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The lectionary epistle for the Sunday before Lent in Year A is 2 Peter 1.16–21. It is a fascinating passage, as it appears to preserve an eye-witness testimony to the transfiguration which coheres with the gospels accounts but is independent of them. From this, Peter teaches us not so much about Jesus’ resurrection but about … Continue Reading
Twelve years ago I presented a paper at the international Society of Biblical Literature comparing the symbolism of Luke with that of John. There has been a widespread view that John is a ‘spiritual’ or symbolic gospel, and that is true at one level, though John often includes more historical and eye-witness detail than the … Continue Reading
Richard Bauckham writes: This is the text of a sermon I preached originally in Christ Church, Chelsea, in order to introduce the congregation to the Gospel of Luke near the beginning of a year C in the Lectionary (year of Luke). There is one difference between the Gospels that anyone can see quite easily without even reading … Continue Reading
The gospel lectionary reading for Trinity 8 in Year B appears to be very odd at first, with a split collection of verses in Mark 6.30–34 and 53–56. I think the logic for this is that we are considering the ‘bread’ of another Markan sandwich, and the ‘filling’ is the paired episodes of the feeding … Continue Reading
The reading for Trinity 8 in this Year B in the lectionary is rather odd—a selection of verses sliced out of Mark’s narrative, Mark 6.30-34, 53-56. It separates the ‘bread’, the description of Jesus’ ministry, from the jam or the meat of the sandwich, the feeding of the 5,000, which we consider next week from … Continue Reading
Tim Murray writes: It is an exciting time in New Testament studies! Change is in the air, and the scent of it can be caught in Jonathan Bernier’s Rethinking the Dates of the New Testament. For those of you who doubt that biblical scholarship can ever be particularly exciting, let me try to explain what … Continue Reading
Richard Bauckham writes: This is the text of a sermon I preached originally in Christ Church, Chelsea, in order to introduce the congregation to the Gospel of Luke near the beginning of a year C in the Lectionary (year of Luke). There is one difference between the Gospels that anyone can see quite easily without even reading … Continue Reading
The gospel lectionary reading for Trinity 7 in Year B appears to be very odd at first, with a split collection of verses in Mark 6.30–34 and 53–56. I think the logic for this is that we are considering the ‘bread’ of another Markan sandwich, and the ‘filling’ is the paired episodes of the feeding … 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
