Scholarship • Serving • Ministry – Ian Paul
The lectionary epistle for the Third Sunday before Advent in Year A is 1 Thessalonians 4.13-18. This is notorious for being used to teach the idea of the ‘secret rapture’ of believers before Jesus’ return, so that those who are alive are snatched up to heaven. The Greek term harpazo is translated in the Vulgate by …
The lectionary reading for All Saints in Year A is Rev 7.9–17—an extraordinary vision of the people of God, which begins at the start of the chapter, in the interlude between the opening of the sixth and seventh seals. Our video discussion is linked below, followed by an extract from my commentary on Revelation 7. …
The epistle for Trinity 19 in Year A is Phil 4.1–9. This reading follows on from the previous teaching about ‘having your citizenship in heaven’ and expounds what that means. But the passage starts with an extraordinary expression of Paul’s affection for his readers in Philippi, and concludes with a challenging expression of how he …
In the epistle for Trinity 16 in Year A, Philippians 1.21-end, we turn from the practical application at the end of Romans back to Paul’s more usual style, using dense and challenging language which nonetheless communicates an extraordinary passion for life. Paul draws on a wide range of language, from the civic to the military …
The lectionary epistle for Trinity 15 in Year A is Romans 14.1–12, and it follows on from our reading last week, offering further practical working out of Paul’s theology expressing our security found in God. But there is a fascinating turn. Where, on other issues, Paul is at great pains to teach the truth and …
In the lectionary reading for Trinity 13 year A, Romans 12.9–21, Paul sets out a remarkable vision of life in the redeemed community, using a particularly powerful rhetorical style. Instead of argumentation and logical connectives, Paul bundles together a series of punchy statements using infinitive and particle phrases. Just as striking is his use of …
The reading for Trinity 12 in Year A is Matthew 16.13–20. It is Peter’s confession of who Jesus is as Messiah, but it also contains Matthew’s unique material in which Jesus calls Peter ‘rock’, gives him the keys to the kingdom, and commissions him to bind and loose. But these three ideas are much misunderstood, …
The gospel for Trinity 10 in Year A is Matthew 14.22–33, Jesus walking on the sea to the terrified disciples. The episode has parallels in Mark and John, but only Matthew includes the further account of Peter stepping out of the boat to meet Jesus—and this raises import issues of interpretation. Should we focus on …
If gentiles are now coming to faith in Jesus, and many Jews are not, has the word of God and his promise to Israel failed? That is the critical question Paul starts to address in Roman 9.1–5, the epistle for Trinity 9 in Year A. This passage cannot be read in isolation, as Paul uses …
In Romans 8.26–39 (the reading for Trinity 8 in Year A), Paul offers us a remarkable exposition of life in the Spirit. There is a dense cluster of Trinitarian language in the first half, and significant theological and pastoral issues: do all things really work for our good? What does God’s foreknowledge mean? Have we …
Romans 7.15–25a is the epistle for Trinity 5 in Year A, and includes the famous ‘I’-passage over which there has been much debate. Is Paul speaking in the first person recounting his own experience as a Christian? Or in his pre-Christian life? Or is he recounting the experience of Israel under the law? Or of …
