• useful AI guideline (English) introduced and summarized by a Chinese article:

2026-08-12 基督教論壇報，編譯余友梅

教會使用AI須設界線　英國基督徒科技專家發布事工使用指南

 

AI Guidelines for Christian Ministry (The AI Christian Partnership & The Faraday Institute for Science and Religion) 

[Logos] 50% Off Word Biblical Commentary (till 25/8)

• my comments: note that there will be ongoing revisions in the coming years/decades (most notably, Jude, 2 Peter, Volume 50 by Richard Bauckham and Darian R. Lockett in 2027, Acts 9:43--28, Romans, Rev, 1 Pet). 
• two recent ones: Colossians by Clinton E. Arnold (Mar 11, 2025), Acts 1-9:42 by Steve Walton (Oct 29, 2024) and 1, 2, and 3 John by Stephen S. Smalley (2008) are NOT included.
• other revisions are included, like Daniel (2019) and 1 & 2 Thess (2023)

 

 50% Off 
Word Biblical Commentary

Hurry! Sale ends August 25 at 11:59 p.m. (PST). Plus an extra 5% off for subscribers.

 

Word Biblical Commentary | WBC: Old and New Testament (61 vols.)

by Duane L. Christensen; Frederic Bush; Ralph W. Klein; A. A. Anderson and 44 more

Publisher:Thomas Nelson; Word; Zondervan, 1983–2023

 

50% Off WBC 

Full Series

US$599.99 ($4,708.20 HKD) 

Regular price: $9,416.47 HKD 

Save $4,708.27 HKD (50%)

 

The Word Biblical Commentary delivers the best in biblical scholarship from the leading scholars of our day who share a commitment to Scripture as divine revelation. This series emphasizes a thorough analysis of textual, linguistic, structural, and theological evidence. The result is a judicious and balanced insight into the meanings of the text in the framework of biblical theology.

These widely acclaimed commentaries serve as exceptional resources for the professional theologian and instructor, the seminary or university student, the working minister, and everyone concerned with building theological understanding from a solid base of biblical scholarship. Contributors—all of whom rank among the leading Christian scholars of the English-speaking world—write authoritatively on the portions of Scripture in which they specialize. This collection also includes an enviable scholar’s array of Bible translations and Greek and Hebrew resources for in-depth research.

 

 

[Logos] Noteworthy books of the month (Aug)

•  Logos

A Cultural Handbook to the Bible

By: John J. Pilch

Many scholars take on the monumental task of interpreting the Bible in a way that deals with the cultural contexts of its original authors and audience. Others forget that studying the Bible is a type of cross-cultural encounter and instead read their own cultural assumptions into biblical texts. In A Cultural Handbook to the Bible, John Pilch bridges this cultural divide by translating important social concepts and applying them to biblical texts. In accessible chapters Pilch discusses 63 topics related to the cosmos, the earth, persons, family, language, human consciousness, God and the spirit world, and entertainment. Pilch’s fresh interpretations of the Bible challenge traditional views and explore topics often overlooked in commentaries. Each chapter concludes with a list of useful references from cultural anthropology or biblical studies, making this book an excellent resource for students of the Bible.

Save $243.03 HKD (100%)$30.99

$0.00 USD

($0.00 HKD)

 

• Verbum

 

The Church’s Mission in a Polarized World

Christians and other people of good will are longing for a response that can lead the way out of the divisiveness and vitriol of our times. I wrote this book to provide some assistance to readers to discern a way out of the toxicity in which we live, and to stimulate courage and hope, so that all people can see the age in which we live more clearly and respond with the grace necessary to follow more fully the call God has spoken—a missionary call to deepen Christ’s incarnational movement in our world.

Regular Price: $156.77 HKD

Save $156.77 HKD (100%)

Your Price: $0.00 HKD

ESV Bible Translation Update | Crossway (2025)

//Briefly summarized, the committee made text changes to 36 Scripture passages involving 42 verses, resulting in a total of 68 word changes. Given that there are nearly 757,400 words in the ESV, this represents a change of about one word per 11,000 words in the ESV text. In addition to the above text changes, a limited number of changes were made to 57 footnotes, and a few additional changes were also made to punctuation in 14 verses.//

ESV Text Edition: 2025
Complete List of Changes from 2016

 

Two Notable Changes

One notable revision in this update involves Genesis 3:16 and 4:7. The committee changed the ESV 2016 translation of the Hebrew preposition 'el from “contrary to” back to the original ESV 2001 translation “for” —which provides a more natural translation in continuity with the historic stream of formal equivalent English Bible translations (for example, the RSV, NASB, and NKJV), and which preserves the range of interpretive options in the Hebrew. The interpretive options can now be seen in the alternative renderings provided in the footnotes: “Or to, or toward, or against.” The conjunction “but” has been changed to “and” in Genesis 3:16 and 4:7 so as not to impose a contrast that is not explicit in the Hebrew text. As general editor for the ESV Bible, J. I. Packer (1926–2020) often reminded the committee, “We respect readers when we pass along to them the job of interpretive work, not going beyond what the linguistic details require and not foreclosing the interpretive options.”

