Sunday, December 20, 2009

Christmas Gifts for the Bible Scholar in Your Life

Some people are just hard to shop for, especially Bible scholars who often show little interest in any hobbies or activities not related to their research. If you know such a hard-to-shop-for person (like myself), here are some gift ideas.

1. A mug inscribed with the Gezer Calendar inscription from Eisenbrauns.

EISMUG2008

2. Books are always a good choice, but it has to be the right book. Most of what's in stock at the local Barnes & Noble or Christian book store doesn't cut it. Here are some suggestions (from the list of books I want but don't have.)
  • Craig Keener, The Historical Jesus of the Gospels from Eerdmans.

  • John Collins, Beyond the Qumran Community from Eerdmans.

  • John Sailhamer, The Meaning of the Pentateuch from IVP.

  • James Beilby, ed., The Historical Jesus: Five Views from IVP.



Karel van der Toorn, Scribal Culture and the Making of the Hebrew Bible (available from Amazon).



3. A tie with a picture of biblical Jerusalem (Amazon)

jerusalem tie_

4. A Levenger Shirt Pocket Briefcase (a personal favorite - I have 2).

levenger pocket

5. The Levenger Editor's Desk, a truly great tool for reading and organizing reference books. I received one as a gift several years ago.

editors desk


6. Book Darts. A must for serious readers.

7. The ever-popular tweed blazer - the hallmark of a true scholar.





4 comments:

  1. Great list! I've got to buy some book darts and that tie now.

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  2. Doug,

    If you download the order form from our SBL site (http://www.eisenbrauns.com/sbl), you can get 20% off th Sokoloff lexicon.

    James

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  3. Thanks, James. 20% is a good chunk of change off a $150 lexicon. That's why it's on my Christmas list. I can't afford to buy it for myself.

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  4. Awesome - love the Christmas Gift suggestions but I have to say my fave is the tie!!

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