Writing from Durham finally....

Greetings from Durham! Time has gone by quickly and I now find myself not only at the end of my first academic term in Durham but also near the boundary of a new year. Settling into a new place and pace has been challenging. But I have discovered joys in the midst of trials that comes with this new vocation in a new location.

Most have described Durham as small and quaint. There is also a dictum here, "It's always uphill wherever you are in Durham." Admittedly, I have yet to explore the city's impressive sites and scenes adequately. Perhaps, I'll keep that for the summer when I have visitors and when the day is longer and warmer.

I have spent much of my first term brushing up my Hebrew, figuring out what is theological hermeneutics, attending biblical theology lectures and being bemused by Alasdair MacIntyre's dense prose. The highlight, however, has to be working under the guidance of my inspiring and encouraging supervisor, Prof. Walter Moberly.

Many have asked what my research is all about. Well, I am asking three related self-critical and self reflective questions concerning the task of biblical interpretation. First, what does the Bible say what a good interpreter of the Bible is? Secondly, what are the factors that will enable (or disable) an interpreter towards valid and deepening understanding of the Bible. Thirdly, how should insights from the questions above inform or reform the task of biblical study in contemporary academic context? My intuition is that interpreting the Word of God is intimately and inextricably linked to the fundamental issue of what it means to be human (but more on that next time).

In my previous entry, I’ve used the journey metaphor to speak of one’s relationship with God. As a pilgrim on this journey, it is vital that we have some idea where the journey will lead us to ultimately. When the people of God reached Sinai, they were given the reason of their travel experiences: You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself (Ex. 19:4). The end of the journey is the dwelling of and with the Lord himself.

As we approach Christmas, we are rightly reminded that in Jesus Christ, God showed the cost of making this growing intimacy a reality: "in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation" (2 Cor. 5:19). What seemed insignificant at that time radiated into boundless, unimaginable and unspeakable joy.