Another notable update appears in John 1:18. “The only God” has been updated to “God the only Son,” with “God” corresponding to theos and “only Son” to monogenēs (as in John 1:14). This translation incorporates the concept of descent (which is an implication of monogenēs in context) and maintains concordance with the other occurrences of monogenēs in the New Testament. The idea of sonship is evoked by monogenēs in the context of “Father” in John 1:18 and 1:14. The rendering “only son” for monogenēs in several ancient translations of the New Testament for Luke 7:12, 8:42, and Hebrews 11:17 indicates the propriety of a similar rendering in the verses referring to the Son of God. The footnote for John 1:18 has also been revised to reflect more clearly the manuscript variations, including alternative renderings such as “the only God who” and “the only Son,” allowing readers to engage with the full textual tradition.

 

Diagram of Synoptic Relationships (David Pawson)

 

 https://www.davidpawson.com/synopticrelationshipdiagram/Synoptic_Relationships.pdf

NA29----Updates from the German Bible Society

Novum Testamentum Graece (Nestle-Aland 29th edition)---pls. wait until the end of 2026

excerpts from the German Bible Society:

		The Nestle-Aland Novum Testamentum Graece (NA) and the UBS Greek New Testament (UBS) are sister editions, with the Editio Critica Maior (ECM) serving as their "mother" (to continue the metaphor). While a new UBS edition, incorporating the research findings from the latest ECM volumes, has been published (UBS 6), we are still awaiting the publication of NA29. And there is good news here: all the data has now been processed, and typesetting of the edition is scheduled to begin within the next few days. The subsequent stages—typesetting, proofreading, corrections, and printing—will, however, still require several months. We hope that NA 29 will become available towards the end of the year. General information on the Nestle-Aland edition can be found on our website.

Zotero 9 is out now

 Download Zotero 9 now.

What's new to me: 

• Read aloud function---but it works on PDFs, EPUBs, and webpage snapshots only, not your notes and others. You can pause and skip to the next paragraph. This is not bad at all! 
• Using less memory 

[Kindle] IVP's New Studies in Biblical Theology series on sale

 

most of the New Studies in Biblical Theology series are now US$5.99  Digital List Price: $29.99

Series on Kindle.  

[Logos] Noteworthy books of the month (May)

•  Logos

Understanding Biblical Theology: A Comparison of Theory and Practice

Cutting through the confusing array of interpretive strategies that claim the term “biblical theology,” Edward Klink and Darian Lockett consider five schools of thought regarding biblical theology and handle each in turn, defining and giving a brief developmental history for each one, and exploring each method through the lens of one contemporary scholar who champions it. Using a spectrum between history and theology, each of five “types” of biblical theology are identified as either “more theological” or “more historical” in concern and practice.

Regular price: $140.99 HKD

 $0 must have!

Theology of the New Testament

Studying the theology of the New Testament can be a daunting task, even to the knowledgeable Bible student or pastor. Each of the twenty-seven books, written by various authors, has its own theological emphasis and nuances. How do we elicit a coherent message from such theological diversity, especially given that some of the theological statements in the New Testament seem to be at odds with one another? Is such an endeavor achievable or even valid?

Regular price: $391.77 HKD

Save $289.97 HKD (74%)

Your Price: $101.80 HKD

 

Known by God: A Biblical Theology of Personal Identity (Biblical Theology for Life)

What does the Bible say about your sense of self? In the past, an individual's identity was more predictable than it is now. Today, personal identity is a do-it-yourself project. Constructing a stable and satisfying sense of self is hard amidst relationship breakdowns, the pace and rhetoric of modern life, the rise of social media, social mobility, and so on. Ours is a day of identity angst. Who are you? What defines you? What makes you you? In Known by God, Rosner argues that rather than knowing ourselves, being known by God is the key to personal identity. He explores three biblical angles on the question of personal identity: Being made in the image of God. Being known by God. Being in Christ. At the center of a biblical understanding of personal identity is sonship: God gives us our identity as a parent who knows his child. Being known by him as his child gives our fleeting lives significance, provokes in us needed humility, supplies cheering comfort when things go wrong, and…

Print list price: $188.01 HKD

Save $141.07 HKD (75%)

Your Price: $46.94 HKD

 

The Kingdom of God: A Biblical Theology (Biblical Theology for Life)

The Kingdom of God by Nicholas Perrin explores the contours of the kingdom by answer the important ‘what,’ ‘who,’ and ‘how’ questions. This comprehensive study brings together careful exegesis of the Old and New Testaments with thoughtful attention to how the kingdom-ethic applies to God’s subjects today.

