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International relations and the moral choices that go with them are complex. On what basis do we continue to trade with other countries with very different values from our own, and at what point do we cry ‘Enough is enough!’ and use economic sanctions to challenge what we regard as immorality? And what is our … Continue Reading
The epistle for Trinity 14 in Year A is Romans 13:8–14. It is a further bundle of practical teaching in the light of God’s grace, but clusters around two ideas. The first is love as the fulfilment of the law, and in emphasising this, Paul is echoing strongly the teaching of Jesus, without actually quoting … Continue Reading
Andrew Bunt has just brought out a new book, Getting God’s Perspective: A Short Christian Introduction to Worldviews, Sexuality and Gender, and I had the chance to ask him about it. IP: As a member of Living Out, you clearly have a concern for teaching about issues around sexuality. But why do you think this … Continue Reading
The Sunday gospel lectionary reading for Trinity 4 in Year C is Luke 10.25-37, most commonly known as the Parable of the Good Samaritan. I suspect many people preaching on this will be looking to wring some new truth from this, but might well lapse back into the ‘Jesus wants us to do good to … Continue Reading
When I first started studying theology, our set text for our New Testament Greek class was 1 Peter, the same text which is the focus of study of the Lambeth Conference meeting of Anglican bishops from around the world planned for this summer. It was a slightly odd text to choose for those starting out … Continue Reading
Wesley Hill explores why the New Testament scholar’s legacy echoes beyond the halls of the academy: “[T]he meaning of Scripture is ultimately written on the tablets of fleshy hearts,” wrote Richard Hays in the conclusion to his groundbreaking book Echoes of Scripture in the Letters of Paul. This statement was true not only of the … Continue Reading
Andrew Goddard writes: After much pre-publicity, which I reflected on at the time, The Widening of God’s Mercy: Sexuality within the Biblical Story (Yale University Press) has finally appeared. This enables an end to speculation as to why New Testament scholar, Richard B Hays (writing here with his son, Old Testament scholar, Christopher) has changed … 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
Andrew Bunt has just written an excellent new Grove booklet in the Ethics series, Three or More: Reflections on Polyamory and Consensual Non-monogamy. I was able to catch up with him and ask him about why he wrote the booklet, and what we need to think about on this issue. IP: Why have you decided to … Continue Reading
Christopher Landau writes: In some of the cases of marriage breakdown I have known, a crucial moment came when one party no longer believed the marriage could be saved, and so the only option was to proceed to divorce. I fear the Church of England stands on the precipice of such a moment. I hope … Continue Reading
Andrew Goddard writes: There has been much heat surrounding the announcement of a new book on sexuality by Richard Hays and Christopher Hays. What follows attempts to shed some light on what is going on. After introducing Richard Hays and his major past contributions in this area, the range of instant responses are sketched as … 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
