The library at the University of St. Andrews notified me today that my dissertation is now online. I reworked it for popular publication as The Drama of Ephesians, but here you can find the exegetical work that funds the (far more readable) published work.
Faith Improvised 
Craig Baugh
Thank you, so much, Tim. I’ve got your book on my list to buy, but I’ll put this at the top of the stack to read in the next couple of weeks. I’ve been rebuffed by several recent Phd graduates when I asked them for a copy of their dissertation, so I’m glad to see that you’re not keeping yours a secret. Thanks again. Craig
timgombis
Cheers, Craig!
bobmacdonald
Nice work. I love your summary of the pattern of the Baal story. There is a deep question here – how do we govern ourselves given the turmoil we find in the world and our relationship to it. These ancient myths provide an insight to the psychology of the time. I wonder to what extent Yhwh is as fully self-giving as Jesus is made out to be. And the converse, how the Spirit of God becomes identified with radical weakness rather than bald strength. I think this could be developed from the psalms – but I haven’t read that bit of your thesis yet. You may help me back into the NT – without losing the love of and in TNK that I have found.
timgombis
I do hope, so, Bob–certainly the NT writers were thoroughly immersed in the stories, trajectories, forms of thought, and impulses of Israel’s Scriptures.
bobmacdonald
P 19 has a taf instead of a chet for power בַּכֹּחַ – is this a variant? It looks like a typographical error. Especially with the underlying patah.
timgombis
It may indeed be an error, Bob. One is usually loathe to go back through one’s diss., since finding errors and malapropisms sprinkled throughout can be quite humbling.
bobmacdonald
I have a 515 page draft in tow at the moment – errors are reducing but will never be eliminated in spite of database support. I would like to reference your diss. for reminding me of the conflict motif – and particularly for the Torah-like throwing us into the sea. I speak as Egypt. My ref will be against Ps 64 – preparation for the harvest sequence.
bobmacdonald
actually in the pun on throw / shoot, concerning arrows
bobmacdonald
I am pleased that my analysis agrees with your division of Ps 68. Division into 3 sections, 1 to 11, 12 to 24, 25 to 35, and 36 a coda, puts chariot (or ride, same letters) once in each section.
The sense of victory of chaos (sea YM) and death (MVT) is lovely. Thanks for pointing out to me how early this appears in our record of human thought. I am intrigued with 68:21 which I rendered as “and to Yhwh the Lord are the exeunts from death”
Re מחץ, I have biased myself with the gloss ‘wound’ in the five places it occurs in the Psalms: 18:39, 68:22, 24, 110:5, 6. Cf Isaiah 53:5. וְהוּא מְחֹלָל מִפְּשָׁעֵנוּ מְדֻכָּא מֵעֲוֹנֹתֵינוּ and he was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities.
There must be more to the ‘drink’ in 110 (I used ‘imbibe’ to distinguish this שׁתה from drink שׁקה) – how about a reference to the cup of Ps 75 where imbibe is also used? (imbibe 50:13, 69:13, 75:9, 78:44, 110:7)
My skimming of your first 27 pages has been delightful. Thanks again.
Allen Browne
Thanks, Tim. Appreciate the link. Downloaded.
timgombis
Cheers, Allen!
Abraham Joseph
Thank you so much, Tim. I have read the popular version and I’m currently using it as one of my resources as I preach through Ephesians. It is nice to have access to the exegetical study that gave rise to the popular work. Grateful for your ministry. Love your blog!
timgombis
So glad to hear that, Abraham, thanks!
Maryann Roberts
I can’t wait to read it! Read your book 3 times and used it to teach Ephesians. It lead to great conversations. Blessings to you and your family:)
bobmacdonald
Here’s a question that allows my research to intersect with yours. You write on p 116 re Ps 68:19 (Hebrew numbering) “the Jewish uses of the psalm allegedly stress that God’s gift is Torah, while the Christian tradition stressed the gift of God as Christ”.
This dichotomy seems to me to miss the extensive and important need and possibility that Jew and Christian might both begin to read with an ear. Maybe even with the same ear.
you have ascended on high
captives you have captured
you have received endowments for humanity
and also the rebellious
in the dwelling of Yah God
let me try and think about these words – though I be guilty of free association. Ascent (עלה), same letters as burnt offering, but the last burnt offering in the psalms is 66:13-15. The ascension is the completion and acceptance of the burnt offering. Captives captures. This recalls the only psalms to use this word before Ps 68, Psalms 14 and 53, turning the captivity of his people. ‘Endowments’ – unique in the Psalms, used elsewhere but not distinguished from other words ‘meaning’ gift. Also the rebellious (סרר). This is used 4 times (66, 68 2x and 78 in the context of Meribah). I see the rebellious as being part of the offering to the one who has ascended, turning the captivity of Jacob and allowing even the rebellious to consider dwelling with God, the questions asked in e.g. Pss 15, 24 – who will live on your holy hill?
Can we read Ephesians with this purification process that is outlined in the Psalms in mind? I realize you are writing about divine warfare, but I wonder if these meanderings on my part are suggestive as to ways of reconciling a Torah vs Christ conflict.
PS I have not done justice to your work from pp 30 to 116 – I dove straight into your sections on the Psalms.