Current writing projects (or, Why I haven't written)

It has been almost two months since I've posted, so I thought would just write an update here about writing/research projects currently underway which have taken time away from the blog.

1. New Testament Satanology papers


I'm currently working on two papers on New Testament Satanology. This is a collaborative effort with a UK-based academic. It is a real privilege for an unpublished undergraduate like myself to be able to work with an established scholar so I'm very grateful for this exciting opportunity. Both papers are in the final editing stages but I will refrain from providing any more details until the proper time. "Don't count your chickens before they hatch," as my grandfather used to say.



Cape Flats Religion and Worldview Survey


This has more to do with my day job but together with some of my students I'm currently working on a survey of the religious beliefs and worldview of residents of the Cape Flats area of Cape Town (which consists mainly of communities which were disadvantaged under apartheid). The results have been very interesting so far and I hope to publish them eventually, after also getting some mileage out of them for my theological studies program which has an empirical research module within it.



Deuteronomy study


I've been working on a module on Deuteronomy for several months for my theological studies program and have nearly completed the assessments. One part of the assessment is an exegesis of the Sh^ema` (Deut. 6:4) and I hope to post this on the blog soon. The reason I haven't done so yet is that if I post it online before handing it in, the blog post may be found by the plagiarism software and lead it to think that I've plagiarized it.



Satanology of the Apostolic Fathers


I've been studying Satan in the Apostolic Fathers writings for some time now and have a written work on the subject which is about 80% complete. I previously wrote a very cursory survey on this subject but it contained virtually no exegesis apart from the Didache. I've now conducted detailed exegesis of all relevant texts in the Apostolic Fathers and have about 12 pages of material on the Didache alone. However, I've put this project temporarily on hold because it is a logical sequel to the New Testament Satanology project and I would rather do it properly in the hope of publishing.



Christology of Quadratus paper


I've previously blogged on this subject but am now working on a full-length study of the Christology of this early second-century fragment. It's kind of on the back burner with the above projects taking priority but I'm hopeful of publishing it someday.

Once a couple of these projects are out of the way I hope to get back to posting blogs more regularly. But for now, that is an update of what I've been working on. I hope that these projects may be of value in the service of the Lord's church. Soli deo gloria.