because for Baptists repentance can't be confined to a mere 40-day period preceded by the most intense gluttony and occupied with the setting aside of trivial pleasantries and followed by a return to the same-old, same-old". West is also against the trend of some Baptists who are abandoning the public school system in favor of private religious education. West wrote on his blog at time: "The only people who pull their kids from public schools out of fear are the same sort who haven't ever read the Bible in Greek
Koine Greek
Koine Greek is the universal dialect of the Greek language spoken throughout post-Classical antiquity , developing from the Attic dialect, with admixture of elements especially from Ionic....
or Hebrew. In other words, they are the sort of people who get all their information second-hand. This whole crusade is nothing but another in the long line of senseless crusades entered into by frenzied, uninformed, twaddling and prattling mobs of unwashed peasants. And it is doomed to failure. Fortunately." West is also against home schooling, declaring "In short, in my estimation, the problem with homeschooling from a theological point of view is that it embodies a 'theology of glory' and ignores, or even discounts the 'theology of the cross'. It fears; it lives in fearfulness, and it has forgotten that 'perfect love casts out fear'" and "finally it supposes that society, social structures, and God ordained offices are evil."
Publications
- Mark: For the Person in the Pew (Quartz Hill Publishing House, 2010).
- Luke: For the Person in the Pew (Quartz Hill Publishing House, 2010).
- 'Thomas Thompson: A Word of Appreciation from a Pastor.' Scandinavian Journal of the Old TestamentScandinavian Journal of the Old TestamentThe Scandinavian Journal of the Old Testament is an academic journal covering aspects of the Hebrew Bible. It was founded by Niels Peter Lemche....
23.1 (2009): 127–134. - Hebrews: For the Person in the Pew (Quartz Hill Publishing House, 2009).
- Numbers: For the Person in the Pew (Quartz Hill Publishing House, 2009).
- Judges: For the Person in the Pew (Quartz Hill Publishing House, 2009).
- John: For the Person in the Pew (Quartz Hill Publishing House, 2008).
- 1 Corinthians: For the Person in the Pew (Quartz Hill Publishing House, 2008).
- Revelation: For the Person in the Pew (Quartz Hill Publishing House, 2008).
- Deuteronomy: For the Person in the Pew (Quartz Hill Publishing House, 2008).
- Daniel-Jonah: For the Person in the Pew (Quartz Hill Publishing House, 2008).
- Wisdom of Solomon: For the Person in the Pew (Quartz Hill Publishing House, 2008).
- (Translator) Fritz Schmidt-Clausing, The Humor of Huldrych Zwingli: The Lighter Side of the Protestant Reformation (Edwin Mellen Press, 2007).
- The Acts of the Apostles (Quartz Hill Publishing House, 2007).
- 2 Corinthians: For the person in the pew (Quartz Hill Publishing House, 2007).
- Galatians, Colossians, Philemon, Ephesians and Philippians: For the Person in the Pew (Quartz Hill Publishing House, 2007).
- James and 1-2 Peter: For the Person in the Pew (Quartz Hill Publishing House, 2007).
- 1-3 John and Jude (Quartz Hill Publishing House, 2007).
- Ezra-Nehemiah: For the Person in the Pew (Quartz Hill Publishing House, 2007).
- Ecclesiastes and the Song of Solomon: For the Person in the Pew (Quartz Hill Publishing House, 2007).
- Nahum-Malachi: For the Person in the Pew (Quartz Hill Publishing House, 2007).
- The Wisdom of Ben Sira: For the Person in the Pew (Quartz Hill Publishing House, 2007).
- Ruth and Lamentations: For the Person in the Pew (Quartz Hill Publishing House, 2007).
- Psalms 1-75: For the Person in the Pew (Quartz Hill Publishing House, 2007).
- Psalms 76-150: For the Person in the Pew (Quartz Hill Publishing House, 2007).
- Reformed Catechisms and Confessions of Faith: For the Person in the Pew (Quartz Hill Publishing House, 2007).
- 'Jesus the Reformer.' The Journal of Biblical Studies 6.2 (2006).
- Micah, Ezekiel, Esther and Proverbs: for the person in the pew (Quartz Hill Publishing House, 2006).
- Matthew: For the Person in the Pew (Quartz Hill Publishing House, 2006).
- The Pastoral Epistles: For the Person in the Pew (Quartz Hill Publishing House, 2006).
- Jeremiah: For the person in the pew (Quartz Hill Publishing House, 2006).
- Systematic Theology (Quartz Hill Publishing House, 2006).
- Baptist Confessions of Faith: For the Person in the Pew (Quartz Hill Publishing House, 2006).
- Biblical Studies: A Beginners Guide to Significant Aspects of the Study of the Bible (Quartz Hill Publishing House, 2005).
- 'God: What Do The Opening Chapters of Genesis Tell Us About Him?' The Journal of Biblical Studies 1.2 (2001).
- 'Beware the Angry Prophet: 2 Kings 2:23-25.' The Journal of Biblical Studies 1.1 (2001).