Dr. Craig A. Evans at HBU on April 17th to 18th 2008

I just found out that Dr. Craig Evans, a very respected NT scholar will be speaking at HBU on April 17 to the 18.The title of his presentation will be 'Fabricating Jesus- How Today's Society Distorts the Gospel', which appears to be based on his most recent book.

Here's the schedule.

Craig Evan on the Importance of Cognate Literatures

In Craig Evan’s book, Ancient Texts for New Testament Studies: A Guide to the Background Literature, he expresses the value of being familiar with canonical cognate literatures (OT Apocrypha, Pseudepigrapha, Early Church Fathers, and etc.) because they help clarify the following exegetical concerns [1].


1. The meaning of words.
2. Syntax
3. The meaning of concepts
4. History
5. Historical, social, and religious context
6. Exegetical context – that the noncanonical writing quite often shed light on the interpretation of the OT passage quoted or alluded in the NT.
7. Hermeneutical context – helps us understand how biblical literature was interpreted and what role it played in the life of the Jewish and Christian communities of faith.

[1] pg 3-5