Regular price: $235.03 HKD

Save $172.41 HKD (73%)

Your Price: $62.62 HKD

•  Verbum 

The Abuse of Conscience: A Century of Catholic Moral Theology

How important is the conscience for the Christian moral life? How should it be understood in relation to the teachings of the Bible and of church tradition? In this book, Matthew Levering surveys twentieth-century Catholic moral theology to construct an argument for keeping conscience firmly alongside prudence, charity, and the gifts of the Spirit—and for understanding it as something that must be formed by the revealed truths of Scripture as interpreted and applied in the church. Levering shows how conscience-centered ethics came to be—both prior to and following the Second Vatican Council—and how important voices from both the Catholic and Protestant communities criticized the primacy of conscience in favor of an approach that considers conscience within “the broader framework of the Christian moral organism.”

Regular price: $352.66 HKD

Save $352.66 HKD (100%)

Your Price: $0.00 HKD

 

Corrigenda to A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament

Corrigenda (勘誤表) to H. A. G. Houghton's A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament: A Companion to the 6th Edition of the United Bible Societies' Greek New Testament

• in case you have a print or digital edition, this is for you! 
• previous posts on the new edition of GNT: here, here, and here 
• a YT review of UBS6 by Greg Lanier (Is the UBS edition still necessary?)

Overview of the revision program in light of the new Coherence-Based Genealogical Method used in ECM:  

• NA28 (2012) -updates on Catholic Epistles, 
• NA29 (2026) -updates on Acts, Mark & Rev., 
• NA30 (or later ones?) -remaining updates on Mat, Luke, John and Pauline epistles 
• in 5 years time? God knows. 

[Kindle] Tyndale New and Old Testament Commentaries US$5-7@

Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (17 book) 

-from US$5-7@  Recommended: Hebrews (Peterson), Pastoral Epistles (Padilla), 2 Cor (Kruse), 1 Cor (Schreiner), Rev (Ian Paul), John (Kruse), Mat (France)

 

Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries (35 books)   

-from US$5-7@  Recommended: Daniel (Paul House), Psalms (Longman), Lev (Sklar), Judges & Ruth (Mary Evans), Exodus (Williamson), Joshua (Hess), Isaiah (Wegner), 1& 2 Sam (Long), Job (Tucker)

 

greek.tools

Free, simple utilities for Koine Greek students. Type, study, and strengthen your reading of the New Testament and Septuagint. 

with flashcards, paradigm tables, transliteration conversion and quiz

Caution for those using 2nd Ed. SBL Handbook Note style in Zotero

 pls see the discussion in the Forum: 

2nd Ed. SBL Handbook Note style no longer has the place in the citation

hs907

February 16, 2026

As in the title, it's now incorrect - the place has completely disappeared from both the notes and bibliography in all of the Item Types that I'm currently using (book, thesis, journal article, blogpost, conference paper) so I'd assume that would be the same with the rest too

• adamsmith

  February 16, 2026

  That's correct SBL. Chicago removed the place in the 18th edition and SBL had a blogpost in December that they are following suit.

 ...

 

*****

If you use SBL style previously in Zotero and don't want the update one which removed all the publishing places, you can get the "legacy edition" of the SBL 2.0 style here.

 

For those who uses HRW Chinese and English Citation 3rd edition (full note) (which works on 《學術研究與寫作：聖經、神學與教牧學研究手冊》), this is not affected. See here.   

[Kindle] Exodus (The Contextual Critical Commentary) on sale

 

Exodus (The Contextual Critical Commentary) Kindle Edition

by Marvin A. Sweeney (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

Part of: The Contextual Critical Commentary (2 books)

See all formats and editions

---

Marvin A. Sweeney presents a new and innovative commentary on the book of Exodus. He presents an analysis of both the final, synchronic, literary form of Exodus, together with a discussion of the diachronic, historical composition of the book from the initial Ephraimitic composition to the later Priestly edition of the book. Sweeney argues that Exodus constitutes a classic example of an ancient Near Eastern creation narrative in which YHWH, the G-d of Israel, defeats Pharaoh, recognized as a god in Egypt. YHWH uses elements of creation, newly recognized in the Exodus narrative, to defeat Pharaoh, exercise sovereignty over creation, and deliver the nation of Israel from Egyptian oppression. He also treats major elements and themes in the reception history of Exodus in Judaism, Christianity, African American, Asian, and other cultures to demonstrate how the book of Exodus has inspired readers throughout the world.

