2022 in Review
Well, my friends, 2022 will be over in a matter of hours, what can I say in retrospect?
The BWF
Let me give you the BWF, i.e., the best thing, worst thing, and funniest thing of the year.
Best Things: It is a constant pleasure to be the Academic Dean at Ridley College and serve the churches by providing first-rate theological education to our students. In particular, I loved teaching Theology 101 and a course on Philippians/Ephesians. I had great fun with Scott Harrower making the Not and Not-Yet Vodcast show. I filmed a new lay-level course on Romans too which will be released soon. Chapel was also a delight, I had fun putting together a short series on Hebrews 12-13. I continue to love and adore my PhD students who are such a gem of talent and testimony. Also, there was my first trip to the USA in three years, got to attend the ETS, IBR, and SBL conferences, got some Chik-Fil-A, caught up with friends and colleagues, and was shown affection and admiration by many.
Worst Things: The tragic passing of my colleague Anthea McCall after a long illness and the family got COVID. Many pitched battles with sickness, mental health, and keeping all the plates spinning as per any family.
Funniest Things: Students quoting me at the Ridley follies event, “Don’t emasculate the lecturer!” Also, Zondervan publishing team arranged for a coffee to be bought to me at a sports bar in Denver. The reaction was predictable!
Top Blog Posts
There were some big substack highlights, the top #7 posts were:
Top Video and Podcast
Over at my you.tube channel, the top video was, What is the Didache?
The top podcast was an interview with Matthew Bates about Rom 1:3-4 and early christology traditions.
My top reads for 2022 were:
Rose Mary Sheldon on Intelligence Activities in Ancient Rome: Trust in the Gods, But Verify (London: Frank Crass, 2005).
Robert Chao Romero, Brown Church: Five Centuries of Latina/o Social Justice, Theology, and Identity (Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 2020).
Brad Vermurlen, Reformed Resurgence: The New Calvinist Movement and the Battle Over American Evangelicalism (Oxford: OUP, 2020)
John Stackhouse, Evangelicalism: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford: OUP, 2022).
Ronald F. Inglehart, Religion’s Sudden Decline: What’s Causing it, and What Comes Next? (Oxford: OUP, 2021).
Katelyn Beaty, Celebrities for Jesus: How Personas, Platforms, and Profits Are Hurting the Church (Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos, 2022).
Aimee Byrd, The Sexual Reformation: Restoring the Dignity and Personhood of Man and Woman (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2022).
Trevin Wax, The Thrill of Orthodoxy: Rediscovering the Adventure of Christian Faith (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2022).
Bobby Jamieson, The Paradox of Sonship: Christology in the Epistle to the Hebrews (Downers Grove, IL: IVP, 2021)
Kelly M. Kapic, You're Only Human: How Your Limits Reflect God’s Design and Why That’s Good News (Grand Rapids, MI: Brazos, 2022).
There were also some other highlights for those who want to read on, especially as it pertains to my publishing projects and other activities!