The bridge

Lots of things happened the past month, squeezed between the BNTC and the coming viva. KS and I managed to go to the places I had very much wanted to go: Scottish Highlands, London and Paris (at last I set foot on continental Europe, and this time not on transit). The West Coast train journey up to Fort William of the Scottish Highlands featured rolling plains, close-up mountains and tranquil rivers. It could have gotten more spectacular if we continued the way to Mallaig but the itinerary could not accommodate that. Our stopoever at Inverness, the capital of the highlands, was very pleasant. It is a beautiful city that bears some resemblance to the beauty of Edinburgh. The River Ness flowing right through the city centre makes it more so

The bridge across River Ness, symbolises the bridge of time between my recent return and now; it brings people to the other side, to territories you dream of but have never set foot on, yet untrodden and untouched. It also symbolizes the journey through the coming viva on 1 October, like a rite of passage, that distances oneself from one's work to look at it from another perspective, even to hate it, and to emerge hopefully in a blissful reconciliation with one's views, and that of others. The journey across the river this Thursday will bring me down to Chichester for the oral defense together with my internal examiner. How it would be like would be in their hands, I can react but not dictate.

The onward journey from Inverness brought us back to Edinburgh, and then to London and Paris. Remember some time ago, I lamented that the continent is so near yet so far. But things turn out that I was there, Paris, and indeed the musée du Louvre--a spectacular city that does not fail to awe.

A capture of the woman at the window, which we missed in the British Museum, was the most rewarding part of the journey. She (her kind) is a character in my thesis.

The impetus to travel was driven by the notion that UK and Europe will be more distant once life in SE Asia resumes. This is the hard-to-come-by chance to see places around here. But right now, preparation for the viva is foremost.

From the acknowledgement page of the thesis...

Windows to the Polemics against the So-Called Jews and Jezebel In Revelation: Insights from Historical and Co(n)textual Analysis

Acknowledgement and heartfelt thanks are long due to those who have supported me in various ways during the four-year journey into the intriguing world of the Apocalypse: My husband, Kwang-San, who has endured and perhaps suffered for his whole-hearted support to his wife for her life-dream of contributing to biblical interpretation; whom, I hope it is not too late to recompense for the years of my absence— My supervisors, Professor Larry Hurtado and Dr Helen Bond, for their unfailing support in giving shape to the thesis through their critique and suggestions, and their untiring reading of numerous drafts of the thesis. Whatever errors that remain are of my (un)doing! Special thanks go to Professor Hurtado for extending his support into the confines of family meals at Christmas. Thanks go to Chinese Evangelical Church in Edinburgh, which has given me a place to belong and a chance to serve, and to Pasir Panjang Hill Brethren Church (Singapore) for gladly offering financial support during the years of study. I also thank Panacea Society (UK) and TCA College (Trinity Christian Centre, Singapore) for providing a year of scholarship each. It is to the latter that I return to serve. My family members have been fully supportive of my endeavour. Thanks to them and many friends unnamed. All have a share in the fruits of this research, and indeed have contributed to the ministry of Biblical scholarship. I also think of sojourners along the pathway of research, particularly the THECE (Theologically Hopeful Ethnic Chinese in Edinburgh), whose companionship, jokes and laughter have made this path an enjoyable one. A number of scholars, Professor Jan Bremmer and Professor E. Mary Smallwood, with whom my path has delightfully crossed, have engendered faith in myself at what I was doing. Both willingly offered their expertise and read portions of the thesis. I thank especially Professor Bremmer, without whose initial kind reception to ideas in what is now Chapter Seven, Part Two of the thesis would not have taken off as smoothly. His constant support has been a source of encouragement. Last but not least, it was God, I believe, who had (through the prayer support of family and friends) enabled times of breakthrough, which opened up pathways in what seemed like cul-de-sac. I was truly amazed when those moments happened, and the exclamation of ‘heurēka’ accompanied one of those moments.

So near, yet so far - Europe

The PhD studies have opened a totally new horizon for me to do NT studies: historical contexts and background. To many, that is just the normal perspective, but for me who started out with literary/structural studies, the past three years of study has led me right into the heart of socio-historical context of the Graeco-Roman world (and some Ancient Near East stuff). I remembered I told my supervisors very naively and laughingly at the beginning that I will not use that method, as the method I usually use is enlightening in itself. And I believe they commented on my change of mind after more than a year with pleasant surprise. Lo and behold, I walked right into it in the second year, when digging into background and contexts helped to unlock images in the book of Revelation. This of course is accompanied with attention to the context of the whole text. With Godsent people, very kind to help--they have enriched my learning experience enormously. It is different to interact with someone who is an expert from just reading off the book. You have the assurance that if you have someone to help bounce off imaginative ideas, you will not be too far off the mark. The subject of historical contexts is still alluring, and Europe, with its rich heritage is now becking. There is much more to learn. With about a few more months stay in UK, I confess that I have not travelled outside Edinburgh, except to do transit somewhere or to attend conferences. It would be a shame if I don't do some travelling, especially if this is the only chance in life to be so near, with time at leisure, to the places that hold the secrets of the past.

The conclusion is done

Thank God for having my supervisor suggest a topic that fits my research, after having floundered about for a while! The conclusion is finally done, and awaiting to be commented upon. I thought it was a miracle for it to be completed today. The next step would be the abstract, to firm up some parts of the thesis, to trim off more than 10 000 words, proof-read, have the bibliography, abbreviations, contents done, etc. And hope to submit sometime end June or mid-July, after which there will be the viva, perhaps in early Sep.
In between, there is a 'Moving forward' Postgraduate conference, July 21-23, at Aberdeen, in which I will read a paper on the polemical depiction of the OT Jezebel (topic below*). I would also like to attend the British NT Conference also at Aberdeen, 3-5 Sep. Probably my examiners will be there. Thinking if a viva could be held there... or if I should submit a paper abstract for the conference. Waiting also for the plans for lodging in August (the landlord wants the flat back for last three weeks), so I would be exploring Netherlands and Cambridge as alternatives. But things can only be confirmed mid June for this when I hear back from a Prof. in Holland, who had kindly offered to allowed me to house-sit for two weeks while he is away (i.e. if no one else needs to use it). Tyndale House, Cambridge, may be where I can go for the remaining one week if the trip to Holland is possible, and back to Edinburgh by 1 Sep. Tentative plans...but for now a sigh of relief! All by prayer.

*Death of a queen or goddess? Overtones to Jezebel’s Vilification at her Death Scene in the Hebrew Bible (2 Kings 9:30-37)