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Cascade Books, an imprint of Wipf and Stock Publishers

Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more

Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 12, 2026

Print List Price:	HKD 422.16
Kindle Price:	HKD 78.10
Exchange rate guarantee fee:	+HKD 1.37
You Pay:	HKD 79.47 + applicable tax

 

 

[Logos] Noteworthy books of the month (Mar)

•  Logos

Portraits of a Pastor: The 9 Essential Roles of a Church Leader

As a pastor, do you feel like you’re wearing too many hats? If you’re a pastor, you know the tension of balancing (or trying to) the many roles and expectations that come with leading a church. But are you able to distinguish which roles are truly essential? And can you measure how you’re fulfilling them?

Regular Price: $46.87 HKD

Save $46.87 HKD (100%)

Your Price: $0.00 HKD

 

• Verbum

Witnesses to the Ends of the Earth: New Testament Reflections on Mission

Eminent biblical scholar, Francis J Moloney, SDB, explores the teaching on mission found in the letters of St Paul, the Gospels of Mark and Matthew, Luke-Acts, and the Gospel of John, showing how each inspired author provides unique yet complementary insights into the mission entrusted to the followers of Jesus—a mission ad intra (to the community) and ad Gentes (to the wider world).

Regular Price: $156.42 HKD

Save $70.42 HKD (45%)

Your Price: $85.99 HKD

 

 

[Logos] Noteworthy books of the month (Feb)

•  Logos

Knowing Our Faith: A Guide for Believers, Seekers, and Christian Communities

“I do not hope to convince you so that you will believe,” says Justo González to open this brief book on the basics of Christianity. “That is to be left to the Holy Spirit. I write to you because you share the faith by which I live. I write so that you may share my joy in seeking to understand better this truth that our hearts believe and love.” In Knowing Our Faith González introduces the Christian faith in direct, contemporary language that does not assume prior knowledge. While recognizing the existence of various denomi­nations and theological positions, González focuses on the core faith of the Christian church through the centuries. Covering all the key topics—revelation, God, Jesus Christ, the Spirit, the church, Christian hope, and others—Knowing Our Faith will help readers to understand the Christian faith better—and, above all, to live it better.

Regular price: $140.55 HKD

 

Reading Theology Wisely: A Practical Introduction

In this illuminating introduction, Kent Eilers invites Christians of all backgrounds into the practice of reading theology. With a classroom-tested approach, Eilers shows how theology can form the imagination and enhance “the human capacity for perceiving reality beyond the surface of things”—allowing Christians to see and experience God in the everyday. He then guides readers through the essential facets of theology so that it can begin to feel familiar and accessible, even (and especially) to beginners with no prior experience.

Regular price: $140.63 HKD

Save $78.20 HKD (55%)

Your Price: $62.42 HKD

 

Zotero 8 is out

 Zotero 8 is out... more user-friendly

 

 

-->文獻引用軟件 Zotero 及中文格式輸入介紹

 

[Logos] Noteworthy books of the month (Jan)

•  Logos

40 Questions about Angels, Demons, and Spiritual Warfare (40 Questions Series)

In 40 Questions About Angels, Demons, and Spiritual Warfare, John Gilhooly provides a biblical and balanced perspective on the many issues surrounding the spiritual realm. Using a question-and-answer format, he explains spiritual warfare, angels and demons, the role of Satan, models and practices for spiritual warfare, and topics related to the occult. Beneficial as a comprehensive overview or as a reference guide to particular subjects, this volume provides concise but thorough answers to many ...

Regular price: $171.40 HKD

Save $171.40 HKD (100%)

Your Price: $0.00 HKD

 

Interpreting the Psalms: An Exegetical Handbook (Handbooks for Old Testament Exegesis | HOTE)

In this valuable resource for pastors and students, celebrated scholar Mark Futato explains the nature of Hebrew poetry and the purpose of the Psalms. After outlining issues related to the proper interpretation of Israel’s songbook, he concludes with a sample of moving from interpretation to proclamation.

Regular price: $194.78 HKD

Save $132.50 HKD (68%)

Your Price: $62.28 HKD

•  Verbum

The Good Life: Ethics and the Pursuit of Happiness

The Dalai Lama once wrote that the object of human existence was to be happy. On the other hand, von Hugel wrote, “Religion has never made me happy; it’s no use shutting your eyes to the fact that the deeper you go, the more alone you will find yourself.” This small masterpiece by the late Fr. Herbert McCabe, OP steers a steady course between these two extremes.

Regular price: $116.84 HKD

Owned