Topic: News
Greetings to all you IBA followers and dedicated students of the Bible. This post is one part notice of blog resumption, one part musings on the sorts of topics I cover here at the Institute. In short, I'm back after a long break on the blog. Unfortunately, sometimes the nature of this blog is that it's intermittent. Such is the life of a professor, and I have to alot time to other projects sometimes. However, I have felt that this blog has been neglected for too long.
What is different about the IBA? How is it different than other Biblical institutes? These are questions that I get from time to time, so I thought this entry in particular would be uniquely suited toward illustrating how the IBA is distinctive. If I were to draw attention to anything first it would be the orientation of the institute, that is to say, the assumption on faith that we live in a supernatural world. Further, that this supernatural world is worthy of study using the rigors of good scholarship. I've emphasized before that it is a marriage of the study of conventional and unorthodox Biblical topics and approaches. The IBA is as interested in giants as it is in the way a first century A.D. olive farmer lived in the Levant.
A peek at the long term goals of the Institute will further clarify its uniqeness. Eventually, a brick-and-mortar operation is planned, which would include the following: 1) Academic quality research library, 2) Museum 3) Expiditionary department 4) reproductions of Holy Land sites 5) a school teaching conventional and unorthodox Biblical studies courses. ANYONE with the interest to pursue these topics would have access to these features.
In the recent months, I have had several people talk to me about the Institute and its future, with intimations of land donation for IBA use. I feel blessed to even hear the suggestion, and am very excited at the prospect. SO, there are some exciting things happening at the Institute.
I hope this post finds you well. Stay tuned and will be in touch.
