Daniel I. Block Seminar

Preaching Old Testament Law to
New Testament Christians

Daniel I. Block, D.Phil.
Gunther H. Knoedler Professor of Old Testament
Wheaton College

15 March 2008 Saturday

10 am

Singapore Bible College
9-15 Adam Road Singapore 289886

Abstract
If the Old Testament is a dead book for many Christians, the laws of the Old Testament are the deadest of all. In view of Paul’s declaration that Christians are free from the law, we make little effort either to understand the function of the law in ancient Israel or the relevance of Israelite law for Christians today. After exploring the reasons for our antinomian attitudes, this paper will attempt to explain the nature and purpose of the law for ancient Israel. It will conclude by suggesting a series of guidelines that may help us apply the laws in ways that are true to the entire biblical record, that honor God through a life of obedience, and that encourage us to seek the welfare of others.

About the Speaker
In the summer of 2005 Dr. Block joined the faculty of the Graduate School of Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois, where he serves as the Gunther H. Knoedler Professor of Old Testament. His previous professional experiences include the following: John R. Sampey Professor of Old Testament Interpretation, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky; Professor of Hebrew and Old Testament, Bethel Theological Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota (1983-95); Assistant Lecturer in Hebrew at the University of Liverpool, England (1978-80); Professor of Old Testament, Providence College and Seminary, Otterburne, Manitoba (1973-83). In recent years he has also served as adjunct Professor of Old Testament in ACTS (Associated Canadian Theological Schools) in Langley, British Columbia; Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (Deerfield, IL); and three times as visiting professor of the Moscow Theological Seminary of the Evangelical Christians, sponsored by the Russian Baptist Federation. Dr. Block has lectured internationally in Toronto, Canada; Cambridge and Liverpool, England, Copenhagen, Denmark; Qingdao, China, and most recently, Athens, Greece. He also taught at Queen Mary Junior High School in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan (1969-71).

Dr. Block's educational background includes post-doctoral studies, Cambridge, University, Cambridge, UK (2002); D.Phil. in Semitics and Classical Hebrew, University of Liverpool, England (1982); M.A. in Biblical Studies-Old Testament, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Deerfield, Illinois (1973); B.A. in History, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon (1969); special studies, Friedrich Alexander University, Erlangen, Germany (1968-69); B.Ed., University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon (1968); Diploma in Biblical Studies, Bethany Bible College, Hepburn, Saskatchewan (1965).

Dr. Block is the author of more than fifty scholarly essays and numerous popular articles on biblical texts and subjects. His most significant publications include a major two-volume commentary on The Book of Ezekiel (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1997, 1998), and a weighty commentary on Judges and Ruth (Broadman & Holman, Nashville, 1999). Baker Book House has published a fully revised edition of his monograph, The Gods of the Nations: A Study in Ancient Near Eastern National Theology (2000). Dr. Block is currently working on a commentary on Deuteronomy, scheduled to be published by Zondervan in 2006 (NIVAC series), and has a contract with Baker for a book on worship, For the Glory of God: A Biblical Theology of Worship. He was a founding member of a national committee of Ezekiel scholars sponsored by the Society of Biblical Literature. Dr. Block has had a major role in the production of The New Living Translation of the Bible, released in July, 1996, having served as General Reviewer for the first five books of the Old Testament and advising on the book of Ezekiel. A revised version was released in June, 2004. He is an active member of the Evangelical Theological Society and the Society of Biblical Literature, and has served for five years as President of the Institute of Biblical Research.

He was ordained to the ministry by the Baptist General Conference, and has served as Interim Preaching Pastor of numerous churches--Baptist General Conference, Evangelical Covenant, Evangelical Free, Independent, Southern Baptist, etc. He lectures and preaches frequently at Bible conferences and spiritual retreats, often focusing either on making the Old Testament live or recovering a biblical theology of worship for the church. But his passion for the Kingdom of God is also reflected in his commitment to the local church. He and his wife Ellen enjoy the worship and fellowship of College Church in Wheaton, where Dr. Block currently teaches an adult Sunday School class on the book of Judges.

Audience
Pastors, theological students, scholars.

Fee
$10 ($5 for SBC students. Free admission for IRC members with their membership card) Fee includes light refreshment to be served 30 minutes before seminar starts.
Registration
Interested parties, please email your name, contact and the event interested in to us, or call +65 6559 1532 for registration and enquiries. Prior registration is preferred due to limited seats.