Biblical Studies

The distinctive people of God in Matthew 5

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This Sunday’s lectionary reading, the Third Sunday before Lent in Year A, is Matt 5.13–20, a short section of the so-called Sermon on the Mount following on from the Beatitudes. In some ways, this collection of sayings is well known, with some of it passing into common parlance (‘salt of the earth’)—and yet the important … Continue Reading

What do interlocking ‘coincidences’ say about the reliability of the NT?

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When we read the gospels and Paul’s letters carefully, it becomes apparent that there are lots of details which serve no obvious purpose, but which connect them into a plausible fabric giving a reliable account of events. These have been explored most fully by Lydia McGrew in her books Hidden in Plain View and The Mirror or … Continue Reading

The presentation of Jesus in Luke 2

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The lectionary reading for Sunday is Luke 2.20–40 as we celebrate the Presentation of Jesus in the temple in Jerusalem. Although we are now in Year A, and so following Matthew’s gospel, we return to Luke to read about this episode in Jesus’ life each year to celebrate the Principal Feast which is also known … Continue Reading

What have the Pastoral Epistles ever done for us?

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Gerald Bray is Research Professor of Divinity at Beeson Divinity School in Samford University, Birmingham, Alabama. He has recently published the International Theological Commentary on the Pastoral Epistles with T and T Clark. I asked him about the contribution of the Pastorals to our understanding of Paul, theology and ministry. IP: The so-called Pastoral Letters of Paul are often marginalised, … Continue Reading

The manifestation of Jesus in John 1

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One of my favourite films at the moment is Arrival. It begins with a prologue which appears to be quite distinct from the rest of the narrative, but it is only once you have seen the whole film that you understand what the prologue was actually telling you. The phrases, ideas and narrative in the … Continue Reading

Was Paul ‘converted’?

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A few days ago, a friend linked me to an interview with a US pastor about Revelation and the end times. I spend a few minutes browsing some of this person’s other preaching, and in one discussion he asserted very definitely: ‘That’s why Paul converted from Judaism to Christianity’. It is not an uncommon assumption, … Continue Reading