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Some years ago, Martin Saunders (of Youthscape) wrote an excellent article highlighting four issues which often prevent evangelicals from understanding what has been happening in the Israel/Gaza conflict—and these problems come up each time the conflict hits the news. It seems particularly pertinent at the moment. First, he comments ‘It’s not as simple as good … Continue Reading
The lectionary reading for the Seventh Sunday after Trinity in Year C is the Parable of the Rich Fool in Luke 12.13–21. It is one of several parables that is unique to Luke, and includes features that connect it with other Lukan parables. The video discussion of this passage can be found here (and is … Continue Reading
The lectionary reading for Trinity 7 in this Year C is Colossians 3.1–11, the last of our mini-series in this letter. We are at a classic hinge point in Paul’s letter; having told us everything that God has done for us in Christ (the indicative), he now moves on to explore what the response to … Continue Reading
The term ‘tribulation’ has come to have a special significance within a certain approach to reading the NT in general and the Book of Revelation in particular. It is thought to refer to an intense period, lasting seven years (though there is no mention of this time period in the NT), within a chronology of … Continue Reading
PLEASE NOTE: I am very sorry—but the trip is now full for 2026. If you would like to be added to a reserve list in the case of a cancellation (there are four places that still need final confirmation), or you would like to be sent information for the 2027 trip when plans are available, … Continue Reading
The Sunday lectionary readings for the Sixth Sunday after Trinity in Year C continue through Luke’s gospel, and we now reach Luke 11.1–13 and Jesus’ teaching on prayer. (The epistle is Col 2.6–15, and you can find the video discussion of it here, and linked at the end of this piece, along with the video … Continue Reading
The lectionary epistle for Trinity 6 is Colossians 2.6-15 (and the gospel is Luke 11.1–13, Jesus’ teaching on prayer). Paul continues to expand on the implications of who Jesus is for our discipleship. He draws strong parallels in his language with the Spirit in Ephesians 5, and deploys metaphors of plants, buildings, and athletes to … Continue Reading
James Bejon writes: Last week on the Theopolis podcast, Peter Leithart, Alastair Roberts, Jeff Meyers, and I worked our way through the first half of Hebrews 9. Below I want to highlight something which became clear(er) to me as we did so. Preamble The Levitical system was, in many ways, a system full of paradoxes. … Continue Reading
Attending General Synod is always an intense experience, and I always need a couple of days to recover, despite trying to be wise in the use of my time and energy whilst there. And it is dangerous making early judgements about the significance of a particular meeting, since this often only comes to light with … Continue Reading
On Trinity 5 in Year C, the gospel reading is the very well-known and widely misread story of Martha and Mary in Luke 10.38–end. You can find the video discussion of the passage here, and video discussion of the epistle for the week, Col 1.15–28, the so-called ‘Christ hymn’, here. Both are also linked at … Continue Reading
Our reading for Trinity 5 in Year C continues our mini-series in Colossian, following on from last week’s passage with Col 1.15–28. (Once more the lectionary does odd things, giving us a long, dense reading and then, inexplicably, cutting off the last verse of the chapter.) There is much scholarly debate on this passage—was Paul … Continue Reading
Ian Paul: theologian, author, speaker, academic consultant. Associate Senior Research Fellow, Kirby Laing Centre for Public Theology; Associate Minister, St Nic's, Nottingham; Managing Editor, Grove Books; member of General Synod and Archbishops' Council. Mac user; chocoholic. Tweets at @psephizo
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Gospel commentary index Lectionary Year A
Andrew Goddard Bible biblical interpretation Biblical literacy biblical theology Church of England culture discipleship discussion doctrine eschatology evangelism gay General Synod Grove guest Hermeneutics History hope interpretation James Blandford Baker Jesus John's gospel Justin Welby leadership lectionary Luke Luke's gospel Matthew ministry mission New Testament Paul politics power preaching Revelation same sex marriage same sex unions sexuality theology video Year A Year B Year C
