Biblioblog Carnival

The great-grandfather of BiblioBlogging Jim West posted the 188th Biblical Studies Carnival, gathering together the best posts from the worlds of biblical and theological studies last month. Jim says the theme of the month is “scary,” probably a reference to Halloween. On the other hand, some bloggers are really quite scary. I guess Jim decided against a Reformation theme, since we know he loves Reformation Day so much.

Jim’s Reformation Day posts got me thinking…Reformation Day has become a little like St. Patrick’s Day, when everyone is Irish for a day. The end of October everyone is suddenly Lutheran, posting their Reformation thoughts and prayers to social media. By the first week of November all that goes back in the box and the Advent decorations start hitting social media.

In other blogging news, Brian Small posted Hebrews Highlights this month. If you are working in Hebrews, Brian’s blog is a goldmine of resources.

Bob MacDonald is our host on December 1 for Carnival 189 and I will host #190 right here on Reading Acts.  I am taking reservations for 2022 carnivals, so if you would like to talk about hosting a carnival, contact me via email, plong42@gmail.com or DM on twitter (plong42). Right now I have no one lined up for the new year, but other than that, the year is wide open.  The Biblical Studies Carnival is a great way to drive traffic through your blog and get some wider internet fame. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about hosting. As Jim West himself says, “You should host a carnival.”

In Reading Acts News, October was my best month ever in terms of daily average visitors and total monthly hits. I spent some time in that whole COVID thing doing under-the-hood things to increase traffic, and some of those are starting to payoff. I think this calls for a few book giveaways….some of you really like those!

Check out the Biblical Studies Carnival Master List at the top of this page to visit past carnivals.

Ben the Amateur Exegete posted the 187th Biblical Studies Carnival, highlighting the best and brightest blogs in biblical and theological studies last month. Ben admits he put a heavy emphasis New Testament topics, mostly because that is what he is interested in. But that is how these carnivals go, the host adds their own creative shape to them. Ben did a great job and despite his protests, there are plenty of Hebrew Bible links to keep you busy. So checlkout Ben’s Carnival and click all the links. Maybe follow one  or two new blogs. Ben has a podcast, Amateur Exegesis, you should check out and add to your regular rotation, and you can follow Ben on Twitter (if you are in to that sort of thing): @amateurexegete

Here are the volunteers for the next few months:

188 October 2021 (Due November 1) – Jim West, Zwingli Redivivus @drjewest
189 November 2021 (Due December 1) – Bob MacDonald at Dust @drmacdonald
190 December 2021 (Due January 1) – Phillip Long, Reading Acts @plong42

If you would like to host an upcoming Carnival, contact me via email, plong42@gmail.com or DM on twitter (plong42) to discuss hosting a carnival in 2022. Right now I have no one lined up for the new year, so if you would like to host, you have your pick of months! If you are a new BiblioBlogger, this is a good way to get your blog some recognition. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about hosting.

Check out the Biblical Studies Carnival Master List at the top of this page to visit past carnivals.

Brent Niedergall (@BrentNiedergall) hosted the Biblical Studies Carnival 186 for August 2021. Brent has a great collection links to blog posts in August (a very slow month for academic blogging), and has included a “Tweet of the Month” for several categories. The Carnival includes a few Book Reviews and Podcasts as well. Podcasts are not really my world, but it seems to me there are some good one out there and they should be included in future carnivals if the host wants to include them. It might be fun to do an “all postcast” Carnival.

As Brent says, What’s a carnival without a game? So Brent added a book giveaway: subscribe to his blog between now and September 30th and you be entered into a drawing for one special edition full-color copy The Tale of Peter Rabbit in Koine Greek (Gorgias Press, 2021). Brent is the co-author of this book, so you know it is good. What is the point of reading Peter Rabbit in Kine Greek? According to the Gorgias website, the story only uses vocabulary found in the Greek New Testament and Septuagint (including the Apocrypha), so by reading this familiar story, you are developing vocabulary for reading the Septuagint. The book is illustrated with Potter’s original drawings (that’s Beatrix, not Harry).

Here is a lat edit, William Ross posted a summer Septuagint roundup at Septuaginta&C. Good to see William posting again.

Ben the Amateur Exegete is hosting September’s Biblical Studies carnival, so follow him on Twitter (@amateurexegete) and suggest a few posts you think are carnival worthy.

If you would like to host an upcoming Carnival, contact me via email, plong42@gmail.com or DM on twitter (plong42) to discuss hosting a carnival in final months of 2021. If you are a new BiblioBlogger, this is a good way to get your blog some recognition. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about hosting.

Check out the Biblical Studies Carnival Master List at the top of this page to visit past carnivals.

At Viviendo para Su Gloria, Kenson Gonzalez hosted the 185th Biblical Studies Carnival, highlighting the best biblical and theological blog posts in July 2021. Kenson was so excited about hosting the carnival he posted it five days early. I bet he was one of those students who turned in his homework early too. July is a slow month for bibliobloggers. This July was the first time many people got to travel and do something other than think about COVID. This is especially us professor types. Between class prep and meetings (and meetings about meetings), my August is filling up fast.

In Carnival news, Brent Niedergall (@BrentNiedergall) will host Carnival 186 (August 2021). After that, I have no volunteers for the rest of the year [Edit: Ben the Amateur Exegete volunteer for September’s carnival, thanks Ben!) If you want to be a part of the Carnival, contact me via email, plong42@gmail.com or DM on twitter (plong42) to discuss hosting a carnival in final months of 2021. If you are a new BiblioBlogger, this is a good way to get your blog some recognition. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about hosting.

Check out the Biblical Studies Carnival Master List at the top of this page to visit past carnivals.

Veteran BiblioBlogger Jim West served up a healthy helping of snark for the 184th Biblical Studies Carnival: “It’s The ‘Year is Half Over and You Haven’t Done Much With it Yet’ Biblical Studies Carnival.” Jim included a trigger warning, which is nice if you are easily triggered by snark. But if you follow Jim on Twitter, this blog does not seem all that snarky.

Brian Small posted a brief Hebrew Highlights for June.

In less snarky news, Kenson Gonzalez will host next month at Viviendo para Su Gloria. He twitters, @KensonGonzalez, so feel free to offer him a few suggestions as you see excellent Biblical and Theological posts in July.   Brent Niedergall (@BrentNiedergall) will host Carnival 186 (August 2021). After that, I have no volunteers for the rest of the year. if you want to be a part of the Carnival in 2021, contact me via email, plong42@gmail.com or DM on twitter (plong42) to discuss hosting a carnival in 2021. If you are a new BiblioBlogger, this is a good way to get your blog some recognition. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about hosting.

Check out the Biblical Studies Carnival Master List at the top of this page to visit past carnivals.