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Ian Paul
The reading for Trinity 16 in this Year B (Trinity 15 in other years) is Mark 8.27–38, the encounter with forms the pivot in the second gospel: until now, there has been power, success, dynamism and crowds, but from now on, Jesus walks the lonely path to suffering and the cross. At the northernmost point … Continue Reading
The reading for Trinity 15 in Year B is Mark 8.27–38, the encounter with forms the pivot in the second gospel: until now, there has been power, success, dynamism and crowds, but from now on, Jesus walks the lonely path to suffering and the cross. At the northernmost point of his ministry, Jesus turns from … Continue Reading
The New Testament’s language of ‘gathering’ is interesting and theologically rich. At one level, it simply designates the bringing together of things in a physically common space; thus Herod ‘gathers‘ all the chief priests (note the plural!) and teachers of the law to learn from them where the Messiah was to be born in Matt … Continue Reading
Andrew Goddard writes: As the College of Bishops gathers in Oxford next week for its regular September residential, the Bishops of Penrith and Huntingdon remain Acting Bishops of Carlisle and Ely respectively and will probably be so into the second half of next year. It is also probable that there will be perhaps 5 or … Continue Reading
The gospel lectionary reading for Trinity 15 in this Year B (the reading for Trinity 14 three years ago) is Mark 7.24-37, which includes the episode of Jesus’ encounter with the Syrophoenician woman that often brings readers up short, containing as it does what appears to be a rather shocking insult. Jesus is seeking to … Continue Reading
The gospel lectionary reading for Trinity 15 in this Year B is Mark 7.24-37, which includes the episode of Jesus’ encounter with the Syrophoenician woman that often brings readers up short, containing as it does what appears to be a rather shocking insult. It has become very popular to read this as a story about … Continue Reading
The British New Testament Society meets at the end of August every year, and draws around 180 scholars from the UK, from Europe and some even come from the US for the weekend. It comprises three main papers from eminent scholars, a series of specialist groups, looking at sections of the New Testament, which meet … Continue Reading
The Sunday lectionary reading for Trinity 14 in this Year B is Mark 7.1–8, 14–15, 21–23 (this reading was taking at Trinity 13 three years ago). We have chewed over the feeding of the 5,000 in John 6, and gathered up every last morsel of the ‘bread of life’ discourse over the last five (five!) … Continue Reading
The Sunday lectionary reading for Trinity 14 in this Year B is Mark 7.1–8, 14–15, 21–23 (which was Trinity 13 last time around). We have chewed over the feeding of the 5,000 in John 6, and gathered up every last morsel of the ‘bread of life’ discourse over the last five (five!) weeks—and now our … Continue Reading
David Cavanagh writes: There is a longstanding and widespread convention that Judges is structured around a cyclical structure. Broadly speaking, the pattern is that after arriving in the promised land, Israel turns away from YHWH, who then hands his people over to oppression by surrounding peoples, until Israel repents and calls out to YHWH, who … Continue Reading
As we come to the gospel lectionary reading for Trinity 13, we reach the last of five consecutive Sundays (since Trinity 9) working through John 6, and have the final verses (including an overlap with last week’s reading) of John 6.56–69. If you have continued to follow the lectionary through the summer, you might be … 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 preaching Revelation same sex marriage same sex unions sexuality theology video Year A Year B Year C
