commentary

How should we read the Book of Judges?

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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

Celebrating Michael and his angels in Revelation 12

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Tomorrow is the feast of Michael and All Angels, which some will be celebrating at the weekend, and the key lectionary reading for the feast is Rev 12.7–12. Although the festival focusses on Michael, everything about this passages actually focusses away from Michael and points us to the victory of God and the lamb—even Michael’s name! … Continue Reading

Does Jesus treat us as good-for-nothing slaves in Luke 17? video discussion

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The Sunday lectionary reading for Trinity 16 in Year C offers some serious challenges to our understanding and practice. The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and … Continue Reading

When is Jesus ‘coming on the clouds’?

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In my teaching and reflection on issues around eschatology and the ‘second coming’ of Jesus, there is one phrase that keeps coming up, and to which people thinking about these things keep returning: the language of the Son of Man ‘coming with the clouds.’ When I have offered an alternative reading to the key passages … Continue Reading

Does Jesus treat us as good-for-nothing slaves?

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This Sunday’s lectionary reading from Luke offers some serious challenges to our understanding and practice. The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you. “Suppose … Continue Reading

What is Michael doing with his angels in Revelation 12?

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This Sunday’s lectionary reading is from Rev 12.7–12 in celebration of the feast of Michael and All Angels. Although the festival focusses on Michael, everything about this passages actually focusses away from Michael and points us to the victory of God and the lamb—even Michael’s name! This is what I wrote in my Tyndale Commentary, as … Continue Reading