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Last week, I was doing some teaching in a local church about the Book of Revelation, and happened to put up a slide with the list of the tribes of Israel in the counting of the 144,000 in Rev 7.5–8. Someone in the congregation put up their hand: ‘Why is that list of tribes different … Continue Reading
It is fascinating to see the way that careless readings of well-known texts keep resurfacing in different contexts. One of those relates to the central teaching of Jesus, as he begins his ministry in Galilee after John the Baptist is imprisoned: After John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee, proclaiming the good news … Continue Reading
The gospel reading for Epiphany 4 is John 2.1–11, the water into wine at the wedding in Cana (also the reading for Epiphany 3 in Year C). The written commentary for that is here and the video discussion is here. However, at this time we also celebrate the Presentation of Jesus in the temple in Jerusalem; … Continue Reading
The epistle for Epiphany 4 is 1 Cor 1.18—31 (the end of the chapter). Having painted the picture of the amazing things that God has done for the Corinthians in the first verses, Paul has then confronted them with their factions. He now draws on language that echoes the teaching of Jesus, and deep from … Continue Reading
The theme for the Tyndale New Testament Study group this year is Paul within Judaism, and we are meeting from Wednesday 1st to Friday 3rd July 2026 at High Leigh Conference Centre in Hertfordshire, just 20 minutes north of London by train and 45 minutes from Cambridge. The subject of Paul within Judaism has been a … Continue Reading
Cris Rogers is a vicar in East London (at All Hallows, Bow), and a friend online. He has recently been posting interesting material on the archaeological background to the Bible. So I asked him what he was doing and why—and he gave some very interesting answers! IP: You have recently been in the habit of … Continue Reading
This Sunday’s lectionary reading for Year A, Epiphany 3, is Matt 4.12–23. The epistle is 1 Cor 1.10–18, where Paul gets into the issues of factions and divisions. The video for that reading can be found here, and is linked at the end of this piece, as is the video on Matthew 4. The gospel … Continue Reading
The lectionary epistle for Epiphany 3 in Year A is the next part of 1 Corinthians, verses 10 to 18. Having prepared his canvas in the previous verses with all the amazing things God has done for his readers, Paul now paints in the details of the problems of factionalism. He challenges the idea of … Continue Reading
Summary: the statement from the House of Bishops is much as anticipated in terms of drawing the LLF process to a close with none of the further promised changes being introduced but putting a new process in place to report to Synod sometime between February 2027 and July 2028. There is therefore much here to … Continue Reading
For the Second Sunday of Epiphany in Year A, the readings are 1 Corinthians 1.1–9 and John 1.29–42. You can find the video discussion of the epistle here and posted at the end of the article, and the video discussion of the gospel reading here and also posted below. Here is my written commentary on … Continue Reading
For the Second Sunday of Epiphany in Year A, the readings are 1 Corinthians 1.1–9 and John 1.29–42. Paul’s introduction to his letter to the Corinthians offers the most remarkable affirmation of what God has already done in the lives of his writers. This is very striking given the way he is going to warn … 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 Christmas 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 unions sexuality theology video Year A Year B Year C
